THANK YOU BISHOP TOM

On Wednesday 17 May, hundreds of people from around the Archdiocese and beyond  attended the Metropolitan Cathedral for a Mass of Thanksgiving for Bishop Tom Williams. 

The Mass was followed by a gathering in the Cathedral crypt at which Archbishop Malcolm presented him with gifts.

Speaking the day afterwards, Bishop Tom had a message of gratitude to all who had contributed to a memorable evening: ‘All I want to say is thank you – thank you to the Archbishop and thank you to those who came and those who sent messages who couldn’t come.

‘I was overwhelmed and would like to thank people sincerely for being there. It came together very well –  people came smiling along and they walked away smiling.’

SVP FOODBANK COLLECTIONS FOR SOUTH LIVERPOOL.

We have seen a decline in donations recently, if you can help please drop non-perishable food donations to the Monastery, weekdays 9.00am-4.00pm. Thank you.

#Liverpool4Ukraine 

After leaving the archdiocese in the early hours of Saturday morning, our volunteer drivers handed over the essential aid to Ukraine yesterday.

The three vans were carrying aid such as dried food, building supplies and sleeping bags.

Read more: Liverpool4Ukraine trip 5 - updated 25.5.2023

#Liverpool4Ukraine

Six volunteer drivers in 3 vans will leave on Saturday 6 May for the 6 day journey. The dates were carefully selected to tie in with Eurovision to further strengthen the links between the city and Ukraine as the reason it is being held in Liverpool is because of the war in Ukraine.

On Friday 5 May at 3pm, Fr Taras Khomych and Fr Aidan Prescott will bless the vans and drivers at the St Margaret Clitherow Centre. All are welcome to come to this. More details about the appeal can be found here: https://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/news/archdiocese-of-liverpool-embarks-on-fifth-ukrainian-trip-during-the-week-of-eurovision

Donations to #Liverpool4Ukraine can still be made details below

Online:

https://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/donate

Bank transfer:

Account name: Archdiocese of Liverpool
Sort code: 40-29-12
Account: 01551493
Reference: Help Ukraine

Cheque:

Made payable to “Archdiocese of Liverpool” and with “Help Ukraine” written on the reverse, these can be sent to

Finance Department
St Margaret Clitherow Centre
Liverpool Archdiocesan Office
Croxteth Drive
Liverpool
L17 1AA

Please keep our drivers, Bishop Gregory and the people of Ukraine in your prayers.

A prayer devised for Eurovision week can be accessed by clicking here.

#Liverpool4Ukraine

SHRINE MINISTRY:

Thank you to everyone who shared in the launch of our Shrine project at our awakening day last week. John discussed the background to the project and the goal to place our celebrated icon to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour once again at the heart of our mission as a community. Pilgrimage and prayer are at the heart of an ambitious programme, but we agreed to make a simple start: so from Wednesday 10 May at 7.30pm come and spend 30 mins of your evening with us as we re-instate a beautiful weekly Novena service.

(If you were unable to attend the launch but would like to be involved please download an interest form click here and return to the parish office.  We are looking for people with lots of different specialities.)

Shrine Ministry

BEFRIENDING SERVICE - VOLUNTEERS WANTED:

Woolton Community Life have recently had an influx of local residents who are lonely and would like a visitor for an hour or so each week, visits can be flexible.  More information can be found on their website wooltoncommunitylife.org.uk or call 07490 572344 or email: i

BISHOP ETON WAR MEMORIAL: THE REALLY UNEXPECTED UPDATE!

Between 2014 and 2018 I wrote short pieces about the men named on Bishop Eton’s war memorial. I never thought to be writing an update. Thanks to an article appearing in the Liverpool Echo on 25 March 2023, I can add some details to the piece about 2^nd Lieutenant Wilfrid John Massey-Lynch who died 4 April 1918 whilst serving on the Western Front.

At the time that I wrote of 2^nd Lieutenant Massey-Lynch it was believed that he had no known grave. However, thanks to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and to ‘war detectives’ his resting place has been identified after 105 years. His nameless grave has been supplied with a new ‘named’ headstone. This was unveiled at a service on 23 March 2023 in Crucifix Corner Cemetery at Villers-Bretonneux in northern France.

2^nd Lieutenant Massey-Lynch was born in 1893 in Seaforth, attended Stonyhurst, worked in a Liverpool bank, married and emigrated to Australia. He chose to return to England to serve in the 3^rd Dragoon Guards. He was killed on active service on 4 April 1918.

Janet Hollinshead

#LIVERPOOL4UKRAINE

In May,  the Archdiocese is planning a 5^th trip to the Ukraine border to deliver essential aid to Bishop Gregory Komar. The essential aid is then distributed between local people who need it so desperately.

The vans carrying the aid will be driven by volunteer drivers from the archdiocesan office and from Greenmount Projects.

These trips would not be possible without the generous donations from parishioners.

Donations  are very miuch still welcome, ways to donate are below:

Online:

https://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/donate

Bank transfer:

Account name: Archdiocese of Liverpool

Sort code: 40-29-12

Account: 01551493

Reference: Help Ukraine

Cheque:

Made payable to “Archdiocese of Liverpool” and with “Help Ukraine” written on the reverse, these can be sent to

Finance Department

St Margaret Clitherow Centre

Liverpool Archdiocesan Office

Croxteth Drive

Liverpool

L17 1AA

LIVERPOOL CITIZENS.

As a parish we have been invited to join the newly formed Liverpool Citizens. Citizens UK has founded Citizen groups in London and sixteen other UK cities. The bonding factor is the key values shared by Faith groups, charities, nursing and educational establishments, all organisations working for the wellbeing of our society, to bring about change, and to hold accountable public and private bodies which undermine the common good. Catholic parishes are everywhere to the forefront of this drive to action. The training Citizens offers develops local leaders and provides the skills to enable them to negotiate with key decision makers. The Living Wage campaign has been Citizens most successful. Twelve thousand companies have signed and pledged to pay all their employees a living wage. Most campaigns are waged at the local level.

Why not think about it. Read online reviews. Do we need to train leaders? Is this for our parish?

THANK YOU FROM THE SVP

A thank you letter from the SVP will be available with the paper version of the newsletter this weekend (2nd April 2023 ).  For an electronic copy click here

THE SEIGE OF CHERNIHIV

Common Home TV  (an initiative of the Redemptorists in Oceania) has been granted rare access to the Redemptorist community in Chernihiv. Fr Taras Kchik CSsR, a Redemptorist priest based in Ukraine, brings the viewer into the reality of the siege with dramatic, never before seen footage of Russia’s invasion. From February 24th to 4th April 2022, unguided bombs indiscriminately hit the city causing civilian casualties and the mass destruction of infrastructure.

The Siege of Chernihiv witnesses the mobilisation of the Redemptorists and their efforts to help the community. From opening the Church to shelter those who could not escape to organising supplies for shut-ins; to supporting hospital staff and those in palliative care, the Redemptorist charism of supporting the abandoned comes to life in this short documentary. The choice to remain and provide support is a dangerous one, as since the recording of this video two Redemptorist priests have been arrested and detained by Russian forces.

Taras’ Redemptorists confrères in Oceania are committed to working towards a swift and peaceful end to this conflict.

BEREAVEMENT GROUP AFTERNOON TEA MARCH 2023

On Tuesday 21st March our Bereavement Group  enjoyed an afternoon Tea at Dobbies.  Photos below.   Anyone who is bereaved is welcome to attend future meeting and events.  All meetings are advertised in the parish bulletin.

Read more: Bereavement Group Afternoon Tea - March 2023

LIVERPOOL ARCHDIOCESE NETWORKING AND INFORMATION SESSION

For volunteers & staff in asylum and refugee work: 

Wednesday, 29 March 6:30pm, Online

The purpose of this event is to bring together all the work that is going on across the archdiocese to support refugees.  Who is it for?  From anyone who wants to help, but are unsure how to, and volunteers/ workers who can share experiences and services with others.

For information and registration go to: https://Archdiocese_network_4_vols_staff_supporting_refugees.eventbrite.com

CATENIAN BURSARY FUND

Are you a young catholic aged between 16-24 years who is intending to volunteer on a development project or as a helper on a Diocesan, HCPT or Jumbulance Pilgrimage to Lourdes? Each year, prior to covid, the Catenian Bursary Fund dispensed hundreds of thousands of pounds to hundreds of volunteers such as yourself. Let us help you to achieve your aims to help others and "MAKE A DIFFERENCE". Apply online at catenianbursary.com.

FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT 2023

PARISH COFFEE MORNING

Please join us on the First Sunday of the Month after the 10am Mass, for coffee, a chat and maybe make new friends.   Money raised at the coffee morning is donated to a charity nominated by the helpers .   

If you would like to help at future events please email the Parish Office  ()  Thankyou

FEEDING LIVERPOOL – QUEEN OF GREENS

The Queen of Greens bus is a new mobile greengrocer bringing affordable fresh fruit and vegetables to communities across Liverpool and Knowsley to boost access to healthy food and tackle health inequalities. Some areas visited on the route are classed as ‘food deserts’, where residents currently have to travel a kilometre or more to reach a supermarket selling ‘green’ produce, 800 metres to a convenience store, or 500 metres to a fresh market stall. The new Queen of Greens bus will visit 29 stops each week including schools, hospitals, health and community centres, providing people with better opportunities to shop for nutritious food closer to their home or workplace. The project is a partnership between charities Feeding Liverpool, which is leading the city’s Good Food Plan to create a city where ‘everyone can eat good food’, and Feedback project Alchemic Kitchen, with funding from Feeding Britain. Healthy Start cards and Alexandra Rose vouchers are accepted.

Find out more about the Queen of Greens here and the timetable is available here

THANK YOU FROM BROTHER BENJAMIN

Brother Benjamin has sent a ‘Thank you’ letter, in appreciation for all your support; a copy can be found at the back of Church.

CARDINAL NICHOLS REFLECTS ON THE LIFE OF POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT RIP

Cardinal Nichols reflects on the life of Pope Emeritus Benedict RIP, and the legacy of his visit to the UK