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The Parish, created in 1953, is dedicated to Our Mother of Good Counsel, and encompasses the villages of Clare, Cavendish, Glemsford, Hundon and Stoke-by-Clare. It is twinned with the parish of Baba Dogo in Nairobi. Sunday parish Masses are celebrated in the Priory Church of Mother of Good Counsel, and in the Chapel at the Sue Ryder Care Home in Cavendish. Daily Mass is in the Oratory at the Priory. The Parish Priest is Father Ben O'Rourke, and can be contacted at the Priory on 01787-277326 |
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Mass Times
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Sunday: |
8:00am, 10:00am, |
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Holidays of Obligation: |
Vigil 7:30pm, 10:00am |
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Daily: |
10:00am in the Oratory (excluding Sundays and Holy Days, when Mass is celebrated in the Priory Church) |
Reconciliation
Saturday morning after the 10:00am Mass in the Oratory (or on request)
Community Prayer
| Morning Prayer | 9:40am | The community welcomes people to join them each day for prayer. In the evening at 6:00pm twenty minutes is spent in silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. |
| Mass | 10:00am | |
| Mid-day Prayer | 12:50pm | |
| Adoration and Evening Prayer | 6:00pm |
Julian Meetings
Ecumenical Silent Prayer. See also www.julianmeetings.org
| Glemsford: | weekly on Fridays at 11:00am |
| Sudbury: | 1st Thursday in the month at 2:00pm |
Lectio Divina Meetings
| Clare Priory | every Tuesday evening 7:30 - 8:30pm |
| Sudbury | every 3rd Thursday of the month 2:30 - 3:30pm |
Other Ministries
Care Group
This is a group grown from a meeting of the Friends of St Augustine. When a parishioner needs parish help, a visitor or a lift to Church, or has other needs, the Parish Priest will make the arrangement.
Children’s Liturgy (Little and Middle Churches)
During the Liturgy of the Word at the 10.00am Mass at Clare on Sunday, children up to the age of 9 years, the Little Church, depart to the Parish Room in the Priory and follow their own Liturgy of the word based on the gospel of the Sunday. Older children, the Middle Church between the ages of 9 and 15 years, depart to the Upper Room and study the readings of the Sunday. Parents are always welcome to join in and help the running of the two Churches.
Church Cleaners
The care of God’s dwelling is a fulfilling ministry. New cleaners are always welcome.
Churches Together
A forum of the Christian Churches in Clare which arranges ecumenical services rotating between the participating churches.
Church Music/Choir
We are graced with an excellent complement of composers and players but would be interested to hear from any singers wishing to join the small choir.
Diocesan Pastoral Council
The present parish representative at meetings of the Diocesan Pastoral Council is George Davy. Parishioners are welcome to attend meetings of the Council, presided over by the Bishop. In the past meetings have been at Bury St Edmunds and all parishes in the Diocese were represented.
Eucharist Ministry
This is a rural parish and the parish priest has deputed certain lay people to assist and take the Blessed Sacrament to the sick. In the event of sickness and a desire to receive the Blessed Sacrament parishioners speak to the parish priest or to their area contact. There is a rota of Eucharistic Ministers.
Finance Committee
To assist the parish priest in his administration of the parish, a finance committee has been established.
Flower Arrangers
It is a privilege to be part of the ministry of flowers, and we have a small number of people who currently undertake this important task, but new helpers are always welcome.
Friends of St. Augustine
The Friends seek to learn from Augustine. They welcome new parishioners, help with the Care Group and help and celebrate the Feast of St Augustine. Meetings at the Priory take place on the last Thursday of every month and in Sudbury on the second Thursday. The Friends of St. Augustine (Clare Group) have their own website which can be reached by following this link.
Friends of Augustine Praise and Prayer Group
The aim is to support each other and those in the Parish in need, with daily prayer and at the meetings through praise, prayer and contemplation. The group meets on the first and Third Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in the Priory. Finish by 9.00pm, everyone is welcome.
Gift Aid Scheme
The Government has made it possible for parishioners to increase their gifts to the parish by nearly 30% by the simple device of completing a gift aid declaration providing they are taxpayers. The Inland Revenue returns to the parish a proportion of the tax paid by the parishioner. The administrator of the scheme for this parish is George Davy.
Guild of St Stephen (Mass Servers)
The boys and girls who serve at the 10 o’clock Mass belong to the Guild. Ivan Smithet is responsible for training, organising and running the Guild.
Healing Ministry
Chapter 5, verses 14 – 15 of the Epistle of St James reads: “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the Church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. And their prayers offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make them well. And anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.” After the 10 o'clock Mass prayer for healing takes place in the Oratory. Please speak to the Parish Priest if you wish to participate in this valuable ministry.
John Main Meditation
The Christian meditation movement, begun by John Main OSB introduces people to the life of prayer. On Friday evenings at 7.30pm in the Priory. The contact is George Davy.
Liturgy Group
During the great seasons of the Church, Advent, Lent and Easter, and for other occasions, the liturgy group provides words and symbols as a focus for our meditations and celebrations.
Mass Readers
At parish Masses, readers for first and second readings, responsorial psalm and bidding prayers, are on a rota. The organisers for the Masses at Clare are John Wayman for the 8.00am Mass, and Ian Harding for the 10.00am Mass. Florence Hough organises the roster for the 11.30am Mass at Cavendish.
Ministry of Refreshments
Paddy Fitzpatrick (with helpers) provides tea and coffee to parishioners after the 10.am Mass in the Parish Room at the Priory. At the Craft Fair he and helpers run the Bar. Help is always needed.
Prison Ministry
In the parish is Highpoint Prison, Since 2000 an active prison ministry has been developing. Parishioners visit individual prisoners, mostly known not to have visitors for reasons as being from overseas, from distant parts of this country, for social or economic reasons. Once a month the Prison Chaplaincy invites the Prayer Fellowship to pray for those who have asked to be remembered. George Davy sends to parishioners who are in the Fellowship a list of names and their needs. Parishioners can help in the rota for the Visitors' Centre open on days for visits by families of prisoners.
The Parish In Council
At a meeting in 1999 the Parish voted for meetings of the parish at three or four months intervals, The Parish in Council, in lieu of a Parish Council. The Parish in Council has a Committee from which a chairman of a meeting is selected, a secretary to produce minutes and prepare an agenda for meetings and members to act as contacts for parishioners to bring forward matters for discussion.
Diocesan Child Protection Group
This group has been established to implement child protection procedures. In the parish the Parish Priest is our advisor.
Welcomers
At the 10.00am Mass on Sundays a member of the group is present in the Church porch to welcome new parishioners and visitors, to introduce at coffee after Mass and to offer them the ‘Welcome Pack’. George Davy arranges the rota.