MASS ON WEDNESDAYS – Holy Mass – 6.00pm
Followed by Exposition / Confessions & Benediction

READINGS FOR 28 JANUARY
1^st Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20, I will raise up a prophet and I will put my words into his mouth.
Psalm 94:  O that today you would listen to his voice!  Harden not your hearts.
2^nd Reading: I Corinthians 7:32-35, An unmarried woman can devote herself to the Lord’s affairs; all she need worry about is being holy.
Gospel Reading: Mark 1:21-28, He taught them with authority.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! The people that lived in darkness have seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and the shadow of death, a light has dawned.  Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the land.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR FEBRUARY
The Terminally Ill
That terminally ill patients and their families always receive the necessary medical and human care and support.

SAINTS & FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
31 January – St John Bosco
2 February – Presentation of the Lord* Mass here at 10am
3 February – St Blaise / St Ansgar
*The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord occurs forty days after the birth of Jesus and is also known as Candlemas Day, since the blessing and procession of candles is included in the liturgy.
Founded by Pope St. John Paul II in 1997, 2 February is also the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life. He attached it to “Candlemas Day” because the consecrated men and women are to be the light in the world, imitating Jesus, the Light of the World.
PRAYER FOR CANDLEMAS DAY
Almighty ever-living God, we humbly implore that, just as your Only Begotten Son was presented on this day in the Temple in the substance of our flesh, so, by your grace, we may be presented to you with minds made pure. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever,  Amen.

BAPTISM
We welcome Archie Joseph Dobson in to our faith community.  Archie was baptised here last week.  Please remember him and his parents – Luke and Rachel – and all the family, in your prayers.

HOLOCAUST DAY MEMORIAL SERVICE 2024
An inter-faith service to commemorate the victims of the Nazi Holocaust, plus those who have perished in other 20^th and 21^st century genocides, will be held at Christ Church in Southport on Sunday 28 January, at 1.30pm.  The theme this year is ‘The Fragility of Freedom’.  Local faiths will be there, plus speakers from the Muslim & Jewish Forum, local MPs and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside.  All are welcome to attend.

NEXT COFFEE MORNING: 4 FEBRUARY
Do join us after Mass next week, for tea, coffee, cakes and some very friendly company.

QUIZ NIGHT – FRIDAY 9 FEBRUARY
Tarleton Ecumenical Walk of Witness is holding its annual fundraising Quiz Night in our hall a week on Friday.  Tickets are £8 each and include a hot-pot supper.  Please see Diane Mackley after Mass – or contact the Parish Office – for tickets asap!

PIZZA & PANCAKE PARTY: SHROVE TUESDAY, 13 FEBRUARY
Everyone is welcome to come along to the presbytery for 7pm for a social, to mark the start of Lent on Wednesday.  There is no charge, but please see Tony Crivaro for tickets if you wish to come along, for catering purposes.  Many thanks!

ASH WEDNESDAY: Wednesday 14 February

ARCHDIOCESAN CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME – YEAR 8 CHILDREN
Information sheets are available in the porch for parents and children interested in receiving this very special sacrament.  Children must be registered (online) at www.liverpoolcalled.co.uk between 15 January and 15 March.  The Confirmations will take place during the summer term this year.

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.

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.