READINGS FOR 12 JULY
1^st Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11, The rain makes the earth spring forth and spout.
Psalm 65: Some seed fell onto good soil and yielded its fruit.
2^nd Reading: Romans 8: 18-23, The creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:1-23,  A sower went out to sow.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who find him will live forever, alleluia.
Communion antiphon: The sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest for her young: by your altars O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.  Blessed are they who dwell in your house, forever singing your praise.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR JULY
For respect for human life
We pray for the respect and protection of human life, in all its stages, recognising it as a gift from God.

SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
13 July – St Henry
14 July – St Kateri Tekakwitha
15 July – St Bonaventure
16 July – Our Lady of Mount Carmel

CAFOD PRAYER FOR THE VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKE CRISIS
Coffee Morning last week
Thank you to Joanne and Diane for the strawberries and cakes – and to all those who helped put out tables and chairs and then clear away afterwards.  It was lovely to be able to meet up with everyone again.
Donations towards the CAFOD Venezuela Appeal: £122.76
Further donations after Mass: £42.00.  Thank you everyone.
Envelopes are available in the porch, for those who missed last week and who would like to donate now.  Every £1 is a step closer to bringing relief to the hundreds of thousands in need.  Thank you.
Donate to the CAFOD-DEC Venezuela Earthquake Appeal today: cafod.org.uk/Venezuela or call 0300 999 0030.

FREE EDITIONS OF THE CATHOLIC POST
Parishioners are welcome to take a copy of the Catholic Post, from the porch after Mass.  It’s free!

1^st COMMUNION REGISTRATION / APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
registration forms are available in the porch for parents of children going in to Yr 4 in September.  This is for the 1^st Communion Masses in June 2027.  The closing date for applications in 31 August.  Please help to spread the word.

LOURDES PRAYER PETITIONS
Parishioner Mark McCaffery will be going to Lourdes at the end of the month and he will take any prayer petitions with him. Petition slips and envelopes are available at the back of church for your prayers and donations to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. The petitions will be placed at the Grotto during the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage, and a candle will be lit on behalf of the parish. Your donations will be given to the Shrine.

CARE WITH VOTIVE LIGHTS
Please be very careful when lighting or moving votive lights, to avoid spilling the hot wax everywhere.  Thank you.

PARISH SUMMER  BBQ – Saturday 25^th July
Tickets (£10 adults / £4 children) are available from John and Emma, or phone 07866 571200.
Bouncy castle, fun and games – and lots of delicious food!  Fliers available in the porch.

KITCHEN FRIDGE NEEDED FOR THE HALL
Please let Fr John or Diane know if you know of a good, second-hand fridge that might become available in the next week or so.  We need a replacement fridge for the hall kitchen.  Many thanks.

LADYEWELL PILGRIMAGE 12 SEPTEMBER: Please sign the list in the porch.

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.

CHOIR MEMBERS NEEDED
Our dedicated and hardworking choir would welcome two or three more voices to help swell the ranks.  Our Lady’s boasts one of the best churches for congregational singing amongst all the FoP, so we know there are some keen and enthusiastic singers amongst us. If you enjoy a ‘good, rousing sing’, then please have a word with Liz Cheetham after Mass, to find out a bit more.  You will be most welcome. 

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.