15 August 2021 – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Barry Moss RIP
Parishioners
Carole Ann Moore RIP
Lorna Christer RIP
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THE CHURCH IS NOW OPEN FOR WEEKEND MASSES: Saturday Vigil: 6.45pm and Sunday, 9.30am. PLEASE PHONE / EMAIL ON THURSDAYs, 10.30am to 3pm to book a place
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PARISH NEWSLETTER
THIS WEEK’S NOTICES & READINGS / REFLECTIONS
We join Pope Francis in his prayer intention for August:
The Church
Let us pray for the Church, that she may receive from the Holy Spirit the grace and strength to reform herself in the light of the Gospel.
Let us pray
That all Christians may strive for holiness by repenting of past sins;
That all who doubt or distrust the Gospel message may recognise the risen Christ in the goodness and kindness of others and learn to turn to God in faith and love;
That the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ for all people may teach us that there is no such thing as a worthless life, or a person God does not love;
That as Covid restrictions are lifted and more people receive their vaccinations, may the bonds of our relationships be renewed and strengthened
We pray now in the words Jesus gave us:
Our Father, who art in heaven…
SPECIAL FEASTS THIS WEEK
15 August – Solemnity of the Assumption
16 August – St Stephen of Hungary, canonised with his son, Emeric.
19 August – St John Eudes, spread devotion to the Sacred Heart
20 August – St Bernard, Cistercian abbot and reformer
21 August – St Pius X, encouraged frequent Communion and admission of children to Communion
OUR LADY’S FOODBANK
We’re working with All Saints Church in Hesketh Bank to put together hampers and food parcels to support those families who are currently just missing out on receiving help from the government’s holiday voucher scheme.
Donations of fruit juices, pasta and rice, tinned fruit and meat, tea, breakfast cereals would be especially welcome. Please bring donations to the church hall on Thursdays between 11am and 3pm or leave in the box in the porch when you come to Mass.
Thank you in anticipation.
CLASSES IN OUR CHURCH HALL FROM SEPTEMBER
The relaxing of some restrictions means that our church hall can now be used by local groups.
Please contact the parish office if you would like to know more about the following:
Parents & Toddlers, (with Jade McCormick) – Tuesdays, 10am-11.30am
Tai Chi (with Mark Humphries) – Tuesdays, 2pm to 3.30pm
Parents & Babies ( 2 classes, with Jamie Birks) – Thursdays 10.15am-11am and Thursdays 11.15am-12 noon
CHRIST THE KING HICH SCHOOL & 6th FORM CENTRE, SOUTHPORT
Anxiously awaiting your GCSE results and unsure what to do?
CTK6 – Christ the King 6th Form Centre, Stamford Road, Birkdale, will be enrolling for their A-level and BTEC Level 3 courses on Thursday 26 August 2021.
Find out if you meet the entry requirements by checking their website: www.christtheking-school.com or email sixthformadmin@christtheking-school.com to arrange an interview.
UPDATE FROM CAFOD: 10th Anniversary of the Syrian conflict – how your donations have helped the Syrian people
Thanks to your donations, CAFOD has been helping people in Syria since the crisis began 10 years ago. Over 12 million people have left their homes, 5.6 million are refugees in neighbouring countries and within Syria, 13 million people need help. At the beginning, our focus was on delivering food and blankets through our local church partners. Then we started providing education, health and legal services, and helping people earn a living. Our latest projects are supporting children, lonely elderly people, helping women learn to read, and helping people restart their small businesses. We’ve always planned for the long term, standing alongside people who lost everything. None of this work would have been possible without your support of CAFOD. Thank you.
CLIMATE CHANGE – CAN YOUR FAMILY HELP TO RAISE AWARENESS?
CAFOD are looking for families who would be interested in talking about climate change in church, creating displays or recording short videos. Support will be given. If you are interested, please contact Siobhan Farnell at sfarnell@cafod.org.uk or 07779804241
NEWS FROM AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED (ACN)
Piano Recital: ‘From Mourning to Dancing, from Tears to Joy’ on 9th September 2021 7pm – 9pm at St Wilfrid’s Hall, Brompton Oratory, Brompton Road, London SW7 2RP
If you are in London on the day, please join us for a late summer evening musical meditation with poetry on the joyful witness of Faith shown by our persecuted brothers and sisters.
World-class pianists, Imma Setiadi and Nigel Clayton bring us a programme of pieces for four hands by Debussy, Dvorak, Brahms and Chabrier, inspired by song and dance. The evening will also premiere a piece, inspired by Psalm 126, written specially for the occasion by Dr Philip Wilby.
Entrance is free and a collection will be taken for ACN’s work in Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. Due to COVID guidelines and more limited capacity, please reserve your places via Eventbrite at www.acnuk.org/piano21
ACN Shop
A Heart Like Mary’s
As the month of August is traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, ‘A Heart like Mary’s’ is the perfect book for all Catholics wishing to begin or deepen their devotion to Mary. Author and Marian theologian Rev. Edward Looney guides us through thirty-one daily meditations on the unique characteristics of Mary’s heart. This easy-to-read and engaging monthly devotional is full of practical lessons that address the personal challenges we all face as Mary’s fellow pilgrims walking the path of faith. Buy it here Aid to the Church in Need | A Heart Like Mary’s (acnuk.org)
THE AUGUST EDITION OF THE CATHOLIC PIC…
… is now available in print and online.
The latest edition is available to download here: https://bit.ly/37eU5jE
IMPORTANT MESSAGES FROM WEST LANCS COUNCIL
There are no longer legal requirements for face coverings, but their use is strongly advised in hospitals, healthcare settings and enclosed, crowded public spaces
With the number of Covid cases increasing every week in W Lancs, it is extremely important that everyone gets their second dose of the vaccine, to have maximum protection. If it’s more than 8 weeks since your first dose, please book your second at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
Or see the Healthier Lancashire & South Cumbria website for details of walk-in clinics where no appointment is required at https://www.healthierlsc.co.uk/CovidVaccination/getmyjab or follow the West Lancs CCG Facebook page.
Pregnant Women & Vaccinations
It’s really important that pregnant women get the vaccine to protect themselves and their unborn child. Thousands of pregnant women have received the vaccine and we want everyone to be safe.
Young People & Vaccinations
Although many people aged 18 to 30 have been vaccinated, numbers still lag behind other age groups. Please encourage young people you know to get the vaccine to protect themselves and reduce the risk of passing it on to others. Even young people can encounter serious illness if they get COVID.
Help for those affected by the Pandemic
WLBC has a Financial Inclusion Assistant who is available for residents who are struggling with issues relating to the pandemic. Support can be provided relating to issues such as food, fuel support, debt support, benefit support, mental health support etc. If you know someone who would benefit from this support please email carl.wallace@westlancs.gov.uk
HELP TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENTS: FREE COVID LATERAL FLOW TESTS KITS ARE AVAILABLE
West Lancashire Borough Council is asking all residents to take 2 Covid tests a week so that they can accurately monitor the number of cases in the borough. They are able to help people who test positive to self-isolate – and there is funding available to help if that means that someone is unable to go in to work for the required period.
Free test kits will be distributed at Mass over the next fewweekends. They can also be dropped off at your home if you’re unable to get to Mass. Please contact the office.
COVID VACCINE POP-UPS FOR EVERYONE!
Vaccination pop-up clinics / vaccine bus for over 18s will be held at these venues over the next few weeks: https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/news/get-vaccinated-at-the-covid-19-pop-up-sites-and-bus.aspx
FINANCIAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TO SELF-ISOLATE
There is financial help available for people who need to self-isolate and cannot work and for parents/guardians who need to stay off work to look after children who have been told to self-isolate. Please use this link for West Lancs Borough Council to access the help needed. https://www.westlancs.gov.uk/more/emergencies/coronavirus/test-and-trace-support-payment.aspx
Major Gifts at Nugent: E: ainsley.briscoe@wearenugent.org or M: 07833091852.
MUSICAL TREATS FOR THE WEEK
In honour of Our Lady, here is an uplifting version of Salve Regina Coeli from the Canto Católica – 450 voices from around the world, recorded in April 2020.
Salve Regina (tono simple) | 450 voces – coro virtual | Música Católica – YouTube
REGULAR WEEKLY NOTICES
MASS ON SUNDAYS
As you may be aware, our Bishops have lifted the obligation to attend Sunday Mass.
To keep Sundays holy, it might be helpful to spend some time reading the Scriptures. Besides your Bible, the Magnificat publication can be a wonderful aid to prayer and of course, you also get the readings for Mass for every day of the week! At a cost of less than £1 a week, you may be interested in subscribing now: tel. 020 7448 3618; email: uk@magnificat.com or visit the website: www.catholic-herald.myshopify.com
Masses will continue to be live-streamed and televised for many months yet, so you can still take part in Sunday worship and the Act of Spiritual Communion will continue to be an important part of people’s worship for the foreseeable future.
If you have any queries or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
THE ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you.
Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
MASSES ONLINE WILL CONTINUE TO BE STREAMED INDEFINITELY
Locally, there is St Clare’s, Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood: www.saintclares.co.uk which streams Mass daily at 9.30am. Please follow the easy links on the website.
https://www.vaticannews.va/en Pope Francis
https://www.churchservices.tv/whats-on-now/ Great selection of Masses and other Church services https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/tv-lourdes/ Mass and daily at 2pm, the Rosary in English
https://www.livemass.org Extraordinary Form (1962 Missal)
Use the website links to EWTN, those who have Sky can tune in on Channel 588, or the Archdiocese to access daily Masses
On the radio: Catholic Radio Sky Channel 0147
Also, you may wish to try the Pray as you Go phone app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.foxcode.prayasyougo&hl=en
PRAYERS from the Archdiocese, for Stations of the Cross etc: https://www.liverpoolcatholicresources.com/
Please email the Parish Office with details of any other online services you know of that may help parishioners at this very difficult time. We will try to include them in next week’s Newsletter.
EWTN – GLOBAL CATHOLIC TV & RADIO
Getting connected is easier than you might think. EWTN is free, there’s no subscription. You can stream live and on demand via the website: www.ewtn.co.uk/get-ewtn or get the app for your mobile (EWTN APP), or Amazon’s Echo Auto.
Every day: daily Mass at 1pm and Children’s Rosary every day, at 7.30pm
YEAR OF ST JOSEPH (Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of Liverpool): With his apostolic letter, ‘Patris Corde’ (‘With a Father’s heart’), Pope Francis has proclaimed a ‘Year of St Joseph’ running from 8 December 2020 (Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception) to December 2021.
At the end of the letter, he asks us to pray the following prayer to St Joseph:
Hail Guardian of the Redeemer,
Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you, God entrusted his only Son,
In you, Mary placed her trust,
With you, Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too,
Show yourself a father
And guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage
And defend us from every evil.
Amen
PRAYER CARDS FOR THE YEAR OF ST JOSEPH: Prayer cards are available – please notify the Parish Office and we will send one out to you so that you can say the prayer to St Joseph during the week. We know we can rely on his guidance and protection in every difficulty and challenge. And his intercessions are certainly much-needed by us all at the moment!
CHRISTIAN HERITAGE CENTRE COURSES
The Christian Heritage Centre, based at Stonyhurst, offers regular webinars and courses on a variety of topics. For more information, please see www.christianheritagecentre.com
CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS: These are available to order directly from the publisher (www.thecatholicuniverse.com or 0161 820 5722). It can be posted to you each week. Introductory offers: printed copies for three months – £25; twelve months – £99; or digital copy £55 for twelve months.
OUR LITTLE CHURCH GROUP
Our children have continued to meet up regularly via Zoom during the pandemic and our Little Church seems to be happily thriving. 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/
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMES ON EWTN
Children’s religious programmes, based on the teachings of Jesus, are available on EWTN every week day, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm – and on Saturday mornings, from 9am to 10am.
OFFERTORY DONATIONS DURING THE LOCKDOWN
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
HELP DURING THE PANDEMIC
COVID VACCINES – IMPORTANT
Please note that the Catholic Church has given its full support to the vaccine (all three of them) and is keen to assure Catholics that there are no moral issues linked to the science of the vaccines, whatsoever. The vaccines are safe. The Archbishop of Liverpool is anxious to dispel any myths and urges Catholics to have the vaccines. Cardinal Vin Nichols has already had his first vaccine. So has the Pope! – and hospital chaplains have also received their first doses.
Unfortunately some people are trying to exploit the fears of others, so be on the alert for so-called vaccine scammers, who will try and charge you for a vaccine. There is NO CHARGE.
The vaccines are free.
GP surgeries are not paid. The government is paying for the whole programme.
Please also note that there are some scammers pretending to be the NHS. There is only one official NHS email address, which is www.nhs.uk
The NHS will never ask for details like family maiden names of bank accounts / credit & debit cards. Nor will they require you to pay anything for the vaccines. If you are contacted by a group claiming to be the NHS and they’ve asked for these details, it is a scam and you must ignore it. Then report it!
It is essential to continue to observe the ‘basics’: hand hygiene, face masks, social-distancing – and lots of good ventilation – at all times.
HELP IS AT HAND! Don’t forget that local volunteers from Hesketh Bank and Tarleton Helpers stand ready to help anyone who needs support – with errands, shopping, collecting prescriptions – and friendly telephone calls for those who are feeling isolated. Please call Diane Mackley (one of the HH Team members) on 01772 815508.
OTHER HELP AVAILABLE IN WEST LANCS
Citizens Advice Lancashire West – Advice on housing, employment, debt, benefits, consumer problems, energy advice (billing, supply, switching etc.) and much more.
Contact: Guy Simpson – gsimpson@calw.org.uk or Sarah Bennett – sbennett@calw.org.uk Tel. 0344 245 1294
South West Lancashire ICAN [South West Lancashire Independent Community Advice Network]
Provides free independent and confidential advice from specialists regarding redundancy, welfare rights, employment law, disability living allowance, tribunal appeals, personal independence payments, IT and digital support, debt, those in work-low income (including for the self-employed or small business owners during the pandemic), furloughing.
Contact: Paul McConnell or Jan Fitzsimons admin@swlican.org. Tel. 01695 726269
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES OR NEED ANY HELP, PLEASE CONTACT FR ANDERS AT THE PRESBYTERY IN TARLETON ON 01772 812242, OR EMAIL THE OFFICE (olhct@rcaol.org.uk)
WISHING ALL PARISHIONERS AND THEIR FAMILIES EVERY BLESSING FOR THE COMING WEEK