“The devil catches most souls in a golden net.”
Lent begins with a reflection on the Temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. The Church assigns temptation stories to the beginning of Lent because temptations come to everybody, not only to Jesus, and we seem almost genetically programmed to yield to them.
The readings for the 1st Sunday in Lent Year C, invite us to reflect deeply on the themes of reliance on God and the choices we make in the face of temptation. They remind us that our journey of faith involves trials and temptations, but through trust in God, we can overcome them.
Fr. Peter.
This Friday is Lent Fast Day.
Next weekend a Second Collection will be taken for CAFOD.
“Walk with Me” – A journey of Prayer for Lent 2025 – booklets are in church porches. Cost £1
The Sacred Heart Parish SVP conference, recently established at St John of the Cross, is looking to grow its membership. We are holding a membership appeal & coffee morning in the hall after Sunday Mass (NW) on 16th March. Please do come along to find out more about SVP and how you could help support people in need in our parish community and beyond. For more details contact Maria on 07746 007508 or email: svpsacredheartnw@gmail.com
CAFOD Lent Appeal – Please donate to our Family Fast Day parish collection on 15/16 March and be a pilgrim of hope with CAFOD this Jubilee Year. You’ll be supporting communities suffering the impacts of war, poverty and climate change to find solutions and hope. Use the CAFOD envelope in church, donate online at cafod.org.uk/envelope or call us on 0303 303 3030. You can also text CAFODLENT to 70085 to donate £10.
Adoration will be held in our three churches over a period of three days during the last week of March: on 26th at St Helen’s, 27th at the Sacred Heart and 28th at St John of the Cross. Please sign your name to a half hour (or longer) when you can be present within the hours for your church. (This is so that the Blessed Sacrament is never left unattended) We need the return of these lists as soon as possible.
Assisted suicide committee bias.
Committee stage of Kim Leadbeater’s assisted suicide Bill has begun, raising serious concerns about its conduct.
MPs must be aware of the serious issues in the scrutiny of Kim Leadbeater’s Bill. It’s vital they know your concerns and vote against it at Third Reading.
Please take action now and visit www.righttolife.org.uk/ASBillAction to write to your MP – it takes just 30 seconds!
There will be CPR & Defibrillator Training in the hall on Thursday 20 March, 2-4pm and 6-8pm. If you are interested, please enter your name on the list at the back of the church. Further sessions can be arranged if the demand is there.
The Parish will be holding a Quiz Night and Raffle on Saturday 22nd March and we are in need of Raffle prize donations. Please bring and leave items at the back of your church. Quizzing will start at 7.15pm prompt. Tickets cost £5 per person. Please make up your own team of 6. Bring your nibbles and drinks.
Stations of the Cross will take place in each or our churches during Lent. Times will be on the back page.
We pray for our sick parishioners: Matt Butler, Frances Palman, Mary Bell, Celia Cooper, Marie Barton, Margaret Larkins, Maria Halsey, Joan Macnamara, Richard Skelton, Teresa Fitzmaurice, Joan Gale, Bernadette Saunders, Doreen Rockey & daughter Sandra, Pam Thornton, Inge O’ Toole, Mary Long, Mary Cockburn, Malcolm Akers, Frances Mack, Tony & Amy Heywood and Peter.
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur this week: Agatha Semak, Margaret Battigan, John Barry, John Price, William Lee, Cynthia Shearing, Mary Halliday and Michael Sherry.
May they rest in peace.
