Oct 17th 2026
The 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time- 18th October 2026
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, as we come to celebrate this Sunday, the Church places before us the Gospel account of our Lord’s teaching on prayer and on forgiveness. When we ask the Father for His mercy, we must seek to be both humble and constant, trusting that He hears us; and when we have received pardon from God, we must also forgive those who wrong us. Let us seek, therefore, to live and worship with sincere hearts: not only offering prayers with our lips, but living the truth of them in our daily conduct, especially in the charity we show towards others.
Our readings this Sunday also draw our attention to the virtue of justice and the value of true righteousness. God does not delight in hypocrisy or empty show, but in a conscience that is rightly formed and a will that seeks His glory. Our worship must always be joined to obedience; our words must be matched by works of mercy; and our desire for heaven must bear fruit in patience, fidelity, and peace within our families and our parish.
At the end of this bulletin, I wish to share a cause for great joy: we look forward to welcoming our Bishop on the Feast of All Saints, that he may confer the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation upon Chukwudalu and Matt. Please keep them in your prayers, that the Holy Spirit may fill their hearts with grace, strengthen them with His gifts, and guide them always to live faithfully as members of Christ’s Church.
In Christ’s love,
Father Victor / Brother Cuthbert
THIS WEEK - THE 29th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - 18th October 2026
Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9.15 am.
PARISH MASS at 10.00 am.
20th October
TUESDAY
Low Mass at 6.30 pm.
Christian Initiation Class in the Vestry Hall at 7 pm
21st October
WEDNESDAY
Lauds at 9.00 am.
Eucharistic Adoration at 11.45 am.
Low Mass at 12.15pm.
22nd October
THURSDAY
Lauds at 9.00 am.
Low Mass at 10.00 am.
23rd October
FRIDAY
Lauds at 9.00 am.
Low Mass (B.C.P. / English Missal) at 10.00 am.
Coffee Morning at 10.30 am.
24th October
SATURDAY
Lauds at 9.00 am.
Low Mass at 10.00 am.
25th October
SUNDAY - THE 30th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Lauds (Morning Prayer) at 9.15 am.
PARISH MASS at 10.00 am.
TEA AND COFFEE IS AVAILABLE AFTER MASS ON SUNDAYS - DO JOIN US FOR FELLOWSHIP.
PARISH NEWS
THE CHRISTIAN INITIATION CLASS CONTINUES THIS WEEK on Tuesday at 7 pm in the Vestry Hall at Church.
PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES TO DEEPEN YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE
OUR NEXT PRAYER WALK will take place on SATURDAY 14th DECEMBER. Again we will pray at different locations around the Parish for our mission endeavours and for all who live and work in those particular areas. We will leave from Saint Martin’s Church at 3.30 pm.
OUR NEXT PARISH PRAYER GROUP MEETING will gather together on THURSDAY 5th NOVEMBER AT 7.00 pm at the Vicarage. This will be, once again, an opportunity for open prayer so please bring the intentions, dear to your heart, that you would like us all to pray for. The Parish Prayer Group will continue at the beginning of each month on a Thursday evening.
THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS WITH BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION ON SUNDAY 1st NOVEMBER AT 10 am.
Our Bishop Paul of Oswestry will be with us as our Celebrant and will confer Baptism and Confirmation on Matt Goodchild and Confirmation on Chukwudalu Agu. Please pray for them as they make this important step in their ongoing Christian lives. The Mass will be followed by a Parish celebration in the Vestry Hall.
THE FEAST OF ALL SOULS takes place on MONDAY 2nd NOVEMBER with two Masses.
There will be a Mass at 12 noon with the Blessing of the Graves in our Churchyard and a SUNG MASS AT 7 pm. There are sheets on the table at the back of Church for names of the departed that you wish to be commemorated at these Masses.
OUR PARISH BONFIRE NIGHT PARTY takes place on WEDNESDAY 4th NOVEMBER between 5 pm - 7.30 pm. There will be: FIREWORKS, BAKED POTATOES WITH FILLINGS, HOT CHOCOLATE AND MARSHMALLOWS, APPLE DUNKING AND OTHER GAMES. Tickets are available from the Clergy. £5 for Adults and £3.50 for 15 year olds and under.
OUR PARISH PATRONAL CELEBRATION OF SAINT MARTIN takes place this year on SATURDAY 7th NOVEMBER AT 12 NOON.
The Reverend Canon Andrew Stevens, The Chaplain General of the Order of Saint John, will be our Preacher for the occasion and we we welcome a visiting Choir under the direction of Richard.
Our Parish Family’s Patronal Mass will be followed by the usual Party in the Vestry Hall afterwards.
Please see the list for Food contributions for this party on the table at the Back of Church.
THE FIRING OF THE FENNY POPPERS takes place, as tradition dictates, on WEDNESDAY 11th NOVEMBER, in LEON RECREATION GROUND at 12 noon, 2 pm and 4pm.
SOLEMN FESTAL VESPERS (Evening Prayer) will then take place in Church at 6.45 pm.
THE BROWNE WILLIS DINNER follows at 7.30 pm in the TUK TUK THAI RESTAURANT over the road during which the Browne Willis Talk will be given and the traditional toast offered.
MENUS AND THE SIGN UP LIST FOR THIS CAN BE FOUND AT THE BACK OF CHURCH.
OUR HALF HOUR BIBLE STUDY GROUP ON MOST SUNDAYS. This is a regular meeting that takes place after Sunday Mass and Coffee every week - Father Tunji leads us to reflect more closely on the Holy Scriptures, which are one of God’s most precious gifts to us. Bibles texts will be supplied. THE BIBLE STUDY MEETS EITHER IN THE VESTRY HALL OR THE LIBRARY IN THE CHURCH, BY THE CHAPEL OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM.
IMPORTANT NOTE: CONFESSIONS - As well as Saturday mornings, the Sacrament of Confession can be celebrated 20 minutes before any of the Weekday Masses and immediately afterwards. Please speak to Father Victor, Father Ian or Father Tunji.
CHECK IT OUT - REPOSITORY - OUR PIETY STALL
This is open before and after Mass on Sundays and weekdays selling a wide range of items from religious cards, rosaries, books, crucifixes and icons to mugs, fridge magnets, church diaries, pens and note books.
THE PROCEEDS OF EVERYTHING WE SELL ON OUR PIETY STALL GOES TOWARDS WELL NEEDED CHURCH FUNDS.
Items presently are to be can be found on the table in the Vestry Hall. Please take a look.
IF YOU HAVE ANY PRAYERS or Mass intentions you would like me to offer at Mass or if would like someone added to our parish prayer list of the Sick or Departed.
Father Victor’s contact details are as follows:
Telephone: 07714190663
He is also usually available in person during Surgery Hour on Saturday’s in Church between 10.30am - 11.30am.
AS NOTED, THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION AND RECONCILIATION is also available at this time.
Please continue to remember the following in your prayers:
That God will guide, protect and prosper the faith, lives and families of Matthew Goodchild and Chukwudalu Agu as they come to receive Baptism and Confirmation at the hands of our Bishop Paul on All Saints Day.
That as we come to celebrate our Patronal Festival in honour of Our Patron Saint Martin, we may seek afresh to grow in our discipleship in Christ and to become more fully the people He wishes us to be. May we welcome Christ Jesus fully into our hearts and lives and may the Prayers of Saint Martin aid us.
That we may continue to worship in spirit and truth, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
That we may grow in a deeper appreciation of the Holy Traditions of our Christian Church, of the Holy Scriptures and of the precious deposit of faith and teachings that have been passed down to us from the Apostles.
For Blessings on our Parish family as we seek to grow our Church.
For graces, blessings and a deepening of understanding of Christ and His teachings for those participating in our Faith Formation and other Groups.
For peace in our troubled world and for an ending to the conflict in Iran, Gaza and the Ukraine.
For our Parish Prayer Group and Prayer Walks and for those who take part.
For a greater generosity in giving and stewardship so that we may be able to fund our mission and witness effectively.
For our Church community, that we may continue to grow into the likeness of Our Lord through worship, prayer and service.
For our Parish that we may emulate him in our faithfulness to the Gospel and its proclamation and to the care of our brothers and sisters in their need.
For our young people that the Lord may fill their hearts with living faith that they may serve Him faithfully in worship and in service.
For our Bishop Paul and all the Parishes that look to him in the See of Oswestry.
For the future of our Sunday School, that we may find a capable and loving teacher to carry on this vital ministry.
For a deepening of our own faith and a greater commitment to Christ.
For the strength to remain firm in our Christian faith and to give witness to it through our own example.
That we may continue to remember, the needs of those so less fortunate than ourselves.
For those at school, college or University, that as they grow in knowledge and wisdom, they may be safe and well.
For those who work, particularly those who have families or other dependents.
For our Government, that they may seek to serve the common good and that we may see increased integrity within the world of politics.
For peace to reign within our homes and between one another.
For the elderly, housebound and those living in residential and nursing homes.
For our Ambulance Service and for our other Emergency Service Staff and for Milton Keynes Hospital and all who work there.
For Father Victor, Father Ian, Father Tunji as they seek to continue to make Christ present in our midst through the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass and the other Sacraments of the New Covenant. May the Lord bless them as they seek to make Christ known and offer continuing Pastoral care.
For our Monastic Community of the House of Initia Nova of the Order of Saint Benedict as, enthused by its recent Convocation at the Motherhouse in Ponce, Puerto Rico we seek to know and serve God.
For our Abbot, Michael-John Austin, for all of the community and for those new to its life.
For the Sick:
For Jonathan Tedd, Ray Carter, Phil Wagg, Christine Hummant, Damian Seymour, Yvonne and Denis Simpson, Gary Ashby, Rosalio Eluna, Heather Burke, and Nicola Monaghan.
For the Departed:
For all the recently departed, and for all whose whose anniversaries fall at this time. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let Light Perpetual shine upon them.
May the Lord equip and strengthen you for His service.
Father Victor (Brother Cuthbert)
