Welcome to the parish of the St Mary’s in Grantham.
St Mary’s Catholic church is located at 1 North Parade, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 8AT. Further details from the church can be found on their website https://stmaryscatholicchurch.co.uk/
As of the 5th of January “Communal Worship” is still allowed to take place, therefore we are still able to celebrate Mass and pray together. A copy of the Governments document explaining the guidance can be downloaded below. As you can see on the church website, they have have Mass 4 times a week: Sunday, Tuesday, at 9.30 a.m Thursday at 11.00am & Saturday Vigil Mass at 6.00 pm.
Please book for Mass, please don’t just turn up, due to the strict restrictions we have to abide by to keep our Church open, we cannot allow more than our allocated number of spaces meaning we may not have room.
A place must be booked via the parish website www.stmaryscatholicchurch.co.uk or Richard and Teresa Wilk (Landline: 01476 562517 or Mobile 07743308128) will take all telephone bookings.
First Holy Communion
In the Eucharist (our act of thanksgiving to God) we receive Christ Himself. For all of us, it is obviously important that we are properly prepared and approach the sacrament with the correct disposition. The day of our First Holy Communion should be one of the most memorable and joyful days of our life.
At what point do we receive our First Holy Communion?
Children must be baptised and capable of understanding the fact that they are receiving not ordinary food but the Body and Blood of Christ, and can receive the sacrament with reverence. Normally, First Holy Communion is made when the children are in Year 3 at school or aged 7 and over.
Please note: If an older person has not made their First Holy Communion and wishes to do so, it might, depending upon their age, be appropriate for them to join those preparing for Confirmation or reception into the Catholic Church.
First Confessions
We are conscious that none of us are worthy of so great a gift, yet we must be prepared as well as possible to receive Christ in the Eucharist. This includes receiving forgiveness in the sacrament of Confession for our sins, for anything that separates us from Christ and His Church. By the age the children make their First Holy Communion, they know the difference between right and wrong; they are capable of taking responsibility for their own actions. Therefore, they make their First Confession before making their First Holy Communion and are prepared for this as part of the programme.
The Programme
The children are in the main prepared by catechists, parishioners who have a great love for the Eucharist and who wish to pass on their love and understanding to the next generation of Catholics. The family, the school and the priest also have an important role to play in preparing the children. Of course, the celebration of the sacrament will mean more to the children if they are coming regularly to Mass and the faith is a central part of their family life.
The children make their First Holy Communion at St Mary’s church on a weekend in late spring/early summer. There will be a series of preparatory classes, the programme for which will be advertised in the parish newsletter for parents with children of the appropriate age to apply.
Good News
We have received some wonderful news; the Nottingham Diocesan Catholic Youth Service (NDCYS) has been working on a way to allow candidates to be prepared to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in a COVID secure way. They have developed a new course that will be delivered safely and securely online by NDCYS and your team of catechists at St Mary’s. If your child was supposed to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2020 – please check your email for further information.
