Sept 13th - Second Sunday in Creation Time
‘If we scan the regions of our planet, we immediately see that humanity has disappointed God’s expectations.’
Laudato Si 61
Sept 6th - First Sunday in Creation Time
'The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God.’
Laudato Si 84
Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
Pope Francis established 1st September as the World Day of Prayer for the care of Creation, encouraging the Catholic community around the world to pray for our common home.
Please find below details of forthcoming Pilgrimages with churches in the Leigh area:
- Young Adult trip to Assisi
During the 800th anniversary year of St Francis of Assisi, we’re offering an exciting opportunity to people aged 18-35 to go on a pilgrimage to Assisi from 29th November—2 December 2026. For more information & booking: https://archdioceseofliverpool.org/BookAssisi
Back to Newsbites
Fr Kieran posted these Powerful Words from Pope Leo XIV on the St Edmund Arrowsmith newsletter, which I felt were well worth sharing more publicly:
“Brothers, sisters…
I speak to you, especially to those who no longer believe, no longer hope, no longer pray, because they think God has left.
To those who are fed up with scandals, with misused power, with the silence of a Church that sometimes seems more like a palace than a home.
I, too, was angry with God.
I, too, saw good people die, children suffer, grandparents cry without medicine.
And yes...there were days when I prayed and only felt an echo.
- Day For Catechists – Formation & Reflection.
Are you a catechist looking for spiritual refreshment? No matter what kind of ministry you are serving, there is a good opportunity for you to refresh your vocation of being a catechist. On 27 September, the Day for Catechists will be organised from 10.00–16.00 at Carmelite Monastery L18 3NU. With the
facilitation of Sr Carino and Sr Hyacinthe from the Dominican Sister of St Joseph, there will be spiritual input and practical discussion on the mission of catechesis. If you’re interested, and for more information, please contact Moses atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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.)
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.
Reflect:
This week's Gospel really challenges us to forgive those who have offended us in any way as Jesus tells us that his followers should forgive unconditionally.
Act:
When we forgive someone who has hurt us our forgiveness should be authentic and abundant, in the same way that God forgives us when we have done wrong. This week, think about how you speak to the people you talk to. Be considerate in your words, gentle and understanding of their feelings.
Pray:
Challenge
In the spirit of Laudato Si:
- Be thrifty in what you buy and what you store. If you hoard things there will not be enough for others who may be in greater need.
- All Saint's, Golborne are holding and Ecumenical Prayer Service for the Season of Creation on Tuesday 22nd September at 3.00pm. Can you make time to be a part of this?
- The Pope's prayer for September is for the care of water. This year we have had water shortages, but these are nothing compared to other areas of the earth, e.g. the African states. Make renewed efforts to conserve the water we have by being mindful of what you use and how you use it.
- It's easy to feel overwhelmed in the face of the multiple climate emergencies the world is currently facing. Don't Give Up - what YOU do, the efforts each of us make gradually combine into something much bigger than ones own individual action.
- Look for ways in which you can reach out and help someone who is struggling this week.
- Be aware of the needs of others during our climate crisis. What steps can YOU take to reduce the impact in our daily lives?
- As we travel during the summer holiday be aware of the lives of others, in particular those who live in the places we visit. Treat their homes with the respect and care that your treat your own.
- As the heatwave continues be aware of how much water you are consuming. Be mindful of how dry everything is and be sensible regarding barbecues and fires.
End settlement trade
Following the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Leo once again called for an end “to the repeated acts of violence against the Palestinian population of the West Bank.”
One of the greatest obstacles to building peace is the ongoing expansion of illegal settlements across occupied Palestinian territory.
As settlements expand, Palestinian families are driven from their homes, often amid repeated violent attacks, and are forced to watch while settlers take over. The result is widespread poverty and suffering.
That is why CAFOD are calling on the Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, to ban trade with settlements, including ending the import of produce grown on illegally occupied land.
Find out more about this action by clicking this link to the CAFOD website
Cancel the Debt
Call for urgent action on the global debt crisis.
The UK government must ensure private lenders can't make huge profits from countries in debt crisis and use the UK's G20 presidency to fix the debt system.
Find out more by clicking https://cafod.org.uk/campaign/the-global-debt-crisisSt Edmund Arrowsmith churches will also be signing a petition today requesting that the government to takes action.
Message from CAFOD
We are deeply grateful to all the parishioners at St Edmund Arrowsmith Parish, for your faithful support this year and your recent generous donation of £1,429.18 received on the 21st May 2026. Thank you for standing in solidarity with our global family and living out Christ’s call to love your neighbour in such a powerful way this Lent. Your generosity during this season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving is truly inspiring!
CAFOD: Stand with Sudan.
Give monthly. On the third anniversary of the war in Sudan, Kayode Akintola, CAFOD’s Head of Region for Africa, asks for your help:
“So many of our sisters and brothers in Sudan are facing increasing violence, hunger, and disease. That is why today, I’m asking you to consider setting up a regular gift to support families who are fleeing the violence – with food, safe water and other vital support. Monthly gifts are an act of steady love for our
neighbours, a way of saying: we will not abandon you, we will stand with you until peace is restored.”
Donate at: cafod.org.uk/StandWithSudan
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.