LOURDES AT HOME 2026 

On Tuesday 28th July 2026, the Parishes of St Mary’s Woolton and St John Vianney hosted a ‘Lourdes at Home’ Mass celebrated by Parish Priest Fr Peter McGrail. Scrolls of names of our sick, housebound and recently deceased parishioners were included in the offertory procession and placed on the altar during the Mass.

 Following the Mass, at our very own Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, Fr Peter led parishioners in prayer joining together in spiritual union with our pilgrims in Lourdes.

Read more: Lourdes at Home 2026

MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS: POPE LEO XIV'S FIRST ENCYCLICAL

Pope Leo's first encyclical has given us much to think about. But what does it all mean? Here are some resources breaking down the Pope's message, and what it means for us:

Magnifica Humanitas: A Reflection by Mgr Peter Fleetwood

Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical broken down (includes a video and some useful graphics from the Vatican)

Catholic Truth Society have shared explainers from Sr Carino and Prof. Jacob Phillips, as well as a video of their roundtable discussion about the encyclical. 

CAFOD have given a quick primer on what Magnifica Humanitas is about and what it means for the Catholic community

If you want to delve in deeper, Ascension Press have written a comprehensive overview of the key points and themes of Magnifica Humanitas

POPE LEO XIV’S FIRST PAPAL ENCYCLICAL: MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS!

‘Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together.’ – Pope Leo XIV

Published on Monday 25 May, Pope Leo XIV signed his first encyclical on 15 May, the 135th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum. The new letter, Magnifica Humanitas, addresses one of today’s major challenges: safeguarding the human person in the age of Artificial Intelligence.

Pope Leo XIV appeals for people to build ‘for the common good’ and to ‘remain human,’ acting in courage towards shared responsibility and communion, so that the world ‘will come to recognise the human heart as the place where God desires to dwell.’

Access the new encyclical at the Vatican Website via: https://tinyurl.com/ymhbn238

JOSPICE LIGHT UP A LIFE 2026

📅 Date:  Thursday 3 December 6pm

📍Location: St Joseph’s Hospice, Thornton 

and

📅 Date:  Wednesday 9 December at 2pm

📍Location:  St Peter & Paul’s Church, Crosby

Dedicate a light in memory of someone special

You can make a dedication to a loved one online at: https://visufund.com/sjh-light-up-a-life-2026

Alternatively, call our Fundraising Team on 0151 932 6044.

All dedications will be included in our special Book of Remembrance, which will be displayed at both services.

ECUMENISM WEBINAR

📅 Dates: Monday 2 November, 7.30 - 9pm

📍Location:  Online

What is the role and influence of new Christian communities in ecumenism? Speakers from Taizé, Chemin Neuf Community and Focolare.org/gb will address this question at a webinar from The Society for Ecumenical Studies

Learn more at https://cte.org.uk/sfes-new-christian-communities

FCJ DISCERNMENT

📅 Dates: 18^th November 25^th November 2^nd December

📍Location:  Online

A new series of workshops by the FCJ Sisters, considering the pressures on us as we try to be attentive to God's Spirit among all the things that clamour for our attention.

Sign up: https://forms.gle/Bt21usn13c8tQbk17

 SVP HEALING MASS AND REFRESHMENTS:

📅 Date: Saturday 14th November

📍Location: St Mary's Church and Hall

Mass for the Sick and Housebound of the parishes of St Mary’s and St John Vianney will be held at St Mary’s on Saturday 14 November at 12 noon. Followed by refreshments in the parish hall. Transport to and from the event will be available. If you wish to attend, please contact one of the SVP Group: Roy Bellmon 07917 755758; Jim Carson 0151 428 1108; Bernard Kean 07891 771584.

We look forward to seeing you there. If you, or anybody you know, is facing financial difficulty or needs support, please contact us and we will do our best to help

EVENING PRAYER AND CANTATA - LIVERPOOL BACH COLLECTIVE (CANTATA 36)

📅 Date: Sunday 29 November at 6.30pm

📍Location: Christ the King Church, Queens Drive, Wavertree, L15 6YQ

Liverpool Bach Collective will be performing this Cantata to mark the First Sunday of Advent. It is called Soar joyfully towards the exalted stars. All are welcome. It is free to attend, with a retiring collection.

MARIE CURIE LIGHTS TO REMEMBER

📅 Date: Friday 4th December 6pm

📍Location: St Peter's Woolton

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A DEACON?

Online: Tuesday 20 October, 7pm (Scan the QR code to book)

In Person: Tuesday 24^th November, 7pm, St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith Canon’s Hall, Liverpool Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield.

The deacon embodies the spirit of service and compassion in the Church, a man who is dedicated and humble, uniquely ordained to help both the spiritual needs and the practical needs of a community. Candidates for the diaconate are typically mature men between the ages of 30 and 65. If they are married, they must be in a stable sacramental marriage.

The journey to discern if you have a calling to the diaconate involves asking yourself whether you have a genuine desire to serve God and His Church in this capacity.

We invite you to attend either or both of our enquirers’ events to learn more about the role of deacons, their ministry in parish life, and to support your prayerful discernment