Today’s gospel begins with the disciples marvelling at the glory of the Temple; it must have been truly wonderful to see. It had taken fifty years for Herod to rebuild the Temple. Solomon’s original Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 588 BC, when the Israelites returned to Jerusalem in around 528 BC the people first had to rebuilding their homes, it took about fifteen years for them to begin building a new Temple. In 26 B.C. Herod decided to restore the Temple to the Glory of Solomon’s Day. The work on the Temple had just been completed when Jesus’ disciples looked on amazed at the precious stones and votive offerings. In response to their wonder Jesus said to them it really doesn’t matter, it’s all going to come to a ruin anyway. The voice of the Lord rings out: But before all this happens… that will be your opportunity to bear witness. Jesus challenges us to stand up for Him, His kingdom and the Christian way of life in a self-centred world: Your endurance will win you your lives. We are, each of us, Temples of the God’s Holy Spirit and as such we bear witness to Him in our daily lives. Let us pray for the grace to endure any trials that are essential to our witness of Jesus Christ.

WINTER SHELTER: The Winter Shelter desperately needs more volunteers on Friday nights at Sandylands Methodist & Saturday nights here in our parish centre. If we don’t get more volunteers it may be that we aren’t able to open on those two nights. Firstly we need helpers to open and set up at 6pm, cook a meal and act as welcomers, usually leaving about 10pm if not before. We will also occasionally need volunteers to sleep over with those who come in. You would not be asked to do every weekend but maybe a few weekends when you are available throughout December, January & February. There will be a rota on the table at the back of church and if you can help please sign up. Thank you for your support.  Fr Hugh

YOUTH SUNDAY PREPARATION MEETING: WEDNESDAY 20TH NOVEMBER. This will be celebrated in church next Sunday, 24th November, at 10am Mass. We would love as many children and young people as possible to be involved! There will be a preparation meeting for children and young people on Wednesday 20th November from 4 pm – 5.30pm in the parish centre. This will include a ‘chip buttie’ supper for everyone! Please come along if you can or if you can’t make the preparation meeting, please do come along to the Mass and be part of this special celebration! Please speak to Mary Biddle or Fr. Hugh for any more information.

Download Bulletin 17th November 2019

Temple image https://wellcomecollection.org/works/ncy3s94j CC-BY-4.0

Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord…May they rest in peace!  Both books of the Maccabees teach us that eternal life belongs to those who have lived for the Lord and of the necessity to pray for the dead.  We are all imperfect and need healing from the results of our sins, even if those sins are forgiven.  The wounds of sin do not just go away because the sin is forgiven.  In life we ask the Lord’s healing and when our lives have ended we will depend on the prayers of those still living to continue to ask God to heal the wounds we have inflicted on others and ourselves as a result of our sin; in other words there needs to be healing for the consequences. of our sins. November is the month of the Holy Souls.  We do them a disservice by presuming, no matter what their lives may have been like, they must be in heaven.  It is a disservice because they need our prayers and need us to keep the memory of their goodness alive and before the Lord.  The Books of the Maccabees tell us that it’s a good thing to pray for the dead, this we do especially this month.  Let us pray that they be healed and be admitted into the perpetual, healing and eternal light of the Lord. 

There will be a Service for the Commemoration of the Dead in church on Sunday 17^th November at 3pm.  All are welcome to join us especially those who have lost in the past year.

PARISH CHRISTMAS COFFEE MORNING in the parish centre on Saturday 23^rd November between 10am and 12 noon.  Meet Santa in his grotto and there will be tombolas, stalls and children’s activities.  Tickets on sale after weekend Masses or pay on the door – £1 to include drink & mince pie.

Download Bulletin 10th November 2019

Royalty free music from http://www.fesliyanstudios.com

No longer lost for today salvation has come to this house! Sometimes we can feel as though we are just going through the motions of living a proper Christian life.  Perhaps in such moment today’s Gospel can help us.  When we walk in through the doors of the church, we are taking steps to try to get a fresh glimpse of Jesus.  Our walking through the church door can be like Zacchaeus climbing the sycamore tree to get a good view as Jesus passes by.    Like Zacchaeus we don’t expect Jesus to notice us. We certainly don’t expect Jesus to single us out from the crowd; but discreetly, He does.  He stands beneath the tree we have climbed and He calls us by name; He invites us to join Him.  He wants us to be at one with Him, and with ourselves.  When we feel lost in a crowd, Jesus is there, watching and waiting for us to come to Him. If Jesus seems distant to us, it’s usually because we are not hearing His call or because other things are getting in the way and blocking our view.  Let’s ask Jesus to rid us of any distractions that prevent us from seeing and listening to Him.

George Airey will be giving a talk after the Gospel at 10am Mass on Sunday 4^th November.  George completed the Camino (with Marian) in memory of her late daughter Sophie who took her own life in December 2018. George has selected some beautiful images and created a poster and calendars to raise awareness of, and funding for PAPYRUS, the national charity devoted to the prevention of young suicide.  Please support their work through the purchase of a beautiful gift!  Thank you.

White Peace Poppies will be available at Masses this weekend. The tradition started in the 1930’s when war widows and others wanted future conflicts to be resolved without violence. The net cost of a poppy is 60 pence. Any extra money raised will be sent to the Peace Pledge Union.

Download Bulletin 3rd November 2019

Friday 1st Nov

Holy Day of Obligation

Masses: 12.15pm and 7pm

Let us see, O Lord, Your mercy and give us Your saving help! The parable in today’s Gospel hits home with all of us. Sometimes, we can have an overwhelming feeling that we are just not good enough; yet we are
afraid that if we don’t approach God, we might get even worse. On such
occasions we have to remind ourselves that God is merciful, and it is His
mercy we need. The Pharisee in the parable recognises neither his sinfulness
nor even his own need for God. He is too caught up in himself and consequently convinced of his own righteousness. He takes his place in the Temple and there delights in himself. He doesn’t ask God for mercy; his pride
has convinced him that he doesn’t need it! He leaves, as he arrived,
shrouded only in his own arrogance. The tax collector, however, is very
aware of his sinfulness and therefore his need for God’s healing mercy. He
dare not even lift his eyes to Heaven. “Be merciful to me a sinner,” is all he
can pray. The proud Pharisee asked for nothing from God and received
nothing; the humble tax collector asked for mercy and leaves renewed and
enfolded in God’s love and mercy.

PARISH CHRISTMAS COFFEE MORNING Saturday 23rd November, 10am – 12 noon, parish centre Santa’s Grotto, Tombola, Stalls, Children’s activities. £1 entry includes drink & mince pie.

PIANO CONCERT with Fr Manny Gribben, University of Lancaster Catholic Chaplaincy, Wednesday 30th October, 7.30pm. Refreshments provided. Free entry with retiring collection for Castlerigg Manor Youth Service.

PAPYRUS is the national charity devoted to the prevention of young suicide. George Airey will be giving a talk after the Gospel at 10am Mass on Sunday 4th November. From George’s email: ‘In June this year I completed the Camino (with Marian) in memory of my late daughter Sophie who took her own life in December 2018. Along the way, as Marian strode off into the distance, I was captivated by doors, be they simple or ornate. I have selected some beautiful images and created a poster and two calendars to raise awareness of, and funding for PAPYRUS, the national charity devoted to the prevention of young suicide. Please support their work through the purchase of a beautiful gift! Thank you.’    Website:  www.papyrus-uk.org

Download Bulletin 27th October 2019

The Amalekites challenged the Hebrews to a decisive battle. Moses watched from a distance. His brother Aaron and his companion, Hur, stayed with Moses. As long as Moses arms were raised holding his staff – the power of God – the Israelites were winning; when his arms came down, the Amalekites were winning. The position of his raised up arms is an ancient one of prayer. As Moses remained united to God in prayer, God’s power prevailed. He couldn’t do it alone; he needed the support of others; even with help, it took all Moses had to persevere. The gospel also, humorously, demonstrates perseverance in prayer. Nobody could tell the unjust judge what to do until he meets this widow, she wouldn’t give it a rest! She knew she was right; she wanted justice. She badgered him night and day. The widow kept pestering the judge for a just decision. Moses kept his arms raised in prayer until the Israelites won. Jesus says the most important thing about prayer is to pray continually. So let us keep raising our arms to God in prayer, and keep pestering God. He always listens and always loves us.

ST JOHN HENRY NEWMAN: GOD KNOWS ME AND CALLS ME BY HIS NAME:
God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me, which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments and serve him in my calling. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.

20th October is WORLD MISSION SUNDAY and there will be a second collection for Missio, Pope Francis’ charity for overseas mission. Today is an opportunity to support the missionary work of the Church through prayer and offerings. The collection will go directly towards helping people in areas of poverty across the world.

Download Bulletin 20th October 2019