26th March 2023

Catholic Voice for April: 
The April edition is available here.

Lent at St Josephs’ and St Peter’s

Stations of the Cross and Benediction:
St. Peter’s Every Mon evening at 7pm
St. Joseph’s Every Tues evening at 7pm.

Lent Sycamore Course:
What do you Believe? All Welcome to further our Faith in this Holy Season. Every Wednesday in Lent at 7.00pm in St Peter’s Parish Hall.

The Holy Rosary
Every Thursday 10.30am after Mass at St Joseph’s

Message from Fr. Peter.
Last week we received a letter from the Bishop announcing that permission was given to minister communion from the Chalice once again, starting on Maundy Thursday, if it was felt to be desirable, safe, and could be carried out with suitable dignity, at the discretion of individual Parish Priests. As some of you will be able aware, I have been trying to canvas opinion on the subject over the last week or so from any groups of people I have been meeting with (including two doctors, and also a nurse I met at Clifton Hospital, after she had informed me I could not go into two of the wards because they were closed because of Covid). By far the majority were not in favour of bringing back Holy Communion from the Chalice just yet. At the Deanery Conference, the monthly meeting of the priests of this Deanery (the ‘Kirkham’ Deanery, which is all the Churches from Kirkham, round through Freckleton to St. Annes), there was general consensus that firstly, when and if holy communion under both kinds begins again it should be brought in by all our parishes at the same time, and so secondly, we would not be offering communion from the chalice just yet, although the situation would be periodically reviewed. So that’s where we are; no matter what you might see or hear elsewhere, in this Deanery communion will remain under one kind at the moment. The biggest miracle in all this is that the groups of priests actually came to some agreement about something. I guess that must be the first miracle of Easter… Speaking of which, during the priest’s conference I took the opportunity to go to confession. For a penance the priest prescribed a circuit of crunches, leg lifts and sit-ups for the guilt I confessed about neglecting my stomach muscles during workouts. And thus I finally received my abs solution. I’ll get my coat…

The Stations of the Cross:
This week our meditations on the Stations of the Cross are dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. The introduction to the prayers tells us that ‘The Church teaches us that those gone before us might in Purgatory undergo a process of purification… by praying and making sacrifices for the Holy Souls, you have the power and privilege to help them on their journey… in truth their gratitude will bring you countless blessings’. I find these Stations particularly beautiful, and most definitely food for thought. Monday 7pm at St. Peter’s, Tuesday 7pm at St. Joseph’s..

The Repository Shop:
Open after Sunday Masses. We now have a range of Easter and Ist Holy Communion cards for  sale alongside our range of other cards as well as Rosary Beads and other spiritual items. Please ask any of the ladies in the repository if you would like us to order anything special for you.We would like more volunteers to help us, so if you have the time to help before or after any of the Masses please call Margaret on on the number in this weeks bulletin

Some Jolly Parish Social Events to look forward to:

Saturday 29th April. 7pm. Spring Quiz and Supper. A fun evening of quizzing and general merriment expected. Bring your own booze! £2 per person. Everyone welcome. Please add your name to the list at back of church.

Sunday 7th May After 9.15am mass. Coronation Big Breakfast. £2 per person. Places are limited so please put your name on the list at the back of church. Everyone welcome. Suitable patriotic attire and flag waving expected

Easter Triduum:
Following the Bishop’s instructions for our celebrations, and the liturgical norm of the Easter Triduum being one complete service, this year the Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday Service will take place in one of our Churches. There are areas in the diocese now where up to six Churches only have one Triduum ( including South Blackpool, where three churches have only one). This year the Triduum will take place at St Joseph’s, with St Peter’s hosting the Triduum next year. Due to the numbers involved, I have been advised to have a Good Friday Service in both churches, as well as Stations of the Cross in both churches on Good Friday. Members of both churches are invited to take part in all services, with readers and singers all invited. If anyone needs transport from St Peter’s to St Joseph’s this will be organised nearer the time. Many thanks for your support and understanding. The full timetable is below.

The Easter Triduum at St Joseph’s and St Peter’s 2023
Maundy Thursday 6th April
St Joseph’s 7.00pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Led by our First Holy Communion Children from SJs and SPs with Washing of the Feet, Blessed Sacrament Procession and
watching until 10.00pm with Night Prayer of the Church at 9.50pm
Good Friday 7th April
Stations of the Cross St Peter’s 10.00am, and St Joseph’s 7.00pm
St Joseph’s 3.00pm and St Peter’s 3.00pm Solemn Celebration of the Passion of the Lord
Holy Saturday 8th April
St Joseph’s 7.00pm Easter Vigil and Service of Light
Easter Sunday 9th April
St Joseph’s 9.15am and St Peter’s 10.30am Easter Sunday Morning Mass

St. Peter’s Mid-Lent Bingo:
Thursday 23rd March, in St. Peter’s Hall. A jolly evening for all the family. All welcome (and Fr. Peter calling the numbers…!).

The Most Holy Rosary:
Every Thursday during Lent the Rosary will be prayed after 10am Mass . All are welcome after Mass to celebrate this great devotion, which Our Lady herself on numerous appearances has asked us to pray for the world (Please note there is no Midday Rosary at this time).

Lent Sycamore Course:
What do you believe? Sycamore is an informal course about the Christian faith, for people with some Christian background, who wish to renew their faith in the Season of Lent. The focus of these sessions is on knowing God and the salvation He offers in Jesus Christ and on our response to this offer of salvation in faith, freedom and love. Each session involves a short film and time for discussion. All are welcome. Starting Wednesday 1st March 7pm at St. Peter’s Parish Hall, Lytham.

World Day of Prayer:
The World Day of Prayer service this year will be held this Friday March 3rd at 2.00pm at St Joseph’s, with refreshments in the hall after the service. The theme ‘I have heard about your faith’ has been prepared by the women of Taiwan. Let us join them in prayer along with over 120 countries around the world. Please come to welcome fellow Christians from local churches.

CAFOD Syria-Turkey Earthquake Appeal:
CAFOD is responding with support of provision of food, water, shelter, medical assistance and winter kits for survivors. Your donations in recent months have made that quick response possible. Let us join CAFOD in praying for our sisters and brothers affected by the earthquakes and the winter weather. Your support for CAFOD throughout the year allows our Catholic agency to act quickly when disasters strike. For more details visit CAFOD’s Syria Turkey Emergency Appeal online at https://cafod.org.uk/give.

Lancaster Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes:
Led by Bishop Paul, the annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes is taking place this year 21st – 28th July. Cost from £829 based on two people sharing. All bookings must be made through the agents, Joe Walsh Tours, and a poster with further information, and booking forms for anyone interested in travelling are available at the back of Church. Our Lady of Lourdes, patroness of the diocese,  pray for us.

Mass Intentions for the year ahead:
If you would like a mass said for a relative or friend for a particular date in the coming year now is the time to make your request. We have the diary ready in the parish office to save the date. There are 3 masses per week available at each church. Please put mass intentions in an envelope and state a preference of where you would like the mass to be said if necessary. Envelopes are available at the back of the church.

Offertory Collections:
It would help greatly therefore if you would consider moving over to making your offering by Standing Order. Forms are available at the back of church if you think you might be able to help us in this way. Completed SO forms should be forwarded to your bank. Only Gift Aid applications should be returned via the offertory basket. Gift Aid is an arrangement that allows charities (including churches) to reclaim tax on a donation made by a UK taxpayer. This means every donation will be worth 25% more, at no extra cost to the giver. For example, with Gift Aid the charity can claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated, which makes a huge difference. If you would like to support the church with Gift Aid, you simply need to complete a Gift Aid Declaration Forms are available at the back of church and should be returned via the collection baskets. A Gift Aid Declaration is the giver’s declaration that they wish for the church to reclaim tax on their gift.

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.