MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK

Saturday   16^th      5.00pm    Parishioners

Monday    18^th    10.00am    LISCF

Thursday  21^st      5.00pm    Cliff Disley RIP

Saturday   23^rd      5.00pm   Ann & Anne Tyrer RIP

LATEST  UP-DATE
MASS TIMES: SATURDAY VIGIL MASS at 5pm PARISH OFFICE:   The Parish Office is open on Fridays from 10am to 4pm.

---

 PARISH NEWSLETTER

MASSES THIS WEEK
Monday at 10.00am
Thursdays at 10.00am, followed by Exposition & Benediction

CHURCH OPEN
Fridays, 11am to 1pm for private prayer and reflection before the Blessed Sacrament.

CONFESSIONS: Next confessions: last Saturday of the month –  30 August, 4.15pm to 4.45pm 

READINGS FOR 17 AUGUST
1^st Reading: Jeremiah, 38:4-10,’You bore me, a man of contention to the whole land.’.
Psalm 40: Lord, make haste to help me!
2^nd Reading: Hebrews 12:1-4, Let us run with endurance, the race that is set for us.
Gospel Reading: Luke 12:49-53, I have not come to give peace, but division.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord, and I know them and they follow me.  Alleluia.
Communion antiphon: With the Lord there is mercy; with him is plentiful redemption.

HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR AUGUST
For Mutual Co-existence
Let us pray that societies where co-existence seems more difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious or ideological reasons.

FEAST & SAINTS DAYS THIS WEEK
18 August – St John Eudes
20 August – St Bernard
21 August – St Pius X
22 August – Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
23 August – St Rose of Lima

THE CHURCH OF ST CATHERINE LABOURÉ, FARINGTON: Message from Fr Simon Henry
Last year the parish of St Catherine Labouré at Farington and the parish of St Mary at Euxton were merged to become one parish with two churches. In the months since then we have reflected and held consultations which were used to assist Archbishop John in his decisions for our parish. Through those, it became obvious that we simply do not need and cannot sustain two physical sites for the parish.
The result is that the Archbishop has signed the decree which will see St Catherine’s Church “taken out of use for public worship” – the formal way of saying that the physical church will close.
Archbishop John will celebrate a final Mass of Thanksgiving and celebration of the life of the church at 7pm on Friday 5th September 2025. Due to the small size of the church, this will need to be a ticketed event to sit in the church but doors open into our hall to cater for anyone that might arrive. A Reception in a marquee in the grounds will follow.
Please do pray for us through the intercession of Our Blessed Lady and St Catherine to guide us in our new path

MASS INTENTIONS
There are very few Mass intentions in the Mass Book at the moment.

AUGUST LOTTERY WINNERS
1^st         Mrs C Philbin, Mawdesley          £50 (142)
2^nd       Mr Darbyshire, Bretherton         £30 (79)
3^rd        Mr J G Tyrer, Bispham               £20 (151)

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 Sept 2027, the period of assessment starts on 1 Sept 2025.
This means that unfortunately, anyone hoping that their child will be admitted to Bishop Rawstorne next September (ie 2026) 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

MISSION TODAY MAGAZINES / BOXES
The new editions of Mission Today are now available in the narthex.  Please return (red) Mission boxes to church for counting.  If you need someone to collect them, please contact Sandra Cobham on 01704 821609 and she will arrange collection.  Thank you.

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.

MAGNIFICAT
Now is a good time to buy a yearly subscription to Magnificat.  It works out at less than £1 per week at £65 pa.
The Magnificat is published monthly. 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 essay on a great example of Christian art in each issue.
Please order online at www.magnificat.com or phone Margaret Hiscock on 020 3882 9432.          

HOW TO DONATE TO THE CHURCH
Standing Orders – Many find this an easier alternative to trying to remember to bring cash along each week.  Forms are available in the porch / from the Parish Office.  You can determine the amount and when it is deducted each month.  Please post compoleted forms to your bank.
Envelopes – easy, because they can be prepared before coming to church.  They afford some ‘privacy’ for the amount donated. Please contact the Parish Office so we can arrange this.
Cash / cheque donations each week and very gratefully received.
Gift Aid If you are a taxpayer then you can easily help the parish to claim 25% extra on top of every donation you make.  Eg: your donation of £10 per week could become £12.25  going to the church. Filling in a simple form to register your name and address means we can claim an additional 25% of your gift
Please collect a form from the narthex on your way out today, complete and return to the Parish Office.
THANK YOU for your continuing support and generosity in these very challenging times.

MUSICAL TREAT FOR THE WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYzPR0nwcmY&list=RDHYzPR0nwcmY&start_radio=1
A Slovenian girls’ choir sing an anthem written by the medieval nun, St Hildegard of Bingen – ‘The Holy Spirit – the Quickener of Life’.

WITH EVERY BLESSING  FOR A VERY HAPPY AND PEACE-FILLED WEEK

---

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

---