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Monthly and Quarterly Services

Healing Mass
First Monday at 7.30pm in the Lady Chapel
(Please enter via the North Door)

Our monthly Mass for the healing and wholeness of individuals, the Church, society and our world takes place on the first Monday of each month, beginning at 7.30pm in the Lady Chapel. (Other observances permitting).

The Mass is reflective in tone and includes wide ranging material in recognition of the diversity of our individual and corporate need of the healing ministry Christ offers to his Church. The laying on of hands and the Sacrament of Anointing are made available to those who wish to receive these either for themselves or with another in mind.

There can be little doubt of the significance that Christ attached to this aspect of his ministry. His intention for us, conveyed by the evangelists seems clear as at least one third of the Gospel verses are in some way devoted to his healing ministry among his people.

Although this appears to have been well understood in the early church, only in recent years has the ministry of healing and wholeness come to the fore within the worshipping life of the Church in any comprehensive way. In various guises healing services are now widespread.

read more about the Ministry of Healing...

Pastoral Team Intercessions before the Blessed Sacrament

Once a quarter members of our Pastoral Team meet for prayer and intercession in the Lady Chapel before the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar. The purpose of this time of stillness and reflection is to bring before Our Blessed Lord the needs of all those with whom we are in pastoral contact. Our time together (approximately 30 minutes) is predominantly led by lay members of the group in rotation. We pray for grace and insight as we seek sensitively and appropriately to minister into often challenging situations, never forgetting that it is Christ who is ministering through us.

The group comprise those who visit the elderly or infirm at home or in residential or nursing accommodation, those with a medical background, teachers and those working with the young and their parents.

Some group members are 'Eucharistic Assistants', those duly licensed by the bishop to administer Holy Communion in church who may, in addition, be authorized to take the Blessed Sacrament to those who, through no fault of there own, are unable to worship with us in church. They are sent out in the name of the worshipping community with the following words:

Celebrant                 N [and N], it is your ministry and privilege

                                  to take the Blessed Sacrament from this Eucharist
                                  to the sick and housebound of our community.

All                            Take them our greetings;
                                  assure them of our prayers
                                  as members with us of the Body of Christ.

Administrant(s)      I/We will do this in the grace of God.
All                            Amen.

They then conduct a service at the home or hospital at which Holy Communion is to be distributed. The service includes these important words which make clear that the recipients are an integral and much valued part of the whole worshipping community:

Our Christian brothers and sisters
at St Matthew's send you their greetings,
and offer you the assurance
of their prayers as members together
of the body of Christ.

Requiem for the Faithful Departed

Once each month a Requiem Mass is held for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. Although we pray each day for those who have died recently and for those whose anniversary of death falls on that day, we nonetheless gather together our prayers for departed loved ones, benefactors and friends, as well as the bereaved at a single service each month.

A Year's Mind book is kept at the Parish Office in which the names and dates of death of those with a conspicuous connection to St Matthew's are entered at the request of their families. These are then remembered each succeeding year.

Please note that the date (and time) of this service may vary from month to month, due partly to the requirements of the liturgical calendar and in order that different groups of worshippers may attend. However, the Requiem is held at the normal Mass time and altar for the day. For further details please consult the calendar at the front of the current edition of 'St Matthew's Mail', our parish magazine published monthly.

Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

Third Sunday at 6.30pm

The rite of Exposition and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament takes place on the third Sunday of each month, as well as at other times, immediately after the Office of Evening Prayer. It may take a variety of forms in terms of the simplicity or elaboration with which it is celebrated, though the underlying structure remains constant.

Jesus Christ is the centre and origin of the life of the Church. He promised his followers that he would be present whenever they gather in his name, and sealed this pledge with his passion, death and resurrection. At the Last Supper Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist which perpetuates the Lord's sacrifice on Calvary and his risen life among us now; further, it anticipates the messianic banquet.

The service of Benediction in which we adore Christ for his sacramental presence with us, and receive the blessing of his presence, is a service which is closely linked with the Holy Eucharist or Mass. Indeed, Benediction and the Mass stand side by side - the former cannot exist without the latter. The Mass is the heart of the Church's life and worship - centred on Christ and instituted by him. At Benediction the worshipper is able to adore Christ for a period of time longer than is generally practicable at the Mass. Eucharisitc texts are used throughout, and there is ample space for adoration and prayer.

Devotion to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament stimulates believers to a deeper awareness of Christ's presence, and is an invitation to communion with him and with our fellow Christians. Such devotion inspires Christians to imitate Christ in lives of loving service to each other and to God. It renews the Spirit of God in us, giving us the wisdom to see the way he is calling us to follow him, and giving us the strength to proclaim in our lives the truth we hear in our hearts.