Leigh Pastoral Area

Thursday, June 24, 2010

CAFOD NEWS

CAFOD’s Annual Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated at Christ the King and Our Lady, Liverpool, on Thursday 8th July at 7.30 pm.  The celebrant will be Fr Michael Fitzsimons and the speaker will be Clare Dixon, Head of Latin America for CAFOD.  All welcome.

CAFOD’s Haiti Earthquake Appeal
Coffee Morning: Saturday 3rd July,  10.00  - 12.00 noon,  Baptist Church, Church Street, Leigh.  All Welcome.
Strawberry Tea:  Saturday 3rd. July  2.00 - 4.00 pm,  Bedford Methodist Church,  Breaston Avenue,  off Warrington Road, Leigh. All Welcome.

Wisdom for Catechists

A Day for all involved in Catechesis
(RCIA, Baptism, Confirmation, First Communion, Marriage, Children’s Liturgy)
Led by Sr Camilla Burns SND
(Director of the Institute of Pastoral Theology at Liverpool Hope University)
Saturday 3rd July at Our Lady’s, Bryn, Wigan WN4 0LZ
10.00 am - 3.00 pm
Cost: £12 per person (inc. Lunch) or £50 for a team of five. 
To reserve a place, please phone 0151 522 1040 by 28th June.

Living Theology 2010

LOYOLA-metro in Liverpool has announced its Living Theology Programme for 2010.

The annual summer school on Christian faith will be centred on St Francis Xavier’s Church (SFX) and the Hope University Creative Campus daily, Monday 26th to Friday 30th July.  Cost: £75 per person (£25 deposit is required beforehand to confirm the place).

The Archdiocese of Liverpool Pastoral Formation Department are running a workshop daily at 11.30 am entitled ‘Adult Formation in a Time of Change’ and there is reduced cost for those that would like to take part in this workshop only. 

Please contact Debbie Reynolds on 0151 298 1911 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more details.

Official Papal Visit Website

Official Papal Visit Website
http://www.thepapalvisit.org.uk/

Twitter
http://twitter.com/thepapalvisit

LOURDES ‘AT HOME’

Last year, because of the economic crisis, many people were unable to afford the cost of travelling to Lourdes with the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage.  So, Bishop Tom led a Lourdes ‘At Home’ Pilgrimage across the Archdiocese while the Archbishop led the Pilgrimage in Lourdes.  It is planned to do the same again this year with the Archbishop leading the Pilgrimage at home.

The pilgrimage will arrive in Leigh Pastoral Area on Wednesday 28th July and will take place at Our Lady of the Rosary:

8.00 am Early Morning Mass  
12.00 noon Mass of Anointing of the Sick (followed by lunch)
7.30 pm Holy Hour

It would help greatly if you could sign the appropriate sheet at the back of church if:  (a) you want to be anointed at the Mass of Anointing, (b) you will be staying for lunch after the Mass of Anointing, or (c) you require transport to Our Lady of the Rosary.

We would be grateful if Eucharistic Ministers, SVP Visitors and others who visit those who are sick and housebound. could extend an invitation to those they visit and sign the appropriate sheets at the back of church on their behalf.

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Soccer World Cup Prayer

Almighty God, creator of all,
as people from every nation gather with excitement and enthusiasm
for the 2010 World Soccer Cup, may South Africans be good hosts,
our visitors welcomed guests and the players from every team
be blessed with good sportsmanship and health.
May your Spirit of fairness, justice and peace
prevail amongst players and all involved.
May each contribute in his own positive ways to prevent,
control and fight crime and corruption, hooliganism of any kind
and exploitation and abuse, especially of those most vulnerable.
May those far away from home and those in their families
find much joy in this occasion to celebrate the beautiful game of soccer
and the beautiful game of life according to Your plan
for the common good of all.
Amen.

South African Bishops Conference

Invocation 2010

Oscott College, Birmingham
2nd - 4th July 2010

Invocation is a National Festival aimed at young men and women (aged 16-35) who are looking to deepen their relationship with Christ, discern God’s will for their lives, and perhaps be open to the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood or religious life. 

For further details, visit:  http://www.invocation.org.uk

Faith in Health

Beginnings and endings
– caring for the whole person

A conference for health and social care professionals to be held from 3.30pm on 24th to lunch on 26th June 2010 at Liverpool Hope University.

This is the second of the National Conferences ‘Faith in Health’ organised by the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, and is supported by the Conference of Religious and the Catholic Medical Association.

The conference is open to all health and social care professionals, of all faiths or none. Plenary speakers include Baroness Prof Ilora Finlay, Mr Martin Lupton, Mrs Jacqui Hall, Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Professor Kath McCourt, Sister Margaret Atkins and James Hanvey SJ.  In addition, delegates are able to choose from 14 workshops led by experts in a range of related topics.  CPD accreditation is being sought.

For more information or registration form, please email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Thought for the Day

When a homeless woman turned to her Church for help
and received none, she wrote this poem:

I was hungry and you formed a discussion group
to discuss my hunger.
I was imprisioned and you quietly crept off to
your chapel and prayed for my release.
I was naked, and in your mind you debated
the morality of my appearance.
I was sick and you knelt and thanked God
for your health.
I was homeless and you preached to me of
the spiritual shelter of the love of God.
I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me.
You seem so holy, so close to God.
But I am still very hungry — and lonely — and cold.

Spiritual Accompaniment Course

Non-Residential
Spiritual Accompaniment Course
Beginning 4th October 2010

A two year course in the art of accompanying others
on their journey of life and prayer.
Monday evenings and some Saturdays
at Loyola Hall, Rainhill.
For further information, please contact Loyala Hall
0151 426 4137 or email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Come & See Day

Saturday 17th July 2010
St John Bosco Arts College,
Stonedale Crescent, Liverpool L11 9DQ
10.00 am – 4.00 pm

Keynote speaker – David Wells
with workshops and good music.
Cost £10.00 per person. Please bring a packed lunch.
Download a booking form from the Irenaeus Website,
or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or send a SAE to:
Irenaeus, 110a Alexandra Road, Crosby, Liverpool L23 7TG.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Official Preparation Prayer for Papal Visit

God of truth and love,
your Son, Jesus Christ, stands as the light
to all who seek you with a sincere heart.
As we strive with your grace
to be faithful in word and deed,
may we reflect the kindly light of Christ
and offer a witness of hope and peace to all.
We pray for Pope Benedict
and look forward with joy
to his forthcoming visit to our countries.
May he be a witness to the unity and hope
which is your will for all people.
We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Our Lady, Mother of the Church — pray for us.
St Andrew — pray for us.
St George — pray for us.
St David — pray for us.

Youth Pilgrimage Cross

The Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage Cross started it’s journey from Liverpool Cathedral on Palm Sunday. The Archbishop blessed the cross then handed it over to the young people of the Archdiocese. At the moment, the cross, which will be taken to Lourdes and to the International Youth Day later in the Summer, is making a pilgrimage around the Archdiocese and this weekend, the Feast of Pentecost, we are very fortunate that it will be here in the Pastoral Area. A number of young people from the area will be presenting the Cross at the 6.00pm Mass on Saturday and 9.30am Mass on Sunday at St. Richard’s. The young people going to Lourdes in the Summer invite us all to pray with them as we welcome the Cross into our area.

Healing & Renewal in the Church

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Don’t forget that every Friday during May there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Richard’s Church. Exposition, which will begin at 8.15am, will consist of silent prayer then lead directly into Mass at 9.15am. Even if you cannot stay around for Mass you are very welcome to pop into church and join us in prayer.

Mass for Healing
The Archbishop will preside at a Mass for Healing in the Cathedral this coming Friday at 7.30 pm.  All welcome.

Here I Am Lord!

The monthly meeting hosted by the Archdiocesan Vocations Team for those considering a vocation to the Priesthood and Religious Life will take place on Friday 28th May, 7.00 - 9.00 pm, at St Bede’s Presbytery, Appleton Village, Widnes WA8 6EL.  The gathering will begin with Mass, followed by a talk or discussion, a meal and conclude with Night Prayer. For more information please contact Fr. James Preston on 0151 424 2738 or see the poster at the back of the church.