MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK 

Saturday  17^th     5.00pm  Parishioners
Monday    19^th   10.00am  Caroline Liddell RIP
Thursday  22^nd  10.00am  Rachel Ball RIP
Saturday   24^th     5.00pm  Mental Illness Sufferers

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

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 PARISH NEWSLETTER

MASSES THIS WEEK
Please see above

CONFESSIONS: Next confessions: last Saturday of the month –  31 January, 4.15pm to 4.45pm 

READINGS FOR 18 JANUARY
1^st Reading: Isaiah 49:3-6, I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the  end of the earth.
Psalm 40: behold I have come, Lord, to do your will.
2^nd Reading: I Corinthians 1:1-3, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reading: John 1:29-34, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us; to all who did receive him, he gave authority to become children of God. Alleluia.
Communion antiphon: You have prepared a table before me, and how precious is the chalice that quenches my thirst.

POPE LEO’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY
For Prayer with the Word of God
Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us build a more fraternal and missionary Church.

FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
20 January – St Sebastian / St Fabian
21 January – St Agnes
22 January – St Vincent
24 January – St Francis de Sales

INNER PEACE: PRAYER BY ST FRANCIS DE SALES
This gentle, Christ-like spirit of prayer, promoted by St Francis de Sales marks a perfect end to each day:
Do not look forward to what might happen tomorrow: the same everlasting Father who cares for you today, will care for you tomorrow.  Either he will shield you from suffering or he will give you unfailing strength to bear it.  Be at peace therefore and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginings.

As we begin our octave of prayer for Christian Unity, let us keep all Christians of different traditions in our prayers.

PEACE SUNDAY & OCTAVE OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) takes place each year from 18 to 25 January. This ecumenical celebration provides an opportunity to focus our prayers on Christian unity and to know that we are joining with international siblings in Christ.
This year WPCU takes Ephesians 4 v 1-13 as its central text: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.” (Ephesians 4:4). Prayers and reflections have been prepared by the faithful of the Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Church, along with their brothers and sisters of the Armenian Catholic and Evangelical Churches. These resources draw upon centuries-old traditions of prayer used by the Armenian people, along with hymns that originated in the ancient monasteries and churches of Armenia.
For these daily prayers and reflections, please use www.ctbi.org.uk/resources/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2026/

LOTTERY WINNERS – JANUARY
1^st         Mrs A Scholes, Heskin               £50       (24)
2^nd       Miss K Wilkinson, Rufford        £30       (7)
3^rd        Mrs L McNulty, Hesketh Bank  £20      (48)

HAVE YOU COLLECTED A PARISH LOTTERY LETTER?
Our hard-working Fundraising & Events Group also runs a monthly lottery, with prizes of £50, 330 and £20 to be won.  Many parishioners have been successful in the draw, so if you haven’t yet signed up, please take a letter which explains all about it – from the table in the narthex.  Thank you.

NHS HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCIES
if you would like to avail yourselves, or your relatives (please check first with them, if they do!) of the Chaplaincy Services – a visit, prayers, Holy Communion etc – make sure that the patient is registered as a Catholic and that they would like this service.  Since data protection (GDPR) came in a few years ago, chaplains no longer automatically receive any information about the faith adherence of the patient (Ironically because chaplains are themselves protected by GDPR!).  These days, people need to opt-in for the Chaplaincy Service, so please make sure that you (and loved ones) don’t miss out.

MISSION TODAY CALENDARS FOR 2026 / LIVERPOOL ARCHDIOCESAN DIRECTORIES FOR 2026
These are available for interested parishioners in the narthex.

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.

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.          

MUSICAL TREAT FOR THE WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEQ7Q0YyQqE&list=RDjEQ7Q0YyQqE&start_radio=1&rv=jUlVxmz5_tY
An opportunity to enjoy some beautiful classical singing from VOCES8 and their rendition of Handel’s ‘Sound the Trumpet’.  Very uplifting.

WITH EVERY BLESSING  FOR A HAPPY AND PEACE-FILLED WEEK

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