1 August 2021 – 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK

Dec members of the Tuson family

Parishioners

Peter Bond RIP

Tom Cookson RIP

LATEST  UP-DATE 

 

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

 

 

This Week    
Ministry       
E. Minister Reader
Saturday    
Sunday        
Next Week    
Ministry E. Minister Reader
Saturday    
Sunday    

 

PARISH NEWSLETTER

THIS WEEK’S NOTICES & READINGS / REFLECTIONS

BOOKING FOR MASS & ARRANGEMENTS
The Archdiocese has stipulated that we should all continue to wear face masks/coverings in our churches for the time being, due to rising infections.  The Sunday obligation be restored as yet.
Pews on the left-hand side (as you face the altar) will still maintain social-distancing, so please phone or email as usual if you wish to sit socially-distanced.  All the pews on the right-hand side will be available, with no social-distancing and therefore there is no need to book.
So only pre-book if you wish to be seated in the designated section for social-distancing.  Please telephone on Thursdays, 10.30am-3pm / email by 3pm on Thursdays.

QR CODE: Please continue to register your attendance at church by using the NHS QR code, displayed as you enter / leave the building.  Infection rates are extremely high, so helping to support the Track & Trace programme is more important than ever now.  Thank you.

READINGS FOR 1 AUGUST
1st Reading: Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15, I will rain down bread for you from the heavens
Psalm 77: The Lord gave them bread from heaven
2nd Reading: Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 Put on the new self that has been created in God’s way
Gospel: John 6:24-35, He who comes to me will never be hungry, he who believes in me will never thirst
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: I am the bread of life, says the Lord; whoever comes to me will not hunger and whoever believes in me will not thirst.

 18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME  – Hearing and Reading God’s Word
Cultivate a special devotion to God’s Word, whether studied privately or in public; always listen to it with attention and reverence, strive to profit by it, and do not let it fall to the ground, but receive it within your heart as a precious balm, thereby imitating the Blessed Virgin, who “kept all these things in her heart.” 
Remember that Our Lord receives our words of prayer according to the way in which we receive his words in teaching.
You should always have some good, devout book to hand… and daily read some small portion attentively, as though you were reading letters sent by the Saints from Paradise to teach you the way there, and encourage you to follow them.
Read the lives of the Saints, too, which are as a mirror to you of Christian life, and try to imitate their actions according to your circumstances, for although many things which the Saints did may not be practicable today, they may be followed more or less.
Allow the words of the saints to kindle an even greater love for God in your heart.
St Francis de Sales, An Introduction to the Devout Life

PRAYER INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Archbishop Malcolm has asked us to pray the following at this time of crisis:
God Our Father, each person is precious to You.
You are the Giver of life.
Have mercy on us and protect us at this time, as the coronavirus threatens health and life.
You are an ever-present Helper in time of trouble.
Watch over those who are suffering, give strength to those who are aiding the sick and give courage to all in this time of anxiety.
We ask this of you in the name of your Son. Jesus Christ.
Amen.

We join Pope Francis in his prayer intention for August:
The Church
Let us pray for the Church, that she may receive from the Holy Spirit the grace and strength to reform herself in the light of the Gospel.

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
2 August – St Eusebius of Vercelli  /  St Peter Julian Eymard
4 August – St John Vianney (patron of all the priests of the world)
5 August – Dedication of St Mary Major (basilica)
7 August – St Sixtus & Companions  /  St Cajetan

1st COMMUNION PREPARATION FOR 2021-22  –  FINAL CALL!
We will be aiming to begin monthly preparation sessions for children (and their parents) in Yrs 4 and 5 in September.  Application forms are available at Mass / via email.  Deadline = 1 August 

OUR LADY’S FOODBANK
Generous parishioners have helped an enormous number of local families who are struggling over the last year.  Thank you.  We’re reviving our partnership with All Saints church in Hesketh Bank to put together hampers and food parcels to support those families who are currently just missing out on receiving help from the government’s holiday voucher scheme.
Donations of fruit juices, pasta and rice, tinned fruit and meat, tea, breakfast cereals would be especially welcome.  Please bring donations to the church hall on Thursdays between 11am and 3pm or leave in the box in the porch when you come to Mass. 
Thank you in anticipation.

A MESSAGE FROM PAX CHRISTI
During August especially, we remember the devastation caused in Hiroshima and Nagasaki when the atomic bombs were dropped, on 6 and 9 August 1945, and we pray that nuclear weapons will be abolished so that they can never be used again.
In his message, ‘A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace’, Pope Francis asks,
‘How many resources are spent on weaponry, especially nuclear weapons, that could be used for more significant priorities such as ensuring the safety of individuals, the promotion of peace and integral human development, the fight against poverty, and the provision of health care’.  Pope Francis calls on us to ‘strive daily, in concrete and practical ways, to form a community composed of brothers and sisters who accept and care for one another’.
In this country we have an active Catholic peace movement in Pax Christi.  Their website suggests many ways we can all promote peace in our daily lives.   There are activities for families to do at home, including a 15-minute peace liturgy for young children.  https://paxchristi.org.uk/peace-sunday-2021/
Pax Christi needs our support to keep going.  If you’d like to make a donation, small or large, here is the link: https://tinyurl.com/yxfcw67x  Cheques payable to: Pax Christi.
Pax Christi, St Joseph’s, Watford Way,  London NW4 4TY     Tel: 0208 203 4884

SYNOD 2020-21 UP-DATE: MESSAGE FROM ARCHBISHOP MALCOLM, FR PHILIP INCH & FR MATTHEW NUNES
After all the Synod votes were counted and considered the next step was a meeting with the Archbishop, his council and the Pastoral Plan Group. This took place at the Pastoral Centre of the Leeds Diocese for 5 days from July 12th.
During this week the votes on the 19 Recommendations took centre stage. These votes, the Synod Themes and the 27,000 contributions of the listening stage were allowed to direct and speak to the development of ideas for the pastoral plan. Alongside this the prayer and liturgy of each day inspired our thoughts and plans. At the centre of this was Christ himself whose light was shed on our Synod and on the realities of the world in which we are called to minister and live.
It was a hard week but one full of life and energy. By the Thursday a way forward was beginning to emerge. It is challenging but also life giving and most of all faithful to Christ experienced through the discernment that has been our pattern of working throughout the whole synod journey.
The ideas, and there were many of them, have surfaced. The next stage is for a writing group to gather (for a week) and to try to present what has emerged in a way that we can put it into place and make a difference. The Archbishop and his council will review the Plan; the Pastoral Plan Group will meet again for 3 days in September and then we will work out how to rollout the Plan towards it being shared at the end of November.
We will keep updating you as steps emerge.

CHRIST THE KING HICH SCHOOL & 6th FORM CENTRE, SOUTHPORT
Anxiously awaiting your GCSE results and unsure what to do?
CTK6 – Christ the King 6th Form Centre, Stamford Road, Birkdale, will be enrolling for their A-level and BTEC Level 3 courses on Thursday 21 August 2021.
Find out if you meet the entry requirements by checking their website: www.christtheking-school.com or email sixthformadmin@christtheking-school.com to arrange an interview.

MESSAGE FROM NUGENT CARE
We are delighted to invite you to the 15th Annual Phil Thompson Golf Classic on Thursday 16th September 2021. The event will be held at Houghwood Golf Club and will provide attendees with a ‘par’-fect opportunity for you to come together with pals and colleagues to enjoy a great game of golf with panoramic views over the Lancashire plain and the Welsh hills.
Tickets are priced at £450 (for teams of 4). This includes a hearty breakfast barm, a ‘tee’-riffic day of golf, snacks and refreshments plus a wholesome evening meal with anecdotes shared by Phil and a brilliant guest speaker. All net proceeds from this event will be used to help secure Nugent’s future and the vital services we provide across Merseyside.
COVID-19 has brought huge challenges for our society and particularly for Merseyside. Children and families experiencing complex social issues are facing even greater risks. At such a difficult time, Nugent, which has deep and longstanding roots in the communities it serves, has never been more needed – this is why we need your support. For more information, or to book your place today, please see the attached flyer or contact: Ainsley Briscoe, Fundraiser – Corporate Partnerships and Major Gifts at Nugent: E: ainsley.briscoe@wearenugent.org or M: 07833091852.

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 fewweekends.  They can also be dropped off at your home if you’re unable to get to Mass.  Please contact the office.

COVID VACCINE POP-UPS FOR EVERYONE!
Vaccination pop-up clinics / vaccine bus for over 18s will be held at these venues over the next few weeks: https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/news/get-vaccinated-at-the-covid-19-pop-up-sites-and-bus.aspx 

FINANCIAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TO SELF-ISOLATE
There is financial help available for people who need to self-isolate and cannot work and for parents/guardians who need to stay off work to look after children who have been told to self-isolate.  Please use this link for West Lancs Borough Council to access the help needed. https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/more/emergencies/coronavirus/test-and-trace-support-payment.aspx

MUSICAL TREATS FOR THE WEEK
I Am the Bread of Life – Toolan | Notre Dame Folk Choir – YouTube
This week, a really unusual but particularly joyous and exuberant version of the popular hymn, ‘I am the Bread of Life’, performed by the University of Notre Dame Folk Choir of Indiana, USA at a fundraising concert in 2018.
The lyrics by Sr Suzanne Toolan, are based on today’s gospel reading.

 

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.

EWTN – GLOBAL CATHOLIC TV & RADIO
Getting connected is easier than you might think.  EWTN is free, there’s no subscription.  You can stream live and on demand via the website: www.ewtn.co.uk/get-ewtn or get the app for your mobile (EWTN APP), or Amazon’s Echo Auto.
Every day: daily Mass at 1pm and Children’s Rosary every day, at 7.30pm

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!

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  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