Anderton St Joseph's       
               Newsletter

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
28th MAY 2017


MASSES, MASS INTENTIONS AND SERVICES


Sun 28 MaySOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
Sat 5.30 pm  Holy Mass – Parishioners
9.30 am   Holy Mass – Joseph Cross (A)
  
WeekdaysMorning Prayer 20 minutes before Mass.   Rosary afterwards, except Wednesday when the Divine Mercy Chaplet will be recited.

Mon 29 May
9.10 am    Holy Mass – St Clare’s U.C.M.

Tue 30 May
8.30 am  Holy Mass – Members of Broughton Catholic Charitable Society

Wed 31 May   Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
9.10 am    Holy Mass – Peter Hull (Birthday Blessings)

Thurs 1 Jun    St Justin, Martyr
9.10 am   Holy Mass – Benefactors of
                                                         Lancashire Infirm Secular Clergy Fund

Fri 2 JunSt Marcellinus & Peter, Martyrs
9.10 am    Holy Mass – Catherine & John Derbyshire (A)

Sat 3 Jun   Vigil of Pentecost
9.10 am   Holy Mass (Extraordinary Form) – The Emmett Family
4.15 pm – 5.15 pm Confessions

Sun 4 Jun   PENTECOST SUNDAY
Sat 5.30 pm  Holy Mass – Parishioners
9.30 am   Holy Mass – Andrew James Power (A)

THE HOLY FATHER’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR JUNE
‘That national leaders may firmly commit themselves to ending the arms trade,
which victimizes so many innocent people.’

Please pray for Pope Benedict,all the sick and housebound of the parish.
"Heal thy servants, O Lord, who are sick and who put their trust in thee. Send them help, O Lord, and comfort from thy holy place."

OFFERTORY COLLECTION last week was £509. Many thanks for your support and generosity. Cheques for any monies given to the parish should be made payable to: St Joseph’s Parish Account (068). 
The next retiring collections will be: 28th May – World Communications Day – see the item on the back page about this; 4th June – church Restoration Fund.

PLEASE NOTE: Mass on Tuesday morning (30th) is at the earlier time of 8.30 am.

NOTICE FOR PARISHIONERS WHO GIFT AID THEIR PARISH DONATIONS: Your statement of donations for the tax year 2016 – 2017 is now available for collection in the church porch. (For those who cannot get to church, letters will be delivered.)

SOCIAL BOWLING at our bowling green now on Wednesday afternoons, for 2 hours from 1.00 pm.  £1 for non- members including tea, a biscuit and tuition if required

ST JOSEPH’S SCOUT GROUP wishes to thank parishioners for their support of last weekend’s car wash, which raised the great sum of £305 for funds.

ANNUAL CLOSURE: the gate through to the school and Rothwell Road will be locked on Monday 29th May (Bank Holiday), from 9.00 am until 9.00 am on Tuesday. 30th May, to preserve the private nature of this access.

TALK ON THE FATIMA PRAYER: Stephen Bullivant, who attends Mass at St Joseph’s when he’s up visiting family, has written a book for the centenary of the Fatima apparitions.  It’s about the Fatima Prayer we often use when saying the Rosary: ’O my God, forgive us our sins...’  He will be giving a talk at St Walburge’s, Preston at 7.30 pm on Wednesday, 31st May.  Fr O’Shea will be going along.  Watch out for the usual list in the porch.

A SOLEMN MASS celebrating the feast of St Josemaria Escriva De Balaguer (founder of Opus Dei) will be held at 6.30 pm on Monday 26th June in our Cathedral in Liverpool.  Everyone welcome to attend.

ST JOSEPH’S MUSIC GROUP: The next practice will be on Wednesday 21st June, in church, at 7.00 pm prompt, to prepare for the Vigil Mass on 24th June.

FAITH ENQUIRY GROUP: Anyone interested in wishing to find out more about becoming a Catholic, please contact Fr O’Shea.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
‘It is only the heart which can touch hearts.  We can influence souls in proportion to our love for them... What is zeal?  It is the movement of love, but intensified to the point of making the soul capable of drawing others after it.  Such must be the ardour of our charity: we must eagerly desire to see the kingdom of God established in souls and in society: then we shall find the words which bring comfort...’                 Blessed Columba Marmion

THE VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: After the Annunciation and conception of the Word made flesh within her, Mary undertook a troublesome journey to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was about to give birth to John the Baptist.  Elizabeth acclaimed Mary: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”  John the Baptist, as yet unborn, sensed the closeness of the Messiah he was to announce, and leapt in the womb.  Mary gave us the Magnificat on this occasion: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour…….”

A CELEBRATION of the FEAST of the VISITATION of MARY will take place at Ladyewell Shrine, Fulwood, Preston on Wednesday 31st May, from 11.30 am to 1.00 pm.  The celebration commences with the Rosary Procession, followed by Holy Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction.

A FEAST FOR MUSIC LOVERS
CONCERT OF MARIAN MUSIC: The choir of St Mary’s, Warrington (served by the priests of the Fraternity of St Peter) will be singing in honour of Our Lady at 3.00 pm on Sunday, 28th May.  Please sign the list in the porch if you’d like to go along.

THE SIXTH ANNUAL ORGAN & TRUMPET RECITAL will be held in St Joseph’s, Harpers Lane at 12.30 pm on Saturday 3rd June.  The organists will be Gordon Blackledge, Peter Morrison and Alan Winstanley together with Ian Hunter on trumpet.  Admission is free and any funds raised by the retiring collection will be donated to St Catherine’s Hospice.  This event has become very well supported and last year over £900 was raised for McMillan Cancer Support.

SUMMER CONCERT by Chorley & District Choral Society on Saturday 17th June at 7.30 pm in St Laurence’s Church, Chorley.  The music will be light – English Music and the Great American Songbook.  Tickets are £8 and available from Rosemary.

HERE IN ST JOSEPH’S, The Ladybridge Singers will be giving a concert of sacred and secular music on Saturday, 1st July at 7.30 pm.  Free admission.  All welcome.

SAINTS OF THE WEEK
St Justin, Martyr (d.165) was a philosopher who converted from paganism to Christianity.  He founded Christian schools in Rome and tried to explain Christian truths to the pagan Roman world.  He became an illustrious defender of Christianity, the first apologist.  He could see that many pagans avoided Christianity because they had false information and misunderstandings about it.  He saw his work as helping to clear away these barriers to conversion.  He addressed two Apologies to the persecuting emperors.
Ss Marcellinus and Peter were Roman martyrs under Diocletian. When persecution finally ceased, a basilica was built in their honour in Rome.

LITTLE CHURCH usually meet during 9.30 am Sunday Mass, for the benefit of the little children.

REPOSITORY: Cards for all occasions including Birthdays, sympathy and Mass cards, First Holy Communions, Directories, Missals, medals, crucifixes, silver crosses & much more.  Prayer cards for St Peregrine (Patron Saint of cancer sufferers). 

CHORLEY HOSPITAL: Please contact St Joseph’s, Harper’s Lane (262713) if any member of your family is admitted into the Hospital and needs the priest to visit.  In an emergency, the ward staff will call in the duty priest chaplain via the switchboard.

BAPTISMS: For baptisms would parents please contact Fr O’Shea, not by telephone, but in the sacristy after a weekend Mass and obtain a Baptism Application Form.

PATRON SAINT OF MOTHERS:  Mums, especially Mums-To-Be, who would like to venerate the parish's relic of Saint Gerard Majella (to whom our side altar is dedicated) and/or receive the Blessing of Expectant Mothers, please ask Fr O'Shea.

THE UPPER ROOM is available to hire for all your meetings, functions, parties etc.

CHORLEY FOOD BANK (Living Waters Storehouse): Please continue to support the food bank.  Donations may be left in the church porch to be taken through to Chorley.

THE POOR BOX is available in the porch for donations.  Many thanks for your gifts, which are put to good use.

APF RED BOX HOLDERS: please collect a copy of the APF summer magazine from the church porch.

WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY - “Communicating hope and trust in our time” - takes place on 28 May 2017, the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord. It reflects His mandate that we should “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good news”.  On this day, Catholics are encouraged to pray for all those professionals who work in the field of Communications. A particular intention for prayer is for those who are responsible for communicating on behalf of the Catholic Church in this country through the Catholic Communications Network.
The CCN is the media office of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and seeks to support the Bishops in their role as teachers both of the Catholic community and the wider world. The office is the central point for media enquiries and is a key resource for national and international media professionals. It also plays an important role in developing the public profile of the Church through word and image, online and offline.
Please help them continue this work through the collection on the day. 



Parish Priest: Fr Ian O’Shea (01257) 480237
Parish Office: St Joseph’s Presbytery, 28, Bolton Road, Adlington, Chorley PR6 9NA
(Open Wednesdays 10 am – 3.30 pm)
E-mail: stjosephs.anderton@tiscali.co.uk       
Parish Website:www.stjosephsanderton.com
LIVERPOOL ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESAN TRUSTEES INC
Registered Charity No.232709