CHURCH IS OPEN – Thursdays, from 11am to 2pm for reflections before the Blessed Sacrament

READINGS FOR 19 APRIL
1^st Reading: Acts 2: 22-33, It was not possible for him to be held by death.
Psalm 16: O Lord, you will show me the path of life.
2^nd Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-21, You were ransomed with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish.
Gospel Reading: Luje 24: 13-35, He was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia.  Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn within us as you speak to us.  Alleluia. 
Communion antiphon: The disciples recognised the Lord Jesus in the breaking of the bread, alleluia.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR APRIL
For priests in crisis
For priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that their communities may support them with understanding and prayer.

SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
20 April – St Anselm
23 April – St George – patron of England
25 April – St Mark, evangelist

PRIESTS’ TRAINING FUND – COLLECTION NEXT WEEK (26 April)
Priestly training takes between 6 to 8 years and costs approx. £25,000 a year; in addition, our retired priests need help and support if unwell, plus accommodation and living costs.  We are grateful for any donations and prayers, to help grow our much-needed and much-valued archdiocesan priesthood.
Father, we pray for an increase in holy vocations to the priesthood, to keep alive the blessed memory and work of your Son, Jesus – through the preaching of his Word and the administration of the sacraments.  May we have more holy ministers of your altar, who are careful and fervent guardians of the Eucharist.  Call ministers of your mercy, who, through the sacrament of reconciliation, spread the joy of your forgiveness. Sustain the bishops, priests, deacons and all consecrated religious – and all baptised in Christ – so that they – and we – may faithfully fulfil the mission of the service of the Gospel.  We pray this through Christ, our Lord.  Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us.  Amen.

MO BENTLEY
Please remember Mo Bentley in your prayers.  She was a parishioner for many years and had helped prepare children for their 1^st Holy Communion in the past – a very gentle and lovely lady, with a marvellous sense of humour.  There will be a memorial service for her on Sunday 3 May, 2pm at the Hesketh Bank Christian Centre.  The family have invited parishioners who remember Mo to come along if they are able.
Eternal rest give unto her O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.  May she rest in peace.

1^st COMMUNION / CONFIRMATION CLASSES TODAY: 19 APRIL
Our children & parents, will be meeting for their monthly prep sessions after Mass today.  Confirmation children and parents will meet in the hall and 1^st Communion children and families will meet in church.
The Masses of 1^st Communion will be split across two Sundays at 10am: 7 and 14 June.

COFFEE MORNING – FIRST SUNDAY IN MAY
Now that the hall is reliably warm, with a new boiler (and very grateful thanks to those extremely generous parishioners who made this possible), we can re-launch our monthly Coffee Mornings and raffle, after Mass on Sunday 3 May.  Make a note in your diary and do come along if you can.  We’ve missed out on a lot of coffee and a lot of cakes!

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.

RUNNING A MARATHON FOR ALICE
Parishioner, Marc Sterry, will be running the London Marathon on 26 April, in support of Alice’s WonderDance, in loving memory of Alice Aguiar, following the sad events of 2024 in Southport.  Alice was baptised here and there are still family links.  Marc is honoured to be running at the request of Alice’s parents, Sergio and Alex, for a foundation that continues her legacy. Please consider sponsoring him to help raise funds and awareness for this special cause.
The weblink to the fundraising page: www.justgiving.com/page/marc-sterry-2
Sponsor forms are available or those who do not wish to use the link. Please speak to Marc in church after Mass. Thank you for your kindness, support and prayers.

SCARECROW FESTIVAL – SATURDAY 16 MAY
We will be entering the Festival again this year, so if anyone would like to help out, please speak to Vivienne or Joanne Eland.  We will be grateful for any prizes for the tombola stall – please see Vivienne.
And if you live near to church, feel free to put up your own scarecrow – it can only help to add to the fun of this special occasion.  Most importantly – save the date and come along and support!

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.