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 produced a harvest, so we must die to self in order to bear the fruits of love. The 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 cowardice. 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 Thursday 

We have decided to go ahead with the plan to celebrate The Mass of the Lord’s Supper, for the three parishes, St James, St Monica and St Francis de Sales, in one joint celebration. This year, this will take place in St Monica’s at 7pm. Anyone wishing to go who has transport difficulties, please let me know and we can sort something out. More details later.

Stations of the Cross 

Every Friday here in St James’ at 9.30am, just before Mass.
In St Monica’s: Thursday after midday Mass; In St Francis de Sales: Friday after Mass.

Funerals 

The Funeral Mass for Jimmy O’Leary will take place here in St James’ on Monday 18th March at 1pm. Please keep Jimmy and his family in your prayers.

The Funeral Service for Pat Halsall will take place here in St James’ on Thursday 21st March at 12 noon. Please keep Pat and her family in your prayers.

4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)

Reflection

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 through the gloom of this world to the kingdom of unfailing light.

Happy Mother’s Day! 

Happy mothers’ day to all the mothers in our Parish. May God bless you and reward you for all you do for your families. And may your families be extra kind to you today!

Stations of the Cross 

Every Friday here in St James’ at 9.30am, just before Mass.
In St Monica’s: Thursday after midday Mass; In St Francis de Sales: Friday after Mass.

Funerals 

The Funeral service for Chris Mullen will take place here in St James on Tuesday 12th March at 12.15pm. Please remember Chris and his family in your prayers.

The Funeral Mass for Christy Sheils will take place here in St James’ on Thursday 14th March at 12 noon. Please remember Christy and his family in your prayers.

Lourdes Easter bunny walk 

A 5k Easter walk is to take place on Monday April 1st at 11am in Lydiate from St Gregory’s, Liverpool Rd to Our Lady’s, Southport Rd and back. It’s £8 per person or £20 per family of 4. A water bottle, bunny ears and an Easter egg are included.

3rd Sunday of Lent

Reflection

The following prayer was found written over the door of a Church: “Lord, make the door of this house wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship, narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and strife. Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to children, nor to straying feet. Make this house a house of prayer and a gateway to your kingdom.”

Lent Talk 

The next Lent Talk organised by the Churches Together will be on Monday 4th March at 7.30pm in the Linacre Mission. The theme this week is “Let’s make a habit of Hope.”

Stations of the Cross 

Every Friday here in St James’ at 9.30am, just before Mass.
In St Monica’s: Thursday after midday Mass; In St Francis de Sales: Friday after Mass.

Funeral 

The Funeral Mass for Peter Culkin will take place here in St James’ on Friday 8th March at 12 noon. Please remember Peter and his family in your prayers.

Second Collection

Just to remind you that there is a second collection next Sunday, 10th March, for Nugent.

Heating 

At the moment, only one of our two boilers is working, which is why the radiators are not as hot as they should be. My apologies for this. The boilers were serviced three weeks ago and have been nothing but trouble ever since! The men from Senate are coming to overhaul both boilers on Monday, so hopefully normal heat will soon be restored. Meanwhile, keep wearing your winter woollies!

2nd Sunday of Lent

Reflection

Jesus often went into the hills to pray. He preached his most famous sermon from a hilltop. He was transfigured on Mount Tabor, died on Mount Calvary, and ascended to heaven from Mount Olivet. It seems that he loved hills and mountains. Why was this? Was it because he grew up among the hills of Galilee? Or was it because heights enlarge our vision and cause our spirits to soar? Lift us up, strong son of God, that we may see further. Strengthen our faith that we may see beyond the horizon. And when the valley closes in, help us to remember the view from the hilltop.

Provincial Visitation 

We welcome Fr Gerry Briody, our Provincial, who is here on visitation this week. He will be present for the weekend Masses and I know you will give him a warm welcome. Fr Gerry would like to meet with any of the Parish Team and Cooperators who are available on Tuesday 27th February at 7pm in the Parish house.

Stations of the Cross 

Every Friday here in St James’ at 9.30am, just before Mass.
In St Monica’s: Thursday after midday Mass; In St Francis de Sales: Friday after Mass.

Proposed Family of Parishes joint Holy Thursday Mass 

Dear Parishioners, we are looking at ways of coming together and building community and relationships in our newly formed ‘family of parishes’ of St James, St Monica and St Francis de Sales.  Holy Thursday Mass in all of our parishes has the lowest attendance of the Holy Week Services. We would like to propose to you that this year we come together as a family to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper together in one of our parishes. Have a think and let me know your honest thoughts and comments.

Lenten Talk 

The next Lenten talk will be on Monday 26th February at 7.30pm in the Linacre Mission.

1st Sunday of Lent

Reflection

Each year the trees give us a lesson in renewal. First the bud, then the blossom, and finally the shoot. Spring dresses the trees in a new robe, and makes them young again. But this is possible only because in autumn they let go of their old leaves, and in between endured a period of nakedness. Lent is the springtime of the Spirit. Lord, help us not to be afraid to let go of old habits, and to face our spiritual poverty, in order that you may renew us, and so at Easter we will feel young again in our discipleship.

Cafod Family Fast Day 

This Friday, 23rd February, is Family Fast Day. CAFOD envelopes are available at the back of Church today. Please feel free to bring them back with your offering any time during Lent.

Stations of the Cross 

Every Friday here in St James’ at 9.30am, just before Mass.
In St Monica’s: Thursday after midday Mass; In St Francis de Sales: Friday after Mass.

Lenten Talks 

Our Lenten Talks, organised by the Churches Together, begin again this week. The First Talk is on Monday 19th February at 7.30pm in the Linacre Mission. The theme for this year is “God’s Faithfulness”. This Monday’s talk is entitled, “Let’s remember—God can be trusted to keep his promise.” Everyone is welcome to join us for these talks: perhaps a nice extra prayer time for Lent! 

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reflection

Jesus often went off to a lonely place to pray. Yet the same Jesus who prayed in lonely places said, “When you pray, go into your room and pray to your Father in secret.” This means that the lonely place is not necessarily a place far away, or that by “room” he means four walls that separate us physically from others. The room is the room of our innermost heart. This room is with us at all times. We should make it a place to which we can go to find rest and spiritual recovery when the world is too much with us. Then we will discover that the inner room is not empty after all but is occupied by the God of love who dwells in us all.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes 

Diocesan celebration for the Feast of our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of prayer for the Sick 12 Noon, Saturday 10th February, Christ the King, Queens Drive 
+Tom Neylon presiding. 

An insight into Trafficking 

Wednesday 7 February, The Irenaeus Centre is hosting an afternoon of reflection with a light lunch, followed by a talk from Petra Smrckova of the Medaille Trust. Great Georges Road, L22 1RD. For more information, please email Jenny@Irenaeus.co.uk.

Funerals 

The Funeral Mass for Sonny Donato will take place here in St James’ on Tuesday 6th February at 11.30am. Please remember Sonny and his family in your prayers.

The Funeral Mass for Kathleen Bell will take place here in St James’ on Friday 9th February at 1pm. Please pray for Kathleen and her family at this sad time.

Feast of St John Bosco

Reflection

From St John Bosco: “If we want to have a good society, we must concentrate all our forces on the Christian education of the young. Experience has taught me that if we wish to sustain civil society then we should take good care of the young.” “If young people are educated properly, we have moral order; if not, vice and disorder prevail. Religion alone can initiate and achieve a true education.” “Fly from bad companions as from the bite of a poisonous snake. If you keep good companions, I can assure you that you will one day rejoice with the blessed in Heaven; whereas if you keep with those who are bad, you will become bad yourself, and you will be in danger of losing your soul.”

Parish team meeting 

The team meeting will be held on Thursday 1st February at 7pm in the parish house.

Funeral 

The Funeral service for Marie Feildsend will take place here in St James’ on Tuesday 30th January at 10am. Please pray for the repose of Marie’s soul and the comfort of her family.

Walk of witness 

There will be a Walk of Witness for Peace, Repentance and Reconciliation through town on Ash Wednesday, 14th February. Assemble from 1.15pm on steps of St Luke’s ‘bombed out church’ at the top of Bold St, Liverpool L1 2TR. The walk starts at 1.30pm, with Stations of the Cross. Organised by Merseyside Pax Christi. Contact: Jan Harper for more information at janharper20211@outlook.com

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reflection

Today we are in danger of being drowned in bad news. Jesus began his ministry by announcing good news. What was this good news? That the kingdom of heaven had come. The kingdom stands for the fulfilment of the promises, the fullness of God’s blessings; in short, the new order of things. Forgiveness is available. Recovery is possible. God’s love is unconditional and is available to us in Christ. All we have to do is recognise our need and seek his help with humility and sincerity. Unless we repent we can’t hear the good news.

Confirmation sign up 

The website for registration for the Sacrament of Confirmation is now open and will close on the 15th March. Anyone in Year 8 can register for Confirmation from the link below.
Animate will visit schools to promote the sacrament and schools will teach about it in RE lessons.

If you have young people in your parish that do not attend a Catholic school or attend a school outside the diocese we will invite them to take a part in a ‘catch up’ session that will try to cover what they have missed in school. When they register on the website they will be told immediately that they should attend this ‘catch up’ zoom session on the 25th March at 4:30pm to end by 6:00pm

Celebrating Don Bosco 

As the Feast of Saint John Bosco falls on a Wednesday this year, we are going to anticipate it by having the Parish celebration next Sunday, 28th January. So the prayers and readings next Sunday will be from the Feast.

Funeral 

The Funeral Mass for Mary Raynard will take place here in St James’ on Thursday 25th January at 11.30am.

There will be no 10am Mass that day as I assume that many of those who normally come to 10 o’clock Mass will want to attend the Funeral. Sorry for any disappointment.

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reflection

God’s call is mysterious; it comes in the darkness of faith. It is so fine, so subtle that it is only with the deepest silence within us that we can hear it. And yet nothing is surer or stronger. Nothing is so decisive and overpowering as that call. This call is uninterrupted:
God is always calling us.

Carlo Carretto

White Flower Appeal 

This weekend, there will be a second collection for the White Flower Appeal, to help raise funds for SPUC. You can also donate online from the link below. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

Week of prayer for Christian Unity 

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) takes place each year from the 18 to 25 January. This special week provides an opportunity to focus our prayers on Christian unity, as well as speak about and experience Christian unity personally as well as engage with what happens at a national level.

There is a Unity Service for the Churches Together in Bootle on Monday 22nd January at 7pm in the Salvation Army. Everyone is welcome to join us for this service.

Chaplaincy Production 

Before Christmas, the Chaplaincy team of St John Bosco Academy made another Christmas production! click the link below to watch their take on Robin Hood.

Holiday  

Fr Brian is away for a break this week, from 10th -17th January. Fr Tony Frain has kindly agreed to fill in for Fr Brian during this time, and we’re very grateful to him for agreeing to do this. All Masses will be at the usual times.

The Epiphany of the Lord

Reflection

Gordon Wilson’s daughter was killed by a bomb in Enniskillen on Remembrance Day 1987. Instead of calling for revenge, he forgave her killers and began a campaign for peace and reconciliation. He said: “I am a very ordinary sort of man. I have few personal ambitions and no political aspirations. I just want to live and let live. Life had been kind to me in the main and I have tried to live by the Good Book. I do not profess to be a good man but I aim to be. I would like to leave the world a better place than I found it but I have no exaggerated ideas of my ability to do so, I have hitched my wagon to a star, a star of hope, the star of Bethlehem.

White Flower Appeal 

Next Sunday, 15th January, there will be a second collection for the White Flower Appeal, to help raise funds for SPUC. You can also donate online from the link below. Thank you for your kindness and generosity.

Thank you 

Fr Brian and the Salesian Community would like to say a very sincere thank you to all those who gave us cards and gifts over Christmas. Once again we were overwhelmed by your kindness and generosity. Be assured of our prayers for you and your families over the festive period.

Holiday  

Fr Brian will be away for a break from 10th -17th January.
Fr Tony Frain has kindly agreed to fill in for Fr Brian during this time, and we’re very grateful to him for agreeing to do this.
All Masses will be at the usual times.