Sacred Heart, Ainsdale

Introduction

Rev. Edward O’Reilly was the first parish priest of Sacred Heart Parish, serving from 1904 to 1924.

Music and liturgy

The parish has an initiative to extend and improve leadership that unites music ministry as a contribution to spirituality. Children's Liturgy of the Word is served by catechists. Devotions include Divine Mercy, Rosary, Saints, and Sacred Heart, and the parish offers Adoration time and Practical Prayer.

Parish life

Parishioners give time and care to Place2Be Community Market, Ainsdale Community Care, Ainsdale Foodbank, Southport Soup Kitchen, bereavement care, Coffee & Chat, and Communion to homes and Southport hospital. The parish learns about RCIA with the other Catholic parishes in Southport to invite and nurture new people's interest in the faith. The Living Christ Retreat is held periodically on Friday evening and all day Saturday in St John Stone's Hall, featuring prayer and sharing of living faith. During the Jubilee Year of Mercy 2016 the parish increased Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, and this has become integral to its missionary actions.

The parish employs a full-time priest, a full-time parish administrator, and a part-time housekeeper. Volunteers form most of the ministry, with gifted leaders coordinating and encouraging teams in church, liturgy, and other aspects of faith.

The hospitality ministry serves after mass, at Bingo, meetings, and occasional parish gatherings, and invites more volunteers. The Greeting ministry for mass is invaluable, with a call to be more friendly and greet each other in the congregation.

Sacred Heart RC Church is one of the churches in Churches Together in Ainsdale, along with Ainsdale Village Church, Methodist Church, St John's Stone RC Church, St John's C of E Church, and Woodvale Chapel. Churches Together in Ainsdale engages in events and projects to support the local community, such as Ainsdale Community Care and Ainsdale Food Bank.

Sacraments and pastoral care

With You Always (WYA) is vital for supporting parents as teachers of the faith, and developing ways of sustaining children after making their Holy Communion. The housebound can request communion to their home.