Dear Parishioners

During the Easter Vigil, in the darkness of Easter night, Brent, Rebecca and Benjamin Kelly, and Lauren Bate were baptised and Thomas Clay was received into the Church. We welcome them most warmly to Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Community and pray that they will be ever faithful to the Lord who has chosen them.

RCIA reconvenes this Thursday at 8pm.

On the Tuesday of Holy Week there was a splendid attendance in Sabden to discuss matters relating to the Sabden community. After a fruitful and frank discussion it was decided that the Friday Mass should move from Friday to Wednesday morning at the usual time of 9.15 and that to satisfy the requirements both of the Diocesan Religious Education Syllabus and the National Curriculum there will be a school Mass once a month instead of weekly. This new arrangement commences a week on Wednesday, 7th May, at 9.15 with a school Mass.

The future of St Mary’s Community Centre was also dis-cussed and it was agreed that a committee should be formed to oversee every aspect of the running of the Centre. As St Mary’s is a part of the parish it was decided that parishioners in Clitheroe as well as Sabden are eligible for nomination to the committee. Next Sunday, boxes will be placed in both churches for nominations. Please remember that if you wish to nominate someone then you must first ask their permission. Parishioners wishing to join the committee may nominate themselves.

Finally it was determined to begin fundraising to replace the somewhat tired and bashed Christmas Crib figures.

Pope John Paul II nominated the 2nd Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday to emphasise the overwhelming and unfailing love of Jesus Christ for each and every one of us. So Pope Francis has chosen this day to declare as Saints both Pope John XXIII (Good Pope John as he was popularly acclaimed) and Pope John II. (The Pope doesn’t make saints! After a careful examination of their lives and an acknowledged miracle he declares that the Church is convinced that they are with God).

Finally back to the mundane: Social Centre Committee meet on Tuesday in the Presbytery at 7.30pm.

Fr John