WEDNESDAY EVENING MASSES
Wednesday evenings, at 6pm – with Eucharistic Exposition: 6.25pm-6.55pm, Benediction: 6.55pm and Sacrament of Reconciliation: 6.25pm-6.55pm

CHURCH OPEN: THURSDAYS : 11am to 1pm, for visits to the Blessed Sacrament and quiet prayer, meditation.

ARCHDIOCESE PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
Heavenly Father, hear our prayers for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.
We ask for peace for those who need peace, reconciliation for those who need reconciliation and comfort for all who don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
We ask for you to be with all – especially children who are suffering as the crisis in Ukraine deteriorates. For those who are anxious and fearful. For those who are bereaved, injured or who have lost their lives. And for those who have lost loved ones. Lord, hear our prayers.
We also pray for wise actions from global leaders – who have the power not only to start wars, but to stop them too.
Father in heaven, we cry out for an end to this crisis and for mercy, peace, and truth – that the healing power of your love will restore peace, families and communities.
Amen

COVID / ‘FLU AWARE & SUNDAY OBLIGATION
If you have a cough / sore throat / feel generally unwell with cold-like symptom, please take a Covid test right away.      If it’s positive, then please stay at home, keep it to yourself and get better soon!
Whilst the Sunday Obligation has been restored, the Archdiocese advises parishioners to pray and watch Mass online/TV at home, if they are unwell with coughs and colds – especially at the moment, with so many infections doing the rounds.

READINGS FOR 12 MARCH
1^st Reading: Exodus 17:3-7, Give us water to drink
Psalm 94:  O that today you would listen to his voice: ‘Harden not your hearts’.
2^nd Reading: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8, The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, which has been given us.
Gospel: John 4:5-42, A spring of water welling up to eternal life.
Gospel acclamation: Glory to you O Christ, you are the Word of God!  Lord, you really are the saviour of the world; give me the living water so that I may never get thirsty.  Glory to you O Christ, you are the Word of God!   
Communion antiphon: For anyone who drinks it, says the Lord, the water I shall give will become in him a spring welling up to eternal life.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MARCH
For Victims of Abuse
Let us pray for those who have suffered because of the wrongs done to them from members of the Church; may they find within the Church herself a concrete response to their pain and suffering.

SPECIAL FEASTS THIS WEEK
17 March – St Patrick, patron of Ireland
18 March – St Cyril of Jerusalem
18 March – Bls Roger Wrenno & Bls John Thules, Roger Wrenno was a weaver from Chorley, arrested for assisting priest John Thules.  Executed at Lancaster in 1616.

LENTEN ALMS 2023
The Archbishop has selected Asylum Link as this years charity for the Lenten Alms.
Asylum Link is an organisation dedicated to assisting asylum seekers and refugees in Liverpool and to raising public awareness around refugee issues. It is a welcoming and safe place for people from all countries to meet, relax and find out about the city they have arrived in. Asylum Link provides friendship, help and advice and encourages the participation of asylum seekers and refugees in the service. 
Please use the link for more information: www.asylumlink.org.uk

DEANERY SERVICES OF RECONCILIATION
Sunday 26 March, 3pm at St Gregory’s, Weld Bank, Chorley
Wednesday 29 March, 7pm at St Mary’s Leyland

1^st COMMUNION PREPARATION THIS WEEK (12 March)
Our children will be meeting together after Mass this Sunday to help them to prepare for their 1^st Communion in June. The theme this month is ‘Jesus died to save us from sin then rose to new life with God’.  Please remember the children and their families in your prayers.

FISH & CHIP BABY JUMPERS FINAL CALL
Thank you to all our parish (and associated-parish) army of knitters, who have produced over 20 absolutely beautiful jumpers and 12 beanie hats. They will be sent off to Africa this week.  These jumpers and hats can mean life and death to these babies.  What a gift!

COFFEE MORNINGS
A very special Thank You to Philippa & Martin McGrath who have provided delicious cakes, bakes and sandwiches for the last few years at our monthly coffee mornings.  They also provide refreshments for other parish events such as last week’s World Day of Prayer and our 1^st Communion celebrations.  They will be ‘retiring’ from this role at Easter.
We would therefore love to hear from any parishioners who would be interested in joining a rota, to provide just tea/coffee and biscuits once a month, so that we can still enjoy meeting up after Mass. 
If you’d like to help, please have a word with Diane after Mass, or contact the Parish Office for more details.

CAFOD Family Fast Day – FINAL COLLECTION THIS WEEK
Please place your envelopes with the proceeds of your Friday 3^rd March fast in the basket provided, or simply make a donation. Thank you.

CAFOD Syria-Turkey Earthquake Appeal
CAFOD is responding with support of provision of food, water, shelter, medical assistance and winter kits for survivors. Your donations in recent months have made that quick response possible. Let us join CAFOD in praying for our sisters and brothers affected by the earthquakes and the winter weather. Your support for CAFOD throughout the year allows our Catholic agency to act quickly when disasters strike. For more details visit CAFOD’s Syria Turkey Emergency Appeal online at https://cafod.org.uk/give.

HOW TO DONATE TO THE CHURCH
Standing Orders – Many find this an easier alternative to trying to remember to bring cash along each week.  Forms are available in the porch / from the Parish Office.  You can determine the amount and when it is deducted each month. Please post the form to your bank.
Envelopes – easy, because they can be prepared before coming to church.  They afford some ‘privacy’ for the amount donated.  Please conact the Parish Office so that we can arrange this for you.
Cash / cheque donations each week and very gratefully received.
Gift Aid – Important Clarification: 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 £3 per week could become £3.75 and 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.
THANK YOU for your continuing support and generosity in these very challenging times.

COST OF LIVING CRISIS: Warm and Cosy spaces in our parish centres
Venues continue to be open 1pm to 3.30pm across the archdiocese: more details here https://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/news/warm-and-cosy-with-the-archdiocese-of-liverpool
AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS PODCAST
Please find below the link to January’s ‘At the Foot of the Cross’ podcast from the Bishops’ Conference.
Benedict XVI Rest in Peace | Episode 10
SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS TRAINING COURSE
The Spirituality Network is offering an Introduction to Spiritual Direction Course beginning on 20th April 2023. In order to discern the right people for this course, they would like to meet in person with those applying for an interview. These will be held at The Cenacle, Tithebarn Grove, Liverpool L15 6TW. If you are interested, please send application forms to ann.goddard@liverpool.anglican.org by 10am on Monday 6th March 2023
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND – Online
An opportunity to deepen your life and faith as a couple through this retreat. The next date available is 13 and 14 May 2023. The programme is delivered by experienced laity couples and a priest and is supported by the Bishops Conference. Full details of these experiences can be found on their website: https://wwme.org.uk.

UKRAINE APPEAL – INTERNATIONAL AID TRUST IS NOW IN HESKETH BANK
The IAT has recently moved from its depot in Lostock Hall to Moss Lane – right on our doorstep!  It’s now based at The Barn, behind the bungalow at 255 Moss Lane.
However, the move has meant that some volunteers are now unable to relocate due to transport difficulties.  The new depot is open from 10am to 4pm every weekday and they would love to hear from anyone who can help out for a couple of hours every week (or every other week).
As well as dried and tinned foodstuffs, plus toiletries and especially sanitary products, they are also in need of torches (as a result of blackouts due to Russian bombing of power supplies. 
They are always very grateful for donations, which can be taken directly to the Moss Lane depot, or you can leave them at church on a Sunday and we’ll take them along.
Please contact the Parish Office if you would like to find out more about this vital, life-saving work.  Thank you.

KEEPING WARM THIS WINTER
We have access to blankets, snuggle blankets, ‘oodies’ and treated wood (for wood burners).  Please contact the Parish Office if you know of locals (neighbours, friends, any age), who could do with some help. 
Please do all you can to help us publicise details of local Warm Spaces

COST OF LIVING CRISIS
Our  LOCAL warm spaces include:

• Tarleton Library (opening hours Monday to Saturday),
• Christian Centre, Moss Lane (Monday mornings, 9.30am to 12.30pm) and
• Holy Trinity church, Tarleton (Monday – Saturday 9am to 4pm; Coffee & Chat: Fridays 10am to 12 noon).
• Hesketh Bank Community Centre (Mondays – Saturdays)

Warmth, hot drinks, light refreshments, good company, help and advice are on offer at all these places. 
Our local residents’ charity, Hesketh Bank & Tarleton helpers provides lunches every Friday: 12am to 2pm at Hesketh Bank Community Centre.

PLEASE CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED IN YOUR PARISH
We are very grateful for offers of help already, with regards to gardening jobs and keeping the grounds of the church neat and tidy.  Thank you!
However, there are still a number of opportunities for our parishioners to become a bit more involved in parish life and your help is both needed and much appreciated.  Areas where help is needed include with the Little Church group on Sundays, singing with the choir, flower arranging, church cleaning, altar serving and some serious fund-raising.  Help is welcome from all ages, and advice / training will be provided. Please contact the Parish Office by email or ring on Thursdays, in order to find out more.

HELP FOR RESIDENTS & OUR LOCAL FOODBANK: We will continue to support the amazing work being done by Rev Dave Dickinson at All Saint’s in Hesketh Bank, by collecting non-perishable foodstuffs for local families.  Thank you for all donations made so far.  They are helping to support three local families who are really struggling at the moment.  This is likely to increase as fuel prices start to have an effect this autumn and winter.  Please let Diane Mackley know if you have any concerns about neighbours over the next few months and we’ll do our best to help them, 01772 815508.