Anderton St Joseph's        
                Newsletter
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

30th March 2025

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
So he told them this parable: And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants’ ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”


Sun 30th FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (Laetare Sunday)
11.00Mass – Winifred Walsh 
12.00Baptism
15.00 Holy Hour at St Mary’s. Adoration, Evening Prayer (15.40) and Benediction)

Mon 31st

Tues 1st April  
10.00Mass – Sp Int (SC)  

Wed 2ndSt Francis of Paola

Thurs 3rd 

Fri 4thSt Isidore of Seville
10.00 Mass - Margaret Webster - followed by Stations of the Cross 

Sat 5thSt Vincent Ferrer
17.00Vigil Mass at St Mary’s Chorley 

Sun 6thFIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
09.30Mass at St Mary’s
11.00Mass – Parishioners
Confessions after Mass as required

 
15.00 Holy Hour at St Mary’s. Adoration, Evening Prayer (15.40) and Benediction)

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK AND THE HOUSEBOUND: Pope Francis, Joan Bailey,
 Francis Brennan, Anne Byrne, Mary Patricia Case, Gerard Clarke, baby Henry Curtis, Leo Duffy, Clare Edwards, John Fearnhead, Pat Font, Tom Fraser, William Freeman, Bob Goulding, Rosemary Hough, Cathy Hull, Mary Johnston, Archbishop Emeritus Patrick Kelly, John Kerfoot, 
Bill King, Emma King, Val McGlade, Janet McGowan, Fintan McPeake, Teresa Martin, 
Fr Laurence Mayne, Ellen Morris, Irene O'Neil, Heidi O’Neill, Barrie Swift, Josette Walsh, 
Lorraine Waugh, Jean White, all at Grove House & Marley Court. 


RETIRING COLLECTIONS:  30th March SVP, 6th April Church Restoration Fund, 13th April - Altar and Flowers at Easter  

MOTHERS’ DAY is this Sunday. A special thank you to all Mothers and the special ladies in our lives who have been a Mother to us. Prayers for you all and thank you for all that you did or still do. Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of God, may all our prayers be heard and answered.

CHURCH CLEANING: We are having a special session for Easter on Maundy Thursday (17th April) from 09.00 to 12.00 noon. We welcome anyone who would like to help for all or part of the session. There are a variety of tasks including lighter ones, all to beautify God’s House in preparation for Easter, the most important feast of the year. 

APF MISSION BOXES: Would Red Box holders and supporters please bring their donations for the Spring collection into Church over the next 2-3 weeks and hand them to Kath Heald or Jen Turner. Many thanks, Jennifer. 

HOLY THURSDAY - MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER- WASHING OF FEET  If you are a man who would like to have your feet washed at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday at St Mary’s, we are now seeking volunteers from both parishes. Please could you let us know if you would like to volunteer. Thank you.​

BAPTISM BOOKINGS DATES:  27th April, 8th June, 28th June, Baptisms on these dates will take place at 12.00 noon. Could those who have returned baptism forms please let me know which date they want for their child’s baptism, if they have not already done so? 

ARCHDIOCESE PILGRIMAGE TO ROME IN NOVEMBER 2025
More places have become available for the Pilgrimage to Rome in November. Dates are Friday 7th - Thursday 13th November. Please email Mpmmurphypat@aol.com for further details and booking forms.

PILGRIM CROSS IS AN ANNUAL EASTER PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM, open to all ages and backgrounds. Walk for one, three, or seven days in community before celebrating Easter in the historic ruins of Walsingham Abbey. With routes ranging from 5 to 20 miles a day, there’s a challenge for everyone – from families with young children to those ready for the full 100-mile journey. Luggage is transported, and support is available along the way. To register and join a group, visit pilgrimcross.org.uk 

CATHOLIC HERALD: Could you please inform St Mary’s parish office if you would be interested in buying the Catholic Herald newspaper. It is now monthly and costs £5. We can get copies, but we need to know if there is some interest in purchasing these papers. Thank you.

SVP SOCIAL EVENT - TUESDAY 8TH APRIL
“An afternoon to meet and catch up with friends”
St Joseph’s Anderton SVP are hosting a get together social afternoon and tickets are now on sale for this event. It's being held on Tuesday 8th April,
13.30 – 16.00 at Fairview Community Centre, Highfield Road, Adlington* Entry tickets cost £3 and this includes afternoon tea.
Please note that places are limited and entry is by ticket only. To buy your tickets please see either Pat Whitehead or Linda Hoole. Everybody is most welcome and we are hoping this will be the first of many!!! 
*Return transport is available upon request for anybody who may struggle getting there - please see any members of our SVP to request this.


EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES AND THE TURIN SHROUD
We are very lucky to have Mike Pietrzyk, a speaker from Michigan USA, visiting the Archdiocese of Liverpool. We have invited Mr Pietrzyk to speak to us on Monday 28th April at 18.30 in St Mary’s parish centre about Eucharistic Miracles. This will be a day after the canonisation of Bl. Carlos Acutis in Rome. A further visit will take place on Saturday 3rd May, in the same parish centre, and we will have a talk about the Shroud of Turin and the secrets that the forensic evidence tells us with the new technology we have available to scientists. 
Please book the dates in your diary and come and hear the amazing evidence that will astound you about the Passion of Christ and the true reality of Jesu’s presence
in Holy Communion.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER

To enable you to plan ahead for Holy Week and Easter, here are the times of the Mass and other Services.

DEANERY LENTEN SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION will be held at St Gregory’s Weld Bank on Sunday 6th April at 15.00. 

Palm Sunday(13 April) – Blessing of Palms at Mass. 
Sunday 11.00 with palm procession. 

15.00 - Holy Hour at St Mary’s: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Evening Prayer (15.40) and Benediction.

Holy Week 

Mass at St Joseph’s Tuesday 15th - 10.00

Monday 14th – Wednesday 16th: At St Mary’s Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 11.00-12.00 Mass 12.00. Exposition resumes 12.30-13.00 

Wednesday 16th: 19.30 Chrism Mass at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral

Friday 18th: 10.30 - Stations of the Cross at St Joseph's followed by Confessions
Easter Sunday 20th - 11.00 Mass at St Joseph's

PLEASE NOTE- no Maundy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper or Service of the Passion of the Lord on Good Friday at St Joseph's, no Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. These are taking place at St Mary's - see below.

THE PASCHAL TRIDUUM AT ST MARY’S:
Maundy Thursday 17th: 19.00 The Lord’s Supper – with watching at the Altar of Repose until Night Prayer at 21.30. Confessions after Mass.
Friday 18th: 15.00 St Mary’s - The Passion of the Lord. Confessions follow as required.
Holy Saturday 19th: 11.00 Confessions. 12.00 Paschal Food blessing for the Polish and then the Ukrainian communities. 20.15 – Easter Vigil and Mass of the Resurrection.
Easter Sunday 20th April: 09.30 Mass at St Mary’s


Divine Mercy Service: Sunday 27th April 15.00 Sacred Heart Chorley.


CHORLEY AND PRESTON HOSPITALS: Please contact St Joseph's Chorley (262713) if any member of your family is admitted into Chorley Hospital and needs a visit. In urgent cases or emergency please ask the ward staff to call the duty Chaplain on his bleep/phone. For the chaplaincy service at Royal Preston Hospital Tel: 01772 522435. For the chaplaincy service at Wigan Infirmary Tel: 01942 822324. 


Parish Priest: Fr Francis Marsden
Secretary: Mr Frank Webster 
Parish Office: St Joseph’s Presbytery, 28 Bolton Road, Adlington, PR6 9NA
Wednesdays 10.00-13.00
Tel: all calls now to 01257- 262537 (St Mary’s Chorley)

E-mail: stjosephs.anderton@tiscali.co.uk
Parish Website: www.stjosephsanderton.com

ARCHDIOCESE OF LIVERPOOL Registered Charity No. 1199714
























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