10 October 2021 – 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Parishioners
Dec members of the Cheetham family
Win Duncan RIP
Irene McCabe RIP
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THE CHURCH IS NOW OPEN FOR WEEKEND MASSES: Saturday Vigil: 6.45pm and Sunday, 9.30am. PLEASE PHONE / EMAIL ON THURSDAYS between 10.30am to 3pm to book a place if you wish to sit in the socially-distanced area of church.
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PARISH NEWSLETTER
THIS WEEK’S NOTICES & READINGS / REFLECTIONS
We join Pope Francis in his prayer intention for October:
Missionary Disciples
We pray that every baptized person may be engaged in evangelization, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavour of the Gospel.
Let us pray
That all Christians may strive for holiness by repenting of past sins;
That all who doubt or distrust the Gospel message may recognise the risen Christ in the goodness and kindness of others and learn to turn to God in faith and love;
That the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ for all people may teach us that there is no such thing as a worthless life, or a person God does not love;
That as Covid restrictions are lifted and more people receive their vaccinations, may the bonds of our relationships be renewed and strengthened
We pray now in the words Jesus gave us:
Our Father, who art in heaven…
SPECIAL FEASTS THIS WEEK
11 October – St John XXIII, Pope
12 October – St Wilfrid
13 October – St Edward the Confessor
14 October – St Calistus
15 October – St Teresa of Avila, founder of the reformed Carmelites
16 October – St Hedwig / St Margaret Mary – promoter of the Feast of the Sacred Heart
NOVEMBER LISTS
Please write a list of the names of the deceased you wish to include in the November Masses for the Holy Souls in the special envelopes – available from the table in the porch as you enter/leave church. You may also include your offering in the same envelope. If you wish to use your own envelope, please clearly mark it: ‘November Masses / Holy Souls’. Thank you.
BAPTISM
We welcome into our community of faith Marcelo James Mendes Gallimore and Daniel Mendes Silva, who were baptised over the last two Sundays. Please keep them and their families in your prayers.
CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY (1 October) – & CLIMATE CRISIS APPEAL
The Covid pandemic is propelling people all around the world into poverty and is deepening inequalities. The poorest and most vulnerable people in the world are also the ones who are hardest hit by the impact of climate change: harvests are failing, cities and rural communities are flooding and people are finding it harder and harder to survive in the place they call home.
This year especially, CAFOD is hoping to both raise much-needed funds to help these people as well as pressuring governments to be much more pro-active in changing laws that will help to protect our precious and very fragile planet for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Please bring in your CAFOD envelopes / make donations in the separate basket as you enter church. Deadline: Sunday 17 October.
CATHOLIC PIC: A digital version of the October edition can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/3DprINZ
Please get in touch by email kim.obrien@cpmmmedia.com with any questions you may have, or you can phone Barbara about distribution on 0151 733 5492 or 07714 814662
THE UNIVERSAL SYNOD
On Sunday 17 October, the Archdiocese of Liverpool is going to mark the opening of the local phase of the universal Synod 2021-23 with a choral evening prayer in the Metropolitan Cathedral (3pm-4pm). This will be also an opportunity to pray for the forthcoming pastoral plan, the fruit of our own archdiocesan Synod 2020. All are welcome to attend.
WORLD MISSION SUNDAY – 24 OCTOBER
Through our prayers and Masses on this special day, we are supporting missionaries everywhere in spreading the Good News. This year Missio is focussing on supporting the work of the church in Nigeria – a country threatened by conflict, political instability and economic and social injustice.
A month of daily reflections (available from the porch as you come in / leave church) will be a powerful tool to help the work of missionaries like Sr Veronica of the Women’s Interfaith Council in Nigeria, establishing and building peace, reconciliation, and forgiveness to this bruised country. Please offer your prayers this month.
Please also bring in your red Mission boxes at the end of the month, so that we can send off our important donations and do our bit to help God’s will to be done to help his suffering members in Nigeria.
WORLD MISSION DAY REFLECTION FOR 10 OCTOBER
For leadership, there is only one road: service. There is no other way. If you have many qualities but you are not a servant, your leadership will fail. It is useless. It has no power to bring people together. Leadership must enter into service, but with a personal love for the people who are being served.
Pope Francis
LOCAL HELP FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES
You’ll have realised that a lot of local areas are trying to work out how they can best support refugees from Afghanistan over the next weeks and months. In Hesketh Bank and Tarleton, donations of clothes are being accepted by the Christian Centre (off Moss Lane) on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9.30am and 11.30am. The initial response from locals has been extremely encouraging, so the Christian Centre is currently storing a lot of items ready to hand over to Care4Calais, as and when they need it. Care4Calais is specifically asking for the following items, which must be in good condition:
- baby / children’s clothes & shoes (trainers)
- jeans and leggings
- t-shirts
- hoodies
Donations are also being collected in Aughton L39 5DW: Please email mcevoyden@gmail.com to arrange drop-off time / venue.
You may wish to donate directly to Care4Calais: Care4Calais | Refugee Crisis Charity | Fundraise Donate Volunteer
IMPORTANT MESSAGES FROM WEST LANCS COUNCIL
There are no longer legal requirements for face coverings, but their use is strongly advised in hospitals, healthcare settings and enclosed, crowded public spaces
With the number of Covid cases increasing every week in W Lancs, it is extremely important that everyone gets their second dose of the vaccine, to have maximum protection. If it’s more than 8 weeks since your first dose, please book your second at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
Or see the Healthier Lancashire & South Cumbria website for details of walk-in clinics where no appointment is required at https://www.healthierlsc.co.uk/CovidVaccination/getmyjab or follow the West Lancs CCG Facebook page.
Pregnant Women & Vaccinations
It’s really important that pregnant women get the vaccine to protect themselves and their unborn child. Thousands of pregnant women have received the vaccine and we want everyone to be safe.
Young People & Vaccinations
Although many people aged 18 to 30 have been vaccinated, numbers still lag behind other age groups. Please encourage young people you know to get the vaccine to protect themselves and reduce the risk of passing it on to others. Even young people can encounter serious illness if they get COVID.
Help for those affected by the Pandemic
WLBC has a Financial Inclusion Assistant who is available for residents who are struggling with issues relating to the pandemic. Support can be provided relating to issues such as food, fuel support, debt support, benefit support, mental health support etc. If you know someone who would benefit from this support please email carl.wallace@westlancs.gov.uk
HELP TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS: FREE COVID LATERAL FLOW TESTS KITS ARE AVAILABLE
West Lancashire Borough Council is asking all residents to take 2 Covid tests a week so that they can accurately monitor the number of cases in the borough. They are able to help people who test positive to self-isolate – and there is funding available to help if that means that someone is unable to go in to work for the required period.
Free test kits will be distributed at Mass over the next few weekends. They can also be dropped off at your home if you’re unable to get to Mass. Please contact the office.
COVID VACCINE POP-UPS FOR EVERYONE!
Vaccination pop-up clinics / vaccine bus for over 18s will be held at these venues over the next few weeks: https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/news/get-vaccinated-at-the-covid-19-pop-up-sites-and-bus.aspx
MUSICAL TREAT FOR THE WEEK
Pentatonix – Amazing Grace (Official Video) – YouTube
Pentatonix is one of the world’s most successful acapella groups. This is a particularly beautiful arrangement of the very popular hymn.
REGULAR WEEKLY NOTICES
MASS ON SUNDAYS
As you may be aware, our Bishops have lifted the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
To keep Sundays holy, it might be helpful to spend some time reading the Scriptures. Besides your Bible, the Magnificat publication can be a wonderful aid to prayer and of course, you also get the readings for Mass for every day of the week! At a cost of less than £1 a week, you may be interested in subscribing now: tel. 020 7448 3618; email: uk@magnificat.com or visit the website: www.catholic-herald.myshopify.com
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.
If you have any queries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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.
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 9.30am. 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 Sky 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.
EWTN – GLOBAL CATHOLIC TV & RADIO
Getting connected is easier than you might think. EWTN is free, there’s no subscription. You can stream live and on demand via the website: www.ewtn.co.uk/get-ewtn or get the app for your mobile (EWTN APP), or Amazon’s Echo Auto.
Every day: daily Mass at 1pm and Children’s Rosary every day, at 7.30pm
YEAR OF ST JOSEPH (Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of Liverpool): With his apostolic letter, ‘Patris Corde’ (‘With a Father’s heart’), Pope Francis has proclaimed a ‘Year of St Joseph’ running from 8 December 2020 (Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception) to December 2021.
At the end of the letter, he asks us to pray the following prayer to St Joseph:
Hail Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you, God entrusted his only Son,
In you, Mary placed her trust,
With you, Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too,
Show yourself a father
And guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage
And defend us from every evil.
Amen
PRAYER CARDS FOR THE YEAR OF ST JOSEPH: Prayer cards are available – please notify the Parish Office and we will send one out to you so that you can say the prayer to St Joseph during the week. We know we can rely on his guidance and protection in every difficulty and challenge. And his intercessions are certainly much-needed by us all at the moment!
CLASSES IN OUR CHURCH HALL FROM SEPTEMBER
The relaxing of some restrictions means that our church hall can now be used by local groups.
Please contact the parish office if you would like to know more about the following:
Fizzical – adult workout to jazz (with Julie Kershaw) – Monday evenings, 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Parents & Toddlers, (with Jade McCormick) – last Tuesday of the month, 10am-11.30am
Tai Chi (with Mark Humphries) – Tuesdays, 2pm to 3.30pm
Parents & Babies ( 2 classes, with Jamie Birks) – Thursdays 10.15am-11am and Thursdays 11.15am-12 noon
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE CENTRE COURSES
The Christian Heritage Centre, based at Stonyhurst, offers regular webinars and courses on a variety of topics. For more information, please see www.christianheritagecentre.com
CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS: These are available to order directly from the publisher (www.thecatholicuniverse.com or 0161 820 5722). It can be posted to you each week. Introductory offers: printed copies for three months – £25; twelve months – £99; or digital copy £55 for twelve months.
OUR LITTLE CHURCH GROUP
Our children have continued to meet up regularly via Zoom during the pandemic and our Little Church seems to be happily thriving. If anyone is interested in attending, or knows any children who would like to be involved, you are more than welcome to join in the fun! Please contact Emma O’Hare on 07813275574.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY – WITH BROTHER FRANCIS
You Tube animated stories and songs each week.
https://brotherfrancis.com/
WEEKLY MASS FOR CHILDREN: FREE RESOURCE BOOKLET
Redemptorist Publications is pleased to introduce Celebrate: an initiative designed to help children grow in their faith.
Each week they will provide a Children’s Liturgy in the form of a video of the week’s Gospel reading, a reflection and a final prayer.
Fun, engaging and practical worksheets/resources will also be provided to help children continue to practise their faith during this time. Please ring 01420 592974 or check the following link for the RP KidZone: https://www.rpbooks.co.uk/celebrate-following-your-faith?utm
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMES ON EWTN
Children’s religious programmes, based on the teachings of Jesus, are available on EWTN every week day, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm – and on Saturday mornings, from 9am to 10am.
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 ‘Our Lady Help of Christians Church’ ) 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
HELP DURING THE PANDEMIC
COVID VACCINES – IMPORTANT
Please note that the Catholic Church has given its full support to the vaccine (all three of them) and is keen to assure Catholics that there are no moral issues linked to the science of the vaccines, whatsoever. The vaccines are safe. The Archbishop of Liverpool is anxious to dispel any myths and urges Catholics to have the vaccines. Cardinal Vin Nichols has already had his first vaccine. So has the Pope! – and hospital chaplains have also received their first doses.
Unfortunately some people are trying to exploit the fears of others, so be on the alert for so-called vaccine scammers, who will try and charge you for a vaccine. There is NO CHARGE.
The vaccines are free.
GP surgeries are not paid. The government is paying for the whole programme.
Please also note that there are some scammers pretending to be the NHS. There is only one official NHS email address, which is www.nhs.uk
The NHS will never ask for details like family maiden names of bank accounts / credit & debit cards. Nor will they require you to pay anything for the vaccines. If you are contacted by a group claiming to be the NHS and they’ve asked for these details, it is a scam and you must ignore it. Then report it!
It is essential to continue to observe the ‘basics’: hand hygiene, face masks, social-distancing – and lots of good ventilation – at all times.
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 Diane Mackley (one of the HH Team members) on 01772 815508.
OTHER HELP AVAILABLE IN WEST LANCS
Citizens Advice Lancashire West – Advice on housing, employment, debt, benefits, consumer problems, energy advice (billing, supply, switching etc.) and much more.
Contact: Guy Simpson – gsimpson@calw.org.uk or Sarah Bennett – sbennett@calw.org.uk Tel. 0344 245 1294
South West Lancashire ICAN [South West Lancashire Independent Community Advice Network]
Provides free independent and confidential advice from specialists regarding redundancy, welfare rights, employment law, disability living allowance, tribunal appeals, personal independence payments, IT and digital support, debt, those in work-low income (including for the self-employed or small business owners during the pandemic), furloughing.
Contact: Paul McConnell or Jan Fitzsimons admin@swlican.org. Tel. 01695 726269
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES OR NEED ANY HELP, PLEASE CONTACT FR ANDERS AT THE PRESBYTERY IN TARLETON ON 01772 812242, OR EMAIL THE OFFICE (olhct@rcaol.org.uk)
WISHING ALL PARISHIONERS AND THEIR FAMILIES EVERY BLESSING FOR THE COMING WEEK