17 October 2021 – 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK

Win Duncan RIP

Irene McCabe RIP

Dec members of the Taylor family

Parishioners

LATEST  UP-DATE 

 

THE CHURCH IS NOW OPEN FOR WEEKEND MASSES: Saturday Vigil: 6.45pm and Sunday, 9.30am.  PLEASE PHONE / EMAIL ON THURSDAYS between 10.30am to 3pm to book a place if you wish to sit in the socially-distanced area of church.

 

 

This Week    
Ministry       
E. Minister Reader
Saturday    
Sunday        
Next Week    
Ministry E. Minister Reader
Saturday    
Sunday    

 

PARISH NEWSLETTER

THIS WEEK’S NOTICES & READINGS / REFLECTIONS

IMPORTANT – PLEASE CONTINUE TO BOOK, TO RESERVE A SOCIALLY-DISTANCED PLACE AT MASS
You only need to pre-book if you wish to sit in the designated section on the left-hand side, for social-distancing.  Please telephone on Thursdays, 10.30am-3pm / email by 3pm on Thursdays.

DURING MASS: Please wait for the stewards to direct you when going up to receive Holy Communion.  Thank you.

QR CODE: Please continue to register your attendance at church by using the NHS QR code, displayed as you enter / leave the building.  Infection rates are extremely high, so helping to support the Track & Trace programme is more important than ever now.  Thank you.

PRIVATE PRAYER:  Church will be open for private prayer on Thursdays from 11am to 1pm.  No need to book.

READINGS FOR 17 October
1st Reading: Isaiah 53:10-11, If he offers his life in atonement, he shall see his heirs, he shall have a long life
Psalm 32, May your love be upon us O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.
2nd Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16, Let us be confident in approaching the throne of grace
Gospel: Mark 10:35-45, The Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom for many.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! The Son of Man came to save and to give his life as a ransom for many.  Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: The Son of Man has come to give his life as a ransom for many.

REFLECTION FOR THE 29th  SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
One of the great consolations for anyone who at times struggles with their faith, is that the Apostles – and many saints – also found it difficult to understand and have faith in Jesus.  Today’s Gospel is a typical example of this: James and John ask if they can sit ‘next to’ Jesus in his glory.  They seem to think that because Jesus chose them to follow him, they are automatically guaranteed certain privileges.
Jesus realises immediately that they are at cross-purposes, so he asks them if they are willing to drink the cup that he must drink and be baptised as he must be baptised.  They say that they are, but of course, they really didn’t understand what they were agreeing to.
Very gently, Jesus explains that this means serving others – even giving your life for them. This revelation grounds the disciples in the reality of the deep and constant love of both Father and Son for all sinners.
The same applies to us today: if we claim to be followers of Jesus, then, like the apostles and the saints, we have to be prepared to serve others, no matter how much it costs us spiritually.  Thanks to this episode with James and John, we now have a much better understanding of what it really means to be a Christian.

PRAYER INTENTIONS THIS WEEK
Archbishop Malcolm has asked us to pray the following at this time of crisis:
God Our Father, each person is precious to You.
You are the Giver of life.
Have mercy on us and protect us at this time, as the coronavirus threatens health and life.
You are an ever-present Helper in time of trouble.
Watch over those who are suffering, give strength to those who are aiding the sick and give courage to all in this time of anxiety.
We ask this of you in the name of your Son. Jesus Christ.
Amen.

We join Pope Francis in his prayer intention for October:
Missionary Disciples
We pray that every baptized person may be engaged in evangelization, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavour 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
18 October – St Luke
19 October – Ss John de Brebeuf & Isaac Joges & Companions  /  St Paul of the Cross
22 October – St John Paul II
23 October – St John of Capestrano

NOVEMBER LISTS
Please write a list of the names of the deceased you wish to include in the November Masses for the Holy Souls in the special envelopes – available from the table in the porch as you enter/leave church. You may also include your offering in the same envelope. If you wish to use your own envelope, please clearly mark it: ‘November Masses / Holy Souls’.  Thank you.

CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY (1 October) – & CLIMATE CRISIS APPEAL
Please bring in your CAFOD envelopes / make donations in the separate basket as you enter church.  Deadline: Sunday 17 October.

CATHOLIC PIC: A digital version of the October edition can be accessed here: https://bit.ly/3DprINZ 
Please get in touch by email kim.obrien@cpmmmedia.com with any questions you may have, or you can phone Barbara about distribution on 0151 733 5492 or 07714 814662

THE UNIVERSAL SYNOD
On Sunday 17 October, the Archdiocese of Liverpool is going to mark the opening of the local phase of the universal Synod 2021-23 with a choral evening prayer in the Metropolitan Cathedral (3pm-4pm). This will be also an opportunity to pray for the forthcoming pastoral plan, the fruit of our own archdiocesan Synod 2020. All are welcome to attend.

NEXT WEEK IS WORLD MISSION SUNDAY – 24 OCTOBER
Through our prayers and Masses on this special day, we are supporting missionaries everywhere in spreading the Good News.  This year Missio is focussing on supporting the work of the church in Nigeria – a country threatened by conflict, political instability and economic and social injustice.
Please offer your prayers this month.  Envelopes are available from the table in the porch.
Please also bring in your red Mission boxes at the end of the month, so that we can send off our important donations and do our bit to help God’s will to be done to help his suffering members in Nigeria.

UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE – COP26
The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021.  ‘COP’ means ‘conference of parties’. Leaders from 197 countries, including representatives from  Pope Francis, who have signed up to the UN’s climate change treaty, will travel to Glasgow to take part in the conference. This will be the largest gathering of world leaders ever to take place on British soil.
The focus of the conference will be how to keep temperature rises below 1.5C. If the world warms more than this threshold, millions more people in the most vulnerable communities around the globe will suffer from devastating droughts, storms, floods and other impacts of climate change. Governments will be obliged to set out more ambitious goals for ending their contribution to climate change under the Paris Agreement (2015).
CAFOD invite us to sign a petition urging the Prime Minister to make sure the communities hardest hit by the climate emergency are listened to at COP26.
You can sign the petition online here: https://eactivist.com/page/73304/petition/1

 LOCAL HELP FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES
You’ll have realised that a lot of local areas are trying to work out how they can best support refugees from Afghanistan over the next weeks and months.  In Hesketh Bank and Tarleton, donations of clothes are being accepted by the Christian Centre (off Moss Lane) on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9.30am and 11.30am.  The initial response from locals has been extremely encouraging, so the Christian Centre is currently storing a lot of items ready to hand over to Care4Calais, as and when they need it.  Care4Calais is specifically asking for the following items, which must be in good condition:

  • baby / children’s clothes & shoes (trainers)
  • jeans and leggings
  • t-shirts
  • hoodies

Donations are also being collected in Aughton L39 5DW: Please email mcevoyden@gmail.com to arrange drop-off time / venue.
You may wish to donate directly to Care4Calais: Care4Calais | Refugee Crisis Charity | Fundraise Donate Volunteer 

LATEST UPDATES  FROM WEST LANCS COUNCIL (w/e 14 October)
Face Masks: Whilst there are no longer legal requirements for face coverings, their use is strongly advised in hospitals, healthcare settings and enclosed, crowded public spaces 
Our Area: Data extracted shows that the total number of confirmed cases for the last 7 days in West Lancashire is 370 and we have the fifth lowest rate across the 14 districts in Lancashire.
The age group most affected are 5-16’s, and the top wards affected are:

  • Newburgh
  • Bickerstaffe
  • Hesketh-with-Becconsall

Young People / Children: Young people aged 12 to 15 in England are now being offered one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. Parental consent will be sought prior to vaccination. Healthy school-aged children aged 12 to 15 will primarily receive their COVID-19 vaccination in their school, to prevent passing on serious illness to others and to protect the children themselves.
Shielding Advice: The advice on shielding has now changed – https://www.gov.uk/government/news/shielding-programme-endsfor-most-vulnerable
Flu Jabs: It’s crucial that those who are eligible get their flu jab when offered as well as their COVID booster jab. This will help boost immunity to flu and COVID as well as helping protect the lives of those you come into contact with – and of course, the NHS, which is already struggling.
Financial Problems?: West Lancashire Borough Council is launching the Get Money Fit campaign for anyone struggling with debt who needs help to manage their income and outgoings. It can be difficult to know where to start and who to speak to when money becomes a real worry so it’s vital that everyone is able to access the support they need. To help, WLBC has put together a directory of organisations who can provide support and advice. You may also be unaware of what you could be entitled to when it comes to benefits, so they’ve also launched a benefits calculator and budgeting tool you can use to get an estimate of what you could be claiming to maximise your income. To use the directory and budgeting tool, visit www.westlancs.gov.uk/getmoneyfit/

LOCAL ACTIVITIES / CLASSES YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN…
In addition to the classes and activities in our own church hall, there are a range of activities taking place in Tarleton and Hesketh Bank, as follows…
FREE HEALTH AND FITNESS ACTIVITIES AT TARLETON LIBRARY
All activities are carried out by experienced tutors. There are limited places, and booking is essential.
You can book at the Library desk or by ringing 0300 123 6703
Mondays: Parent/Grandparent and Baby/ Child Yoga, 10am-11am, mats provided.
Tuesdays: Health Walks, 1.15pm -2.15pm and Chair Based Yoga 4-5pm
Thursdays: Qigong (benets similar to Tai Chi) 4-5pm
Fridays: Weight Management 11-12noon
LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ACTIVITIES
No need to book.
Monday: Story Time, 9.30am-10am; and Family History Helpdesk on the first Monday of the month 10am-12noon
Thursday: Creative Writing Group from 10am -12 noon, Craft Group from 2-3.30 pm
Friday: Baby Bounce and Rhyme, 9.30am-10am
HESKETH BANK COMMUNITY CENTRE: offers Zumba Gold, Dance Classes (Adult/Children), Burlesque, Tai Chi, Chair-Based Exercises, Circuits, Dog Training, Gymskool, Nippon Martial Arts, Gardening Made Easy, Singing For All Ages, Slimming World.
More details on their website, which can be found at: https://www.heskethbankcommunitycentre.org.uk/

MUSICAL TREAT FOR THE WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxr8QBPq1z0
A John Rutter treat, this week:  Look at the World, recorded before the pandemic in 2018.  Lovely lyrics and very uplifting.

 

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!

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:
Fizzical – adult workout to jazz (with Julie Kershaw) – Monday evenings, 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Parents & Toddlers, (with Jade McCormick) – last Tuesday of the month, 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

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/

WEEKLY MASS FOR CHILDREN: FREE RESOURCE BOOKLET
Redemptorist Publications is pleased to introduce Celebrate: an initiative designed to help children grow in their faith. 
Each week they will provide a Children’s Liturgy in the form of a video of the week’s Gospel reading, a reflection and a final prayer.  
Fun, engaging and practical worksheets/resources will also be provided to help children continue to practise their faith during this time.  Please ring 01420 592974 or check the following link for the RP KidZone: https://www.rpbooks.co.uk/celebrate-following-your-faith?utm 

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 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