20 June 2021 – 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Parishioners
Edith & James Hooper RIP
Dec members of the Kelly family
Holy Souls NDL
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THE CHURCH IS NOW OPEN FOR WEEKEND MASSES: Saturday Vigil: 6.45pm and Sunday, 9.30am. PLEASE PHONE / EMAIL ON THURSDAYs, 10.30am to 3pm to book a place
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PARISH NEWSLETTER
THIS WEEK’S NOTICES & READINGS / REFLECTIONS
We join Pope Francis in his prayer intention for June:
Let us pray for young people who are preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community: may they grow in love, with generosity, faithfulness and patience.
On Father’s Day, let us ask our Lord to bless all fathers everywhere.
Let us pray
That all Christians may strive for holiness by repenting of past sins;
That all who doubt or distrust the Gospel message may recognise the risen Christ in the goodness and kindness of others and learn to turn to God in faith and love;
That the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ for all people may teach us that there is no such thing as a worthless life, or a person God does not love;
That as Covid restrictions are lifted and more people receive their vaccinations, may the bonds of our relationships be renewed and strengthened
We pray now in the words Jesus gave us:
Our Father, who art in heaven…
SPECIAL FEASTS THIS WEEK
21 June – St Aloysius Gonzaga
22 June – Ss John Fisher & Thomas More
23 June – St Ethelreda
24 June – St John the Baptist
1st COMMUNION PREPARATION FOR 2021-22
We will be aiming to begin monthly preparation sessions for child -ren (and their parents) in Yrs 4 and 5 in September. Application forms will be available from 4 July.
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION 2021 (20 & 28 October)
Young people in Year 8 are invited to register with the Archdiocese if they wish to receive the sacrament of Confirmation this year. Confirmation is the sacrament through which we receive the Holy Spirit to make us stronger and more perfect Christians and true witnesses of Jesus Christ.
Preparation will take place for Yr 8 pupils in Catholic schools. There will also be local preparation sessions.
A series of video introductions to the sacrament are available to watch from Animate, the Archdiocesan youth ministry team at https://www.youtube.com/user/AnimateYouth and look for the four ‘Called…’ videos.
Registration: It is essential that parents register their child/children as soon as possible and by 27 June at the latest: https://liverpoolcalled.co.uk Please complete the online form (‘Register for Confirmation’, top right-hand side). Once you have registered your child, you will be contacted by the local confirmation co-ordinator.
For further details, please contact Fr Simon Gore on 01744 740467 or email him at s.gore@animateyouth.co.uk
SYNOD 2021 – MESSAGE FROM LIVERPOOL ARCHDIOCESE
Please continue to pray for the success of the Synod. Synod members Fr Anders and Diane Mackley will be taking part in the ‘Discernment Day’ on 19 June, when the views and reflections of parishioners – which resulted in the 19 Recommendations – will be voted on.
There will be a special Mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King on Sunday for members.
The Archbishop will then be formulating a Pastoral Plan for the Archdiocese, which is based on the Recommendations proposed this weekend. The Plan will be published in November (1st Sunday in Advent).
Father of love and compassion,
with trust in your great mercy
we place our Synod into your hands.
Be with each member of our Synod and guide them with the help of Your Holy Spirit.
Give us all the wisdom and the courage to respond in new ways to the challenges we face
and to the needs of our brothers and sisters,
so that we may become ever more closely the Church you are calling us to be.
We make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen
SETTLEMENT SCHEME FOR EU CITIZENS: DEADLINE = 30 JUNE 2021
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who were living in the UK by 31 December 2020 have until 30 June 2021 to apply for the Settlement Scheme. Those who not apply are at risk of losing their rights to live and work here, or access important services such as health care. (Irish citizens to not need to apply for this).
Please keep an eye out for elderly and vulnerable people who may require assistance with their online application or who may not even know that their status is at risk.
Please find all relevant info on the government website: www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/
Also check the European Commission website on www.eurights.uk/what-you-need-to-know/ and
Settled (charity): www.settled.org.uk
RED MISSION BOXES
Please bring them to church when you attend Mass at the weekend, or drop them off at the presbytery on Thursdays between 10am and 4pm.
Please contact the office if you would like someone to collect your box for you.
UP-DATE FROM CAFOD
Thanks to your support, CAFOD has been helping communities around the world cope with the pandemic. Just in Zambia, in the past year, our reports show we’ve been able to reach 1,234,200 people with messages on COVID-19, provide 13,312 people with access to safe water, train 392 frontline health workers from Zambia’s 11 dioceses on how to prepare and respond to COVID-19 in their local communities and donate over 1000 handwashing hygiene stations in communities to support handwashing measures. Thank you for standing alongside people in Zambia and for supporting people in more than 30 other countries worldwide.
HELP TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS: FREE COVID LATERAL FLOW TESTS KITS ARE AVAILABLE
West Lancashire Borough Council is asking all residents to take 2 Covid tests a week so that they can accurately monitor the number of cases in the borough. They are able to help people who test positive to self-isolate – and there is funding available to help if that means that someone is unable to go in to work for the required period.
Free test kits will be distributed at Mass over the next two weekends. They can also be dropped off at your home if you’re unable to get to Mass. Please contact the office.
WEST LANCS APPEAL FOR HELP WITH SURGE-TESTING
West Lancashire Borough Council is currently outlining plans for carrying out potential surge-testing should there be an outbreak of the new variant in the borough (very similar to what we have seen take place in neighbouring boroughs and districts over the last few weeks).
Part of this process, should it be required, would be to enlist help from groups or individuals for such things as posting leaflets through doors, dropping off / collecting test kits, or sharing on social media.
Please complete the following survey if you are interested in helping out in your particular area:
https://westlancs.citizenspace.com/engagement/6d533301
Thank you!
MUSICAL TREATS FOR THE WEEK
Charpentier – Te Deum – HD – YouTube
A truly energetic, joyful and uplifting performance of Charpentier’s Te Deum. Fans of Eurovision will be familiar with the opening instrumental section…
REGULAR WEEKLY NOTICES
MASS ON SUNDAYS
As you may be aware, our Bishops have lifted the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
To keep Sundays holy, it might be helpful to spend some time reading the Scriptures. Besides your Bible, the Magnificat publication can be a wonderful aid to prayer and of course, you also get the readings for Mass for every day of the week! At a cost of less than £1 a week, you may be interested in subscribing now: tel. 020 7448 3618; email: uk@magnificat.com or visit the website: www.catholic-herald.myshopify.com
Masses will continue to be live-streamed and televised for many months yet, so you can still take part in Sunday worship and the Act of Spiritual Communion will continue to be an important part of people’s worship for the foreseeable future.
If you have any queries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
THE ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you.
Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
MASSES ONLINE WILL CONTINUE TO BE STREAMED INDEFINITELY
Locally, there is St Clare’s, Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood: www.saintclares.co.uk which streams Mass daily at 9.30am. Please follow the easy links on the website.
https://www.vaticannews.va/en Pope Francis
https://www.churchservices.tv/whats-on-now/ Great selection of Masses and other Church services https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/tv-lourdes/ Mass and daily at 2pm, the Rosary in English
https://www.livemass.org Extraordinary Form (1962 Missal)
Use the website links to EWTN, those who have Sky can tune in on Channel 588, or the Archdiocese to access daily Masses
On the radio: Catholic Radio Sky Channel 0147
Also, you may wish to try the Pray as you Go phone app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.foxcode.prayasyougo&hl=en
PRAYERS from the Archdiocese, for Stations of the Cross etc: https://www.liverpoolcatholicresources.com/
Please email the Parish Office with details of any other online services you know of that may help parishioners at this very difficult time. We will try to include them in next week’s Newsletter.
YEAR OF ST JOSEPH (Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of Liverpool): With his apostolic letter, ‘Patris Corde’ (‘With a Father’s heart’), Pope Francis has proclaimed a ‘Year of St Joseph’ running from 8 December 2020 (Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception) to December 2021.
At the end of the letter, he asks us to pray the following prayer to 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
PRAYER CARDS FOR THE YEAR OF ST JOSEPH: Prayer cards are available – please notify the Parish Office and we will send one out to you so that you can say the prayer to St Joseph during the week. We know we can rely on his guidance and protection in every difficulty and challenge. And his intercessions are certainly much-needed by us all at the moment!
OPENING FOR PRIVATE PRAYER, THURSDAYS 11am to 1pm
In order to remain Covid-secure, please observe the following rules when you come:
- No need to book
- Wear a face mask, as usual
- Sanitise hands when you come in
- Sign in – a sheet will be on the table in the porch. (Use your own pen but if you have to borrow one, please ensure you’ve sanitised your hands before using the pen)
- Take a sheet with a ‘X’ on it
- Observe social distancing (1m-2m) at all times
- Sit in an empty pew (no ‘X’ sheet)
- When you leave, place the sheet with a ‘X’ on the spot where you were sitting, to warn others that they cannot sit there
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE CENTRE COURSES
The Christian Heritage Centre, based at Stonyhurst, offers regular webinars and courses on a variety of topics. For more information, please see www.christianheritagecentre.com
CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS: These are available to order directly from the publisher (www.thecatholicuniverse.com or 0161 820 5722). It can be posted to you each week. Introductory offers: printed copies for three months – £25; twelve months – £99; or digital copy £55 for twelve months.
OUR LITTLE CHURCH GROUP
Our children have continued to meet up regularly via Zoom during the pandemic and our Little Church seems to be happily thriving. If anyone is interested in attending, or knows any children who would like to be involved, you are more than welcome to join in the fun! Please contact Emma O’Hare on 07813275574.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY – WITH BROTHER FRANCIS
You Tube animated stories and songs each week.
https://brotherfrancis.com/
CHILDREN’S LITURGY – SEE THIS NEW INITIATIVE! ‘The Mark 10 Mission’
This is a brand new project created by a small team of young lay people to share the Gospel with children. The video episodes are completely free and have been used in many primary schools across the country each week since September. Please click on the link below to see the latest episodes.
https://www.themark10mission.co.uk/theepisodes/seriestwo
The Mark 10 Mission team is passionate to see the Gospel shared with children and to help them grow in their relationship with Christ. The website is updated each Friday morning with a new episode, so happy viewing!
OFFERTORY DONATIONS DURING THE LOCKDOWN
Many thanks to generous parishioners who have sent in donations to our churches. Your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated.
Instead of putting money in offertory envelopes each week, those who are able to make an offering are asked to complete a Standing Order Mandate for your bank, from either your parish office. We can email the document to you, if you wish, so that you can print off, complete and send to your bank.
Alternatively, you may still wish to write a cheque (payable to ‘Our Lady Help of Christians Church’ ) and post to the presbytery with a covering letter and one offertory envelope for gift aid purposes.
Donating by text / online: Please check the May Newsletters and use the links provided
HELP DURING THE PANDEMIC
COVID VACCINES – IMPORTANT
Please note that the Catholic Church has given its full support to the vaccine (all three of them) and is keen to assure Catholics that there are no moral issues linked to the science of the vaccines, whatsoever. The vaccines are safe. The Archbishop of Liverpool is anxious to dispel any myths and urges Catholics to have the vaccines. Cardinal Vin Nichols has already had his first vaccine. So has the Pope! – and hospital chaplains have also received their first doses.
Unfortunately some people are trying to exploit the fears of others, so be on the alert for so-called vaccine scammers, who will try and charge you for a vaccine. There is NO CHARGE.
The vaccines are free.
GP surgeries are not paid. The government is paying for the whole programme.
Please also note that there are some scammers pretending to be the NHS. There is only one official NHS email address, which is www.nhs.uk
The NHS will never ask for details like family maiden names of bank accounts / credit & debit cards. Nor will they require you to pay anything for the vaccines. If you are contacted by a group claiming to be the NHS and they’ve asked for these details, it is a scam and you must ignore it. Then report it!
It is essential to continue to observe the ‘basics’: hand hygiene, face masks, social-distancing – and lots of good ventilation – at all times.
HELP IS AT HAND! Don’t forget that local volunteers from Hesketh Bank and Tarleton Helpers stand ready to help anyone who needs support – with errands, shopping, collecting prescriptions – and friendly telephone calls for those who are feeling isolated. Please call Diane Mackley (one of the HH Team members) on 01772 815508.
OTHER HELP AVAILABLE TO US IN WEST LANCS
Citizens Advice Lancashire West – Advice on housing, employment, debt, benefits, consumer problems, energy advice (billing, supply, switching etc.) and much more.
Contact: Guy Simpson – gsimpson@calw.org.uk or Sarah Bennett – sbennett@calw.org.uk Tel. 0344 245 1294
South West Lancashire ICAN [South West Lancashire Independent Community Advice Network]
Provides free independent and confidential advice from specialists regarding redundancy, welfare rights, employment law, disability living allowance, tribunal appeals, personal independence payments, IT and digital support, debt, those in work-low income (including for the self-employed or small business owners during the pandemic), furloughing.
Contact: Paul McConnell or Jan Fitzsimons admin@swlican.org. Tel. 01695 726269
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES OR NEED ANY HELP, PLEASE CONTACT FR ANDERS AT THE PRESBYTERY IN TARLETON ON 01772 812242, OR EMAIL THE OFFICE (olhct@rcaol.org.uk)
WISHING ALL PARISHIONERS AND THEIR FAMILIES EVERY BLESSING FOR THE COMING WEEK