20 April – Easter Sunday
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
| LATEST UP-DATE |
|---|
|
MASS TIMES: SATURDAY VIGIL MASS at 5pm PARISH OFFICE: Fridays, 10am to 4pm |
PARISH NEWSLETTER
We offer prayers for the repose of the soul of His Holiness, Pope Francis I, whose death was announced early this morning, Monday 21 April.
Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen
MASSES THIS WEEK
Thursday at 10am, followed by Exposition and Benediction
CHURCH OPEN
Fridays, 11am to 1pm
CONFESSIONS: Next confessions: last Saturday of the month – 26 April, 4.15pm to 4.45pm
READINGS FOR 20 APRIL
1st Reading: Acts 10:34-43, We ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
Psalm 118: This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice in it and be glad.
2nd Reading: Colossians 3:1-4, Seek the things that are above, where Christ is.
Gospel Reading: John 20:1-9, He must rise from the dead.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed; let us therefore celebrate the festival in the Lord. Alleluia.
Communion antiphon: Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed, alleluia; therefore let us keep the feast with the unleavened bread of purity and truth, alleluia.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS – APRIL
For the use of new technologies
That the use of new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person and will help us face the crises of our times.
SAINTS & FEASTS DAYS THIS WEEK
21 April – St Apollonius
22 April – St Caius
23 April – St George – Patron saint f England
24 April – Ss Mary of Cleophas & Salome – disciples and first visitors to the tomb
25 April – St Mark, Evangelist
26 April – St Cletus (3rd Pope)
EASTER MESSAGE
‘This day was made by the Lord: we rejoice and are glad!’
My thanks to the choir, organist, flower arrangers, servers, welcomers and readers for their work in preparing the church and the liturgy, so enabling us to celebrate this special feast.
Happy Easter and God’s blessings on you and your families.
Christ is Risen – alleluia, alleluia!
THE EASTER VIGIL: REFLECTION & PRAYER
Dearest Mother Mary, on that first Holy Saturday, you kept vigil for your Son. You allowed the divine gift of hope to grow within you, and you allowed that hope to be your strength in the midst of the horror of the Cross. Pray for me that I may ponder your beautiful heart this day so that I, too, may be filled with hope as I endure the challenges of this earthly life. Give me a heart of joyful anticipation as I await the grace of new life our loving Lord desires to bestow on me.
LOTTERY WINNERS FOR APRIL
1st Mr P Dawson, Rufford £50 (38)
2nd Mrs J Coxon, Mawdesley £30 (45)
3rd Mrs S J Thompson, Croston £20 (54)
RED MISSION BOXES – THANK YOU
Generous-hearted parishioners raised the magnificent sum of £470.00 in 2024 through the Red Boxes and individual donations. Thank you all so much!
LIVERPOOL’S ARCHBISHOP-ELECT: John Sherrington
Bishop John Sherrington was born in Leicester in 1958. Before entering the seminary, he graduated with a BA in mathematics from Queens’ College, Cambridge, where St John Fisher was once President. Upon graduation, he worked for a short period in management consultancy.
Bishop Sherrington was ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and Titular Bishop of Hilta on 14 September 2011 by the then-Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the co-consecrators being Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and the then-Bishop Malcolm McMahon of Nottingham.
He has responsibility for the pastoral care of the parishes and deaneries of North London and is Moderator of the Curia and a Trustee of the Diocese. He is Chair of the Governing Body of Mater Ecclesiae College.
He served on the Methodist Roman Catholic International Commission (MERCIC) for ten years and was Co-Chair for five years. He was also for some years a Trustee of CAFOD which gave him further insight into the international mission of the Church.
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES
The boxes for April 2025 to March 2026 are now available for collection in the narthex.
THE HOLY YEAR JUBILEE BOOKLET / ARCHDIOCESAN DIRECTORIES 2025
We have a number of copies of the booklet which accompanies our Holy Year. The booklet provides information and prayers for the year, all based on the theme of ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. Booklets cost £1.50. The 2025 Directories are also available and cost £4 each. There are labelled baskets for your donations. Thank you.
CHURCH FLOWERS
We’re always grateful to our flower arrangers, Ann & Tony and Shirley & Paul, who makes 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.
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.
MUSICAL TREAT FOR THE WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcjD1zg_A6Y
A wonderful exclamation of absolute joy in this the Easter season: This joyful Eastertide – words and music provided for you to sin along to. Guaranteed to put you in exactly the right, uplifting mood for this joyous occasion!
WITH EVERY BLESSING FOR A VERY HAPPY AND PEACE-FILLED WEEK