St Aidans News letter - Autumn 2025
Welcome to those of you who have joined our church congregation since our last newsletter. We want to update you about some of the things that are happening and some of the opportunities there are to become involved in our parish life.
The Welcome Team
When you arrive at St Aidan’s you are greeted by the welcome team, Nigel offers you some hand sanitiser and news of things that are happening this weekend. We have a flip chart which advertises forthcoming events and currently this is the Christmas wreath making on the 6th December. You can then pick up a hymn book, a copy of the weekly newsletter and leaflets or booklets that relate to events or appeals that are happening.
Tea and Coffee after Mass
We are very grateful to Bernie and Sean who provide the refreshments after Mass each Sunday, and to Ellie who has been making cakes as part of her Duke of Edinburgh award. All our refreshments are donated and are to be shared, so please think of others. Joining together in the parish room you will meet other parishioners and share some conversation which helps you to get to know those you share your worship with.
Our new Website https://staidansnorthampton.org
We are pleased to announce that after some careful planning and hard work by Roy George our new website is now live. Take a look as we need your help. We need some feedback, we need your photographs of events associated to the parish and your suggestions and ideas for things that we need to include. What would you like to see? What do you think will help our on-line visitors?
Gardening and Tidying Up our Grounds
Thanks go to Alison and David Jackson for their recent work in tidying up the car park, and pathways from the parish room to the gate and the external plant pots. The transformation is quite amazing. Thank you also to the cleaners who have planted the pots with flowers at our Church front door, which offers such a warm welcome.
New Church Cleaners are needed.
Can you spare two hours on a Monday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm to help with the cleaning? Our current team are looking for some new people to expand the numbers. We welcome both ladies and gentlemen to this role. Come along and give it try.
Altar Servers Needed
We are in need of some new altar servers to assist at Mass on a Sunday and other special occasions. Training will be given by Mathews Roy and we welcome both boys and girls who have made their First Holy Communion. Speak to our Priest or Mathews
Sunday Morning Children’s Liturgy Group
We are delighted to see many families joining us for our Sunday Mass celebration and bringing their children along to join in their own liturgy. We very much appreciate the work done behind the scenes from the Catechists with all the children. This opportunity helps nurture their knowledge and understanding of our Sunday liturgy in age appropriate terminology.
First Holy Communion & Confirmation
The preparation classes for First Holy Communion will be starting very soon. Confirmation will start in January 2026. Please do keep our young people in your prayers as they mature and become fuller members of the Catholic family.
Baptism at St Aidan’s
There will be a parents evening on Tuesday 11th November at 7pm at the St Thomas Centre, Northampton Cathedral. Parents wishing to have their child baptised need to attend this evening which will explain your commitment to having your child baptised and that of the Godparents. At the end of the session you will be able to book your child’s baptism.
Music Group
Are you musical? Can you play an
instrument, and would you like to join St Aidan’s Music Group to help enhance
the liturgy? Please speak to Alison after Mass (Keyboard player) if you want to
know more. St Aidan’s does have some lovely voices who sing from the
congregation enhancing the Sunday Mass, thank you.
Fundraising Group
Our parish needs to raise some funds to help with our current annual parish deficit. Having social events is also an opportunity for us to get to know each other, have some fun and share our talents. If you would like to be involved in this group or you have any ideas please see Ann Comerford or Frances Noone or put your ideas in our suggestion box which is at the back of the church. Next meeting will be on Wednesday 26th November at 7pm in the parish room. If you have some ideas then do come along.
Suggestion Box
There is a suggestion box at the back of church for your ideas.
St Aidan’s St Vincent de Paul (Helping in the Community to those who are in need) www.svp.org.uk
St Aidan’s has had a conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society for many years. The aim is to support those in need, as an anti-poverty charity part of an international Christian voluntary network dedicated to tackling poverty in all its forms by providing practical assistance to people in need. The essence of our work is person-to-person contact and spending time with people is our greatest gift. We meet fortnightly on a Monday evening in the parish room. If you would like to find out more then please speak to Ann or Ancy or call the SVP phone on Tel 07513 367148
End of the Year, Feast of Christ the King, Advent & Christmas 2025
We are reaching the end of Liturgical Year C, with the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday 23rd November We would like to see our youth taking a lead at this service. Would you like to be involved in this service? Speak to Ann Comerford.
Advent, the First Sunday of Advent Sunday 30th November
The SVP will be organising the parish ‘Giving Tree’ This will be available on Sunday 23rd November so please take a tag from the porch and bring your items for our Christmas Parcels. In exchange for bringing in your gifts you can help to decorate our Christmas Tree by placing a bauble on the tree. The tree will not go up until the 17th December. There will be a donations box close to the Christmas Tree for parishioners who wish to offer a financial donation. Our children’s liturgy group will help with the lighting of the advent candles. Our Parish Christmas Crib will be placed under the Altar
Christmas Flowers
We thank Anita and her team who look after the flowers during the year. Christmas is a special time to decorate our church with floral arrangements so if you are able to help please let Anita know.
Christmas Cards, Cribs and Gifts from our Parish Repository.
The repository has a good selection of items to help with your Christmas shopping. Please do take a look and buy local. We have the new Sunday missals which could make a suitable Christmas Gift.
Service of Readings and Carols – Sunday 14th December at 3.00pm
Put the date in your diary and volunteer your support for this service. Tell your family and friends about it and help to make it part of your Advent preparations. We will be looking for readers, people to do the refreshments after the service and people to light candles.
Mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
The Family Mass on Christmas Eve Wednesday 24th December will be at 5pm. Our young children will be involved in this Mass. Can readers and Eucharistic Ministers please sign up for Christmas Eve and Christmas day. A signup sheet will be on the Flip chart stand or see Gemma at the parish repository.
Mass on Christmas Day Thursday 25th December will be at 9.45am
The parish offering on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be your gift to the Priests of the Cathedral Hub
Weddings at St Aidan’s 2026
We have three couples who are getting married at our church next year. We wish them well as they make their preparations and join our parish community.
Chaplaincy and Hospital visiting from the Cathedral Hub
If you or a member of your family are in Northampton General Hospital then please let the Parish Office now and they can be visited by the Chaplaincy Team who can enable you to receive Holy Communion. Call the office on 01604 714556
CASPAR Your way of being recognised as a member of your Parish
We are all encouraged to register as a member of the parish community enabling you to be supported by the Cathedral Hub and our Priests. It is also a way of the Church being able to communicate with you. COVID highlighted that communication was difficult and this new registration process will help in the future. www.caspar.church/me?ID=56065