CHURCH IS OPEN – Thursdays, from 11am to 2pm for reflections before the Blessed Sacrament

READINGS FOR 12 APRIL
1^st Reading: Acts 2: 42-47, All who believed were together and had all things in common.
Psalm 118: Give praise to the Lord for he is good, his mercy endures forever.
2^nd Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9, He has caused us to be born again, to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31, Eight days later, Jesus came.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia.  You believed Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.  Alleluia. 
Communion antiphon: Bring your hands and feel the place of the nails, and do not be unbelieving, but believing, alleluia.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR APRIL
For priests in crisis
For priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that their communities may support them with understanding and prayer.

SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
13 April – St Martin

POPE LEO’S PRAYER VIGIL FOR PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST: SATURDAY EVENING 11 APRIL
In union with Pope Leo and his call for a vigil of peace today, we pray that a willingness to engage in dialogue may become the means to resolve situations of conflict throughout the world, and especially at this delicate time in the Middle East.
Please check the following link, to Vatican News, on this:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2026-04/pope-leo-xiv-appeal-ceasefire-middle-east-audience-8-april.html

CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST – PRAY FOR PEACE
God of peace, bearer of hope, we seek your help for the peoples of the Middle East.  Quiet the clamour of war, and guide us towards peace.  Where there is hatred and division, sow seeds of calm and openness.  Where there is destruction, help us to rebuild.  Where children are crying, bring an end to tears.  Shelter your peoples and protect them.  Guide them and keep them from harm.  Show us how to break down the barriers of history and fear and breathe whispers of hope.  Amen.                                                                                                                  
Linda Jones/CAFOD

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
From Creation, God has revealed his nature as love itself, in Sacred Scripture and most perfectly in the life, Passion, death and Resurrection of his Son, Jesus. Saints have also borne witness to God’s unfathomable love, e.g., in the writings of Augustine, Aquinas, Catherine of Siena, Francis of Assisi, Margaret Mary Alacoque and Thérèse of Lisieux.

In his second encyclical, Rich in Mercy, Pope Saint John Paul II offered an extended meditation on the mystery of God’s mercy, which he calls “the greatest of the attributes and perfections of God” (Dives in misericordia, 13). He returned to this theme throughout his pontificate:

“As a gift to humanity, which sometimes seems bewildered and overwhelmed by the power of evil, selfishness, and fear, the Risen Lord offers His love that pardons, reconciles, and reopens hearts to love. It is a love that converts hearts and gives peace. How much the world needs to understand and accept Divine Mercy!
Lord, who reveals the Father’s love by your death and Resurrection, we believe in you and confidently repeat to you today: Jesus, I trust in you, have mercy upon us and upon the whole world.  Amen”.

WELCOME TO OUR FAITH COMMUNITY
We were delighted to welcome three of our parishioners into a deeper union with Our Lord at the Easter Vigil Mass: Emma made her 1^st Holy Communion, Ruth received the sacrament of Confirmation and Marc was received into the Catholic Church.  It was a very special occasion and we ask for God’s blessings on them all.  Please remember them in your prayers.

EASTER CELEBRATION: ROAST DINNER EVENING – THANK YOU!
A very hearty and heartfelt Thank You to all those hardworking ‘cooks’ and servers on our Social Committee – and all the washer-uppers / cleaners, plus Bar staff, who helped to ensure that last evening’s ‘Roast Dinner’ was such a success.  It was another great parish evening – and a special thank you to everyone who was able to come along

1^st COMMUNION / CONFIRMATION CLASSES NEXT WEEK: 19 APRIL
Our children & parents, will be meeting for their monthly prep sessions after Mass next Sunday.  The Masses of 1^st Communion will be split across two Sundays at 10am: 7 and 14 June.

RUNNING A MARATHON FOR ALICE
Parishioner, Marc Sterry, will be running the London Marathon on 26 April, in support of Alice’s WonderDance, in loving memory of Alice Aguiar, following the sad events of 2024 in Southport.  Alice was baptised here and there are still family links.  Marc is honoured to be running at the request of Alice’s parents, Sergio and Alex, for a foundation that continues her legacy. Please consider sponsoring him to help raise funds and awareness for this special cause.
The weblink to the fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/page/marc-sterry-2
Sponsor forms are available or those who do not wish to use the link. Please speak to Marc in church after Mass. Thank you for your kindness, support and prayers.

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! 

CHURCH CLEANING / FLOWER ARRANGING
Thank you to those who have already said that they’d be interested in helping out.  Diane would like to start putting rotas together, so please can you let her know your availability.  Church cleaning is only twice a month and flower arranging is every other week.  Please have a word with her after Mass today, or ring on 07876 363779. Thank you.

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.