Praying Together...

 

The Holy Family

CLICK HERE for the Holy Father's prayer for peace...

Pope Francis Prayer intention for April 2024: For the role of women: 

We pray that the dignity and immense value of women be recognised in every culture, and for the end of discrimination that they experience in different parts of the world.

“Come and See”

An invitation from the Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle to see if God is calling you to join them.

April 6th 2024 at 9.30am – 4.00pm. A follow-up weekend – June 15th – 16th 2024.

Place: The Dupuis Centre, St Paul’s Convent, Selly Park, Birmingham B29 7LL

Enquiries: Sr. Patricia 07876788316 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

from Fr Kevin's Desk - a weekly reflection, and more.. 

Fr Kevin McLoughlin

(27th April 2024)

The Lord has Risen..... Alleluia! Alleluia!

As we come close to the end of the Easter Season, I don’t think we can hear too many times how wonderful Easter is to all Christians and the joy it brings to us. This weekend we arrive at the fifth week and so to keep the feast alive in our hearts, I share a previous Fr. K’s desk which I think I wrote for Easter Sunday some years ago. I hope you enjoy it!

In a very popular Christmas song, one line of the lyrics goes.... ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year’ but I disagree and so does the Church. Easter is by far the most wonderful time of the year. Not that Christmas and Easter are in competition, but whilst Christmas heralds the arrival of the child Jesus and warrants celebration, Easter celebrates the fulfilment of all of God’s promises.

We learn from St. John’s Gospel that on the first good Friday as Jesus was dying on the cross, immediately before he ‘gave up his spirit’ he uttered the words “It is accomplished”. But only now, following his resurrection from the dead would the world begin to understand what that really meant. Through his suffering, death, and now his resurrection, Jesus has accomplished all that had been promised by God and revealed via the Old Testament Prophets. Now in his resurrected body, Jesus wants to assure us that death has no more power over him. He has put an end to death and promised to those who believe in him that we too will follow him through death into the new and eternal life of heaven.

It is at Christmas time when we experience the greatest sadness for our loved ones who have died. We look back nostalgically to happier times when they were with us. But even recalling these memories make us feel sad because their absence is felt so acutely.

Easter however celebrates life over death because this is precisely what Jesus accomplished. It is a feast that should fill all our hearts with immense joy and gratitude. Because of what Jesus accomplished we ourselves need not fear death but rather look forward with renewed hope and confidence to the time when we will be with him and with those whom we love who have gone before us. Easter truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb; lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom, let the Church with gladness hymns of triumph sing, for her Lord now liveth; death has lost its sting....... ‘thine be the glory Risen Conquering Son....

God Bless, Fr Kevin

We have a Deanery Patron, Carlo Acutis Carlo Acutis.

Born in London in 1991 and raised in Milan, to parents who were not particularly religious. From an early age, Carlo displayed a keen interest in Catholic religious practice requesting First Holy Communion at 7, frequently attending Mass each week and making a weekly confession. He lived a fairly routine life, but maintaining a keen interest to use media to evangelize and proclaim the Gospel, setting up a website for this purpose. When he developed leukaemia, he offered his suffering to the Pope for the Catholic Church. You can read more about our Deanery journey HERE.
 

Please read and pray about what we can all do in response to the urgent needs of some of our local people.

We are blessed that Southport North SVP which covers the parishes of St Marie’s, St Patricks and Holy Family is very active enabling us to support those in need in Southport in countless ways. 

Last year we regularly visited and/or maintained telephone contact with over 80 parishioners who were self-isolating and/or lonely.

We helped more than 140 families and individuals in financial need, making over 1300 visits and supplying 550 food parcels/ food vouchers, 50 fuel top ups as well as well as numerous items of furniture, bedding, electrical and household goods. 

We continue to deliver good quality adult clothes to Asylum Link who are now supporting Ukrainian families as well as other refugees.

The “cost of living” crisis is having a significant impact on everyone but is particularly hard for those who have to choose between eating or keeping warm. In each of the last 4 months we have supplied 10 food parcels and 45 food vouchers/fueltop ups (an increase of around 30% compared to last year) at a cost of over £1000 per month and we expect demand to continue to increase. 

We are very grateful to those who have supported us over the last year, financially, by food donations and by prayer, however if we are to continue supporting current demand we need your help –

There are several ways in which you can assist

  • Donations (or standing order) direct to our Nat West account: Sort Code: 60-60-04 Account Number: 46084509
    Account Name: D100907 SVP Southport North

  • Vouchers (Preferably £10 or £20) from Farmfoods, Asda, Morrisons or Aldi

  • Cash or cheques in an envelope clearly marked “SVP”  

  • Please place cash/cheques/vouchers in the collection plate/SVP wallbox or hand into St Marie’s/Holy Family Office

  • Food:  We welcome non-perishable food donations which can be collected by prior arrangement (please see list at back of St Patrick’s)

  • Adult Clothing: We collect good quality adult clothing and shoes for delivery to Asylum Link in Liverpool 

  • Please pray for the work we do and those in need – never underestimate the value of your prayer, it can make a real difference.

  • If you wish to speak to a Southport North SVP member we can be contacted on 07562378873 or through the St Marie’s/Holy Family Office. All requests are treated in strict confidence.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Please pray and let the Holy Spirit lead you! 

Please don't forget to pray for our schools

We pray for protection for all teachers, staff, pupils and their families as they attend and work in school, and look after our younger members as they start their life journeys.

We especially pray for our own schools of Holy Family and Christ the King.

Adopt a Care/Nursing Home

We all have a calling, and have been given gifts and talents to use in service to others in our daily lives.

"But I'm not special, I can't do much."

If that's what you're thinking, think again. The most powerful thing we can do, with the help and strength of the Holy Spirit, is to pray, and hold up in prayer those in need throughout our parish and beyond. This is the very meaning of community, we pray for them, visit them and keep in touch as much as we can, and they pray for us, as parish even though they might not be able to actually get to church. So we feel part of their lives, and they feel part of ours

With this in mind we have compiled a list of care and nursing homes in our parish, and ask you to adopt one.

Those residents, carers and their families especially need our prayers at this time.

Could you adopt one to protect with a prayer each day? Perhaps one near your own home or with a special meaning to you? 
If you can, please let us know so we can make sure no one is left out. 

  • Acacia Court (Roe Lane)
  • Ascot Lodge (Chambres Rd.)
  • Blair House (Roe Lane)
  • Cedar Grange (Pilkington Rd.)
  • Dale Park (Meols Cop Rd. )
  • Good Companions (Roe Lane )
  • Hampton Court (Scarisbrick New Rd.)
  • Peacehaven House (Roe Lane)
  • Thomas Henshaw (Norwood Rd.)
  • Woodlands Manor (Chambres Rd.)
  • Lyndale (Rawlinson Road)
  • Poulton Court (Wennington Road)
  • Southport Hospital
  • Queenscourt Hospice