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

READINGS FOR 17 MARCH
1^st Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34, I will make a new covenant and never call their sin to mind
Psalm 50:  A pure heart create for me, O God.
2^nd Reading: Hebrews 5:7-9, He learnt to obey and became the source of eternal salvation
Gospel Reading: John 12:20-30, If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest
Gospel acclamation: Glory to you O Christ, you are the Word of God!  If a man serves me, says the Lord, he must follow me; wherever I am, my servant will be there, too.  Glory to you O Christ, you are the Word of God! 
Communion antiphon: I tell you solemnly: Unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it remains a single grain, but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MARCH
For the new martyrs
We pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world inflame the Church with their courage and missionary enthusiasm.

SAINTS & FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
18 March – St Cyril of Jerusalem
18 March – Blessed Roger Wrenno (from Chorley) & Blessed John Thules (of Burnley)
19 March – St Joseph
Hail Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you, God entrusted his only Son,
In you, Mary placed her trust,
With you, Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father
And guide us in the path of life;
Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage,
And defend us from every evil.  Amen

23 March – St Turbius

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
22 March        St Mary Magdalene, Penwortham
Please let people know about our services during Lent.  All are very welcome.

LENTEN ALMS BOX – FINAL WEEK NEXT WEEK
Our Lenten Alms this year will be donated to the Children of Gaza & the Holy Land.  Let us continue to pray, with increasing urgency, for peace in Our Lord’s homeland and an end to the suffering of so many innocents on all sides in this terrible conflict.
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.

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING:  Wednesday 20 March at 7.15pm.  Please let members know if you wish to raise any issues.

STEWARDSHIP OF OUR TALENTS
Our prayer time during Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the talents with which God has blessed us, and a chance to consider how (rather than burying our talents away), we might develop them and use them for the benefit of our parish. 
Many parishioners already perform a number of roles and we couldn’t function without them – may God bless them for their many gifts, talents and the time they spend in helping. Please think about what you might be able to do to help our church grow and develop.  We’d love to hear your ideas. Leaflets are available for you to collect from the porch and return next week, with your thoughts and suggestions.

HOLY WEEK & EASTER
Leaflets are now available with details of all the Masses and services.  Please collect one before you leave church.
MAUNDY THURSDAY – 28 March: Mass at 7pm, followed by a 2-hour vigil. 
Please sign up to watch at the Altar of Repose, from 8pm to 10pm.  Thank you
EASTER FLOWERS: If you would like to donate towards the flower arrangements for Easter this year, a basket will be left in the porch for contributions.  Thank you.

PARISH EASTER MEAL
Please collect a flier / booking form from the welcomers about our Parish Social on Friday 5 April at the Cock and Bottle in Tarleton.  We look forward to welcoming as many parishioners as possible to this lovely, friendly evening.

EASTER COFFEE MORNING
Our next Coffee Morning will be after Mass on 7 April.  Lots of special Easter bakes & cakes, plus an Easter raffle.
Do come along and bring family and friends for a cuppa and a chat.

PARISH GIVING LAST WEEK
Standing Orders – £230* (* approx. equivalent from monthly SOs)
Last Sunday offerings: £172.70
Total: £402.70  Thank you, everyone.

DAVID GOLIFER RIP
David passed away recently – please pray for the repose of his soul.  There will be a Requiem Mass for him here on Monday 8 April at 11.30am, followed by committal at West Lancs Crematorium.  Angela and family would welcome parishioners to join them.

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.  Every effort will be made to find a date as near as possible. 

REFLECTION: LENT WEEK 5
The petition we make asking God to forgive us our sins is astonishing, but it comes with a strict condition attached to it: “as” we have been forgiven, so we must also forgive others who have offended or upset us.  Although our baptism makes us all God’s children, we still sin and turn away from God.  Furthermore, as the novelist and philosopher C S Lewis noted, “Everyone agrees that forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have someone to forgive.”  If we are honest with ourselves, we know that this is so difficult at times as to be beyond us.  But of course, with God, all things are possible – even granting forgiveness.
Fortunately for us, the Holy Spirit of Love and grace shows us the infinite depths of God’s loving forgiveness for us and therefore, it’s the Holy Spirit who can come to our aid and give us the grace we need to be able to forgive as God forgives us.  All we need to do is turn to God’s Spirit in faith and confidence and he will always be there to guide us through these difficult moments:
Father God and Holy Spirit, as you have forgiven me, grant me the grace to forgive the grievances I still nurture and to forgive those who have offended me, from the bottom of my heart.
From ‘Walk with Me’ (Alive Publishing)

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.