Leigh Pastoral Area

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Song for St Therese

Mike Stanley of CJM Music has written, recorded and produced two special tracks to mark the visit of the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux to England and Wales: Child of Grace (Thérèse) and My Song of Today.

My Song of Today

1 O how I love thee Jesus; my soul aspires to thee;
And yet for one day only this simple prayer I pray.
Come reign within my heart. Smile tenderly on me,
Today dear Lord, today, today dear Lord, today.

2 What care I for tomorrow? Whatever it may bring;
Let not your love forsake me and worries have their way,
But let my heart stay pure; enfold me in your wings
Today dear Lord, today, today dear Lord, today.

3 O sweetest star of Heaven, O Virgin spotless blest;
Shining the light of Jesus guiding him my way.
O Mother ’neath thy veil, let my tired spirit rest,
For this brief passing day, for this brief passing day.

4 Soon shall I fly away to praise you my desire;
Then shall be mine the joy that never knows decay,
And then my lips shall sing with Heavn’s angelic choirs
The eternal glad today, the eternal glad today.

Music and adapted words of St Therese of Lisieux
by Mike Stanley © CJM Music Ltd 2009.

Litany of St Therese of Lisieux

The response after invocation:  “Pray for us”

St Thérèse, who wanted to be like Jesus:  R. 
St Thérèse, who wanted people who suffer to know the
kindness of Jesus:  R. 
St Thérèse, who forgot herself to make others happy:  R. 
St Thérèse, who wanted to love others
as Jesus loves them:  R. 
St Thérèse, who praised and thanked God
for the beauty of creation:  R. 
St Thérèse, who tells us of the gentleness of Jesus:  R. 
St Thérèse, faithful in the littlest things:  R. 
St Thérèse, full of joy and laughter:  R. 
St Thérèse, patient and courageous:  R. 
St Thérèse, who loved to read the Word of God:  R. 
St Thérèse, who loved to receive Holy Communion:  R. 
St Thérèse, who came before God with empty hands:  R. 
St Thérèse, who when in great pain
asked Jesus to help her:  R. 
St Thérèse, everyone’s sister:  R. 
St Thérèse, close to those who are afraid:  R. 
St Thérèse of Lisieux:  R. 

Thursday, September 17, 2009

National Prayer for the Visit of the Relics of St Therese of Lisieux to England and Wales

God our Father, you reveal to us the depth of your love
in the holy face of Jesus Christ your Son.
As we honour St Therese of the Child Jesus
may we have the confidence and love
to stand fully in the light of your presence
so that the beauty of the Gospel may expand our hearts
and open us to the gifts of your Holy Spirit.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

St Therese of Lisieux:  Pray for us.

WELCOME BISHOP TOM

Bishop Tom Williams will continue his visitation to the Pastoral Area this weekend.  He will preside at the 6.00 pm Mass at St Gabriel’s and the morning Masses at Holy Family.  All the Masses will be followed by refreshments and an opportunity to meet and chat with the Bishop.  In the afternoon, he will meet with the Pastoral Area Forum at 2.00 pm in St Ambrose Barlow Parish Hall.

HOME MISSION SUNDAY

As we celebrate Home Mission Sunday today, the theme of which is ‘They will know Him by the good works that you do,’ we are invited to reflect on ways in which we can share our faith with others through service and acts of charity. Resources are provided by the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation (CASE), which is an agency of the Bishops’ Conference; some leaflets are available at the back of the church with additional materials available from: http://www.caseresources.org.uk. There will be a second collection in support of the work of CASE today. CASE also runs the Catholic Enquiry Office, offering free and confidential information about the Catholic faith to enquirers: http://www.life4seekers.co.uk and for non-practising/resting Catholics: http://www.comehomeforchristmas.co.uk. It has also developed an evangelistic site for 11 – 13 year olds: http://www.yfaith.co.uk.

COACH TO THE CATHEDRAL

Visit of the Relics of St Therese of Lisieux

A coach will be going to the Cathedral for a special Mass at 7.30 pm on Thursday 24th September.  If you would like to reserve a place, please sign the list at the back of church.  Departure times:
5.45 pm Our Lady of the Rosary
5.55 pm Sacred Heart, Leigh
6.05 pm St Richard’s, Atherton
6.15 pm Holy Family, Boothstown

Don’t forget the All Night Vigil at Holy Family (see earlier posts).

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Visit of the Relics of St Theresa of Lisieux

ALL NIGHT VIGIL
Thursday 24th - Friday 25th September

When the relics are at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, there will be an all night vigil for the Pastoral Area at Holy Family, Boothstown, to join the Sisters of Carmel who will be watching and praying throughout the night in the Cathedral.  The vigil will be mainly silent prayer and will include: 

10.30 pm Night Prayer
12.00 am Midnight Mass
1.30 am Reflection on the Life of St Therese
2.00 am An Hour for Young People
3.00 am Office of Readings
4.30 am Reflection on the Writings of St Therese
6.00 am Morning Prayer
7.30 am Mass (and conclusion of vigil)

Please SIGN UP if you think you could come for part of the vigil.  There are sheets at the back of each church broken down into half-hour slots.  It would be good if every parish could be represented.  The Youth SVP hope to join the vigil at 2.00 am for an hour.  Bring a sleeping bag!

There’s an excellent website giving full details of the visit:  http://www.catholicrelics.org,uk

Also, see previous posts for further details.

Dreams & Visions

Pastoral Planning to Start & Sustain Lifelong Faith Formation
Led by Bill Huebsch from the USA
Saturday 26th September 2009
10.00 am - 3.30 pm at LACE
See noticeboard for further details

Home Mission Sunday Lecture & Workshop

“Sharing Faith in Today’s Culture”
Led by Fr John McLoughlin
Sunday 20th September, 3.00 - 5.00 pm
St Teresa’s, Upholland

Home Is A Holy Place

“Home Is A Holy Place” is about seeing, knowing and responding to God’s presence at home, in our families, in the ordinary events of our daily lives, in the deep joys and sorrows we experience together, and in our relationships with one another, whether we are children, brothers and sisters, parents, spouses, friends or neighbours. The resource contains a 27 minute DVD and a series of sheets for group discussions, prayer and reflection. It provides lots of ideas for increasing awareness within our parish communities of the blessed reality of marriage and family life.

There will be a special presentation of the “Home Is A Holy Place” project in St. Joseph’s Parish Centre on Thursday October 22nd at 7.30 pm.

RECOVERING AND MOVING ON AFTER DIVORCE

The Pastoral Formation Department offers a series of six weekly meetings RECOVERING AND MOVING ON AFTER DIVORCE to support Catholics experiencing the breakdown of a marriage or long-term relationship.  Christians of other denominations, or none, are also welcome. 

The next series will start on Monday evening, 28th September 2009, in the Aigburth area, Liverpool 17.
There will also be a ONE DAY MEETING on Saturday, 26th September for those who are unable to attend the six meetings.
The groups are small, confidential and free of charge.
To book a place (essential) or for further details contact Frances Trotman on 0151 727 2195.

Thursday, September 03, 2009

CATHOLIC CERTIFICATE IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

Applications are now being accepted for the next course,
starting with the Orientation Evening at 7 30 pm
THURSDAY 1st OCTOBER 2009.
VENUE: St Bede’s High School,St Anne’s Road, Ormskirk L39 4TA.
Tel: 0151 522 1053/1056 on Tuesdays for further details.

Visit of the Relics of St Therese of Lisieux

The relics of St Therese of Lisieux will be visiting our country between 16th September and 15th October 2009. 

Thursday 24th - Friday 25th September
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral
http://www.liverpoolmetrocathedral.org,uk
Tel:  0151 709 9222

Friday 25th - Sunday 27th September
Salford Cathedral
http://www.salforddiocese.org.uk/cathedral
Tel:  0161 834 0333

Sunday 27th - Monday 28thSeptember
Manchester University Chaplaincy
http://www.rc-chaplaincy-um.org.uk
Tel:  0161 273 1456

There are brochures at the back of church with full details.
There’s an excellent website giving full details of the visit:  http://www.catholicrelics.org,uk

ALL NIGHT VIGIL
Thursday 24th - Friday 25th September
When the relics are at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, there will be an all night vigil for the Pastoral Area at Holy Family, Boothstown, to join the Sisters of Carmel who will be watching and praying throughout the night in the Cathedral.  The vigil will be mainly silent prayer and will include: 
10.30 pm Night Prayer
12.00 am Midnight Mass
1.30 am Reflection on the Life of St Therese
3.00 am Office of Readings
4.30 am Reflection on the Writings of St Therese
6.00 am Morning Prayer
7.30 am Mass (and conclusion of vigil)