Mass Times 

Sunday 11.00am 

Wednesday 6.00pm

 Friday 12.00 Noon. 

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FATHER GRAEME DUNNE, OUR DEAN WRITES

‘Dear Parishioners,

Since the SYNOD and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan, a number of initiatives have been put in place across the Archdiocese. The one that impacts us most of all is the formation of Families of Parishes within each Deanery. For some of us, this has already been happening on a small scale for some time, especially where parishes share the one priest. However, the new Families of Parishes will help us support each other and share our resources. Best efforts have been made to put closely linked parishes together into each family. The families for our Deanery are as follows:

1. St Gregory’s Weld Bank, St Oswald’s Coppull, St Mary’s Euxton, Ss Peter & Paul Mawdesley & St Agnes Eccleston

2. St Mary’s, Sacred Heart, St Joseph’s Anderton

3. St Joseph’s Chorley, St Chad’s, St Bede’s, St Joseph’s Withnell, St Joseph’s Brindle

4. St Mary’s Leyland, St Catherine’s Farington, St Oswald’s Longton, St Mary Magdalen & St Theresa’s Penwortham & our Lady Help of Christians Tarleton

In the near future, groups of parishioners together with the priests of each family will meet to explore how this support and sharing can best be implemented. At this stage, nothing other than who the families are, has been finalised and so it is up to us all to come up with how each family will function. It is hoped that support and some direction will be given to us by the Archdiocesan Pastoral Team. These are challenging but also exciting times, working together and guided by the Holy Spirit we will be stronger and better able to face the future.

God Bless us & keep us.

Fr Graeme (Dean) & Priests of the Deanery

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NEW HYMN BOOKS

If you would like to place a dedication in one of the new hymn books, please fill in the little yellow card (in the porch), enclose it in the small manilla envelope, together with a suggested donation of £7.  (Remember £7 is only a suggestion – feel free to donate less if you wish). We have dedicated 24 hymn books so far so there are still plenty available to dedicate. Last week a dedication envelope was received containing £10 but no dedicatee. If this was yours, please let Eileen know.

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ARCHDIOCESE OF LIVERPOOL: MESSAGE FROM FR

PHILIP INCH, EPISCOPAL VICAR FOR PARISH MISSION

From September 1st, 2023, Fr Gerald Anders will continue in his post as Parish Priest at St Agnes Eccleston (alongside Ss Peter and Paul, Mawdesley). He will reside at St Agnes. He will cease to be Parish Priest, after 17 years, in Our Lady Help of Christians, Tarleton.

Mgr. John Goddard will become parochial administrator of Our Lady Help of Christians in Tarleton. This will be undertaken bearing in mind the developing relationships between the two parishes of Penwortham, Longton, Leyland, Farington and Tarleton.

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Large Print Mass Sheets

We have had enquiries about larger print Mass sheets, so we have been investigating! It seems that we can only obtain the date-specific ones in batches of 50. We have found a printing firm which does single copies of non-specific dates, without the readings of the day, and have ordered 5 of these. Please use one if it helps, they are available in the porch.

Comments welcome to Eileen or Andrew.

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MASS INTENTIONS

If you would like a Mass to be offered for a specific intention,

please complete the little card (You’ll find these on the table in the porch) and hand it to Father Anders or Eileen, using the envelope provided. As you know, he will do his very best to say your Mass on your preferred date, but this is not always possible. Some people have asked how much money should be enclosed. The average Mass offering is £10 - £15.

 

Memorial Window  

Father Michael last said Mass here in June last year, and he officially retired on 31st August 2022.

51 years of ministry; training priests at Ushaw, working as Episcopal Vicar for Education for the archdiocese, and being Parish priest here at St Agnes for 29 years is just part of a remarkable body of work. A life of service given generously by a man we have come to know and love here.

His retirement was overshadowed by the diagnosis of his illness, and so far, we have not done anything together to celebrate his work and his legacy.

Many of you have talked about gifts or gestures or events, but Father Michael himself said he didn’t want anything. Not treats, money or stuff. But there remains a strong desire among our parishioners to do something to say thank you from us all.

After much consultation with the archdiocese, members of the clergy, our own parish council, Father Michael’s brother Peter and sister Catherine, and Fr Michael himself, we have commissioned a stained-glass window depicting the resurrection, bearing the message: 

“I am the resurrection and the life”

in honour of Fr Michael’s mighty Easter homilies which I know have inspired many of us renewing our hope of salvation and refreshing our faith week in week out.

The window will have a thanksgiving panel which will say, 

 

IN PRAYERFUL GRATITUDE 

FOR THE MINISTRY OF

 FR MICHAEL O’DOWD

FROM 1993 – TO 2022

PARISH PRIEST OF ST AGNES 

 

Contributions towards the cost have already been promised by several people and organisations, including the archdiocese and we will want and need to raise some funds ourselves. 

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VOLUNTEERS AT ST AGNES    

On recent newsletters you will have read an appeal for more help with various tasks in our parish, and thank you to those of you who have responded. We are still in need of more flower helpers, and ‘trainees’ for the children’s liturgy. If you can help with either of these things, please let Eileen Howard know.

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RED MISSION BOXES

Thanks to all who use the red boxes as a way of contributing to the work of the Missions, and thanks to parishioners who organise this way of raising money.  

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CHORLEY FOOD BANK

Roughly 21.3% of the population of the UK is living below the poverty line – that’s roughly 1 in 5 people. Rising energy prices, uncertainty in employment, pay issues, the aftermath of Covid19, are among the factors which contribute to this alarming figure. The food bank is so stretched at the moment that it can scarcely meet demand.

Please be generous in donating goods as you have been for many years.  Also, remember that some of the cash contributions made via the “charity basket” is forwarded to the Chorley food bank.  We recently sent a cheque for £300.  Let us try to keep giving what we can during 2023. 

 “When I was hungry you gave me to eat”. Matthew 25:35

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It has been mentioned often on recent newsletters the church has lost out financially over the period of Covid -19, income has reduced considerably and we are all being asked to ensure we keep up with our weekly offerings. If you are not currently able to attend church, weekly offerings can be given via standing order, the form is available in the church porch or via this website (contacts Page) and can be dropped in at the presbytery.