The local Catholic communities are preparing to enter the heart of the liturgical year. For the parishes of St Joseph’s in Oakham, St Mary & St Augustine in Stamford, and the historic Exton Chapel, Christmastide 2025 offers a sequence of sacred liturgies that bridge centuries of tradition with the vibrant life of today’s faithful.
The celebrations this year take place across three distinct and beautiful settings. In Oakham, St Joseph’s stands as a modern beacon of community, known for its warm welcome and active parish life.
Just a few miles away, St Mary & St Augustine in Stamford often called St Augustine’s offers a more Victorian backdrop.
Schedule of Services: Christmastide 2025
Whether you are seeking the quiet reflection of a weekday Mass or the choral joy of Midnight Mass, the following schedule outlines the path to the Nativity:
The Final Preparation
Monday, 22nd December
10:00 am: Holy Mass – St Joseph’s, Oakham
Tuesday, 23rd December
10:00 am: Holy Mass – St Mary & St Augustine, Stamford
Christmas Eve: The Vigil of the Nativity
Wednesday, 24th December
5:45 pm: Carols begin – St Joseph’s, Oakham
6:00 pm: Vigil Mass – St Joseph’s, Oakham
6:00 pm: Vigil Mass – St Mary & St Augustine, Stamford
11:30 pm: Office of Readings followed by Midnight Mass (Venue to be confirmed via parish newsletter, typically held at the main parish churches).
Christmas Day: The Nativity of Our Lord
Thursday, 25th December
9:00 am: Dawn Mass of Christmas – St Mary & St Augustine, Stamford
9:00 am: Dawn Mass of Christmas – St Thomas of Canterbury, Exton
10:30 am: Day Mass of Christmas – St Joseph’s, Oakham
11:00 am: Day Mass of Christmas – St Mary & St Augustine, Stamford
For those visiting for the first time, these services represent more than just a schedule; they are an invitation. At St Joseph’s, the 10:30 am Day Mass is often a family-focused affair, reflecting the parish’s reputation for being "living and vibrant" with many young children and a welcoming "sidesman" at the door.
In Stamford, the 6:00 pm Vigil and the 9:00 am Dawn Mass allow worshippers to experience the "imposing spectacle" of the sanctuary, which has been a center of Catholic life since the 19th-century restoration of the hierarchy.
The Exton Chapel 9:00 am Dawn Mass offers a unique opportunity to celebrate the Nativity in a setting of profound peace, tucked away within the Exton Park estate a true "hidden gem" of Rutland’s heritage.
Note to Parishioners: As times can occasionally shift due to local requirements, please check the latest parish newsletters or the official
and Catholic Stamford websites for any last-minute updates. St Joseph’s Oakham
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