18th 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

18th Sunday of the Year (B)

First Reading – Book of Exodus 16:2-4.12-15.
The starving people ask Moses to feed them then the Lord rains down food from Heaven.

Second Reading – St. Paul to the Ephesians 4:17.20-24
According to St.Paul, many pleasures are “illusory”. He prescribes a total renewal in the way we think: a return, in other words, to the way God created us to be.

Gospel Reading – John 6:24-35.
People were expecting Jesus to be like Moses, providing them with daily bread. Instead, Jesus offers them food unlike any other.

 

Psalter: Week 2
Readings for Weekdays: Ordinary Time Week 18

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.

  • COVID RESTRICTIONS
    Advice from the Archdiocese concerning the easing of Covid restrictions from July 19th states that due to the fact that the pandemic is far from over it is not the intention to restore an obligation to the attendance at Sunday Mass at this point.     Further details regarding keeping safe in Church may be seen below and also by referring to individual newsletters for further information.
  • GRANDPARENTS AND ELDERLY PERSONS DAY
    POPE FRANCIS’ MESSAGE for the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly (24th July) reassures the older generation that God is always with them and reminds them of their vocation to pass on the faith to the younger ones. You can read the Pope’s message by clicking here – it is well worth reading.
  • THE POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR AUGUST 2021:
    The Church: Let us pray for the Church, that She may receive from the Holy Spirit the grace and strength to reform herself in the light of the Gospel
  • 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
Today's Gospel shows that the crowd who are with Jesus do not understand what he is offering them and are looking for a sign.

Pray

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof
But only say The Word and my soul will be healed

Act
All too often we fail to recognise that which we need to sustain us. Jesus encourages us today to work for what we need, not for what we think we want. We pray that we make the best of what we have and work for that which provides eternal happiness: Jesus, the Bread of Life. Take time this week to consider what become closer to Jesus through prayer and by receiving him in communion, be it actually or spiritually

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

CAFOD SUMMER ‘FUN’RAISER:
Run, cycle, swim, walk, play tennis or football. Support CAFOD and help people who are suffering because of the climate crisis, the pandemic and poverty. Google CAFOD SUMMER FUNRAISER for more information.

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

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

Guidance has been received from the Archdiocese allowing a lessening of restrictions. However, after consultation with stewards and others it has been decided that we will cautiously remain as we are for the summer. This is because of very high transmission rates in our local area. Some of the Covid restrictions will continue in Churches, though these may vary between churches in the deanery….

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Hymn books and service sheets can be used 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.

The practice 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 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.

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.

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

Monday August 2nd -

Tuesday August 3rd -

Wednesday August 4th - St John Vianney

Thursday August 5th -

Friday August 6th - The Transfiguration of the Lord

Saturday August 7th -

Sunday August 8th - 19th Sunday of Ordinary Time (B)

 

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

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

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.)

 

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.

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.