Mass
Sunday 11.00 am Solemn Mass – a sung Mass (traditional language 1984 Church in Wales Prayer Book) with incense, choir, occasional sung propers, motets/anthems.
Monday 6.00 pm Mass
Wednesday 10.00 am Mass
Evensong
Evensong daily at 6.00 pm (said in chancel) except for days when there is a Mass.
S. Mary’s stands firmly in the Catholic Tradition of the Anglican Church. Worship is central, and everyone is welcome to our services.
For the month’s services at S. Mary’s, and for those at S. Eigon’s, Llanigon; S. John’s Chapel, Hay; S. Michael and all Angels’, Clyro, ‘Little’ S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin and Bettwys Chapel, please see the calendar below.
CALENDAR OF SERVICES FOR JUNE 2025
SUNDAY 1st JUNE
7th Sunday of Easter/ Sunday after Ascension Day & 7th week of Easter
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
6.00 pm Parish Mass at Little S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin
MONDAY 2nd JUNE
Ss. Marcellinus & Peter – Two Saints, included in the Roman Canon, who were martyred during the Diocletian persecution. Marcellinus is held to have been a Priest and Peter an exorcist. Exorcism is taken seriously by the Church and can only be performed by Priests who have been appropriately trained.
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 4th JUNE
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 5th JUNE
S. Boniface – In the seventh and eighth centuries this Devonian evangelised what is modern day Germany. He eventually became a Bishop and had much support from monastic communities in England, sending him books, vestments and money. In later life he resigned as Bishop and returned to the mission field. He was martyred at the hands of tribesmen whilst reading in his tent. As an English man who very much likes visiting Germany, I can relate to S. Boniface.
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
SUNDAY 8th JUNE
Pentecost/ Whitsun & 10th Week in Ordinary Time
On this Sunday we make note of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles following the Ascension of Our Lord. It amuses me that S. Peter declares to the gathered crowd that the speaking in differing languages ‘tongues’ could not be due to drinks since it was 9am.
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Morning Praise at S. Michael and All Angels, Clyro
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
MONDAY 9th JUNE
Mary, Mother of the Church – This title for Our Lady first appeared in the writings of S. Ambrose of Milan. Its use became more common in the later decades of the twentieth century, and a feast was declared by the late Pope Francis, always to follow straight after Whitsun. S. John Paul II said that the title Mother of the Church: ‘reflects the deep conviction of the Christian faithful, who see in Mary not only the mother of the person of Christ, but also of the faithful.’
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 11th JUNE
S. Barnabas – Apostle and companion to S. Paul. He is not one of the twelve, as such, but had commission to take the faith into the Mediterranean. This makes sense as he was a Cypriot. He had a falling out with S. Paul, not hard one might say, and separated ways after the Council of Jerusalem. S. Barnabas, as described in Acts, comes over as a more forgiving man.
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 12th JUNE
Our Lord Jesus Christ the Eternal High Priest – this is another feast which always follows Whitsun, occurring on the Thursday after. Jesus Christ is the model for all people be they Priest or lay-faithful. It is through him that the Sacraments were instituted, allowing us to access God’s grace through these means. It is traditionally held that the Priest when administering the Sacraments, most chiefly when saying the words of Institution at the Mass, is ‘in persona Christi’. The Priest, at that moment, is acting in the person of Christ.
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
13th June – S. Anthony of Padua – Born in Portugal as Fernando, he joined the Franciscan order after being ordained Priest in the order of the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross. He was attracted to this relatively new religious order by the example of those who had known S. Francis. He is most well-known as the Patron Saint of lost things, so it is wise that if you are like me his aid be invoked several times a day.
SUNDAY 15th JUNE
Feast of the Most Holy Trinity & 11th week in Ordinary Time
The Christian Faith is Trinitarian as it holds to the belief that God is three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The persons define who God is whilst His one nature defines what He is. One of our Churches, Bettws, is dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
4.00 pm Patronal Mass, Holy Trinity, Bettws.
MONDAY 16th JUNE
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
WEDNESDAY 18th JUNE
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 19th JUNE
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
6.00 pm Evensong and Benediction at S. Mary’s, Hay
SUNDAY 22nd JUNE
Corpus Christi (trans.) & 1st Sunday after Trinity/12th Sunday in Ordinary Time & 12th week in Ordinary Time – The feast of the Body of Christ present in the consecrated elements at Mass and reserved in the Tabernacle at S. Mary’s. This feast is a day of rejoicing and is a public holiday in many countries. I very much enjoyed such celebrations when in Saville several years back. Perhaps we should start a campaign to have this as a public holiday.
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Michael and All Angels, Clyro
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
MONDAY 23rd JUNE
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
24th June, The Nativity of S. John the Baptist – Son to S. Zechariah and S. Elizabeth, he was the last and greatest of the prophets whose life was dedicated to pointing toward He who must increase, namely Our Lord Jesus Christ. So important is he to our faith, his birth has a separate feast to his heavenly birthday.
WEDNESDAY 25th JUNE
10.00 am Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
THURSDAY 26th JUNE
10.00 am Mass at the Chapel of S. John, Lion Street
27th June – The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – This is a moveable feast, always kept on the second Friday after Trinity Sunday. I have a great personal devotion to images and representations of the Sacred Heart. Not before or after is there a heart and love so pure, passionate and without limit here on earth.
SUNDAY 29th JUNE
Ss. Peter & Paul & 13th week in Ordinary Time – Both S. Peter & S. Paul were fundamental to the spread and formation of the Church in those early days following the death, resurrection and ascension of Our Lord. Both were martyred in Rome. Petertide is the traditional time for ordinations to the Diaconate and Priesthood. Ember cards, asking for prayer by those who are to be ordained into such orders God-willing, have been kept this year in the Sanctuary at S. Mary’s. Not only do we pray for this small band of men known to Fr. David and the places that they will serve, but we pray that others within our midst, families and surrounding areas will heed such a call should God have gifted them with it.
9.30 am Parish Mass at S. Eigon, Llanigon
11.00 am Parish Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
MONDAY 30th JUNE
6.00 pm Mass at S. Mary’s, Hay
Dates for the Diary
Some of you will remember Geoff Holder, a student for the Priesthood, who spent time with us on placement last year. His ordination to the Diaconate prior, God willing, to his ordination to the Priesthood next year, will take place on Saturday 5th July in Hereford Cathedral at 3.30pm. We greatly enjoyed hosting him here last year and it would be lovely to provide some support for him on this important day.
Our Lady’s pilgrimage on the Wye – Once again we shall mark the Principle feast of Our Lady, the Assumption on Friday 15th August, with Mass in S. Mary’s, a procession through town, and a couple of days afloat with rowers along the Wye. May Our Lady intercede for us and guide us to care better for the gift of God’s creation.
Fr. Ignatius Memorial Pilgrimage – The annual pilgrimage, starting at Llanthony Abbey, stopping at Little S. Mary’s, Capel-y-Ffin and concluding at the ruined monastery church at Capel-y-Ffin takes place on Saturday 30th August.
The Angelus bell rings out twice a day at S. Mary’s, 12.00 noon and 6.00 pm before evening prayer. This devotion reminds people that they are being prayed for and blessed. The Angelus is a very ancient devotion – and I hope that when people hear the bell ringing (3×3, then 9) they will pause and join with the prayer being offered in the church as it rings. Fr. David
