5th of April 2020
Please see the Decree here issued by Bishop Paul Swarbrick given on Thursday 26th March 2020 following the Prime Minister’s public announcement on Monday 23rd March
Following that statement, all churches and chapels are to be closed until further notice. Mass will continue to be celebrated in private by priests without a congregation. The obligation to attend Sunday Mass continues, therefore, to be suspended until further notice.
Baptisms, weddings, receptions into church and other forms of liturgy or celebration where the faithful gather must be deferred with the exception of funerals. Please contact Fr David for details.
Confessions will not be available, except for those who are seriously ill or in danger of death.
Holy Communion visits to the sick: can only be made on request when someone is very ill or in danger of death.
Live Streaming of the Mass:
See the ‘Videos’ page here, and you will see recordings of Mass at St Joseph’s there – at least, that’s the idea!
For our Lady of the Assumption, Blackpool go to: https://www.olablackpool.org/ (Recorded).
Holy Family, Freckleton & Warton:
https://www.facebook.com/StAnneandHolyfamily/
Our Lady Star of the Sea & St Michael, Workington follow: https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/christ-the-good-shepherd
For Our Lady of Furness, Barrow follow: https://camsecure.co/httpswebcam/owenbayliss/owenbayliss5.html
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). We thank those extra volunteers who have given their names and are prepared to provide help for those who need it.
Holy Week Resources:
The following link takes you to a page on the website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales, and its full of all sorts of resources, especially for celebrating Holy Week at home when you can’t come to church. Lots of things that can be downloaded. Do have a look at it, there are readings, prayers, reflections, and even something for the younger ones…
http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Flu/index.shtml
Suggestion for Holy Week:
For Palm Sunday, why not put a branch in the window to mark Holy Week; and light a candle and put it in your window for the Easter Vigil next Saturday evening.
The God Who Speaks – Reading St Matthew:
There is a 44-day plan for reading through Matthew’s Gospel. This would be an ideal time for sitting down with the Gospel readings and letting God speak to us. Here is the plan for the next 7 days: Day 1: Jesus’ genealogy 1:1-1:17; Birth 1:18-25. Day 2: Magi 2:1-12; Flight to Egypt 2:13-15; Massacre of Infants 2:16-23. Day 3: Return from Egypt 2:19-23; John the Baptist 3:1-12; Jesus’ Baptism 3:13-17. Day 4: Jesus’ Temptation 4:1-11; Jesus’ Ministry 4:12-17; Call of the Disciples 4:18-22; Jesus and the Crowds 4:23-25. Day 5: Beatitudes 5:1-12; Salt & Light 5:13-16; Law & Prophets 5:16-20. Day 6: Anger 5:21-26; Adultery 5:17-30; Divorce 5:31-32; Oaths 5:33-37; Retaliation 5:38-42. Day 7: Love Enemies 5:43-48; Almsgiving 6:1-4; Prayer 6:5-15; Fasting 6:16-18
Please see the main home page for details on what is happening at st Joseph’s during the Covid19 outbreak from Friday the 22nd of March 2020. Below follows any additional news, generally derived from the bulletin, which can be found here. There is a statement, which can be found here, which includes words from our own Bishop, Bishop Swarbrick and also from Fr. David.
Sunday Morning Coffee:
Sunday Morning Coffee is currently suspended.
Foodbank:
Collections are needed more than ever. Please bring any donations to the Hall between 11am and Noon each Monday morning for the time being. Many thanks.
Hospital:
If you, or someone you know, is going into Blackpool Victoria Hospital please inform the RC Chaplain on 01253 956299 giving the name as known by the hospital and the ward. Should the Chaplain be required urgently please ask the ward staff to contact the on-call RC Chaplain.
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 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.
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.
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.