MASSES DURING LENT
Tuesdays, 10am
Wednesdays
5.30pm Confessions
6.00pm Mass (with meditation on the Way of the Cross and Benediction)

READINGS FOR 10 MARCH
1^st Reading: II Chronicles 36:14-23, The wrath and mercy of God are revealed in the exile and in the release of his people.
Psalm 136:  O let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I remember you not!
2^nd Reading: Ephesians 2:4-10, You who were dead through your sins have been saved through grace.
Gospel Reading: John 3:14-21, God sent his Son so that through him, the world might be saved.
Gospel acclamation: Glory and praise to you, O Christ!  God so loved the world so much that he gave his only Son; everyone who believes in him has eternal life. Glory and praise to you, O Christ
Communion antiphon: Jerusalem is built as a city, bonded as one together.  It is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to praise the name of the Lord.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MARCH
For the new martyrs
We pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world inflame the Church with their courage and missionary enthusiasm.

SAINTS & FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK

LENTEN SERVICES
Please check times and days of additional services during the forthcoming season of Lent: there is a second weekday Mass (Tuesdays at 10am and Wednesdays at 6pm), with  additional opportunities for confession.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS DURING LENT – Fridays at 7.00pm
Stations of the Cross in our family of parishes
15 March         St Mary’s, Leyland
22 March        St Mary Magdalene, Penwortham
Please let people know about our services during Lent.  All are very welcome.

LENTEN ALMS BOX
Our Lenten Alms this year will be donated to the Children of Gaza & the Holy Land.  Let us continue to pray, with increasing urgency, for peace in Our Lord’s homeland and an end to the suffering of so many innocents on all sides in this terrible conflict.
PRAYERS DURING LENT
We are asked to pray for the following intentions
Candidates for the Sacraments (especially on Sundays); Women (Women’s World Day of Prayer on Friday 1 March); the Needy and Hungry of the World; Penitents and Wanderers.

1^st COMMUNION PROGRAMME
Our children continue their preparations after Sunday Mass this week, for making their 1^st Holy Communion at the beginning of June.  Please remember Ashley and Lily in your prayers.

CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY COLLECTION:  £142.71p was raised.  Thank you everyone.

COFFEE MORNING LAST WEEK
Thank you to everyone who supported last week’s Coffee Morning.  It was lovely to see so many people there, enjoying a good chat and some delicious home-baking.  Donations, raffle tickets and contributions amounted to £85.00, which is all going to the Church Hall Refurbishment Fund.

STEWARDSHIP OF OUR TALENTS
Our prayer time during Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the talents with which God has blessed us, and a chance to consider how (rather than burying our talents away), we might develop them and use them for the benefit of our parish.  Leaflets are available for you to collect from the porch and return next week, with your thoughts and suggestions.

RAMADAN – KEEPING THE FAST WITH PALESTINIAN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN GAZA
You may want to keep a fast during the day of Wednesday 13 March. Please pray for all innocent victims of violence in Gaza, Christians and Muslims, and also Jewish hostages and their families.  Please see Paul Allison for further details.

MASS INTENTONS
Mass intentions are welcome, not just for our dear departed, but for any other occasion eg in thanksgiving, 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 near as possible. 

HOLY WEEK & EASTER
Leaflets are now available with details of all the Masses and services.  Please collect one before you leave church
EASTER FLOWERS: If you would like to donate towards the flower arrangements for Easter this year, a basket will be left out next week for contributions.  Thank you.

PARISH EASTER MEAL – FRIDAY 5 APRIL Please collect a menu sheet as you leave church today.  All welcome!

REFLECTION: LENT WEEK 4
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus asks, “Which of you, if your child asks for bread, will give them a stone?  Or if he asks for fish, will give a snake?”  No parent – or adult – in their right mind would offer up a stone or a snake to a child.  So too, the Father only gives good gifts to his children.  From the beginning, human existence has been a struggle for food to survive.  The gift of food is a sign of God’s bounty and therefore, saying Grace before meals is an expression of gratitude and thanksgiving.  Yet, of course, we cannot live on this bread alone.  We also need ‘bread’ or food that will satisfy us spiritually.  God’s gift to us, is himself, in the holy sacrifice of the Mass and the sharing of bread at Communion.  This Bread of Heaven feeds our souls, so let us give thanks for it.
From ‘Walk with Me’ (Alive Publishing)

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.