On Saturday, 13th September, the Catholic Women’s League organised a special Stations of the Cross devotion, thoughtfully aligning with two deeply significant themes in the Church’s calendar—the Season of Creation and the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
This reflective prayer service invited participants to journey alongside Christ as He carried His cross, meditating on His passion and sacrifice with renewed faith and devotion. In the context of the Season of Creation, this ancient devotion took on additional layers of meaning. The faithful were encouraged to contemplate not only Christ’s suffering but also the urgent need to care for our common home—the Earth—which is experiencing its own hardships due to environmental challenges. The Stations of the Cross thus became a powerful reminder of our call to stewardship, compassion, and prayer for the healing of creation.

On Saturday, 13th September 2025, young people from across the Birmingham Diocese came together to take part in a special youth pilgrimage. With great enthusiasm and spiritual devotion, they journeyed on foot from St Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham to our very own Shrine of St Carlo.
This pilgrimage was not only a physical walk but a deeply spiritual experience, offering the young participants a chance to grow in faith, reflect on their personal relationship with God, and connect with one another as a community of believers. Bishop Timothy Menezes graciously accompanied the young people on the walk, journeying alongside them as both a shepherd and fellow pilgrim—an act that was deeply appreciated and inspiring to all.
Upon arriving at the shrine, the pilgrims were welcomed into a time of reflection and learning. They were shown a moving video presentation about Saint Carlo Acutis, the teenage saint-in-the-making who used technology to spread devotion to the Eucharist. His life and testimony continue to resonate powerfully with young Catholics, and the video gave the pilgrims a deeper understanding of his message and mission.
Following the video, the group received a Solemn Blessing through the Relic of Saint Carlo Acutis, led by Mgr. Canon Mark Crisp, the Parish Priest. This sacred moment allowed each pilgrim to venerate the relic prayerfully and seek Saint Carlo’s intercession in their lives, especially as they strive to live out their faith with courage and joy.
The day culminated in the celebration of the 5:30pm Vigil Mass, presided over by Bishop Timothy Menezes, whose presence served as a powerful reminder to the young people of their essential role in the life of the Church today.
We give heartfelt thanks for the dedication, faith, and joyful witness of all the young pilgrims who participated in this grace-filled day. Their presence brought great hope and energy to the Parish, and we pray that this experience will continue to bear fruit in their hearts as they walk their own paths of discipleship—always inspired by the example of Saint Carlo Acutis.

​​THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! to everyone who worked so hard over the last few months to prepare for our Canonisation Celebration last Sunday. It was a truly blessed occasion that will bear much fruit for the parish in years to come. Particular thanks to those who designed and produced the information boards, the woodworkers and seamstresses who built the shrine, the flower ladies, the youth group and those who produced the shrine video, the altar servers, readers, the singers and musicians, the offertory and thanksgiving procession, the technicians working in the background, the teachers from our primary academies, the working party members, the cake makers, the church cleaners, the gardeners who tidied the grounds (twice!), the Knights of Saint Columbus, the stewards, the staff from St Edmunds who hosted us in the afternoon, Those working on the website, the sisters always working behind the scenes, and those organising the foodbank. Thank you to all of you who attended the Mass and participated with so much enthusiasm. It truly was a joint effort and was a beautiful occasion. Finally thank you to Bishop Timothy for his inspirational celebration of the Mass.

ST CARLO PRAY FOR US
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​Relive the joy of the Canonization ceremony on YouTube through this link ​youtu.be/HdZKz4XiGSI, cherishing the memories with heartfelt gratitude.
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Following the Canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis as a Saint, students and staff from St. Martin’s and St. Peter’s Schools made their first official pilgrimage to our Saint Carlo Acutis Shrine.
The visit began with a visual presentation about the life and mission of Saint Carlo, highlighting his deep love for the Eucharist and his use of technology for evangelization. This was followed by a walk through the informative display boards at the Church, which provided valuable insights into his life, miracles, and path to Sainthood.
A deeply spiritual moment was the prayer with the relic of Saint Carlo followed by a time of Eucharistic Adoration, allowing everyone to reflect silently in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
The pilgrimage concluded with the Holy Eucharistic Celebration, during which our Mgr. Canon Mark Crisp the Parish Priest encouraged the students to follow the example of Saint Carlo in living a Holy and Christ-centered life.
This visit was a faith-enriching experience for all, inspiring the students to grow in their love for the Eucharist and to walk the path of Holiness in their daily lives.

 The CANONISATION Mass at St. Michael's will only be held once, on Sunday, September 7th, at 9:00 a.m. This is thirty minutes earlier than what was initially stated. For those who can't make it, the Mass will be streamed live. Bishop Timothy Menezes will celebrate Mass. Please be seated at 8:45 a.m. We will watch the announcement of the canonisation in Rome on a big screen that will be erected in the church. After about thirty minutes, we will begin our Mass's Entrance Hymn.