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
Urgent Structural Work
You will notice the Scaffolding on the outside of the large Holy Family window as work begins to repair the eroding sandstone and the removal of the plaster all around it. This has become more urgent due to small amounts of masonry falling. Internally I have removed the statue of the Sacred Heart for safe keeping, and the contractors have protected the area with temporary wooded panelling prior to erecting the internal scaffolding this week. The work will take several weeks, but much will depend on how dry the plaster is. I will keep you updated as the work continues Fr. Kevin
Pastoral Plan: If you have not already done so, then please take one of the Pastoral Plan leaflets home with you.
It contains an introduction from Archbishop John and three proposals for the future of our deanery. This is all part of the wider consultation process, and it could well affect the way we work together as parishes.
The leaflet may only have three different proposals, but if any of you have any other ones, then you will be able to share them by sending in your responses.
Queenscourt Hospice
Father Kevin and Kathleen Smith visited Queenscourt Hospice with the money that we raised over Christmas as a Parish community.
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.
The Roundelay choir raised approx £1300 for Queenscourt recently. A magnificent effort!
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.
Heritage Walk Trails Holy Family parishioners have been invited to take part in a number of free Heritage Walk Trails over the Summer. The trails were created by community volunteers as part of the Sefton at 50 "Hearts of Gold" Heritage Lottery Project and highlight the special people, places and events of the local area. Each walk will be led by Dr. John Maguire, the Sefton Heritage Development Officer. The dates and times are:-
Tues 14th July at 11 am - 1 pm, Netherton.
Wed 15th July at 11 am - 1 pm, Formby.
Wed 5th August at 11 am - 1 pm, Bootle
Each walk has a limited number of places available so it is important to book. Go to www.seftoncvs.org and follow the Events tab for more information.
Pilgrimage to Ladyewell Friday 28th August We will visit the shrine, celebrate Mass, have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. You will need to bring a packed lunch. There is a sign up sheet at the back of church
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.
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.
Our Parish continues to support the wider community in the Archdiocese and the world. The following payments have been made from 1st January to the 31st May 2026:
- Queenscourt - £3327.00
- Cafod - £960.46
- Mary’s Meals - £480.44
- Nugent Care - £153.60
- White Flower Appeal - £144.14
- World Communications - £136.71
- Priests’ Training Fund - £298.40
- Lenten Alms - £508.66
- Holy Places - £416.78
- SVP - £974.50
- We have also supported the Ukraine appeal.
- Please keep in mind ‘Mary’s Meals’. It costs £19.15 to feed a child for a year. Loose change boxes are available in the porch.
A sincere thank you to everyone for your continuing generosity. John Greenwood
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.
Display boards We have been able to purchase two table-top display boards to go with our existing free-standing one. Our original one has already been used in the church for Heritage displays, First Holy Communions and Faith in Action. Next year, we are hoping to have an Art Exhibition in the Hall and we will be able to use all the boards for that display too. If any parishioner would like to borrow the boards, please get in contact with the Parish Office.
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!
Heritage Trail
A group from the Arts Society of Southport have very kindly been working on a Heritage Trail around our Church.
The Trail is now complete and, last Monday, a group of children, some of whom are working on their Faith in Action awards, came along to be the first ones to try out our new Trail. It is a really interesting activity to do! Although it has been produced with children in mind, it is actually suitable for everyone and anyone who tries it out will find something new about Holy Family Church.
You can find copies of the Trail in the porch and we have also shared this resource with both of our schools and with the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. There is also a poster with a QR code if you prefer to work digitally. We would like to thank the Arts Society for all their hard work and dedication in producing our Trail and all our younger parishioners for taking part in testing the Trail.
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.
Holy Family is once again participating in the 2026 Heritage Open Days,
with the event on Sunday, September 20th, from 1pm to 5pm. Like last year, we are hoping to get together a team of volunteers who would be available, for all or some of the afternoon, to help the event run smoothly. Please email the Parish office if you are interested in helping in this way.
The theme of this year’s event is “Everyday Histories”, so this year will also feature the stories and pictures of the people who made the Church and Parish what it is today. If you have any old photographs of events at Holy Family that you would be happy to share - including Communion, May, Corpus Christi and Palm Sunday processions, events at the parish hall and carol services – or stories about the people who made an impact on the church, please contact Louise Douglas on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
You can also leave stories and photographs in the basket at the back of Church or post them through the presbytery letterbox. We are hoping to use this information to start a Parish archive so please only contribute copies of any very precious photographs.
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
We hope all our children have a fantastic summer and we will see you in September.
Christ the King High School
Please keep everyone at Christ the King High School in your prayers in this special year. In a few weeks’ time all the students and staff are celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the school as they welcome Bishop Tom Neylon, who will be celebrating Mass there in July. It has been a wonderful year and a great way to round off the year by celebrating 60 years in the last week of school before the summer break.
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