WEDNESDAY EVENING MASSES
Wednesday evenings, 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.

ARCHDIOCESE PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
Heavenly Father, hear our prayers for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.
We ask for peace for those who need peace, reconciliation for those who need reconciliation and comfort for all who don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
We ask for you to be with all – especially children who are suffering as the crisis in Ukraine deteriorates. For those who are anxious and fearful. For those who are bereaved, injured or who have lost their lives. And for those who have lost loved ones. Lord, hear our prayers.
We also pray for wise actions from global leaders – who have the power not only to start wars, but to stop them too.
Father in heaven, we cry out for an end to this crisis and for mercy, peace, and truth – that the healing power of your love will restore peace, families and communities.
Amen

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 26 FEBRUARY
1^st Reading: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7, The creation and sin of our first parents
Psalm 50:  Have mercy on us O Lord, for we have sinned.
2^nd Reading: Romans 5:12-19, However the number of sins committed, grace was even greater.
Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus fasts for forty days and is tempted.
Gospel acclamation: Praise to you O Christ, king of eternal glory!  Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Praise to you O Christ, king of eternal glory! 
Communion antiphon: One does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
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
27 February – St Gregory of Narek
1 March – St David – patron of Wales
4 March – St Casimir – known for his veneration for the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin

OUR SEASON OF LENT
We are now entering a very special time in our Church’s calendar – a season of fasting, prayer and almsgiving.  Let us use these few weeks to enrich our spiritual preparations for Easter by following Our Lord’s example in the wilderness: denying ourselves the opportunities to sin, finding an extra bit of time each day reflecting on passages from Scripture and also thinking of others who may be in need.
Our Lenten Almsgiving box will be in the porch each week during Lent.

HOW TO DONATE TO THE CHURCH
Standing Orders – Many find this an easier alternative to trying to remember to bring cash along each week.  Forms are available in the porch / from the Parish Office.  You can determine the amount and when it is deducted each month. Please post the form to your bank.
Envelopes – easy, because they can be prepared before coming to church.  They afford some ‘privacy’ for the amount donated.  Please conact the Parish Office so that we can arrange this for you.
Cash / cheque donations each week and very gratefully received.
Gift Aid – Important Clarification: 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 £3 per week could become £3.75 and 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.
THANK YOU for your continuing support and generosity in these very challenging times.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER – FRIDAY 3 MARCH
We are hosting this annual service this year, which takes place here at 7.30pm on Friday 3 March.  This year the service has been organised by the Christian women of Taiwan.  Theme this year: I have heard about your faith.  (Ephesians 1:15-19)
Refreshments will be available in the hall after the service.
All are very welcome to attend. It would be lovely to see a good turn-out from our parish!

CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY – LENT APPEAL – 3 MARCH
Envelopes are available now and will be collected after Mass next Sunday, 5 March and 12 March.  Thank you.
This Lent, your donations to CAFOD’s Family Fast Day Appeal will help families fighting the climate crisis and ensure that our Church network can quickly respond to emergencies, like the recent earthquake in Syria and Turkey. Give today using the envelope or at cafod.org.uk/give and please join us in praying for CAFOD’s development and emergency response work all over the world.

PARISH COFFEE MORNING NEXT SUNDAY (5 March)
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 over tea/coffee and cakes!

FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE: COURSES & RESOURCES
COST OF LIVING CRISIS: Warm and Cosy spaces in our parish centres
Venues continue to be open 1pm to 3.30pm across the archdiocese: more details here https://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/news/warm-and-cosy-with-the-archdiocese-of-liverpool
AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS PODCAST
Please find below the link to January’s ‘At the Foot of the Cross’ podcast from the Bishops’ Conference.
Benedict XVI Rest in Peace | Episode 10
SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS TRAINING COURSE
The Spirituality Network is offering an Introduction to Spiritual Direction Course beginning on 20th April 2023. In order to discern the right people for this course, they would like to meet in person with those applying for an interview. These will be held at The Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Liverpool L15 6TW. If you are interested, please send application forms to ann.goddard@liverpool.anglican.org by 10am on Monday 6th March 2023
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND – Online
An opportunity to deepen your life and faith as a couple through this retreat. The next date available is 13 and 14 May 2023. The programme is delivered by experienced laity couples and a priest and is supported by the Bishops Conference. Full details of these experiences can be found on their website: https://wwme.org.uk.

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.