HOLY WEEK MASSES / SERVICES
No Masses this week.
Church will be open on Thursday between 11am and 1pm for visits to the Blessed Sacrament

READINGS FOR 31 MARCH
1^st Reading: Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43, We have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection.
Psalm 117:  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
2^nd Reading: Colossians 3:1-4, You must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is.
Gospel Reading: John 20:1-9, He must rise from the dead
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!  Christ our Passover has been sacrificed; let us celebrate the feast then, in the Lord.  Alleluia! 
Communion antiphon: Christ has become our paschal sacrifice; let us feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, alleluia.

THE SEQUENCE
Christians, to the Paschal Victim, offer sacrifice and praise.
The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb,
And Christ, the undefiled
Hath sinners to his Father reconciled.
Death with life contended: combat strangely ended!
Life’s own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign.
Tell us Mary, say what thou didst see upon the way.
The tomb the living did enclose;
I saw Christ’s glory as he rose!
The angels there attesting,
Shroud with grave-clothes resting.
Christ, my Hope, has risen: he goes before you into Galilee.
That Christ is truly risen from the dead, we know.
Victorious king, thy mercy show!

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.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR APRIL
For the role of women
We pray that the dignity and immense value of women be recognized in every culture, and for the end of discrimination that they experience in different parts of the world.

SAINTS & FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK

EASTER MESSAGE
‘This day was made by the Lord: we rejoice and are glad!’
My thanks to the choir, organist, flower arrangers, servers, welcomers and readers for their work in preparing the church and the liturgy, so enabling us to celebrate this special feast.
Happy Easter and God’s blessings on you and your families.
Christ is Risen – alleluia, alleluia!

THE EASTER VIGIL: REFLECTION & PRAYER
Dearest Mother Mary, on that first Holy Saturday, you kept vigil for your Son. You allowed the divine gift of hope to grow within you, and you allowed that hope to be your strength in the midst of the horror of the Cross. Pray for me that I may ponder your beautiful heart this day so that I, too, may be filled with hope as I endure the challenges of this earthly life. Give me a heart of joyful anticipation as I await the grace of new life our loving Lord desires to bestow on me.
Mother Mary, pray for me.  Jesus, I trust in You.

LENTEN ALMS
Thank you to all those who generously donated to the Lenten Alms appeal this year.  A total of £245.75  was raised for Children in Gaza & the Holy Land.

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.  Deadline this weekend.

EASTER COFFEE MORNING NEXT WEEK!
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.

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.

EASTER FLOWERS: A total of £55 was raised in donations.  Thank you to everyone who contributed.

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.

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. 

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.