READINGS FOR 16 AUGUST
1^st Reading: Revelation 11 -12,  A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet.
Psalm 45: On your right stands the queen, in gold of Ophir.
2^nd Reading: I Corinthians 15: 20-27, Christ, the first fruits, then those who belong to Christ.
Gospel Reading: Luke 1:39-56, My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR AUGUST
For evangelisation in the city
That in large cities often marked by anonymity and loneliness, we find new ways to proclaim the Gospel, discovering creative paths to build community.

SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
19 August – St John Eudes
20 August – St Bernard
21 August – St Pius X
22 August – The Queenship of Mary

REFLECTION: THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
On earth Mary was just one woman among many, whose son had suffered; who lived a life like ours in its day-to-day routine. But now that her earthly life has been completed, who she really is, is reflected in her body, in her whole being. She exists now in the radiance of Christ’s resurrection, and forever. 
This feast reminds us that we, too, are destined for glory: that one day who we really are will shine through. Not what we pretended to be, not the image we tried to project, not our disguises and dissimulations.  If Julian of Norwich is to be believed, even our forgiven sins and failings will appear on us, not as disfigurements but as “honourable scars, so that we do not forget our creature-hood and all that we owe to God’s mercy

MIDWEEK MASSES DURING AUGUST
Please note, there will not be any Wednesday Masses during August, up to and including 2 September.  They will re-commence on 9 September.  Confessions can still be arranged, by contacting Fr John.

MARY MUSSELL
Please pray for our dear parishioner Mary Mussell, who passed away this week.  Eternal rest give unto her O Lord… may she rest in peace.  Let us also remember Maurice and the family in our prayers.

NEW OFFERTORY ENVELOPES: available now!

COFFEE MORNING LAST WEEK
Thank you to those who came to last week’s Coffee Morning – a small, but very generous-hearted number of parishioners.  A big Thank You to Joanne B and Claire for providing the lovely bakes and sandwiches; to Joanne E for helping on the day; to Rebecca for managing the raffle – and to all who helped set out tables and chairs and then stack them away afterwards.  Kind donations came to £43.70
The next Coffee Morning will be after 10am Mass on Sunday 6 September.

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 Mass in June 2027.  The closing date for applications in 31 August.  Please help to spread the word.

LADYEWELL PILGRIMAGE 12 SEPTEMBER: Please sign the list in the porch.
Deadline: 6 September.  Fliers available, with more details, in the porch.

FAMILY OF PARISHES – SCENARIOS & OPEN MEETINGS UPDATE
Meetings have been on-going within our Family of Parishes since our ‘open meeting’ in church last March, regarding the various future scenarios.  Our parish reps, John O’Hare and Diane Mackley, will be providing an update on 4 October (in line with our other FoP communities), ready for our next phase of consultations with all parishioners.  These consultations will be on Wednesday 14 October at St Mary’s, Leyland (7pm to 9pm) and Saturday 17 October at All Hallows school (10am to 12 noon).  Parishioners are warmly invited to attend just one of these open meetings.  Your views are important – no decisions can be made without this consultation – so please make every effort to attend one of these meetings, if you can.

LADYEWELL PILGRIMAGE 12 SEPTEMBER
Please sign the list in the porch.  Fliers available with more details, in the porch.  deadline: 6 September.

CURRY EVENING – SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER
Tickets, £10 available from any member of the Social Committee.  Please see Vivienne if you have any dietary requirements / queries.

BLISTER PACKS: PILLS & TABLETS RECYCLED
Please use the labelled box in the porch  for your pill / tablet blisters packs, so that we can collect and recycle properly.  Currently, they cannot be recycled in our blue council bins.

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.

NEW CHOIR MEMBERS WELCOME
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.