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The Holy Family RC Parish: Penzance + St Ives + Hayle in West Cornwall + St. Mary's in the Isles of Scilly

2026 newsletters, information & links (2025)

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January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December  

 

JANUARY: Newsletters

4th January - Second Sunday of Christmas
11th January - Baptism of Our Lord
18th January - Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
25th January - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Fr David's Meditation for Christmastide 'Peace on Earth to People of Goodwill'

Epiphany traditional New Year House Blessing "20 + C + M + B + 26" A tradition in the Catholic Church was to hand out blessed chalk at the Masses for Epiphany, to be used in blessing a home in the New Year. Write above your doorway as in the example above: 20 (first two numbers of the year) + C + M + B ( for the 3 Magi, Casper, Melchior, and Balthasar), then + 26 (last two numbers of the year), then write below: ' Christus Mansionem Benedicat' (“May Christ Bless this House.”) -- The four crosses represent the 4 seasons. As you are writing, pray the following prayer: "Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only-begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who inhabit it. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our concern for others may reflect your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen." ~ read more here (use at any other time of year, e.g. a new home).

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is observed in January each year from the 18th to the 25th during the octave of St. Peter and St. Paul. ~ Choral Evening Prayer was held on Sunday 18th January with members and friends of Churches Together in Penzance Area ~~ The Theme for 2026 is: “One Body, One Spirit", the prayers and reflections for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity have been prepared by the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic Church, along with their brothers and sisters of the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches ~ They are available to download from Churches Together In Britain and Ireland and are jointly published by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches.


FEBRUARY:

1st February - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8th February - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
15th February - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
22nd February - 1st Sunday of Lent

Lent pages

Pope Leo XIV message for Lent 2026 on the theme: “Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion”.

World Day of Prayer: March 6th CTiPA service took place at Chapel Street Methodist Church ~ resources link


MARCH: Lent pages

1st March - 2nd Sunday of Lent
8th March - 3rd Sunday of Lent
15th March - 4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare-Mothering Sunday)
22nd March - 5th Sunday of Lent
29th March - Palm Sunday

Pope Leo XIV message for Lent 2026 on the theme: “Listening and Fasting: Lent as a Time of Conversion”.

A short meditation for Lent: ‘The Green Cross’ by Canon David Annear

Diocese: Newsletter March

Pope Leo’s intentions for March – for disarmament and peace: "Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence."

Feastday St Joseph 19th March ~ Novena from 10th - Daily Novena Prayer: Almighty God, you have chosen Saint Joseph to be the mainstay of Jesus and Mary, the wise and faithful servant in whom they could trust. We pray that he may truly be the guardian of your Church; that he may inspire with confidence those who are devoted to him; that he may give security to those who work in the vineyard of Your Son; and finally, that he may be a source of strength to us, who wish, like him, to dedicate ourselves to Christ's service, now and in times to come. Amen.

Lent Frugal Lunches were held by Churches Together In Penzance Area. Proceeds to CAFOD and Christian Aid

Good Friday CTiPA Walk of Christian Witness:  The procession 'followed the Cross' through Market Jew Street concluding with a short service at the Salvation Army Hall which was addressed by Fr. Michael.

The traditional Polish Blessing of Easter baskets (Swieconka) was held on Holy Saturday at midday in Penzance. Święcenie pokarmów wielkanocnych odbedzię się tradycyjnie w Wielką Sobotę o godzinie 12 w kościele katolickim w Penzance. Serdecznie zapraszamy.  In many Eastern European countries and particularly in Poland, it is tradition to have a basket of food blessed on Holy Saturday. The food items in the Easter basket have special significance. The white napkin that lines the basket represents the shroud of Christ. The lamb in sugar or dough stands for Jesus, the Paschal lamb. The hardboiled eggs symbolize new life in Christ rising from his tomb. Bread represents the bread of life given by God. Meat and sausages are symbols of the resurrected Christ. Salt is to add zest to life and sweets suggest the promise of eternal life.


APRIL:

5th April - Easter Sunday
12th April - Divine Mercy Sunday
19th April - 3rd Sunday of Easter
26th April - 4th Sunday of Easter

Diocese: newsletter April || Bishop Nicholas video message from Lourdes

‘True Life in Christ' - A Meditation for Easter’ by Canon David Annear, inspired by our Rosary windows and the Glorious Mysteries.


MAY:

3rd May - 5th Sunday of Easter
10th May - 6th Sunday of Easter
17th May - 7th Sunday of Easter
24th May - Pentecost
31st May - The Most Holy Trinity

Pope Leo Encyclical Letter 'Magnifica Humanitas' on safeguardung the human person in the time of artificial inteligence. LINKS: CBCEW || Vatican || CAFOD

Pope Leo's Prayer Intention for May: That everyone might have food. Let us pray that everyone, from large producers to small consumers, be committed to avoid wasting food, and to ensure that everyone has access to quality food.

Diocese: newsletter May

Our biennial Music and Arts Festival ran from May 17th to 24th May

Christian Aid Week 10th - 16th May ~and ~ ''A Million Acts of Hope' week of action 13th - 20th May, when we are invited to spread hope in whichever way we can. Hundreds of charities, communities and faith groups have come together to make the week happen. ~~ Join CAFOD in finding hope in Pope Leo’s teachings.

Pope Leo XIV Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te on Love for the Poor || related CAFOD article || Buckfast Abbey Conference Report || “A Church that sets no limits to love, that knows no enemies to fight but only men & women to love, is the Church that the world needs today.” ~ Pope Leo XIV Dilexi Te


JUNE:

JULY:

AUGUST:

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NOVEMBER:

DECEMBER:

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