7th Sunday of Easter

Reflection

Jesus’ last testament is that his followers be brought into a loving union with the Father that he shares. Jesus knows that the apostles will meet rejection, opposition and persecution, but in spite of this, he sends them into the world to be his witnesses. Father, we pray for unity and your grace to enable us however difficult it may be that we work for the unity that our Lord and Saviour wanted in his Church and in the world. We pray for the strength and courage to achieve this ‘Pearl of Great Price’.

World Communications Day

The whole world will celebrate the importance of communication on Sunday 16th May, designated as World Communications Day. This year’s theme, chosen by Pope Francis, is “Come and see” (John 1:46). Pope Francis provides the subtitle “Communicating, encountering people as and where they are”.
In the epochal change we are experiencing, in a time that obliges us to social distance due to the pandemic, communication can enable the closeness that is necessary to recognise what is essential, and to truly understand the meaning of things.

"We do not know the truth if we do not experience it, if we do not meet people, if we do not participate in their joys and sorrows. The old saying “God meets you where you are” can be a guide for those engaged in media or communications work in the Church. In the call of the first disciples, with Jesus who went to encounter them and to invite them to follow Him, we also see the invitation to use all media, in all their forms, to reach people as they are and where they live.

Confirmation

There is a letter from the Archbishop about Confirmation for year 8 pupils on the noticeboard at the back of Church.

Safe Spaces

Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church or as a result of their relationship with the Church. More details available on the noticeboard at the back of Church.

6th Sunday of Easter

Reflection

The wounded heart
If only the heart was right we could give so much more.
But, alas, the heart is often empty.
It is often cold and unwelcoming.
It is often hard and unyielding.
It is often weighed down with worry.
It is often sad and lonely.
It is often in darkness.
It is often wounded.
And sometimes it is broken.
We have to heal the wounds of the heart
in order to be able to love.
Lord, touch our hearts and heal them
so that we may be able to bear the fruits of love.
Amen

Youth notices

St James’ Brownies are back open with space for girls aged 7-10. To apply see Sue, contact the Brunny or see girl guiding website. Leaflets at the back of church.

Youth active team are planning ways to return to youth activities. Further information available soon.

Pax Christi Fundraiser

From 15-21 May members of Pax Christi, the Catholic Peace organisation, will be trying to raise funds to make up for lost income due to Covid19. They will be cycling, doing a dance-a-thon, walking and more. Please go to the website for details on how to sponsor them.

Funeral

The Funeral service for Francis O’Connell will take place here in St James’ on Monday 10th May at 11am. Please keep Frank and his family in your prayers.

5th Sunday of Easter

Reflection

Lord, you said:
“I am the vine and you are the branches.
Separated from me you can do nothing,
but united with me you will bear much fruit.”
Thank you, Lord,
for the bond you formed with us
and thank you for the bond that exists among us
because of our union with you.
Thanks to this bond, we have invisible riches
to share with one another.
Grant that we may never be separated from you,
so that we may produce in the world
the fruits of faith, hope and love.

St James' BroWnies

St James' Brownies are back open, and we have spaces for 7-10 year olds. To apply see Sue at Church, contact The Brunny, or go on the Girlguiding website and select 21st Bootle & Litherland.

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Don Bosco Today

The latest edition of the Salesian magazine is available.
There are copies at the back of Church: feel free to take one home!

Gift Aid

It’s not too late to sign up. If you are a tax payer and would like to join the scheme please speak to Bob Jones. We can reclaim the tax on your weekly donations at no extra cost to yourself. We are grateful for your ongoing support.

4th Sunday of Easter

Reflection

All work is empty save when done with love.
And what is it to work with love?
It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart, even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth.
It is to build a house with affection,
even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.
If you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms from those who work with joy.
For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half of man’s hunger.
And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distils a poison in the wine.
Work is love made visible.

Vocations

Today we pray for Brothers Martin, Godwill, Augustine, Stephen and Ste. All these SDBs are preparing to take final vows this summer, they will say yes forever! And serve the young and the poor as Salesians of Don Bosco.

Martin is currently studying in Battersea
Godwill serves on the team at Savio House
Augustine assists in SJBC, Battersea
Stephen assists in Salesian School, Chertsey
Ste is Teacher & Chaplain in Thornleigh College, Bolton.

If you feel called to Salesian Religious life please visit our website and get in touch.

Some small prayer cards are available at the back of Church. Please feel free to take one or two with you.

Funerals

The Funeral Service for Ann Geeson will take place here in St James’ on Tuesday 27th April at 11am. Please remember Ann and her family in your prayers.

The Funeral Service for Joyce Quadrio will take place here in St James’ on Wednesday 28th April at 10.45am. Please pray for the repose of Joyce’s soul and the comfort of her family.

3rd Sunday of Easter

Reflection

Those who care about others pick up a lot of wounds.
There may be no great wounds, just a multiplicity of little ones—a host of scratches, wrinkles and welts.
But there can also be a lot of invisible wounds: the furrows left on the mind and the heart by hardship, worry and anxiety, disappointment, ingratitude and betrayal.
These wounds are not things to be ashamed of.
They are badges of honour.
They are the proof of our love.
Jesus didn’t hide his wounds.
Neither should we.
By his wounds we are healed.

Some upcoming Special Days

Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter (4th May)
Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse;

Sixth Sunday of Easter (9th May)
Day of Prayer for Eastern Christians;

Fourth Sunday in July
Holy Father’s Day for Grandparents and the Elderly;

26th September
World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees.

Funeral

The Funeral Service for John McDowell will take place here in St James’ on Thursday 22nd April at 11.45am.
Please pray for the repose of John’s soul and for the comfort of his family.

Second collection

There will be a second collection next Sunday for the Priests’ Training Fund.

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to Pope emeritus Benedict XVI! The first Pope to reach the age of 94 (on 16th April). May God bless him!

Divine Mercy Sunday

Reflection

Defending the Christians before Emperor Hadrian, Aristides, a non-Christian, said of them:

“These Christians love one another. They never fail to help widows. They save orphans from those who would hurt them.
If a man has something, he gives freely to the man who has nothing.

If they see a stranger, Christians take him into their homes and treat him as a brother.

And if they hear that one of them is in jail, or persecuted for professing the name of their redeemer, they all give him what he needs. If it is possible they bail him out.

If one of them is poor and there isn’t enough food to go around, they fast several days to give him the food he needs.
We are dealing with a new kind of person. There is something divine in them.

Gift Aid

Thank you for your continued support of the Gift Aid programme.
If you are a tax payer and would like to join the scheme please speak to Bob Jones.

We can reclaim the tax on your weekly donations at no extra cost to yourself.

We are grateful for your ongoing support.

Second collection

There will be a second collection on 25th April for the Priests’ Training Fund.

Funeral

The Funeral Service for Jimmy Connell will take place here in St James’ on Monday 12th April at 11.30am.
Please pray for Jimmy’s soul and the comfort of his family.

Easter

Happy Easter

Fr Brian, Fr Jim, and the Salesian community would like to wish all out Parishioners a very Happy Easter. May the Risen Lord bless your families and grant us all a swift return to normality very soon!

A Big Thank you

After a full year of restricted Church Services, I would like to thank our group of Stewards who have faithfully monitored the numbers for each Service and cleaned the Church after each Service has taken place.

They have kept us safe and allowed us to continue to have Mass when other places have closed. A big Thank You to them for their generosity.

Gift Aid

If anyone would like to join the Gift Aid scheme or would like an offertory envelope, please see Bob.

Excerpts from the Archbishop’s Easter message

For over a year now we have been living under the darkness of the pandemic. Just as the light of the Risen Christ is always with us, so is the light offered to us by the heroes of our NHS, carers and all who have worked to keep the country going.

Easter is a time of reawakening and this year our country is approaching our own reawakening. Towns and cities have been quiet but are slowly coming back to life. We are seeing hope through the vaccine developed through the gifts of science, giving us hope for a better and safer future.

There have been times of grief, loss, doubt and despair during the dark days and we hold in prayer all who have suffered. We bring those times to our celebration of the resurrection which begins in darkness in our churches with the lighting of the Easter Candle symbolising the risen Christ. A life-giving light overcoming the darkness, bringing healing to a broken world.

Just as the lives of Mary Magdalen and the disciples were transformed on the first Easter morning so, too, our lives may be transformed as we embrace the light of the Risen Lord who sheds his peace on all humanity.

Palm Sunday

Reflection

Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.”

Jesus did not have to suffer and die. He had a choice.
He chose to suffer and die because he cared about the flock God had entrusted to him.

What Jesus wants from us is not our suffering but a life of love and service. Such a life will inevitably bring suffering.
But Jesus supports all those who follow him down the road of faithful love and generous service.

Holy Week and Easter Services

Palm Sunday: Mass at 10am
Holy Thursday: Mass at 7pm
Good Friday: Service of the Passion at 3pm
Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil at 8pm
Easter Sunday: Mass at 10am

Under Covid rules, only 56 people are allowed at each Mass/Service with Holy Communion at the end.
The format of each Mass/Service will be altered as there are certain things we are not allowed to do.

Chrism Mass

This will be celebrated in the Cathedral on Wednesday 31st March at 6pm. A restricted number of lay people are able to attend the Mass but need tickets to do so.

Application for tickets should be made to Claire Hanlon by Email: c.hanlon@metcathedral.org.uk. The Mass will also be streamed live on Youtube and Facebook.

Special Collection for Good Friday

There is a special collection for the Holy Places, which is traditional for Good Friday. The collection will be taken as you leave Church at the end of the service.

5th Sunday of Lent

Reflection

Each of us is like a grain of wheat planted by God.

Just as a grain of wheat must die so as to produce a harvest, so we must die to self in order to bear the fruits of love.

This dying to self is a gradual process

and happens in little ways.

Every act of humility involves dying to pride.

Every act of courage involves dying to courage.

Every act of kindness involves dying to cruelty.

Every act of love involves dying to selfishness.

Thus the false self dies and the true self,

made in God’s image, is born and nurtured.

It is by giving that we receive;

it is by forgiving that we are forgiven;

it is by dying that we are born to eternal life.

Holy Week and Easter Services

Palm Sunday: Mass at 10am

Holy Thursday: Mass at 7pm

Good Friday: Service of the Passion at 3pm

Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil at 8pm

Easter Sunday: Mass at 10am

Under Covid rules, only 56 people are allowed at each Mass/Service with Holy Communion at the end.

The format of each Mass/Service will be altered as there are certain things we are not allowed to do.

National day of Reflection

The Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales has asked us to mark Tuesday 23rd March as a National Day of Reflection for COVID 19. We are asked to mark the anniversary of the first national lockdown with a minutes silence at midday and doorstep vigils of light at 8pm. This should also be a day of prayer.

Funeral

The Funeral service for John McNulty will take place here in St James’ on Wednesday 24th March at 12.30pm. Please pray for the repose of John’s soul and for the comfort of his family.

4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is when the Church takes a bit of a breather from Lenten practice. On this Sunday, we look with expectation to Easter for which we have been preparing during the Lenten season. Laetare Sunday is meant to give us hope and encouragement as we slowly progress towards the Paschal Feast.

The Light of Christ

In Christ there is no trace of darkness.

His light shows up the darkness in us.

His truth shows up our lies.

His integrity shows up our falseness.

His generosity shows up our selfishness.

His peace shows up our conflicts.

His openness to others shows how closed we are.

However, we should not be afraid of his light.

Rather, we should rejoice in it.

Compared to his light, other lights are mere flares

in the night or candles in the wind.

Christ, radiant Light of the world,

guide our steps in the way of truth and goodness

and lead us through the gloom of this world

to the kingdom of unfailing light.

Holy Week

We have received instructions from the Archdiocese that we will be able to celebrate Holy Week and Easter this year, but the services will be simplified because of the usual safety concerns.

Our numbers will stay restricted to 58 for each service.

More information nearer the time.

Funerals

The Funeral of Thomas Goscombe will take place here in St James’ on Thursday 18th March at 1.15pm.

Please pray for the repose of Thomas’ soul and for the comfort of his family.