I was delighted to receive a letter this past week from Kensington Palace.

Since I arrived as parish priest, the beauty of the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea has made a deep impression upon me. A Church of the 1930s, though unlisted, has a striking and understated character, especially with the rare feature of the soaring baldacchino or canopy over the Altar and Tabernacle.

This past week, thanks to the support and generosity of the Companions of the Order of Malta, I took delivery of: plates, bowls, jugs, teatowels, napkins, cutlery, two 20 litre boilers, a fridge, and a hot plate/warmer.

On 1 February, the diocese of Shrewsbury, through its business and trading branch, the Shrewsbury Diocesan Commercial Company, announced that St Saviour Social Club would cease operations on 28 February 2023. This business decision was reached on the basis of rising utility bills and after-shocks of the
pandemic and the impact on income and profits.

As you know from your own utility bills, the cost of energy has increased at a phenomenal rate. I have been grateful for parishioners who have so generously responded to my appeal for any one-off donations that people felt able to make.

Last Tuesday at the George Street Bowling Green on the Westminster estate, the Lord Lieutenant, Lady Redmond, planted a tree gifted to the borough by The King in memory of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. This tree was one of three hundred that formed the ‘Tree of trees’ that stood outside Buckingham Palace as part of the festival marking the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth.

Sir Charles Nicholson, chair of the Companions of the Order of Malta, confirmed with me this past week that they are committed to purchasing all the equipment we need for the provision of hot meals. This is a wonderful investment in our community and parish by this fantastic charity and means that, depending on delivery of the equipment, we can aim for a start date of end of February, beginning of March.

An update for the parish: the beautiful copy of The Annunciation from St Mary of the Angels, hanging in the Sanctuary is a reproduction of an actual painting owned by the parish.

Bishop Mark Davies will be visiting Hooton and Little Sutton over the weekend of 28/29 January and celebrating all the weekend Masses. Bishop Mark will then return the weekend following and visit Ellesmere Port 4/5 February and celebrating all the weekend Masses at Our Lady Star of the Sea.

I am very happy to say that we have thirty-seven parishioners ‘signed-up’ to these important initiatives

The programme for First Holy Communion for children at non-Catholic schools will take place during the month of May and the early part of June.

The annual week of prayer for Christian Unity takes place from Wednesday 18 January until Wednesday 25 January

Matthew Joyce, who manages our website and the circulation of our Parish Newsletter, does a wonderful job for us and on our behalf. My thanks to him in this voluntary role he took on.

16 APRIL 1927 – 31 DECEMBER 2022

I want to take this opportunity to send my love and my prayers to all our parishioners at this joyful and happy time as we celebrate the birthday of the baby Jesus.

A list of date's and times of upcoming Advent and Christmas Celebrations

You may recall the Book of Condolence that was opened following the death of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and sent to His Majesty the King after the Requiem Mass we held for Queen Elizabeth on the day of her State Funeral.

I thought it might be helpful just to share with you, ahead of time, the times for Masses for Christmas.

Many thanks in anticipation of your generosity!

The closing date for applications for the Sacrament of Confirmation 2022 has been set for Friday 28th October.

Following recent engineering works by BT, our internet provider, we have been able to secure the live streaming of Mass.

Important Notice: This event has now moved to the 24th October 2022

MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2022 AT 9AM

OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA CHURCH

21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022

Tomorrow, Monday 5 September, I am pleased to begin a new series of talks, based on The Apostles’ Creed.

We can now take Online donations to support the Parish!

Thank you to all those who were able to join with us for Reverend Tony Nuttall's Mass on the Field last Sunday.

Thank you to all those who were able to join with us for the Blessed Sacrament Procession last Sunday afternoon!

With only a week to go until the celebration weekend of Tony’s Ordination on Saturday 16 July and the parish Mass at the field at Hooton followed by a parish lunch and reception on Sunday 17 July, I share with you some logistical updates, especially for those travelling on one of the coaches provided by the parish.

The weekend of 16/17 July there will be no Sunday 9am Mass at St Mary of the Angels and no Sunday 11am Masses at Our Lady Star of the Sea or St Saviour.

Saturday 16 July at 12noon, Tony will be ordained to the Diaconate at Shrewsbury

I am delighted to announce that we will hold a Blessed Sacrament Procession on Sunday 26 June at 4pm from St Saviour Church to St John the Evangelist.

Arrangements are progressing for the Parish Garden Party to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, to be held on Sunday 5 June 2pm – 5pm on the field at St Mary of the Angels.

This Sunday the nation records, with gratitude, the historic milestone of Her Majesty the Queen’s seventieth anniversary of her Accession in 1952.

Following the submissions from across the diocese, including our own parish, the bishop has been able to share with us his own discernment and synthesis of the contributions received.

Download the Spring 2022 Newsletter

RESET a refugee support agency for helping me navigate the initial registration process for inviting a family from Ukraine to take residence in St Mary of the Angels presbytery in Hooton.

This Sunday you will be invited to take a leaflet showing the times of Masses and Services during Holy Week and the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday.

View the Letter sent to Bishop Mark on the Parish discussion on the Synod 2023

View Details of the Upcoming Masses on Ash Wednesday

You are invited to come to special Mass on Saturday 12 February at Our Lady Star of the Sea at 10.30am

In January, Julie Tinsley, the diocesan Health and Safety Officer, visited Our Lady Star and Sea and reviewed present practice.

Please give to the Special Collection for the Retired Priests' Fund

We are launching a new website to be more accessible to our community. We are hoping to use this platform to inform everyone weekly about different events and groups within our parish.

One of the most beautiful ways that one can receiving lasting peace of mind and heart is to make a good Confession. Lent is a wonderful opportunity to do just that.

Thank you to those parishioners who have asked about the move from the wooden table altar to using the original stone Altar of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church. I would like to give a presentation on the vision I have outlined, beginning with the celebration of Mass and followed by a talk and time for questions.