23rd August – 21st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Saturday 22nd 5.00pm Margaret Riding RIP
Saturday 29th 5.00pm Parishioners
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MASS TIMES: SATURDAY VIGIL MASS at 5pm PARISH OFFICE: The Parish Office is open on Fridays from 10am to 4pm |
PARISH NEWSLETTER
MGR. DES SEDDON
This week we welcome Mgr. Des Seddon, who will celebrate Vigil Mass for Sunday.
MASSES THIS WEEK
No midweek Masses this week.
CONFESSIONS
Next confessions: last Saturday of the month – Saturday 30th August: 4.15pm to 4.45pm
FUNERAL SERVICE
The funeral service of the late David Harrison RIP will be held at 11.30am, Friday 28th August. Please remember him and his family in your prayers. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
READINGS FOR 23rd AUGUST
1st Reading: Isaiah 22:15, 19-23, I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David.
Psalm 138 (137) 1-2, 3, 6, 8: O Lord, your merciful love is eternal; discard not the work of your hand.
2nd Reading: Romans 11:33-36, From him and through him and to him are all things.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 16:13-20, You are Peter, and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR AUGUST
For evangelization in the city
That in large cities often marked by anonymity and loneliness, we find new ways to proclaim the Gospel, discovering creative paths to build community
SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK24th August – St Bartholomew
25th August – St Louis
26st August – Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God
27th August – St Monica
28th August – St Augustine
29th August – The Passion of St John the Baptist
ASSISTED SUICIDE
Our Archbishop, the Most Rev John Sherrington, who is the Lead Bishop for Life issues for the Bishops’ Conference, has welcomed the Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s call for palliative care services to be properly funded. Our Bishops remind us that the second reading of the fundamentally flawed Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will be on September 11. We are all urged to write to our MPs to ask them to vote against this dangerous legislation and to work together to ensure that our palliative and social care services can be held up as examples of truly dignified care at the end of life for all. The website: Right to Life UK can assist in this.
CRAFTING THE WORD OF THE LORD
A unique visual, tactile and handcrafted exhibition of biblical stories, created by Francesca Vause, is to be held in Our Lady and All Saints Church, Parbold, starting Monday 7th until Friday 11th September. Entrance is free but donations are welcomed. On-site parking is available.
See Our Lady and All Saints church website for details of times: What’s On & Features – Our Lady & All Saints Church, Parbold
CAFOD school volunteers needed!
Could you visit your local Catholic school to talk about the work of CAFOD? We are looking for volunteers to deliver school assemblies and workshops and inspire children and young people to make a difference and take action. For further information please contact Anna Letizia on 07710 094449 or email aletizia@cafod.org.uk
FREE COPIES OF THE CATHOLIC PIC
Free copies of the Catholic Pic are now available in the narthex. Please take a copy before you leave today.
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMME: RECONCILIATION & 1st HOLY COMMUNION REGISTRATION
Registration forms are available in the narthex for families with children going into Yr 4, who wish to make their 1st Communion / receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. Please take one to pass on to family / friends who may be interested. Deadline for applications: 31 August.
MAGNIFICAT
Now is a good time to buy a yearly subscription to Magnificat. It is published monthly, offering 13 issues a year, and works out at just over £5 a month, at £69 pa. Offer valid until 31st October 2026.
For each day, it contains the readings and prayers for Mass, with a meditation from the great spiritual writers of the Church throughout history, and prayers for morning and evening, inspired by the Liturgy of the Hours. You will also find the lives of the saints, articles on spiritual topics by contemporary writers, prayers at night, hymns, reflections and an essay on a great example of Christian art in each issue.
Please email magnificat@catholicherald.co.uk
CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST – PRAY FOR PEACE
God of peace, bearer of hope, we seek your help for the peoples of the Middle East. Quiet the clamour of war, and guide us towards peace. Where there is hatred and division, sow seeds of calm and openness. Where there is destruction, help us to rebuild. Where children are crying, bring an end to tears. Shelter your peoples and protect them. Guide them and keep them from harm. Show us how to break down the barriers of history and fear and breathe whispers of hope. Amen.
Linda Jones/CAFOD
APPLICATIONS FOR BISHOP RAWSTORNE ACADEMY
One of the entry requirements of C of E schools requires evidence of the commitment of one of the parents or guardians of the prospective pupil to the Christian faith, ie fortnightly worship for a period of at least one year. Please note that the Church is contacted to verify attendance for the year preceding entry. So, for pupils hoping to enter in September 2028, the period of assessment starts on 1 Sept 2026.
This means that unfortunately, anyone hoping that their child will be admitted to Bishop Rawstorne next September (ie 2027) has missed the deadline. Please pass this info on to parishioners who may not always manage to see the newsletter – which is on the website every week. Please check the school’s website for further details: https://bishopr.co.uk/parents/admissions
CHURCH FLOWERS
We’re always grateful to our flower arrangers, Ann & Tony, who make sure our church is filled with beautiful flower arrangements every week. Many of the flowers are sourced from their garden and also the grounds of the church, but inevitably many flowers also need to be bought and this incurs costs. Any donations therefore are particularly welcome and will help to ensure that our altars continue to provide a fitting tribute to Our Lord.
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES / GIFT AID / STANDING ORDERS!
If you are a taxpayer then you can easily help the parish to claim 25% extra on top of every donation you make – and it won’t cost you a penny! Eg: a donation of £10 per week would result in £12.50 going to the church. If you are able to use gift aid, please collect a form from the porch on your way out today, and return it to the Parish Office asap.
If you are a taxpayer who makes regular cash donations, please consider using an offertory envelope instead of just placing your ‘loose’ donations in the basket. This is really important: it can bring in more than £1000 to the church every year, as we’ll be able to claim gift aid directly on every donation you make. It won’t cost you anything at all, but it will make a huge difference to our finances.
Please contact the Parish Office if you’d like to use envelopes – they are free!
Even better – you can donate ‘painlessly’ each month by setting up a standing order with your bank. Forms are available in the porch.
DON’T FORGET! PARISH FOODBANK – DONATIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME
Thank you for donations already received, which have been taken to the foodbank centre at St Mary’s in Leyland. They are particularly short of tinned pasta, tinned meat / fish and puddings.
Please check that donations are well before their BB date!
Thank you all for your kind-hearted generosity. It makes such a big difference.
CATHOLIC PICTORIAL
Keeping you up to date with all the news from around the Archdiocese online: www.catholicpic.co.uk
Postal subscriptions are available: 3 issues = £9.50, 6 issues = £19 and 12 issues = £37.50.
Email enquiries@cpmmmedia.com or ring 0151 709 7567.
Digital copies are also available. Please use the phone number / email address above.
MASS INTENTONS
Mass intentions are welcome, not just for our dear departed, but for any other occasion eg in thanksgiving, successful outcome (exams / operation), wedding / anniversary blessings. Please write your name and intention, with the preferred date – if applicable – on a piece of paper and place in an envelope, along with your offering, either in the weekly offertory basket or through the presbytery door. It may not be possible to guarantee the specific date requested, for various reasons, however, every effort will be made to find a date as near as possible.
THE UNIVERSE CATHOLIC WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS
These are available to order directly from the publisher (www.thecatholicuniverse.com or call Michelle on 0743 661 7650. It can be posted to you each week. A 3 months print subscription is £42.00 – 6 months is £75.00 and the year at £140.00.
WITH EVERY BLESSING FOR ALL PARISHIONERS FOR THE NEXT WEEK