He also announced that on Friday, March 27, at 5p.m.(UK time) he would preside over a prayer service in front of an “empty” St. Peter’s Square, which will include scripture readings and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. At the end of the event, he will offer a special Urbi et Orbi blessing, offering all who participate a plenary indulgence. Traditionally only given at Christmas and Easter, the Urbi et Orbi is a blessing that goes out to the people of Rome and to the world. The decision to offer the blessing outside these two major Catholic feast days is, if not unprecedented, extremely rare. Urbi et Orbi will be broadcast live from the Vatican: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope.html
Pope Francis has invited all Christians to join in praying the Our Father together at 11am (noon in Rome) on Wednesday, March 25, which on the Catholic calendar marks the Feast of the Annunciation, referring to the biblical scene when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary announcing the birth of Jesus. “On the day in which many Christians recall the annunciation to the Virgin Mary of the Incarnation of the Word, may the Lord hear the unanimous prayer of all his disciples who are preparing to celebrate the victory of the Risen Christ,” Pope Francis
We ask you to join with all the Churches in a National Day of Prayer this Sunday 22nd March, Mothering Sunday. It seems appropriate that as Catholics we pray together the Rosary, the prayer of our Blessed Mother Mary, at 12 noon, asking Her intercession for our country and our world in this time of need...
In line with Government and Diocesan Guidelines, all churches will close after the last Mass on Thursday 19th March, 2020. PLEASE NOTE: The buildings may be closed but the CHURCH is always open! Holy Mass and other liturgical services will be available online /on social media platforms. Check Diocesan and Parish websites for details.
In what proved to be a "beautiful and peaceful" event, pupils and staff in St. Peter's Primary, Paisley, responded to Pope Francis' request by taking time out on Thursday, 19th March - feast of St. Joseph - to pray the Rosary together asking for Our Lady's intercession in this difficult time; a time when so many are affected by the Coronavirus.