MASS ON WEDNESDAYS – Holy Mass – 6.00pm
Followed by Exposition / Confessions & Benediction

READINGS FOR 21 JANUARY
1^st Reading: Jonah 3:1-5, The people of Nineveh renounce their evil behaviour
Psalm 24:  Lord, make me know your ways
2^nd Reading: I Corinthians 7:29-31 The world as we know it is passing away.
Gospel Reading: Mark 1:14-20, Repent and believe the Good News.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! The kingdom of God is close at hand; believe the Good News.  Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: Look up at the Lord with gladness and smile; your face will never be ashamed.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY
Diversity in the Church
Let us pray that the Spirit help us recognise the gift of different charisms within the Christian community, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions in the heart of the Catholic Church.

SAINTS & FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
21 January – St Agnes
22 January – St Vincent
24 January – St Frances de Sales
25 January – Conversion of St Paul*  Mass here on Thursday, 10am
27 January – St Angela Merici
28 January – St Thomas Aquinas

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY: 18 – 25 January
THEME: ‘You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself’. 
With a focus on the parable of the Good Samaritan, in 2024 the Churches of Burkina Faso are challenging Christians around the world to ask themselves what it means to love their neighbour. For them, this challenge comes in the midst of extreme political instability and a serious security crisis. Our own context is very different, but the call of Christ to each and every one of us is still the same, ‘You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself’ (Lk 10:27). Let’s use this year’s Week of Prayer to prayerfully ask ourselves what that call means to us and to our churches, wherever we are.Resources are available here https://cte.org.uk/wpcu2024/

ECUMENICAL SERVICE TODAY
Everyone is welcome to attend today’s special service for the Week of Christian Unity.  The Service is at Tarleton Methodist Church and starts at 4pm.

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
Members of your Parish Council will be meeting next Wednesday, 24 January at 7.15pm.  Please have a word with Fr John, Paul Allison, Tony Crivaro, John & Emma O’Hare, Diane Mackley or Margaret Rouse, if you would like any issue to be discussed.  Notes of the meeting will be available for parishioners.

HOLOCAUST DAY MEMORIAL SERVICE 2024
An inter-faith service to commemorate the victims of the Nazi Holocaust, plus those who have perished in other 20^th and 21^st century genocides, will be held at Christ Church in Southport on Sunday 28 January, at 1.30pm.  The theme this year is ‘The Fragility of Freedom’.  Local faiths will be there, plus speakers from the Muslim & Jewish Forum, local MPs and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside.  All are welcome to attend.

NEXT COFFEE MORNING: After 10am Mass on Sunday, 4 February.

SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKES!
If you would like to help plan a Pancake Party at the presbytery for 13 February, please have a word with Fr John or Vivienne after Mass.

ASH WEDNESDAY: Wednesday 14 February

ARCHDIOCESAN CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME – YEAR 8 CHILDREN
Information sheets are available in the porch for parents and children interested in receiving this very special sacrament.  Children must be registered (online) at www.liverpoolcalled.co.uk between 15 January and 15 March.  The Confirmations will take place during the summer term this year.

PARISH FOODBANK
Rev Dave wishes to pass on his thanks and blessings to all those who regularly donate foodstuffs.  There is still a need for dried foods eg pasta and rice, breakfast cereals, plus tins of vegetables, meat and fish.  Your generosity is a real help to our local families, especially now that autumn has set in and energy bills are increasing again.  Please ensure that donated items are all well within their Best Before dates – Thank You!
DISUSED GLASSES / SPECTACLES
Please have a rummage at home and bring old prescription glasses along.  They can be used by opticians in Africa to help local communities. 

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.

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.

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.