17th February 2019

Tea And Coffee:
Tea and Coffee is served in the Hall behind the Church every Sunday after the 9.15am Mass. Come and enjoy a cuppa with friends. All welcome.

St. Joseph’s Care:
Here to help when you most need it! Helpline open each day from 9am until 7pm Tel: 07840 112 265. Thank you for your continued generosity via the Crib collection and after Mass collections which are enabling us to support local needs as well as reach out into the wider community and provide help to those who find themselves in desperate circumstances. If you would like to volunteer and help out from time to time please complete the volunteer form at the back of church.

First Holy Communion:
There will be a meeting for parents to enrol their children and receive information about the First Holy Communion program, and for the children to make a start with their preparation, at St Peter’s School Hall on Wed 27th Feb from 6-7pm. All parents should attend with their children.

Hymn Books:
Our stock of hymn books is slowly diminishing and we would be grateful, if you have inadvertently taken one home, if you could return it as soon as possible

Evangeline Doyle, Head Girl At St. Peter’s School
will talk at the end of Mass on Sunday morning to ask for our help. The school council are organising a collection of good quality children’s second hand clothing for St. Cuthbert’s Child Care Centre in Blackpool. Specifically, they are in desperate need of Coats, Shoes, Pyjamas, Dressing Gowns. If you have any of the above items that could be added to the collection, please bring to any Mass before 3rd March and Evangeline will collect and make sure they get to the people who need them. Please place any items in a bag with Evangeline’s name on at the back of church. Many thanks.

Winckley Square Convent:
Annual Reunion this year Sat 2nd March 1pm until 4pm at Our Lady and St. Edwards Parish Centre Marlborough Drive Fulwood Preston PR2 9EU. please tell your friends.

Lourdes 2019:
If you are thinking of joining the diocesan pilgrimage, 26 July – 2 August, this year whether as a Youth helper, sick person, medic or simply as a pilgrim full details can be found at the back of church. It is only by the support of volunteer groups that we can take sick pilgrims from our diocese on pilgrimage. The pilgrimage will be led by Bishop Paul Swarbrick and has as its theme ‘Blessed are the poor, for the kingdom of God is yours’. One or two parishioners have already booked – why not join them!

It is only by the support of volunteer groups that we can take sick pilgrims from our diocese on pilgrimage. Bursaries are available from The Catenians for young helpers as well as young pilgrims.

The Catenian Bursary Fund is open to Catholics aged 16 to 24. Click on Bursary to find full details and an application form To find out more go to www.thecatenians.com or email LSAcatenians2@gmail.com

Youth Core:
Meeting on alternate Thursdays from 6 to 7.30pm. If you are in Years 6 or 7 we will be pleased to see you. You don’t need to be in St Joseph’s Parish to attend. So far we have…Pool, Table Tennis, Retro Games consoles, Tuck Shop, Board Games, and much more. Entrance fee is £1, The next few meetings are on 21st Feb & 7th Mar. More volunteer helpers are needed! Please contact Simon on the number in this weeks bulletin if you would like to help as a volunteer and for all other enquiries.

Foodbank:
Once again your support for this collection has been overwhelming and your donations very much appreciated by those in dire need in the South Shore area. We know many people would like to make weekly donations and that is fine, just leave what you bring each week in the basket and we will see that is distributed – thank you.

Bellringing:
Are you are interested in learning to ring? Age no barrier. Contact Richard on the number in this weeks bulletin or just come along to a practice session held each Thursday at 7 pm. This is a really social group who enjoy the art of belln’nging in a relaxed and friendly environment. Why not give a try!

Good Neighbours:
Please keep a watchful eye on those on their own in your street. On these cold dark days of winter, it is important that we keep a watchful eye and provide support if needed.

Hospital:
Please don’t forget to let Fr. David know if you are admitted to hospital so that a hospital Chaplaincy visit can be arranged.

Suggestion Box:
We welcome any ideas or suggestions especially for the type of social events you would like to see, just drop a note in the box on the windowsill at the back of church.

Lent:
Advance note for your diary that on the Fridays in Lent, (8, 15, 22, 29 March and 5 and 12 April) Mass will be at 11:30am followed by lunch and a Lenten reflection in the Hall. Mass on Palm Sunday will be at 10am not 9:15am.

CCTV:
We now have coverage externally covering the Hall and the rear of the church as well internally within the Narthex (behind the screen) and the main body of the church. Images are being recorded but viewing of coverage is limited to investigating any misdemeanour.

The Rosary Group
which meets each Thursday at noon in church would like to invite you to join them. We pray in a meditative way for the world and the parish. Please come along and give it a try.

Castlerigg Manor:
Bookings are now open for young people to go on the Lancaster Diocese Lourdes Pilgrimage in the summer, 25th July to 3rd August. Please look at the back of church for information and details.

Hospital:
Please don‘t forget to let Fr. David know if you are admitted to hospital so that a hospital Chaplaincy visit can be arranged. Also don’t forget to let the Catholic Chaplaincy team know if you or a member of your family is admitted to hospital, whether it be Blackpool Vic, Clifton, or the Hospice, or any other hospital. Often, the faith of the person is not recorded when they are admitted, especially at times like these when nurses are overstretched. This makes the chaplains role very difficult when visiting wards. The best approach is to inform your parish priest of the details so that these can be passed on to the chaplain of the hospital where your family member is staying.

Little Joes:
Little Joes club meets every Sunday after Mass at 10am until 11am in the church hall, for children in preschool to Year 6. Little Joes is a great place to make new friends, have fun and make all sorts of crafts to take home with you. We have regular social events for everyone to get together too. Little Joes reaches out to our community with the message of God’s love for people and through this, positive relationships are built with families. If you have any questions please contact Emma Cox via the number in this weeks bulletin (front page).

St. Joseph’s Care:
We are very thankful and fortunate to have a team of telephone operators who ‘man’ our helpline 10 hrs a day and a team of volunteers who give up their time to provide assistance in all sorts of ways when needed. We are also now making outbound calls to our housebound parishioners just to say hello and ensure that they have everything they need. Your generous after Mass offerings are continuing to help us provide direct and practical assistance to those in need within our local community Please continue to support St Joseph’s Care as we strive to allow Christ to work through us so that we can make a real difference. Through St Joseph’s Care we are fulfilling our mission of evangelisation in the local community.

Taking An Active Part In The Parish:
Remember your talent is God’s gift to you and what you do with it is your gift to God. Please consider in what way you might be able to help the parish, practically, administratively or spiritually. Just drop your details in the Suggestion Box and someone will get in touch with you.

Lost Property:
Our lost property box is located in the Sacristry. Please note that items will be retained for 3 months before being disposed of.

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.

Used Postage Stamps And Supermarket Vouchers:
Thank you for your continued donations of used postage stamps. St. Peter’s school are very grateful for all your support. The school will be collecting stamps for many years to come. The stamps provide a good source of revenue which is used to further enhance learning for the whole school. Thank you.