READINGS FOR 18 OCTOBER
1^st Reading: Isaiah 45:1-6, I have grasped the right hand of Cyrus, to subdue nations before him.
Psalm 96: Ascribe to the Lord glory and power
2^nd Reading: I Thessalonians 1:1-5, Remembering your faith, love and hope.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:15-21, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God, the things that are God’s.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR OCTOBER
For mental health ministry
We pray that the mental health ministry be established throughout the Church, helping to overcome the discrimination of those with mental illnesses.

SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
19 October – St John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues & Companions
22 October – St John Paul II
23 October – St John of Capistrano
24 October – St Anthony Mary Claret

REQUIEM MASS – FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER, 11am
All are welcome to attend the Requiem for Vera Scott – a very dear member of the parish – on Friday this week.  Refreshments in the parish hall afterwards, where we can remember and celebrate Vera.

2^nd COLLECTION THIS WEEK: APF WORLD MISSIONS
Envelopes are available in the porch.  Please can tax payers gift aid – it makes a big difference.  Many thanks.

By supporting Missio – the Pope’s charity for world mission – we stand united as God’s global family, in prayer, solidarity and action. We are called to be ‘Missionaries Of Hope  Among All Peoples’ as everyone deserves to hear that God loves them and to be strengthened by God’s Spirit. Please pray for missionaries and give what you can to this vital collection, bringing God’s compassion, peace and justice to those in need.

ARCHDIOCESAN ANNUAL COUNTING AT MASS
We have now completed our annual Mass ‘count’ for the Archdiocese.  Figures are as follows
20 September: 67; 27 September: 63; 4 October: 70; 11 October: 75

CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY COLLECTION: Additional donations: £20.00 Thank you

NOVEMBER MASSES FOR HOLY SOULS
Envelopes for all Holy Souls / Dear Departed intentions are available now.  Please return the sealed envelopes, with lists and donations, to the Parish Office, or via the offertory basket by 30 October.

1^st COMMUNION PREPARATION SESSION THIS WEEK – IN THE HALL
Our children will be meeting after Mass today, for their second session preparing them for their 1^st Holy Communion next June.  This session will focus on being baptised and being called by Jesus to follow him.

FAMILY OF PARISHES MEETINGS
A sincere Thank You to all those parishioners who attended last week’s meetings regarding future plans for our family of parishes.  Your thoughts, views and suggestions will play a vital role in the forward planning that will take place at the working group’s next meeting in November.  If you weren’t able to attend, or if you did attend a meeting but would

BECOMING A CATHOLIC!
If you, or someone you know, is interested in finding out more about the Catholic faith and perhaps considering becoming a Catholic, then please collect a pack from Diane after Mass today, with details of the next RCIA course run by our Family of Parishes. It will start on 4 November at St Oswald’s in Longton.

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.  Thank you to those who are already donating!

HYMN BOOK AMNESTY
It’s so easy to walk out of church and find you’re still clutching a hymn book!  Please can you have a look at home / in the car and check for any ‘strays’.  No one will be looking when you bring them back to church.  Many thanks!

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.

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.