Regular Meetings and Activities
A number of Parish Groups meet on a regular basis, and a separate list shows when and where their regular meetings are planned. Please click here to visit the page.
In addition, the meetings will usually be announced on the News pages of the website, and in the Newsletter, in the week before any meeting is held – particularly if there is any change to date, time or venue.
If in doubt – and before travelling any distance – feel free to contact the leader/coordinator of the Group, as listed in our “Parish Contacts” page.
Offertory Collections
For those unable to attend Mass – or when we are not able to celebrate Mass – offerings for St Benet’s can be made by: –
Bank Transfer, payable to “Downside Abbey Missions Trust, Beccles” (or “DAMT Beccles” for short)
at Barclays account no 33416046, sort code 20-47-06;
The equivalent at Gillingham is ‘Gillingham Catholic Church’
at Barclays 40518174, sort code 20-92-08.
Cheques can be sent to Fr Martin or our Treasurer, made payable
to “Downside Abbey Missions Trust, Beccles” or “DAMT Beccles” for short.
Direct Debits or Standing Orders, may be arranged through our Parish Treasurer.
Pamela@saint-mart.co.uk or tel. 01502 471717.
The Treasurer, St Benet’s RC Church,
2 Grange Road, BECCLES. NR34 9NR
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Children below the age for First Holy Communion are very welcome to join in a discovery of the Sunday readings through story-telling and related activities in the Parish Hall.
The children then return to the church for the offertory procession and the second part of Mass.
This liturgy takes place between 10.25 am & 11:00 am on the Second, Third and Fourth Sundays of the month during the school year.
We ask that the youngest children are accompanied by their own parent or carer.
Mass and Prayer Intentions
If you want to have a Mass said for any personal intention, please use this link to obtain a form of request to contact the Parish Priest. Alternatively, you can send an email – with all the relevant details asked for on the form – to priest@stbenetsbeccles.org. A suitable date can then be agreed and arrangements made for the traditional stipend to be paid.
Prayer Requests
We have three facilities for parishioners – or indeed anyone – to ask our clergy and our parishioners to pray for a particular personal intention that is important to you.
The first two have exised for some time, and consist of a “Prayer Request Book” and a “Prayer Request Pin Board”; simply jot your request on either, with as much or as little detail as you wish, and these can be read by anyone and referred to during Mass or other relevant services. The Book and Board are kept just inside the “Bunbury Door”- alongside the pulpit. They are adjacent to the Lady Chapel, where the atmosphere is conducive to quiet thought and reflection, and where you might like to offer your own prayers in whatever form you find relevant.
The third option has been introduced during the Covid19 pandemic, when attendance at church has been limited by regulation, or by the need to protect one’s own health and/or the health of others. Basically, it provides the same facility of asking our clergy and parishioners to think of – and pray for – something important to you, but using modern technology to record and share your request. All that is required is for you, or a friend or relative, to send an email to priest@stbenetsbeccles.org. – or an ordinary letter to Parish Priest, St Benet’s Church, 2 Grange Road BECCLES NR34 9NR – with your Prayer Request. This will then be added to our website “Prayer Requests” page. The message posted may be anonymous or just use a first name, if you wish.
Sacrament of Reconciliation; “Our Easter Duties”
Every Catholic is required to make an annual Confession within a few weeks of Easter – usually between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday.
There will be Confessions as usual at 10 am every Saturday.
In adition, for your annual Confession, you can also make an appointment to see Fr Martin at a time of mutual convenience during the week.
Church Flowers
We all like to see the flowers in St Benet’s. Would you like to arrange them, maybe once a year?
The team is getting smaller and we need more people to join us.
To find out what is involved please speak to Rona after 10.30 Mass or ring 712652.
Gift Aid
For those donating by Gift Aid, the Envelope boxes for the new tax year, starting in April, are now available for collection at the back of St Benet’s.
If you don’t already commit to Gift Aid, please consider joining the scheme as it means we can claim back 25p in the pound from the government – at NO COST to you.
For more information see https://saintbenetsbeccles.org/parish-finances/income/gift-aid/
Missio Red Boxes
Boxes are still available at the back of both churches along with copies of the latest edition of “Mission Today” booklets.
For more information about Missio contact Bernadette Starak.
Waveney Food Bank
Our local Food Bank would appreciate donations of coffee (small and large jars), creamed rice pudding or any milk puddings, small packets of cereal, washing up liquid, shampoo, laundry powder (small packs), deodorant, shower gel/liquid soap.
Any donations can be left in the box at the back of St Benet’s.
Ignite Team
Our Diocesan Youth Service is looking for people aged 18-30 to share the Gospel with young people in a way they can relate to.
Full-time positions with food, accommodation and a monthly allowance provided (ideal ‘gap year’).
For further details: www.rcdea.org.uk/youth
Town Pastors
Christian volunteers from local churches are out in town centres on Friday and/or Saturday nights – a positive influence on the streets and providing help and support to vulnerable people.
They are supported by Prayer Teams at home and at different bases in town.
Christians Together in Beccles are promoting these teams with full training both for pastoring and for prayer support.
Please sign on the lists posted at the back of both churches and / or ask Fr Martin for further details.
Marriage Preparation Programme
This programme may be of interest to couples who have been married (or otherwise been together) for some time and can be followed in the parish as well as in the diocese.
It can also be a preparation for the annual Renewal of Vows with Bishop Alan in the Cathedral, usually in early June each year.
Fr Martin can provide further information.
Prayer Intentions
Members of St Benet’s Prayer Group maintain a list of intentions for daily use.
These are usually read out as bidding prayers at Mass on Saturday morning.
If you wish to contribute, please contact Cindy (cindy2194@btinternet.com) or Fr Martin.
Parish Census
A good number of parishioners have participated in the Census in recent weeks, and it looks as if the Catholic population of Beccles and surrounding areas is growing! (We’ll publish some statistics in the New Year.)
Envelopes are still available at the back of both churches for anyone who hasn’t yet completed a census form.
Repository – Sundays after 1030 Mass
The Repository will be open after 10:30 Mass on most Sundays.
Our normal stock includes Bibles, Missals, Rosaries, Religious and Devotional articles.
We also have our suppliers’ catalogues, and orders placed today are normally with us in one or two weeks.
Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament: Saturdays
Holy Hour is held once a month on Saturday mornings in St Benet’s at a time of the week when many used to come to Confession: the Sacrament of Reconciliation is still available at that time, when we can also renew our prayer life in the presence of Jesus.
Catholic Newspapers
Apart from our Diocesan Newspaper (which is free of charge), national papers and magazines do have to be paid for!
We usually have available – at the back of the church – copies of :-
- The Catholic Herald (£2.50),
- Times & Universe (£1.50);
- and The Tablet (£3.20).
To secure a personal weekly copy, you can place an order with Fr Martin.
Year Books
Copies of the East Anglia Diocesan Yearbook @ £3.00 and English Benedictine Yearbook @£3.75 are available in both churches.
Please place your contributions in the wall box marked ‘publications’ near the porch at the back of St Benet’s – or, if you buy a copy at Gillingham, Fr Martin can transfer the funds to the St Benet’s box on your behalf.
Morning Prayer & Rosary
We will try to say Morning Prayer (in the Lady Chapel) at the times advertised. Please click here to check the schedule for the current week
Morning Prayer is always followed in St Benet’s by a decade of the Rosary – anyone is welcome to join.
On those days when no Morning Mass is celebrated, – usually on Wednesday, the priest’s day off each week – we shall meet to pray the Rosary in St Benet’s at 9.30 am.
Hospital & Other Visits
In large hospitals (Norwich or Great Yarmouth), sacramental ministry is provided by a hospital Chaplain: patients (or their families) should inform the chaplaincy of their needs as Catholics on being admitted to hospital. It is best if you inform Fr Martin as well as the hospital Chaplain.
Additionally: please let Fr Martin know if and when you would like to be visited.
If you wish to receive communion in Beccles Hospital, or to receive visits from a member of St Benet’s wherever you may be, please inform Fr Martin
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are still needed to help with serving tea and coffee after the 10.30 Mass. Please contact Mike Wells if you are able to help.
We also need potential chefs to collaborate with school kitchen staff in the running of occasional parish social evenings.
For this, it is necessary to attend a Suffolk County Council food safety / hygiene course. Please contact Fr Martin if interested.
Family Choir
On the first Sunday of each month, the St Benet’s Family Choir is now joined by staff and pupils from our Primary School.
Other families from the parish are of course very welcome to join in. If you are interested, please contact Hilary on 07958 978530.
Friends of ST BENET’S SCHOOL – Appeal for YOUR support
The Friends are keen to have the support and help of all parishioners in their efforts to raise funds for additional equipment and facilities for our parish school.
Please click on this link to visit the new page we have provided on this web site.
Catholic Singles
This is an organisation which helps single Catholics of all ages (over 18 yrs) meet other single Catholics – either one-to-one or through social events.
For further information, visit www.catholicsingles.org.uk or tel 0161 941 3498.
Get Involved – Please!
There are lots of ways you can get involved!
We always need help in building our parish life and Supporting the Liturgy – from reading to altar serving, flower arranging to singing in the Choir.
And we also need help with cleaning and polishing the church, as well as gardeners to keep the grounds looking presentable!
Or why not help Pam Storey’s team working on social events and fundraising?
There is something to suit everyone; click here to see what is going on!
New ideas are always welcome too, and the more help we have, the more the parish can achieve.
News and Notices
This Week’s News and Notices are now on a separate page.
Please click here to view them.
Activities and Events in the Parish
The list of Activities and Events planned within St Benet’s Parish is on a separate page.
