2nd Sunday in Ordianry Time (C)

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, January 19th - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Monday, January 20th - St Fabian, Pope, Martyr, St Sebastian, Martyr

Tuesday, January 21st - St Agnes, Virgin, Martyr

Wednesday, January 22nd -  St Vincent, Deacon, Martyr

Thursday, January 23rd -  Weekday in Ordinary Time

Friday, January 24th - St Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor of the Church

Saturday, January 25th - The Conversion of St Paul, Apostle

Sunday, January 26th - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Sunday Readings

The Baptism of the Lord (C)

First Reading – Isa 62:1-5
The bridegroom rejoices in his bride.

Second Reading – 1 Cor 12:4-11
One and the same Spirit, who distributes gifts to different people just as he chooses.

Gospel Reading – John 2:1-11
This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was at Cana in Galilee.

Psalter: Week 2

Weekdays: Ordinary Week 2

Welcome to Fr Francis

This week we welcome Fr Francis Agada as our new Parish Priest. As
Archbishop Malcolm told us in October, “He is a missionary of St Paul (MSP). He has been in Kirby
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.” May God bless him.

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.)

Message From Fr Paul

After nearly ten years here in St Margaret Clitherow parish my final weekend has arrived with you as parish priest. It has been a varied mixture of experiences with the pandemic and the changes in the parish during that time, but my memories will always be precious to me of your support and kindness to me during that time.
Please make Fr Francis as welcome as you made me and continue to grow in faith and love as a community with Christ at its centre.
Please pray for me as I move to a new parish as I will pray for all of you. I hope to return in the near future for a Mass of thanksgiving with you.
Many thanks for the kind cards and gifts I have received, I am overwhelmed by your kindness.
Thank you and God bless you all. Fr Paul

News Bites

• THE POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY 2025:
  

  For the right to an education
  Let us pray for migrants, refugees, and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.

• Ladies Group:
  The next meeting of the Ladies Group will be held on the 30th of January. Please note new time 12-2.00pm. Feel free to bring a snack and don't forget your secret santa
• Burns Night Celebration: 
  In years past we have hosted a Burns Night Event in the Parish Hall. Unfortunately we are no longer able to do so. However we can join together at the Old Boat House on Higher Green Lane, Astley on Friday 24th January for Haggis, neeps and tatties, a sweet and a wee dram. There will be a piper and entertainment. Price £17.00 Please contact Des - 07973 114365 or the Boat House 01942 364476.
• Walsingham Trip Easter 2025.
  Anyone interested in going to Walsingham with the XII Apostles group at Easter 2025, please contact Therese Thompson on 07780064502
• Holy Family Tea and Coffee after Mass:
  The next tea and coffee will be on Sunday 19th January after the 9.30am Mass. Please come along. All are welcome.
• Please also refer to the Events page for more social activities in the area.

• Read more: News Bites

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.

Jubilee Prayer

The official Prayer allows pilgrims from all over the world to use the same words to express 
gratitude to God for the Jubilee experience and request the grace of forgiveness.

Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.

May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.

Amen

Ukraine

Pope Francis
Pope Francis gave us this invitation.... ‘let us persevere in our closeness and in prayer for the dear Ukrainian people who are experiencing immense cruelty’

A Prayer for Ukraine
Loving God,
We pray for the people of Ukraine,
for all those suffering or afraid,
that you will be close to them and protect them.

We pray for world leaders,
for compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.

We pray for the world
that in this moment of crisis,
we may reach out in solidarity
to our brothers and sisters in need.

May we walk in your ways
so that peace and justice
become a reality for the people of Ukraine
and for all the world.

Amen.

(From the CAFOD website. Link opens in new tab.)

Prayer for Peace

Today is the 58th World Day of Prayer for Peace.

The theme chosen by Pope Francis this year:
Forgive us our trespasses…grant us your peace
In a world hungry for revenge and where ‘sorry’ really does seem to be the hardest word, Pope Francis has boldly chosen  ‘forgiveness’ as the central theme for World Peace Day 2025. This is in stark contrast to the calls for ‘revenge’ and ‘an eye for an eye’ that are currently played on repeat by our politicians and amplified by the media.
Do we really have the faith to believe that when we choose to forgive then God will grant us peace?
The Pope informs us that it is only from a genuine conversion on all levels - personal, local and international - that true peace will be
able to flourish.

CAFOD News

CAFOD WORLD GIFTS: 

A range of virtual charity gifts that help transform the lives of families and communities living in poverty. When you choose a gift, you support the area of work that the gift represents. Funds to support include Health, Water, Education and Emergencies. Click on the logo above to be taken to the World Gifts web page. (Opens in a new tab.)

CAFOD's Prayer for Peace in the Middle East (Opens in a new tab.)

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 – Is held once a month with a planned celebration on the first Sunday of every month. Next celebration is on Sunday 2nd February during the 11:00am mass.

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 Paul 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.

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.

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.

Message from the Archbishop

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