25th January 2026
Catholic Voice
latest copy (February) can be found by clicking this link.
Message from Father Peter:
As you know the weekday readings of the Church run on a two year cycle – this being year 2, as it is an even numbered year, but the Sunday readings run over a three year cycle, each one corresponding to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke (we read the Gospel of St. John scattered throughout the year, though especially right after Christmas and during Eastertide). This being year A, today we embark on the Gospel of St. Matthew. Matthew was a tax collector, and being a rejected Jew he had a good knowledge of the workings and the thought patterns of Judaism. His call to follow Christ was controversial; the very evening of his calling people were ready to criticise Jesus for associating with tax collectors and sinners. Matthew’s call was also very sudden - Jesus called him and he followed, almost as if he was waiting to leave a life he knew to be wrong. All these aspects of his life come through throughout his Gospel, written sometime around 74 – 80 AD. Matthew wanted to show that Christianity, and the life and teaching of Christ was quite in line with Jewish teaching and the prophecies of the Old Testament – many of which Matthew quotes in his Gospel (more than any other Evangelist) and also uses various Jewish storytelling techniques in the Gospel. But Matthew was writing for the Christian communities and is keen to point out that the Word for God is for everyone in the world, and the Church has a worldwide mission to this effect. For Matthew, this is what the Kingdom of Heaven is to be, which Jesus brings, and to which we are all called, and to which we are called to bring others, through our life, our preaching and our prayers. And so as throughout this year we listen to the Gospel of Matthew and celebrate the life and teaching of the Son of God our personal Saviour, let us always have before us the mission of Christ, and his call to each one of us and the world. And let’s be grateful to Saint Matthew for sharing the Word of God with us in such an invigorating and truly life enhancing Gospel. And let us act upon it to do our part in bringing about the Kingdom of God in our lives and our world today.
Fr. Peter Foulkes:
Dear Fr. Peter’s Requiem will be celebrated on Monday February 16th at 11am at St. Bernadette’s Lancaster. Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter’s at 9am for Fr. Peter.
SJSP Confirmation 2026.
The Bishop is coming to SJSP’s to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on Tuesday 10th February at SP’s at 6:30pm. Please pray for our fourteen Candidates as they make this important step on their faith journey.
Forthcoming Requiem Masses in Church:
Requiem Mass for Sue Brockbank at St. Peter’s on Wednesday 28th January at 12noon. Requiem Mass for Ann Hayes at St. Peter’s on Friday 30th January at 11am.Requiem Mass for Vincent Moss at St. Joseph’s on Tuesday 3rd February at 11:30am. Requiem Mass for Colin Brindle at St. Joseph’s on Tuesday 10th February at 11am. May they rest in the Peace of Christ.
The Advent Posada:
It is many years since Mary and Joseph journeyed to Bethlehem and found shelter in a stable where Our Lord Jesus was born. They had travelled many miles and through many places of shelter along the way. This year in Lytham then Ansdell and St. Annes they covered just 28 miles as they moved from place to place from St Bede’s to Saltcotes Place to Kielder Court then Commonside to Broadwood Way, Bannister Street to Bellingham Rd, Forest Drive, the Boulevard, Sandringham Road, Balmoral Road, Grand Manor drive, Faulkner Crescent, Elmhurst Road, Arnside Avenue, Hilton Avenue, Lansdowne Road, Arundel Road, Eden Avenue, Windsor Avenue, then St. Bede’s, Elms Avenue, Cartmell Road and finally resting in St. Joseph’s church on the altar. They were received with joy and missed as they left and journeyed on.
Social Events:
There is a box at the back of Church for any suggestion sfor social and fun raising events for our Parishes. Any suggestions most welcome… A meal out? Afternoon tea? Fr.P performing his one-man version of ‘Cats’?
Chaplaincy Role:
Are you interested in providing compassionate, spiritual, emotional and religious support to patients and their families at Blackpool Hospital. If so please contact Ian Baxter (lead Chaplain) for more details about joining the RC Chaplaincy volunteer team. email: i.baxter@nhs.net
SJSP Ukulele Orchestra:
back strumming away every Monday night in St. Peter’s at 7pm. Newcomers always welcome!
Thinking of Becoming a Priest?
Come to the day of recollection and discernment! The day is for single men 16 years or over who are considering priesthood: Saturday 22 November 10am – 4pm at the Cathedral in Lancaster. The day will include Mass, adoration, guided prayer, talks to assist discernment, lunch. To book email Heather: Heather.Watts@lrcd.org.uk or Tel: 01524 841190. There is no charge.
Email Address:
The Diocese is changing all email addresses. The one email for our two parishes is now sjsp.lsa@lrcd.org.uk. Please do whatever you have to do to use this email from now on. Cheers.
Hospital:
Please remember to let us know if you or one of your family is being admitted to hospital.
Coffee & Bacon Butties:
Will be available in the church hall after the 9:15am Mass. Why not come and enjoy a chat.
St Joseph’s Care:
Do you know of anyone in our community who is in need or might need a little more support? Company or just someone to talk to? Someone who may, at times, need help with things? Please let us know and we can contact them. Or you can give them our St Joseph’s Care phone number so they can contact us: Tel: 07840112265.
St Joseph’s Facebook Page:
We now have over 300 people regularly following us on Facebook which is allowing us to reach out to those in the wider community and fulfill our parish commitment to evangelization. In the last couple of months, we have been able to help a number of people who have sought assistance through this medium.