29 December 2024 – Holy Family

MASS INTENTIONS: Sundays 10am / Wednesdays 6pm

Sunday            29th   10.00am      Parishioners / Pat Grosse RIP

Wednesday  1st   10.00am    Holy Souls NDL

Sunday             5th   10.00am       Parishioners / Infirm Clergy
                                                          Assoc

REGULAR MASSES

Weekend Mass is at  10.00am.  

 

 

This Week 29 December  
Ministry   
 Welcomers Reader
Stephen Taylor

Dave Cawley
Tony Crivaro

 Kieran Curran
     
Next Week 5 January  
Ministry Welcomers
Reader                     

Dave Cawley

Paul Allison
John O’Hare

 Diane Mackley
     

 

PARISH NEWSLETTER

Mgr John Goddard, 39 Kearsley Avenue, Tarleton, Preston PR4 6BP Telephone 07779 786114
Email: j.goddard@rcaol.org.uk
Parish Office is open on Thursdays, 10am to 4pm 
(01772 812242) Email: olhct@rcaol.org.uk

MASSES / SERVICES THIS WEEK
Wednesday 1 January – 10am

READINGS FOR 29 DECEMBER
1st Reading: Samuel 1:20-28, Samuel is made over to th Lord for the whole of his life.
Psalm 83: They are happy who dwell in your house, O Lord.
2nd Reading: 1st Letter of St John 3:1-2, 21-24,  We are called Cod’s children and that’s what we are.
Gospel Reading: Luke 2:41-52, Jesus is found by his parents, sitting among the doctors.
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! Open up our hearts O Lord, to accept the words of your Son.  Alleluia! 
Communion antiphon: Our God has appeared on earth and lived among men.

POPE’S INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY
For the right to an education
Let us pray for migrants, refugees, and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.

SAINTS & FEASTS DAYS THIS WEEK
1 January – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
2 January – St Basil the Great & St Gegory of Nazianzen
3 January – The Most Holy Name of Jesus

REFLECTION – THE HOLY FAMILY
Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of his cathedral St John Lateran today.
‘And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man.’ (Luke 2:41-52)
‘Whatever you do, secure wisdom, for wisdom is supreme.’ (Proverbs 4:7).  Where do we begin?  How do we acquire wisdom?  The Bible suggests that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord: ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding’ (Proverbs 9:10). 
Fear, even fear of God, doesn’t seem to be the best starting point to anything.  However, fear of the Lord isn’t the same as ordinary fear.  Of course, we naturally fear terrorism, natural disasters, failure, sickness and so on.  Whereas fear of the Lord has to do with a deep and profound reverence, wonder and awe for God’s majesty, power and glory.
James says (3:17) ‘The wisdom that comes from heaven is pure, it is peace-loving, considerate, full of mercy and good fruit; impartial and sincere.’
Prayer: Dear Lord, may I grow in fear of you, in humility and wisdom, and learn the art of listening carefully, keeping a sense of perspective and having a sense of humour.

FIRST COFFEE MORNING OF THE YEAR NEXT WEEK: 5 JANUARY
Our new year starts in earnest with a chance to catch up on Christmas news with friends and parishioners after Mass next week.  All are very welcome to come along, so please do if you can.  It would be lovely to see you there – even if you’ve only time for a quick cuppa!  As always, there’ll be plenty of delicious home-baked treats and a raffle.

PARISH GIVING LAST WEEK
Last Sunday’s offertory: £247.00
Thank you, everyone.
Christmas offertory: £465.71  Thank you for your generosity.
CARD READER NOW AVAILABLE:  It’s now possible to make card payments for your offertory donations.  The card reader is in the porch.  Please ask a Welcomer to help you.

ADVANCE NOTICE: ITALIAN EVENING – Friday 24 January
Tickets are now available (£10 each) from Vivienne, if you wish to come along with friends and family for an Italian evening, with lots of pasta, risotto and Italian wines.  Beat the post-Christmas ‘blues’ with a bit of Italian sun to cheer the dark days of January.

LECTIONARY FUND
Thank you to the kind parishioners who have donated to the Lectionary Fund.  We’re just £100 short now, so donations have made a huge difference and are very much appreciated. If anyone still wishes to help out, please place your donation in a sealed envelope, marked ‘Lectionary Fund’ and post through the presbytery door.

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.

NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM FR JOHN
Thank you to everyone who helped make the church look and sound so wonderful this week – and every blessing for a very Happy and Peace-Filled New Year

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.

MUSICAL TREAT FOR THE WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wit-jGD4wCw
The immensely haunting Coventry Carol is performed with great delicacy here by the all ladies choral group, Anúna at St Bartholomew’s Church in Dublin, in 2015.  A glorious musical treat especially for Christmas.

WITH EVERY BLESSING FOR A HAPPY AND PEACEFUL NEW YEAR FOR PARISHIONERS & FAMILIES

UNIVERSE CATHOLIC WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS
These are available to order directly from the publisher (www.thecatholicuniverse.com  or phone Michelle on 0743 661 7650 ). It can be posted to you each week. A 3 months print subscription is £42.00 – 6 months is £75.00 and the year at £140.00.

OFFERTORY DONATIONS
Many thanks to generous parishioners who have sent in donations to our churches. Your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated.
Instead of putting money in offertory envelopes each week, those who are able to make an offering are asked to complete a Standing Order Mandate for your bank, from either your parish office. We can email the document to you, if you wish, so that you can print off, complete and send to your bank.
Alternatively, you may still wish to write a  cheque (payable to ‘Our Lady Help of Christians Church’ ) and post to the presbytery with a covering letter and one offertory envelope for gift aid purposes.
Donating by text / online: Please check the May Newsletters and use the links provided. 

ST OSWALD’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, LONGTON
‘With Christ at the centre of our community, our mission is to live, love and learn as Jesus taught us’.  Contact the head teacher.  Please see the website: https://www.longton-st-oswalds.lancs.sch.uk/ or phone 01772 613402 to find out about Open Mornings.

OUR LITTLE CHURCH GROUP
Our children meet on a Sunday morning, during 10am Mass.  If anyone is interested in attending, or knows any children who would like to be involved, you are more than welcome to join in the fun!  Please contact Emma O’Hare on 07813275574.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY – WITH BROTHER FRANCIS
You Tube animated stories and songs each week.  
https://brotherfrancis.com/

RED MISSION BOXES
Please bring them to church when you attend Mass next weekend, or drop them off at the presbytery on Thursday, between 10am and 4pm. Please contact the Parish Office if you would like someone to collect your box for you.  

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

LOCAL COMMUNITY CAFÉ & SHOP
Every Friday from 12noon to 2pm at Hesketh Bank Community Centre: come and enjoy a hot meal, make and meet new friends, help reduce food waste at the Drop-In shop.  No charge, but donations are welcome.
See www.heskethbankcommunitycentre.org.uk for more details.

CLASSES IN OUR CHURCH HALL
Please contact the parish office if you would like to know more about the following:
Fizzical – adult workout to jazz (with Julie Kershaw) – Monday evenings, 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Tai Chi  (with Mark Humphries)  – Tuesdays, 1.15pm-2.45pm
Karate (with Paul Allison) – Saturdays, 9am to 10am

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES OR NEED ANY HELP, PLEASE CONTACT FR JOHN AT THE PRESBYTERY IN TARLETON ON 01772 812242, OR EMAIL THE OFFICE (olhct@rcaol.org.uk), or contact him on his mobile (number at the top of this newsletter).