Newsletter and  

Notices

Fr. Peter Charles Crowther obl. sbso | The Presbytery, Bury Lane, Withnell, Chorley, PR6 8SD | Tel 01254 830 995 | Archdiocese of Liverpool 1199714

© 2026 St Joseph's Catholic Church, Withnell. All Rights Reserved.

Please pray for Pope Francis, Benedict XVI and Archbishop Malcolm McMahon                                                   

Liverpool Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool Reg. Char. 232709

moorlandsanctuary@gmail.com

www.moorlandsanctuary.com

Thought for the Day: Official memorial celebrations are familiar to us, marking wars or national events. Often, these are coloured by a mixture of sadness and gratitude. The Christian memorial of the last week of Jesus’ life is entirely different. First of all, we tell the whole story again because he is risen from the dead. Secondly, this memorial is an effective one: as we do this in memory of him, the very same gifts of compassion, forgiveness, love and healing are offered again to all present, precisely because Jesus is risen from the dead. Our Christian memory is not a dead remembering but an effective bringing into the present of the great events that gave us new life in Christ. (Fr Kieran O’Mahoney, OSA)

Saints this week: Saint Isidore (c560-636). Born at Seville in Spain, after the death of his father he was brought up by his brother Leander, whom he succeeded as

Archbishop of Seville. He was a scholar and prolific writer, who did much to eradicate Arianism, as well as promoting monastic life and convoking councils in which wise regulations were made for the Church in Spain.

Saintly quotes: “Fix your minds on the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Inflamed with love for us, He came down from Heaven to redeem us. For our sake, He endured every torment of body and soul and shrank from no bodily pain. He, Himself, gave us an example of perfect patience and love. We, then, are to be patient, in adversity!”- Saint Francis of Paola

Papal Intentions for April 2026 For priests in crisis. Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may

find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.

Sacred Scripture: Jesus said to his disciples: You did not choose me. No, I chose you. John 15:9-17

St Beuno’s Prego:  Jesus’s final prayer on the cross forms the opening words of today’s Psalm. Let us pray this text throughout this week as an

offering of compassion and love for Christ, and for all who suffer with him. (stbeunosoutreach.wordpress.com) St Beuno’s are also offering a Holy

Week reflection, available at the same website.

Food for Thought: “Unless there is Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday.” —Fulton J. Sheen

Exposition: is available at St. Gregory’s on Weds from 4 – 5 (also available on livestream) and at St. Mary’s Chorley on Tues and Fri 12.30 - 13.00.

Lenten Reflections: The Irenaeus Project in Liverpool are holding a series of reflections during Lent. If you wish to attend online, please email

jenny@irenaeus.co.uk for a Zoom link.

Sincere Thanks: To Father Graeme for coming to say our Mass again today: it is greatly appreciated.

Chorley and Preston Hospitals: Please contact St Joseph's Chorley (01257 262713) if any member of your family is admitted into Chorley Hospital and needs a visit. For the chaplaincy at Royal Preston Hospital Tel: 01772 522435. For the chaplaincy at Wigan Infirmary Tel: 01942 822324.

Collection: £175 in donations to St Catherine’s Hospice from the two weeks’ Sunday collections will be added to those from the funeral Masses and taken to the hospice in memory of Father Peter. Thank you for your generosity.

Mission Boxes: Please would you bring in your mission boxes as soon as you are able and give them to Cath Jones? Thank you.

Family of Parishes Retreat Day: Thank you to Father Mark for organising this for our family of parishes

Stations of the Cross in Holy Week: We will hold Stations of the Cross here at St Joseph’s on Monday, Wednesday and Good Friday at 10.30 am.

Holy Thursday – Lifts to Mass: If you need a lift or are willing to offer anyone a lift to Holy Thursday Mass, please would you stay behind after Mass today so that transport arrangements can be made? Thank you.

Good Friday: The Walk of Witness will leave here at 11am on Good Friday, walking to Hillside. Stations of the Cross will be held beforehand at 10.30am. The service of the Commemoration of the Passion of the Lord will take place here at 3pm. Please note that this will be a lay-led service.

Holy Week and Easter Sunday Masses: Easter Sunday Mass here will be at 9.30 as usual. For all other Holy Week Masses, please check relevant parish websites for details. Masses at St Joseph’s, Harpers Lane, are at 8.30 am daily. Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper is at 7pm at St. Chad’s; 7.30pm at St Joseph’s and St. Mary’s. Easter Vigil Mass is at 7pm at St Joseph’s, 8pm at St. Bede’s and at St. Mary’s.

Doctor Moitra: Please keep Doctor Moitra in your prayers while she is working in Gaza with UK-Med.

Young Adult Trip to Assisi: During the 800th anniversary year of St Francis of Assisi, the Archdiocese are offering an exciting opportunity to people aged 18-35 to go to on a pilgrimage to Assisi from 29 November – 2 December 2026. Advance booking price is £940 per person (sharing a double or twin room) if booked by 10 April 2026. Register for the online information evening at: https://archdioceseofliverpool.org/MoreInfoAssisi

Votive Candles: These are back! Feel free to come to light a candle before Mass for your own prayer intentions.

Health and Safety Rep: Would anyone be willing to be the parish Health and Safety rep, please? Please see Father Graeme for more details.

Faith in Action from Holy Cross: Holy Cross are hosting a Spring SVP Gathering on Wednesday 29 th April at 1.30 pm. Grandparents are welcome to join the children for an afternoon of bingo, crafts, prizes, musical performances by the school choir, oracy performances and afternoon tea served by the Leadership Academy. To sign up, please email admin@holycross.lancs.sch.uk

Care of Our Common Home: New leaves have been springing up around the village. Let these signs of new life remind you of the hope of Easter.

St Joseph’s School: Children in school have been supporting Cafod’s ‘Love Grows’ campaign throughout Lent. The final week of their challenge was a ‘Growing Acts of Love’ Kindness Challenge’ children took home a kindness challenge sheet which they filled with various different acts they could offer to do at home for a friend, family member or neighbour.

Lately Deceased

Parish Priest

Bury Lane

Withnell

PR6 8SD

Tel: 01254 830 995

Email: moorlandsanctuary@gmail.com  

Catechist/Safeguarding: Kate Perkins

The Moorland Sanctuary

Hand in hand with Jesus

Anniversaries

Sick & Housebound

Feastdays

Readers

Anointing / Forgiveness

Mass

Intentions

Bishops, Priests and Deacons of the Archdiocese whose anniversaries are about now as well as Margaret Powell, Alfred Doran, Harry Rawlings, Helen Steed, Mildred Kelly, Patrick Matthews, Fr. Michael O’Neil MhM, Theresa Molyneux, Thomas Carrington, William Clitheroe, Raymond Cliffe, Maureen Gerard, Tom Hodgson, Michael Doyle, Geoffrey Yates, Veronica Hildisch, Teresa Higginson, Maureen Hardman, Fonce Hoole, Teresa Myerscough, Fr. Peter Kitchen, Betty Marsh, Ann Graham.

Archbishop Patrick Kelly, Ian Davies, Rachel Mason and many others. Heal your servants O Lord who are sick and send them comfort from thy holy place. Amen.

• Saturday 4 th : Saint Isidore

Next Week:   

COLLECTOR:

Today:  

COLLECTOR:

• Easter Sunday 29 th March 9.30 am: People of the Parish
• Holy Rosary: Please pray your daily Rosary for World Peace.

• Thursday 2 nd : Saint Francis of Paola

• Sunday 9.30 am: Kathleen Veysey (LD)

St. Joseph's Withnell

Cycle A

Sunday 29th March

Palm Sunday