Leigh Pastoral Area

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.

Advertising Abortion on TV

The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales have joined the protest against plans to advertise abortion services on television.  A spokesperson for the CBCEW said:

“We believe that services which offer or refer for abortion - whether commercial or not-for-profit organisations - should not be allowed to advertise on broadcast media. Abortion is not a consumer service. To present it as such erodes respect for life and is highly misleading and damaging to women, who may feel pressured into making a quick decision, which can never be revoked. Moreover, to allow the broadcasting advertising of abortion-referral services is, in effect, to allow the exploitative promotion of these services and is not in the interests of the health or psychological well-being of women. For this reason the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has consistently opposed any relaxation of the BCAP Guidance on broadcast advertising to allow this.

The Bishops of England and Wales encourage and support women to make informed choices about their emotional, psychological and physical well-being. The Bishops support a number of charities which do this, in particular the organisation called ‘LIFE’ which offers confidential information, counselling and practical help and support for women contemplating abortion, suffering after pregnancy loss or struggling to cope after abortion.”

Celebrate The Child

ANNUAL CELEBRATION MASS
Sunday 6th June at 3.00 pm
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

All children and their families are invited to this annual celebration with the Archbishop.  Children who have just celebrated First Communion are invited to wear their outfits!  If any children would like to be involved in the liturgy, please email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  We expect to take a coach from the Pastoral Area - if you would like a seat, please sign the sheet at the back of church.  Further information from Fr Dave.

Permanent Diaconate

Men between the ages of 35 and 55 who are interested in learning more about the Diaconate should contact the Director for the Diaconate, Mgr Austin Hunt on 01704 567072 or email:  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Papal Visit 2010

HYDE PARK VIGIL OF PRAYER
We are hoping to send three youth delegates (aged 16-23) from the Pastoral Area to the Hyde Park Vigil of Prayer with Pope Benedict on Saturday 18th September. 

Young people will be involved in different aspects of the visit from 8.00 am until the end of the Vigil at approximately 10.00 pm.  One young person from the Archdiocese will meet the Pope and twenty young people will take part in the Vigil procession. The Vigil is not specifically a youth event, but young people from England and Wales will be involved in the animation of it and will have a good viewing position.

Youth delegates from across the Archdiocese will leave on Friday 17th September and will return on Sunday 19th September. Cost is £140 which includes travel and two nights B&B accommodation in a central London.  (Help with this cost is available from the parishes). 

There is a planning and information meeting for delegates on Sunday 4th July at St Mary’s, Lowe House, St Helens, starting at 3.00 pm and concluding with Mass at 6.30 pm.

Please contact Fr Dave: 0161 790 2390 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you are interesting in representing the Pastoral Area.  Closing date for applications: 31st May.

SECOND COLLECTION
Today, there will be prayers and a special collection in all parishes in Scotland, England and Wales for the Papal Visit. Prayer cards for the Visit will be distributed to all parishioners attending Mass. A collection will be held at the end of Mass to assist in meeting the costs of the Visit payable by the Church.

For more information about the Papal Visit, have a look at the website:  http://www.thepapalvisit.org.uk