20th April 2025
Holy Week and Easter Mass Times
Click here for details of all services trhis week.
After the Easter Vigil:
After the Easter Vigil everyone is welcome into the presbytery for some sherry and chocolate. It is a tradition in Benedictine Monasteries that their monks are allowed five squares of chocolate after the Vigil to give them energy to sing Morning Prayer. So chocolate for all will be provided!
Message from Fr. Peter:
Well, what a Lent. Only six weeks ago the season of prayer and penitence stretched before us and now it concludes with the most amazing joyful services of the whole liturgical Year. This Lent has seen two First Fridays which are always such special occasions, one of which involved a fasting lunch, children bringing a statue of Our Lady, and people being blessed as they spent a night in empathy with the homeless in Blackpool. We had a beautiful Reconciliation Service with our friends from Star of the Sea - and there have many opportunities for individual confession which it has been refreshing to see that people have taken up throughout the season – my absolution arm has been much exercised! Stations of the Cross has seen wonderful attendances at both our churches throughout Lent, and I had the privilege of spending a whole morning taking all our children in school through this great devotion. Mothers have prayed on a Wednesday evening. Our communion children have made their First Confession, and are almost ready for their reception of the Eucharist in May. And a group of adults have been presented to the Bishop and (depending on when you read this) are becoming/have become the latest members, not only of St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s but of the whole Universal Church throughout the world – along with thousands of other born again faithful throughout the world. Along with prayer and fasting there has been much almsgiving, both privately, and the many causes drawn to our attention throughout Lent – I can now make a crocheted cross in my sleep! With such a wonderful Lent behind us, let us continue our joyfully fellowship into Easter – and perhaps because of everything we are doing, one day, into the Eternal Easter. Alleluia Alleluia!
Easter Sunday:
Please pray with great joy and gladness for Joyce, Rachel, Alex, Lee, Jake and Richard who were received into Full Communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil and Emy who was baptised. Huge congratulations to them, and many blessings to them on this life changing moment in their spiritual lives.
A Huge Thank You:
A Huge Thank You to everyone involved with the wonderful services we have celebrated over Lent and Easter: our friends and deacons, Michael and David, the altar servers and sacristy organisers, the readers and ministers and organizers; the choirs and instrumentalists; the flower people; the welcomers; the collectors; the children’s and sacramental catechists, teachers and parents; the refreshment makers and social organisers; our Church Cleaners and those who prepared the Churches; and all those who keep the Parishes, the Churches, the House and grounds running; those who do support me in my ministry here; and everyone (including those I haven’t mentioned!) who comes along throughout the year to ensure that the light of Christ is burning brightly at St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s throughout the year. A very Happy Eastertide to you all!
Fr Peter’s Lenten Challenge House Appeal:
Many thanks for all the contributions, every single penny has been counted and greatly appreciated. I will announce the final total this weekend at all masses and write more on next week’s newsletter.
First Reconciliation and Holy Communion:
The next session for Candidates is Monday 28th in SAINT PETER’S HALL at 6pm. Please pray for our children on this important step in their faith journeys.
SPUC Pro-Life Chain:
Saturday 26th April 11.00 am – 1.00 pm Please join us for a silent act of witness against assisted suicide/euthanasia. Meet on London Road, Preston –north of Ribble bridge. Stay for all or part of the time; bring a chair if required.
Fr. Philip’s 40 day Sponsored Walk:
Fr. Philip completed his 40 day Sponsored Walk of 10,000 steps plus on Saturday 19/04. Thank you for your prayerful & financial support. Please follow these directions for collection of money. 1. Place your sponsor money in a plain envelope & seal it. Please do NOT use parish gift aid or Mass Intention envelopes. They will not be passed to me. 2. Write on the envelope “Fr. Philip’s Sponsor Money” 3. Write on the envelope your own name.4 Write on the amount of money enclosed. 5. Your address & postcode must be included to claim Gift Aid. (Aid to the Church in Need Office will deal with claims) 6. Place your envelope in the collection bag/basket at Mass on the weekends 26/27 April or 3/4 May. Thank you. Fr. Philip
Saturday 26th April: Line Dancing Night!
with food, a bar and the ukelele orchestra from 7:30pm at SJ’s hall. Tickets are available from SJ’s and SP’s after Masses £6 for adults and £3 for children. All profits will be donated to Fr Peter’s Lenten Challenge House Appeal.
Catholic Voice
latest copy can be found here.
Fr Peter’s Lenten Challenge House Appeal:
Last few days of making crosses to raise £3000 to build a house! I can now do them in my sleep! All donations are gratefully accepted, and envelopes are available at the back of Church. Please check out the pictures from Fr. Stephen in Malawi, and feel free to take a woollen cross! Many thanks in anticipation. I’ll announce the final total over Easter Weekend.
A Gift Aid tax reclaim will be submitted shortly to HMRC.
Please notify me if you are no longer a taxpayer or you paid insufficient tax during 2024/25 to cover the tax that will be reclaimed on all your donations given under Gift Aid to all charities during the tax year.At the present standard rate of tax of 20%, 25p is reclaimed for every £1 donated. If you have moved house during the tax year please ensure that you have notified your parish. Sue Halton.
Saturday 26th April: Line Dancing Night!
with food, a bar and the ukelele orchestra from 7:30pm at SJ’s hall. Tickets are available from SJ’s and SP’s after Masses £6 for adults and £3 for children. All profits will be donated to Fr Peter’s Lenten Challenge House Appeal.
SJSP’s mini Pilgrimage to Lourdes this Summer.
Four nights 3rd-7th June, £650 sharing, £749 single. Forms available from FrP and Deacon D now if anyone would like to come along! If you have a form, please return deposits and forms to FrP or Deacon D. Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us.
CAFOD Lent Appeal:
Please place envelopes in the collection or basket sat the back of Church. Parishioners from both Parishes are counting their steps over Lent to raise money, and you can contribute online and see how we are doing here. Thank you.
Dates for the Diary, Upcoming SJSP Social Events:
Sunday May 11th: Afternoon Tea & Entertainment in SJ’s Hall 3-5pm
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:
Lindisfarne: 21-23 May Email: info@christ-the-good-shepherd.co.uk
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.
SJSP 2025 Calendars:
SJSP 2025 Calendars still available at just £5.
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.