21 January 2024 – 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Saturday 20th 5.00pm – Parishioners
Monday 22nd 10.00am – Holy Souls NDL
Thursday 25th 10.00am – Cynthia Smith RIP
Saturday 27th 5.00pm – Thomas & Winifred Watkinson RIP
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MASS TIMES: SATURDAY VIGIL MASS at 5pm |
PARISH NEWSLETTER
OFFICE OPEN ON FRIDAY 2 FEBRUARY: 11am to 4pm
CONFESSIONS: Confessions will now be heard on the last Saturday of the month – 24 February, 4.15pm-4.45pm
READINGS FOR 21 JANUARY
1st Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, The people of Nineveh renounce their evil behaviour
Psalm 24: Lord, make me know your ways
2nd Reading: I Corinthians 7:29-31 The world as we know it is passing away.
Gospel Reading: Mark 1:14-20, Repent and believe the Good News.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! The kingdom of God is close at hand; believe the Good News. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: Look up at the Lord with gladness and smile; your face will never be ashamed.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY
Diversity in the Church
Let us pray that the Spirit help us recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian community, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions in the heart of the Catholic Church.
SAINTS & FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
21 January – St Agnes
22 January – St Vincent
24 January – St Frances de Sales
25 January – Conversion of St Paul
27 January – St Angela Merici
28 January – St Thomas Aquinas
SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD – 21 JANUARY 2024
“Devoting a specific Sunday of the liturgical year to the word of God can enable the Church to experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world.” Pope Francis – ‘Aperuit Illis’
On 30 September 2019, Pope Francis, by the Motu Proprio Aperuit Illis declared the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time to be the Sunday of the Word of God.
This year the Sunday of the Word of God is devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God.
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY: 18 – 25 January
THEME: ‘You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself’.
With a focus on the parable of the Good Samaritan, in 2024 the Churches of Burkina Faso are challenging Christians around the world to ask themselves what it means to love their neighbour. For them, this challenge comes in the midst of extreme political instability and a serious security crisis. Our own context is very different, but the call of Christ to each and every one of us is still the same, ‘You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself’ (Lk 10:27). Let’s use this year’s Week of Prayer to prayerfully ask ourselves what that call means to us and to our churches, wherever we are.\
Resources are available here https://cte.org.uk/wpcu2024/
THANK YOU FROM CAFOD
We have received a letter from Michelle Oakland (Head of Supporter Relations at CAFOD), saying “Thank you for donating to the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis Appeal. We are actively responding through local experts in both Gaza and Israel. Your donation (£335) is helping to provide essentials like emergency shelter, food, water and psychosocial support…Thank you so much for being there for our global family.”
ARCHDIOCESAN CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME – YEAR 8 CHILDREN
Information sheets are available in the porch for parents and children interested in receiving this very special sacrament. Children must be registered (online) at www.liverpoolcalled.co.uk between 15 January and 15 March. The Confirmations will take place during the summer term this year
GDPR FORMS
I have extended the deadline to 31 January for completing one of these forms (couples need only complete one). We will keep your contact details securely in the church office, for three years. They will not be passed on to anyone. Please complete a form before you leave after Mass – they are available in the narthex. Many thanks.
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=ZH7t9_mXuh4
Sing a new song unto the Lord: this Sunday’s entrance antiphon.
And here’s lovely, lively rendition of this truly joyful hymn by the prolific Dan Schutte. It’s impossible not to sing along!
WITH EVERY BLESSING THIS WEEK FOR PARISHIONERS & FAMILIES