Anderton St Joseph's        
                Newsletter
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST 
KING OF THE UNIVERSE 

23rd NOVEMBER 2025















 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him: “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 
Luke 23:35-43

Sat 22ndSt Cecilia 
14.15Retreat Afternoon at St Mary’s – The Nicene Creed. 
17.00Vigil Mass at St Mary’s Chorley

Sun 23rdOUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. KING OF THE UNIVERSE (C)
11.00Mass – Pious List 
15.00Holy Hour: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Evening Prayer (15.40) and Benediction.

Mon 24thSt Andrew Dung-Lac and Martyrs of Vietnam   

Tues 25thSt Catherine of Alexandria  
10.00 Mass –- Pious List 

Wed 26th

Thurs 27th

Fri 28thSt Catherine Labouré  
10.00Mass– Pious List

Sat 29th
17.00Vigil Mass at St Mary’s Chorley

Sun 30thFIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR A) 
09.30Mass at St Mary’s
11.00Mass - November Pious List 

RETIRING COLLECTIONS:  23rd November Animate Archdiocesan Youth Service 
CAFOD sent a letter of thanks and a receipt for £465.05 from recent collections. 

RECENTLY DECEASED: Mary Devlin (94), sister of Richard Kenyon. Funeral at St Mary’s Chorley on Monday 24th November at 14.30. May she rest in peace. 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK AND THE HOUSEBOUND:  Joan Bailey, Mary Patricia Case, 
Ken Catterall, Michael Cross, Veronica Denver, Peter Edwards, Bob Goulding, Janet McGowan, Maureen Hardman, Rosemary Hough, Bill King, Emma King, Norah O’Donoghue, Vasil Olijniczuk, 
Heidi O’Neill, Irene O’Neill, Lauren O’Neill, Barrie Swift, Dennis Woodruff. 
  If you want someone’s name to be on the parish sick list for prayers, please leave a note in the sacristy or presbytery IN WRITING, or by email to stjosephs.anderton@tiscali.co.uk 

BAPTISM BOOKINGS DATES AVAILABLE  Dec.28th. Jan 25th, Feb 22nd Baptisms will take place at 12.00. Parents need to be resident within St Joseph’s parish area or (with the permission of another parish priest) regular Mass attenders here. Please collect a baptism booking form and an Order of Service from the Sacristy after Sunday Mass. Return the form so that any necessary preparation can be arranged. 

POOR BOX:  When we counted up last week the Poor Box yielded a very generous £263.38. It was suggested that this amount, plus other Poor Box donations carried forward, be a parish donation to Mary’s Meals, totalling £370. A cheque has been sent off to MARY’S MEALS: Under the Double The Love promise, all donations to Mary’s Meals are doubled by a group of generous supporters, up to a limit of £1.1 million! So our £370 is doubled up to £740, enough to feed 37 children for a year.  
Because of their low-cost approach, it costs just £19.15 to feed a child with Mary’s Meals every school day for a year. Any extra gifts of any size will help Mary’s Meals keep their promise of life-changing school meals for hungry children into 2026 and beyond and, as funds allow, reach more communities waiting in countries like Malawi and Zambia. © Mary's Meals Registered at Craig Lodge, Dalmally, Argyll, Scotland, UK, PA33 1AR marysmeals.org.uk Charity no. SC022140 

ARCHBISHOP-EMERITUS MALCOLM McMAHON OP will celebrate his Silver Jubilee of Episcopal Ordination on Saturday 6th December at 12.00 noon in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King in Liverpool. Everyone is most welcome

FAMILY OF PARISHES CHRISTMAS CONCERT: St Joseph’s Anderton, Sacred Heart and St Mary’s Chorley. Advance Notice: the Concert will be at Sacred Heart 15.00-16.30 on Saturday 6th December (St Nicholas’ Day) with the Chorley Silver Band. Doors open 14.00. More details to follow. 

LESSONS AND CAROLS HERE AT ST JOSEPH’S – Tuesday 9th December
The Choir is delighted to invite you to join us for a service of Lessons and Carols on Tuesday 9th December. Doors will open at 18.30. The service will start at 19.00 and will be followed by refreshments afterwards. Bring your best singing voices! Anyone wishing to read, please contact Christa Norton. 

YOUTH SUNDAY: There is a Mass at St Gregory’s Chorley this 23rd November at 18.30 for National Youth Sunday. A day to recognise and celebrate all that young people in the Church offer us. On this day, the Archdiocese of Liverpool is opening registration for Confirmations in 2026. It will close in February 2026. Please look out for the details and don’t miss the dates. Any Catholic Yr 8 (or above) who is in a non-Catholic High School can also be confirmed. Please ring the Parish Office for further details. Also any adult who has not been confirmed and would like to receive this Sacrament, please contact the parish office.

ACT OF DEDICATION TO CHRIST THE KING
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before You. We are Yours, and Yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with You, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Your Most Sacred Heart.
Many indeed have never known You; many, too, despising Your precepts, have rejected You. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart. Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken You, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned You; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbour of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Grant, O Lord, to Your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquillity of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honour for ever. Amen.

A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who piously recite the Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ the King. A plenary indulgence is granted, under the usual conditions, if it is recited publicly on the solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ King.

ASSISTED SUICIDE: ENGLAND The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill entered Committee Stage in the House of Lords on 14 November. As per previous stages, Catholics are encouraged to write to peers to oppose the Bill. The Bishops’ Conference has issued guidance on how to write to peers: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/contact-peers/ Archbishop John Sherrington recorded a video for the Bishops’ Conference explaining our objection to the proposed legislation: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/opposing-assisted-suicide/ Archbishop John called for Catholics to pray and take action: “We continue to call for prayer and action. I urge you to contact members of the House of Lords and in particular share your personal or professional experience on this important matter.” Additional prayer resources can be accessed here: https://care.org.uk/cause/assisted-suicide/seven-ways-to-pray-about-assisted-suicide

APPEAL FOR DONATIONS TO THE UKRAINIAN HUB: Winter is approaching fast and we have seen a change in the weather, as we remember the long hot summer and dry autumn. The people of Ukraine are facing another bitterly cold, snowy winter. Electricity distribution centres are being targeted and purposely destroyed. Please look in your cupboards for candles, warm socks, gloves and hats (adult and children’s), thermal clothing, coats and jumpers you don’t need anymore, female hygiene items, plasters, bandages, paracetamol, cough mixtures (adult and children’s). It will all be very much appreciated and a good way to help these desperate poor people who are suffering so much. Please take your donations to the Ukrainian Hub, which was the White Hart pub near Chorley police station. Wednesday 14.00-16.00 and Sat 10.00-12.00 noon. Thank you.

ADLINGTON TOWN COUNCIL CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT, featuring the Rivington and Adlington Band. On behalf of Adlington Town Mayor and Town Council you are invited to attend the above event on Monday 15 December starting at 19.30 in Adlington Community Centre. Doors open 19.00. 
FREE ENTRY. Bar, Raffle and Mince Pies. 

MASS BOOK CHANGE: The Mass books change over to Year A on the First Sunday of Advent. If you have any Mass books Year C at home, please bring them in and they can be put away. Thank you.

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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