12 January 2025 – Baptism of the Lord

MASS INTENTIONS: Sundays 10am / Wednesdays 6pm

Sunday              12th    10.00am      Parishioners / Jim & Vera Ryan RIP

Wednesday  15th   12.30pm   Requiem Mass: Pat Grosse

Sunday           19th    10.00am        Parishioners / Simon Cliffe RIP

REGULAR MASSES

Weekend Mass is at  10.00am.  

 

 

This Week 12 January  
Ministry   
 Welcomers Reader
Joan McDaid

Dave Cawley
Tony Crivaro

 Mark McCaffery
     
Next Week 19 January  
Ministry Welcomers
Reader                     

Brian Moore

John O’Hare

Diane Mackley

 Michael Cookson
     

 

PARISH NEWSLETTER

Mgr John Goddard, 39 Kearsley Avenue, Tarleton, Preston PR4 6BP Telephone 07779 786114
Email: j.goddard@rcaol.org.uk
Parish Office is open on Thursdays, 10am to 4pm 
(01772 812242) Email: olhct@rcaol.org.uk

MASSES / SERVICES THIS WEEK
Requiem Mass Wenesday 15th January, 12.30pm – Pat Grosse RIP

READINGS FOR 12 JANUARY
1st Reading: Isaiah 42: 1-7, behold my servant, in whom my soul delights
Psalm 29: The Lord will bless his people with peace
2nd Reading: Acts 10:34-38, God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit
Gospel Reading: Luke 3:15-22, When Jesus had been baptised and was praying, the heavens were opened.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered, ‘This is my beloved Son, listen to him’.  Alleluia! 
Communion antiphon: Behold the one of whom John said, I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.

POPE’S INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY
For the right to an education
Let us pray for migrants, refugees, and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.

SAINTS & FEASTS DAYS THIS WEEK
12 January – St Aelred of Rievaulx
13 January – St Hilary, bishop and doctor
14 January – St Kentigern, second patron of the Archdiocese
17 January – St Anthony                                                                  

REQUIEM MASS – WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY
There will be a Requiem Mass for parishioner Pat Grosse here at 12.30pm.  Everyone is most welcome to attend if able.  Eternal rest give unto her, O Lord…may she rest in peace.
June Rogers: formerly a very active parishioner, June passed away on 7 January.  Eternal rest give unto her O Lord…may she rest in peace.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 18 to 25 January
Theme this year = Belief  SERVICE: SUNDAY 19 JANUARY, at 3.00pm
This year we celebrate 1,700 years since the Council of Nicea, which amongst other things gave us the Nicene Creed.  This will be at the heart of next Sunday’s special ecumenical service of unity, which will be celebrated here at Our Lady’s next Sunday 19 January at 3pm.  All local churches will be taking part.  Please do come along and join with our brothers and sisters in Christ to celebrate our faith all together.  Refreshments will be served in the hall afterwards.  All are very welcome.

THE JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE: December 2024 – January 2026
This Jubilee or Holy Year, decreed by Pope Francis, will be used by the Church to proclaim a special year of forgiveness and reconciliation.  The last jubilee year was in 2000, to mark the start of the new millennium.  This year’s Jubilee has the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ and is a year of hope and trust for a world suffering the impacts of wars, the on-going impacts of the Covid pandemic and the increased threats to the environment.
For more information, please use www.giubileo-2025.it/en

FIRST COFFEE MORNING THANK YOU
Thank you to those hardy souls who came across to the hall after Mass last week to share in some warmth, fellowship and plenty of food and drink.  You raised a remarkable £70.30 for the Hall Refurbishment Fund, which is very much appreciated.  The company was even better!

1ST COMMUNION SESSION THIS WEEK
Our seven children will be meeting after Mass today (12 January) for a new session preparing them for their 1st Holy Communion in June.  Please remember them in your prayers.

PARISH GIVING LAST WEEK
Last Sunday’s offertory: £176.75
Thank you, everyone.
CARD READER NOW AVAILABLE:  It’s now possible to make card payments for your offertory donations.  The card reader is in the porch.  Please ask a Welcomer to help you.

ITALIAN EVENING – Friday 24 January
Tickets are now available (£10 each) from Vivienne, if you wish to come along with friends and family for an Italian evening, with lots of pasta, risotto and Italian wines.  Beat the post-Christmas ‘blues’ with a bit of Italian sun to cheer the dark days of January.

CHURCH FOODBANK / ALDI VOUCHERS
Rev Dave Dickinson (All Saints in Hesketh Bank) has now retired and we have taken over the running of an Essential Foodbank for Tarleton residents and families in need.  We are also moving towards collecting donations for Aldi vouchers, which are often more helpful for those in need.  A collection box is in the porch.
Please help us to spread the word that emergency food aid will be available from this church for Tarleton residents on THURSDAYS from 2pm to 4pm. Help is also available from the Food Pantry at Tarleton Methodist Church, every Monday morning.

LECTIONARY FUND – A BIG THANK YOU…
…to the very generous parishioners who donated to this fund.  Your kindness means that the lectionaries are all now fully paid for.  Fr John is extremely grateful.

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.

MUSICAL TREAT FOR THE WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIr21lLgFpg
This lovely traditional hymn has words so we can sing along to ‘On Jordan’s bank, the Baptist’s cry…’
The choir phrases everything very accurately, to allow for the significance and power of the words.  Originally written in 1736 by a French priest, Chandler’s 19th century translation surely stands the test of time , along with the famous ‘Winchester’ tune.

WITH EVERY BLESSING FOR A HAPPY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR FOR PARISHIONERS & FAMILIES

UNIVERSE CATHOLIC WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS
These are available to order directly from the publisher (www.thecatholicuniverse.com  or phone Michelle on 0743 661 7650 ). It can be posted to you each week. A 3 months print subscription is £42.00 – 6 months is £75.00 and the year at £140.00.

OFFERTORY DONATIONS
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. 

ST OSWALD’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, LONGTON
‘With Christ at the centre of our community, our mission is to live, love and learn as Jesus taught us’.  Contact the head teacher.  Please see the website: https://www.longton-st-oswalds.lancs.sch.uk/ or phone 01772 613402 to find out about Open Mornings.

OUR LITTLE CHURCH GROUP
Our children meet on a Sunday morning, during 10am Mass.  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/

RED MISSION BOXES
Please bring them to church when you attend Mass next weekend, or drop them off at the presbytery on Thursday, between 10am and 4pm. Please contact the Parish Office if you would like someone to collect your box for you.  

MASS INTENTIONS
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.

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

MAGNIFICAT
The Magnificat is published monthly. For each day, it contains the readings and prayers for Mass, with a meditation from the great spiritual writers of the Church throughout history and prayers for morning and evening inspired by the Liturgy of the Hours.  You will also find the lives of the saints, articles on spiritual topics by contemporary writers, prayers at night, hymns, reflections and essay on a great example of Christian art in each issue. 
Please order online at www.magnificat.com or phone 020 3882 9432.

THE HALL IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Our church hall is the envy of the area, for its size, its sprung dance floor and of course, its managed, licensed bar.
We now have vacant slots every evening, apart from Mondays and also during the day / evening on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.  Other times may also be available, on enquiry.
Hire charges = £20 an hour (inc. ‘get-in/out’).  If you know of anyone, or any group that is looking for accommodation, please let them know to contact the Parish Office on Thursdays.

CLASSES IN OUR CHURCH HALL
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
Tai Chi  (with Mark Humphries)  – Tuesdays, 1.15pm-2.45pm
Karate (with Paul Allison) – Saturdays, 9am to 10am

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES OR NEED ANY HELP, PLEASE CONTACT FR JOHN AT THE PRESBYTERY IN TARLETON ON 01772 812242, OR EMAIL THE OFFICE (olhct@rcaol.org.uk), or contact him on his mobile (number at the top of this newsletter).