Church of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Cheltenham

Music and liturgy

In 2021/22, the 200 Club's funds purchased a new boiler for the church. The Music Group provides music and a choir for church services, aiming to bring quality leadership to the singing of the liturgy.

Parish life

The parish has over forty groups providing religious, social and ecumenical activities. The Hospitality group provides tea and coffee in the Hall after each weekend Mass.

The North Gloucestershire Circle of the Newman Association meets in the lounge of Sacred Hearts Church Hall. The Church Neighbours Committee is organized by St Mary's parishioners, with representatives also from Sacred Hearts, Holy Apostles, Baptist and Fellowship parishes.

The parish has a Squash Club providing facilities for social squash and racketball for all ages and coaching for junior players. The parish runs a First Holy Communion and Reconciliation course annually from September until June for children in Year 3 and above.

Sacraments and pastoral care

The parish runs a programme of welcome and teaching for those who wish to be baptised or have their children baptised. The parish asks parents to give as much notice as possible for a baptism to avoid disappointment.

Couples planning a wedding must contact the parish priest at least six months beforehand. The parish advises patients to inform hospital admission staff that they are Catholic. Emergency hospital visits are directed to the hospital chaplaincy office, not directly to the parish priest.

The parish offers an RCIA group for adults who are not baptised and for non-Catholic Christians who wish to enter the Catholic Church. The parish has a Justice and Peace group that informs and supports parishioners in living out the commandment to love your neighbour. The parish supports home-based palliative care by St Elizabeth Hospital Hyderabad, Pakistan, and other projects.

Visiting

All films are shown at Sacred Hearts Parish Hall, Cheltenham. The film society has a large on-stage screen. The film society offers comfortable seating. The film society offers surround sound.