3rd Sunday of Easter (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. Some Masses will continue to be livestreamed.

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.
Mass will continue to be live-streamed as below.

Facebook and  YouTube.

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

3rd Sunday of Easter (B)

First Reading – Acts of the Apostles 3:13-15,17-19
You killed the prince of life. God, however, raised him from the dead.

Second Reading – 1 John 2:1-5
He is the sacrifice that takes our sins away, and not only ours,but the whole world’s.

Gospel Reading – Luke 24:35-48
So you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead.

 


Psalter: Week 3
Readings for Weekdays: Easter Week 3

 

Due to the Coronavirus we were not able to complete the Synod 2020 journey. So much work had already been done. So now, in 2021, we are hoping to complete the Synod. Those of you who were helping as Synod leaders are invited to an online reflection meeting with the Synod Team on Wednesday April 14th between 7pm-8.30pm. If you would like to join the reflection evening please contact Fr.Paul on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and he will send you the link. It is very important that we complete our Synod journey in whatever way we can. Please join us on Wednesday and for any other meetings we may have very soon.

 

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The priests of the deanery have consulted together and following guidance from the archdiocese we are looking to cautiously reopen our churches the weekend of 27th and 28th March, which is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. The reason for being so cautious is to simply wait for two more weeks after the schools have reopened fully so that we can check to see if the rate of coronavirus infections have begun to rise or if they continue to fall. This is for everyone’s safety. 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 no earlier than Tuesday 23rd March. Face masks will continue to be required to be worn unless medically exempt, and I point out recent changes in government guidelines that 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.

● In the current lockdown weddings and baptisms are not permitted except in danger of death. From 8th March weddings may take place with 6 attendees.
● Funerals which take place in church may only be attended by up to 30 people maximum.

No earlier than 12th April
● Funerals no change
● Weddings with up to 12 attendees
● Single household baptisms with proxy Godparents

No earlier than 17th May
● Funerals no change
● Weddings with up to 30 attendees
● Baptisms with up to 30 attendees

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.

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

  • Church Envelopes
    The new financial year for Gift Aid donations starts April 11th. New boxes of envelopes are available at the back of churches, marked with donors names. You may also donate for via Standing Order whether through Gift Aid or not. Forms for this are also available at the back of churches and should be pushed through presbytery doors once completed.
  • Words from Pope Francis
    Easter is the feast of hope. Dear sister, dear brother, even if in your heart you have buried hope, do not give up: God is greater. Darkness and death do not have the last word. Be strong, for with God nothing is lost
  • Closure of Parish Centres
    The coronavirus pandemic, and associated government restrictions, meant that all our parish centres had to close in March 2020.  Sadly, the closures have had a significant impact on business and the Archdiocese has had to undertake a review of the viability of all of its parish centres. Unfortunately, in a number of cases, we do not believe that the centres will be able to recover from the impact on their trade.  As a result, the Archdiocesan Board of Trustees has had to take the difficult decision to propose the closure of those centres.  A consultation process is underway about these proposals.
  • 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.

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.

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

Reflect
In today's Gospel Jesus reveals Himself to His disciples again. His actions reassure them that the person they see before them is truly the man with whom they journeyed over the years of his ministry

Pray

My Risen Lord,
Help us to see beyond the obvious.
May we understand more clearly what is before us.
May we recognise your person in the people we meet
and the situations we find ourselves in
Amen.

Act
It's very easy to judge people base on how they look. In doing so we miss the truth of whom each person really is. This week, let us try to reallu understand those we encounter n our daily paths and in so doing may we experiece the Christ who is in each of us.

Monthly Challenge

Last April the whole nation seemed consumed with gardening, nurturing new plants and vegetables in gardens, window boxes pots and home made vessels. Has this enthusiasm stayed with you this year or have you lost interest? Bearing in mind that the issues surrounding the environment have not gone away during these Covid times, try to make time to encourage new growth in your life - even if it is only one plant pot of seeds!

About LiveSimply

LiveSimply Resources

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.

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.

Tuesday April 20th - St Beuno, abbot.
Wednesday April 21st - St Anselm, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
Friday April 23rd - St George, Martyr, Patron of England

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.