Roman Catholic Parish of Our Lady Immaculate, Whitstable



Parish of Our Lady Immaculate Church & St Joseph's Church
Roman Catholic Church for Whitstable, Tankerton and Chestfield , Kent

Rev. Father Kevin St Aubyn RIP 

Of your charity please pray for the repose of the soul of Father Kevin St Aubyn
who died Saturday 9th September aged 89, in the 64th year of his priesthood.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Click here for a selection of photos and other links.

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Newsletter for Palm Sunday and Holy Week

Sunday 24th March and the days following

Download Newsletter PDF of Pastoral Message from Archbishop John Wilson on the Question of Assisted Suicide

HOLY WEEK 2024

24th March - 30th March

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and culminates with the Sacred Triduum and the celebration of Easter.

The times of the main services are:

  • Palm Sunday: Sat. 6pm, 8.30am & 10.30am
  • Holy Thursday: 8pm Mass of the Lord's Supper
  • Good Friday: 3pm Solemn Liturgy of the Passion
  • Holy Saturday: 8.30pm the Easter Vigil Mass
  • Easter Sunday: 8.30am and 10.30am

Complete details and notes of other services and confession times are in the Newsletter (click here).


Our Parish

The Catholic parish of Whitstable includes the whole town from Swalecliffe to Seasalter, out towards Blean and including Dargate.
 
We have two churches, the parish church of Our Lady of The Immaculate Conception in Northwood Road, Whitstable and St. Joseph's in Chestfield Road, Chestfield (currently closed). We have the valuable Parish Social Centre in Castle Road (just behind the parish church). The Parish Office is located in the Social Centre the address is 15a Castle Road, CT5 2DY.

First Holy Communion 2023


YouTube Logo

The Parish has a YouTube Channel, a way of connecting visually with parishioners and others, especially when it is not possible to gather together. 

Click here or on the YouTube logo above to visit the channel.


24th March from 8.30am: Click here to watch a recording of the Mass for Palm Sunday from Saturday 23rd March.


17th March: Click here to watch a recording of the Mass for the 5th Sunday of Lent from Saturday 16th March.


10th March: Click here to watch a recording of the Mass for the 4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday) from Saturday 9th March.


3rd March: Click here to watch a recording of the Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Lent from Saturday 2nd March.


Other Masses remain on the YouTube Channel, click here to view the 'play list' of Sunday Masses.

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Living with the effects of the COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Updated September 2022

Please read the information below concerning Mass and prayer following latest Government updates.

Holy Mass
Revised September 2022
The COVID pandemic remains a cause for concern and so some measures remain in place.
  • Holy Mass will be celebrated at 6 pm on Saturday's, 8.30am and 10.30 am on Sunday's. 
  • There will be no Mass celebrated at St Joseph's at this time.
  • If you have any COVID-19 symptoms please do not attend.
  • Please use the sanitisers kept at the entrance and exit when entering and exiting the church. 
  • A one way system is marked on the floor of the church.
  • Mass during the week will normally be on Tuesday at 12.30pm and Wednesday to Friday at 10am. Please check the newsletter as timings may have to be adjusted on some occasions.
Individual Prayer
Our Lady Immaculate church is now normally open for individual prayer from 9am to 4pm on weekdays. 

Please remember:
  • To use the sanitisers kept near the doors of the church when entering and exiting the church. 
  • A one way system will be in operation to maintain social distancing.

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Message From Canon Philip
Fr Philip Glandfield

Dear friends,

Welcome to this Parish website for the Catholic Parish of Our Lady Immaculate, Whitstable. I hope that you are able to find useful information about our parish and that we may be able to welcome you to the church at some point. If you would like to join the parish community for a 'Sunday Mass' the times are 8.30 am and 10.30 am, with a vigil Mass 6 pm Saturday evening. The church is on Northwood Road, close to the junction with Castle Road.

Canon Philip

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Please click below to read further updates from the diocese.

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Fund Raising

Dear Parishioners,

Even though access to church buildings was somewhat restricted, the parish is still incurring maintenance and other fixed costs. If you can continue to support the parish it will be gratefully appreciated. The best way to help would be to set up a standing order, gift aided if possible, or to make a cheque donation or a bank credit transfer. Thank you.

For further details please contact our Parish Finance Committee member Mr David Wiles on whitstablegac@rcaos.org.uk or on 01227 265 763


DONATIONS VIA PAYPAL

The Archdiocese of Southwark has successfully signed up to PayPal as a registered charity. We have decided to take advantage of this set up and you will now be able to access our New donation page here.

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Message to all our fellow parishioners from SVP

At this strange and difficult time, should any of you find yourself at home and unable to go out, the SVP are happy to offer help in any way they can. If you need any shopping we can arrange for that to be done and brought to your door. Or perhaps you are feeling lonely and isolated and just want to have a chat with someone. We have a dedicated SVP mobile number which is monitored daily - so please don't hesitate to call and leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible. The number to ring is 07842 550998


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Spiritual Communion prayer:

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen


Pope Francis has offered the following prayer for Catholics wishing to make a spiritual communion:

At your feet, O my Lord Jesus I prostrate myself and offer you repentance of my contrite heart, which is humbled in its nothingness and in your holy presence. I adore you in the sacrament of your love. I desire to receive you into the poor dwelling that my heart offers you. While waiting for the happiness of sacramental communion, I wish to possess you in spirit. Come to me, O my Jesus, since I for my part, am coming to you. May your love embrace my whole being in life and death. I believe in you, I hope in you, I love you. Amen

 

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Prayer for Vocations
God our Father: You made each of us to use our gifts in the Body of Christ. We ask that you inspire your people whom you call to priesthood and consecrated life, to courageously follow your will. Send workers into your great harvest so that the Gospel is preached, the poor are served with love, the suffering are comforted and your people are strengthened by your gifts. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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