HOLY WEEK MASSES / SERVICES
Please see above
Confessions at 5.45pm

Church is open on Thursdays 11am to 1pm for private prayer & reflection before the Blessed Sacrament

READINGS FOR 24 NOVEMBER
1^st Reading: Daniel 7:13-14, His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty.
Psalm 92: The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed
2^nd Reading: Apocalypse 1:5-8, ruler of the kings of the earth…he made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God.
Gospel Reading: John 18:33-37, It is you who say that I am a king.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!  Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessings on the coming kingdom of our father David! Alleluia! 
Communion antiphon: The Lord sits as King for ever.  The Lord will bless his people with peace.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER
For Anyone Who Has Lost A Child
We pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community and receive peace and consolation from the Holy Spirit.

SPECIAL COLLECTION THIS WEEK (24 November): Animate Youth
Gift Aid envelopes for your donations are available in the porch.

OUR LADY’S PRESBYTERY: NEXT STEPS
Members of the Parish Council met last week to discuss future-proofing the church and our parish, through renting out the presbytery.  Father john and Council members are very keen to hear the views of parishioners on this, so you are invited to raise queries and any concerns with Fr John or any member of the Parish Council after Sunday Mass this week.  Please see Paul, Tony, John, Emma, Keren, Margaret or Diane after church – or email the Parish Office.

PARISH CHRISTMAS FAYRE NEXT WEEK – SUNDAY 1 DECEMBER
Christmas Coffee Morning & Fayre after Mass.  We’re collecting for two stalls: Festive Arts & Crafts and Festive Preserves.  Thank you to those who have already made donations. 
Please bring crafts and / or preserves to the hall on Saturday 30 November at 5.30pm, when the hall is being set up.
There will also be a Christmas Raffle – donations of bottles / festive chocolates /biscuits are very welcome.
Family & friends are warmly invited to join in the fun. 
No charge – donations gratefully accepted for the Hall Refurbishment Fund.
HELP SETTING UP: Thank you for the few offers of help received. Please meet at the hall on
Saturday 30 November, at 5.30pm.
CHRISTMAS BINGO – Tuesday 10 December, 7pm.  Bottles of wine / Prosecco will be gratefully received. All welcome!

CHRISTMAS DATES – PLEASE COLLECT A FLIER FROM A WELCOMER, DETAILING CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Sunday 1 December: 1^st Sunday of Advent – A Service of Light at 4pm at St Mary’s, Leyland.  All are welcome to
this family of parishes event.  Fr John has been asked to supply someone from our parish to lead a prayer.
SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION WITH CONFESSION: Thursday 12 December at 7.00pm
CHRISTINGLE SERVICE: Sunday 15 December at 3.00pm
CONFESSIONS: Wednesday 18 December at 5.45pm – 6.10pm
CHRISTMAS VIGIL SERVICE: Tuesday 24 December at 7.30pm
CHRISTMAS DAY: Wednesday 25 December at 10.00am
Christmas Week: 26 to 29 December, daily Mass at 10.00am

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL – ‘NOT DEAD YET’ CAMPAIGN
Lord David Alton has written to all churches asking parishioners to lobby their MPs, to defeat the Assisted Suicide Bill when it goes before Parliament on 29 November.  Cards are available in the porch, if you feel able to respond by sending one to your local MP.

CHRISTMAS DAY – HELP FOR ISOLATED RESIDENTS
A joint initiative led by Mere Brow Village and Hesketh Bank & Tarleton Helpers is serving Christmas Lunches on 25 December for local residents who may be on their own or in need of help on Christmas Day.  To register, please ask for a form from one of the welcomers as you leave church today.

ANNUAL LADIES’ CAROL SERVICE: ST STEPHEN’S, BANKS
All are welcome to this joint celebration on Friday 13 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 email: david@masterchef2000.plus.com

CHURCH FOODBANK / ALDI VOUCHERS
Rev Dave Dickinson (All Saints in Hesketh Bank) will be retiring shortly.  We will be taking over the running of an Essential Foodbank for Tarleton residents and families in need.  Your gifts of basic cupboard staples are therefore always very welcome. We will be moving towards collecting donations for Aldi vouchers, which are often more helpful for those in need, starting in November.
Please us to spread the word that emergency food aid will be available from this church for Tarleton residents, but help is also available from the Food Pantry at Tarleton Methodist Church, every Monday morning.

MASS INTENTIONS
Mass intentions are welcome, not just for our dear departed, but for any other occasion eg in thanksgiving, 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 near as possible.

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. 
Please order online at www.magnificat.com or phone 020 3882 9432.

LITTLE THEATRES & MENTAL HEALTH / WELL-BEING
Chorley and Southport have their own theatres and Southport’s in particular, has just brought out its new season pamphlet of plays and productions for 2024-25.  Visiting the theatre can provide a welcome form of relaxation and enjoyment, and at Southport, the volunteers are very good at putting people at their ease. You will be sure of a grand welcome.   In addition, there is news of a number of special packages available, that afford real value for money.
The pamphlets, containing full details, are available in the porch.

THE HALL IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Our church hall is the envy of the area, for its size, its sprung dance floor and of course, its managed, licensed bar.
We now have vacant slots every evening, apart from Mondays and also during the day / evening on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.  Other times may also be available, on enquiry.
Hire charges = £20 an hour (inc. ‘get-in/out’).  If you know of anyone, or any group that is looking for accommodation, please let them know to contact the Parish Office on Thursdays.

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