ARCHBISHOP'S STATEMENT ON THE KING'S HEALTH

The Archbishop has released a statement following the announcement of the King's cancer diagnosis.  Click here to read it.

FROM OUR RESIDENT POET - CLOSE DOWN OR WAIT

CLOSE DOWN OR WAIT

Quietly I sit in contemplation,

Waiting for words of inspiration

To fill my brain, in preparation

So words will flow - no meditation!

Shall I write about the weather?

Deep snow, fierce storms - together

Killers of incipient leisure,

Destroyers of the hours of pleasure.

These darkling days need joy,

Not mundane facts used as a ploy.

A sideways glance through window spies

One sight that makes the spirits rise.

Inquisitive robin, 'neath brightening skies,

Unearths some food - to his surprise.

Twittering sparrows join the quest.

Robin repels unwanted guest.

Now, his realm is repossessed.

Macho robin has passed the test!

Think not, protagonist is coy,

Just inspiration to enjoy.

 robin has passed the test.

Eileen Murray © January 2024

A THANK YOU FROM THE WHITECHAPEL CENTRE

We have received a thank you from the The Whitechapel Centre for the magnificent amount of money raised at our Christmas by Candlelight Event.

A MESSAGE FROM FR HUGH SEENAN MAFR (MISSIONARIES OF AFRICA)

I  write firstly to thank you, and all your priests for the wonderful welcome given to me and our team as we travelled through the Archdiocese. Your priests and deacons are quite extraordinary in their work and kind and generous in their welcome. 61 parish priests responded positively to our request for an appeal date. The appeals covered 103 parishes. £37,009.70 was raised through the collections.

To your people in all pastoral areas, thanks simply is not adequate. The scale of generosity in this difficult time is quite humbling. We are all working for the Mission of the Gospel. To be welcomed and treated in such a way as your parish communities did makes our mission that much easier.

Yours faithfully,

Fr Hugh Seenan MAfr,

Missionaries of Africa

SHOEBOX APPEAL THANKYOU

The Big Help Project have sent a ‘Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation’ to the Justice and Peace Group, to thank them for their response to the ’Shoebox  Appeal’. Please see a copy of the Certificate in the porch.

CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT:

We are delighted to announce that the final total for our fundraiser is £5,629.96. A big ‘thank you’ to all who gave their free time to organise and help out at this Parish event.

Please find below a list of the names of the winners of the Raffle:

Joshua, Brian R, Richard, Joanne S, Pat, Ged, Georgia, Kenny, Sharon, Fiona E. Mags Mc, Paul O., Phoebe L., Josh F. Steph, Kaidie, Layla M.

(All prize winners have been contacted).ded.

CAROLS FOR YPAS THANKYOU

On Monday the 18th December 2023, over 20 people from Bishop Eton, Blue Coat and our community raised nearly £400 for YPAS!

We had an amazing time visiting homes and singing our hearts out in the streets! Thank you to the best Italian restaurant in the city cucino_di_vincenzo for letting us in and fill your beautiful space and to your very lively and generous customers!

All funds have already gone to the charity and will be put to work supporting  the mental wellbeing of our young people.

ishing you all a healthy, safe and happy Christmas and THANK YOU ♥🌲🌟♥

CHRISTMAS BY CANDLELIGHT A GREAT SUCCESS.

Some photos and a silent video marking the successful Christmas by Candlelight event that took place to raise money for the Whitechapel Centre.   As of 29th December we estimate aroun £5000 was made, a final figure will be published in the coming weeks.

Read more: Christmas by Candlelight - a great success

ARCHBISHOP MALCOLM'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we gather once again to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I extend my warmest wishes to you and your loved ones. The festive season is upon us, and though the challenges of our times may persist, the timeless message of Christmas continues to shine brightly, offering us hope, love, and peace.

It is a busy time for everyone, with last-minute preparations, food and gifts on the agenda, and from an archdiocese point of view, there has been plenty to celebrate this year.

In July, we celebrated 100 years since our first pilgrimage to Lourdes. We travelled out there in great numbers, and it was truly an occasion to remember.

With that, we also celebrated 100 years since the miracle of Jack Traynor and remembered his story.

In September, it was a historic moment, not just for the archdiocese, but for the Catholic Church in this country, as St Mary of the Isle in the Isle of Man became our co-cathedral – the first of its kind in the UK.

It was a momentous occasion, with the ceremony being watched not just by those in attendance, but by many more across the world online.

Despite this, I am also aware that it has not been an easy year for everyone. The cloud of the cost-of-living crisis still lingers, and we have seen the devastating impacts of climate change, and conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

In a world that often grapples with uncertainty, economic challenges, and social issues, it is easy to lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas. Just as Mary and Joseph faced an uncertain journey to Bethlehem, finding themselves in humble surroundings, so too do we encounter the unexpected in our lives. Yet, amidst the difficulties, we find the enduring message of God's love.

It’s a reminder that even though we remember them with much fondness – they also had to go through their tough times. From having to travel a fair distance on a donkey, to there being no room at the Inn. But at the end of it, they got to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

In the midst of the world's darkness, we find hope in the light that the birth of Jesus brings. Like the shepherds on that holy night, let us not be afraid, for the message of Christmas is a message of hope—a hope that transcends time and circumstances.

I pray that this Christmas fills your hearts with the warmth of love, the joy of hope, and the peace that surpasses all understanding. May the light of Christ shine brightly in your lives, bringing comfort and assurance in the days ahead.

Wishing you and your families a blessed and Merry Christmas.

In Christ's love,

Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP

Archbishop of Liverpool

O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM - FROM OUR RESIDENT POET

O Little Town of Bethlehem

As the years pass by, in the blink of an eye

Or at Galapagos pace,

And dependent of one's time on The Planet,

We arrive, yet again,

At that time of the year

When memories of past delights

Flood the pressing days

Of preparation and loving reunions.

Christmas is a time warp -

Delightful for many but not for all.

We tend to believe that it is a tradition

Carried on from one generation to the next.

In reality it is ever-changing,

Sometimes subtly, other times less so.

Christmas, like Life, is an ever changing vortex.

Our present generation will look back differently,

As we did, with the passage of Time.

There is, however, the fundamental meaning

Of this blessed time,

Which we must hold dear in our hearts

And pass on to those who will follow.

Long, long ago,

A cold and hazardous journey lay ahead.

What unknown dangers lurked

On unfamiliar trails,

Before the town of Bethlehem offered shelter?

Here, in a basic refuge,

A Child was born.

Saviour of the World.

Prince of Peace.

This Christmas, may He bring his Peace

To the tragically, unsettled land of his birth

And fill all hearts with love and understanding.

Eileen Murray © December 2023