Holy Week

 Holy Week

The highlight of the year.  Ever wondered what happens? Come and join us, details below all welcome.

Here is a short video to give a flavour of what will be happening.

Gospel Share: Palm Sunday

 Gospel Share Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday Icon 

Procession
Gospel: Year A	Matt 21:1-11	Blessing on him who comes in the name of the Lord!
Mass
Reading 1	Isa 50:4-7	I did not cover my face against insult–I know I shall not be shamed.
Psalm	Ps 21:8-9, 17-20, 23-24 r. 2	My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Reading 2	Phil 2:6-11	He humbled himself, but God raised him high

Gospel Share group meets on Thursday evening online, for further details see parish newsletter and Gospel Share page

Feast of St Joseph

 St Joseph March 19th

Today is feast of St Joseph who was the earthly father of Jesus and is patron saint of father, workers and was named protector of the Church by Pope Pius IX. He’s one of the patrons of refugees, because he took Mary and Jesus, when Jesus was a baby, to safety in Egypt and the sick and dying. To read more about St Joseph - By Cardinal Dolan.

Icon Lancaster Martyrs
at St Joseph's Church, Skerton

St Joseph is also patron for one of the churches in The Cathedral Parish of St Peter and the Lancaster Martyrs, where there is an icon of the Lancaster Martyrs as well as statue of St Joseph.

St Joseph Pray for us. 

For a short video explaining why the feast day of St Joseph is so special.

Gospel Share: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead

 Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead 

Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead

Reading 1	Ezek 37:12-14	I shall put my spirit in you, and you will live.
Psalm	Ps 129 r. 7	With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
Reading 2	Rom 8:8-11	The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you.
Gospel Acclamation	John 11: 25-26	I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord, whoever believes in me will never die.
Gospel	John 11:1-45	I am the resurrection and the life.
shorter	John 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33-45	I am the resurrection and the life.

Gospel Share group meets on Thursday evening online, for further details see parish newsletter and Gospel Share page

School News: St Bernadette's Laudato Si

St Bernadette's Laudato Si

St Bernadette's Year 6 Laudato Si stewards had a wonderful visit to Lancaster University recently to learn about sustainability and gather ideas to bring back to school. They learnt about the University’s mission to become carbon zero by 2030 and saw the changes they were implementing. They visited the Eco Hub and spent time with the president of the Edible Campus team, visited the Energy Centre and engaged in fun activities about renewable energy with Vital Energi and finally were given a tour of the solar farm and wind turbine. Back on home ground, our stewards have organised a programme of activities for Lent including ; a litter-pick and encouraging other pupils to fast from their morning snack and give the money to CAFOD, our Lenten charity.

St Bernadette's Primary School

And for those who want to lean a bit more about Laudato Si

The Man Born Blind

 The Man Born Blind, John, Ch. 9

This week we prayed with the readings for Lent 4 Year A, and our Gospel was John 9:1-41. This poem was written some years ago on a Lent retreat. We share a poem from a parishioner attending the Gospel Share on a Thursday evening. Written from the perspective of the blind man

The man gave me sight.

All my life in darkness
not knowing through eyes
and now all this light.

What do I do?
What is this “seeing”?
All these moving shapes?
These things they call colour?
These revealed faces?

Why such anger with me?
What have I done?
Why was the man wrong
who did such healing?
I did not ask him to;
I only did what he told me.

He was the first
to be kind to a cursed
blind man,
all my days carrying
my sin of darkness.

I know he was a prophet
or something great.
How could anyone so good
be so full of sin
as these haters say?

Alone in my harsh
all seeing day,
I pray
he will come back
and love me.

Tim Hoare, Parishioner

Pope's Prayer Intentions for March

 Pope Leo's Prayer Intentions for March

Pope Leo XVI invites us to pray in March for disarmament and peace. 

Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence. Amen