Please find below details of forthcoming Pilgrimages with churches in the Leigh area:

• 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
  Could anyone who has signed up to come on this year’s trip please ensure that they have paid any outstanding monies by the end of February.
  Anyone wishing to go on the annual pilgrimage to Walsingham, please contact Theresa Thompson: 07780 064502
  
  
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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.

Read more: Powerful Words from Pope Leo XIV

• 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 at This 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 13^th 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.

Read more: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

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:
The encounter between Jesus and the Woman of Samaria teaches his disciples that God’s mercy is without limit - even to those who are outcast or are not of the Jewish nation.

Act:
Today's Gospel reading reminds us of our Baptism - we are called by God to share the Good News of Jesus' redemption. How do we do this on a daily basis? 
Jesus saw the Samaritan Woman just as she was and yet he still chose to interact with her. He longs for her to become the person she was created to be. During Lent we have the chance to become who we truly are by embracing the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
   
Pray:

Challenge

In the spirit of Laudato Si:

• We are shown the importance of water in a theological sense in today's Gospel. Many people throughout the world suffer from a shortage of water. This week use the water which we have such easy access to wisely and without waste.
• Friday's Family Fast Day gave us a chance to affect the lives of others through our self-denial. Please ensure you give generously to the Family Fast Day collection
• Take the opportunities offered by your Lenten practices to conserve and recycle the things you use.
• As the earth starts to warm up after the winter, sow  seeds in trays and keep them in a warm place to germinate.
• Now is a good time to collect rainwater in water butts for use during the drier months.
• The earth is coming back to life as Spring approaches. Take time to seek out, rejoice and give thanks for all that you see.
• 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.

FAMILY FAST DAY
Friday 27th February. By fasting and giving what you save, you join in Christ’s compassion and help another family put food on the table.
Pick up an envelope in Church and return it next weekend or donate online at cafod.org.uk/envelope

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.