OUR LATEST NEWS

Dear friends in Christ, 1 Next weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption, transferred from Saturday to Sunday. Please check out the two events taking place on Saturday here at Belmont in preparation for the Assumption: Mary through Artists’ Eyes: Journey through two thousand years of beautiful Christian art as Abbot Brendan explores how painters, sculptors and iconographers have portrayed Mary and the faith that inspired these works. Saturday, 15 August 10am-4pm at The Chapterhouse, Belmont. £12 per person for the day. Meals and Refreshments available. Star of the Sea: An Evening of Gregorian Chant and Organ Music at Belmont Abbey for the feast of the Assumption, Saturday, 15 August at 7.00pm in the Abbey Church. Tickets are £10 which include refreshments. All these events can be booked through the Abbey website: www.belmontabbey.org.uk/event-listings There will be a river pilgrimage to raise awareness and to call for action to stop pollution of the River Wye. A 4ft wooden sculpture of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Our Lady of the Waters and the Wye) will be mounted on two canoes made into a canoe-catamaran and floated downstream from Hay to Bredwardine. This year the five-day pilgrimage will continue by car to Hoarwithy and will call at Weobley. The pilgrimage was the brainchild of the Anglican clergyman Richard Williams of St Mary’s Church at Hay on Wye and sculptor Philip Chatfield who has carved beautiful stone sculptures for Tintern Abbey and locally at St Mary’s Monmouth. The pilgrimage will start with a service at St Mary’s Hay followed by a procession through town to the launch point near Hay on Wye on Saturday 15th August. On Sunday, 16th August, the pilgrims and sculpture will come to St Thomas’s RC Church in Weobley for a service of Vespers at 3.30pm to be followed by tea and cake. To which all are welcome. Other stops include Gregorian Chant at Moccas Church with some of the monks of Belmont Abbey on Monday at 6.30pm and Evensong at Hereford Cathedral on Tuesday at 5.30pm. My prayers and best wishes,

Assisted Suicide Bill - Message from Archbishop Mark  There will be a Second Reading and vote in the House of Commons for the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life Bill) on 11th September. As Catholics, we oppose this legislation since it attacks the innate dignity of every person. It is also very poorly written and gives no safeguards to healthcare staff, nursing homes, or hospices, all of whom will be pressured to implement the bill if the legislation is passed. I encourage all Catholics to write to their MP. The Bishops' Conference has information available on its website at: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/opposing-assisted-suicide/. On the page, there are various resources, copies of statements and guidance on writing to your MP, and please, please do so, to protect the most vulnerable in our society.

OUR LADY'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL: Currently has places available in nearly all year groups. Families seeking a caring, nurturing environment with high expectations, excellent teaching, and a strong Catholic ethos are warmly invited to visit. Our recently published Ofsted report recognises that "A positive and inclusive culture is at the heart of Our Lady's RC Primary," re􀁆lecting a school where children are safe, valued, and supported to achieve their very best. If you are considering a place for your child, or would simply like to 􀁆ind out more about everything Our Lady's has to offer, please contact the school of􀁆ice on 01432 274814 or email: admin@our-ladys.hereford.sch.uk to arrange a personal tour of the school.

REQUEST FOR READERS: We are looking for additional readers to read at Holy Mass, both Sundays and weekdays especially at the 4pm Vigil Mass. If you would like to be involved in this ministry then please contact Fr Augustine or Michael Hall at mjhall1948@outlook.com.

HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN: Fr Patrick Lobo is the Catholic Chaplain who makes regular visits. If you or a loved one wants him to visit while in hospital please let him know. Telephone: #07922 323603. In an emergency, or if Fr Patrick is unavailable, please contact Fr Augustine on the parish telephone number. He is always happy to visit.

NEEDLE NEEDS: Help is needed, initially for some napkin-hemming for the Monk’s Refectory. If you are able to help please contact either Fr Augustine, Fr Patrick or Fr Christopher.

The most recent updates from the Deanery and Church Together can be found in the Newsletter section. If you would like to read the newsletters, they are available here.

PARISH GARDEN FETE: Our Fete is only a few weeks away (Saturday, 20th June, 2pm)! Books of raffle tickets are available in the glass porch for you to sell to your family and friends. We particularly need donations of bottles for the bottle stall, plants for the plant stall and cakes for the cake stall!. TOMATO PLANTS: Anthea has been growing tomato plants for the fete but they are ready to sell from next weekend. Varieties include Nello's Plum, American Heritage Stone Ridge and Burmese Sour.

PARISH SUPPORT GROUP: Provides a regular link and support between the wider parish community and parishioners who are unable to attend Holy Mass or parish events due to a change in personal circumstances. Please get in touch with us on: 01432 374712 or belmontsupp@gmail.com