17th Sunday of the Year (B)


 

Fr Paul's Sunday Reflection may now be found on the St John Rigby Newsletter for the week (see link below)

 

Churches are open again for public Mass. The Sunday 9.30am Mass at Holy Family and the 11.00am Mass at St Ambrose Barlow will be broadcast on the internet and, for those who can access it, the video will remain to be watched anytime afterwards if you miss it live. (Click on the links below)
Where possible daily Masses will be broadcast and other prayer services which can also be watched and participated in at any time later.
Facebook and  YouTube.

The Sunday obligation to attend Mass is still suspended for the time being. Please be patient as our greatest concern is the safety of everyone.

The Redemptorists have Sunday Mass online available from 12pm on Saturdays, celebrated by Fr Denis McBride C.Ss.R.

There are several churches which live stream masses throughout the Archdiocese of Liverpool. These can be accessed here.

Other streamed masses are also available, click below for more

17th Sunday of the Year (B)

First Reading – Second Book of Kings  4:42-44.
The miraculous food which the prophet Elisha shared with the hungry was a sign of God’s concern for all his people.

Second Reading – St. Paul to the Ephesians 4:1-6
St. Paul  pleads with the people of Ephesus to live a life in keeping with the Gospel, placing special emphasis on the need for unity and harmony.

Gospel Reading – John  6:1-15.
Like Elisha, in today’s First Reading, Jesus feeds the people in their great need.

 

Psalter: Week 4
Readings for Weekdays: Ordinary Time Week 16

The Liverpool Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes was due to take place during the week 25-30 July 2021 but was cancelled due to the pandemic.The organisers have instead arranged a Lourdes at Home Pilgrimage Programme to take place from Sunday 25 July to Friday 30 July.Archbishop Malcolm will celebrate the opening Mass in the Cathedral at 3.00 pm on Sunday 25 July

In prayerfully being present at a Mass being broadcast to you, obviously physically receiving the Eucharist is not possible. However, Spiritual Communion is.

So what is Spiritual Communion? The common practice of making such a spiritual communion indicate our desire to join with the Lord when in a situation that makes unable to sacramentally receive the Body and Blood of the Lord in Holy Communion at Mass.

Justice and Peace

 

National Justice and Peace Conference 2021
Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick
23rd – 25th July 2021

Google njpn conference 2021 where you can download a booking form.
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details and Just Fair
enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  • COVID RESTRICTIONS
    We have received the following advice from the Archdiocese concerning the easing of Covid restrictions from next Monday, July 19th....Due to the fact that the pandemic is far from over it is not the intention to restore an obligation tothe attendance at Sunday Mass at this point. In preparation for the legal changes to Covid regulations that will come into force next week this is what is being offered as the way forward for EVERY Parish in the Archdiocese:-
    Face coverings will remain mandatory for all those attending a church service.Social distancing will not be mandatory any longer –though churches may create space for those who feel more vulnerable.(Basically we will continue as we are until we feel the need to re-open spaces in our churches if and when more people wish to attend) Hand sanitising will remain necessary as people arrive. The capacity of each church for ALL services will depend on the space available. Holy Communion will be restored to its traditional place in the Mass (please continue to follow the directions of the stewards who will invite you forward row by row) Holy Communion under both kinds will not be re-introduced at this time. Mass will end in the traditional way.     Singing can be restored and as such we will look to reintroduce this over coming weeks depending upon the availability of parish musicians. Hymn books and service sheets can beused but only ONCE A DAY.The collection basket should NOT be passed around – please leave your collection as you leave church.Further details may emerge in the coming weeks.
    Please refer to individual newsletters for further information.
  • CONGRATULATIONS.
    Pope Francis announced that the new Auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool will be Fr.Tom Neylon. Fr.Tom will be ordained in Liverpool Cathedral as Bishop on September 3rd, the feast of Gregory the Great, the Pope who was responsible for sending Paulinus and other Christians to our country at the end of the 6th Century to spread the Gospel message. Fr.Tom was actually ordained by Pope John Paul II in Heaton Park in 1982. He was based in St.Helens as Parish Priest for many years though he moved to Widnes just over a year ago. He is a very friendly person who will make a brilliant bishop for the Archdiocese. The only problem he has is that he supports Warrington! So please keep Bishop-elect Tom in your prayers at this time. We look forward to welcoming into the area in the not too distant future.
  • THE POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JULY 2021:
    Social Friendship - We pray that, in social, economic and political situations of conflict, we may be courageous and passionate architects of dialogue and friendship.
  • Mass on the Phone - Parishioners who have no access to the internet and so are unable to watch online Mass may hear Mass at Middlesbrough Cathedral. The Mass is provided free of charge, except for the local phone charge. Phone: 01642 130 120 to be connected to the Mass for that week. You can listen at any time of day or night.
    If you are aware of anyone who may benefit from this service, please let them know.
  • FOOD COLLECTION, St Margaret Clitherow – We continue to support the local food banks, including the bank operating in St Gabriel’s school for the  families in need there. Non-perishable food such as tinned or dried food may be left at church or dropped off at Holy Family Presbytery.

Reflect
Jesus sees the needs of those who are listening to him and feeds them by sharing the food availabe to them.

Pray

O Jesus,

through the most pure heart of Mary

I offer you all the prayers, works, joys and sufferigs of this day

for all the intentions of your Divine Heart in the Holy Mass

Amen

Act
The miracle of the feeding of the 5000 is full of imagery and messages, one of which is the need to share the gifts that have been given to us with others so that all have the same opportunity. The simplicity of the food which was shared at the feeding of the 5000 reflects the simple gofts of bread and wine which are used to become the body and blood of Our Saviour in the mass. Our food consumption does not nee to be elaborate in any way. Simple fare is sufficient to our needs. Perhaps this week we could try to consume our food more wisely.

Monthly Challenge

Plastic Free July
Try your hardest to significantly reduce the use of plastics this  July:
Buy loose fruit and vegetables.
Use paper or non-plastic bags to carry your shopping.
Look for bamboo toothbrushes rather than plastic ones
There are some shops you can take your own containers to put your purchases in, such as grains, seeds, dried fruit and even meat and fish.
Look for multi packs which are wrapped in paper rather than plastic - some toilet rolls are now wrapped in recycled paper.
Sainsbury's are introducing a recycling system which allows customers to recycle Polypropylene (PP) film which is used to wrap many items of food. This is now available in your Leigh store. Follow this link to find out which plastics they will take: https://www.about.sainsburys.co.uk/sustainability/plan-for-better/our-stories/2021/flexible-plastics

 

About LiveSimply

LiveSimply Resources

 

After all the Synod votes were counted and considered the next step was a meeting with the Archbishop, his Council and the Pastoral Plan Group. This took place in Leeds last week. During the week the votes on the 19 Recommendations took centre stage. These votes, the Synod Themes and the 27,000 contributions to the listening stage were allowed to direct and speak to the development of ideas for the Pastoral Plan. Alongside this the prayer and liturgy each day insured our thoughts and plans. At the centre of this was Christ himself whose light was shed on our Synod and on the realities of the world in which we are called to minister and live.

It was a hard week but one full of energy and life. By the Thursday a way forward was beginning to emerge. It is challenging but also life-giving and most of all faithful to Christ experienced through the discernment that has been our pattern of working throughout the whole Synod journey.

The ideas – and there were many of them – have surfaced. The next stage is for a writing group to gather and try to present what has emerged in a way that we can put into place and make a difference. The Archbishop and his Council will review the Plan and, with the Pastoral Plan Group, will work out how to rollout the Plan towards sharing it with the rest of the Archdiocese at the end of November.

For the response to several queries regarding the Synod and its recommendations, please refer to https://www.synod2020recommendations.org.uk/faqs

Ethiopia Tigray Crisis Appeal
As a parish we supported CAFOD's work in the Tigray region of Ethiopia through our Connect2Ethiopia project over many years - much of  our fundraising for this was through our very popular CAFOD Cafe, held on the last Sunday of the month after Masses at Holy Family . During this time we learned about and got to know the people living in the town of Sabaya. This town has been affected by the conflict currently in this region and their water system has not only been extensively damaged but has also been systematically looted. CAFOD has set up an "EthiopiaTigray Crisis Appeal". If you wish to support this you can donate on line on https://cafod.org.uk/donations/picker?defaultuniversaltype=single&_Appeal=122072

CAFOD  in India
As coronavirus brings devastation across India, CAFOD is working with experienced local Church agency, Caritas India, to provide vital support to poor and marginalised communities. Donations to CAFOD’s Coronavirus Appeal will help Caritas India distribute PPE kits to frontline health workers, promote COVID & vaccine awareness campaigns, and set up safely run isolation & quarantine centres. You can donate online here: cafod.org.uk/give. Please keep praying for the people of India and all those affected by the pandemic

There are several items of interest available from the Archdiocese of Liverpool.

New resources now available include:

 The Liverpool Catholic website also has up to date information on the Church's Policy regarding Coronavirus and lots of other useful information.

Please refer to the individual Parish Newsletters for Mass and Service times.

The previous model of booking places with the parish office is being continued and bookings will be taken each week from Tuesday. Face masks will continue to be required to be worn unless medically exempt, and recent changes in government guidelines  state that visors do not offer any protection unless worn with a face mask so face masks are what is stated to be worn in places of worship.

As our understanding is, the numbers attending funerals, weddings and baptisms are now restricted by our safe capacity in church which is dependent on household bubbles being distanced from each other. For these celebrations we will ask for an initial 30 people to be named in bubbles then myself and Liz will coordinate with families to maximise a safe limit according to available space.

No earlier than 21st June
● Funeral and wedding restrictions lifted
● First Communions may take place in traditional way but likely to be limited by ongoing social distancing requirements.

Confession

(The Sacrament of Reconciliation) is available by request or by appointment, following social distancing guidelines.

With regard to singing in church, no advice has yet been given about a change in regulations already made.

There are four newsletters published weekly in the Deanery, you can access current and past editions here:

St Edmund Arrowsmith Newsletters (St Joseph's, Sacred Heart, Twelve Apostle, Our Lady's - Leigh)

St Margaret Clitherow Newsletters (Holy Family, Boothstown; St Ambrose Barlow, Astley; St Gabriel's, Higher Folds)

St Lewis, St Catherine's & All Saints Newsletters (Croft, Lowton & Golborne)

St John Rigby Newsletter (Sacred Heart, Hindley Green; St Richard's, Atherton; Sacred Heart Hindsford)

 

( Newsletters download as pdf files in a new window.)

 

Some resources for families who would like to celebrate the Liturgy of the Word with their children.


The Redemptorists have created an Advent and Christmas time resource for children. Access it by clicking on the picture

Martin at Ten: Ten is making available for free their daily prayers resources: https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/primary-subscription/prayers-for-home/daily-prayers-for-home/ and their Family Liturgy for Sundays: https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/primary-subscription/prayers-for-home/sunday-liturgy-for-families/

The God who Speaks now have a section on the Word at home: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/the-god-who-speaks/word-at-home/

CAFOD has several useful items to use with children -  updated weekly

Most weeks there may well be a number of feast days. We don’t necessarily celebrate them all. Some saints are more important in certain parts of the country than others and will be celebrated more on a local level, whilst other saints will be celebrated everywhere. So each week we will comment on the feast-days that we should celebrate in our regional Church.

Sunday July 25th - 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B)

Monday July 26th - Ss Joachim and Ann, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Tuesday July 27th -

Wednesday July 28th -

Thursday July 29th - St Martha

Friday July 30th -

Saturday July 31st - St Ignatius of Loyola, Priest

Sunday August 1st - 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B)

St Joseph's Centre - 01942 673517

Fr Paul Seddon - 01942 883395 (St Richard's & Sacred Heart.)
Fr Paul Grady - 0161 790 2390 (Holy Family, St Ambrose Barlow & St Gabriel's)
Fr Kieran O'Grady - 01942 673517 (Sacred Heart & St Joseph's)
Fr Gordon Abbs - 01942 273851 (St Lewis, St Catherine's & All Saints)

St Margaret Clitherow Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St Edmund Arrowsmith Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St John Rigby Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St Catherine of Sienna and All Saints, Golborne & St Lewis, Croft: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.