CONFESSIONS:  Wednesdays, 5.45pm to 6.10pm and by appointment 

CHURCH IS OPEN – Thursdays 11am to 1pm for visits to the Blessed Sacrament 

READINGS FOR 19 OCTOBER 
1^st Reading: Exodus 17:8-13, Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed
Psalm 121: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
2^nd Reading: 2 Timothy 3;14-4:2, That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Gospel Reading: Luke 18:1-8, God will give justice to his elect, who cry to him.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. The word of God is living and active, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.  Alleluia.
Communion antiphon: Behold, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, who hope in his merciful love, to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS – OCTOBER
For collaboration between different religious traditions
Let us pray that believers in different religious traditions might work together to defend and promote peace, justice and human fraternity.

SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
22 October – St John Paul II
23 October – St John  of Capistrano
24 October – St Anthony Mary Claret

COUNTING AT MASS CONCLUDES
Last week’s Mass attendance: 81
Average attendance over 4 weeks: 75 people

CAFOD HARVEST FAMILY FAST DAY: £194.92 cash / £40.00 cheques; total: £234.92.  Thank you all – and special thanks to all those who gift aided their donations.

COLLECTION THIS WEEK: APF WORLD MISSIONS:
Envelopes are available in the porch.  Please bring them with you to Mass today / next Sunday – and again, tax payers can 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.

NOVEMBER MASSES FOR HOLY SOULS
Envelopes for all our Holy Souls intentions are available.  Please return to the Parish Office, or via the offertory basket by 30 October.

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.

1st COMMUNION SESSION / CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME THIS WEEK: Sunday 19 October
Our 1^st Communion children will be meeting again after Mass today.  This second session will focus on the theme of ‘Called by Name’ – Jesus calls us to follow him.
Yr 8 (and above) children who are eligible to prepare for their Confirmation next March start their programme today.
Please pray for all our young people in the months that lie ahead.

LITTLE CHURCH NEXT WEEK: 26 October

PARISH QUIZ NIGHT: FRIDAY 21 NOVEMBER – A FUN NIGHT OUT FOR PARISHIONERS, FRIENDS & FAMILY 
Quiz tickets are available from Emma O’Hare – only £2.50. The parish Social Committee would welcome good quality raffle prizes.  Please leave in the labelled box in the porch, or you could drop them off at 39 Kearsley Avenue. 

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.

FAMILY OF PARISHES SURVEY
Please make sure that you have a survey form from our family of parishes, so that you can be reflecting on the important questions affecting our parish over the next few years.  Forms are available in the porch and will be collected in October.

RED MISSION BOXES
Please bring your red boxes to church over the next few weeks, so that they can be counted and the money go to the APF Missions, which is much needed.   Please let Diane know if you’d like to arrange collection of your box.

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! 

CHURCH CLEANING / FLOWER ARRANGING
Thank you to those who have already said that they’d be interested in helping out.  Diane would like to start putting rotas together, so please can you let her know your availability.  Church cleaning is only twice a month and flower arranging is every other week.  Please have a word with her after Mass today, or ring on 07876 363779. Thank you.

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.