CONFESSIONS:  Wednesdays, 5.45pm to 6.10pm and by appointment 

CHURCH IS OPEN – Thursdays 11am to 1pm for visits to the Blessed Sacrament 

READINGS FOR 14 SEPTEMBER
1^st Reading: Numbers 21:4-9, If anyone were bitten by a serpent, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.
Psalm 78: Never forget the deeds of the Lord.
2^nd Reading: Philippians 2:6-11, He humbled himself, therefore God has highly exalted him.
Gospel Reading: John3:13-17, The Son of Man must be lifted up.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. We adore you O Christ and we bless you, because by your Cross, you have redeemed the world. Alleluia.
Communion antiphon: When I am lifted up form the earth, I will draw everyone to myself, says the Lord.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER
For our relationship with all of creation
Let us pray that, inspired by St Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.

SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
15 September – Our Lady of Sorrows
16 September – St Cornelius / St Cyprian
17 September – St Hildegard of Bingen / St Robert Bellarmine
19 September – St Janarius
20 September – Ss Andrew Kim Taegon & Companions

SPECIAL COLLECTION LAST WEEK: Archbishop Emeritus Malcolm McMahon – £32.25 Thank you

2^nd COLLECTION AFTER MASS THS WEEK (14 SEPTEMBER):  Catholic Education

EDUCATION SUNDAY – 14 SEPTEMBER
The theme for 2025 is ‘Lost and Found’
In our schools, colleges and universities, there are many young people who feel lost, or appear to be lost. This can be because the institutions are so big that they don’t feel noticed, because don’t feel they fit with the expectations of the institution or their peers or because of the unseen struggles at home.
All our churches are focussing on how they can work together to help these children and young people, and collating resources and professional expertise in order to make a difference.  Your donations will be a direct help.  Thank you.

2^nd COLLECTION NEXT WEEK (21 September): Evangelii Gaudium (Home Missions)

NEWS FROM OUR FAMILY OF PARISHES / PARISH SURVEY
Please collect a form from church when you attend Mass this week.
Our parish rep will explain all after Mass on Sunday!

1^st COMMUNION PROGRAMME STARTS AFTER MASS TODAY
Please remember our new ‘class’ of 1^st Communion children, who will be starting their preparations after Mass today: Aria, Lucas, Nayara and Ruben.  Their first session focuses on their baptism – the very first sacrament – and first stage on their journey to getting to know our loving Lord.

LITTLE CHURCH TODAY
All children up to the age of 11 are very welcome to attend our very fun and lively children’s liturgy sessions on the 2^nd and 4^th Sunday of every month.  Emma, Joanne and Keren are fully qualified and have EDBS registrations, so your child is/children are in very good hands, whilst you remain in church for the readings and Father’s homily.

HELP NEEDED TO KEEP A CLEAN CHURCH– AFTER MASS NEXT WEEK
Mary, our volunteer cleaner and parishioner, kindly looked after the church for many years, before moving away a few months ago.  Diane is very keen to recruit a team of willing helpers to do this on a rota basis, each month.  If you’re happy to help out, please bring your favourite cleaning products and tools along to Mass next week for a group cleaning session.  The more, the merrier – and less time-consuming!  Thank you.

CAFOD HARVEST FAMILY FAST DAY – 3 OCTOBER
Pope Leo XIV urges us to recognise those experiencing poverty as “witnesses to steadfast hope, precisely because they embody it in the midst of uncertainty, poverty, instability and marginalisation.”  Your generosity offers signs of hope in this Jubilee year, helping build more water tanks in Ethiopian communities, where women have to walk for hours just to get to a water standpipe

CURRY EVENING
Well done and thank you again to Vivienne and hardworking members of the Social Team, who put on such a wonderful evening last week.  A total of £450.00 was raised on the night.  Thank you to everyone for your generosity.

COFFEE MORNING LAST WEEK
Thank you to Joanne, Emma and Claire for all their baking and making at last week’s coffee morning.  A total of £73.82 was raised for the Hall Refurbishment Fund. Thank you to everyone for supporting.  The next one is after Mass on Sunday 5 October.

PARISH GIVING LAST WEEK
Offertory collection on 31 August: £157.86
Last week’s offertory: £258.90 
Standing Orders for August: £519.98

ST CARLO ACUTIS
This extraordinary 15-year old boy was canonised by Pope Leo last Sunday.  St Carlo is the first millennial saint, whose life constantly bore witness to a deep love of the Eucharist and the power of faith. He offered his suffering (when diagnosed with leukaemia) to Pope Benedict and the Church.  St Carlo, please pray for us…
ST PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI
A young campaigner and activist for social reform and social justice.  Humble and committed in everything he did.
St Pier, pray for us and for all those in need…

MESSAGE FROM CAFOD: RESPONSE IN GAZA
Donations to Gaza since the start of the conflict have been a vital lifeline. Right now, CAFOD’s partner, Caritas Jerusalem, is delivering essential medical treatment to displaced people and providing medicines to treat chronic illnesses.
CAFOD has helped 1,400 households with cash to buy supplies in the last month and they are currently feeding 2,000 people with new stocks of flour and rice. Despite the restrictions on aid coming into Gaza, CAFOD’s local partners are working tirelessly to help people. And with ongoing support, they will do all in their power to keep doing so.
You can find out more about how you can make a difference in Gaza at www.cafod.uk/  
Thanks to all parishioners and supporters for backing CAFOD’s work through holding collections for the Family Fast Day appeals and for continuing to pray for peace in the Middle East.

CHURCH FOODBANK UP-DATE FOR SUMMER 2025
We are suspending our foodbank collections over the summer months and will resume in the autumn. 
However, help is still available to purchase weekly vouchers for the Tarleton Food Pantry (Monday mornings).

RED MISSION BOXES
Please bring your red boxes to church over the next few weeks, so that they can be counted and the money go to the APF Missions, which is much needed.   Please let Diane know if you’d like to arrange collection of your box.

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! 

OUR CHURCH IS 75 YEARS OLD IN 2027
As announced last week, our 75^th anniversary is Holy Cross Day, 2027.  Watch this space…

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.