28th Sunday of the Year (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, October 12th - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Monday, October 13th - St Edward the Confessor

Tuesday, October 14th -   St Callistus I, Pope, Martyr

Wednesday, October 15th -  St Teresa of Jesus Virgin, Doctor of the Church

Thursday, October 16th -   Weekday in Ordinary Time 

Friday, October 17th - St Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop, Martyr

Saturday, October 18th - St Luke, Evangelist

Sunday, October 19th - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

Sunday Readings

28th Sunday of the Year (C)

First Reading – 2 Kgs 5:14-17
Naaman returned to Elisha and acknowledged the Lord.

Second Reading – 2 Tim 2:8-13
If we hold firm we shall reign with Christ.

Gospel Reading –  Luke 17:11-19
No one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.

Psalter: Week 4

Weekdays:  Ordinary Time Week 28

The Rosary in October

Photo by Trac Vu on Unsplash

At the heart of every mystery of the Rosary is Jesus. As we pray, we walk through His entire life. We begin with His conception and early years, travel through His public ministry, watch with horror the brutal end of His life, and end in awe at the heavenly events that followed His death.

In St Edmund Arrowsmith Parish, the Rosary will be prayed before Mass on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the month of October. It will be led by the Legion of Mary.

The Rosary

A useful and informative website devoted to the Rosary - https://www.theholyrosary.org/

A Decade of Laudato Si

A Decade of Laudato Si': Lessons, Impact and the Road Ahead for the Christian Community"
14 October 

To mark the tenth anniversary of Laudato Si', CBCEW will host an interdenominational event, 'A Decade of Laudato Si': Lessons, Impact and the Road Ahead'. The event will be held on 14 October (6-8.30pm) at Methodist Central Hall, Manchester.

Speakers will include Bishop John Arnold, Rev. Grace Thomas (Church of England) and Rev. Ian Rutherford (Methodist Church). The event will be opened by special guest Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester. The gathering will celebrate the power of faith in action and explore how collaboration can both sustain and amplify that impact, while also addressing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The event is free but tickets must be booked via CBCEWs eventbrite page:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-decade-of-laudato-si-lessons-impact-and-the-road-ahead-tickets-1664309918769?aff=oddtdtcreator

CAFOD News

Family Fast Day Friday October 3rd is a day when we are asked to "Live more simply so that others may simply live". We can do this by going without some luxury and donating the money saved to CAFOD to support its work helping our brothers and sisters overseas. Your generosity offers a ‘sign of hope’ in this jubilee year. Envelopes for you to place your donations will be available at the back of churches next weekend, 27th & 28th September, you can use these or donate online at cafod.org.uk/envelope. All envelopes MUST be put into the collection basket. Thank you as ever for your generosity.

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

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.

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.)

News Bites

• THE POPE'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR OCTOBER 2025:
  For collaboration between different religious traditions.
  
  Let us pray that believers in different religious traditions might work together to defend and promote peace, justice and human fraternity.

Please also refer to the Events page and individual newsletter pages for more social activities in the area.

• PRISONERS’ SUNDAY - 12TH OCTOBER:
  We will remember Pope Francis and his call to support prisoners and their families at Mass this weekend. Prisons are in crisis, and life for prisoners and their families in our communities is challenging. Pact, the national Catholic prison charity, supports prisoners, their families and their children, offering them hope and the chance to turn their lives around. Visit www.prisonadvice.org.uk
• PARISH CHRISTMAS FAIRS
  St Edmund Arrowsmith Christmas Fair will be held on Saturday 29th November 1.00pm in St Joseph’s Parish Hall.
  Sacred Heart (Hindley Green) Christmas Fayre will be held on Sunday 22 November 2025. 
  St Richards Christmas Fayre will be held on 30th November 2025. Please see the newsletter for more information.
• Father Francis Holiday : 
  Father Francis will be on Holiday after the first Sunday in October (5th) until the first Sunday in November. During this period, a few priests will look after the weekend masses. Details of these priests will be communicated subsequently. 
• Guides bacon butty fundraiser -
  St Ambrose Barlow guides are holding bacon and sausage fundraiser on Sunday, 19th October after the 11am mass. Butties are £2, tea and coffee 50p, all funds raised go to our Christmas trip to Waddow Hall. There will also be a raffle and cake stall. Please come along and support this event. Thank you, Delia and all the leaders and guides.
• ANIMATE YOUTH: Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage 2026
  Join Coach 6!
  Young people (aged 15–22) from Warrington, Widnes and Leigh parishes and schools are warmly invited to join the Archdiocesan Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage, taking place 22nd – 31st July 2026. This is a wonderful opportunity to travel with other young people, grow in faith, make lifelong friends, and serve the assisted pilgrims who journey to Lourdes.
  • Cost: £720 (Early Bird Discount: £670 if applied before 20th October) Fundraising opportunities will be available to help reduce costs.
  • Deposit: £100 at time of application Includes: Travel, 7 nights’ hotel accommodation, all meals, insurance, and pilgrimage t-shirts.
  Application forms are available online from Monday 15th September, please visit www.liverpoollourdesyouth.co.uk
  Details available at the back of churches.
• Rome Jubilee Pligrimage:
  Northern Star Travels, in conjunction with a local parish in the Wigan and Leigh deanery, have put together an interesting itinerary for a pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee year. The pilgrimage takes place from the 17th of November to 21st November. The cost is £835 sharing and £960 single. Have a look at the flyer in the back of St Margaret Clitherow churches for more details or speak to Fr Francis.
  

  Read more: News Bites

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

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.

Live Simply / Laudato Si

Reflect:
In today's Gospel, Jesus encounters and heals ten lepers. Just one turns back to thank him for the gift of new life.

Pray:

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Lord God,
For the moon and stars which shine in the night sky, we thank you Lord.
For the beauty of the earth and all its creatures, we thank you Lord.
For the refreshing rain which falls watering the earth and quenching our thirst, we thank you Lord.
For the nourishing food we receive through your bounty, we thank you Lord.
For our friends who are always there to support us, we thank you Lord.
For our families who love us unconditionally, we thank you Lord.
For your son, Jesus Christ who came to live among us and redeemed us through his death and resurrection, we thank you Lord
For these and all your many gifts, given freely and generously until our lives overflow with your love,
we give you thanks, O Lord our God and Father

Act:
When I experience God's love, how do I respond? Do I take it for granted, or do I offer tanks and praise? How do I treat others who have shown me their love and generosity?
This week let us ensure that we express our thanks for all we receive through word and actions. Let us also be generous to others in the same way that God is generous to each of us.

Challenge

In the spirit of Laudato Si:

• Be generous! What can you spare to give to others? There are lots of opportunities to be generous offered to us each day, just act!
• It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the issues around us yet even just a small group of committed people can make a difference....you are not alone in your commitment to doing what you can to improve the lives of the poor and the needy. Have faith!
• Autumn may normally be a time for tidying the garden. This year why not leave areas of leaves and dead wood which will provide shelter for insects and animals over the winter months?
• Can you commit to having one meat free day per week? There are many plant based alternatives available in the shops.
  

  Read more: Live Simply / Laudato Si

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.

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.

This year's Confirmation Celebration will take place on December 4th at St Joseph's, Leigh and will involve the parishes in the Leigh area. Please check your parish notices for further information regarding preparation for this sacrament.

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

Book From the Sermon

'The Town Beyond the Wall' by Elie Wiesel
This story is based on Wiesel's own life. In it a young Holocaust survivor returns to his hometown, seeking to understand the mystery of those who stood by, watched and did nothing. 
(Referenced in Fr Francis's sermon of 18th September)

'The Great Divorce' by C S Lewis
The book reflects on the Christian concept of heaven and hell. Lewis’ most powerful idea is that Heaven and Hell are not simply places we go to after death, but the choices we make every day.
(Referenced in Fr Francis's sermon of 11th September)

'12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos' by Jordan B. Peterson

In the context of the readings for 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the section on  'Tell the truth—or, at least, don't lie' emphasizes the importance of honesty and integrity in personal interactions and self-perception. 
(Referenced in Fr Francis's sermon of 17th August)

'Tuesdays With Morrie' by Mitch Albom

A book about relationships and what the really important things in life are.
(Referenced in Fr Francis's sermon of 10th August)