CONFESSIONS: Wednesdays 5.45pm to 6.05pm

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

READINGS FOR 22  MARCH
1^st Reading: Ezekiel 37:12-14, I will put my spirit within you and you shall live.
Psalm 130: With the Lord there is mercy, in him is plentiful redemption.
2^nd Reading: romans 8:8-11, The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you..
Gospel Reading: John 11:1-45, I am the resurrection and the life.
Gospel acclamation: Glory to you, O Christ, Son of the living God.  I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord.  Everyone who believes in me shall never die.  Glory to you, O Christ, Son of the living God. 
Communion antiphon: Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die, says the Lord.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MARCH
For disarmament and peace
That nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.

SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
25 March – Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.

NUGENT COLLECTION THIS WEEK: 22 March

LENTEN ALMS
Our Lenten Alms box will be available throughout Lent for donations. Lenten almsgiving is one of the three traditional pillars of Lent (alongside prayer and fasting), focusing on selfless giving to those in need – especially the poor – as an expression of our love, our sense of justice, and our repentance during this special season.

EASTER SERVICES
Service of Reconciliation – an opportunity for confession: Saturday 28 March at 10am.  All welcome.
Palm Sunday next week, 29 March: Service begins with blessing of palms in the hall at 9.55am; process to the church for Mass at 10am
Holy Week Masses: Monday 30^th, Tuesday 31^st and Wednesday 1^st – Mass at 10am
Maundy Thursday 2 April – Mass at 7pm followed by Watching at the Altar of Repose, to 10pm.
Four volunteers needed please, for the washing of feet; also to help strip the altar.
 Please sign the list in the porch for Watching at the Altar of Repose.
Good Friday, 3 April – Church is open for private prayer 11am to 2pm; Service begins at 2pm.
Saturday 4 April at 10am – Volunteers needed to prepare church for Easter.
Holy Saturday Vigil 4 April – Mass at 8.00pm
Easter Sunday 5 April – Mass at 10am
Leaflets are available from the porch.

FAMILY OF PARISHES NEWSLETTER FOR LENT & EASTER
Copies are available in the porch for you to take, or find it on St Mary’s website: www.leylandstmarys.org.uk

FLOWER DONATIONS
Vivienne and Diane will be preparing floral arrangements for the Altar of Repose and for Easter Masses.  Any donations to help towards flowers will be most gratefully received.  Please see the labelled basket in the porch.  Many thanks!

CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY £20.00 – additional donation. Thank you.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS DURING LENT – OUR FAMILY OF PARISHES
This week’s service is on Friday 27 March, at St Mary Magdalen, Penwortham, 7.00pm.  All welcome.

HALL BOILER DONATIONS
Many thanks to kind, generous-hearted parishioners, who have offered donations to help towards the cost of the new boiler.  We are enormously grateful.

EASTER CELEBRATION: ROAST DINNER EVENING – RAISING FUNDS FOR THE HALL BOILER!
Saturday 11th April, 7.00pm in the (warm!) church hall
Tickets £15, two course meal.  Tickets available TODAY from members of the social committee.  Please contact Vivienne with any dietary requirements.  All welcome!

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.

CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST – PRAY FOR PEACE
God of peace, bearer of hope, we seek your help for the peoples of the Middle East.  Quiet the clamour of war, and guide us towards peace.  Where there is hatred and division, sow seeds of calm and openness.  Where there is destruction, help us to rebuild.  Where children are crying, bring an end to tears.  Shelter your peoples and protect them.  Guide them and keep them from harm.  Show us how to break down the barriers of history and fear and breathe whispers of hope.  Amen.                                                                                                                  
Linda Jones/CAFOD

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! 

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.