St Gerard Majella Relics

QUIZ SUPPER – Friday, 8th January 2027 in The Chapterhouse 6.45pm for 7.00pm Tickets £15.00 per person, £10 for under 18s. Application Forms can be collected from t he folder in glass porch. Donations of any Raf?le Prizes (such as unwanted Christmas Gifts) greatly appreciated.

SCHOOL BUSINESS MANAGER VACANCY AT ST FRANCIS XAVIER'S RC PRIMARY SCHOOL St Francis Xavier’s is seeking to appoint a dedicated and skilled School Business Manager to join their leadership team starting in January 2027. The Role involves overseeing school ?inances, HR process, Health & Safety, and premises/project management. A School Business Manager quali?ication or strong transferable leadership and ?inancial management experience preferable. Hours & Contract: Permanent, 36 hours per week (term-time, plus 3 weeks). Requires ?ive early mornings (from 7:45 AM) and three afternoons per week. Salary: HC7 (£26,860.79 - £31,202.99) plus pension. The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check. Visits to the school welcomed (01432 273941). For further details please visit the school website: www.st-francisxaviers.hereford.sch.uk/

11.00AM MASS CHILDREN'S LITURGY: Currently takes place on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month at 11.00am Mass. We would like to be able to offer this weekly and are looking for volunteers to help on the 1st and/or 3rd Sunday of the month. Please contact Fr Augustine or Helen Jenkins (hatka@btinternet.com) if you are interested.

PARISH CHRISTMAS CONCERT – Saturday, 5th December at 7.00pm Join us in The Chapterhouse for a wonderful evening of festive music featuring the Hereford Police Male Voice Choir. Come along with family and friends for a magical start to the Christmas season, while supporting our parish.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS 2027: If your child is in Year 3 or above and you would like him/her to receive First Holy Communion in 2027, please email Rob and Jacqui Corrigan on 􀁉hc.belmontabbey@gmail.com by the end of December to register your interest. The classes will run from January to June on alternate Saturday mornings with the Mass taking place on or around Corpus Christi.

LECTIO DIVINA: Takes place in the Parish Centre this Thursday, 5th November 7-8pm, and on Wednesday, 18th November 3-4pm. Refreshments follow. You are invited to follow the example of Jesus and the Saints by prayerfully engaging with Scripture. For more information, contact Renata Schmidt: renata.jmj@outlook.com

THE BIBLE: MYTH OR HISTORY?: A free illustrated lecture series in Biblical Archaeology with David Rohl. Section Two: The Dispersion of the Nations - Session 9 - The descendants of Noah – Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. Discoveries in Egypt’s Eastern Desert. The iconography of Mesopotamian in􀀁luence in early pharaonic Egypt. Saturday, 21st November 2.00pm to 4.00pm, Belmont Abbey Parish Centre. Free parking, Free entry. Monthly lectures usually on the second Saturday of each month except this month.

Dear friends in Christ, This week we have the visit of the relics of St Gerard Majella taking place on Monday. The relics will be available for prayer from 6.30pm (after Vespers) with Mass at 7.00pm celebrated by Father Prior. Blessings with the relics will be available after Mass, along with tea and coffee in The Chapterhouse. Fr Royston Pryce CssR will be preaching on the life of St Gerard, as we celebrate the 300th anniversary of his birth. St Gerard is the Patron Saint of mothers, couples trying to conceive, those looking for work, and making a good confession. It will be good to welcome Fr Royston back to Belmont since he preached at the May Procession in 2024. On Thursday we celebrate St Hilda of Whitby, whom we now celebrate as a Feast since she has been approved as the female secondary patron of the English Benedictine Congregation. St Hilda was a seventh-century abbess and one of the most influential women in the early English Church. As Abbess of Whitby, she established a flourishing dual monastery that became a centre of prayer, learning, and Christian culture. Renowned for her wisdom, holiness, and gift for leadership, she also played an important part in the Synod of Whitby in 664, which helped establish unity in the practices of the English Church. St Hilda reminds us of the importance of wisdom, education, prayer, and generous leadership in the service of Christ and his Church. Next Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, which always takes place on the last Sunday of the Church’s Year. Once again, there will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 1.00pm until the end of Vespers. This gives us an opportunity to thank Our Lord for all the good things he has given us in the last year and to pray for good things in the year to come. My prayers and best wishes,

CHRISTMAS FAIR 􀁎 Saturday, 14th November, 11am–2pm Come along to our Christmas Fair in The Chapterhouse and enjoy some Christmas shopping, with over 30 local stalls offering a wonderful selection of handmade crafts, gifts and seasonal treats. There will also be refreshments and a raf􀁅le, so bring your family and friends and join us for a lovely festive occasion