​Ash Wednesday 5 March Holy Mass and Imposition of Ashes, Holy Trinity 10am & 7pm, Sacred Heart 6.30pm.
Additional Mass during Lent Fridays 7.00am
Stations of the Cross Sundays in Lent 4.30pm at Holy Trinity
St. Mary's School Lent Stay and Pray sessions You are warmly invited to join us for our Lent Stay and Pray sessions. These will take place in our school chapel at 3:30pm and will be led by the children. Please enter via the Stanier Street entrance and a member of staff will greet you. The dates will be: Tuesday 11th March, Tuesday 18th March, Tuesday 1st April and Tuesday 8th April. 
CAFOD Family Fast Day Friday 14th March, Second Collection Sunday 16th March
CAFOD Lenten Lunch Sunday 23rd March 12.30pm in the Parish Centre
Stations of the Cross led by students from St John Fisher Catholic College Tuesday 1st April at Holy Trinity, 2pm and 6pm.
Penance Service for Lent Monday 14th April 7.00pm at Holy Trinity
Holy Week:
Maundy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7.00pm Holy Trinity
Good Friday Office of Readings & Morning Prayer 10am Sacred Heart
The Passion of the Lord 3.00pm Holy Trinity
Holy Saturday Office of Readings & Morning Prayer 10am Holy Trinity
Easter Vigil 8.00pm Holy Trinity
Easter Sunday Solemnity of the Resurrection Holy Mass 9.00am Sacred Heart, 11.00am Holy Trinity

A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Church which cleanses our soul and helps us to grow  closer to God. When we sin, we not only damage our relationship with God, we create a need for healing  and repair in our souls and in the world. Through Reconciliation God forgives our sins, but the effects of our sins may still need to be addressed. Indulgences are a beautiful practice combining prayer, good works
 and spiritual renewal, to help repair that damage. Indulgences can also be applied to souls in purgatory.

 
MAKING A PILGRIMAGE OR VISIT
 
1. To Rome
    •  The four Papal Basilicas and their Holy Doors

2. Elsewhere in the World
   •  Jubilee Shrines in Italy and the Holy Land

3. Within our Archdiocese
      •  Shrine of St Chad, St Chad’s Cathedral

• Shrine of Our Lady of Caversham
• Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, Hednesford
• Shrine of Bl Carlo Acutis, Wolverhampton
• Shrine of Our Lady of Evesham
• Harvington Hall, near Kidderminster
• Bl Dominic Barberi Church & St John  Henry Newman’s College, Littlemore

 
PERFORMING WORKS OF MERCY, FORMATION AND PENANCE
 
4. Extraordinary Works of Mercy
      •  Visiting prisoners, the sick, lonely or elderly

• Helping those who are in need
• Giving a generous gift of your time or money

 
5. Diocesan or Parish Formation
      •  Participating in spiritual exercises
      •  Formation activities on the documents of  the Second Vatican Council or Catechism
 
6. Fasting from Futile Distractions
      •  Abstaining for at least one day a week from  social media, video games, apps or television.

 
 What if I can’t do those things due to sickness or other serious reasons?
United in spirit with the faithful taking part in person, one may recite the Our Father, Apostles Creed and Jubilee Prayer, offering their sufferings or hardships of their lives.

Notes: Normally, only one plenary indulgence can be obtained per day, However, the faithful who have carried out an act of charity on behalf of the souls in purgatory, if they receive holy Communion a second time that day, can obtain the plenary indulgence twice on the same day (applicable only to the deceased.)
A single sacramental confession is sufficient for several plenary indulgences, but frequent sacramental confession is encouraged in order to obtain the grace of deeper conversion and purity of heart. For each plenary indulgence that is sought, however, a separate holy Communion and a separate prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father are required.

​The Archdiocese of Birmingham: Registered Charity 234216

The Archdiocese is recruiting for the following four positions:
Operations Director, IT Manager, Finance Manager and Gift Aid Officer.  Full details and closing dates can be found at www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/jobs. If you think you have the skills, please do apply. 

On Saturday the seminarians return from January pastoral placements in their home dioceses to begin a new semester of formation at Oscott. We are all mindful of the many blessings that are available to us during this Jubilee Year in which we reflect upon what it means to be pilgrims of hope! As we observe the many challenges that humanity faces in 2025 many people have remarked upon how appropriate – or even, how necessary – this theme of hope is.
 
I have always considered the seminary to be a beacon of hope for the dioceses and the countries that it serves. It is here that men discern their vocation to the priesthood and where they are prepared for ordination as deacons and as priests to serve the mission of Christ’s Church. One of the signs of a healthy diocese is the flourishing of all vocations but especially, vocations to the priesthood.
 
The priest is a sign of hope for the Church and for the world. Through the life and ministry of the priest, Jesus continues his work of redemption and salvation in the world, bringing health and wholeness to souls and building up God’s kingdom on earth. The priest is an agent of hope whose ministry leads others to be pilgrims of hope – a vital witness for our world.
 
I think that there is also another way in which our seminarians and all those who are seriously discerning their vocation in life, are a sign of Christian hope for us all. Cardinal John Henry Newman reminds us that by Christian faith I know that “God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission”.
 
Pope Benedict XVI beautifully expressed this same truth at the beginning of his pontificate: “We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary”.
 
It is a privilege to live and work in the seminary community with men who dedicate their lives to discerning and responding to God’s call in their lives. They are already witnesses to hope. With God’s grace, their vocation will establish for them the particular pilgrims path that will be the way to sanctity and fulfilment in the life hereafter.  
 
Canon Michael Dolman, Rector
​

"As we welcome the New Year 2025, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your unwavering support and dedication to our mission. The past year has been filled with challenges and triumphs, and your commitment has made a profound difference in the lives of refugees and asylum seekers. Together, we have provided essential services, fostered a sense of community, and advocated for the rights and dignity of thos eseeking safety and a new beginning. As we look ahead, we remain steadfast in our resolve to support and empower those in need. May this New Year bring hope, peace, and new opportunities for all. Thank you for being a part of our journey. Warm regards, Godfrey” (Godfrey Seminega, CEO of Asha)


2024 CHRISTMAS FOR ALL
As well as the splendid donation of toys from Lidl, we were supported by Cash for Kids – Mission Christmas for the fourth year in a row. They supported us with 450 presents which meant that all children residing in the hotel received a large Christmas gift each, as well as all children from families who are settled in properties in Stoke-on-Trent, who access ASHA services regularly.
The presents were collected in a large van, which I drove to Birmingham. Jackie came with me on the collection mission! It was a long afternoon of loading all gifts into the van and then unpacking them into Unit 5 once we got back to Stoke. The van was filled with gifts from top to bottom and left to right. It was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Darcy did a fantastic job of securing a huge number of local volunteers to help prepare for Christmas. Thanks to their support this huge job was dealt with smoothly and efficiently. Staff members, alongside around 20 local volunteers, wrapped 450 Christmas presents in just one day! The presents were then sorted and packed into bags according to families, and their postcode, ready for delivery. We had 17 volunteer delivery drivers this year. Another fantastic turn out! 
The party at Staffordshire University Student’s Union was once again supported by a fantastic turn out of local and asylum volunteers. Thanks to these large numbers we were able to offer a range of different activities for children. We had an arts and crafts colouring table, a face painting station, circus toys station, and a large area for children to enjoy dancing to party music.
Some of the Iranian women from the hotel cooked delicious Iranian food using the YMCA kitchen. The rest was prepared by our amazing Fudia who, whatever the quantity, makes it look easy! Bus or taxi fare makes too big a hole in a stringent weekly income. Asha also pays travel expenses to families for whom an additional expense at Christmas is unaffordable. A member of staff dressed as Santa gave every child a ‘sweet’ box and they all had an opportunity to have their picture taken and a hug with Santa which they loved! 
All in all, one of the best ASHA Christmas’s I have seen yet!
Miriam

The Christmas celebration cost £3,712. This includes hire of Staffs Student’s Union, hot food for 398 people, tea, coffee and juice, bus passes, volunteer expenses, catering equipment – plates, cups, cutlery – children’s activities, including arts and crafts, circus toys etc. Asha’s Christmas Appeal raised £3,601. This is more than previous years. 
A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED.

WHY VOLUNTEER? 
“I literally stumbled across Asha as a result of reading about Asylum Seekers on a church newsletter. I was intrigued as this is a topic on which so many people have very strong opinions built on very weak knowledge foundations. So I thought it may be a good opportunity to volunteer in an area that was completely new to me. I have only been volunteering at Asha for a few months, but I have the privilege of working with some truly wonderful people. The staff and volunteers, external agencies such as housing officers and health and, most importantly, the many and varied people who use Asha as a pivotal point for guidance and support. 
I generally do registrations, taking all relevant information, acting as a liaison with the housing officers from the local authority, signposting to the food bank, and general enquiries. It’s such a warm, friendly and inviting place and despite many people having lots of challenges to face, we have such fun each and every day. It’s a privilege to be a small part of such a truly amazing and valuable service and community.” 
Hugh, volunteer 

CAMPAIGN ORGANISING NETWORK 
Together With Refugees is launching a new initiative bringing together a network of passionate people working with others in their communities to unlock the energy, commitment and power of local people to take action to win a fair new plan for refugees. 
To find out more, email [email protected]


​LIFT THE BAN 
Hundreds of thousands called for the last government to give people seeking asylum the right to work. Despite Refugee Action and a coalition of over 300 charities, trades union, businesses, faith group’s and think tanks, supported by a petition signed by more than 180,000, the campaign was narrowly defeated in the House of Commons. The time has come to Lift the Ban. It’s only common sense. 
If not now, when?

Nelson Mandela once said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. This year, why not show solidarity to those facing the brunt of the climate crisis and to future generations to come, by learning more about this planet: its wonders and the threats it’s facing. Be curious, ask questions and look for answers. Useful starting points are:
The Royal Society: https://royalsociety.org/news-resources/projects/climate-change-evidence-causes/basics-of-climate-change
The UN: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change
For more information or to get involved in climate action in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, please contact [email protected]