28th February 2021 – 2nd Sunday of Lent

27th February the week ahead:-

Today is the Second Sunday in Lent

Mass 12 noon (Saturday) Dunsop Bridge

Mass 5pm        (Saturday) Clitheroe

Mass 9.30am   (Sunday)    Clitheroe

Mass 11am      (Sunday)    Sabden

Monday           No Public Mass

Tuesday            Mass 10am

Wednesday     Mass 10am

Thursday          Mass 10am

Friday                No Public Mass

 

Third Sunday in Lent           

Mass 12 noon (Saturday) Dunsop Bridge

Mass 5pm        (Saturday) Clitheroe

Mass 9.30am  (Sunday)    Clitheroe

Mass 11am     (Sunday)    Sabden

A Public Mass can only be celebrated on the days that we have stewards who are available. (see above)

This week there will be a Public Mass at 10am in Clitheroe on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.


The Word This Week:
We spool forward a few centuries in the story of the Old Testament, to arrive at Abraham, “our Father in faith”. Today we hear of another Covenant (like last week) – even though the word is not used. God promises Abraham descendants like “the stars of heaven”, and the showering of blessings. This shows how much God loves Abraham, and all his children.  This love is proved for us in Jesus: God loves us so much he sacrificed his only Son (just as Abraham was willing to do); but this is not all: Jesus also rose from the dead, to stand at God’s right hand and plead for us. All this is revealed in the story of the Transfiguration, where Jesus is seen in the glory that is rightfully his as the only Son of God. Not until after the Resurrection will the disciples see this fully again.

Lent Resources 2021:
You can find these on the website – https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/lent-in-lockdown-resources/

Living Laudato Si’: Your Parish and Your Planet:
 Zoom Retreats in 2021 12th-16th March & 16th-19th April (led from Boarbank Hall, Cumbria)
What will happen? A long weekend of talks and discussions on zoom, and practical activities, on living the message of Laudato Si’ in and through your parish.
Who is it for? Any interested parishioner is most welcome to join us. The weekend is aimed especially at people with parish responsibilities or who are part of or want to start a relevant parish group.
Timings: Sessions will be on Friday night, Saturday morning and night, Sunday afternoon and night and Monday night (leaving people free during the day on Monday).
Cost – voluntary donations gratefully accepted, but there will be no fee for the weekend.
To apply, simply email Sr Margaret Atkins on margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk

MASSES RECEIVED THIS WEEK:
Lawrence Gilsenan, Deceased Filbin & Atherton families, Special Intention, Rita & Frank Donbavand, Bill Crotty, Vera Jacobson, Leo Wells,

LATELY DEAD:
Lawrence Gilsenan, Bill Crotty, Vera Jacobson,

ANNIVERSARIES:
Leo Wells, Hugh Hutchinson,

LIVE SIMPLY THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
Lent with less:  try fasting from Fast Fashion

LAUDATO SI:
Global Healing: A series of Zoom talks for Lent 2021

This is the first webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhBIwXxBhHA&feature=youtu.be

And last week’s: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaV3FKjQFN8&feature=youtu.be

Fairtrade Fortnight 22 Feb to 7 March 2021

(for more information, go to www.fairtrade.org.uk

Before buying Easter eggs, think: Is it Fairtrade? Many agricultural products are grown by overworked and underpaid workers.

Look for Fairtrade to make sure that the person growing your chocolate receives a fair wage and working conditions.

Fairtrade changes the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions and a fairer deal for farmers and workers in developing countries.

When you choose to buy Fairtrade goods, you are helping to ensure that the person who grew the banana you are eating, or the coffee beans used to make your drink was paid fairly for their work.  Look for the Fairtrade logo when shopping.

In his pastoral letter…
Bishop John talks about Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving and on Fasting he reminds us that living in one of the most prosperous countries in the world, fasting is a way of recognizing just how much we have in comparison to so many of our brothers and sisters.  He asks us to remember the CAFOD Family Fast Day on Friday 26th February and to give the money saved from fasting to help CAFOD help others.   For the past few years our Parish has asked people to go a step further and save money throughout Lent.   This year many of us will also have money saved from the Covid lockdown and some parishioners have already used money saved during Lockdown for refugees in the camp at Calais.

Save your money and give it to CAFOD at Easter.

This year CAFOD’s focus is on “Walking for Water”.

Water shortage is a worldwide problem. The World Health Organisation states that one in three people around the world – over 2.2 billion people – don’t have access to safe drinking water. Of people who live in rural areas, one in eight people don’t have access to basic facilities like toilets, places to wash hands and drinking water.

It’s important to remember that since 2000, 1.8 billion people have gained access to water.

Abdella’s journey is a matter of life and death.  It will take him ten hours.   It is the long walk for water that keeps his family alive.  But for Abdella’s community and hundreds of millions around the world, climate change is making it more difficult just to stay alive. Rising temperatures, and less rain that falls in unpredictable seasons, will mean that water is more scarce with greater numbers of people looking for it.

So please think of Abdella during Lent and consider CAFOD as a charity to contribute too. However the most important thing is to give alms somewhere.  There are so many charities seeking our money, even in these newsletters.  If all of us subscribed to just one cause it would be a much better world.

See the CAFOD webpage https://projects.cafod.org.uk/walkforwater/ where you can make a small donation but if you want to do more keep the money aside that you have saved during Lent and during lockdown and let the Parish have it for CAFOD at Easter.

UPDATE!
CYCLE RIDE – CLITHEROE TO LOURDES

Our ‘virtual journey’ began on Saturday 13th February. We are now 13 days into the trip and arrived at Montigny sur Crecy.  Last night, Day 11, we were in Saint-Quentin, so named because St. Quentin is believed to have been martyred there in the third century. We have crossed Belgium and are now in France slowly making our way south eastwards to the Rhone Valley.  Our plan to ‘arrive’ in Lourdes on Easter Sunday, 4th April, after completing the challenge of cycling the 1071 miles route from Clitheroe in 51 days.
Back in the ‘real world’ we have cycled thirteen different local loops and experienced sun, ice, rain and lots of wind. We are well on target with miles cycled and aim to be passing through Dijon next Sunday (7th).

Mary’s Meals is a charity dedicated to providing life changing meals to some of the worlds poorest children. Their vision is that every child receives one daily meal in their place of education and that all those who have more than they need, share with those who lack even the most basic things. We would really appreciate your support in helping raise funds for this charity. You can read more about their great work and perhaps donate to our project via the link below.

https://giving.marysmeals.org/en_gb/projects/cin1-clitheroe-to-lourdes—virtually

Alternatively you may like to ring Arnold Marsden on 01200 427096 or email cycle21lourdes@yahoo.com to be added to our sponsor list and receive weekly updates on our progress if you desire.

Please enjoy the journey with us and follow our progress, both real and virtual, via our travel blog www.mytb.org/BernieW ”


CCP (CLITHEROE CHURCHES IN PARTNERSHIP):

An update on the Hamper Project given in previous newsletters from Chris Meyer:

Dear All,
I am writing to update you on the hamper distribution project which aims to send a message of appreciation, hope and encouragement to those who have been working on the ‘front line’ in our community during the COVID pandemic. We are very grateful for all the support and messages of encouragement we have received.
I am very pleased to tell you that the first phase of the Hamper project is now complete. Hampers have been distributed to the Clitheroe COVID testing site, care homes, undertakers, and providers of medical and health care in our community.

In the second phase we will distribute hampers to those working in our schools. We plan to distribute these hampers week commencing 8th March.

Thanks to the generous donations we have received, the second phase of the project is now fully funded. However, you can still support the final phase of project if you would like to. Financial donations can be made via the Love Clitheroe website: www.loveclitheroe.com Gift Aid for eligible donations will be claimed automatically.

If you’d prefer to donate items instead of money, please could you select from the following list? Other items are being sourced via bulk buys or local shops for fresh products.

  1. Cadbury’s Heroes (290g box)
  2. Celebrations box
  3. Tesco Finest cookies (Quadruple Chocolate / Belgian Milk Chocolate / Milk Chocolate & Hazelnut / Sultana & Oat)
  4. Nature Valley Granola Bars – 5x24g
  5. 25g Nut Sachets (Almond / Cashew / Mixed)

Items can be delivered to Clitheroe Community Church (Millthorne Avenue, Clitheroe, BB7 2LE) on Friday 5th March between 10.30-12.00 and Saturday 6th March between 9.30 and 12.30.

We would also particularly value help with packing and distributing the hampers. If you can help in this way, or if you have any questions, please contact me at chrischrismeyer@gmail.com

Thank you all for your support and involvement in the project!

Chris Meyer


CLITHEROE CIVIC SOCIETY:
Next meeting and presentation – Monday 1st March 2021

Speaker is Stephen Illingworth who will deliver his presentation titled “The Pilgrimage of Grace in the Ribble Valley”

This intriguing title, with local connections is further explained by Steven Illingworth as follows:

“1536 King Henry VIII faced a major rebellion called The Pilgrimage of Grace, in opposition to the religious changes being imposed by the King and his ministers.
The rebels, based mainly in the North of England, were particularly keen to defend the monasteries against the government’s attempt to close them down.  This talk tells the story of the struggle for Sawley Abbey in the autumn of 1536 and how close
Henry VIII came to a disastrous defeat there.”

FROM THE ARCHIVES:
The following statistics and notes are taken from a Commemoranda – a book containing something to be remembered – a record or written statement of something.

1867

Fr Thos Knight began to come over from Stonyhurst to help Fr Cardwell on Saturday and Sunday.  A field was bought for a Catholic Cemetery.

1868

This year there were

62 Baptisms + 18 baptized conditionally

107 people instructed in the Sacraments

5615 Confessions

59 General Confessions

5768 Communions

792 Paschal Communions

35 Extreme Unctions

5 Marriages

45 Deaths of whom 5 were taken into the church on their death bed

61 Conciones – Sung Masses ???

1869

This year there were

58 baptisms + 10 baptized conditionally

114 instructed in the Sacraments

7217 Confessions

21 General confessions

5768 Communions

293 Paschal Communions

17 Extreme Unctions

125 Confirmations

10 Marriages

44 Deaths and 31 Infant deaths

64 Conciones – Sung Masses???

The Cemetery was enclosed by a wall and railing.  On June 27th Dr Turner gave Confirmation to 120 members of the Congregation, and solemnly consecrated the Cemetery.

1870

Not much recorded this year, only 74 Baptisms, 9 Marriages and 27 Deaths

In the month of December Fr Grimston came to be the second resident Priest here.  A New School was build for the Girls and Infants.

1871

61 Baptisms

80 instructed in the Sacraments

2107 Confessions

3000+ Communions

900+Paschal Communions

20 (or about) Extreme Unctions

12 Marriages

23 Deaths

2 Conciones – Sung Masses???

Fr Cardwell left at the beginning of August and some time after Fr Botalla came as the second Priest under Fr Grimston who took Fr Cardwell’s place.  Before Fr Cardwell left, a very successful bazaar was got up to pay for the new school.  A fine bell was put up, to announce the church services.

1872

Unable to read the statistics.  April 8th Fr Botalla left Clitheroe and Fr Thomas Cooper was sent to take charge of the Mission.  Fr Grimston left on September 21st and was succeeded by Fr Legnani in the following month.  Fr Cooper took ill in November and left Clitheroe.  Dec 17th Fr Legnani was helped by a Father from Stonyhurst till the beginning of the following year, when Fr Wm Lea was sent to take charge of the Mission.

1873

65 Baptisms

14 instructed in the Sacraments

5460 Confessions

55 General Confessions

5019 Communions

770 Paschal Communions

28 Extreme Unctions

11 Marriages

24 Deaths

70 Conciones – Sung Masses???

The number of children instructed for the Sacraments is small, but it is only fair to add that there is a large class both of Boys and Girls who are nearly ready for their First Communion.  Fe Wm Lea came to take charge of the Clitheroe Mission, in place of Fr Thomas Cooper, on Jan 2nd 1873.  A few days after his arrival, fr Legnani left Clitheroe for the Seminary, whither he went as Professor.  His place was filled up by Fr Pittar, who remained here till the latter part of September, when he left for his tertianship and was succeeded by Fr Walter Lomax.

During this year 6 beautiful new Candlesticks were bought for the High Altar, at a cost of £30, and the Tabernacle together with all the centre part of the Altar were taken down and brought forward at a cost of a little more than £20.

The Infants School was made a distinct compartment – a wooden partition separating it from the Girls School.  Also a new and more convenient entrance was made into the Infants School.  The Cemetery was drained at a cost of a little more than £71.  A good wall was built, in place of an old one that was low and in danger of falling behind our cottages in Lowergate.  Thos Byrnard Trappes Esq re-built part of the wall separating our garden from his own.

At the beginning of this year we commenced having Rosary and Benediction on Saturday evenings at 6 o’clock.  On Trinity Sunday, Dr Vaughan came to preach for his Seminary – the Offertory was £29.  Fr Lea made a very vigorous effort to prevail on mr Garnett to allow our Catholic half timers at Low Moo to come to their own School.  The following was Mr Garnett’s answer:

        Dear Sir, There are my Father and Brother to consult as well as myself in all matters affecting the arrangements here – the latter is from home.  I am sorry to say I cannot accede to your request as to the half timers (Roman Catholic).  We have provided a School specially for the Mil and Mill purposes and don’t recognize Religious matters in its management at all.  The Roman Catholics are treated the same as all other denominations, and for my part I cannot see the difference between their coming to our school and their joining to a rate-aided one under a School Board such as the Manchester Schools, where they are attending by thousands – and apart from all these considerations I am quite sure it is to the interests of the children themselves that they should not have the fatigue of going to and from Clitheroe in all weathers: but should the Parents differ with me in opinion and deem their daily religious instruction essential, they could still come in an evening, the walk only remaining the same, as if they had gone in the morning.  I regret not being able to take your views. 

Yours very truly

Wm Garnett

The Children of Mary had their usual Retreat before the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

1874

72 Baptisms

254 instructed in the Sacraments

5303 Confessions plus 228 in Blackburn

30 General Confessions plus 22 in Blackburn

5199 Communions

723 Paschal Communions

25 Extreme Unctions

183 Confirmations

10 Marriages

36 Deaths

70 Conciones – Sung Masses???

Towards the end of December Fr Lomax left Clitheroe for Everingham and was replaced by Fr Venturi.

Owing to the kindness of Captain Trappes and his Brother, Charles, about 1250 trees were planted in our Cemetery; some likewise round the kitchen, and also a wooden railing put round the kitchen and the back premises.  A large wooden cross was erected in the Cemetery, the walls in the Cemetery were widened and a house built of wood for tools and the wooden railings were also put in front of the church.  Before the end of the year new Gas Standards were put up in the Church at a cost of a little more than £44, and 4 additional windows were put into the Schools.

A Mission was given by Fr O’Reilly and Fr Jackson.  It was very well attended and much good was done; but the very bad members of the congregation were not reclaimed in any great numbers. A Sodality of Our Blessed Lady for boys up to 16 years of age was established, and a Mass for children was introduced.  The Bishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 183 members of the congregation.  The usual Retread was given to the Children of Mary before the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  About this time Fr Lea applied for Sisters of Notre Dame to take charge of the Girls School and the Infants School but none could be got.

This year also, Clitheroe had a Catholic Mayor in the preson of Charles J.B.Trappes Esq.  From motives of prudence he did not go to Church in his robes on the Sunday after his election.

It may be added that during this year a portion of the Girls and Infants playground was added to the garden.  A new Public Hall was opened in Clitheroe and the Catholic Brass Band and Choir gave a second concert in it for the benefit of the Mission.

1875

77 Baptisms

85 instructed in the Sacraments

5267 Confessions plus 228 in Blackburn

28 General Confessions plus 22 in Blackburn

5150 Communions

713 Paschal Communions

35 Extreme Unctions

183 Confirmations

17 Marriages

45 Deaths

Fr Venturi left Clitheroe for his tertianship early in October and was succeeded by Fr James Purbrick in November.

New desks were made for the Boys School at a cost of about £17.

The usual Retreat was given to the Children of Mary before the Feast of The Immaculate Conception.

Posted in Clitheroe, Dunsop Bridge, Sabden, Weekly View.