17 March 2024 – 5th of Lent
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Saturday 16th 5.00pm – Parishioners
Monday 18th 10.00am – Eva Molyneux RIP
Thursday 21st 10.00am – Paul Rea RIP
Saturday 23rd 5.00pm – Harold & Anne Cooper RIP (Vigil Mass for Palm Sunday)
LATEST UP-DATE |
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MASS TIMES: SATURDAY VIGIL MASS at 5pm |
PARISH NEWSLETTER
MASSES THIS WEEK
Monday 10am; Thursday, 10am
Thursday Mass followed by Exposition & Benediction
CONFESSIONS: Confessions will now be heard on the last Saturday of the month, 23 March 4.15pm-4.45pm
READINGS FOR 17 MARCH
1st Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34, I will make a new covenant and never call their sin to mind
Psalm 50: A pure heart create for me, O God.
2nd Reading: Hebrews 5:7-9, He learnt to obey and became the source of eternal salvation
Gospel Reading: John 12:20-30, If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest
Gospel acclamation: Glory to you O Christ, you are the Word of God! If a man serves me, says the Lord, he must follow me; wherever I am, my servant will be there, too. Glory to you O Christ, you are the Word of God!
Communion antiphon: I tell you solemnly: Unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains a single grain, but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MARCH
For the new martyrs
We pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world inflame the Church with their courage and missionary enthusiasm.
SAINTS & FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
18 March – St Cyril of Jerusalem
18 March – Blessed Roger Wrenno (from Chorley) & Blessed John Thules (of Burnley)
19 March – St Joseph
Hail Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you, God entrusted his only Son,
In you, Mary placed her trust,
With you, Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father
And guide us in the path of life;
Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage,
And defend us from every evil. Amen
23 March – St Turbius
LENTEN ALMS BOX – FINAL WEEK NEXT WEEK
The Lenten Alms box will be available in the porch, for kind donations at all of / any of the Lenten services.
The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Let us use this year’s Lenten top observe these special practices as closely as we can.
This year, our donations will be sent via the Archdiocese to the Children of Gaza & the Holy Land.
PRAYERS DURING LENT
We are asked to pray for the following intentions
Candidates for the Sacraments (especially on Sundays); Women (World Day of Prayer on Friday 1 March); the Needy and Hungry of the World; Penitents and Wanderers.
PARISH LOTTERY – MARCH WINNERS
1st Mr B Smith, Heskin £50 (47)
2nd P Fletcher, Hesketh Bank £30 (94)
3rd Mr K Sharrock, Bispham £20 (87)
EASTER AT Ss PETER & PAUL’S / ST AGNES, ECCLESTON
Palm Sunday: Vigil Mass (Saturday 23 March) at 5pm
Maundy Thursday (28 March) at St Agnes, Eccleston at 7pm
Good Friday, Solemn Passion of Our Lord (29 March) at St Agnes Eccleston at 3pm
Holy Saturday: Vigil Mass (30 March) at 7.30pm
Easter Sunday (31 March) at St Agnes, Eccleston at 11am
FEAST OF ST JOSEPH – 19 MARCH
Prayer cards to St Joseph – patron of Liverpool Archdiocese – are available in the narthex. This hard-working and dedicated saint, foster-father to Our Lord, is a true friend and guide whenever we face difficulties or anxieties.
REFLECTION: LENT WEEK 5
The petition we make asking God to forgive us our sins is astonishing, but it comes with a strict condition attached to it: “as” we have been forgiven, so we must also forgive others who have offended or upset us. Although our baptism makes us all God’s children, we still sin and turn away from God. Furthermore, as the novelist and philosopher C S Lewis noted, “Everyone agrees that forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have someone to forgive.” If we are honest with ourselves, we know that this is so difficult at times as to be beyond us. But of course, with God, all things are possible – even granting forgiveness.
Fortunately for us, the Holy Spirit of Love and grace shows us the infinite depths of God’s loving forgiveness for us and therefore, it’s the Holy Spirit who can come to our aid and give us the grace we need to be able to forgive as God forgives us. All we need to do is turn to God’s Spirit in faith and confidence and he will always be there to guide us through these difficult moments:
Father God and Holy Spirit, as you have forgiven me, grant me the grace to forgive the grievances I still nurture and to forgive those who have offended me, from the bottom of my heart.
From ‘Walk with Me’ (Alive Publishing)
RED MISSION BOXES
Please bring your box to church when you attend Mass next Saturday and leave in the narthex for Sandra Cobham. Or, if you’re unable to get to church, please give Sandra a ring on 01704 821609 and she will arrange to collect.
Many thanks. Copies of the spring edition of ‘Mission Today’ are now available from the narthex.
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.
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.
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.
OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PARISH
Now that parish activities are starting up again, there are a number of opportunities to become a bit more involved in parish life, particularly: stewarding/welcomers, driving deliveries to St Mary’s foodbank every other week, singing with the choir, flower arranging, church cleaning, altar serving, fund-raising. Help is welcome from all ages! Please contact the Parish Office by email or ring on Fridays, in order to find out more.
MUSICAL TREAT FOR THE WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2fR9fUD5bM
Following on from the Gospel reading this week, the hymn, ‘Unless a grain of wheat shall fall’ seems the perfect spiritual treat this week – especially as this version provides the words, so we can sing along and make this a real prayer to take through every day with us.
WITH EVERY BLESSING THIS WEEK FOR PARISHIONERS & FAMILIES