October 4th - Fifth Sunday in Creation Time
‘Happiness means knowing how to limit some needs which only diminish us.’
Laudato Si 223
Sept 27th - Fourth Sunday in Creation Time
‘Once we start to think of the world we are leaving to future generations, we look at things differently; we realise that the world is a gift which we have freely received and must share with others….we can no longer view reality in a purely utilitarian way, in which efficiency and productivity are entirely geared to our individual benefit.’
Laudato Si 159
Sept 20th - Third Sunday in Creation Time
‘Yet we are called to be instruments of God our Father, so that our planet might be what he desired when he created it and correspond with his plan for peace, beauty and fulness.’
Laudato Si 53
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
Choice of quotes assisted by: ‘Excerpts from Laudato Si’ CAFOD (2016)
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:
In today's Gospel parable, the king invites guests to his son's wedding celebration. Many send excuses not to go, so the king sends his servants out into the streets to invite the poor, the condemned, the out casts of society instead.
Act:
Have we become so arrogant and full of our own self importance that we reject God's invitation to be with him? Do we share his invitation with other people? This week carry God's invitation to others by living a life of welcome, openness and caring
Pray:
Let nothing frighten you.
All things pass away.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
They who have God
lack nothing.
God alone is enough.
(Prayer of St Teresa of Avila whose feast we celebrate this week)
Listen to a sung version here
Challenge
In the spirit of Laudato Si:
- We've had a long, hot, dry summer. This Autumn and Winter take the opportunity to conserve water for future use. Do you have a water butt?
- Many people are struggling to find work. Are you able to help them find meaning in their lives and give them a sense of self-worth?
- 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.
CAFOD Petition
We will be collecting signatures after Masses next weekend for a CAFOD petition about the global debt crisis, which is causing terrible suffering for our brothers and sisters around the world. Cardinal Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla from South Sudan has written to parishes in England and Wales to explain. Please stop for a minute as you leave next weekend and lend your support. Thank you for helping to build a better world
CAFOD Family Fast Day - Friday 2nd October 2026
Please donate to our Family Fast Day parish collection. Put your faith into action and share the Lord’s love by supporting our global neighbour’s experiencing shortages of food and safe water. Your gift can support children in Zimbabwe to stay in school by helping communities and schools provide nourishing meals, improve access to water and grow food in school gardens.
Please collect a CAFOD envelope as you leave, so that you can Gift Aid your donation, or give through the CAFOD website.
Thank you for your generosity.
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-crisis. St Edmund Arrowsmith churches will also be signing a petition today requesting that the government to takes action.