1st June 2025

Catholic Voice
latest copy can be found by clicking this link.

Message from Father Peter:
Last Sunday I mentioned that the New Translation of the Scriptures somewhat bowled me a googley in changing Jesus’s description of the Holy Spirit as an ‘Advocate’ to ‘helper’. Lo and behold the following day on Monday’s Scripture reading there was another googley, when, in Acts of the Apostles 16:11-15 we catch up with St. Paul, on his Second Missionary Journey, where he reaches Macedonia and goes to the town of Philippi, where they meet Lydia, a devout woman, who, in the previous translation we were told worked in the expensive ‘purple dye and linen trade’. This was quite a noble task. Purple dye was expensive because of the way in which it was made, involving collecting thousands of snails, which were then boiled (causing one heck of stink), eventually becoming transformed into the valuable purple dye, used to adorn regal robes – you’ll remember that Christ was mockingly given a purple robe. Lydia was obviously an intelligent and astute businesswoman. She and her whole household are baptized, and then she insists that Paul and his companions stay with her throughout their visits. And after one of his stays in prison Paul stayed with Lydia again. She is now venerated as a Saint, and her prayer references her purple dye and cloth trade: O Holy Eternal Fire grant to us, as You did for Thy child St. Lydia, the gift of conversion and transformation that our ears and our hearts may be opened to hearing and understanding Thy words of life so that we, too, may better serve Thee as a community through our gifts and talents so as to bring Hope to those who are in need of You through us. We ask Thee, O blessed Mother and Queen, for Thy holy intercession that you may weave within us, and those whom we are called to serve, all the graces necessary for the Will of God to be accomplished in us so that a royal tapestry of Faith and good works may be offered and made pleasing to our God. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and King. Amen. Rather a lovely prayer, don’t you think? Alas, the new translation makes no reference to any of this and just tells us that Lydia was ‘a seller of purple goods’, which I guess could be anything – aubergines, iPad covers, who knows…? Incidentally, did you hear about the hopeful farmer who loved purple? He had great eggplantations. I’ll get my coat. And my umbrella – it looks like purple rain…

Seventh Sunday of Easter
Please note that as I am on Pilgrimage this week, the usually First Week events are cancelled this month. Normal service will resume in July!

Please pray for those whom Requiems and Funeral Services we will be celebrating over the next few weeks:
Clare Tattersall June 2nd at SJ’s at 11am;
Vincent Lutas June 10th at SJ’s at 10am;
Eileen Whalley June 20th at Lytham Crematorium at 12:15pm;
and Mary Veronica McLaughlin July 2nd at SP’s at 1pm Requiescat in pace.

Edwina Gillett
Reception of the BeneMerenti for Service to the Diocese as Editor of the Catholic Voice. Mass at Lancaster Cathedral, Saturday 31st May at 12noon. All Welcome. Will guests travelling by coach to the presentation of the Bene Merenti Medal at Lancaster Cathedral on Saturday 31 May please note that the coach will depart St Joseph’s at 10:30 am prompt. The coach will return from Lancaster Golf Club at 4pm. The Benemerenti Medal was first given by Pope Pius VI as a military award for soldiers. Under Pope Gregory XVI (1831–1846) a special Benemerenti medal was created to reward those who fought courageously in the Papal army at Ferrara, Bologna, and Vienna. In 1925, under Pope Pius XI, this medal began to be awarded to civil, military, laity and clergy, in recognition of exceptional service to the Catholic Church. Celebration Vespers (For Edwina)
Sunday 1st June at 4pm at St. Joseph’s, followed by Sherry in the Presbytery All Welcome.

Mothers Prayer Group:
Prayers By and For Mothers, and anyone else who wants to come along. This Wednesday 4th June at 6-7pm in St. Joseph’s Church, and every First Wednesday of the Month. All Welcome.

Deanery Celebration of First Holy Communion
For the First Holy Communion Children of the five Junior Schools in our Deanery. Friday 13th of June at 11am at SJ’s. All Welcome.

Lourdes Petitions:
Next Week I will be in Lourdes on a very mini Pilgrimage. If you would like me to take a prayer petition to place in the grotto, just fill in one of the petition papers at the back of Church and place it in the basket- needs to be done this weekend, as I leave after Mass on Tuesday. Papers and pens are at the back of Church.

The Syrian Refugees and the Displaced Lebanese:
Thank the Parish of St. Peter in Lytham for donating £635.00 and St. Joseph’s in Ansdell for donating £1410:00 in support of the project in Zahleh, Lebanon. This project involves feeding 1500 refugees each weekday as well as offering comfort and companionship and especially to the Sick and the Elderly infirm. Aid to the Church in Need helps with this endeavour. The total raised is £9,100.20. Thank you. Fr. Philip will offer 3 Masses for the intentions & wellbeing of all benefactors. Fr. Philip Newbold (And bravo to our friend Fr Phil for his successful Lenten challenge! FrP)

Wedding Anniversary Mass:
Sat 12 July, 12.15pm Lancaster Cathedral. Bishop Paul invites all couples in the Diocese celebrating milestone wedding anniversaries this year - to a Mass of celebration and blessing. All are welcome to attend. For those couples wishing to be included for their Catholic marriage please email the Cathedral at clergy@lancastercathedral.org.uk

Dates for the Diary, Upcoming SJSP Social Events:
Saturday June 28th: Lytham Club Day Sunday July 13th: BBQ and Summer Games in SJ’s Garden Watch this Space for More Details!

Diocesan Pilgrimages for the Holy Year:
Lourdes: ‘With Mary, Pilgrims of Hope.’ 23rd – 30th July. Details and booking forms at: (https://joewalshtours.co.uk)
Walsingham: 20-24 October 2025 £475.00-£550.00. For booking details contact Deacon Charlie Conner - email charlie.conner@lrdc.org.uk

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.