MASSES DURING LENT
Tuesdays, 10am
Wednesdays
5.30pm Confessions
6.00pm Mass (with meditation on the Way of the Cross and Benediction)

READINGS FOR 18 FEBRUARY
1^st Reading: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7, The creation and sin of our first parents
Psalm 50:  Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.
2^nd Reading: Romans 5:12-19, However the number of sins committed, grace was even greater
Gospel Reading: Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus fasted for forty days and the tempter came.
Gospel acclamation: Praise to you O Christ, king of eternal glory!  Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.  Praise to you O Christ, king of eternal glory! 
Communion antiphon: The Lord will overshadow you and you will find refuge under his wings.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR FEBRUARY
The Terminally Ill
That terminally ill patients and their families always receive the necessary medical and human care and support.

SAINTS & FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
21 February – St Peter Damian
22 February – See* of St Peter  *The highest papal authority
23 February – St Polycarp

St Polycarp was a disciple of the apostle John and friend of Ignatius of Antioch.  He went to confer with Pope Anicetus to discuss a uniform date for the celebration of easter.  Neither could agree, so they eventually agreed to differ, out of mutual respect and fraternity.  Polycarp is a key link between the apostles and the early Church.

LENTEN SERVICES
Please check times and days of additional services during the forthcoming season of Lent: there is a second weekday Mass (Tuesdays at 10am and Wednesdays at 6pm), with  additional opportunities for confession.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS DURING LENT – Fridays at 7.00pm
Stations of the Cross in our family of parishes
23 Feb          Our Lady’s, Tarleton
1^st March        St Catherine’s, Leyland
8 March          St Oswald’s, Longton
15 March         St Mary’s, Leyland
22 March        St Mary Magdalene, Penwortham
Please let people know about our services during Lent.  All are very welcome.

LENTEN ALMS BOX
The Lenten Alms box is available in the porch, for kind donations at all of / any of the Lenten services. 
The three pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  Let us use this year’s Lenten top observe these special practices as closely as we can.
PRAYERS DURING LENT
We are asked to pray for the following intentions
Candidates for the Sacraments (especially on Sundays); Women (Women’s World Day of Prayer on Friday 1 March); the Needy and Hungry of the World; Penitents and Wanderers. 
CAFOD’s Family Fast Day: Friday 23 February – envelopes are available now and next Sunday – in the porch.  Please gift aid if you can.
This year, we’re thinking about James the fisherman in Liberia, who is supported with resources, tools and training so he can feed his family for good through our donations.
Give today using the envelope or online at https://cafod.org.uk/ and please join us in praying with James that our sisters and brothers around the world have what they need to feed their families.   Thank you.

HOLY WEEK & EASTER SERVICES
This year, we will keep the full rites of the Easter Triduum, that is: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Easter Day.
There will also be a Service of Reconciliation.  Details of times will follow in due course.

PIZZA & PANCAKE PARTY: THANK YOU!
Thank you to all those who came along to enjoy pancakes and pizzas at last week’s ‘Party’.  It was lovely to see so many there.  Huge thanks to Vivienne and Jo Eland especially, and their trusty band of helpers, not forgetting Fr John’s amazing skills, tossing pancakes.  Please see our Facebook page for the evidence!

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTER OF HOLY COMMUNION
We are expanding our provision of Holy Communion and as a consequence, five parishioners have recently undergone training and commissioning to perform this important task.  Next Sunday, 25 February, Fr John will formally authorise Dave Cawley, Elisabeth & Gerry Cheetham, Brian Moore and Keren Standing at the 10am Mass.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Many congratulations to Adam Goldfarb, (grandson of Brian Moore and the late Carole and son of Michelle Goldfarb), who has recently qualified as a fully-fledged fire-fighter (after a long and very demanding training programme).  Adam will be based at Southport station and we wish him every blessing in his new career, and offer prayers for his safety.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER: FRIDAY 1 MARCH, ALL SAINTS CHURCH, HESKETH BANK at 7.30pm
The service has been organised and planned by the women of Palestine and the theme is ‘I beg you, bear with one another in love’ (Ephesians 4:2) – an immensely powerful message. Despite living in an area of the world where there is ongoing conflict and the future is uncertain, the women of Palestine remind us that they are there, and they want to give hope to everyone.  Please use the link for further information and access to resources: https://www.wwdp.org.uk/

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING NOTES
Notes of the recent Parish Council Meeting are available for collection, in the porch.  Or you may wish to receive an e-copy.  Please let the Welcomers know, if so.

PARISH FOODBANK
Rev Dave wishes to pass on his thanks and blessings to all those who regularly donate foodstuffs.  There is still a need for dried foods eg pasta and rice, breakfast cereals, plus tins of vegetables, meat and fish.  Your generosity is a real help to our local families, especially now that autumn has set in and energy bills are increasing again.  Please ensure that donated items are all well within their Best Before dates – Thank You!
DISUSED GLASSES / SPECTACLES
Please have a rummage at home and bring old prescription glasses along.  They can be used by opticians in Africa to help local communities. 

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES + 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: a donation of £5 per week would result in £6.25 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.  If you are able to help, please collect a form from the porch on your way out today, complete and return to the Parish Office.
In addition, you may wish to consider using an offertory envelope (they are free and use re-cycled paper) in which to make your weekly donation.  It’s akin to ‘wrapping up your gift’ for Our Lord!  Again, please contact the Parish Office if you’d like to start using them.

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

DONATIONS FOR IAT – MOSS LANE DEPOT
Please remember that unwanted clothing, bedding, tins of food, packs of dried food will be gratefully received by volunteers at our local depot, to help those thousands of Ukrainians affected by the flooding as a result of the recent bombing.  They are very grateful for all help received.  It really makes a difference.

PLEASE CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED IN YOUR PARISH
We are very grateful for offers of help already, with regards to gardening jobs and keeping the grounds of the church neat and tidy.  Thank you!
However, there are still a number of opportunities for our parishioners to become a bit more involved in parish life and your help is both needed and much appreciated.  Areas where help is needed include with the Little Church group on Sundays, singing with the choir, flower arranging, church cleaning, altar serving and some serious fund-raising.  Help is welcome from all ages, and advice / training will be provided. Please contact the Parish Office by email or ring on Thursdays, in order to find out more.