28th February 2021

Lent:
On each Friday in Lent at 11 am Fr. David will lead us in a short reflection. The theme will be ‘The Seven Last Words’.On each Wednesday at 11 am in Lent we will get together in listening to what God is saying to us in Lectio Divina. The reflection and Lectio will be via Zoom. If you would like to take part please ring Wanda on the number in this weeks bulletin.

The Voice for March: The latest edition of our diocesan newspaper is now available online.

Holy Week & Easter Services:
Although some weeks off, here are times of our Easter Services:
27 March Vigil Mass for Palm Sunday 6pm
28 March Mass for Palm Sunday 9:15am *
1 April Holy Thursday Mass of the Lords Supper 6pm*
2 April Good Friday Commemoration of the Lords Passion 12 noon*
3 April Holy Saturday Easter Vigil and first Mass of Easter 6pm*
4 April Easter Sunday 9:15am*

Please note the change in times to previous years. For those marked with a * booking will be essential. See sign-up sheets at the back of church or phone Edwina on the number in this weeks bulletin. Thank You.

Stations Of The Cross:
Bishop Paul in his Ash Wednesday message is encouraging us all to make the Stations of the Cross each day in Lent. So why not combine this spiritual activity with some daily exercise. Specially designed Stations produced by our own young people in the parish and St Bede’s High School have been displayed around Ansdell starting and finishing at St Joseph’s Church. The route is just under 3 km long and takes about half an hour to walk, not counting any stops for prayer. It starts with a map at St. Joseph’s along Blackpool Road to the Well Church and on to Milner Road, Ansdell Rd. N., Commonside, Derby Rd., Lansdowne Rd., Wellow Place, Rufford Rd., Fylde Rd., Blackpool Rd and ending at St. Joseph’s.

This week we are featuring Youth Stations of the Cross 5 and 6 with thanks to the Hall and White families. See below for GPS coordinates for each station.

Coordinates: 53.743317, -2.990857
V Simon Helps Jesus:
There was a man walking by, Simon from Cyrene, they made him carry Jesus’ cross.
Give: a helping hand. Take time to be aware and think how to help others and lighten their load.

Coordinates: 53.743615, -2.991909
VI Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus:
With bravery and love, Veronica uses her veil to wipe Jesus’ face.
Offer: a healing and tender touch. Take time to give – this is not a time to be selfish..

Previous Weeks

Coordinates: 53.7424347, -2.9872748
I – Jesus is Condemned to Death:
Pilate gave the crowd what it wanted, set Barabbas free and turned Jesus over for whipping and crucifixion.
Reflect: Hateful plots and lies,…injustice prevails. Start each day with ‘Good morning Jesus and thank you’, and walk with Him.

Coordinates: 53.7411957, -2.9859229
II – Jesus Takes Up His Cross:
After the soldiers had had their fun, they marched him out to nail him to the cross.
Pray: “Thy will be done.” Take some time this week to appreciate all you have and all that is good in your life. Ask to do God’s will.

Coordinates: 53.740610, -2.987489
III Jesus Falls the First Time:
The guards dragged our Lord with cruelty and violence and he stumbled and fell.
Consider: Shock, pain and weakness. Spend some time this week with Mark’s gospel in reading and reflection. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Coordinates: 53.741752, -2.988496
IV Jesus Meets His Mother:
After the soldiers had had their fun, they marched him out to nail him to the cross.
Pray: “Thy will be done.” Take some time this week to appreciate all you have and all that is good in your life. Ask to do God’s will.

Walk For Water:
Are you ready to change your life and transform someone else’s this Lent? Walk for Water is the only Lent challenge you need: 10,000 steps a day – done your way. Every day. For 40 days. Go the distance this Lent and help to end water poverty. You don’t have to get tied in a knot about how to do it: whether you hop it; skip it; slide it; run it; jump it; dance it; stamp it; stomp it. It doesn’t matter how you do it, just as long as you put your heart and soul into it. Find out more at cafod.org.uk/walk

Laudato Si – Zoom Retreats:
There will be two more ‘Living Laudato Si’ Zoom retreats based on the encyclical of Pope Francis, ‘On care for our common home’. These will be led from Boarbank Hall, Cumbria on 12th-16th March & 16th-19th April. For further details please email Sr. Margaret Atkins at margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk

Faith And Justice Worker:
Our Diocese is looking for a part time Faith & Justice worker and co-ordinator with the Commission Team, to work throughout the Diocese to engage with parishes, schools and other institutions in order to advance the understanding of, and active engagement in Catholic Social Teaching and issues arising from it. For further details contact Margaret McSherry, Administrator Lancaster Diocesan Faith and Justice Commission at ifjcmm@gmail.com or telephone 07864012385.

Amazing Grace:

Here people from 50 countries affected by the corona virus come together via the internet to sing Amazing Grace in the midst of so much difficulty and uncertainty. Watch the video at: https://youtu.be/BA7pdABvpnc

Prayers For Ethipoia:
Our Bishop Paul Swarbrick, the lead bishop for Africa, has called on the UK government to step up its assistance for people affected by the violence in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and its involvement in peace efforts. In a letter, the bishop expressed his solidarity with the local Church in Ethiopia and warned: “We are aware of atrocities being committed and a continuation of violence with no peace in sight. We are particularly concerned by the reports of widespread sexual violence and there is an urgent need to ensure for protection of vulnerable groups, especially women and girls. Furthermore, we have received reports of people dying every day from a lack of food, water, medicine, and other essentials. This is compounded by barriers preventing humanitarian agencies reaching those who have fled the fighting.” He went on to call for urgent action, stating: “As the situation continues to worsen, I implore you to redouble the UK’s assistance to those affected and diplomatic support for peace initiatives. I hope that you may also reiterate the paramount importance of every side in the conflict, along with neighbouring countries, respecting international law including around the safe accommodation of refugees.” Please pray for the people of Tigray facing possible starvation, and all those working to assist them in their need.

Genocide Respone:
There is extensive evidence that many women in the Uyghur Muslim community in Xinjiang, China are being subjected to forced abortions. Lord Alton is currently championing an amendment to the Trade Bill which would give British courts a role in determining whether a country is committing genocide. This would help with putting international pressure on the Chinese Communist Party to stop the practice of forcing abortions on the Uyghur Muslim community along with the wider human rights abuses that evidence shows is being perpetuated against this community. If you would like to email your MP asking them to support the amendment, you can do this easily using a tool which has been set up on the Genocide Response campaign website which can be accessed by visiting the link below: https://genocideresponse.org/

Keeping The Church Open:

We remain open for our Vigil Mass on Saturday at 6pm and on Sunday at 9:15am. We are doing our utmost to maintain a safe environment but a few reminders will be helpful: Please remember to:

Wear your mask at all times, it must cover your nose and mouth
Always sanitise your hands on entry
Do not mix or mingle with anyone outside of your ‘bubble’
Always maintain a 2 metre distance as you enter church, inside church and as you leave.

Please avoid standing and talking on the pathway, it is not easy for others to maintain distance to get around you. Thank you for helping to keep everyone safe in the church.

Foodbank:
Thank you for the continuous generous contributions. Please keep it going as winter takes its grip.

Just A Thought:
“If your Bible lies unopened, it is like a light under a tub.” You could try reading a chapter of the Bible every day – how about doing that for Lent? If you start on Ash Wednesday with Matthew’s Gospel chapter 1, and read a chapter each day, you could read the whole of Matthew, and get to the end of Mark on Holy Thursday – just in time for the Easter Triduum!

The UK Blessing:
You might like this modern musical rendition of the Blessing of Aaron (Numbers 6:24-26) from charismatic Christian Communities all around the country:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUtll3mNj5U&ab_channel=TheUKBlessing

‘The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace’ Amen!
There is also ‘The Irish Blessing’, which is a lively version of ‘Be thou vision’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TascsWZPj8U&ab_channel=TheIrishBlessing2020

St Joseph’s Care:
If you, or someone you know is in need, St. Joseph’s Care has a helpline and we have volunteers who will be in a position to provide basic support such as shopping. The number is 07840 112 265 (9am – 7pm daily). In these difficult times may people may be worried or concerned about a loved one. If you would like to ask for prayers, please ring St. Joseph’s Care phone line or send an e-mail to: st.josephs_ansdell@btinternet.com . A list of prayer requests in addition to the sick, lately dead and anniversaries will be on the bulletin each week.

We continue to support needy families in the South Shore area with food and clothing vouchers.

Support – We would be grateful for any donations to assist our Christmas effort in supporting needy families in the South Shore area and more locally here in Lytham St Annes. Your offerings can be deposited in the safe at the back of church or in an envelope clearly marked St Joseph’s Care and placed in the retiring collection. Thank you!

Donation By Standing Order:
If you wish to donate to the parish by Standing Order, please email us at st.josephs_ansdell@btinternet.com, requesting a standing order form. If you are a taxpayer and are not already Gift-aiding your contributions, please consider this. It is a great support to the parish. Forms for Gift-aid are available as above.

News From The Vatican:
On 21st January, Pope Francis authorised the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the Decree regarding the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Mary Josephine of Jesus (née Elizabeth Prout), founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross and of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ (1820-1864); born in Shrewsbury, and died in Sutton. This means that Mother Mary Joseph is now Venerable Mother Mary Joseph of Jesus – Deo gratias! As the Sisters of the Cross and Passion have had such a long and fruitful association with the Church in this area, this is good news indeed. We should ask Mother Mary Joseph, their foundress, to intercede for all our needs, and pray that she will continue to advance along the road to sainthood. The next stage is beatification – for this we need lots of prayer, and a formerly recognised miracle!

From ‘Patris Corde’ – The Pope’s Letter On St Joseph:
In his letter on St Joseph, Patris Corde – with a father’s heart – Pope Francis concludes with a few words on the intercession of the saints, and a prayer to St Joseph: “The aim of this Apostolic Letter is to increase our love for this great saint (St Joseph), to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal. Indeed, the proper mission of the saints is not only to obtain miracles and graces, but to intercede for us before God, like Abraham and Moses, and like Jesus, the “one mediator” (1 Tim 2:5), who is our “advocate” with the Father (1 Jn 2:1) and who “always lives to make intercession for [us]” (Heb 7:25; cf. Rom 8:34).

The saints help all the faithful “to strive for the holiness and the perfection of their particular state of life”. Their lives are concrete proof that it is possible to put the Gospel into practice. Jesus told us: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Mt 11:29). The lives of the saints too are examples to be imitated. St Paul explicitly says this: “Be imitators of me!” (1 Cor 4:16). By his eloquent silence, St Joseph says the same. Before the example of so many holy men and women, St Augustine asked himself: “What they could do, can you not also do?” And so, he drew closer to his definitive conversion, when he could exclaim: “Late have I loved you, Beauty ever ancient, ever new!“.

We need only ask St Joseph for the grace of graces: our conversion. Let us now make our prayer to him:

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen. St Joseph, pray for us!

RISE – An Online Youth Group:

for Years 7-9. Explore faith and make friends. To sign up go to: https://lancasteryouthservice.churchsuite.com/events/0wf7layy

Art For The Heart:
Just a little art to lift the heart in these times…

Hope at the end of the rainbow…

Our Father does art in heaven…

Tree Of Remembrance 2020:

To mark this extraordinary year, a winter flowering cherry has been planted in the Garden of Remembrance. The blossom will be a symbol of light in the dark.

Children’s Liturgy Resource:

Here is a link to a useful resource for Children’s Liturgy online. There is an outline of a service that can be led by an adult for use at home or over the internet via Zoom: https://www.tentenresources.co.uk/primary-subscription/prayers-for-home/sunday-liturgy-for-families/

A Prayer to your Guardian Angel:
Dear Guardian Angel, go for me to the church, there kneel down at Mass for me. At the Offertory, take me to God, and offer Him my service: What I am, what I have, offer as my gift. At the Consecration, with your seraphic strength, adore my Saviour truly present, praying for those who have loved me, for those who have offended me, and for those now deceased, that the blood of Jesus may purify them all. During Holy Communion, bring to me the Body and Blood of Jesus uniting Him with me in spirit, so that my heart may become His dwelling place. Plead with Him, that through His sacrifice all people throughout the world may be saved. When the Mass ends, bring home to me and to every home, the Lord’s blessing. Amen.

An Act of Perfect Contrition:
This requires us to be contrite of heart for what we have done, know and be overwhelmed by the love and mercy of God for his children, and to approach this grace with humility and resolution not to sin again. The following or similar formula should be used:

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God have mercy.

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.