CHURCH OPEN: Thursdays 11am to 1pm for visits to the Blessed Sacrament and quiet prayer, meditation.

WEDNESDAY EVENING MASSES
Holy Mass – 6.00pm
Eucharistic Exposition 6.25pm-6.55pm
Sacrament of Reconciliation: 6.25pm-6.55pm, Benediction: 6.55pm

ARCHDIOCESE PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
Heavenly Father, hear our prayers for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.
We ask for peace for those who need peace, reconciliation for those who need reconciliation and comfort for all who don’t know what tomorrow will bring.
We ask for you to be with all – especially children who are suffering as the crisis in Ukraine deteriorates. For those who are anxious and fearful. For those who are bereaved, injured or who have lost their lives. And for those who have lost loved ones. Lord, hear our prayers.
We also pray for wise actions from global leaders – who have the power not only to start wars, but to stop them too.
Father in heaven, we cry out for an end to this crisis and for mercy, peace, and truth – that the healing power of your love will restore peace, families and communities.
Amen

READINGS FOR 6 AUGUST
1^st Reading: Daniel 7:9-10,13-14, His robe was white as snow
Psalm 96: The Lord is king, most high above all the earth
2^nd Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-19, We heard this ourselves, spoken from heaven
Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:1-9, His face shone like the sun
Gospel acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia!  This is my Son, the Beloved, he enjoys my favour; listen to him.  Alleluia!
Communion antiphon: When Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR AUGUST
For World Youth Day
We pray the World Youth Day in Lisbon will help young people to live and witness the Gospel in their own lives.

SPECIAL FEASTS THIS WEEK
7 August – St Sixtus & Companions / St Cajetan
8 August – St Dominic, founder of the Dominican house for preachers in Toulouse
9 August – St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein – killed at Auschwitz, 1942)
10 August – St Lawrence
11 August – St Clare (of Assisi), founder of the Poor Clares
12 August – St Jane Frances de Chantal, founder of the Order of the Visitation

COFFEE MORNING – SUNDAY 6 AUGUST
Everyone is welcome to come along after 9.15am Mass this Sunday and enjoy a chat over tea/coffee and biscuits in the hall.  Thanks to Emma and Joanne for organising an opportunity for parishioners to meet together and socialise.
Date for your dairies: Sunday 3 September – Meet Fr John!
All parishioners are warmly welcome to enjoy refreshments after 10am Mass on Sunday 3 September, and meet with Fr John, who is very much looking forward to getting to know his parishioners in a more relaxed and social environment.

NEW SUNDAY MASS TIMES FROM 3 SEPTEMBER
Please see the letter from Fr John, where he explains that Sunday Masses will be at 10am from 3 September onwards.
Midweek Mass on Wednesdays at 6pm will remain unchanged for the time being – and will continue to include Confessions / Exposition and Benediction.

OUR LADY’S – FROM 3 SEPTEMBER
Mgr John Goddard (who wishes to be known amongst parishioners as ‘Fr John’) has written a letter for all parishioners, setting out his thoughts and plans for our parish. 
My brothers and sisters in Christ,           
I am so grateful to Archbishop Malcolm for inviting me to become your parish priest at Our Lady Help of Christians and am excited by the prospect of our worshipping and working together.
The development of parishes in the diocese collaborating with each other, while remaining distinct, is described as a pattern of ‘families of parishes’.  This concept will lead to new ways of priests and people working together for the benefit of all.  It is clear that faced with a reduction in the numbers of priests, this model of a ‘family’ will enable parishes to have the regularity and consistency of Sunday Mass, with more effective sacramental and pastoral care for God’s people.  I am committed to this.   
Tarleton, Longton and Penwortham have a natural opportunity of working together, and with three priests, we will be able to cover for each other as needed.  This is not about the closure of Our Lady’s – far from it!  I hope that this will prove to be for the parish’s growth, development and flourishing.
We will not be independent parishes, but rather an inter-dependent family of a group of parishes: each distinct and with their own priest, but also working collaboratively, to assist each other as equal partners.
So, the Sunday Mass at Our Lady’s will be offered each week, plus Mass during the week and of course, on holy days of obligation.  The only change is that Sunday Mass on 3 September (and Sundays thereafter) will now be at 10.00am.  This change of time will allow all three priests to cover for each other, as and when the need arises.
Some of you may be wondering about the term ‘parochial administrator’: it may be as new to you as it is to me!  This title recognises flexibility as we go forward.  This is not a temporary appointment.  I shall be your priest.  However, whilst I shall be half-time, I will always offer Mass at 10am on Sundays, except when covered by fellow priests at holiday time.  (You presently enjoy Fr Anders for a third of his priestly time, as he is managing three parishes, of course).  As I am not longer 25(!), these arrangements appear appropriate.
To be clear therefore, I am committed to the Catholic church in Tarleton and will seek to encourage Our Lady’s to flourish and grow in numbers and in spirituality as we, together, share in ministry, and witness through evangelisation and pastoral care.  I am also committed to enhancing our worship in music and liturgical presentation. 
Please note the emphasis of ‘together’, for to achieve this – by God’s grace – we will develop our lay ministry, our participation and our responsibility, as we grow spiritually.
In my Anglican parish ministry of over forty years, my parishioners all grew in number and decline was reversed.  I pray and hope that this will prove to be the case at Our Lady’s as we – with God’s loving guidance – engage together in our shared future. I hope this helps to clarify the situation for you.
In all of this, I will of course, be building on Fr Anders’ 17 years of faithful service and ministry, for which I’m sure, you are all very grateful.
Finally, I would like to add that I come into your parish community as a fellow pilgrim, following Christ.  I hope to serve you in such a way that Our Lord will liberate you in the fullness of your baptismal vocations.
May Our Lady Help of Christians pray for us.
Yours in Christ,
Mgr John

MORE ABOUT THIS WEEK’S SAINTS
St Cajetan, 1480-1547
Cajetan was an Italian lawyer and founder of the Theatine Order as well as founding confraternities of clergy and laity for the service of the sick and the poor.  His order was at the forefront of reform in establishing the first ‘credit unions’ to help the poor pay off their debts.
St Teresa Benedicta, 1891-1942
Edith Stein was the daughter of Jewish parents.  She was highly educated at Germany’s top universities and became a major influence in German academic and cultural life.  On converting to Catholicism, she entered a Carmelite order in 1933.  Along with many other Catholics of Jewish extraction, she was deported (by cattle truck) to Auschwitz in 1942, where she was gassed.
St Jane Frances de Chantal, 1572-1641
Jane was widowed after nine years of marriage and raising four children.  She then took a vow of chastity and in 1604 met the venerable St Francis de Sales – who became her spiritual director.  His gentle and very pragmatic teaching encouraged her to found a new order, the Visitation, whose special purpose was to enable women of delicate health to live the religious life. 
One of the Visitation’s most significant members was Léonie Martin, 1863-1941  (Sr Françoise-Thérèse), in Caen, Normandy.  Léonie was one of the sisters of St Thérèse of Lisieux (the Little Flower).  Léonie’s cause for beatification was opened in 2015.

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.

ASLAND WAY PILGRIMAGE WALKS
the promise of better weather encourages us all to get out our walking shoes and discover more about our local area.  Representatives from our churches have been working to put together a series of walks and ted around Our Lady’s: A Tarleton Prayer Pilgrimage and a Tarleton Heritage Route.  Leaflets are available from the porch / to download from owo are basur Facebook page.

HELP NEEDED
The advent of warmer weather means that weeds are beginning to make their annual unwelcome appearance along the paths around the church, at the back of the presbytery and around the car park.  Please consider spending an hour or so – in the fresh air! – helping us to keep our church looking tidy, cared-for and inviting. The more, the merrier.  (No prior experience needed!)

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.