22nd May 2022
Civic Mass:
Next Sunday we welcome Mayor Ben Aitken, family and friends for Mass at 10am celebrated by Fr Philip Newbold who will be the Mayor’s chaplain for the year ahead. We pray for Ben and his family that he has a successful and enjoyable year in office. There will be light refreshments in the Hall after Mass. Please note there is no 9:15am Mass next Sunday.
Advance Notice:
Fr David celebrates his Silver Jubilee of priestly ordination on Tuesday 28th June and will celebrate Mass at 7pm with his brother Fr Peter Burns, who was ordained on the same day. There will be light refreshments in the Hall after Mass.
Children’s Liturgy:
There will be no children’s liturgy next Sun 29th May (see above notice about the Mass that Sunday for civic guests), or on Sun 5th and 12th June (Half term). Back again on 19th June.
Impact:
We welcome young people from all over Lytham St Annes to their first Youth meeting in our Hall on Wed evening. We wish the group and Youth Leader, Terry Mattinson, every success with this venture as they seek ways for young people to make a positive contribution in their local communities.
Ukraine:
In last week’s bulletin we welcomed Natasha and Sonja from the Ukraine, who are staying with a family in the area. We also welcome Maria and Marina from the Ukraine, also staying in the area. We pray for them and their families, and all those who have had to leave homes in their war-torn country. We pray for a true and lasting peace for them and people in other troubled lands around the world. A big ‘Thank You’ to everyone for your wonderful generosity and support for the Ukrainian appeal. £1921.32 has been raised in the parish so far. This will be continuing. For further information, please contact Karolina Nowaczyk-Coxon the number in this week’s bulletin.
Burkina Faso:
The Prioress General has sent us an update of developments in Bafor, and this can viewed on the noticeboard with a selection of photographs. Our 2022 fundraising will remain open until the end of May, any donation should be placed in an envelope clearly marked Burkina Faso and placed in the collection basket. Cheques should be made payable to St Joseph’s Ansdell – Burkina Faso.
Pentecost Sunday 5th June:
Let’s celebrate the birthday of the Church! Any birthday celebration deserves cake. Last year we were allowed outdoor parties of up to 6 people. This year we will have coffee or tea and cake in the Hall after the Queen’s Jubilee Breakfast. Please come along and join us.
Women Together In The Diocese: All women are invited to a day reflecting upon their Mission in the Church, led by Sr Philomena Grimley SHCJ, at Our Lady & St Edward’s Social Centre, Marlborough Drive, Fulwood, Preston on Sat 11th June 10 for 10.30am start, finishing at 3.15pm, with Mass at Noon. No charge for the day, and lunch is provided. For catering purposes, please phone the numbers in this week’s bulletin.
Chaplaincy Post – H.M.P. Lancaster Farms
A fulltime Catholic chaplaincy post is now being advertised by the Prison Service. Closing date 30th May 2022. Details can be found at jobs.justice.gov.uk searching for reference 58481.
Offertory Collections:
Later this year we shall need to make alternative arrangements for banking offerings as the HSBC bank is scheduled for closure. It would help greatly therefore if you would consider moving over to making your offering by standing order rather than in cash. Forms are available at the back of church if you think you might be able to help us in this way.
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.
Sunday Obligation:
The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales are to re-instate the Sunday obligation from the Feast of Pentecost, Sunday 5th June. The bishops write: “We now invite all Catholics who have not yet done so to return to attending Mass in person”. The bishops also make the important point that “there will still be some members of our congregations who, for reasons of health, do not feel safe enough to return to Mass. It has always been the understanding of the Church that when the freedom of any Catholic to attend Mass in person is impeded for a serious reason, because of situations such as ill health, care for the sick or legitimate fear, this is not a breach of the Sunday Obligation”.
Thank You:
We are very grateful to Joseph Harrison who has undertaken lots of technical work for us over the past couple of months. We now have internet access in the church and additional cctv cameras installed inside and outside. The latest camera to be installed covers the remembrance garden and now means that we should be able to reinstate Our Lady’s statue there in the coming weeks.
Queen’s Jubilee Breakfast:
On Sunday 5 June there will be a Full English breakfast being served in the Hall after the 9.15am Mass. There is a sheet at the back of Church for interested parties to put their name down. It’s free of charge, so please come along and bring your Union Jacks!If anyone has any questions, please contact Si Cox on the number in this week’s bulletin.
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
Congratulations:
to Councillor Ben Aitken who was installed as Mayor of the Borough of Fylde at the annual meeting of the Council on the 11th May. Thanks to Ben for delivering one of the floral arrangements from the ceremony to the church – this is now in front of Our Lady’s altar. This is the first time a member of the parish has been elected as Mayor so a great achievement and honour. A Civic Mass will be held here at St Joseph’s on Sunday 29th May at 10.00am. Fr Philip Newbold will be Ben’s Chaplain for his year in office. You can read more about Ben on the noticeboard at the back of church.
Altar Servers:
We are in urgent need of more Altar Servers, young and not so young, age 8 to 80, you are invited to serve God in this wonderful way. No experience necessary, training/practising is available on Tuesday and Friday mornings at the 10am Masses or at the vigil Mass on Saturdays at 6pm or Sundays at the 5.05pm. Contact Fr. David or Pat Ormond on the number in this week’s bulletin.
Catholic Voice:
The May edition is available here.
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.