CHURCH OPEN: Thursdays 11am to 1pm for visits to the Blessed Sacrament and quiet prayer, meditation.

WEDNESDAYS 23 & 30 AUGUST
Holy Mass – 6.00pm
Eucharistic Exposition 6.25pm-6.55pm
Sacrament of Reconciliation: 6.25pm-6.55pm, Benediction: 6.55pm

ARCHDIOCESE PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
Heavenly Father, hear our prayers for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.
We ask for peace for those who need peace, reconciliation for those who need reconciliation and comfort for all who don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
We ask for you to be with all – especially children who are suffering as the crisis in Ukraine deteriorates. For those who are anxious and fearful. For those who are bereaved, injured or who have lost their lives. And for those who have lost loved ones. Lord, hear our prayers.
We also pray for wise actions from global leaders – who have the power not only to start wars, but to stop them too.
Father in heaven, we cry out for an end to this crisis and for mercy, peace, and truth – that the healing power of your love will restore peace, families and communities.
Amen

READINGS FOR 20 AUGUST
1^st Reading: Isaiah 56:1,6-7, I will bring foreigners to my holy mountain
Psalm 66: Let the peoples praise you O God, let all the peoples praise you.
2^nd Reading: Romans 11:13-15, 29-32, With Israel, God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 15:21-28, Woman, you have great faith.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!  The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord.  I know them and they follow me. Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR AUGUST
For World Youth Day
We pray the World Youth Day in Lisbon will help young people to live and witness the Gospel in their own lives.

SPECIAL FEASTS THIS WEEK
21 August – St Pius X
22 August – The Queenship of Mary
23 August – St Rose of ima
24 August – St Bartholemew
25 August – St Louis / St Joseph Calasanz
26 August – Bl Dominic Barbieri

MORE ABOUT THIS WEEK’S SAINTS
St Bartholemew
The ‘son of Tomai’ – and one of the twelve apostles named in the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke.  In St John’s gospel, scholars refer to him as Nathaniel – called by Philip to follow Jesus.  Tradition has him preaching in India and Armenia, where he was later martyred.
Bl Dominic Barbieri
Bl Dominic was Italian, who served part of his ministry as a Passionist in the Midlands.  He received Cardinal St John Newman into the Church, along with two other members of the Oxford Movement, in 1845.  During his short stay in England, Bl Dominic established three churches, three chapels, preached innumerable missions and received hundreds of converts.  He died in Reading in 1849.

OUR PRAYER INTENTIONS AT LOURDES
The O’Hare family got in touch last week to say that all our prayer intentions have been delivered and that they have made many prayers for the parish and parishioners.  May God bless them and grant them a safe journey home.

OFFERTORY ENVELOPES + GIFT AID
If you are a taxpayer then you can easily help the parish to claim 25% extra on top of every donation you make.  Eg: a donation of £5 per week would result in £6.25 going to the church. Filling in a simple form to register your name and address means we can claim an additional 25% of your gift.  If you are able to help, please collect a form from the porch on your way out today, complete and return to the Parish Office.

In addition, you may wish to consider using an offertory envelope (they are free and use re-cycled paper) in which to make your weekly donation.  It’s akin to ‘wrapping up your gift’ for Our Lord!  Again, please contact the Parish Office if you’d like to start using them.

PARISH GROUNDS & GARDEN NEED HELP!
Thanks to the tremendous efforts of parishioners back in June, we now have a lovely patch of colour brightening up the front of the presbytery – much appreciated by increasing numbers of pollinators.  However, the continuous rain has taken its toll and the lovely flowers are now engaged in a battle with a lot of weeds.  The grounds of the church are also succumbing to weeds.  If any parishioner is able to spare an hour during the next couple of weeks to pop along at any time (no appointment needed!), in order to weed / de-head it would be very much appreciated – especially as we’d like to be able to welcome Fr John to a beautiful church and grounds.  The more who ca

NEW SUNDAY MASS TIMES FROM 3 SEPTEMBER
Please see the letter from Fr John, where he explains that Sunday Masses will be at 10am from 3 September onwards.
Midweek Mass on Wednesdays at 6pm will remain unchanged for the time being – and will continue to include Confessions / Exposition and Benediction.

DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES: 3 SEPTEMBER – MEET FR JOHN!
All parishioners are warmly welcome to enjoy refreshments after 10am Mass on Sunday 3 September, and meet with Fr John, who is very much looking forward to getting to know his parishioners in a more relaxed and social environment.

MAGNIFICAT
The Magnificat is published monthly. For each day, it contains the readings and prayers for Mass, with a meditation from the great spiritual writers of the Church throughout history and prayers for morning and evening inspired by the Liturgy of the Hours.  You will also find the lives of the saints, articles on spiritual topics by contemporary writers, prayers at night, hymns, reflections and essay on a great example of Christian art in each issue.
The current special offer of £49 for 13 issues for the next 12 months, will end on 31 October 2023.  Please order online at www.magnificat.com or phone 020 3882 9432.

CATHOLIC PICTORIAL
Keeping you up to date with all the news from around the Archdiocese online: www.catholicpic.co.uk
Postal subscriptions are available: 3 issues = £9.50, 6 issues = £19 and 12 issues = £37.50.
Email enquiries@cpmmmedia.com or ring 0151 709 7567.
Digital copies are also available.  Please use the phone number / email address above

DONATIONS FOR IAT – MOSS LANE DEPOT
Please remember that unwanted clothing, bedding, tins of food, packs of dried food will be gratefully received by volunteers at our local depot, to help those thousands of Ukrainians affected by the flooding as a result of the recent bombing.  They are very grateful for all help received.  It really makes a difference.

ASLAND WAY PILGRIMAGE WALKS
the promise of better weather encourages us all to get out our walking shoes and discover more about our local area.  Representatives from our churches have been working to put together a series of walks and ted around Our Lady’s: A Tarleton Prayer Pilgrimage and a Tarleton Heritage Route.  Leaflets are available from the porch / to download from owo are basur Facebook page.

HELP NEEDED
The advent of warmer weather means that weeds are beginning to make their annual unwelcome appearance along the paths around the church, at the back of the presbytery and around the car park.  Please consider spending an hour or so – in the fresh air! – helping us to keep our church looking tidy, cared-for and inviting. The more, the merrier.  (No prior experience needed!)

PLEASE CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED IN YOUR PARISH
We are very grateful for offers of help already, with regards to gardening jobs and keeping the grounds of the church neat and tidy.  Thank you!
However, there are still a number of opportunities for our parishioners to become a bit more involved in parish life and your help is both needed and much appreciated.  Areas where help is needed include with the Little Church group on Sundays, singing with the choir, flower arranging, church cleaning, altar serving and some serious fund-raising.  Help is welcome from all ages, and advice / training will be provided. Please contact the Parish Office by email or ring on Thursdays, in order to find out more.