21st November 2021

St. Joseph’s Care- Help For The Refugees:
Can you help? We have been in touch with the people at the collection point on St Alban’s Road about things they need help with for refugees. Over the next couple of weeks there are going to be a couple of families moving into this area. They will need: Towels, Bedding, (duvet covers & pillowcases- single & double), Duvets, (single & double), Pillows, Towels, Tea towels, Pots, Pans, Crockery, Cutlery. All these need to be NEW rather than second hand. They also always need: Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary pads & tampons). Nappies, Children’s clothes NEW, not second hand. We will be collecting any of these items donated on Saturday 4thand Sunday 5th December before and after each Mass. Many thanks in advance.

Children’s Liturgy
has not restarted yet because it is felt that there is still a high level of infection around, especially in school children. Also, the rooms we use don’t have sufficient ventilation. We are also very short of liturgists. If you would like to join the team, please leave your name with Fr. David.

Liberty Doyle
is selling handmade Christmas decorations made from wood. Lots of the wood has been gathered from our garden, so they are a great environmentally friendly gift. She is raising funds for Brian House as part of a school project. All of the money given will be passed to Brian House Children’s Hospice. She will be here in church on Sunday 21st November and 28th November.

Climate Change:
Together we can make a difference. Thank you to all who came to the quiz night last Saturday, our compere Tony and quiz masters Stacey and James. It was great to be together again. We had fun and we all learned something. We captured some of the things people already do and one new thing they will do. This weekend take some time to look at the poster at the back of church with ideas of what we could do in our homes to be more planet friendly. There is also a summary of what actions are already being taken and proposed by the quizzers. Please share what you already do and will start to do on the cards provided.

Indulgences For The Month Of The Holy Souls:
In addition to the usual conditions, a plenary indulgence (i.e., the remission before God of all punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven), applicable to only one of the Holy Souls, can be gained by making a devout visit to a Church or Oratory when an Our Father and Creed are said. The Indulgence can be gained throughout November, but only once per day. Similarly, and in addition to the usual conditions, a plenary indulgence, applicable to only one of the Holy Souls, can be gained by a devout visit to a cemetery and praying there for the dead – again, only once per day. The usual conditions are: a detachment from all sin; sacramental Confession and Eucharistic Communion as soon as possible from the time the indulgence action is performed; and prayers said for the pope’s intentions.

Prayer For A New Creation:
This prayer was written by Fr Charles Rue SSC: Lord, may your promise of a New Creation become a reality in our lives and our world. Help us to be converted to solidarity with your Earth and all it upholds as our kin. May our words of care and love flow through to actions. Amen.

CAFOD:
We have received an email from CAFOD thanking us for £1193.13 received from St. Joseph’s parishioners.

Ansdell Christmas Lights:
This coming Friday 26th Nov at 5pm there will be the Ansdell Christmas Lights switch on at Ansdell Institute on Woodlands Rd. This is an event where the communities of Ansdell & Fairhaven gather. During the event we will be singing a Christmas carol. As Christians in the community, I would like to encourage you to support this event. The lights switch on is at 5pm however people are invited to gather beforehand and proceedings will begin at approximately 4:15pm inside the Institute.

Unpick The Gospel:
Come and reflect on next week’s Gospel in the Hall Wednesday 10am until 11am. Listen and consider what Jesus is saying to us today! Come along and just try it, you will be surprised at how the Gospel comes alive.

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

November – The Month Of The Holy Souls: 

Traditionally, November is the month of the Holy Souls. We pray for all those who have died, especially over the last year. From this Tuesday the basket will be out at the front of church for those whose souls people wish to be prayed for. Pleased just write a list of their names on a piece of paper, fold it, and leave it in the basket. All their souls will be remembered at Masses throughout November.

The Family Quiz Event:
will now take place after Evening Mass on Saturday 13th November in the Hall. Please come along and see what a difference we can all make. There is a sign-up sheet at the back of church. Following Covid good practice, please bring along your own food and drink. Plates and glasses will be available.

Parish Party:
We have reluctantly taken the decision to postpone our party (originally scheduled for 26th November) until next year sometime. Don’t worry, the Party will happen sometime in the New Year.

Job Vacancy:
House Manager/Carer An opportunity has arisen for an experienced person to provide care and support to the retired priests of St Winefride’s House, Bispham, Blackpool. FY2 0PA. We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated, reliable person with a friendly, caring and positive attitude to join the team. The successful candidate would be responsible for the holistic care of the priests (currently 6 in number) and carry out basic day-to-day household tasks including cooking lunch for the priests. Salary to be arranged. Please contact Fr Peter Draper on 01772 725193 or parish.priest2@btinternet.com for more information or for an application form/job description/person spec. Arrangements can be made to have a look around.

Unpick The Gospel:
Come and reflect on next week’s Gospel in the Hall Wednesday 10am until 11am. Listen and consider what Jesus is saying to us today! Come along and just try it, you will be surprised at how the Gospel comes alive.

The Church On A ‘Synodal Journey’:
Pope Francis has called the whole Church to take part in a ‘Synodal Journey’. This ‘journey’ means a period of prayer, reflection, and listening to all voices in the Church, starting at the local level. The pope speaks of the synod as the way of being Church together. The word ‘synod’ come from the Greek: ‘synodos’, meaning ‘assembly, meeting, coming together’; and ‘hodos’, meaning ‘journeying, a way, road or path’. The idea of the synod is very ancient in the Church. The pope speaks of it also as the way forward. Our bishop, Paul Swarbrick, introduces this initiative in this Sunday’s Pastoral letter: ‘This first phase of preparation is to take place throughout the Diocese, please God, in all the parishes. We are invited to pray, speaking our mind (with respect and charity of course!), careful listening, discernment and openness to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The bishops who meet in Rome in 2023 will have received your deliberations on the theme: ‘For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission.’ The bishop also says: ‘I am asking all our parishes to pray for the success of the Synod of Bishops due to take place in October 2023. As well as praying for the Synod, I want parishes to meet and actually help form the Church, making it Fit for Mission for these times.’ More details will be made known as they come through. In the meantime, material is available from the Holy See at https://www.synod.va/en.html

St. Joseph’s Care:
It is hoped to hold a meeting very soon for those people who already volunteer or anyone who would be willing to volunteer. It would be good to discuss how best to carry on this valuable and needy work. In the meantime, if you are willing to help,please let us know either by e-mail or phone via the details 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.

500 Miles +:
please see the sponsorship form at the back of church. Joy and David Warwick’s son in law and Maria’s husband is running 500+ miles in support of a children’s charity. Full details with the sponsorship form.

Repository:
A restocked Repository including cards and gifts for Confirmation will reopen at the end of October. The toys etc currently stored in the Repository have been washed, sanitised and moved on. During this period of the Pandemic, it would be unwise for toys etc to be shared during services.

Bacon Butties Are Back!
Simon is back in the kitchen after Mass on Sunday morning, so why not call in for a bite and coffee! The children’s craft club is also underway again.

Prayers For World Mission:
This Sunday we pray, especially, for World Missions. This, and the annual appeal, is vital to the growth of the Church and the spread of the Gospel in predominately impoverished and remote areas overseas. Every donation supports churches, hospitals, schools and vocations where the Church is new, young or poor. Missio co-ordinates all this work and is the Pope’s charity for world mission, working with the global Missio family to bring the Church together in compassion and communion: local church directly helping local church.

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.

Wanted:
Trees, shrubs, spring bulbs, etc. for St. Joseph’s garden. Please leave near the bins, (behind the parish hall). Many Thanks.

St Joseph’s Care:
Your kind offerings are enabling us to continue to provide help to the young families associated with St Cuthbert’s Primary School in South Shore. We have also donated £250 to the St Bede’s Impact Group to help them with costs involved with a weekend at Castlerigg.

Foodbank:
Thank you for your continued generous donations. All items go to support people in our local community.

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.