Dear Parishioners,

The new Mass time schedule came into effect two weeks ago. On Saturday evening, 10th June, Dunsop was a little down on numbers with near 40 attending. In Clitheroe the first 5pm Sunday afternoon Mass attracted a congregation of 53 but this followed the usual morning Mass and a packed church at the extra First Holy Communions Mass. Last weekend and this weekend will give a fairer picture of the impact of the new arrangement. Hopefully those who attended the Saturday evening Clitheroe Mass will find a new home and not, please God, surrender their Sunday practice.

I don’t normally recommend TV programmes but this is a must. On Sunday evening BBC4 broadcast a ‘Sky at night special’: Inside God’s Observatory. It lasts 30 minutes and I cannot recommend too highly. It killed off a host of popular misconceptions concerning the Church and science and clearly explained the important contributions that the Catholic Church has made to the science of Astronomy. Go to BBC iPlayer.

Weld day is next Sunday. When the Jesuits planned to establish a parish in Clitheroe they approached Thomas Weld, the man who had already gifted them Stonyhurst, and he donated in 1798 the meadow on which our church and social centre now stand, including the school sports field. He asked for no payment, requesting only that a Mass be celebrated each year for himself and his wife Mary. This we do this coming Sunday, the first Sunday of July. The Mass is celebrated in the gardens of the playing field and is followed by a parish picnic. Do come along to this great parish celebration, bring your picnic hampers and enjoy the complimentary strawberries and cream, wine and ice cream.

The Mass begins at 10.30am and consequently the 9.30am Mass in SS Michael & John’s and the 11am morning Mass in St Mary’s Sabden are cancelled. However, the Saturday evening Mass in St Hubert’s at 6pm and Sunday afternoon Mass in SS Michael and St John’s at 5pm will be celebrated as usual.

During the Mass the children from Dunsop, Sabden and Clitheroe who made their first Holy Communion this year will be awarded their certificates and work books.

Finally, Moira Billinge has written thanking the Parish for organising the recent successful sponsored walk for Right to Life with particular thanks to all the volunteers and especially the ladies who provided such a magnificent tea. Mass is to be celebrated for all at the Carmelite Monastery at Myton Grange.

Fr John