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 23 NOVEMBER
1^st Reading: 2 Samuel 5:1-3, They anointed David king over Israel.
Psalm 122: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
2^nd Reading: 2 Colossians 1:12-20, He has transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Gospel Reading: Luke 23:35-43, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the coming of our father David!. Alleluia.
Communion antiphon: The Lord sits as king forever.  The Lord will bless his people with peace.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER
For the prevention of suicide
Let us pray that those who are tempted to commit suicide may find the support, love and care they need in their local community, and be able to understand how valued they are.

SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
24 November – St Andrew Dung-Lac & Companions
25 November – St Catherine of Alexandris
30 November – 1^st Sunday of Advent / St Andrew, apostle

SPECIAL ARCHDIOCESAN COLLECTION TODAY –  Animate Youth / Youth Day 2025
Animate Youth is the youth service of our Archdiocese, which works with over 10,000 young people to help them grow in faith, deepening their relationship with God and each other.
Activities include running retreats at Lowe House, mission days in schools, supporting the confirmation programme, running an annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, offering Eucharistic Minister training and supporting the national ‘Faith in Action’ awards.
Please find envelopes in the porch for today’s collection.

PRAYER TO CHRIST THE KING
O Christ Jesus, I acknowledge you King of the universe. I renew my baptismal promises, renouncing Satan and all his works and empty promises. I promise to live a good Christian life and to do all in my power to demonstrate God’s loving mercy and compassion to all.  Amen.

FIRST COMMUNION SESSION TODAY: 23 November
Our children will be meeting after Mass today for the next session of their 1^st Communion programme, ready to make their 1^st confessions next month.  Please remember them in your prayers.

PARISH GIVING LAST WEEK
Parish offertory: £282.50 – with thanks to everyone.

LITTLE CHURCH TODAY: 23 November

PARISH CHRISTMAS COFFEE MORNING / FAYRE – Sunday 7 December
Everyone, friends and family members are welcome to join in the fun at our parish Christmas Coffee Morning on 7 December, after Mass.  As always, there will be plenty of lovely things to eat as well as a stall for seasonal crafts, preserves and plants.  Please let Diane know if you’re able to provide any items for the stall.

CHRISTINGLE SERVICE & CHRISTMAS DRAW – Sunday 14 December, 4pm
Our children did a wonderful job last year of performing at this beautiful service and are busy preparing for this year’s.  Please come and support them.  There will be light refreshments in the hall afterwards, when the Christmas Draw will also be held. 
Donations of Draw prizes are very welcome.  Please bring them to church with you over the next couple of Sundays, or at the presbytery on Thursdays between 10am and 4pm.  Thank you.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Fliers and posters may be collected after Mass today, with all the information you need for our preparations for the celebration of the birth of Our Lord.  Please display where you can, to help us get the word out.

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: Wednesday 26 November at 7.15pm.

PARISH SOCIAL EVENTS – DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Sunday 7 December:   Christmas Fayre, after 10am Mass
Tuesday 9 December: Christmas Bingo
Sunday 14 December: Christingle Service at 4pm followed by refreshments in the hall and the Grand Christmas Draw
Saturday 17 January:  Chinese Evening

STANDING ORDER FORMS FOR YOUR OFFERTORY DONATIONS: APOLOGIES
With profuse apologies for the confusion (and inconvenience) caused, when the bank mandates for another parish were mistakenly put out for use.  The correct mandate forms are now in the porch.  Please see Diane if you have any concerns.

CAFOD’s WORLD GIFTS FOR CHRISTMAS
This Christmas, give your loved ones something exceptional and life-changing. Buying CAFOD’s virtual World Gifts makes a real difference for our sisters and brothers facing the injustice of poverty around the world. Choose from a range of beautifully illustrated cards, each representing a gift of hope, inspired by real people and real needs. Cards can be sent by post, as an eCard, or printed at home. You may also wish to purchase World Gifts and other gifts such as Advent calendars and jute bags at www.worldgifts.cafod.org.uk/  or pick up a catalogue in the porch.

BECCONSALL HERITAGE PARK CHRISTMAS MARKET – Thursday 27 November
The Heritage Park Trust is organising a special Christmas Market on Thursday, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm in our church hall.  All are welcome.

ANNUAL LADIES’ CAROL SERVICE: ST STEPHEN’S, BANKS
All are welcome to this celebration of Christmas on Friday 5 December at 7.30pm.  There will be refreshments in the hall after the Service.  Please contact the Churchwarden David Yardley for catering purposes, if you wish to attend on 01704 231327 or Diane Mackley on 01772 815508 by 28 November at the latest, please. 

RAWSTORNE SINGERS: RECRUITING FOR CHRISTMAS / CHRISTMAS CONCERT
All are welcome to come to the practice on Wednesday 3 December at 7.30pm.  £5 for music & refreshments
The concert itself is on Wednesday 10 December at 7.30pm.
Both events at St Leonard’s Church, Marshalls Brow, Penwortham.  Please book online: www.rawstornesingers.co.uk 
Members of our own choir perform with the singers, so you’ll be in excellent company!

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.

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.