THANK YOU FROM THE J&P GROUP

The Justice and Peace Youth Group would like to thank everyone for their support so far in their campaign to help Mary's Meals. Just a reminder if you can please try to save £19.15 in the boxes or in an envelope that will feed a child one meal a day for an entire school year. 

We will be collecting again on 23 June at the beginning of all the Masses. 

Thanks again for your support for this amazing charity.

CALLED TO BE PEACEMAKERS

Bishop  William Kenney reflects on a new document that looks at a a Catholic approach to arms control and disarmament.

FUNDRAISING THANK YOU

THANK YOU to all those who came to the ‘To Be Sung on Water’ Concert. We managed to raise £770 which will be split equally between Alder Hey and Project Zimbabwe.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOAN

Happy Birthday and many blessings to Joan Moran, who celebrates her 100^th birthday on 1 June. Joan was a faithful collector at the 10.00am Mass for many years, and her son, Ian, worked in MacNaughton’s Newsagents. As a Parish Family we send Joan our love and very best wishes.

BISHOP JOHN SHERRINGHAM COMMENTS ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE BILL

To read Bishop Sherringham's comments on the amendments to the criminal justice bill click here

DO JUSTICE CAMPAIGN

Do Justice aims to advance the Catholic Church’s social action across the nations. A copy of the document laying out the vision of spiritual and Civic renewal can be found at  https://dojustice.co.uk/.  Please take a look at the page and consider taking part in the campaign.

Read more: Do Justice Campaign - updated 23.5.24

MISSIO RED BOXES - Thank you

Last year, 2023, Our Lady of the Annunciation Bishop Eton, raised £4795.85 for Missio. Many thanks to all who contributed and helped raise this huge amount. Thank you.

  BISHOPS' REFLECTION ON GENDER

The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have issued a pastoral reflection on gender. To read the bacground and download the document titled "Ontricately woven by the Lord: A pastoral reflection on gender by the bishops of England and Wales' visit https://www.cbcew.org.uk/bishops-issue-pastoral-reflection-on-gender/

PODCAST: GAZA’S PARISH PRIEST

Gaza’s parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli was recently in the UK. Catholic News podcast partnered with Middle East Analysis to discuss the plight of the parish in Gaza with Fr Gabriel.  You can listen to the podcast below. 

Gaza’s priest | Fr Gabriel Romanelli

SOUTH LIVERPOOL FOOD BANK THANK-YOU

Nicky Simon, on behalf of South Liverpool Food Bank, sends his sincere thanks to the Parishioners of Bishop Eton and the SVP for the generous response in donating food and goods to those in need. “Your donation will make a big difference to local people in crisis.”

Learn more about the Foodbank at https://southliverpool.foodbank.org.uk/

VATICAN DECLARATION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales have welcomed the Vatican declaration on human dignity Dignitas infinita released by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on Monday, 8 April 2024.  Learn more at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/bishops-conference-welcomes-vatican-declaration-on-human-dignity/

ARCHBISHOP MALCOLM'S PASTORAL LETTER & COMMENTARY

To read Archbishop Malcolm's Pastoral letter for Vocations Sunday click here

FR RON JOHNSON'S NOTES ON ARCHBISHOP MALCOLM'S PASTORAL LETTER

(You can contact Fr Ron either by telephoning the Parish of St Charles and St Thomas More in Aigburth on 0151 727 2493 or email  )

In his pastoral message for Good Shepherd Sunday, the Chair of the National Office for Vocation, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon, has affirmed the value of being a good listener in order to hear God’s call to holiness.

“One of our modern problems is that our world is very noisy, and it is often difficult to hear our own voices and thoughts in the surrounding din, let alone the words of others,” he writes. “One situation that can occur is we find ourselves on set paths in life, and it is not easy to change direction even if we want to do just that. Commitment to our families and other responsibilities block our ears and we just carry on as before.”

Good Shepherd Sunday is the day chosen for ‘Vocations Sunday’ and is celebrated this year on Sunday, 21 April.

Saint John Henry Newman teaches that God has a definite purpose for each and every one of us, but Archbishop McMahon is keen to highlight the huge value of priests, nuns and monks to the Church:

“There is no doubt that the church needs priests to celebrate the Eucharist and other sacraments, and Religious to offer a living witness to the values of the Kingdom of God. Without them, we would be a very impoverished Church.”

But how can we work out whether God is calling us to a particular vocation? The Archbishop of Liverpool suggests women and men should ask whether their vocational journey is likely to bring them contentment:

“One simple test is whether following a particular path in life gives us joy. If we are happy and content, or at least think we will be, then it is worth giving it a try. I am not saying that we should be deliriously happy all the time but there should be an underlying knowledge that we have chosen the right path in response to God’s call.”

Archbishop McMahon is quick to point out that although discerning a vocation involves a leap of faith, it is not a leap into the unknown:

“Just as there are risks in getting married, no matter how much we prepare for it, so there are risks in offering yourself for priesthood and religious life. In all cases we have examples of happy and fulfilled people living their vocation.”

Quoting Pope Francis, he proposes two pillars of Catholic life that can help people interpret God’s call – serving others and spending time before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

“Adoration is a special kind of prayer which helps us shirk off everything except that one person who is important to us – Jesus Christ. Pope Francis’ second point was to steer us towards service of others. In serving others, giving ourselves to other people in response to different needs, we undoubtedly find Jesus.” 

VOCATIONS INFORMATION FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF LIVERPOOL

Our synodal journey reinforced our commitment to becoming a Church that values the vocation of all the baptised, but on the Fourth Sunday of Eastertide, we are reminded of the importance of praying in a special way for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. This Good Shepherd Sunday we have much to celebrate because this academic year is a significant one for vocations to the priesthood within our Archdiocese. God willing, by the end of July 5 men will have been ordained to the priesthood for our Archdiocese.

Fr Hugh Donleavy was ordained to the priesthood on 1 December at St Alban’s Church in Warrington and plans are underway for the ordination of Deacons James Finnegan and Martin Fyles (from the Venerable English College, Rome), Peter Ross (from St Mary’s College, Oscott) and Lister Tonge, (a former Anglican Minister). If all goes to plan, they will be ordained together in the Cathedral on 13 July.

There are currently three other men in formation for our Archdiocese in the Beda College, Rome and Allen Hall, London and two candidates currently involved in the process of applying to begin seminary in September.  Usually, on the first Saturday of each month a group of men gather together to reflect on the priesthood and to discern whether this is God’s calling for them. The road to the priesthood is long and these men need your continued prayer and the support you give to the Priest Training Fund collection that takes place today.

There is no one type of man that God is calling and our seminarians and discerners come from different backgrounds, have had a wide range of life experiences and cover a range of ages. Perhaps God is calling you!

If you think God might be calling you to serve as a priest within our Archdiocese and are ready to explore this further and perhaps meet other men who are thinking about their vocation, please contact the Vocations’ Director, Fr Ron Johnson either by telephoning the Parish of St Charles and St Thomas More in Aigburth on 0151 727 2493 or email  

ST MARIA GORETTI - SPECIAL WORKS CONFERENCE

An amazing group of just five members have helped hundreds of women fleeing persecution and violence in their birth countries to find a better life. This small Liverpool team (who are linked to the SVP) help women living in Liverpool and are now hoping to recruit new members to support them in their work. Support is particularly required with visiting individuals who have been referred and/or transporting household items across the Liverpool region.

If you are interested in finding out more about the valuable work this group undertake or would like to get involved, then please contact Cath Bradley on 07534 780 731 or 284 1866 or email:

REDEMPTORISTS WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE OF BALTIMORE

A Redemptorist priest talks about his work in the aftermath of the Francis Scott Key bridge collapse.

ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS PATRICK

April 3rd 2024 marked 40 years since Archbishop Patrick's Episcopal ordination in Salford Cathedral. 

We thank him for his service and the friendship and support he has given to our Redemptorist Community.

 Photo taken during our 9 day Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Succour in 2015.

THANK YOU FROM THE AHEARNS

Raymond Ahearn and his family wish to thank all of the parishioners and friends for their prayers, cards and expressions of consolation following the death of his brother, Fr Beverley.

LIVE SIMPLY AWARD - CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to all that helped in anyway in helping us to achieve the LiveSimply Award.    We have received a letter  (click here) and a presentation certficate. The parish will also receive a plaque. 

Thank you to the hard work of the LiveSimply team across both parishes.   If you have other thoughts/ ideas/ activities that you would like to share please contact them at : . 

BISHOP SHERRINGHAM'S RESPONSE TO SELECT COMMITTEE ON ASSISTED DYING

Bishop Sherringham, the lead Bishop for Life issues, issued a statement on the Health & Social Care Select Committee's report on assisted dying.

https://www.cbcew.org.uk/bishop-responds-to-health-and-social-care-select-committee-report-on-assisted-dying-assisted-suicide/

FLAME CCR

A local Merseyside Christian and  Community radio station providing music, discussion and Christian teaching, is now available on DAB+ and via the  Flame Radio App flameradio.org.