1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

Parish of St Wilfrid, Widnes
Items for inclusion in newsletter (by noon Thursday) to : pacharlesb1@gmail.com
Contact details
Fr Anthony Reynolds
0151 424 2129
Bishop John Rawsthorne 0151 424 4021
Fr Joseph Bibby
0151 424 6641
Fr Malcolm Prince
0151 424 3841
Fr Matthew Nunes
0151 424 2378
Deacon Terry Fox
0151 424 0277
Parish Office
St Bede’s Presbytery
Appleton Village
Widnes
WA8 6EL
T: 0151 422 1772
E: widnespastoralarea@gmail.com
Website www.catholicchurches-widnes.org.uk
All Saints (CE):
Revd Peter Dawkin T: 0151 420 4963
22nd February 2015
FIRST Sunday of lent
Congratulations
E: allst_hg@hotmail.com
‘Repent and believe the Good News,’ we are told
in today’s Gospel. This is our goal for Lent, and
were the words spoken to us when we received
the ashes. Jesus went into the desert to fast for 40
days and was tempted by Satan. We should take
the Lord’s example of being rooted in prayer and
the Word of God as our most powerful weapons.
BAPTISMS
We welcome
To
Andrew Virgo & Sally Cunningham
who were married last weekend
Rowan Mark John Walsh, Carson Michael
John Walsh, Brayden David Phillips,
Robert James Mellor, Mason Robert
Sant, Isabelle Jade Elizabeth Sutton, Lucie
Patricia Sutton, and Cadie-Lei Grace
Sutton
Prayer Request Book
There is a Prayer Request Book at
the back of each church where we
can write down any special prayers
or intentions we may have.
who will be baptised this weekend
CONFESSIONS
St Bede’s
Saturday 10:30am – 11:30am
And also upon request
Morning Prayer
before Mass
St Bede’s
St Basil’s
St John Fisher
St Michael’s
Monday - 9.00am
Tuesday and Friday
Wednesday
Thursday
Saturday - 9.45am
- 9.00am
- 9.00am
- 9.00am
Ecumenical Morning St Basil’s & All Saints
Prayer Group
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Tuesday and Friday
Prayer Group
St John Fisher Sacristy
St Bede’s Office
Monday
Monday
Bible Group
Rosary
St Michael’s
St Bede’s
- 9.05am
- 9.45am
7:00pm – 8:00pm
8:00pm – 9:30pm
Thursday morning after Mass
Saturday morning after Mass
St Bede’s church is open every day from 9:00am to 3:00pm
NEWS AND EVENTS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Offertory Envelopes
Please continue using your current offertory envelopes until new ones for the parish of
St Wilfrid are issued in April.
Mass Books
There are new Mass books in each of our four churches. They have the readings of the
Mass and the new translation of the Mass text.
Mass Intentions
If you want a Mass to be celebrated, you will find Mass Intention Request Forms and
envelopes at the back of each of our four churches.
Becoming one parish
As we become one new parish, there are many uncertainties and challenges for all of us.
For example, it is not possible to predict which Masses people will be drawn to. As we
make our choices, let us remember that there are eight weekend Masses in the different
parts of our parish.
“GIVE IT UP FOR LENT” for CAFOD
Over recent years, some of our parishioners have taken part in a campaign whereby they have given
something up for Lent at least once a week and then donated the money saved to CAFOD, the
oversees development agency of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. This has been in
addition to CAFOD’s Family Fast Day Appeal. Therefore we would like everyone in our new parish
to have the chance to participate in this Lenten activity and would ask you to:
1. Give up something at least once a week this Lent.
2. Put the money saved into a “Give it up for Lent” envelope. (Envelopes available at the back of
our churches).
3. Place the envelopes on the collection on Easter Sunday.
There is an extra incentive this year as the Government will double any money collected during Lent
for organisations such as CAFOD.
Stations of the Cross
During Lent we will journey together as a Parish on the road to Calvary with Christ
on the following four Fridays:
27th February
6th March
13th March
20th March
–
–
–
St
St
St
St
Basil’s & All Saints
Bede’s church
John Fisher church
Michael’s church
All start 7pm. Tea and coffee will be served afterwards. If
you would like a lift or can offer a lift to people, please fill in the forms
available at the back of church. Thank you.
CAFOD FAST DAY
Friday 27th February
For Baptism Enquiries and Baptism
Certificates
Storms, droughts and floods are having a
devastating impact on our poorest brothers and
sisters around the world. CAFOD works with local
organisations to ensure affected people are not only
able to survive, but thrive. Fast Days are our
opportunity to support this vital work. Collect your
Fast Day envelopes from church this weekend, and
don’t forget to hold your Lent Fast Day! The UK
government have promised to match every pound &
penny you give, to the value of £3.5m, so if you pay
tax, please use the gift aid envelopes. Please give
as you can in next week’s collection on 1st March.
Please phone the Office of St Bede’s on 422 1774.
The suggested donation for certificates is £5
All Saints CE Baptisms
Please ring 420 4963 or come to the church any
Tuesday evening between 6:45pm – 7:15pm during
vestry time
When someone is ill
If you or someone you know of becomes ill, goes into
hospital, and is no longer able to get to Mass,
please
as much
contact 422 1772
The Sick & Anniversaries
Please submit names for our monthly prayer list
for those who are sick or whose anniversaries
occur to Carol on 422 1772 or email
cah65@hotmail.com.
St Bede’s Entertainment
On the following Saturday evenings . . .
Parish Bereavement Mass
On 28th February MAX CHARD will be on
guitar and as vocalist. This is going to be a
CHARITY NIGHT in aid of PETER MARK (who
needs a double transplant).
Will be celebrated at St Bede’s Church
On Wednesday 25th February
St Wilfrid’s Parish Choir
At 7pm
We hope to come together to lead the music
at our parish Mass of the Lord’s Supper on
Holy Thursday and at the Easter Vigil. If you
are a singer, please come to the rehearsals.
The first rehearsal will be in St Michael’s on
Monday 23rd February 7-8pm and then
every Monday evening during Lent.
Mass will be offered for all those who
died during January. All relatives, friends
and Parishioners are welcome to attend.
Children’s Liturgy
Children’s Liturgy will take place at the following Masses from this weekend:
Saturday
Sunday
Sunday
Sunday
6.00pm
10.00am
10.30am
11.15am
St Basil’s church
St John Fisher church
St Michael’s church
St Bede’s church
MARRIAGE MATTERS
Women's Day of Prayer
(www.twoinoneflesh.org.uk)
Holy Family church, Cronton
Friday 6th March at 2pm.
First Sunday of Lent
We hunger for closeness
‘Wilderness’ can be a reality in our marriage
relationship at times, a kind of ‘desert
experience’: hungering for a gentle touch or
return of the closeness in our relationship. Yet,
we can look back on such times and recognise
the Spirit was at work. God’s grace was in our
yearning, calling us to choose life and turn
away from self-indulgence.
This service is ecumenical and everyone is
invited irrespective of denomination. The
theme this year is prepared by the Christian
Women of the Bahamas.
Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served in
the church hall after the Service.
Vocation Discernment Group
To support those exploring Vocations to the Priesthood, days of recollection have been
organised for the first Saturday of each month. The next day of recollection will take
place on Saturday 7th March at St Charles’ Presbytery, 224 Aigburth Road, Liverpool. For
further information, contact Fr James Preston, Vocations Director, at 0151 727 2493 or
frjamespreston@gmail.com.
First Communion and Confirmation
If there are children in year 4 from Holy Family Parish who would like to make their First
Communion and Confirmation this year, please contact Fr Michael McCormick on 0151
426 6482 to understand the arrangements. The first session of preparation will be at 3pm
on Wednesday 3rd March in Holy Family School, Cronton.
St Basil’s Club Ladies Afternoon
Lee Ann James and her husband ran an "over 50s/60s/70s" afternoon
one Thursday at St Basil’s. The ladies who attended loved the afternoon
and had fun with bingo, a quiz, Hoy card game, music, and tea and
cakes! (Dancing is an option.) More ladies are welcome to come along
every Thursday, 1pm until 4pm. If you are interested please ring Lee
Ann on 01928 581311 or 07885 084223.
Recruitment Evening for Street Pastors
St Paul’s Church Hall
Sunday 8th March at 7pm
Please contact Chris Noon on 420 1661
The Knights Choir
The Knights Choir would like to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who made donations for the choir’s services during
2014. As a result of your support the choir was able to pass on £5,000 to local good causes including, among
others, Halton Haven Hospice and St Wilfrid’s Lourdes Group. The choir remains at the service of the local
community in 2015 and looks forward to your continuing support in the future.
Wonderful Day Trip to Liverpool
Metropolitan Cathedral
A very BIG thank you to Fr Joe and all those who for organized the wonderful day trip to the
Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool for our Altar Servers. It was what we all needed to bring together
and strengthen and encourage the Altar Servers and get to know their lovely families. The day itself
was a wonderful success with Deacon Paul from the Cathedral showing us around, and he even let us
sit on the Archbishop’s throne! We had a guided tour “beyond the ropes” and downstairs into the
Lutyens Crypt & Treasury. We had Mass in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel of the Cathedral followed
by a first class lunch and a lovely get together with everyone. Let us pray that we will continue to work
together in our new parish as we move forward with the changes here in Widnes.
Clive Baines
Altar Server, St Wilfrid’s Parish, Widnes.
ACTA: Promoting Dialogue in the church
An afternoon of prayer, reflection and sharing with Prof. John Sullivan of Liverpool University, on
Saturday 28th Feb, 2 - 4pm, Our Lady’s Parish Bishop Eton Fisher More Hall, Woolton Rd, Liverpool
L16 8NQ. To register go to acalltoaction.org.uk or call 0151 722 7258.
St. Wilfrid’s Parish Lourdes Group
There will be a Lourdes Pilgrimage taking place on Friday 24th July to Friday 31st July with the
Liverpool Archdiocesan Pilgrimage 2015.
Price £695 which includes return flights from Manchester Airport duty & passenger taxes. Return coach
transfers to and from the hotel in Lourdes and Manchester airport, Liverpool Archdiocese Lourdes
Pilgrimage book 2015, 7 nights full board in Lourdes in the Hotel Paradis, courier service and spiritual
leader, 1 suitcase per person for the aircraft hold – 22kgs, and 1 half day excursion to Bartres. For
more details of the Pilgrimage ring Ged Glover 423 2416 or George Sadler 424 6201.
TEA/COFFEE AFTERNOON
The Third World Group will be having a Tea/Coffee afternoon in St John Fisher Church
Hall on Monday 9th March. There will be tombola, cake stall, raffle, and of course
bingo. Doors open 1.30pm. Entrance is 50p, including light refreshments.
Everybody welcome!
Lent Groups
This year the Lent groups will be organised a little differently; rather than groups
meeting individually, we will be joining together at weekly Lent reflections to be
held on a Sunday evening in St Basil’s and All Saints’ from 6pm. The first session
will be on Sunday 22nd February and will continue for the 6 weeks leading to Holy
week. Sessions will last around 30 minutes and will be led by a different person
each week. They will provide people with quiet, contemplative time and
opportunity for a brief discussion. Tea and biscuits will be provided. All are
welcome!
This Weekend’s Masses
Saturday 21st February
Sunday 22nd February
1st Sunday of Lent
5:00pm St Bede’s
Parishioners
6:00pm St Basil’s
Mary & Tom Burke (60th Wedding Anniv)
8:30am St Michael’s
Jim Howard
9:00am St Bede’s
Winifred Chambers (LD)
9.45am All Saints CE
Parish Eucharist
10:00am St John Fisher
Irene Glynn & Margaret Platt
10:30am St Michael’s
Lawrence & Brendan Atherton, Alice & Edward Atherton
11:15am St Bede’s
Anne Clarke (2nd A)
4:30pm St Basil’s
Pat Loftus (LD)
9:15am St Bede’s
James Stretch
9:15am St Basil’s
Jane Billal
7.30pm All Saints CE
Parish Eucharist
9:15am St John Fisher
Norah Lewis (LD)
7:00pm St Bede’s
Mass for the Bereaved
9:15am St Michael’s
Mary & Bill Farrell
Friday 27 February
CAFOD Lent Fast Day
9:15am St Basil’s
Sheila Unsworth
Saturday 28th February
10:00am St Bede’s
Weekday Masses
Monday 23rd February
Tuesday 24th February
Wed 25th February
Thursday 26th February
th
Next Weekend’s Masses
Saturday 28th February
Sunday 1st March
Mary Riley (90th Birthday)
2nd Sunday of Lent
5:00pm St Bede’s
Frances Moss
6:00pm St Basil’s
Parishioners
8:30am St Michael’s
Frank & Susan Egan (A)
9:00am St Bede’s
Eric Lee
9.45am All Saints CE
Parish Eucharist
10:00am St John Fisher
James Oldham
10:30am St Michael’s
Alan Sheperd (LD)
11:15am St Bede’s
Olive Strettle (LD)
4:30pm St Basil’s
Brian Higgins
Funerals – Please pray for those whose funerals take place this week and for their families
Monday 23rd February
12:30pm St Bede’s
Requiem Mass
William Burke
Tuesday 24th February
10:30am St Basil’s
Requiem Mass
Margaret Brown
1:30pm St Bede’s
Funeral Service
William Mulholland
1:00pm St Bede’s
Requiem Mass
John Roche
th
Tuesday 24 February
th
Friday 27 February