MASSES DURING LENT
Tuesdays, 10am
Wednesdays
5.30pm Confessions
6.00pm Mass (with meditation on the Way of the Cross and Benediction)

READINGS FOR 3 MARCH
1^st Reading: Exodus 20:1-17, The law was given through Moses
Psalm 18:  You Lord, have the message of eternal life
2^nd Reading: I Corinthians 1:22-25, Here we are preaching a crucified Christ, an obstacle to men, but to those who are called, the wisdom of God..
Gospel Reading: John 2:13-25, Destroy this sanctuary and in three days, I will raise it up.
Gospel acclamation: Praise to you O Christ, king of eternal glory!  God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son; everyone who believes in him has eternal life. Praise to you O Christ, king of eternal glory!
Communion antiphon: The sparrow even finds a home, the swallow finds a nest wherein to place her young; near to your altars Lord of hosts, my King, my God!  How happy are they who dwell in t=your house!  Forever they are praising you.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MARCH
For the new martyrs
We pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world inflame the Church with their courage and missionary enthusiasm.

SAINTS & FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
4 March – St Casimir
7 March – Ss Perpetua & Felicity
8 March – St John of God, a champion of the poor and sick

LENTEN SERVICES
Please check times and days of additional services during the forthcoming season of Lent: there is a second weekday Mass (Tuesdays at 10am and Wednesdays at 6pm), with  additional opportunities for confession.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS DURING LENT – Fridays at 7.00pm
Stations of the Cross in our family of parishes
1^st March        St Catherine’s, Leyland
8 March          St Oswald’s, Longton
15 March         St Mary’s, Leyland
22 March        St Mary Magdalene, Penwortham
Please let people know about our services during Lent.  All are very welcome.

LENTEN ALMS BOX
Our Lenten Alms this year will be donated to the Children of Gaza & the Holy Land.  Let us continue to pray, with increasing urgency, for peace in Our Lord’s homeland and an end to the suffering of so many innocents on all sides in this terrible conflict.
PRAYERS DURING LENT
We are asked to pray for the following intentions
Candidates for the Sacraments (especially on Sundays); Women (Women’s World Day of Prayer on Friday 1 March); the Needy and Hungry of the World; Penitents and Wanderers. 
 
CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY – FINAL COLLECTION 3 MARCH
Please place donations in the envelopes provided if you can gift aid.  Thank you

COFFEE MORNING THIS WEEK, SUNDAY 3 MARCH
Everyone is welcome to our March Coffee Morning in the hall after Mass THIS week for ‘Springtime Cakes & Bakes’.  It’s a lovely chance to have a proper chat and to get to know people over a cuppa and some delicious home-baking.  All donations (including the raffle) go to our Church Hall Refurbishment Fund.

STEWARDSHIP OF OUR TALENTS
Our prayer time during Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the talents with which God has blessed us, and a chance to consider how (rather than burying our talents away), we might develop them and use them for the benefit of our parish.  It is important to recognise what Almighty God has done for us, and for us to have this chance to work together, using our talents, to help our parish community to grow and develop into one that truly reflects the pro-active compassion of Christ in the Gospels.  More details on this next week!

REFLECTION: LENT WEEK 3
Jesus had the deepest respect for the Temple in Jerusalem.  Joseph and Mary had presented him there forty days after his birth.  Aged only twelve, he remained in the Temple, reminding his parents that he was about his Father’s business.  For him, the Temple was a privileged place for an encounter with God. – the dwelling place of his Father, a house of prayer.  The ruthless pursuit of profit and commerce by the traders and merchants was therefore blasphemous, offensive and sacrilegious.  Filled with a holy anger and zeal for God’s will, Jesus drove them out.
In a similar way, St Paul’s letter to the Corinthians (6:19) tells us that our own bodies are ‘temples’ of the Holy Spirit, and God’s will is that we too, should rid them of anything offensive to God.  Through an examination of our lives, sincere repentance and contrition, together with the mercy and loving forgiveness of God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we can be healed and cleansed.      Lent is the perfect time for us to put our own ‘house’ in order – and God’s gift to us through Reconciliation makes it so accessible.    From ‘Walk with Me’ (Alive Publishing)

HOLY WEEK & EASTER SERVICES
This year, we will keep the full rites of the Easter Triduum, that is: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Easter Day.
There will also be a Service of Reconciliation.  Leaflets with the times and details of all services and Masses will be available for you to take home next week.

MASS INTENTONS
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.  It may not be possible to guarantee the specific date requested, for various reasons, however every effort will be made to find a date as near as possible. 

RAMADAN – KEEPING THE FAST WITH PALESTINIAN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN GAZA
You may want to keep a fast during the day of Wednesday 13 March. Please pray for all innocent victims of violence in Gaza, Christians and Muslims, and also Jewish hostages and their families.  More details next week.

PARISH FOODBANK
Rev Dave wishes to pass on his thanks and blessings to all those who regularly donate foodstuffs.  There is still a need for dried foods eg pasta and rice, breakfast cereals, plus tins of vegetables, meat and fish.  Your generosity is a real help to our local families, especially now that autumn has set in and energy bills are increasing again.  Please ensure that donated items are all well within their Best Before dates – Thank You!
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

DONATIONS FOR IAT – MOSS LANE DEPOT
Please remember that unwanted clothing, bedding, tins of food, packs of dried food will be gratefully received by volunteers at our local depot, to help those thousands of Ukrainians affected by the flooding as a result of the recent bombing.  They are very grateful for all help received.  It really makes a difference.

PLEASE CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED IN YOUR PARISH
We are very grateful for offers of help already, with regards to gardening jobs and keeping the grounds of the church neat and tidy.  Thank you!
However, there are still a number of opportunities for our parishioners to become a bit more involved in parish life and your help is both needed and much appreciated.  Areas where help is needed include with the Little Church group on Sundays, singing with the choir, flower arranging, church cleaning, altar serving and some serious fund-raising.  Help is welcome from all ages, and advice / training will be provided. Please contact the Parish Office by email or ring on Thursdays, in order to find out more.