MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK

Saturday   2^nd      5.00pm    Parishioners

Monday     4^th    10.00am    A Sick Person

Thursday  7^th     10.00am    Dec members of the Critchley family

Saturday   9^th       5.00pm    Michael Watkinson RIP

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

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 PARISH NEWSLETTER

MASSES THIS WEEK
Monday at 10.00am
Thursday 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 –  26 July, / 30 August, 4.15pm to 4.45pm (July: 26 July)

READINGS FOR 3 AUGUST
1^st Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23, What has a man from all his toil?
Psalm 90: O Lord, you have been our refuge from generation to generation.
2^nd Reading: Colossians 3:1-5,9-11, Seek the things that are above, where Christ is.
Gospel Reading: Luke 11:1-13, Ask, and it will be given to you.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Alleluia.
Communion antiphon: You have given us, O Lord, bread from heaven, endowed with all delights and sweetness in every taste.

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
4 August – St John Vianney
5 August – Dedication of Basilica of St Mary Maggiore
6 August – Transfiguration of the Lord
7 August – St Cajetan / St Sixtus II
8 August – St Dominic
9 August – St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein, Patron of Europe)

ADVANCE NOTICE: FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION
The glorious Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a holy day of obligation.
A Vigil Mass will be held here on Thursday 14 August, at 5pm.  All are welcome.

BAPTISM
We welcome Mhairi Beth Higson into our faith community.  Mhairi was baptised here earlier today.  Please remember her and her parents in your prayers.

PILGRIMS OF HOPE – ST MARY’S, CHORLEY
St Mary’s is a designated Pilgrim Church during this special Jubilee Year. On Tuesday 5 August, there will be a Mass for Pilgrims of Hope, beginning with Confessions at 11.30 am with Fr Marsden and Fr Crowther.  The Mass itself is at 12.00 noon, followed by a gathering in the parish centre. Please bring your own packed lunch. Hot drinks will be served. Everyone is invited and it is a good opportunity to walk through the Pilgrim Doors at St Mary’s, Chorley. Plenary indulgences may be obtained under the usual conditions.

MISSIO THANK YOU
Missio’s National Director, Anthony Chantry, has written to thank parishioners for donations of £100.00 to support the vital work of the Mill Hill Missions.  He writes, “Through your Red Box or regular gifts, you are a missionary, helping to spread God’s word and share God’s love for all his people… as a member of the Red Box ‘family’, you will be held in prayer at Mass each day by the Mill Hill community and at the Missio’s chapel in London.”

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

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.

CATHOLIC PICTORIAL
Copies of the June issue of the Catholic ‘Pic’ – our monthly Archdiocesan magazine – are now available in the narthex for interested parishioners.  It’s full of news, photographs and articles of events happening in and around Liverpool Archdiocese.  This month’s magazine features a big colour spread on the installation of our new archbishop, John Sherrington.  Copies are free – there’s no charge.

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=lsm919bwwag&list=RDlsm919bwwag&start_radio=1
Taize chants have been around for several decades now – devised to produce a state of meditative prayerfulness.  This offering focuses on our communion antiphon this week: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

WITH EVERY BLESSING  FOR A VERY HAPPY AND PEACE-FILLED WEEK

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