WEDNESDAY EVENING MASSES
Wednesday evenings, from 18 January at 6pm – with Eucharistic Exposition: 6.25pm-6.55pm, Benediction: 6.55pm and Sacrament of Reconciliation: 6.25pm-6.55pm

CHURCH OPEN: THURSDAYS, 11am to 1pm, for visits to the Blessed Sacrament and quiet prayer, meditation.

COVID / ‘FLU AWARE & SUNDAY OBLIGATION
If you have a cough / sore throat / feel generally unwell with cold-like symptom, please take a Covid test right away.      If it’s positive, then please stay at home, keep it to yourself and get better soon!
Whilst the Sunday Obligation has been restored, the Archdiocese advises parishioners to pray and watch Mass online/TV at home, if they are unwell with coughs and colds – especially at the moment, with so many infections doing the rounds.

READINGS FOR 29 JANUARY
1^st Reading: Zephaniah 3:3; 12-13, In your midst I will leave a humble and lowly people
Psalm 145:  How happy are the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of heaven
2^nd Reading: I Corinthians 1:26-31, God chose what is foolish by human reckoning
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12, How happy are the poor in spirit
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!  Blessed are you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: Let your face shine on your servant.  Save me in your merciful love.  O Lord, never let me be put to shame, for I call on you.

INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
We join Pope Francis’ prayer intention for January
For educators
We pray that educators may be credible witnesses, teaching fraternity rather than competition and helping the youngest and most vulnerable above all.
We join Pope Francis’ prayer intention for February
For parishes
We pray that parishes, placing communion at the centre, may increasingly become communities of faith, fraternity and welcome towards those most in need.

SPECIAL FEASTS THIS WEEK
31 January – St John Bosco
2 February – Presentation of the Lord
3 February – St Blaise
3 February – St Ansgar, patron saint of Denmark

THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD – 2 February
This feast commemorates how Jesus, as a baby, was presented to God in the Temple in Jerusalem. This presentation finds its complete and perfect fulfilment in the mystery of the passion, death and Resurrection of the Lord. The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is a combined feast, commemorating the Jewish practice of the purification of the mother after childbirth and the presentation of the child to God in the Temple and his buying back (redemption) from God. It is also known as the Feast of the Purification of Mary, and the Feast of Candlemas. It is also called the Feast of Encounter because the New Testament, represented by the baby Jesus, encountered the Old Testament, represented by Simeon and Anna. 
Fr Antony Kadavil
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2020-01/sunday-reflection-vatican-news3.html

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE
Sefton’s annual HMD Service takes place Sunday, 29 January at Christ Church, Lord Street, Southport.  This is an inter-faith service and all are welcome to attend, to commemorate the many innocents who were systematically murdered during the Nazi Holocaust and other 20^th century genocides.  The Service begins at 1.30pm.

LITTLE CHURCH
Our children are welcome to attend Little Church during Mass this Sunday.  If any parents wish to come along to help, please speak to Emma O’Hare / Keren Standing, regarding applying for DBS registration.  Thank you.

PARISH COFFEE MORNING NEXT SUNDAY (5 February)
Our Parish Coffee Morning will be held after 9.15am Mass next Sunday, in the hall.  Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be available – thanks to Philippa and Martin McGrath (+ helpers) for organising this.  Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy an opportunity to catch up with old and new friends.

CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME 2023
Any young person in year 8 can register for Sacramental preparation at www.liverpoolcalled.co.uk
While the registration period is open, Animate will visit Catholic schools in the diocese to promote the Sacrament. At the same time our Catholic schools will teach about the Sacrament in their RE classes.
The period of registration is open from 16 January to 17 March.
Please contact the Parish Office to let us know once you have registered your child for the Confirmation programme.  Thank you.

QUIZ NIGHT – FRIDAY 3 FEBRUARY, 7.30pm
The annual Quiz Night for Tarleton’s Ecumenical Walk of Witness takes pace in the church hall on 3 February.  There is a hotpot supper, plus raffle – and the bar will be open.
All are welcome to this very friendly and sociable event, that will help to lift our spirits during these dark winter days.
Tickets are £7.50 and available from Mass on Sundays, or from the Parish Office during opening hours on Thursdays.  Come along and join the fun – and bring your friends!

UKRAINE APPEAL – INTERNATIONAL AID TRUST IS NOW IN HESKETH BANK
The IAT has recently moved from its depot in Lostock Hall to Moss Lane – right on our doorstep!  It’s now based at The Barn, behind the bungalow at 255 Moss Lane.
However, the move has meant that some volunteers are now unable to relocate due to transport difficulties.  The new depot is open from 10am to 4pm every weekday and they would love to hear from anyone who can help out for a couple of hours every week (or every other week).
As well as dried and tinned foodstuffs, plus toiletries and especially sanitary products, they are also in need of torches (as a result of blackouts due to Russian bombing of power supplies. 
They are always very grateful for donations, which can be taken directly to the Moss Lane depot, or you can leave them at church on a Sunday and we’ll take them along.
Please contact the Parish Office if you would like to find out more about this vital, life-saving work.  Thank you.

KEEPING WARM THIS WINTER
We have access to blankets, snuggle blankets, ‘oodies’ and treated wood (for wood burners).  Please contact the Parish Office if you know of locals (neighbours, friends, any age), who could do with some help. 
Please do all you can to help us publicise details of local Warm Spaces

COST OF LIVING CRISIS
Our  LOCAL warm spaces include:

• Tarleton Library (opening hours Monday to Saturday),
• Christian Centre, Moss Lane (Monday mornings, 9.30am to 12.30pm) and
• Holy Trinity church, Tarleton (Monday – Saturday 9am to 4pm; Coffee & Chat: Fridays 10am to 12 noon).
• Hesketh Bank Community Centre (Mondays – Saturdays)

Warmth, hot drinks, light refreshments, good company, help and advice are on offer at all these places. 
Our local residents’ charity, Hesketh Bank & Tarleton helpers provides lunches every Friday: 12am to 2pm at Hesketh Bank Community Centre.

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.

HELP FOR RESIDENTS & OUR LOCAL FOODBANK: We will continue to support the amazing work being done by Rev Dave Dickinson at All Saint’s in Hesketh Bank, by collecting non-perishable foodstuffs for local families.  Thank you for all donations made so far.  They are helping to support three local families who are really struggling at the moment.  This is likely to increase as fuel prices start to have an effect this autumn and winter.  Please let Diane Mackley know if you have any concerns about neighbours over the next few months and we’ll do our best to help them, 01772 815508.