At the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended upon him and the voice was heard from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, in him I am well pleased”. Jesus then began his public ministry. We too received that same Spirit at our baptism, and so we to are  called and sent out to continue the mission of Jesus, as we walk in his ways and preach the Good News in the way we live, and the way we love.

Last week, I returned the parish Pastoral Statistics to the Diocese giving all the information about Our Lady of the Valley Parish, and in doing so I was reminded of all the good that goes on here, and that we are alive and well, as we continue to spread the Good News in so many different ways.
Thank you for all that you do, and for all that you share, sometimes in very obvious ways, but a lot of the time in ways known only to God, and to yourself. Thank you.

• During 2019: we welcomed 23 children into God’s family at their Baptism.
• We journeyed with 27 of our children and their families, who made their First Reconciliation and received their First Holy Communion.
• We welcomed 6 adults into Full Communion with the Catholic Church.
• We rejoiced with 8 couples who were united in the sacrament of Marriage.
• We ministered to over 60 parishioners who regularly receive Holy Communion in their own home, and in several nursing homes too.We also visit everyone in Clitheroe hospital every week.
• We mourned with 32 families at the death of a loved one, and supported them with  our prayers.

So much good done by so many, for which we rightly give thanks to God.

As we thank God for all his blessings, and for gracing our parish with so much good will and hard work, we look forward with hope, continuing to journey in faith, confident that God is always with us, as he calls us all and sends us out in his name.
Let us all do our own little bit to help build up God’s Kingdom here in Our Lady of the Valley Parish, so that God may continue to look down on us and say “In you, I am well pleased”.

On Thursday 6th February pupils from Bowland School will be coming to visit our church from 9.30am—2pm, and we need volunteers to show them around.  The pupils will be split into groups and each tour would take around half an hour.  There will be a short meeting after Mass tomorrow morning (Monday) for anyone  who is willing to help, when Fr Paul will explain in more detail what is required.