Easter Sunday (A)

The Resurrection of the Lord

This Week's Feast Days

Most weeks there may well be a number of feast days. We don’t necessarily celebrate them all. Some saints are more important in certain parts of the country than others and will be celebrated more on a local level, whilst other saints will be celebrated everywhere. So each week we will comment on the feast-days that we should celebrate in our regional Church.

Sunday, April 5th - Easter Sunday (A)

Monday April 6th - Easter Monday 

Tuesday, April 7th - Easter Tuesday 

Wednesday, April 8th - Easter Wednesday 

Thursday, April 9th - Easter Thursday

Friday, April 10th - Easter Friday

Saturday, April 11th - Easter Saturday

Sunday, April 12th - 2nd  Sunday of Easter  (A)

Sunday Readings

Easter Sunday (A)

First Reading: Acts 10: 34. 37-43
We have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 117
This day was made by the Lord; we rejoice and are glad.

Second Reading: Col 3: 1-4
You must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is.

Sequence:
Victimae paschali laudes
Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise

Gospel Reading –  John 20: 1-9
He must rise from the dead

Psalter: Week 1
Weekdays:  of Easter

Holy Week 2026

29th March: Palm Sunday.
Masses will be at the usual Sunday times.

1st April - Wednesday of Holy Week: 
7.30pm Chrism Mass, Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool 
(Please see details in churches for coach pick up times.)

The Sacred Triduum

2nd April - Maundy Thursday: 
Mass of the Lord's Supper
7pm - St Richard's, Sacred Heart, Hindley Green and St Joseph's, followed by Watching in St Joseph's Chapel, concluding with Night Prayer at 9.00pm
7.30pm - St Ambrose Barlow, followed by Watching until Night Prayer at 9.50pm

3rd April - Good Friday: 
Stations of the Cross
10am St Ambrose Barlow, Astley, Sacred Heart, Hindley Green, St John's Atherton - Ecumenical Service, 
11am Sacred Heart Hindley Green

Passion of the Lord
3pm St Richard's,  Sacred Heart Hindley Green, Sacred Heart Leigh, Holy Family Boothstown.

4th April - Holy Saturday:
Easter Vigil Mass
7.30pm St Richards
8.00pm St Joseph's, Holy Family

5th April - Easter Sunday:
Easter Day Mass
9.30am St Richard's, St Joseph's, Holy Family
11.00am Sacred Heart, Hindley Green, Sacred Heart, Leigh, St Ambrose Barlow

Newsletters

There are four newsletters published weekly in the Leigh area, you can access current and past editions here:

St Edmund Arrowsmith Newsletters (St Joseph's and Sacred Heart, Leigh)

St Margaret Clitherow Newsletters (Holy Family, Boothstown; St Ambrose Barlow, Astley)

St John Rigby Newsletter (Sacred Heart, Hindley Green; St Richard's, Atherton)

St Lewis, St Catherine's & All Saints Newsletters (Croft, Lowton & Golborne) (opens in new window)

( Newsletters download as pdf files in a new window.)

Mass Times In The Area

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.

Prayers

A selection of prayers covering various subjects. Each prayer opens on a new page.

Powerful Words from Pope Leo XIV

Prayer for Peace

Ukraine

Jubilee Prayer

The Rosary

Season of Creation Prayer

Remembrance Sunday

Links to prayer based websites:

Pray As You Go

Sacred Space

Universalis

Wellsprings - this site hasn't been updated for sometime, but the content has a useful selection of prayers.

CAFOD News

CAFOD: Response in Gaza
Your donations to Gaza since the start of the conflict have been a vital lifeline. Right now, CAFOD's partner, Caritas Jerusalem, is delivering essential medical treatment to displaced people and providing medicines to treat chronic illnesses. We have helped 1,400 households with cash to buy supplies in the last month and we are currently feeding 2,000 people with new stocks of flour and rice. Despite the restrictions on aid coming into Gaza, CAFOD's local partners are working tirelessly to help people. And with your ongoing support, they will do all in their  power to keep doing so. You can find out more about how you can make a difference in Gaza at cafod.org.uk. Thank you for backing our work through holding collections for our Family Fast Day appeals and for continuing to pray for peace in the Middle East.

Celebrating the Sacraments

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. Any young person who is in year 8 or above, have made their First Holy Communion and would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation can register for Sacramental preparation at www.liverpoolcalled.co.uk/confirmation. The website for registration is open and will close on 13th February

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.

Read more: Celebrating the Sacraments

News Bites

• THE POPE'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR APRIL 2026:
  For Priests in Crisis
  Let us pray for Priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.

Please also refer to the Events page and individual newsletter pages for more

• Please see the Events page
  for details of Family Quiz Night, and 1960's Night
• Divine Sunday Mercy :
  The Sunday after Easter is when we celebrate the feast of the Divine Mercy. On this Divine Mercy Sunday, we shall have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 3pm. 1 hour adoration will follow. At 4 p.m., we shall have an evening of songs and praise. Please mark your diaries for this event. You will be spiritually uplifted. Happy Easter!
• Social Committee Meeting, Sacred Heart, Hindley Green
  A meeting of the social committee will take place 13th April at 7:00pm (Sacred Heart Parish Centre) - all welcome
• Foundation Governors Required, St Richards Primary School
  St Richards primary school needs you! You may have attended our primary school or have children or grandchildren who attend there. The governing body now has four vacancies for foundation governors. Foundation governors are those whose role is to support the school by tying it into the local Catholic community and helping to ensure its Catholic ethos. You do not need a background in education, or any particular experience - we all bring our own very different personalities and skills to the role, in the service
  of Christ and of our Catholic family. Please speak to Fr Carl, Sue Brown, Andrew Bowyer (the organist), or Nneamaka Eyakwanor (Louisa) for further information. We really look forward to hearing from you! Thanks for your help!
  
• Youth Ministry 20th/21st April
  We want all young people to flourish and to know that they are cherished by God and are a vital part of the Church. So, as an Archdiocese, we are committed to explore how we can best accompany young people. Your voice is crucial. What will happen: You will meet others and have your chance to share your experiences and ideas about how the Church might best respond to the needs of young people today. All feedback will be carefully listened to. Who’s invited: We want to hear from adults, young adults and 11-18 year olds. Please join us. Monday 20th April 7pm—9.30pm St Joseph’s, Crow Orchard Road, Wrightington, WN6 9PA Tuesday 21st April 7pm—9.30pm St Monica’s, Fernhill Road Bootle, L20 9GA. For more information, please contact: Sarah McGeehan on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  
• Celebrating St Gerard, The Mothers’ Saint, 25th April
  April 6th 2026 marks the 300th  anniversary of the birth of St Gerard Majella C.Ss.R., Patron Saint of a good confession and of Mothers. To mark the occasion, Bishop Eton will
  be hosting a special day of events, including Mass with the Archbishop, Blessing Services, Exposition and a Taize service. More information can be found at:  www.bishopeton.org.uk/a-day-in-honour-of-st-gerard.html
• Gift Aid
  Can all envelope givers kindly pick up their envelopes for the new year. If any one who is a tax payer and wants to join the Gift Aid Scheme please see Bernie or Des (St MC)
• Confession and Exposition
  From Wednesday 11th March, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed between 6-7pm each Wednesday at St Richard's Church (until further notice), with the opportunity for confession available during the hour.

• Read more: News Bites

Live Simply / Laudato Si

Reflect:
Mary Magdalene finds the tomb empty and runs to tell John and Peter who return to the tomb and see for themselves that the Lord has risen from the dead, just as he promised.

Act:
There is a sense of urgency in today's Gospel reading as the truth of Christ's Resurrection unfolds. Do we share in this urgency to proclaim Jesus Is Lord and to bring his Good News into the world?
Our world is full of people longing for the joy and freedom that Easter proclaims. Many carry burdens of poverty, illness, loneliness, or exclusion. When we reach out with acts of kindness, compassion, and practical help, we do more than solve immediate problems, we allow people to glimpse the living presence of Christ and in so doing we bring hope and joy into the world. 
   
Pray:

Challenge

In the spirit of Laudato Si:

• People are struggling in our world today. This week do at least ONE thing to alleviate someone's distress.
• The SVP would like donations of Easter Eggs for the local food banks. Can you help?
• Do we appreciate what we have? Take time this week to give thanks for all that is in your world.
• We are shown the importance of water in a theological sense in today's Gospel. Many people throughout the world suffer from a shortage of water. This week use the water which we have such easy access to wisely and without waste.
• Friday's Family Fast Day gave us a chance to affect the lives of others through our self-denial. Please ensure you give generously to the Family Fast Day collection
• Take the opportunities offered by your Lenten practices to conserve and recycle the things you use.
• As the earth starts to warm up after the winter, sow  seeds in trays and keep them in a warm place to germinate.
• Now is a good time to collect rainwater in water butts for use during the drier months.
• The earth is coming back to life as Spring approaches. Take time to seek out, rejoice and give thanks for all that you see.
• In the turmoil that exists in our world today, commit to bringing peace into the world by creating small acts of peace in your own life
• Can you commit to the Big Lent Walk and raise funds for life saving water in areas of the world where such a luxury is scarce.?
• Check your insulation is sufficient during this cold spell ensuring that heat is not wasted.
• Now is the time to recycle!! Don't just throw stuff away, but look at how it may be repurposed, regifted. Find out where cards and trees can be recycled, rather than them becoming part of a land fill site.

Children's Liturgy

St Richard's  - Children's Liturgy takes place every Sunday at the 9.30am Mass 

Sacred Heart - Children's Liturgy takes place every Sunday at the 11.00am Mass 

St Ambrose Barlow – Children's Liturgy recommences on Sunday September 13th during the 11.00am Mass

St Edmund Arrowsmith Churches - Little Church/Children’s Liturgy will return at all three Masses of St Edmund Arrowsmith Churches on the weekend of 7/8th September.

Holy Family – We have a few volunteers but need several more to be able to run a rota in a similar way to St Ambrose. If you would like to volunteer, please speak to either Fr Francis or to Liz in the parish office as soon as possible.

Please note that all volunteers must complete a DBS form with the Archdiocese to comply with safeguarding which is paramount in all parish activities.

Tea and Coffee

• HOLY FAMILY TEA AND COFFEE
  Tea and Coffee will be served next Sunday 1st February. All welcome.
• Holy Family Mothers Day Cafe:
  Sunday 15th March. Please come along to the hall after the 9.30am mass, along with the usual tea and toast there will be extra special free treats for everyone. All Welcome
• SACRED HEART, LEIGH TEA & COFFEE
  Tea & Coffee will be served after the 11.00am Mass next Sunday 25th January. All are welcome.
  
• ST RICHARD'S
  Special Coffee Morning 
  11 January 2026 – Coffee and tea will be served after Mass on Sunday at St Richards parish centre. In aid of pancreatic cancer charities.
• ST AMBROSE BARLOW TEA & COFFEE
  Tea, coffee and toast are served in the hall each Sunday after the 11.00am Mass. Take this opportunity to get to know your fellow parishioners!
  Tea and coffee are also served after the 9.15 Mass on a Tuesday mornng.