3rd Sunday of the Year (A)

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 25th - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Monday January 26th - Ss Timothy and Titus, Bishops

Tuesday, January 27th - St Angela Merici, Virgin

Wednesday, January 28th - St Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor of the Church

Thursday, January 29th - Weekday in Ordinary Time

Friday, January 30th - Weekday in Ordinary Time

Saturday, January 31st - St John Bosco, Priest

Sunday, February 1st - 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Sunday Readings

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

First Reading – Isa 8:23b–9:3
In Galilee of the nations the people have seen a great light.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 26:1. 4. 13-14
The Lord is my light and my help.

Second Reading – 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17
Make up the differences between you instead of disagreeing among yourselves.

Gospel Reading –  Matt 4:12-17
He went and settled in Capernaum: in this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled.

Psalter: Week 3
Weekdays:  Week 3 in Ordinary Time 

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'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.

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

News Bites

• THE POPE'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY 2026:
  For prayer with the Word of God:
  Let us pray that praying with the Word of God will be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.

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

Please refer to St John Rigby's Newsletter for information regarding St Richard's One Hundred Years Celebration and
Important news regarding Sacred Heart Church, Hindsford

• Ladies Group :
  The next meeting will be held at St Ambrose on the 5th February 12-2pm
• CARLO ACUTIS
  There are several opportunities to visit Our Lady and All Saints Church, Parbold which will be hosting a Saint Carlo Acutis Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition. For more details, please refer to https://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/events or contact details: 01257 463248 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Or via the Parish website: www.ourladysparbold.org.uk
• HOLY FAMILY TEA AND COFFEE
  Tea and Coffee will be served next Sunday 1st February. All welcome.
  On 15th February there will be an HCPT Coffee Morning & Raffle at Holy Family. Raffle tickets will be on sale at St Ambrose Barlow 11.00am mass on Sunday the 8th and at the 6.00pm mass Saturday 14th February. Tickets will be on sale at Holy Family at the 9.30am mass (15th Feb) and at the Coffee morning held in the hall after mass where the raffle will take place.
• SACRED HEART, LEIGH TEA & COFFEE
  Tea & Coffee will be served after the 11.00am Mass next Sunday 25th January. All are welcome.
  
• Catenian Bursary Fund
  Lourdes Awards of £100—£200
  If you are going to Lourdes to work as a helper, either on your own or with a HCPT or Diocesan Pilgrimage and are between 18 and 25 years old, then apply for financial help at: la.catenianbursary.com
  Applications must be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to your pilgrimage departure date.
• CATHOLIC PICTORIAL
  The January edition of the Catholic Pic may be viewed here: https://issuu.com/catholic_pic/docs/catholic_pic_january_2026
• St John Rigby First Holy Communions 2026 –
  This year ALL children in year 4 and above who are baptised and wish to receive Holy Communion for the first time will need to be registered at a REGISTRATION MASS either at Sacred Heart church- Hindley Green or St Richards church – Atherton, over the two weekends of SUNDAY 25TH JANUARY and SUNDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2026. Registration forms will only be available through church and not school.
• Meet your Archbishop Wednesday 28th January, 5pm
  The friends of the Metropolitan Cathedral are delighted to start the New Year with an evening with Archbishop John Sherrington. It will commence with Mass at 5.00pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Then we will adjourn to the Gibberd Room where we will enjoy a hot pot supper and a glass of wine. There will be an opportunity to meet Archbishop John, and share with him his ambitions and plans for our Archdiocese.
  The cost is £30.00 per person. Anyone wishing to sign up should email Claire at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Civic Mass—Sunday 15th February
  The Dean of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool, Monsignor Anthony O’Brien, Has pleasure in inviting you to attend the Annual Civic Mass, celebrated by Archbishop John Sherrington. Light refreshments will be served in the Gibberd Room after Mass. If you are able to attend, please RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. We look forward to welcoming you to the Civic Mass to celebrate all that is good in our City.
• Can you help S.V.P.
  To provide for those living on the streets by donating warm winter clothing, eg. socks, hats, gloves, jumpers etc. Donations will be passed on to the charity Barnabus. Also small (new books and toys) as Christmas presents for the children [aged 6 and below ] who come with struggling parents to the Food Bank Thank you for your help.
• Pilgrimages (opens in new page)
• St Margaret Clitherow SVP - Click the link to find out more!
  The weekly meeting of the older men in the parish for lunch and a chat will be at the Boundary Stone at 1.00pm on WednesdaysThe SVP may be able to assist you or someone you know who needs help. We could help by providing people in our parish with supermarket food vouchers, essential furniture and home items and energy top ups where these are needed. For more information contact our dedicated SVP number 07566725590
• Facebook
  St John Rigby Parish now have a Facebook page with information and details of future events and things going on in the Parish. If you have anything you would like to be uploaded or photos from parish events, please just send them over to the Parish office. Check out – St John Rigby Parish on your Facebook page.
• Food Bank:
  Please give generously if you are able. Food donated at church is taken to support our local food bank. 
  

Live Simply / Laudato Si

Reflect:
Today's Gospel tells us about the beginning of Jesus's ministry. He bases himself at Capernaum which is at the northern end of the Sea of Galilee. It is here that he also calls his first disciples to follow him.

Act:
We too are called to be followers of Jesus. Often this requires us to consider what our priorities are in life. This week let us re-evaluate our lives and commit anew to be 'fishers of men', putting the Lord first in everything we do.

Pray:

Lord,
You know us by name.
You love us by name.
You call us by name.
Help us to follow You with all our hearts,
just as the disciples did when they left everything behind to follow you.
Lord, we know that following you is not always easy
but help us to have the confidence to respond to your call and
to know you have called us just as I we are.
Amen.

Challenge

In the spirit of Laudato Si:

• 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.