Please remember it is essential to book a seat for Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. There are not many places left at St Bernadette's or St Michael's but there are still many places left at the Masses in SS Peter & Paul Church.
For all the details of how to book, go to the latest edition of the Bulletin which you can download from the
Mass Times and Bulletin Page

On Wednesday evening local radio organised and event to sing carols on your doorstep. A few of us decided to join in by socially distancing and standing outside St Michael's.

Musicians and readers from SS Peter & Paul Church also put on a virtual Carol Service on Tuesday Evening. You can watch this any time over Christmas and sing along with the carols at home. Simply Click the link below.

Also, if you have 20 minutes to spare, the children from SS Peter & Paul School have put on a wonderful virtual nativity play. Have a watch by clicking the button below and brighten up your Christmas preparations!

A message from Fr Mark if you are thinking of volunteering in any way over the Christmas period: 

A GP friend of mine in Walsall has asked for help with the role out of the COVID vaccination programme in Walsall. They need volunteers to help at the sites as Stewards and Marshalls. The role will involve assisting patients and helping to direct them around the site. Many of the patients will be elderly and may require limited mobility assistance. Full training will be given and Protective Equipment such as face masks will be provided. Should you wish to volunteer please contact Dr Ryan Hobson at ryanhobson@doctors.org.uk.

We celebrated the Rorate Mass this morning by candlelight at SS Peter and Paul and online. A Rorate Mass is a special Mass of our Lady celebrated in Advent before sunrise. Rorate is the first word in Latin of the Entrance Antiphon of the Mass: Drop down ye heavens from above, and let the skies pour down  righteousness.

We pray to Our Lady today on the feast of Our lady of Guadaloupe, that we may be open to receive in our hearts, Jesus the light of the world.

Next week's bulletin is now ready to download from the Mass Times and Bulletin page.

The correct phone number for St Michael's is now working again, so you can forget the temporary number.

So, once again the number to phone St Michael's is: 01902 341 343

This week in the gospel we meet John the Baptist whose clarion call is: Prepare the way of the Lord.
The bulletin is now ready to download from the Mass Times and Bulletin Page. Please take note of all the Advent activities that are available, and please do remember that you must book if you wish to attend one of the Christmas Masses. God Bless, Fr Mark

The Archbishop has written to us with deep regret and a sense of shame, as a priest of our Archdiocese, has been found guilty of serious offences against a child victim. The offences took place between 2006 and 2009. A copy of the letter can be downloaded by clicking the button below. Let us pray for all who have suffered from abuse, and all who have been  affected indirectly by this case.

We have been told that St Michael's phone number will be restored either this evening or within the next week. This is not exactly helpful. The sisters can be reached temporarily on 01902 342 380. As soon as the original number begins to work, this temporary number will cease to work. There is, however, a further complication, this number is not working with the answer machine so its not possible to leave a message. Many apologies for all of this at such a crucial time!

Some of you may know that the Sisters' telephone has been paying up for some months. When someone rings, the internet stops working. This has been most unhelpful when someone rings up to book a place at Mass, because the booking system is on the internet! After trying to get this sorted for some months we eventually decided to switch to another telephone company. The switch took place yesterday but we have discovered that they changed the phone number, even though they were instructed to keep the same number. This means that it is not possible to contact the sisters by phone and they can only receive emails if they take a lap top and go and sit in the parish hall! (with no heating!)

We have spend a few hours on the phone today with the telephone supplier explaining how urgently this situation needs correcting because of the booking for Christmas Masses. Hopefully they will rectify the situation as soon as possible. Until then please bear with us!
Fr Mark

The Bishops of England and Wales met last week and responded to the IICSA Report by overhauling the Safeguarding Structures across all Dioceses, Religious Orders and other Catholic Organisations in the Country.  Please click the button below to read the Statement by the Archbishop of Birmingham and documents of the Bishops’ Conference confirming the acceptance of the independent Elliot Report’s recommendations which lay out the changes to safeguarding structures and procedures within the Church which are necessary to ensure best practice.