Welcome to the Catholic Parish of Stamford Saint Mary and Saint Augustine The Presbytery, 13 Broad Street, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 1PG Telephone: (01780) 762010 Parish Website: www.catholicstamford.com Parish Priest: Father Peter Vellacott (Email: priest@catholicstamford.com) Deacon: Reverend Charles West-Sadler (retired) Parish Secretary: Lauren Senior (Telephone: 01780 762010 / Email: office@catholicstamford.com) Parish Safeguarding Representative: Tony Williams (Telephone: 01780 756456 / Email: angant@talktalk.net) Parish Hall Manager: Anna Barwell (Mobile: 07789 283140) Parish Director of Music: Ruth Proctor (Mobile: 07826 017487 / Email: ruthproctor73@gmail.com) Parish Primary School: Sa int Augustine’s Catholic Vol untary Academy, Stamford (Telephone: 01780 762094) Part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nottingham Diocesan Website: www.dioceseofnottingham.uk Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Company Number: 7151646 Charity Number: 1134449 – Tuesday 9:00a.m. – 4:00p.m Parish Office Opening Hours Friday 9:00a.m. – 4:00p.m. 1 st / 2 nd February 2020 : Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Statement on Marriage God the Father has created marriage as a mutual and exclusive covenant between one man and one woman, by which they establish between themselves a loving and intimate partnership of their whole life, which of its own nature is ordered both to the well - being of the spouses themselves and to the procreation and education of children. It is a true vocation entered into for life, for what God has joined together no one can put asunder. Our Lord Jesus Christ has raised marriage between two baptised people to the dignity of a sacrament. The Church welcomes with joy those who wish to marry in accordance with her teaching. At the same time, the Church is aware of the many pressures of modern life which can endanger their commitment, their relationship and their family life. She is constantly concerned to help those who wish to marry to be prepared as fully as they can be to make this loving and lifelong commitment. For this reason: · A couple who wish to marry should speak to their parish priest at least six months before their proposed wedding date, and should not make any other arrangements concerning their wedding until they have spoken to him. · The parish priest is responsible for preparing couples for marriage. He will often be assisted in this important work by a deacon, a group of parishioners or members of other organisations. · Any marriage involving a Catholic should be celebrated in their parish church. With the permission of their parish priest, the marriage may be celebrated in another parish. A marriage between a Catholic and a non - Catholic may only be celebrated in a non - Catholic church with a dispensation, which will only be granted for a serious reason. · If a Catholic wishes to marry a non - Catholic, the Catholic will be reminded of their obligation to preserve their faith, and will be invited to make a sincere promise to do all in their power to have their children baptised and brought up in the Catholic faith. The non - Catholic partner will be informed of this promise, but will not be asked to make any such promise. All couples preparing for marriage need and are entitled to receive the support of the Church, so that they will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit as they prepare for, celebrate, and live out the commitment which they will make at their wedding. The Church thanks all those married people who show great constancy and faithfulness in their vocation, and prays that their example may inspire all who are preparing to marry. This statement is appointed to be read at Mass or published in the parish newsletter in February and October each year. Right Reverend Patrick McKinney Bishop of Nottingham
Parish News and Events Parish Friendship Group/Thursday Club: There will be a parish lunch with soup and sandwiches in the parish hall on Thursday 6 th February. All are welcome but we must have numbers for catering. Please telephone Eileen on 01780 753913 or Bridget on 01780 482170 or Maria on 01780 762657 or leave a message booking your place and preference for sandwiches. The lunch starts at 12.30 and costs £5. New members very welcome. First Confession and First Holy Communion (2020): Application forms for children who are aged 7 and above, in Year 3, to make their First Confession and First Holy Communion this year, 2020, are available at the back of Church. The closing date for enrolment is Sunday 16 th February. Reflection and Prayer on the Gospel of St Matthew: As part of the initiative of the Conference of Bishops of England and Wales, ‘The God who speaks’, fortnightly sessions o f reflection and prayer on St Matthew’s Gospel (the Gospel proclaimed predominantly through this liturgical year in the Church) will be taking place in the parish. The next session will be on Thursday 13 th February. All are welcome. Friends of Wajir : Future fundraising dates have been set and include: An annual appeal and update, to take place in February. • Social Supper Dance on Friday 29 th May 2020 from 7:30p.m. – 10:00p.m at • Stamford Sports Centre. Annual Coffee Morning and Raffle Draw on Friday 11 th September from • 9:30a.m.-11:30a.m at the URC Hall. Parish Books: The parish has a number of spiritual and religious books that have currently been put out on the bookshelves along the corridor where the meeting room is. Access through the glass door to that corridor (and also thereby the parish office) is available on Tuesdays and Fridays between 9:00a.m. and 4p.m. Do feel free to come in and have a browse and borrow any book(s) you might wish. Serving at Mass: Would you like to serve at Mass? Children and young people are able to serve on the Sanctuary, helping the priest at Mass, once they have made their First Holy Communion. It is a great honour to serve Christ and all the people in the Church in this way, while helping the priest. If you would like to be an altar server, please simply let me know or speak to Kevin Vinter — full training will be given. Hospital Chaplaincy: Because of the General Data Protection Regulations, Catholic chaplains working in the hospitals do not have automatic access to patients’ details, which includes their religion. For this reason they depend almost entirely on patients and / or their families or friends letting them know when they are admitted, either directly or through their Parish Priest. The Chaplains will arrange Holy Communion regularly and access to a priest where necessary but this does depend on information coming to the chaplaincy teams in good time. Contact with the Chaplaincy for Peterborough City Hospital, who also serve Stamford and Rutland Hospital, can be made by email: nwangliaft.chaplaincy@nhs.net or by Tel: 01733 673115
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