Dear Parishioners,
Bishop Arnold will be installed as Bishop of Salford on Monday December 8th, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, at 11am. The great and the good of the civic and ecumenical scenes will be there, the Cathedral will be packed but there are two places reserved, and also at the reception, for parishioners from Our Lady of the Valley. If you would like to attend then please contact me within the coming 5 days. If there are more than two, I shall place all names in a hat and draw two names.
As you are probably aware the Catholic Church in England and Wales has adopted a common policy for all dioceses as it continues to move towards creating “a culture of safeguarding where all are safe from harm and abuse”. The reality today is that our Church provides one of the safest environments in the country for children and vulnerable adults. But all procedures can be improved and that is what safeguarding is about.
Ann Harkin (and much to my relief and gratitude) has agreed to be the parish’s Safeguarding Representative.She writes:
“On the practical side, we need to do a little bit of “catching up” on clearances to make sure that our parish is up to date with all who have contact with children or vulnerable adults in its many and varied activities. I’ll ‘steal’ a room in the Presbytery this and next weekend after both Saturday and Sunday Masses, to answer questions and queries, to provide forms (nothing too difficult!) to those who require them and check completed forms with you before forwarding them to the diocesan office.
If you are a Eucharistic Minister or have regular contact through with children or vulnerable adults through any parish related group, please come and see me. Two exceptions are SVP and Scout Association members who have their own approved procedures.
The bulk of volunteers reside in Clitheroe and most already have an enhanced disclosure certificate but if you are in doubt then please do pop in and see me.
As soon as I have finished in Clitheroe I will visit St Mary’s Sabden, again on a Sunday after Mass.
Finally, thank you all who have already contacted me.”
Please do respond to Anne’s appeal and if you have any doubts or questions, please speak to her or to me.
Fr John