Jack Traynor

Following the announcement in  December of the miraculous cure of John (Jack) Traynor, the Archdiocese of Liverpool will be celebrating this historic moment with Mass followed by a drink’s reception at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King on Tuesday 18th February at 7pm. All are very welcome to attend. More information and a booking form will follow.
For more info This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 10th February 2025.

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP, has officially declared the case of John (Jack) Traynor as a miracle. Jack was a pilgrim on the archdiocese's first official pilgrimage to Lourdes in 1923 and was cured dramatically of epilepsy, paralysis of the right arm and paraplegia during the pilgrimage. Arc hbishop Malcolm said: “Given the weight of medical evidence, the testimony to the faith of John Traynor and his devotion to Our Blessed Lady, it is with great joy that I declare that the cure of John Traynor, from multiple serious medical conditions, is to be recognised as a miracle wrought by the power of God through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes.” (Dec 2024)

Fr Paul

For 9 years Fr Paul has been your parish priest in St Margaret Clitherow parish. In that time he has steered the parish through some challenging situations. He is without doubt one of our most gifted priests.

In the light of this I have asked him to go to Wigan to be the parish priest of the 3 church community of St William’s. This is made up of St Mary’s, St John’s and St Patrick’s churches. This community needs to be led very sensitively and I am sure that Fr Paul is the right man for this.

I know this will come as a shock to you.

I am delighted to be able to say that I am sending a priest to be your parish priest, Fr Francis Agada. He is a missionary of St Paul (MSP). He has been in Kirkby for the last two years. He is full of life and energy and so will be able to carry on where Fr Paul is leaving off.

These changes will take place in the early part of January 2025. Please keep me and all our priests in your prayers as we keep you in ours.
Archbishop Malcolm

The Church needs your support. If you help pleasen bring your donation to Church when we are open, or you can put your offering through the letterbox at Sacred Heart, (Leigh) St Joseph’s, Holy Family or St Richard's (Please remember to put your Gift Aid number on the envelope if you are signed up for Gift Aid), or you may want to set up a standing order, the bank details are as follows:

HSBC 99-101 Lord St, Liverpool, L2 6PG sort code 40-29-12 account No. 51545205.

Online giving website:
The Archdiocesan online giving website is now ready to be used and can receive both one-off and regular monthly donations. Each parish has its own unique link on the website and a church photograph is shown to provide additional reassurance to donors that they are donating to their parish. All donations will go to the parish selected by the donor. There is a Gift Aid option. Please visit this page: https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/
There is a detailed guide on how to donate on the website. If any parishioners would like support with this, please contact. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with name and telephone number and we will endeavour to call to assist as quickly as possible.

The links for the various parishes are:

St Margaret Clitherow : https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/st-margaret-clitherow-boothstown
St John Rigby : https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/st-john-rigby-atherton
St Edmund Arrowsmith’s: https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/st-edmund-arrowsmith-leigh

Making an offering to the parish by text message:

Read more: Supporting the Church Financially

Below are the normal mass times for the churches in the area, but please check the newsletters for any changes which may occur during certain periods, e.g. funerals, holidays, feast days.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child or adult at risk, do not delay in contacting the police, using 999 if a child or adult is believed to be in immediate danger.
 
It is the policy of the Catholic Church in England and Wales to report all allegations of abuse to statutory authorities, regardless of whether the abuse occurred recently or in the past, or whether the accused person is living or deceased.
 
If you are in any role within the Catholic Church in England and Wales, you must refer allegations directly to the safeguarding office for your diocese or religious congregation, or directly to the Police.  
 
If you are a member of the public, please refer allegations directly to the police and also to the safeguarding office in your diocese; (the relevant Diocesan safeguarding office can be located using the interactive map on the links page of the CSAS website www.csas.uk.net - contact details will be shown when you click on the relevant area of the map). You can also contact CSAS by telephoning 0207 901 1920 or via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Liverpool Archdiocesan Safeguarding Office offer free and accessible online training which can be undertaken on your own personal computer.

To access the training follow these steps:

    Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register your interest.
   
Your  email  should  contain  your  name,  email  address,  the name of the parish and your role in the parish; if you don’t have a specific role just state ‘Other (parishioner)’.

Wigan is the Local Authority for schools in the area. 

The Archdiocese of Liverpool Education Department supports Catholic schools in their provision of a quality education with an emphasis on personal, spiritual and moral formation as well as on academic progress.

Secondary School and Sixth Form College

We are lucky to have a Catholic High School and 6th Form in the area. St Mary's is a well regarded school and takes pride in its efforts to nurture, support and encourage all pupils who attend.

St Mary's Catholic High School and Sixth Form College

Primary Schools

Our Secondary School is partnered with the Catholic Primary Schools in the Leigh area:

Astley

St Ambrose Barlow Catholic Primary School

Atherton

St Richard's Catholic Primary School

Boothstown

 Holy Family Catholic Primary School

Croft

St Lewis's, Croft

Golborne

All Saints, Golborne

Higher Folds

St Gabriel's Catholic Primary School

Hindley Green

Sacred Heart, Hindley Green

Hindsford

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School

Leigh

Sacred Heart (Leigh) Catholic Primary School

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

Lowton

St Catherine's, Lowton

Westleigh

Twelve Apostles Catholic Primary School

Foundation Governors Needed

Fr Kieran is looking to fill four positions for Foundation Governors at two Primary Schools. Two are required at Sacred Heart School and two at
St Joseph’s School. To become a Foundation Governor you must be a practicing Catholic, with an interest in working alongside other  governors, the Headteacher and staff, for the good of our young children.
For more information, please contact
Fr. Kieran or contact:
St Joseph’s School: 01942 606395
or Sacred Heart School: 01942 674226

At the beginning of Advent 2021, in a reorganisation of the Archdiocese, Leigh Deanery was merged with churches in the Wigan area to form Wigan and Leigh Deanery. It covers not just Wigan and Leigh but also many of the smaller villages and towns surrounding the towns. Deanery priests meet no less than eight times a year and at least twice a year with the Deacons of the Deanery. Fr Gordon Abbs was appointed Dean in Advent 2021. His term of office runs until 29^th Feb 2024.

View the Pastoral Letter regarding Families of Parishes for Wigan and Leigh Deanery.

For a full list of churches in the new deanery please click here.

The churches in the Leigh area are part of the Wigan and Leigh Deanery. This in turn is part of the Archdiocese of Liverpool. You can find more information about the Archdiocese by following this link:

https://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/

Baptism

Please contact your Parish Office to make an appointment to meet with the Priest or Deacon. Baptisms usually take place on Sundays.

Holy Communion

Children in Year 4 at Primary Schools are invited to make their First Communion during that year. Preparation for the Sacrament may take place in school or by attending a series of meetings with parents or guardians.

Reconciliation

Children in Year 5 or 6 will be invited to make their First Act of Reconciliation (Confession). For continuing celebration of the sacrament, please refer to your local church. Quite often Reconciliation is available before Mass or by contacting the priest to make an appointment.

Confirmation

Preparation for this sacrament is usually arranged through the Archdiocesan Youth Ministry Team ' Animate' for young people in Year 8 or older who attend Catholic Secondary Schools.

Congratulations to all the young people in the area who have received the Sacrament of Confirmation recently. May your lives be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Marriage

If you would like to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage, please contact your  Parish Priest either directly or through the Parish Office to discuss. He will provide you with the necessary paperwork. Please remember to make arrangements well in advance.

Anointing the Sick

If you would like your Parish Priest to visit a family member who is sick and housebound, please speak to him or contact the Parish Office and a visit will be arranged.

Priests in the area:

Fr Carl Mugan - 01942 392922 (St Richard's & Sacred Heart.)
Fr Paul Grady - 0161 790 2390 (Holy Family, St Ambrose Barlow & St Gabriel's)
Fr Kieran O'Grady - 01942 673517 (Sacred Heart & St Joseph's)
Fr Gordon Abbs - 01942 273851 (St Lewis, St Catherine's & All Saints)

St Joseph's Centre - 01942 673517

St Margaret Clitherow
(Boothstown, Astley, Higher Folds)
Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St Edmund Arrowsmith
(Leigh, Westleigh)
Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St John Rigby
(Atherton, Hindsford, Hindley Green)

Parish Office Opening Hours
Tues / Wed / Thurs 10:00 am – 1:00pm 
Enquiries: Office: 01942 951001  or   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Presbytery: 01942 392922 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

St Catherine of Sienna and All Saints & St Lewis
(Croft, Golborne)
Enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.