Parish of St Teresa of Avila, Ashford

MASS TIMES

• Monday to Saturday at 10.00am
• Vigil Mass on Saturday at 5.30pm
• Sunday Mass  at 8.00am & 10.30am
• Sunday Mass in Polish on 1st, 3rd & 5th Sunday of the month at 12.00 noon and 2nd & 4th Sunday at 6.00pm
• Sunday Mass in Malayalam on 2nd & 4th Sunday of the month at 12.00 noon
• Sunday Mass in Syro-Malankara Rite on 2nd Sunday of the month from 3.00pm
• Sunday Mass at 9.15am at St Ambrose in Wye

Please note that the church will be opened only 20 minutes before the Mass. The disabled toilet will be available for emergencies. Other toilets will not be available.

SEE THE SITTING PLAN

Tell us you are coming.

We would be grateful if you let us know you are coming by completing the online form

You can as well use the new Covid-19 NHS App & QR Code presented at the entrance to the church/chapel.

REMEMBER

• Please do not enter the church/chapel if you have high temperature or/and persistent cough.
• Sanitise your hands before entering the church/chapel (anti-bacterial liquid available in the porch).
• Please follow the sitting rules and read the instructions presented at the entrance.
• You MUST wear a face cover at all time. If you are medically exempt from wearing a face mask, please consider wearing a visor instead, or to sit in the Cry Chapel/less crowded part of the church. Please think first about the others than yourself.
• Please leave the church as soon as the service ended and avoid socialising.

You may be wondering, Is it safe to take the Covid-19 Vaccine, and how does it stand in regards to our Catholic beliefs? There is a lot of negative opinions about it, but be sure, that certain Catholic groups are not representing Catholic teaching faithfully on this matter. The Bishops’ Conference Statement states:

· The development of a vaccine against COVID-19 presents an important breakthrough in protecting others as well as oneself from the virus; a virus which has not only caused a global pandemic and led to a huge loss of life but has also placed a great burden on healthcare workers and systems. 

· Each of us has a duty to protect others from infection with its danger of serious illness, and for some, death. A vaccine is the most effective way to achieve this unless one decides to self-isolate.

· Each Catholic must educate his or her conscience on this matter and decide what to do, also bearing in mind that a vaccine must be safe, effective, and universally available, especially to the poor of the world. 

· Catholics may in good conscience receive any of these vaccines for the good of others and themselves. In good conscience, one may refuse a particular vaccine but one continues to have a duty to protect others from infection. 

Did you know that whenever you buy anything online-from your weekly shop to your annual holiday-you could be raising free donations for St Teresa of Avila Church Roof Fund with easy fundraising. There are over 4,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation-including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S-and it won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds.

Simply click the link below:
www.easyfundraising.org.uk/

Every time you shop online go to easy fundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping. After you have checked out, the retailer will make a donation to St Teresa of Avila Church Ashford Roof Fund at no extra cost to you whatsoever. There are no catches or hidden charges and we would be really grateful for your donations.

Masses can be celebrated for deceased members of family or friends, thanksgiving, anniversaries, vocations, for the sick and for any particular need.  If you would like a Mass said please fill in the Mass envelope at the back of Church and give it to a priest or drop it into the Parish Office.

NOW YOU CAN BOOK A MASS WITHOUT LEAVING HOME
Simply call us or email us about the availability. We will confirm and send you the DONATION link.

There is also an old tradition of Gregorian Masses. Gregorian Masses are a series of Holy Masses traditionally offered on 30 consecutive days as soon as possible after a person’s death. They are offered for an individual soul.  The custom of offering Gregorian Masses for a particular soul recognises that few people are immediately ready for heaven after death, and that, through the infinite intercessory power of Christ’s sacrifice, made present in Holy Mass, a soul can be continually perfected in grace and enabled to enter finally into the union with the Most Holy Trinity – our God, Who is Love Itself.

History of Gregorian Masses.
Gregorian Masses take their name from Saint Gregory the Great, who was sovereign Pontiff from 590 to 604. St. Gregory the Great contributed to the spread of the pious practice of having these Masses celebrated for the deliverance of the souls from purgatory. In his Dialogues, he tells us that he had Masses on thirty consecutive days offered for the repose of the soul of Justus, a monk who had died in the convent of St. Andrew in Rome. At the end of the thirtieth Mass, the deceased appeared to one of his fellow monks and announced that he had been delivered from the flames of Purgatory.
Just top avoid confusion, Gregorian Intention is not a Mass said in the Old Latin Rite but 30 consecutive Masses offered for one soul and must be said each consecutive day.