On a Journey of Faith

Transcription

1 On a Journey of Faith 4 th Sunday of Easter 22 nd April 2018 Year B FOOD AND DRINK FOR THE JOURNEY In today s Gospel we hear the well-loved and treasured words of Jesus, describing himself as the Good Shepherd the one who gathers his flock looking after their needs and bringing the lost one s home! The image of the Good Shepherd is the image of a person who cares. He takes the time to get to know His flock and he cares so much that he will even give his life for them. He calls each one by name to come closer to Him how much better the world would be if everyone listened to His voice! We live in a noisy world and we are surrounded by many other voices. Some voices promise us great rewards if we buy a certain product or idea. Some voices are humorous and make us laugh. Some voices are angry and full of bitterness while other voices challenge us towards love and forgiveness. May we always recognise the voice of the Good Shepherd so that we can hear the voice of the lost sheep in our world...the refugees...our brothers and sisters in Syria... those who have nowhere to call home...those who have lost hope. May our voices help to lead them to the Lord, knowing we will eventually experience eternally green pastures where there will no longer be hunger, sickness and war. Praise Him! MISSION STATEMENT OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LIVERPOOL Taking to heart the last words of the Lord Jesus, we will go into the world to proclaim the Good News to the whole of Creation

2 ACKNOWLEDGED WITH THANKS ST MARIE S & ST PATRICK S Last Week s combined offertory: 1, (plus Standing Order) Last Week s combined Retiring Collection: SVP This Week s Retiring Collection: Priests Training Fund No Retiring Collection Next Week Marian Care: 50, 20, 20, 10, 5 (some days we have more than 100 requests for food) Pennies for Africa: 60 (Dancers Pennies) 1 (We have been able to send a further 200 to help the health centre at Mutito) We hold in prayer all who are sick in body, mind or spirit and those who care for them, also those who have died recently... Chris Larkin, Frances O Hara...Mary Askew... May those who grieve their passing come to experience the peace of the Risen Christ. LITURGICAL WEEK Today 4 th Sunday of Easter World Day of Prayer for Vocations Sunday 5 th Sunday of Easter What I love about being a Catholic is... Our call to holiness through lives of rejoicing and gladness!

3 VOCATIONS Today is World Day of Prayer for vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated Life. We pray not only for those who are already priests, but also that others will respond to God s call. The Retiring Collection this weekend will go towards the Priests Training Fund. The Diocesan Vocations Director, Father James Preston is available to help you to discern whether the Lord is indeed asking you to be His priest. He is available to meet with you and to assist you in this discernment. Father James Preston vocations@rcaolp.co.uk PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS Loving Father, touch and transform us by the joy of your love. Make us missionary disciples, empowered to carry the love of Christ to our neighbour. May young people be inspired by our example to take up the path of Christian discipleship and dedicate their lives to the service of the Gospel. Raise up new vocations by the power of your Holy Spirit to the priesthood and consecrated life: Send us men and women inspired to be living signs of your mercy. Grant us all openness of heart, that we might readily respond to your call, and proclaim with joy the Good News to the whole world. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only in prayer can they persevere and bear fruit. Pope Francis

4 R.C.I.A We meet again on Tuesday April 24 th in the Parish House We will explore The Law of Love the 10 Commandments and The Beatitudes We continue to hold those walking the journey of faith in our love and prayer. MILL HILL COLLECTORS St Marie's Parish require Collectors and Treasurer for Red Box donations. Collections are four times per year. Collectors to recover and provide receipts for individual Red Box donations. Treasurer to maintain record of individual contributions and transfer funds to Mill Hill Missionaries. If you can help please ring Linda at the Parish Office. STRAWBERRY CREAM TEA AFTERNOON The afternoon is an in-service opportunity for all our funeral ministers, bereavement care teams and dementia champions. The topic this year is mental health. Kathy Devlin from the Beacon Counselling Trust is the speaker and will speak once people have enjoyed their cream tea and had the opportunity to walk around the market place of stalls to do with mental health.. There will also be a time of prayer and reflection.

5 SVP St Maria Goretti Special Works SVP Conference seek modern sewing machines in full working order for supply to a training scheme for women immigrants. Growbaby manage the scheme as part of the Dingle Community Learning Programme, Liverpool 8. Growbaby provide free second hand clothing for babies and children to age 5. The trainees will help with repairs to clothing. If you have a suitable machine available, kindly phone SVP or CaFE A 5 week series of CaFE (Catholic Faith Exploration) will be held in the Marian Centre on Thursdays 1pm April 26 th May 3 rd, 10 th, 17 th, 24 th How Mary helps us to be filled with God All Welcome DEMENTIA FRIENDLY MASS At Holy Rosary Parish Church, Altway, Aintree 20 th May at 3pm Everyone is invited to celebrate Dementia Action Week 21 st -27 th May, especially those living with Dementia, their carers, family and friends. Mass will followed by refreshments in the parish hall.

6 Sunday Monday Tuesday Week commencing 22 nd April 8.30am 10.00am Wednesday 12 Noon Patrick Donovan John O Neill 12 Noon Service of The Word & Holy Communion 12 Noon Margaret Ripley Marsh Sr Mary Coughlan Thursday 12 Noon Eddie Mc Guire Friday 12 Noon Albert Rawsthorne Saturday 12 Noon Billy Rochford Sunday 8.30am 10.00am Edward Whiteside Mary Cafferty Tea/Coffee in the Marian Centre after the 10am Mass Mass in Polish is celebrated at St Marie s on the 1 st and 3 rd Sunday s of the month at 3pm. Mass in Indian last Thursday of each month 6p.m. The Rosary will be prayed on Mon after the Service of The Word & Holy Communion Tues - Sat after Noon Mass SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Tues - Sat to noon (or by appointment with Father John) EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Monday to Saturday to noon Service of The Word & Holy Communion Mon 12 Noon Followed by the Rosary Marian Centre for Evangelisation this wonderful resource of our parish is behind the Church. For more info. Tel: contact@mariancentre.org.uk website: The Parish House is open from 10.00am to noon and from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm Mon- Fri for general enquiries, e.g. Mass Cards, and to feed the homeless and those in need.

7 Saturday 6pm Sunday 11.30am Tuesday 9.15am Thursday 9.15am Saturday 6pm Sunday 11.30am Week commencing 22 nd Winifred Lyons Kylie Harrison Gloria Hart Bridie Bassette Ted Evans Doreen Birchall April Mass for the people of our Parishes and St Patrick s Guild will be celebrated on Fr John s day-off SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturday 5.30pm 6pm (or by appointment with Fr John) EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Tuesday & Thursday am The Parish Office is open as often as possible on weekdays for general enquiries, The Parish Office The Parish Centre Tel: The Sanctuary Lamps this week will burn for... ST MARIE S ST PATRICK S Sun Spofforth Family Sheila Geraghty (Australia) Mon Margaret Flynn Fr John Tues Mark Marriot Elizabeth Wed Michael Jim Hayward & Family Thur Carol Hogan Sue Harper Fri Peace in our world Evelyn Holmes Sat Jean Watson Ivy Perkins Sun Peter Williams Bete Smyth

8 OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM Marriage and Family Life Pilgrimage week Fun, Friendship, Prayer, Worship & Renewal of Marriage Vows 11 th -17 th August For more info Tel: CHURCHES TOGETHER IN SOUTHPORT Our Tuesday Morning Prayer meetings in May will take place at St James s Church, Lulworth Rd 7.30am 8.30am. Everyone welcome. LOCAL CHURCHES TOGETHER Our next meeting will take place on the 8 th May at 7.30pm. Please note that this meeting will be held at Crossens Methodist Church and not at St Patrick s. Everyone is welcome. A smile is the light in your window that tells others there is a caring, sharing person inside.

9 Ten little Christians TEN little Christians went to church when fine, But it started raining and then there were nine. NINE little Christians stayed up very late. One overslept himself and then there were eight. EIGHT little Christians were on the road to Heaven. One joined a Rambling Club and then there were seven. SEVEN little Christians heard of Sunday "Flicks". One thought he'd like to go and then there were six. SIX little Christians kept the place alive. One bought a video shop and then there were five. FIVE little Christians seemed loyal to the core. The Priest upset one of them and then there were four. FOUR little Christians argued heatedly Over various things and then there were three. THREE little Christians sang the service through, Got a hymn they didn't like and then there were two. TWO little Christians disputed who would run The next Parochial concert and then there was one. ONE faithful Christian, knowing what to do, Got a friend to come to church and then there were two. TWO sincere Christians each brought in one more, So their number doubled and then there were four. FOUR sturdy Christians simply could not wait Till they found four others and then there were eight. EIGHT eager Christians at Church every week soon encouraged other troubled souls to seek All the seats in Church are filled and not an empty pew Oh God supply the grace and zeal in our Parish too!

10 ST PATRICK S SCHOOLCHILDREN This week our year 5 children will join us On Tuesday at the 9.15a.m. Mass at St Patrick s. We hold them and their families in our love and prayer! WITH YOU ALWAYS We hold in prayer the little ones as they continue to prepare for their First Holy Communion (first of 1,000 s we hope!!). CHURCH CHUCKLES A cat dies and goes to Heaven. St Peter meets him at the gate and says, "you have been a good cat all of these years, anything you desire is yours, all you have to do is ask." The cat says, "Well, I lived all my life with a poor family on a farm and had to sleep on hardwood floors." St Peter says, "Say no more." And instantly, a fluffy pillow appears. A few days later, 6 mice are killed in a tragic accident and they go to Heaven. St Peter meets them at the gate with the same offer that He made the cat. The mice said, "All our lives we've had to run. Cats, dogs and even women with brooms have chased us. If we could only have a pair of roller skates, we wouldn't have to run anymore." St Peter says, "Say no more." And instantly, each mouse is fitted with a beautiful pair of tiny roller skates. About a week later, St Peter decides to check and see how the cat is doing. The cat is sound asleep on his new pillow. He gently wakes him and asks, "How are you doing? Are you happy here?" The cat yawns and stretches and says, "Oh, I've never been happier in my life, and those Meals on Wheels you've been sending over are the best ever!"

11 What s on at St Patrick s Sunday Tea/Coffee before 11.30am Mass Prayer Group Sunday 7.30pm Strength and Balance Monday 1.30pm pm Tai Chi Monday 3pm - 4pm Mums & Tots Tuesday 9.15am am Keep Fit Tuesday 11.30am pm Luncheon Club Wednesday 11.30am pm Over 55 s Wednesday 2pm - 4pm Scripture Group Thursday 2pm - 4pm Art Class Friday 10am - 12 Noon What s on at St Marie s Thursday Tea Dance 2pm-4pm Friday Mothers Prayers 1.30pm Saturday Gospel Joy 1pm Sunday Parish Tea/Coffee after 10am Mass PRAYING WITH POPE FRANCIS - APRIL S INTENTION - For those who have Responsibility in Economic Matters That economists may have the courage to reject any economy of exclusion and know how to open new paths. We pray for Pope Francis I know you are His shepherd Lord He feel so close to you. so, we ask in good times and in bad times, hold his hand and lead him through.

12 St Marie s & St Patrick s Fr John Heneghan St Patrick s Parish Office Tel: Tel: Holy Family & Hospital Chaplain Fr Mark Moran Tel: St Joseph & Our Lady of Lourdes St Teresa s Fr Atli Jonsson (Dean) Tel: Sacred Heart & St John Stone Fr Tony Slingo Tel: ST MARIE S CONTACT DETAILS Address 25 Seabank Road, Southport PR9 OEJ Telephone: (01704) stmaries.southport@rcaolp.co.uk Website: ST PATRICK S CONTACT DETAILS Address 35 Marshside Rd, Southport PR9 9TJ Telephone: (01704) stpatricks.southport@rcaolp.co.uk Website: St Patrick s School : Pastoral Area Website: southportcatholicchurches.org Archdiocesan Website: Liverpool RC Archdiocese Trustees Inc. Registered Charity No