12th September 2021
Restoring The Weekday Masses:
After this weekend we will be returning to our normal schedule of Mass on Tuesday and Friday mornings. These Masses will be at the new time of 10am. Confessions will be available after Mass on both days. From this weekend, we are opening all the benches for use again. We would ask that people still try to maintain a safe distance when taking a seat in church. The wearing of face masks or coverings continues to be strongly encouraged at this time.
Help For Afghan Refugees:
Fylde Borough Council is planning to take five Afghan families who have fled the recent Taliban takeover in their country. The Council will be working in partnership with charity Home-Start Blackpool Fylde & Wyre to co-ordinate the collection of items needed to support these families. This will be done through the Home-Start shop at 135 St Alban’s Road, St Annes, FY8 1UY. Items required are: nappies, children’s books, children’s clothing, sanitary products and toiletries. These can be dropped off at the shop when it is open Mon – Fri 10am – 4pm. Home-Start are looking for volunteers to help process and sort the items donated. If you would like to be involved, please see Sue Uttley at the shop, or contact Gill at the charity office on (01253) 728615 or at enquiries@homestartbfw.org.uk.
Catholic Voice For September:
The July edition of our diocesan newspaper is available here
Burkina Faso 2021 Appeal:
Our annual appeal opens this weekend and will close at the end of September. Donations should be placed in an envelope clearly noted Burkina Faso and left in the offertory basket. Cheques should be made payable to St Joseph’s (Burkina Faso). We hope to raise around £1,000 to help with running costs.
CAFOD News:
CAFOD is responding to multiple emergencies across the world but we need your help: CAFOD is responding to significant crises across the world this week. We are working with local Church organisations in Haiti to deliver emergency aid to people affected by the catastrophic earthquake and tropical storm. In the tragic situation in Afghanistan, CAFOD are working to ensure the safety of our local partners and their communities. CAFOD are supporting local aid workers to deliver urgent food and water supplies to hundreds of thousands of people facing extreme hunger in Tigray in Ethiopia, South Sudan and north-east Nigeria. You can read more about how we can all express solidarity with our sisters and brothers affected by these emergencies on our CAFOD website: https://cafod.org.uk/News/Emergencies-news. Your continued compassion, generosity and prayers have helped us to stand together and enable CAFOD to continue to support communities in these difficult times.
Confirmation:
Bishop Paul Swarbrick will be coming to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on our young people at Mass at 6.30pm on Tuesday 30th November this year at St Joseph’s. Any young person who will be in Year 7 in September, or above, and wishes to be Confirmed, please let us know ASAP so that we can organise the preparation program.
Living ‘Laudato Si’ – Your Parish & Your Planet:
A long weekend of talks and discussions on zoom, and practical activities, on living the message of Laudato Si’ (Pope Francis’ Letter on our stewardship of the environment) in and through your parish. Speakers will include Cardinal Vincent Nicolls, Bishop Paul Swarbrick, and Sr Margaret Atkins OSA from Boarbank. Cost – voluntary donations gratefully accepted, but there will be no fee for the weekend. For more info, email Sr Margaret Atkins on margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk
Opposing The Assisted Dying Bill:
Earlier this year, a Private Members Bill on ‘Assisted Dying’ was introduced in the House of Lords by Baroness Molly Meacher, Chair of Dignity in Dying. It is due its second reading mid-October 2021, where there will be a full debate in the House of Lords. The Bill is almost identical in form to the ‘Marris Bill’, which was overwhelmingly defeated by 330 votes to 118. In the House of Commons in 2015. None of the serious concerns raised at the time have been factored into this new piece of legislation. In essence it permits an adult who is terminally ill (less than 6 months to live) to be assisted in ending their life, provided a declaration is signed by them, a witness, two doctors (one attending and one independent) and a Judge of the High Court Family Division has then consented to the request. The main concerns with the Bill can be summarised as follows: Protecting the Most Vulnerable, The Experience of Other Countries and Investing in Care and Not Ending Care. To find out more go to the Bishops’ Conference Website at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/life-issues/.
Pray Awhile With Mary:
We are blessed to have a beautiful memorial garden in our grounds. The remains of many of our parishioners are buried there. There is an attractive array of flowers and bushes around the statue of Our Lady. It is an ideal place to stop for awhile and say a prayer for those laid to rest in this place, or just to have a quiet few moments with the Lord and His Blessed Mother. Many thanks go to Austin D’Souza who labours to keep the flowers, etc. there, and throughout all the parish grounds, in good order.
Ringing The Bells:
It is wonderful to hear our church bells ring out again, now that it is safe for our bell-ringers to gather in the belfry. We have had a number of messages from people round about who appreciate hearing the bells on Sunday morning again. As a mark of respect and remembrance for those who have died during this difficult period, whether due to the virus or not, the bells will be rung ‘half- muffled’, that is to say the bells have a pad, usually leather, tied to one side of the clapper so that alternate strokes of the bell are full and soft, giving the effect of a bright change followed by a softer echo. This way of ringing is often used for funerals and remembrance of the dead. It is planned to continue this during the month of August, as we look forward to better times ahead while remembering the loved ones we have lost.
Support
We would be grateful for any donations to assist our 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!
Praying God’s Word:
A group of us started to meet for Lectio Divina or God’s Word to me during Lent. We have continued during Eastertide and plan to continue. We meet by Zoom on a Wednesday at 10.00am. If you would like to try it phone Wanda on the number in this weeks bulletin.
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..
The Youth Stations Of The Cross
have been taken down for this year. They will now be hung in the Hall. You can also view them here. Thank you to: everyone who hosted a Station; all the artists and everyone who walked and prayed.
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!
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
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.