Join us at Holy Family Catholic church in Southport
Please come and pay us a visit, we'd love to see you...
Mass and service times for this coming week can be seen CLICK HERE
Changes to Mass Times Mass on Thursday will now be at 12 noon. There will no longer be an evening Mass on the first Friday of the month, Mass will be at 9.30am
Faith in Action Are you aged between Year 6 to Year 13?
Would you like to take part in this year's Faith in Action award at Holy Family? Please sign up on the sheets available at the Faith in Action display or speak to Fr Kevin or Kathleen Smith at any of the Masses on September 12th/13th.
We would really like to see more involvement from any young people who regularly attend the 6pm or 11am Masses. If you are Year 5, then unfortunately you are too young to take part in Faith in Action. However, you would still be very welcome to train as an altar server. If you are interested in becoming an altar server, please sign up on the sheet at the Faith in Action display.
Deanery music event You are warmly invited to our third Deanery music event with our local in-house band (free entry but there will be a voluntary collection for Queenscourt Hospice)
Friday 2nd October from 2pm - 4pm at St John Stone parish club (Sandbrook Way, Woodvale, Southport, PR8 3RN).
Songs from across the decades for you to join in.
Bacon Butty Sunday returns after the summer break on Sunday September 6th. Come and join your fellow parishioners after the 9.30am Mass in the Parish Hall for some tasty refreshments.
Children’s Liturgy will return on Sunday September 6th during the 9.30am Mass. All children and their parents and guardians are invited to join in.
Quiz Night at 7pm in the hall, 9th October, for Queenscourt. Please support us.
Queenscourt Hospice
Thank you to everybody who contributed to the collection at Pat Sammin’s funeral.
Tommy Sammin was overwhelmed by the generosity displayed - £2600 was raised for Queenscourt.
Remember that this is not an overwhelming situation - if just 8,000 people in the local area were able to give a regular weekly donation of just £5 (the cost of a coffee or glass of wine), Queenscourt’s Services could be saved for those who will need them in the future. As promised there are gift aid envelopes at the back of church, for a one off donation, for those who were asking for them. Thank you for all you do, from all those who will never be able to thank you for themselves.
Prayer for Queenscourt: For all those raising funds for Queenscourt hospice:
That their never ending work continues to reap rewards. We gratefully pray, Lord, for the support of our community, who recognise the need for Queenscourt to be there for those who need its care. Lord in your mercy.
Ukraine Appeal Eddie has decided to make yet another journey to Ukraine and has appealed for some items. If you feel that you are able to make a donation (gift), please consult the list at the back of Church. Thank you again for your help; your kindness and generosity are greatly appreciated. Please keep Eddie and his family in your prayers. With many thanks. Love Maggi (P.S. We have 4 weeks to gather our donations together.)
Calling the Nutty Knitters In view of the news from Eddie, our next meeting will be Friday 4th September in the Church Hall at the usual time of 10.00am. Please try to come! Love Maggi.
Carpet Bowls Thanks to Sefton CVS, we are very grateful to have been awarded a grant to buy a carpet bowls set for use in the Parish Hall. The equipment arrived this week and we are hoping that lots of parishioners will be able to make use of it over the next few months. Look out for more information and get in touch with the Parish office if you are particularly interested in helping to organise bowling sessions.
This year's Faith in Action award ceremony will be on Sunday September 13th during the 9.30am Mass. Fourteen members of Holy Family Parish aged between 11 and 18 have achieved various levels of this Liverpool Archdiocesan scheme. Each one has participated in Parish life by reading on the altar; serving at Mass; organising one of the Stations of the Cross services before Easter; taking part in the Maundy Thursday Mass; helping with Children's Liturgy; carrying the flag at Parade Sunday; helping the musicians; being involved with the IT at Mass; collecting; greeting; helping at fairs and quizzes, serving refreshments and at many of our other events. At the end of the year, each young person produced a piece of work reflecting on their Faith in Action journey. This work will be displayed in church over the next few weeks for everyone to see and appreciate. We would like to thank them all for their service this year.
Chatsworth Christmas lights and market We will once again be organising a trip to Chatsworth on Saturday 14th November. The cost will be about £60 per person, there is a sign up sheet at the back of church.
Parish Pilgrimage to Knock.
We are proposing a Parish Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine from Monday 24th May 2027-Friday 27th. As you will appreciate, to reduce costs, we need to secure accommodation, coach places, and flights as early as possible. If you are serious about joining the pilgrimage, please contact Athena in the parish office or sign your name and phone number on the list at the back of Church where you will find a full proposed itinerary.
The cost is £849 (sharing) and includes: All flights, 4 nights’ accommodation with B&B and Evening Meal in the Knock House Hotel, all entertainment, excursions, and guided tours. The pilgrimage is also open to others outside of the parish.
SVP Conference Help Line: 07562378873
Be a Trust Governor: Pope Francis Catholic Multi Academy Trust are looking for Governors to support leaders in providing the best Catholic education for pupils in our schools. If you are interested in using your skills to benefit our pupils, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to https://www.pfcmat.org/Governance/
Speaking Volumes We have recently been awarded a small grant by 'Speaking Volumes' to buy some new children’s books. These are now available in the porch for any family to use during Mass. Please replace the books in the container at the end of Mass. Speaking Volumes is one of many charities started by Cecil Jackson-Cole. When his wife died, he couldn’t find any literature to help him with his grief. He didn’t want anyone else to be in a similar fix so created a small charity to ensure Christian literature is accessible to everyone. Cecil was one of the founders of many other charities including Oxfam, ActionAid and Help the Aged.
Missing Persons?
Perhaps you have noticed that someone who is regularly at Mass is not there. Perhaps you know that a parishioner is unwell or unable to get out. We would willingly contact or visit them either at home, in hospital, hospice or care home but cannot do so without their request. Telling us is the first step - please let the office know their name and contact details by telephone or email.
The second step is to ask them to let us know they would like contact in the same way.
Have you got a couple of hours to spare after 09:30 Mass on Tuesday, Thursday or Sunday? We have a growing number of people who are housebound, sick or in care homes who really appreciate a visit for prayer or Holy Communion. We need people who would be willing to accompany one of the Eucharistic Ministers as visits are always done in pairs.
There is no requirement for you to become a Eucharistic Minister, although that possibility is open if you might want to consider it. Please email the Parish Office or come and see Karen in the IT Confessional if you might be interested.
Are you over 16 and good with IT?
We need people to help with projecting the Mass and hymns on Saturday evening and at 11:00 Mass on Sunday. It would lovely to have a rota of keen young adults who would like to help.
To find out more, come and see John & Karen in the IT confessional if you might be interested.
Holy Family Church Playgroup on Wednesdays between 10-11.30am.
We need more helpers! If you could offer time on a Wednesday morning, please let Athena in the office know.
The playgroup will be open Wednesdays at 10am. It costs £2 per family. Everyone with a baby or a toddler is welcome to come along. Spread the word.
Children must be supervised by their parent/carer at all times. Baby changing facilities and toilets are available within the hall.
We can't wait to welcome you all!
National Heritage There are now free copies of this year's Southport Heritage Week events available in the porch area.
Please help yourself and take a look at all the venues that are opening in our area....including, of course, our very own Holy Family Church.
We are taking part on Sunday September 20th from 1pm-5pm. We are still looking for volunteers who can assist with greeting visitors, handing out leaflets, sharing information about the church etc.
Don't worry if you don't know much about Holy Family, we are really looking for friendly faces who are happy to create a welcoming atmosphere. If you can help please give your name to Fr Kevin or contact the Parish Office All parishioners are welcome to attend on the day and to take part in our Church Trail. There will also be a display about some of the people and events that have made up the history of Holy Family. This has been created by one of our parishioners- Louise Douglas- and we are very grateful for all the hard work and time that she has put in to researching this project. Come along to see it.
New to the Parish?
If you are recently arrived in the parish, please complete a new parishioner form from the porch with your contact details and put it into the collection basket at the offertory.
Piety Stall
There are First Holy Communion, Confirmation and cards for all events in the card rack in the Narthex.
Thanks to all who donate to the upkeep of our lovely church, so that everyone can enjoy its healing presence...
you can donate ONLINE to Holy Family...
Bellringers
One way of letting the local community know that the church is active, and a Mass or service is about to take place, is by the ringing of the bell. But it can also help those in earshot, and perhaps housebound, know what is happening at that moment. With the longer ringing before Mass and the two rings of three at the Consecration, it can mean that they can be involved because of this, and feel connected.
We do have some of the Masses covered, but if you would like to volunteer, particularly if you attend a Mass where the bell is not rung, for either before Mass, and/or at the Consecration, please contact the Parish Office and a short instruction, if necessary, can be given, and to help us to know who could ring for each Mass.
News from our Schools
Welcome back! It is lovely to see all our children back this week.
Support for the divorced and separated
The Restored Lives course is run over six weeks, one evening per week. The talks cover the key issues to help you to move on and highlight the practical steps and tools to enable you to tackle the issues that arise from separation and divorce. For more information contact Maureen 0767753371
You may not be able to give financially,
but there are other ways you can help the parish, like donating your time, or your prayers, which are more needed than ever in all sorts of ways. We want to thank all our parishioners for all the ways that they make us a community, looking after each other, and beyond...
Do you know someone in hospital, or about to go into hospital?
The chaplaincy team are here to help YOU.
CLICK HERE for more information