24 August – 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Saturday 23rd 5.00pm Ann & Anne Tyrer RIP
Thursday 28th 10.00pm James & Lucy Glover
Saturday 30th 5.00pm Parishioners
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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
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 24 AUGUST
1st Reading: Isaiah 66:18-21, They shall bring all your brothers from all the nations
Psalm 117: Go into all the world and proclaim the good news.
2nd Reading: Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-134, The Lord disciplines the one he loves.
Gospel Reading: Luke 13:22-30, People will come from east and west and recline at table in the kingdom of God.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. I am the way, the truth and the life, says the Lord. No one comes to the Father except through me. Alleluia.
Communion antiphon: The earth is replete with the fruits of your work, O Lord; you bring forth bread from the earth and wine to cheer the heart.
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
26 August – St Bartholomew
27 August – St Monica
28 August – St Augustine
29 August – Passion of St John the Baptist
30 August – Ss Margaret Clitherow, Anne Line, Margaret Ward & Martyrs
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
1st Mrs C Philbin, Mawdesley £50 (142)
2nd Mr Darbyshire, Bretherton £30 (79)
3rd 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
MESSAGE FROM CAFOD: RESPONSE IN GAZA
Donations to Gaza since the start of the conflict have been a vital lifeline. Right now, CAFOD’s partner, Caritas Jerusalem, is delivering essential medical treatment to displaced people and providing medicines to treat chronic illnesses.
CAFOD has helped 1,400 households with cash to buy supplies in the last month and they are currently feeding 2,000 people with new stocks of flour and rice. Despite the restrictions on aid coming into Gaza, CAFOD’s local partners are working tirelessly to help people. And with ongoing support, they will do all in their power to keep doing so.
You can find out more about how you can make a difference in Gaza at www.cafod.uk/
Thanks to all parishioners and supporters for backing CAFOD’s work through holding collections for the Family Fast Day appeals and for continuing to pray for peace in the Middle East.
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=-Gl7lN2umUs&list=RD-Gl7lN2umUs&start_radio=1
The sublime lyrics of Walford Davies’ ‘God be in my head’ is the perfect vehicle for very meaningful reflection, especially before Mass.
Who else but VOCES8 could do justice to this beautiful piece?
WITH EVERY BLESSING FOR A VERY HAPPY AND PEACE-FILLED WEEK