PASTORAL LETTER - CHRIST THE KING 2024

The Archbishop's Pastoral Letter will be read at all Masses this weekend. The final page is for information regarding the churches and chapels across the archdiocese which will be places of pilgrimage during the diocesan phase of the Jubilee Year. You can find a copyby clicking here.  

NOVEMBER 2024 CATHOLIC PICTORIAL

For an electronic copy of  November's Catholic Pictorial click here

ST MARY’S NEARLY NEW FASHION SHOW.

Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way to our nearly new fashion show last week. We raised a fantastic £1300 for CAFOD, the south Liverpool food bank and Zoe’s Place and enjoyed a fabulous afternoon too.

GRATITUDE

Cultivating an attitude of gratitude is surely one of the great ways of keeping everything in our lives in perspective. We all have to cope with our share of failures and disappointments, but if we can measure those against the joy that comes from the blessings we experience, then the Christian call to live as men and women of hope becomes possible. The Redemptorist General Council keeps reminding us that we are missionaries of hope and, of course, the same call to live in hope is at the heart of the Synodal vision to walk together with the Lord.

Like many others, I was delighted with the news that Fr Timothy Radcliffe has been named among the new Cardinals appointed by Pope Francis. The Pope entrusted him with the task of leading the retreats in preparation for the Synod sessions in Rome both last year and this year. In my opinion, he has a unique ability to acknowledge the reality of what is going on, accepting the tensions and disagreements that exist, but, at the same time, offering a vision of hope that we can walk together in peace if we are truly open to one another and are willing to listen and seek to understand one another. Even a cursory look at the history of the Church reminds us of how our Lord can use the seemingly most unlikely people to further the cause of his Kingdom.

It is in this spirit that I hope we can continue to seek the best way forward for our Parishes, for our Family of Parishes and for our Deanery in the months and years ahead. I have not been slow to point out the huge degree of uncertainty that surrounds even the immediate future, but alongside that I have been greatly encouraged by the surge of goodwill and the offering of support and help from so many of you.

So, let’s continue to listen to one another, trusting that the Spirit will indeed “lead us to the truth” and enable all of us to live as missionaries of hope.

RACIAL JUSTICE:  A MESSAGE FROM ARCHBISHOP MALCOLM

As we celebrate World Mission Sunday, Archbishop Malcolm invites us to reflect on diversity of the Universal Church and in our parishes and communities.  In his video message on racial justice, the Archbishop echoes the Pope’s message, “Go and invite everyone to the banquet!”, and shares some practical ways you can do this at a local level.  

CARDINAL NICHOLS ON ASSISTED SUICIDE

OCTOBER 2024'S CATHOLIC PICTORIAL

To access the electronic version of the Catholic Pictorial click here.

CARITAS - TAKE ACTION ON CHILD POVERTY

Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) has made the issue of child poverty, particularly the two-child benefit cap, a priority in its advocacy for 2024/2025.   You can learn more at Take Action on Child Poverty - Caritas Social Action Network - CSAN

If you wish to write to your MP visit https://www.cbcew.org.uk/contact-mp-two-child-cap/

CHILDREN’S LITURGY:

As we are coming to our fourth week of Children’s Liturgy, we ask that parents allow their children to go out with catechists to take part independently in the session.

Safeguarding requires we have only adults with a DBS for our parish to remain in the Fisher-More Hall during the Children’s Liturgy Session.

If you would like to become a helper, please get in touch with the parish office. 

A MESSAGE FROM SOUTH LIVERPOOL FOODBANK

Your church has done something truly incredible!

By collecting much needed food and essential items, you’ve ensured we can provide help and support to individuals in our community who are in crisis. We’re so grateful for your partnership and generosity.

Over the past 12 months, with your help, our foodbank supported 5,626 adults and 2,776 children across South Liverpool. This required over 145 tonnes of food and toiletries. We had to buy 33 tonnes of extra stock due to short falls in donations, which is increasingly putting pressure on our finances.

It's hard to believe that people in South Liverpool are going without food and other essentials, but sadly it's true. One in seven people face hunger across the UK because they simply don’t have enough money. Low levels of income combined with increasing costs are forcing people to have to turn to our foodbank.

One client who turned to us was local grandma ‘Elsa’. Due to a family crisis Elsa took over custody of her two grandchildren. She tried to cope but found it impossible to make ends meet and was struggling to put food on the table. We were able to provide Elsa with emergency food and offer practical guidance so she could access the support she needed to get back on track.

We believe that churches are vital partners in our current operations, and in achieving our goal of a UK where everyone can afford life’s essentials and foodbanks can close their doors for good. 

Read more: A Message from South Liverpool Foodbank / Harvest Appeal

 MELODIOUS YOUTH CHOIR

MELODIOUS YOUTH CHOIR – VOCALS BY LIBBY: Making music and singing accessible to children and youths. Sessions commence on Tuesday 3 September 5:00pm- 7:00pm at St Mary’s Parish Hall.  All children have a voice to be heard and these sessions will provide the opportunity for them to experience the empowerment that music brings. 

AN EXCERPT FROM THE PRESS RELEASE OF

THE PRESIDENTS OF CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ENGLAND CTE - (6 AUG 2024)

Press Statement, 6 August 2024

For Immediate Release

The Presidents of Churches Together in England, named below, have issued a statement calling on churches and communities to work together to end racism, division and disorder. Here is an excerpt of what they write…

“…. Regrettably, we have witnessed violent, racist attacks and intimidation on our streets. Mosques have been attacked, hotels housing people seeking asylum set on fire and individuals set upon simply because of the colour of their skin. Racism has no place on our streets or in society and should not be stirred up in communities or online. The police have faced unacceptable levels of violent disorder and rioting in their quest to keep the peace on the streets. We are grateful for the work of the emergency services who put themselves in danger to protect the public. We are grateful for communities who have come together to help with the clear up, demonstrating a determination to serve the good of all.

We are also grateful to the many local churches across the country who provide a place of worship and sanctuary for people and who help build stronger communities through action at the grassroots level, including initiatives like Street Pastors and Response Pastors. Let us all work together to put an end to this violent disorder, restore peace and heal our nation.

ENDS”

The next session at Strawberry Field is Friday 16th August at 12 noon

The next session at St Mary's Woolton  is Tuesday 20th August from 1:30pm -3:30pm.

The schedule from August to the end of the year is below

MARIE CURIE - CHEQUE PRESENTATION

The staff  at Marie Curie Hospice in Woolton Village  were absolutely amazed at the amount we raised in just 3 hours!! at our Midsummer Magic Fundraiser Well done everyone

MIDSUMMER MAGIC THANKYOU AND PICTURES

Midsummer Magic in Aid of Marie Curie Hospice, Woolton, was a huge success, raising £2670! Thank you to all those who attended on the evening and generously donated.  

We hope the photos below will give you a sense of the event, and that you will join us at future fundraisers.

The memorial plaques which were personalisd by those who bought them.

Read more: Midsummer Magic Thankyou and pictures

PROJECT ZIMBABWE UPDATES JULY 2024

We have received a couple of videos from Zimbabwe, one is a thank you, the other shows you how work has been progressing

THANK YOU FROM SOUTH LIVERPOOL FOODBANK.

In the first six months of the year, you helped feed 3,535 people in our local area. Thank you to our wonderful SVP team who organise this initiative and please remember donations can be made at the Monastery Monday-Friday, 9.00am—4.00pm. They especially need food during school holidays, particularly tinned meat, fish, fruit juice, long-life milk, custard, rice pudding and biscuits.   ed

J&P GROUP - THANK YOU

The Justice and Peace Group would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who supported their campaign for MARY'S MEALS. We were completely overwhelmed by your kindness! We managed to ra ise over £4000!!! Plus, there were people who filled in the form to make regular donations and a big sum from the SVP group in St Mary's and on top of that we have been able to Gift Aid it so that's a few hundred pounds on top of that too! We will let you know the exact sum when everything is in. If you forgot to bring your donation, please drop in at the Monastery or St Mary's office. Together we are feeding over 200 children for a whole year! Thanks again from J&P and please keep us in your prayers so we can continue on our journey!

PODCAST 'HOSPICES HELP YOU LIVE UNTIL YOU DIE'

This podcast challenges the myths that exist about Hospices

Hospices “help you live until you die”

AN INTERVIEW WITH DR CHRISTOPHER MCELROY

Dr Christopher McElroy on the Catholic University of America's podcast Director of Music at the Metropolitan Cathedral, Dr Christopher McElroy, recently took part in a nterview at the Catholic University of America on the subject of Sacred Music, Catechesis and Beauty.