14th April 2024
Message from Fr. Peter:
Last Wednesday we had a jolly Bingo Evening at St. Peter’s, raising funds for Club Day, which was great fun, and heartily enjoyed by all (I think just about every table won a bingo or raffle prize, so hope everybody left happy!). As usual I had the honour of being the Bingo Caller, a job which I’ve been doing since the age of about ten. In my home parish of St. Mary’s, Cleator there was a weekly ‘Lourdes Bingo’ to raise money for sending sick and helpers to Lourdes, and when the usual caller was unable to do their duty (which seemed to be quite often) my Mother would get a phone call asking if she could send me up to call which I did (and incidentally these Bingo’s sent me to Lourdes as a helper several times – right up until I went with them the very year I was ordained, which was the last time I went, thirty years ago; perhaps it’s time to go again. Anyway…). So it was on these Monday nights that I learnt all the usual calls, the Kelly’s Eye Number One (which actually refers to the eye slot on the helmet of the Australian outlaw Ned Kelly), through Doctor’s Order’s Number Nine (which refers to a laxative pill administered by military doctors during the Second World War), right through the ‘Top of the Shop Number Ninety’ (the highest number in Bingo, for those unfamiliar). I always add a few of mine own invented calls (Fifty-six, the Hungarian Uprising of Budapest), but there are many more which could be invented, not least a whole possible series of ‘Church Bingo Numbers’: how about Two and Seven: the number of books in the New Testament; Nine, the number of writers of the New Testament; One, the number of English Popes; Two and Three, the Lord’s My Shepherd; right up to Nine-O blind ninety, the age of Abraham’s Wife Sarah, when she gave birth to Isaac. I wonder if she was a bingo player?
And talking of the Bingo:
£252:20 was raised for Club Day funds. Huge thanks to the organisers and everyone who came along and dabbed their numbers.
First Holy Communion 2024:
This week classes resume in St. Joseph’s Hall on Monday at 6pm, where our candidates will be looking at the Liturgy of the Word. Please pray for our twenty children on this important step in the faith journeys.
Parish Young People Going to Lourdes with the Diocese Fund Raiser:
Come and join us for a fundraising event in St Joseph’s Hall on 4th May at 7 pm until 9 pm. This family games night is sure to be great fun and a little bit competitive. We are raising money to assist two of our parish youth members to attend the Diocese Pilgrimage to Lourdes in July. The evening will involve playing a number of family friendly board and card games and a light pizza supper. Drinks will be available to purchase and a raffle will take place. Tickets are priced at £6 for adults and £4 for under 10’s. Please come along and help raise funds for St Joseph’s Care to support our young parishioners. Tickets will be available after mass each week. Tickets will not be available on the night.
Lancaster Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage:
Please join Bishop Paul Swarbrick on the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes (July 23rd – 30th). The Youth Section will travel by coach with an evening and a day sightseeing in Paris (22nd July- 1st August). Further details are available on the Diocesan Pilgrimage website: www.lancasterlourdes.co.uk or youth email: email: youth@lancasterlourdes.co.uk
Fr. Peter’s Lenten Boat and Saxophone Challenge:
Continued thanks, as final total are being tallied. More information will come to regarding the boats very shortly. My saxophone (and flute) practicing continues, so don’t be alarmed at strange noises on Woodlands Road…
Offertory Envelopes for the New Year are here!
Please take your box from the back of Church. If you would like to Gift Aid your offerings or receive a box of envelopes, please use the forms at the back of Church. Many thanks for everyone’s continued support and generosity.
Sanctuary Lamp:
If you would like to sponsor the Sanctuary lamp in memory of a loved one or for a special intention, please place the details and date wanted in an envelope with a £20 donation and clearly note Sanctuary Lamp on the outside. This can be placed in the offertory collection basket. The lamp will burn for a full week From Sunday to Saturday, and the intention will be published on the Newsletter.
Hospital:
Please remember to let us know if you or one of your family is being admitted 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 fulfil our parish commitment to evangelisation. In the last couple of months we have been able to help a number of people who have sought assistance through this medium.