MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK – Both parishes

Lorna Christer RIP

Parishioners

Holy Souls NDL

Holy Souls NDL

 

 

LATEST  UP-DATE
OUR LADY’S and Ss PETER & PAUL’S – Both churches are now open for Sunday Vigil and Sunday Masses only.  There are no weekday Masses currently, nor are the churches able to open for private prayer as yet.  Social distancing rules require all parishioners wishing to attend, to contact the relevant parish office in order to reserve their place at Mass each week.  Please wear a mask.

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This Week
Ministry	E. Minister	Reader
Saturday
Sunday

Next Week
Ministry	E. Minister	Reader
Saturday
Sunday

 

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JOINT NEWSLETTER

THE RE-OPENING OF OUR CHURCHES
Please continue to contact the parish office on Thursdays to reserve your place(s) at Our Lady’s on 01772 812242 between 10.30am and 3pm – or email olhct@rcaol.org.uk – and on Fridays to reserve your place(s) for Ss Peter & Paul on 01704 822618 between 10.30am and 3pm,  or email ssppm@rcaol.org.uk

Please note that, due to social-distancing rules,  stewards may struggle to accommodate anyone who has not reserved a place at Mass.  Contact the parish office on Thursdays and Fridays (10.30am – 3pm).
Your help on this is greatly appreciated – it helps us to keep everyone safe.
MASS ON SUNDAYS
Don’t forget that 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. Please remember that the Sunday obligation remains lifted. This is especially important for those over 70 and those with underlying health issues, who may be wary of attending public events.
If you have any queries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

READINGS FOR 1 NOVEMBER
1st Reading: Apocalypse 7:2-14, I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language
Psalm 23, Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.
2nd Reading: 1 John 3:3-13, We shall see God as he really is
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12, Rejoice and be glad, for your reward shall be great in heaven.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest, says the Lord. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION FROM ‘OUR FAITH ON SUNDAY’ – 1 NOVEMBER
The Beatitudes are Our Lord’s counsel to us all, to all his disciples – his encouragement and his promise of the rewards that come from following him, as ‘the way’.
St Thomas Aquinas can give us a good example of the Beatitudes in practise: he was born in 1224-25 of a noble and wealthy family in the south of Italy – a family related to the secular Holy Roman Emperor. He therefore had everything going for him. As it was, against his family’s wishes, he joined the newly-formed Dominicans, suffering temporary imprisonment by the family. He was a young man with a brilliant mind and a love pf the truth – ‘hungering and thirsting’. It was not very long before he became famous for his learning and wisdom, for his teachings and his writings. Yet he remained the most peaceful and unassuming of men – a peacemaker, gentle and reflecting the purity of heart that was the source of his wisdom. He even suffered an ‘academic’ persecution from other professors at the University of Paris.
Together with the great multitude of saints rejoicing in heaven, he is witness to Jesus, to the truth of ‘the Way’.

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL REFLECTION FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE
This reflection is from Fr Simon Gore, Director of Animate Youth.
I remember when I was quite a small child, I went with my parents on our annual pilgrimage to Walsingham. While we were there, I asked them to buy me The Book of Catholic Saints I had seen in a shop. When I look back, I do wonder what kind of small boy I was! Anyway, it had a brief biography of each saint and a fairly saccharine picture of that saint on the opposite page. I remember being fascinated with the book and read it more than once over the course of twelve months. I enjoyed the book so much that the next year when we went back to Walsingham, I asked for the second volume of The Book of Catholic Saints! It is perhaps no surprise then, that I still have an affection for any saint that happens to cross my path. If it is an optional feast day, I will say the Mass of that optional saint. If I am not sure who that person was or what they did I will get onto Wikipedia as soon as I can (although it is debatable if Wikipedia or my childhood Book of Catholic Saints is the more trustworthy source material). I can’t understand why some people might not know, or even want to know, about our patron saints. Their lives always seem to me to be an inspiration and an example. In a saint’s biography, there is usually at least one thing that I can see that has some relevance to me. Also, I can often take solace in the fact that although these men and women are now saints, they were not always perfect.
Yet when we read the Gospel today, we might be forgiven for thinking that they might have had to have been almost perfect. It can be easy to read the Gospel of the Beatitudes today and see the Beatitudes as almost a manifesto of becoming a saint. Like the terms and conditions at the end of a contract, that will enable you to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. If we are pure in heart, then we can enter Heaven; if we are meek, then we are through the door; if we are merciful, then there are no issues at all when we meet St Peter at the Pearly Gates! But, if we know the lives of the saints, we know that these Beatitudes cannot be the entrance exam for Heaven. If they were, then many of our favourite saints would not be there. None of them ticked all of the boxes, all of the time. The Beatitudes, if we look at them as a set of rules to live by, are impossibly hard. Even the greatest of saints will have fallen short at times. Rather, it might be better to approach this reading on this Feast Day by considering the Beatitudes as offering a blessing on a group of people, usually more often regarded as unfortunate, troubled or distressed. Those in these groups have done nothing to attain these blessings. They are simply given freely by God as examples of God’s unbounded grace. We do not often associate being a peacemaker with the gift of a blessing. Being a peacemaker is a challenge and creates hardships for that person. But here the hardship of being a peacemaker means he or she will be blessed and become called a Child of God. That peacemaker could be you!
To be merciful is tough, it is probably easier not to be merciful at times; but here merciful people are blessed and receive the blessing of mercy. Seen in this way, then, the Beatitudes are almost offering us a foretaste of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Beatitudes suggest what the Kingdom of Heaven will be like. For those of us who have mourned, we will be comforted; for those of us who have been persecuted, our reward will be great. We will have these blessings because they will come from the only figure who can give such blessings: God.
On this Feast Day of All Saints it reminds us of the blessings that they now enjoy in the Kingdom of Heaven. They are being blessed for all they did with their lives on earth. Rather than being a checklist for a would-be saint, the Beatitudes are the rewards we can hope for. These are the rewards the saints are enjoying. We can hope to and indeed aspire to enjoying the same rewards with them in Heaven. Because of all this we might, today, find ourselves encouraged in our own lives, to emulate those saints. Our reward can be great!
Perhaps I should dig out those old biographies again…

PRAYER INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
That, through the devotion to the saints, the Church may be strengthened in holiness and solidarity,
Lord, in your mercy…
We pray for those people who are caring for those who are confused and frightened during this period of crisis, that they may be comforted, guided and strengthened by the Spirit
Lord, in your mercy….
We pray for our parish and our local community: that through the grace of God we may hear the urgent cry of the poor and be inspired to respond at this crucial time.
Lord, in your mercy…

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.

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 either ‘Our Lady Help of Christians Church’ or ‘Ss Peter & Paul Church Mawdesley’) 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

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 10am. 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 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.

SYNOD 2020 – PARISHIONERS’ CONSULTATION WEEK 2: Please make sure you collect a pink sheet outlining the combined proposals for Theme 2 (Sharing the Mission of Jesus). Read it carefully and decide which proposals you support. Either highlight that proposal or place a tick / cross next to each one, then return the sheet next week (7/8 November). You can bring it to Mass or post it through the presbytery door. You can see all the proposals on the Synod website if you wish: www.synod2020.co.uk

JOINT PARISH CALENDAR – PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR ORDERS: Please start placing your orders (email or phone) for the calendars: the proceeds will be split between our two parishes and the amazing work done by Mary’s Meals, to feed children in undeveloped countries. Price: £10 (cheques payable to ‘Our Lady Help of Christians’ / Ss Peter & Paul Church’).

HARVEST SEASON / PARISH FOODBANK: A huge THANK YOU to everyone who generously donated a lovely variety of foodstuffs. They will be distributed by the Trussell Trust / St Mary’s Leyland, to families who are in increasingly desperate need.

NHS COVID-19 APP: If possible, please use your phone app to scan in our QR code when you come to Mass.

HELP DURING OUR TIER 3 LOCKDOWN:  Tier 3 Lockdown operates throughout Merseyside and Lancashire, meaning we are on ‘Very High Alert’ and face a number of additional restrictions to help curb the pandemic.  You can find details of current measures on Lancashire County Council’s website https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/coronavirus-updates/coronavirus-restrictions-in-lancashire/. Further information including the (strictly limited) exceptions to the rule against mixing of households can be found on the Government website https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-covid-alert-level-very-high.

It is important that we all follow the rules in order to protect the 55+ age group who are now especially vulnerable eg no travel / overnight stays outside of Lancashire; minimal travel, only meeting in groups of 6 or less (including children of any age), in certain outdoor places: parks, countryside, beaches. No mixing of households indoors. It is essential to continue to observe the ‘basics’: hand hygiene, face masks, social-distancing, at all times.

The Council webpage also has guidance and the link to the application form for residents who have been asked the self-isolate by NHS Track and Trace and could be entitled to financial support. Please share with members of your household who you think may be entitled to this financial support:
https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/more/emergencies/coronavirus/track-and-trace-support-payment.aspx

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 Rev. Dave Dickinson (Co-ordinator), at All Saints Church on 01772 814458. Also see the latest issue of the local newsletter ‘Helping Hands’ (there have been 3 issues of this already) for lots of help, advice and useful contact details

The NHS National Volunteer Responder Programme is still running until at least December – go to https://nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/services for further information  

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES OR NEED ANY HELP, PLEASE CONTACT FR ANDERS AT THE PRESBYTERY IN TARLETON ON 01772 812242, OR EMAIL EITHER OFFICE.

WITH EVERY BLESSING FOR THE COMING WEEK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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