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

READINGS FOR 26 APRIL
1^st Reading: Acts 2: 36-41, God has made him both Lord and Christ.
Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.
2^nd Reading: 1 Peter 2:20-25, You have returned to the Shepherd of your souls.
Gospel Reading: John 10:1-15, I am the door of the sheep.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia. I am the good shepherd, says the Lord.  I know my sheep and my own know me. Alleluia. 
Communion antiphon: The Good Shepherd has risen, who laid down his life for his sheep and willingly died for his flock, alleluia.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR APRIL
For priests in crisis
For priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that their communities may support them with understanding and prayer.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MAY
That everyone might have food
We pray that everyone, from large producers to small consumers, be committed to avoid wasting food and to ensuring that everyone has access to quality food.

SAINTS / FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
28 April – St Louis Grignon de Montfort
29 April – St Catherine of Siena
30 April – St Pius V
1 May – St Joseph the Worker
2 May – St Athanasius

PRIESTS’ TRAINING FUND – COLLECTION THIS WEEK (26 April)
Priestly training takes between 6 to 8 years and costs approx. £25,000 a year; in addition, our retired priests need help and support if unwell, plus accommodation and living costs.  We are grateful for any donations and prayers, to help grow our much-needed and much-valued archdiocesan priesthood.
Father, we pray for an increase in holy vocations to the priesthood, to keep alive the blessed memory and work of your Son, Jesus – through the preaching of his Word and the administration of the sacraments.  May we have more holy ministers of your altar, who are careful and fervent guardians of the Eucharist.  Call ministers of your mercy, who, through the sacrament of reconciliation, spread the joy of your forgiveness. Sustain the bishops, priests, deacons and all consecrated religious – and all baptised in Christ – so that they – and we – may faithfully fulfil the mission of the service of the Gospel.  We pray this through Christ, our Lord.  Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us.  Amen.

FAMILY OF PARISHES – FEEDBACK FROM PARISH MEETINGS / COMMENTS
There are hard copies of the feedback available in the porch, for those who cannot receive or print from emails.
The next steps involve a sub-group meeting, to determine the start of a strategy, to cover all parishes in the next five years.  John O’Hare is a member of this group, so we will be well-represented.  Thanks, John.

MO BENTLEY
  There will be a memorial service for her on Sunday 3 May, 2pm at the Hesketh Bank Christian Centre.  The family have invited parishioners who remember Mo to come along if they are able.
Eternal rest give unto her O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.  May she rest in peace.

COFFEE MORNING – NEXT WEEK, 3 MAY: ALL WELCOME!
Now that the hall is reliably warm, with a new boiler (and very grateful thanks to those extremely generous parishioners who made this possible), we can re-launch our monthly Coffee Mornings and raffle, after Mass on Sunday 3 May.  Make a note in your diary and do come along if you can.  We’ve missed out on a lot of coffee and a lot of cakes!

WELCOMERS NEEDED:  We would love to expand our rota of welcomers, so please don’t be shy!  Have a chat with Father or Diane after Mass, if you’d like to find out a bit more, and see if it’s something that might interest you.

CHOIR MEMBERS NEEDED
Our dedicated and hardworking choir would welcome two or three more voices to help swell the ranks.  Our Lady’s boasts one of the best churches for congregational singing amongst all the FoP, so we know there are some keen and enthusiastic singers amongst us. If you enjoy a ‘good, rousing sing’, then please have a word with Liz Cheetham after Mass, to find out a bit more.  You will be most welcome. 

SCARECROW FESTIVAL – SATURDAY 16 MAY
We will be entering the Festival again this year, so if anyone would like to help out, please speak to Vivienne or Joanne Eland.  We will be grateful for any prizes for the tombola stall – please see Vivienne.
And if you live near to church, feel free to put up your own scarecrow – it can only help to add to the fun of this special occasion.  Most importantly – save the date and come along and support!

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! 

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.