Parish Priest: Fr Atli Jónsson Office: 40 York Road, Southport PR8 2AY, Tel 01704 568313 birkdalecatholics@rcaol.org.uk

Deacon: Rev Bill Ball, Tel 567788. Parish NEW webpage www.birkdalecatholics.com Facebook: Birkdale Catholics Diocese www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk

Other Catholic churches in Southport: St John Stone & Sacred Heart Tel. 577722 * St Marie & St Patrick Tel. 531229 * Holy Family Tel. 532613

Holy Communion Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10am outside St Joseph’s church. (Next Sunday 2 August at 10.30am) Please keep socially distant and if you wear a mask use hand sanitiser before lowering the mask prior to receiving Holy Communion.

We will also continue with Holy Communion outside church on Saturdays at 10am and Sundays at 10.30am (please note the change of time on Sundays from NEXT weekend)!!

Thanks to the volunteers who have come forward. We need further helpers to make sure this does not become too onerous for anyone and to make sure we do all as safely as possible. Please get in touch if you can help.

Mass will start at St Joseph’s Monday 27 July

Monday to Friday 10am Saturday Vigil Mass 5.30pm

Sunday 9.30am Sunday 11am

If you are vulnerable, showing symptoms of the virus or worried about things, I advise you not to return to Mass just yet. Remember, the obligation to attend

Sunday Mass remains lifted for the foreseeable future and live streamed Masses will continue.

We must put safety first and do some things differently:

Please use the main door at the top of the ramp and follow the directions of the stewards.

Please wear a face mask as you enter church, sanitise your hands, write your contact phone number, and take a seat as directed. (You will have to give up the idea of your ‘usual seat’ for the time being)

Seats at the front will be filled first and people on the back seats will leave first.

Holy Communion will be given out after Mass in the outer porch. The stewards will direct you to come out of your bench. At the back of church sanitise your hands before lowering the mask, receive holy Communion and then use either exit door.

The toilets will be closed (except in a case of emergency) so please go before you come to Church.

There will be no singing, no collection taken (please use baskets by the hand sanitisers), but it will still be Mass.

Finally, please continue to be kind to each other, not least the Stewards who will help you at church. The virus has not gone away so compliance to safety guidelines is of paramount importance.

Fr Atli

Newsletter for Catholics in Birkdale 26 July, 2020 + 17 Sunday Ordinary Time+

Sundays Year A + Weekdays Year 2 TOGETHER

Lord Jesus Christ, send the Holy Spirit over the world

affected by the corona virus. In your goodness: Heal the sick!

Protect those in danger of being infected. Strengthen those who care for the sick.

My life is in your hands. I trust in you.

Oh, if only!

The First Sunday Preface Second Eucharistic Prayer

A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans 8:28-30

We know that by turning everything to their good, God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared his glory.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Alleluia, alleluia! Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 13:44-52

Jesus said to the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

‘Have you understood all this?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old.’

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer over the Offerings Accept, O Lord, we pray, the offerings which we bring from the abundance of your gifts, that through the powerful working of your grace these most sacred mysteries may sanctify our present way of life and lead us to eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer after Communion We have consumed, O Lord, this divine Sacrament, the perpetual memorial of the Passion of your Son; grant, we pray, that this gift, which he himself gave us with love beyond all telling, may profit us for salvation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday Mass online from St Joseph live from 5.30pm Saturday birkdalecatholics.com

Other Masses: http://www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/ https://www.vaticannews.va/en https://www.churchservices.tv/whats-on-now/ Sky channel 588 https://www.lourdes-france.org/en/tv-lourdes/ Mass and daily at 2pm the Rosary in English https://www.livemass.org Extraordinary Form (1962 Missal)

MASS THIS SUNDAY

Collect O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy, bestow in abundance your mercy upon us and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may use the good things that pass in such a way as to hold fast even now to those that ever endure. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,… Amen

A reading from the book first book of Kings 3:5,7-12

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, ‘Ask what you would like me to give you.’ Solomon replied, ‘O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in succession to David my father. But I am a very young man, unskilled in leadership. Your servant finds himself in the midst of this people of yours that you have chosen, a people so many its number cannot be counted or reckoned. Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon should have asked for this. ‘Since you have asked for this’ the Lord said ‘and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none will have after you.’

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 118 (119) Response: Lord, how I love your law!

My part, I have resolved, O Lord, is to obey your word. The law from your mouth means more to me than silver and gold. R.

Let your love be ready to console me by your promise to your servant. Let your love come and I shall live for your law is my delight. R.

That is why I love your commands more than finest gold, why I rule my life by your precepts, and hate false ways. R.

Your will is wonderful indeed; therefore I obey it. The unfolding of your word gives light and teaches the simple. R.

Praying with the Pope in July 2020 We pray that today’s families may be accompanied with love, respect and guidance. www.thepopevideo.org

We Pray for the Sick

Toby Peters aged two, Nella aged four, Eddie Grant, Jack Rogan, Canon Bert Shaw, Mgr Austin Hunt,

Ciara Lee, Sheila Smith, Peter Molyneux, Dorothy Gibb, Christopher Connolly, Anne Dutch, Kathleen Jenkinson,

Pat Little, Kathryn Harding, Emma Whittaker, Nola Nelson, Lindsey Rodger, Minna Moffatt,

Mary Stanton, Anne Dodgson, Michael Walton, Sian Williams, Gordon Lindsay, Doreen Grant, Marian

Ball, Harold Waters, Pat Mills, Muriel Appleton, Megan Borthwick, Richard Hughes, Deborah Herold,

Michael & Dorothy Brady, Margaret Chisnall, Karen Manley, Richard Shaw, Marie Scott,

Jonathan Morley, Leo O’Reilly, David Leatherland, Greg Ward, Garry Ward, Lewis (12 years old)

The Lately Dead

Rosemary Vasey, Mike Bruder

Anniversaries David Nicholson, Marie Smith

We pray for Ann and Gareth Davies Golden Wedding

Ralph and Marian Hope Blue Sapphire Wedding

Our parish, that this time apart may help us to strengthen the bond we have with God and each other.

Our schools, the children, staff and governors. The emergency services and all hospital workers

The sick and the housebound All affected by the corona virus

Scientists trying to make a vaccine All worried about their health

All worried about their jobs and finances 26 July Sunday Parishioners

Church opens for 10 am Mass from Monday 27 July Mon David Nicholson A Tue Elvira McLay LD Wed St Martha Int of Elizabeth Berry Thurs Special Intention Fri St Ignatius of Loyla The Sick Sat 5.30pm Fisher Family 2 August Sunday 9am Parishioners 11am Canon Peter Cookson

Food Bank: Thanks for your continued support! Non-perishable food items, shampoo, washing up liquid, washing powder… gratefully received. We intend to continue during the school holidays with some groceries and the gifts of money we have had will supplement what is left in the collection box at St Joseph’s.

SVP mobile for messages/texts 07716143603.

Making a Spiritual Communion

Alone or together with others in your household: Make the sign of the cross You could read the Gospel of the day Then share prayer intentions quietly or aloud Say the Lord’s Prayer Then make an act of spiritual communion:

My Jesus, I believe in your presence. I love you and I long to receive you. Bless me as I unite myself to you;

Grant me to reflect your love and glory as each day I serve you and my neighbour.

Amen.

Close with the sign of the cross.

Easy Fundraising lets you raise mon-ey for the parish when you buy on

line from many retailers without additional cost to yourself. To sign up to the scheme: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/birkdalecatholics/?invite=mv7m0f&referral-campaign=s2s

The diocese has set up online giving for our parish

https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/our-lady-and-st-joseph-southport

https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/st-teresa-of-avila-southport

Thanks to the generous members and supporters of our parish! Your gifts of time,

money and prayer is making this difficult time

what we live for, and what we know is worth sharing with others. It is the pearl we have searched for, wanted and found. Jesus teaches in another place: “Where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:12)

May the treasure, which reveals where our heart is be a reflection of our life with Christ; ‘in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge’ (Colossians 2:3).

Amen.

Anxiously awaiting your GCSE results? Still unsure about what to do next?

Christ the King Sixth Form Centre, Stamford Road, Southport will be enrolling for our A Level and BTEC Level 3 courses on Thursday 20 August and Friday 21 August 2020.

To find out if you meet our entry requirements, discuss the options available to you and make an application, please visit our website https://christtheking-school.com/sixth-form/admissions/how-to-apply/ You can also email cunninh@christtheking-school.com or whiteg@christtheking-school.com to arrange an enrolment interview.

As your only local Catholic Sixth Form, we are leading the way for the return to study in September in the safest possible environment. We have invested heavily in a LIVE online teaching programme so that, should there be any further school closures or a need to move again to online teaching, we are fully prepared.

We have everything you need to help you become everything you want to be! Hospital Chaplaincy at Southport Hospital The priest on-call will visit patients when requested. Please ask the ward staff to call him. To speak to the Catholic Chaplain, Maria Parker call (during normal office hours) 07467374830.

New Parish Priest at Holy Family The Archbishop has appointed Fr Kevin McLoughlin parish priest at Holy Family and also hospital chaplain at Southport Hospital from September 2020. We look forward to welcoming Fr Kevin. Thanks to Fr Patsy Foley who has been looking after the parish and for his loyalty to the Southport pastoral area.

Sunday Homily

I have caught myself off guard watching daytime television. Amongst other things I have seen bits of The Antiques Roadshow and Flog It. In some ways they are the same programme; old things looked at and valued. But there is a difference. In Flog It an item is taken along that one no longer gives houseroom, something no longer wanted. Then the person walks away having not only decluttered but even better with some money for a holiday.

In the Antiques Roadshow (admittedly more highbrow) what is brought along is looked at, talked about in greater detail, evaluated and although the thrill of money is evident there almost always follows a declaration by the owner that this item is not for sale! It has such value to the owner, be it sentimental, or because it is part of their family’s history, or this item is loved in its own right. The owner is not going to part with it. It is a treasure.

It may surprise you but I know nothing about jewellery. However, watching television I have learnt that not every pearl is the same. Pearls come in three different kinds: wild, cultured, and manmade or synthetic. Given the age of the gospels we are right to assume that the pearl the merchant searched for, is the most expensive kind of pearls, not purposely grown, not manmade, but found in the wild, discovered when a shell is opened and a natural wild pearl is revealed.

The treasure buried in the field is discovered by chance. Instantly its worth is recognised and it is wanted, so badly that all the finder owns is sold to buy the field and the treasure it hides. Is it slightly underhand? Let’s not spoil a good story. The man knows what he found is worth having. It cost him everything he owns and now it is his.

Then the second parable, the merchant who purposefully searches for precious pearls. When he finds one of great value, that one pearl is worth all he owns. He too has to have it. It to cost him everything he owns and now it is his.

We don’t stumble across hidden treasures every day and real pearls are a refined thing, sorting fish caught in a drag net isn’t. Remember where we are as these stories are told. We are with Jesus on the lakeshore where he is teaching a great crowd from a boat. When he talks to the people about the dragnet and its content he refers to a daily event. It is a powerful image and one his audience could imagine to be going on before their very eyes. There are all kinds in the haul, some good and some of no use. A visual image of the end of times where good and evil are acknowledged and dealt with once and for all. To know what is good, to have searched for it, embraced it and done it will surely land one in the basket of those who are to have life.

The gospel this Sunday is part of a series of parables, the open-ended stories Jesus tells as he teaches. We don’t have to harmonise them into a single message. Each, even the shortest, is worth telling in its own right, and each can be understood without the others.

As we take their message(s) to heart we bring forth both new and old out of our store rooms; the story of our life with God and the new insights we gain. These are not things but treasures. We bring forth what has helped us,