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Mass Intentions

Sunday 22nd	Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time 9.30 am Eileen Geraghty 6.30 pm Parishioners
Monday 23rd	ST BRIDGET 9.15 am Thanksgiving to Our Blessed                 Lord, St Joseph and Holy                 Mother of God
Tuesday 24th	9.15 am Sarah Lattice
Wednesday 25th	ST JAMES, APOSTLE 9.15 am John & Mary Cunningham
Thursday 26th	Sts Joachim and Anne 9.15 am Sheila Smith
Friday 27th	9.15 am Karen Hill
Saturday 28th	9.15 am Winifred Evans
Sunday 29th	Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time 9.30 am Julie Kelly 6.30 pm Mary O'Connor

Sacrament of Reconciliation : Saturday 12 noon - 12.30 pm Friday Devotions : Stations of the Cross 7pm

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Notices

Please remember in your prayers the family and friends of:
Mr William Cottam who was head teacher at St Richard's for over 20 years, we remember in our prayers his wife Catherine and son, Martin. A Requiem will take place on Tuesday at 2 pm at St Mary's, Horwich;
Ethel O'Hagan whose Funeral Service will take place here at St Richard's on Monday at 12 midday, then on to Howe Bridge Cemetery.
May they rest in the Peace of Christ.

Bon Voyage
On Friday the Liverpool Youth of the Archdiocesan Pilgrimage set off for Lourdes. This year seven young people from the parish went to work with those who need assistance in Lourdes : Clark Barrett ( who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation from the Archbishop whilst in Lourdes) Issen and John Hill, Laura Joyce, Patrick and Mary McLoughlin, and Patrick Snape. Our prayers go with them on their pilgrimage. Chris Higgins and Anne-Marie Harrison are part of a team of adults accompanying the young people on the coach there and back, and supervising their work in Lourdes. God bless you both! PS Party time at Pete's!

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Forthcoming Events

The New Garrett Theatre co. present
All Flared Up a 70's Revue Wednesday 8th - Friday 10th August The Formby Hall , Atherton 7.30 pm
Tickets £4.50 ( cons. £3.50 ) including refreshments.
Phone 01942 886756

Information

Congratulations on your Marriage Amanda Jane Joyce & Mark Joseph Wigley on 7th July

Reading through the item last week I noticed I had forgotten to thank the florists for their sterling work and for once again, providing a wonderful display of flowers and candles for Quarant Ore. Each Sunday except in Advent and Lent the church is made to look bright and inviting using different styles of arrangement. During the wedding season the ladies often spend the whole day in preparation - and on the following Sunday we can all sit back and admire their skill and wonder at God's creative power.. My apologies for missing you out last week and I ask all to remember you in their prayers this Sunday for your time and talent that you share with us.

Changes in the Deanery
In every ending is . . . a new beginning. When changes happen we are often left feeling vulnerable and unsure, and letting go of the past always takes great courage. Every change and every past experience however, offers us the gift of wisdom to help light our journey forward into the new dawn. These words I found on a card may help us to reflect positively on the news last week of personnel changes in the Deanery. Each year it is harder to sustain the idea of a priest for every parish in the Diocese. In fact that time is now over and we need to look ahead and discover new ways of working in parishes that will ensure the faith is passed on to future generations.
In the past the priest was fully involved in and controlled all areas of parish life:- administration, building and maintenance, sacramental, social, educational and pastoral needs. Many parishes had assistant priests who helped with the pastoral, social, sacramental and educational work, leaving the Parish Priest to concentrate on administration and maintenance. This structure meant that the priest had a 'hands on' management style and would oversee all that happened.
After 5 years sharing a priest both Sacred Heart and St Richard's parishioners will acknowledge that this model no longer applies. We need to adopt new ways of working and develop new structures for administration and maintenance so that parishes can stand by themselves. As things stand it is envisaged that within 5 - 10 years there will only be four priests serving the Deanery. (9 parishes).
I look around and I see many green shoots! Perhaps if we begin to think differently it will help us to renew, to grow and to change ! Fr Steve Cooper