Catholic Parishes of Monmouth & Ross on Wye

Welcome

to the Catholic parishes of Monmouth & Ross-on-Wye

Welcome to Visitors: we extend a very warm welcome to you and hope you enjoy your time in these areas of outstanding beauty. Both our churches, one in Wales and one in England, are in the Archdiocese of Cardiff.

We are a Catholic community growing in faith, spreading the Gospel message of Love through our daily lives and by supporting one another and the wider community through prayer, fellowship and service.

We welcome you to our website and hope you enjoy learning more about our communities. We warmly welcome both new parishioners and visitors from all over the world to our parish.

5th Sunday in Lent, 29th March 2020

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CELEBRATING MASS FOR OUR PARISHES

UPDATE: Mass will be streamed from St Frances of Rome on Sunday 29th March at 10:00 am on https://www.twitch.tv/stmarysfrancesofrome

During this exceptional time, the most difficult thing for us all is being unable to come together for Sunday mass. That has always been the centre of our life. When the fourth century martyrs of Abitinae in Roman North Africa were brought to trial, they were asked why they had violated the emperor’s command not to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist. Their answer was, “Sine dominico non possumus – we cannot live without this thing of the Lord.”

The situation we find ourselves in is different. Our willingness to sacrifice our physical presence at “this thing of the Lord” is for the safety of others as well as ourselves. And although nothing will ever replace the direct proximity essential to Jesus’ sacramental gift, we have an opportunity denied to them.

By modern technology, we will be able to live-stream mass into the homes of parishioners. As long as current restrictions are in place, mass will be celebrated at 10.00 am each Sunday in St Frances of Rome, Ross-on-Wye for the people of Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye.

Also, please know that mass is being said from Monday to Saturday in St Mary’s. While this is necessarily celebrated by the priest alone in an empty church, it is very much for and with the members of our parish and for the needs of those most affected by Covid-19. There will be many lessons to learn from this experience, but may we respond to it with an open, generous heart.

Father Nick monmouth@rcadc.org

A CORONAVIRUS PRAYER

Click here for a thoughtful prayer for our time.

A MESSAGE FROM FATHER NICK – 2

St Frances of Rome: a saint for our time?

The saints’ companionship is obviously a major feature of our life – after all, we too are included in the “Communion of Saints”. This is quite simply our extended family. Our canonised saints, and above all our patron saints, have a special place in our affection. I offer the following piece of news without further comment.

A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted by a lady from Flintshire – Anne – who wanted to know if we had in Ross a relic of our patron saint, Frances of Rome. A day or so later, at the North Gwent Deanery station mass in Abergavenny, Archbishop George called me aside in a conspiratorial way. He told me that he was giving me a present. This was not for myself, but for the parish of Ross on Wye. It was a relic of St Frances of Rome, and he suggested that we contact a Birmingham firm to have a suitable reliquary made for it.

Hearing about this, Anne planned to come and venerate the relic. Alas, her planned trip was prevented by the spread of Covid-19. Instead, she sent me a letter to explain her interest.

“A few months ago,” she said, “I had a dream about the relic of St Frances of Rome, whom I just thought at the time was the patron saint of automobiles and widows. However, I have recently discovered that she was alive during times of plague in Rome, which was caused by famine and flooding at that time. It was also a time of lockdown in Rome, and wolves roamed the streets. I discovered this just before we heard about the Corona-virus. This is possibly why this saint is important in our times right now…”

As I say, no further comment. This only: “St Frances of Rome, pray for us.”

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

Chris Warwick, R.I.P., who died recently, father of David.

Parish Income and the Coronavirus

A Message from the Parish treasurer, Geoff Quinn, and our Gift Aid Coordinator, Gail Wright – click here for full text.

Children’s Liturgy

Unfortunately, we cannot now provide any services for our children face-to-face. But all is not lost! CAFOD has made available valuable resources and activity sheets for children’s liturgy for every Sunday of the year.

You can access the resources online or sign up to have them delivered by email.

Click here for further information.

URBI ET ORBI, Pope Francis’ Blessings on 27th March 2020

Click here for the full text of his meditations.

THE ANNUNCIATION

FEASTDAY, 25th March

Pope Francis’ Prayer to Mary during the coronavirus pandemic

O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.

Under your protection, we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen.