Parish News Archive April 2026

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Maundy Service at Saint Charles

Mass of the Lord’s Supper

2nd April 2026

People attending a church service or ceremony in a grand, ornate church with intricate ceiling designs, large purple drapes, and a mural above an altar. The clergy are dressed in gold and white robes, facing a person on a purple throne-like chair.

Four children in white robes standing in a church, holding candles with glass covers and a tall candle holder, participating in a religious ceremony.

A man dressed in a yellow and white robe standing at a pulpit in a church with purple drapes covering the altar and decorations, and a congregation seated facing the pulpit.

A priest in ornate gold vestments walks down the center aisle of a church during a service, with worshippers seated in pews on both sides and an elaborate altar in the background.

Interior of a church with an ornate altar decorated with purple cloth and lit candles, congregation gathered facing the altar, with large purple curtains on either side, and a religious painting with figures and clouds above.

People praying in a church with an altar decorated with candles and flowers.

Children in white robes participating in a religious ceremony at a church altar with candles and purple decorations.

A person with short dark hair, draped in a gold and white ceremonial cloth, kneels before a religious altar adorned with lit candles, ornate candles holders, and religious icons.

St Charles Borromeo Church was filled with a quiet sense of reverence and reflection on Thursday evening as parishioners gathered for the 6:30pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper, marking the beginning of the Sacred Triduum.

From the outset, the tone was one of deep solemnity. Fr Phil led the liturgy with a calm and prayerful presence, guiding the congregation through one of the most significant moments in the Church’s year. The altar servers carried out their roles with dignity and precision, contributing to a service that felt both ordered and deeply spiritual.

Music played a central part in the evening. The choir was in particularly fine form, delivering a series of beautifully prepared hymns and responses that enhanced the atmosphere of the liturgy. Their singing added depth and richness, helping to draw the congregation into the mystery of the Last Supper and Christ’s commandment of love and service.

The church itself was well attended, with a strong and respectful congregation present. There was a noticeable sense of unity and attentiveness, with many clearly entering into the significance of the occasion. The washing of the feet, a central part of the Maundy Thursday liturgy, was observed with quiet reflection, reinforcing the message of humility and service.

Following the Mass, the mood shifted gently into a more contemplative phase as the Blessed Sacrament was transferred to the Altar of Repose. Parishioners were invited to remain for a period of watching until 8:30pm, recalling Christ’s invitation to His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Could you not watch with me one hour?”

Many chose to stay, maintaining a silent and prayerful vigil. The stillness of the church during this time created a powerful contrast to the earlier liturgy, offering space for personal reflection and prayer.

Overall, the evening at St Charles was marked by dignity, devotion, and a strong sense of shared faith. It was a fitting and moving beginning to the most sacred days of the Christian calendar.

Church interior with an ornate altar, purple drapes, and a large congregation attending a religious service.

Religious ceremony inside a church with a priest dressed in red vestments, a woman holding a candle, and people participating in the service. The church has stained glass windows and wood paneling.

Good Friday at St Charles
A Solemn and Moving Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
Friday 3rd April 2026

St Charles Church marked Good Friday with a deeply prayerful and moving liturgy, as parishioners gathered in silence and reverence to reflect on the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.Unlike a normal Mass, the Good Friday service is one of the most solemn liturgies in the Catholic calendar, and at St Charles it was observed with great dignity, devotion and spiritual depth. The atmosphere throughout the church was one of stillness and reflection, as the congregation entered into the most sacred and sorrowful part of Holy Week.

The service began with the Liturgy of the Word, including the powerful proclamation of the Passion according to St John, recalling the suffering, crucifixion and death of Christ. Throughout the liturgy, the spoken and sung elements were delivered with great reverence and clarity, helping to sustain the solemn character of the celebration.

A particularly notable feature of the service was the way in which Fr Phil and members of the choir and speakers together carried many of the spoken and sung parts of the liturgy. Their contribution gave the celebration both dignity and depth, and helped draw the congregation into a more reflective and prayerful participation.

This was followed by the Solemn Intercessions, in which the Church prays for the world, the Holy Church, those in need, and all people.

One of the most poignant moments of the liturgy came during the Veneration of the Cross, as members of the congregation came forward in silence to honour the Cross on which Christ gave His life for the salvation of the world. It was a deeply moving expression of faith, humility and gratitude.

Holy Communion was then distributed from hosts consecrated at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday, before the service concluded quietly and without the usual dismissal, leaving a profound sense of solemnity and contemplation.

The Good Friday liturgy at St Charles was marked by prayerful participation, reverent silence, and a strong sense of shared faith, helping all present to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s Passion as the parish now waits in hope for the joy of Easter.

Read more about Good Friday

Easter Services at Saint Charles

Person reading a book or script at a podium in a dark setting.

Holy Week and Easter at St Charles were marked by reverence, beauty and deep joy, as parishioners gathered to celebrate the heart of the Christian faith: Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday was one of the most moving liturgies of the Church’s year. Beginning in darkness, the service opened with the blessing of the new fire and the lighting of the Paschal Candle, symbolising Christ as the Light of the World. As candles were lit throughout the church, the darkness gave way to light, creating a powerful atmosphere of hope and renewal.

Through Scripture, prayer, music and the joyful return of the Gloria and Alleluia, the Vigil led the congregation from the solemnity of the Passion to the triumph of the Resurrection. The renewal of baptismal promises reminded all present of the new life we share in Christ.

Then on Easter Day, the church gathered again in joyful celebration to proclaim the glorious truth of the Gospel: Jesus Christ has conquered death and is alive.

This gallery captures some of those prayerful and uplifting moments as St Charles celebrated the Resurrection of the Lord with faith, devotion and Easter joy.

A priest and several students participating in a religious ceremony involving fire in a church setting.

Priests and altar servers performing a religious ceremony with a flame and liturgical items inside a church.

The Pascal candle is processed in the aisle

A man in religious attire reading a book in a dimly lit setting, possibly during a religious ceremony or service.

Group of people holding candles during a religious ceremony inside a church.

People inside a church or cathedral, facing an altar with a large crucifix and religious statues, illuminated by candles and dim lighting.

People participating in a religious candlelight ceremony, holding lit candles in a dimly lit indoor setting.

A man reading at a lectern inside a church, with a crucifix of Jesus Christ on the cross behind him and a lit candle, while a congregation listens.

A man with a beard wearing a white t-shirt looking down in an indoor setting.

A priest and an altar server inside a church during a religious ceremony, with religious icons, candles, and floral decorations.

A young boy dressed in a white robe playing a small organ in a church, with ornate decorations, candles, and floral arrangements visible in the background.

Interior of a church or cathedral with altar, floral arrangements, and ornate architecture. A person is lighting a candle.

A priest standing at an altar in a richly decorated church, facing an ornate altar adorned with candles and flowers.

People attending a church service or event inside a decorated church altar with religious icons and floral arrangements.

People praying at an altar in a church with ornate statues and decorations

A priest in ornate robes standing behind an altar with a Bible and a large candle, inside a church with a crucifixion statue to his right.

A priest standing at a lectern in a church, wearing gold vestments, with a crucifix hanging to his right, and a candle on his left. The church interior shows peeling paint on the walls and religious icons at the front.

A religious ceremony inside a church with a priest in golden vestments performing a blessing on a man in a beige suit. Several people, including a woman and other clergy, observe the ceremony.

A religious ceremony inside a church with a priest performing a blessing or confirmation on a woman while other people observe.

A priest officiating a religious ceremony inside a church with a altar and stained glass windows, with an altar boy and an altar attendant.

A group of people participating in a religious ceremony inside a church, with a priest blessing a young man in a light gray suit while others look on.

A priest standing at an altar inside a church, decorated with flowers, candles, and ornate religious artwork.

Four altar servers in white robes kneel and hold candles in front of an altar during a religious ceremony in a church. A priest in gold vestments stands at the altar behind them.

People attending a church service at an ornate altar with a priest in white robes, surrounded by floral arrangements and religious artwork.

PARISH EVENTS IN APRIL

1803 Anniversary
celebrated at
Ss Mary & Joseph Church in Hedon

A special evening of prayer and thanksgiving took place on Tuesday 7 April as the parish community gathered to celebrate the historic foundation of Ss Mary and Joseph’s Church, Hedon, first established on 7 April 1803.

The commemorative Mass, celebrated at 6.30pm, marked 223 years of Catholic worship and witness in Hedon and brought together parishioners in a spirit of gratitude, reflection and shared faith.

The occasion was especially significant because the church’s original blessing in 1803 was carried out by Rev. Dr Charles Howard, who travelled from Marton. His name remains familiar and deeply meaningful in the wider Catholic story of this area, not least through its association with St Charles Borromeo, Hull, where the legacy of Catholic mission in East Yorkshire continues to be remembered and honoured. The official historical record of St Charles confirms that Fr Charles Howard of Marton played an important role in the development of Catholic worship in this region in the late eighteenth century, linking Hedon’s story closely with the broader Catholic history of Hull and the surrounding district.

The celebration served as a powerful reminder of the courage and perseverance of the Catholic communities who established and sustained places of worship at a time when Catholic life in England still carried the legacy of penal restrictions and social difficulty. The foundation of a Catholic church in Hedon in 1803 was therefore not simply a practical event, but a profound expression of faith, hope and continuity.

During the Mass, there was a clear sense of continuity between past and present — a recognition that today’s worshippers are part of a much longer story. Over the generations, Ss Mary and Joseph’s has been a place of prayer, sacrament, community and consolation, serving families through baptisms, marriages, funerals and the ordinary rhythms of parish life. Anniversaries such as this one offer an opportunity not only to remember the past, but also to give thanks for the faith that has endured and been handed on through the years.

The church today continues as part of the wider Catholic family of parishes within the Diocese of Middlesbrough, and its enduring presence stands as a testimony to the strength of local faith and devotion. The anniversary Mass was therefore not only a historical commemoration, but also a celebration of a living parish community still rooted in the same mission and hope that inspired its foundation more than two centuries ago.

For those who attended, the evening was a fitting and prayerful tribute to the generations who have worshipped there before us, and to those who continue to keep that witness alive today.

As the parish gave thanks for the foundation of Ss Mary and Joseph’s, Hedon, it also honoured the enduring legacy of faith that links Hedon, Marton and St Charles itself — a shared story still being written in the life of the Church today.