Bishop Philip has agreed to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in our Parish on Sunday 18 May 2025 at 10.00 am at St Andrew’s Church. We look forward to welcoming him on this occasion and celebrating with the candidates who will be presented this year.Preparation for Confirmation is important, and we have arranged for this to take place for young people on Wednesday evenings at 5.30 pm at St Andrew’s Church, beginning on Wednesday 26 May 2025 (Adult preparation will be arranged once we are aware of any adult candidates). If you or your child is planning on preparing for Confirmation, it is also important that you or they are present for worship regularly in Church. This should ideally be on a Sunday, and our main services across the Parish at the following times: 9.30 am at St Andrew’s (Swiss Street) 11.00 am at St Mary Magdalen’s (Devonshire Street)If, for any reason in a particular week, none of those times work, please try to come to one of the weekday masses (outside school time, these generally take place at 6.00 pm on Tuesday at St Andrew’s, or 6.00 pm on a Thursday at St Mary Magdalen’s. There is also the opportunity to worship at either Friday Praise (fortnightly on Fridays during term-time at 3.15 pm at St Nicholas’s School) or Youth Church (every 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesday during term-time at St Christopher’s School). I cannot present any candidate for Confirmation who is not regular at worship in Church. Please keep an eye on our website or Facebook page for further details.We also expect candidates to take full part in the Holy Week Liturgies in the benefice, attending the Maundy Thursday Liturgy of the Last Supper at St Andrew’s at 8.00 pm on 17 April, the Good Friday Liturgy at St Andrew’s at 3.00 pm on 18 April and the Easter Vigil at at 8.30 pm at St Mary Magdalen’s.If you are interested, please go to https://tinyurl.com/GoodShepherdConfirmation2025 and fill in the online form. If you need any further information, please be in touch!
Each Year, the Church keeps a week of prayer, from 18-25 January, focussing on the Unity of God's Church. This year, a leaflet has been prepared with a cycle of prayer, for all local churches and congregations within the BB5 postcode area. This is available on the link. Please use this week to ask God to draw all Christians together in the hope that we can proclaim God's love to the people of Accrington and beyond.In the Parish of the Good Shepherd, we will offer our Tuesday and Thursday evening masses on 21 and 23 January with particular intention for the Unity of God's Church. Please make every effort to come along to one of these masses. All welcome!Tuesday 21 January: Mass for Unity at St Andrew's Church at 6.00 pmThursday 23 January: Mass for Unity at St Mary Magdalen's Church at 6.00 pm
This Sunday: The Baptism of the Lord9.30 am: Family Eucharist at St Andrew’s11.00 am: Family Celebration Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s Worship this week:Mon: 1.15pm Class Mass at St Mary Magdalen’sTues: 6.00 pm Mass at St Andrew’sWeds: 10.00 am Mass at St Andrew’s3.30pm Youth Church at St Christophers SchoolThur: 6.00 pm Mass at St Mary Magdalen’sFri: 10.00 am Mass at St Mary Magdalen’sNext Sunday: 19th January8.00am: Said Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s9.30 am: Family Eucharist at St Andrew’s11.00 am: Solemn Mass at St Mary Magdalen’sMorning and Evening Prayer are usually said at 8.00 am at St Mary Magdalen’s and 5.00 pm at St Andrew’s Monday to Friday
This Sunday: The Epiphany of the Lord 8.00am: Said Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s 9.30 am: Family Eucharist at St Andrew’s 11.00 am: Solemn Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s Worship this week: Mon: 11.00 am Mass at Springhill Care home Tues: 6.00 pm Mass at St Andrew’s Weds: 10.00 am Mass at St Andrew’s Thur: 6.00 pm Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s Fri: 3.15 pm Friday Praise at St Nicholas’s School Next Sunday, 12 January: The Baptism of the Lord 9.30 am: Family Eucharist at St Andrew’s 11.00 am: Family Celebration Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s Morning and Evening Prayer are usually said at 8.00 am at St Mary Magdalen’s and 5.00 pm at St Andrew’s Monday to Friday Friday: there will be no mass on Friday morning this week, as Fr David is unavailable. Apologies for any inconvenience.
