READINGS FOR 1 NOVEMBER
1^st Reading: Revelation 7:2-14, Behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages.
Psalm 24: Such are the people who seek your face, O Lord.
2^nd Reading: I John 3:1-3, we shall see God as he is.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:1-12, Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER
For the proper use of wealth
We pray for the proper use of wealth, that not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, it may always be put at the service of the common good and in solidarity for those who have less.

SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
2 November – All Souls – Solemnity
4 November – St Charles Borromeo
7 November – St Willibrord

NOVEMBER MASSES FOR HOLY SOULS: REQUIEM SERVICE ON MONDAY 2 NOVEMBER, 6.15pm
All are welcome to Monday’s service.

COFFEE MORNING TODAY!
Do come and join us after 10am Mass TODAY for tea, coffee and lots of seasonal bakes – plus a raffle.
Advance Notice: The Christmas Coffee Morning & Fayre will be on Sunday 6 December.

PRESENTATION: OUR CHURCH FINANCES – Where does the money come from? And where does it go to?
We are very grateful to members of our PPC, and to our accountant Michael Cookson, who have prepared some really interesting details about our parish finances.  Please see the information sheets provided, plus Paul and David will be available for questions at the Coffee Morning after Mass. 
This marks the first of three presentations on different aspects of our church funding.

BECOMING A CATHOLIC – RCIA COURSE, 4 NOVEMBER
If you, or someone you know, is interested in finding out more about the Catholic faith and perhaps considering becoming a Catholic, then please collect a pack from the porch, with details of the next RCIA course run by our Family of Parishes. It will start on 4 November at St Oswald’s in Longton.

BAPTISM
We welcome LENNY GOLDFARB who was baptised here last Sunday, into our faith community.  May God bless him and his family.  Please remember him in your prayers.

MESSAGE TO PARISHIONERS FROM THE FAMILY OF VERA SCOTT RIP
The family have written to express their thanks and appreciation to everyone who helped at / attended last week’s Requiem for Vera: ‘To all at Our Lady’s who helped in any way at Mum / Vera’s funeral.  The Requiem was beautiful, Fr John – thank you.  As you know, Mum was a devoted member of the church, with strong beliefs and she would have been so thankful for the wonderful service’.

PARISH QUIZ NIGHT: FRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER, 7.30pm – A FUN NIGHT OUT FOR PARISHIONERS, FRIENDS & FAMILY
This is an important fundraiser for the refurbishment of the hall kitchen!
Quiz tickets: £2.50 each: available from members of the Social Committee (Vivienne, Emma, John, Mark, Joanne); also from the Parish Office on Thursdays, 10am to 4pm OR please ring John on 07866 571200.
The evening includes raffle, cash bingo, and our licensed bar
The Social Committee welcomes good quality raffle prizes.  Please leave in the labelled box in the porch, or you could drop them off at 39 Kearsley Avenue.
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD AND ENCOURAGE FRIENDS & FAMILY TO SUPPORT THIS GREAT NIGHT OUT!

BLISTER PACKS: PILLS & TABLETS RECYCLED
Please use the labelled box in the porch  for your pill / tablet blisters packs, so that we can collect and recycle properly.  Currently, they cannot be recycled in our blue council bins.  Thank you to those who are already donating!

HYMN BOOK AMNESTY
It’s so easy to walk out of church and find you’re still clutching a hymn book!  Please can you have a look at home / in the car and check for any ‘strays’.  No one will be looking when you bring them back to church.  Many thanks!

WELCOMERS NEEDED 
We would love to expand our rota of welcomers, so please don’t be shy!  Have a chat with Father or Diane after Mass, if you’d like to find out a bit more, and see if it’s something that might interest you.

MASS INTENTIONS
Mass intentions are welcome, not just for our dear departed, but for any other occasion eg in thanksgiving, A successful outcome (exams / operation), wedding / anniversary blessings. Please write your name and intention, with the preferred date – if applicable – on a piece of paper and place in an envelope, along with your offering, either in the weekly offertory basket or through the presbytery door.  Every effort will be made to find a date as close as possible.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES / GIFT AID / STANDING ORDERS!
If you are a taxpayer then you can easily help the parish to claim 25% extra on top of every donation you make – and it won’t cost you a penny!  Eg: a donation of £10 per week would result in £12.50 going to the church. If you are able to use gift aid, please collect a form from the porch on your way out today, and return it to the Parish Office asap. 
If you are a taxpayer who makes regular cash donations, please consider using an offertory envelope instead of just placing your ‘loose’ donations in the basket. This is really important: it can bring in more than £1000 to the church every year, as we’ll be able to claim gift aid directly on every donation you make.  It won’t cost you anything at all, but it will make a huge difference to our finances.
Please contact the Parish Office if you’d like to use envelopes – they are free! 
Even better – you can donate ‘painlessly’ each month by setting up a standing order with your bank.  Forms are available in the porch.

PRAYERFUL REFLECTION BEFORE MASS
Some of our parishioners who like to pray and have a few moments of quiet reflection before the start of Mass.  And of course, we have every opportunity to have a chat and catch-up after Mass. 
Our monthly coffee mornings provide an ideal occasion for this! 

VOTIVE CANDLES
People have been asking how much they should donate for a votive candle.  Fr John is happy to leave it to your discretion, as all donations will be gratefully received – whenever they are made.

GLUTEN FREE SACRAMENT AVAILABLE
Please indicate to Fr John if you need to receive a gf host when you come to receive communion.

ST IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA: The Loving Generosity of Christ
He is generous to exhaustion and what is most wonderful is that he gives himself thus entirely, not once only but every
day, if we wish it.  Every fresh Communion is a new gift, which Jesus Christ makes of himself.