Please find below details of forthcoming Pilgrimages with churches in the Leigh area:
- 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. - 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. - Twelve Apostles Walsingham Pilgrimage Easter 2026 6th — 9th April
Anyone wishing to go on the annual pilgrimage to Walsingham, please contact Theresa Thompson: 07780 064502 - St John Rigby Walsingham Pilgrimage 2026
Dates are now available for next year’s pilgrimage to Walsingham, the trip will take place between Monday the 27th of April until Thursday 30th of April 2026. If you are interested, please put your name on the list at the back of church or call Lauren on: 07414146414.
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.
Assisted Dying Bill:
The Third Reading and the final vote took place on Friday 13th June. Sadly, 314 MPs voted for the bill against 291 rejecting it - a majority of only 23. The bill now moves to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.
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:
In todays Gospel, Jesus is mocked by the soldiers as he hangs dying on the cross. One thief mocks him. The other thief asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom.
Pray:
Lord Jesus, King of the Universe,
You showed us the path to eternal life is through service to others.
May I always give of myself generously for the benefit of others
And in so doing help your Kingdom to become visible in this world.
Amen
Act:
The climate change talks in Brazil at Belem have now finished. Without the attendance of major industrial countries the results were bound to be limited however some work has been achieved especially regarding the deforestation in the Amazon and the Congo although these results are fragile.
Various decisions were taken regarding the protection of Island states and states threatened by floods and deforestation, but it has to be said that what was agreed at Paris in 2015 is still a long way from being fulfilled, especially trying to keep the increase in global temperature to 1.5 degrees. We ALL need to keep all of this in our prayers and do what we can to protect the future of the planet. During the forthcoming season of Advent make a special effort to act in a way which protects our planet. For ideas, refer to the Challenge section below.
Challenge
In the spirit of Laudato Si:
- It's easy to overindulge during the Christmas. Try to be more mindful of how much you consume. Only buy what you need and use leftovers wisely,.
- As Christmas approaches look for ethical ways in which you can support others at this time. Buy Fair Trade goods; look for environmentally friendly products; try to buy locally produced items; give generously to those who require support at this time.
- You may be tempted to tidy up your garden - DON'T. Overwintering insects and small creatures such as hedgehogs will appreciate finding a pile of leaves or rotting logs under which they can shelter.
- Revisit how you recycle things. Wigan's recycling policy is quite good and allows extensive recycling, within certain limits.
- As it becomes cooler consider how you heat your home. Keep doors closed, turn the thermostat down 1 degree, put an extra layer on. Can you donate warm clothing to the Barnabas Collection in St Margaret Clitherow parish?
Don't forget CAFOD's World Gifts are a great way of gifting this Christmas and supporting those who may require our help and also the environment.
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.