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from Fr Kevin's Desk - a weekly reflection, and more.. 

(14th Mar 2026)  

 This Sunday we celebrate Mother’s Day which falls on ‘Laetare Sunday’ or mid-lent Sunday which can be a welcomed and joyful pause in our Lenten fasting. Today we Joyfully give thanks for all our wonderful mothers living or deceased, for all their love and the many sacrifices made to enrich our lives. Let us also spare a thought today for those whose mothers may have been absent or may not have been so wonderful, making today a difficult and painful day of remembrance.

On Tuesday we also celebrate the feast of St. Patrick and no doubt there will be lots of celebrations across the globe. With my Irish heritage, I have always had a devotion to St. Patrick and took his name at my confirmation. Since becoming a priest and learning a little more about him, I have come to admire his incredibly resilience. In his writings he is totally rooted in Jesus and so faithful to his call despite the many dangers and threatening situation he found himself in. Patrick remained totally committed to Christ and his Church. He also expresses complete love and confidence in Jesus knowing that whatever may happen to him in this life he will ultimately receive the joys of Heaven. 
St. Patrick, like all our saints provide us with great encouragement, which we all need and particularly in Ireland as we emerge from the scandal of clerical abuse which devastated so many lives and the reputation of the Irish Church. 
Today, as we continue to pray for all victims and for Christ’s healing, we also invoke the help of St. Patrick, praying for his wisdom, resilience and confidence to help us in our efforts to become the Church that Christ is calling us to be. 
Let me close with St. Patrick’s own prayer taken from the ‘Deer’s Cry’ or ‘St. Patrick’s Breastplate.’ It is said that Patrick would pray this every morning, what a wonderful morning offering is could be for each of us.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I arise today, Through God’s strength to pilot me:
God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak to me, God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me,
God’s host to save me, from the snares of the devil, from temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near, alone and in a crowd.
Amen.

As suffering and death increases because of the war in the Middle East there will be a Holy Hour for lasting PEACE, on Sunday 22nd March at 3.00pm.

Next Sunday at 4pm is the Syro-Malabar Mass.

Beginning next week and throughout Lent, there will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 9.00am whenever Mass is celebrated at 9.30am.

God bless, Fr Kevin.

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Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 

There are currently campaigners lobbying MPs to use a Parliamentary Act to bypass the House of Lords and bring the Bill into law. Please contact your MP, Patrick Hurley, to oppose this use of the Parliamentary Act.

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Prayer to Saint Carlo Acutis

O God our Father, we thank you for giving us Carlo a model of life for young people, and message of love for all. You made him fall in love with your son Jesus, making the Eucharist his “highway to heaven”. You gave him Mary as a beloved mother, and you made him, through the rosary, a cantor of her tenderness. Receive his prayer for us. Look above all on the poor, whom he loved and assisted. Grant me too, through his intercession, the grace that I need, (mention any personal intercession) And make our joy full, as Carlo is raised among the saints of your Church, so that his smile shines again for us to the glory of your name. Amen.

God Bless, Fr Kevin

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The Pope’s Prayer intention for March 2026: 

For disarmament and peace Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.

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A Child's Prayer for Grandparents

 Dear God, please bless my grandparents.
Thank you for the life they gave my parents
and for the life, they give to me.

For the ways they helped me and made me strong, I give thanks.
For the ways, they love me no matter what, I rejoice.
For the ways, they have paved the road
that leads me here, I am grateful.

Let them grow in wisdom and joy in life.
Let them find peace and rest from their work.
Let them be healed of every sickness and pain.
And let them see with their own eyes your glory
and the love of their children and grandchildren.

Bless them always until they come to rest in you.
- Author Unknown

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Please read and pray about what we can all do in response to the urgent needs of some of our local people.

We are blessed that Southport North SVP which covers the parishes of St Marie’s, St Patricks and Holy Family is very active enabling us to support those in need in Southport in countless ways. 

Last year we regularly visited and/or maintained telephone contact with over 80 parishioners who were self-isolating and/or lonely.

We helped more than 140 families and individuals in financial need, making over 1300 visits and supplying 550 food parcels/ food vouchers, 50 fuel top ups as well as well as numerous items of furniture, bedding, electrical and household goods. 

We continue to deliver good quality adult clothes to Asylum Link who are now supporting Ukrainian families as well as other refugees.

The “cost of living” crisis is having a significant impact on everyone but is particularly hard for those who have to choose between eating or keeping warm. In each of the last 4 months we have supplied 10 food parcels and 45 food vouchers/fueltop ups (an increase of around 30% compared to last year) at a cost of over £1000 per month and we expect demand to continue to increase. 

We are very grateful to those who have supported us over the last year, financially, by food donations and by prayer, however if we are to continue supporting current demand we need your help –

There are several ways in which you can assist

• Donations (or standing order) direct to our Nat West account: Sort Code: 60-60-04 Account Number: 46084509
  Account Name: D100907 SVP Southport North

• Vouchers (Preferably £10 or £20) from Farmfoods, Asda, Morrisons or Aldi

• Cash or cheques in an envelope clearly marked “SVP”  

• Please place cash/cheques/vouchers in the collection plate/SVP wallbox or hand into St Marie’s/Holy Family Office

• Food:  We welcome non-perishable food donations which can be collected by prior arrangement (please see list at back of St Patrick’s)

• Adult Clothing: We collect good quality adult clothing and shoes for delivery to Asylum Link in Liverpool 

• Please pray for the work we do and those in need – never underestimate the value of your prayer, it can make a real difference.

• If you wish to speak to a Southport North SVP member we can be contacted on 07562378873 or through the St Marie’s/Holy Family Office. All requests are treated in strict confidence.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Please pray and let the Holy Spirit lead you! 

Please don't forget to pray for our schools

We pray for protection for all teachers, staff, pupils and their families as they attend and work in school, and look after our younger members as they start their life journeys.

We especially pray for our own schools of Holy Family and Christ the King.

Adopt a Care/Nursing Home

We all have a calling, and have been given gifts and talents to use in service to others in our daily lives.

"But I'm not special, I can't do much."

If that's what you're thinking, think again. The most powerful thing we can do, with the help and strength of the Holy Spirit, is to pray, and hold up in prayer those in need throughout our parish and beyond. This is the very meaning of community, we pray for them, visit them and keep in touch as much as we can, and they pray for us, as parish even though they might not be able to actually get to church. So we feel part of their lives, and they feel part of ours

With this in mind we have compiled a list of care and nursing homes in our parish, and ask you to adopt one.

Those residents, carers and their families especially need our prayers at this time.

Could you adopt one to protect with a prayer each day? Perhaps one near your own home or with a special meaning to you? 
If you can, please let us know so we can make sure no one is left out. 

• Acacia Court (Roe Lane)
• Ascot Lodge (Chambres Rd.)
• Blair House (Roe Lane)
• Cedar Grange (Pilkington Rd.)
• Dale Park (Meols Cop Rd. )
• Good Companions (Roe Lane )
• Hampton Court (Scarisbrick New Rd.)
• Peacehaven House (Roe Lane)
• Thomas Henshaw (Norwood Rd.)
• Woodlands Manor (Chambres Rd.)
• Lyndale (Rawlinson Road)
• Poulton Court (Wennington Road)
• Southport Hospital
• Queenscourt Hospice