LAUDATO SI’

To honour the 5th anniversary of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si, we are invited to pray and reflect on how we can create a more just and sustainable future. At 12 noon (local time), we are invited to pray in our homes to create a global wave of prayer around the world.

Loving God,
Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them,
You created us in your image and made us stewards
of all your creation.
You blessed us with the sun, water and bountiful land
so that all might be nourished.
Open our minds and touch our hearts,
so that we may attend to your gift of creation.
Help us to be conscious that our common home
belongs not only to us, but to all of your creatures and
to all future generations,and that it is our responsibility
to preserve it.

May we help each person secure the food and resources that they need.
Be present to those in need in these trying times,
especially the poorest and those most at risk of being left behind.
Transform our fear, anxiety and feelings of isolation into hope
and fraternity so that we may experience a true conversion of the heart.

Help us to show creative solidarity in addressing the
consequences of this global pandemic;
Make us courageous to embrace the changes that are
needed in search of the common good,
Now more than ever may we feel that we are all
interconnected and interdependent.
Enable us to listen and respond to the cry of the earth
and the cry of the poor.
May the present sufferings be the birth pangs of a
more fraternal and sustainable world.

Under the loving gaze of Mary Help of Christians, we make this prayer
through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Lately Dead: We keep in prayer all who have died recently especially Liz Foley and Tony Lynch.

Today is the seventh Sunday of Easter, that time between the Lord’s Ascension into heaven, and next Sunday when we will celebrate the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit, Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the Church.

The Apostles, and Our Lady, were locked in the Upper Room, afraid, waiting for something to happen.

It is possible that we too are feeling a bit like them at this time! Afraid, wondering what will happen!

What the Lord’s followers did during those days between Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, is a challenge and an invitation to each one of us. Our reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us today ‘All of these joined in continuous prayer’. (Acts 1: 12-14). During those days they didn’t preach, or work miracles, or make converts – but what they did do, was to pray.

So let us pray; let us pray for the outpouring of that same Spirit in our lives, on our families, on our world, on the Church. And when filled with that Spirit, anything can happen, and all things are possible in and through the Lord.

Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

and enkindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.

And you shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the

light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the

same Spirit we may be always truly wise and ever

Rejoice in his consolation.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

I hope that you are all keeping well and safe, as thankfully I am too.
I continue to remember you all in Mass each day which I celebrate at 9am every moring, behind locked doors as required.
I was conscious that I have only been celebrating Mass here in St. Michael and St. John’s church, due to the restrictions on how far we could travel. Things having changed a little last week, I was able to celebrate Mass in our other two churches, in Sabden and in Dunsop Bridge, and hopefully will do the same again this week. As no one else is allowed to go into church for any reason at this time, which includes for public worship or for private prayer, It felt right and proper that I was able to celebrate Mass in all three of the churches in our parish of Our Lady of the Valley.

God bless you all. Fr. Paul.

LOCKDOWN EASING :
The government has advised that we may be in a position to re-open our Churches by early July, or possibly sooner for private prayer. WE ARE GREATLY CHALLENGED WHEN WE RE-OPEN OUR DOORS! The average age of our congregation, and the numbers involved, requires extra sensitivity. There will be a need for volunteers when we open, to limit the numbers in Church and to wipe down surfaces e.g. benches and handles. More information will be given once we receive it.

Covid-19 Secure Team
Bishop John has written to say: “There is, as yet, no indication as to when churches may be able to re-open, even for private prayer. It is important that we act together with all other dioceses under the guidance of the Archbishops, who are in discussions with government officials and Public Health England. What is already clear is that volunteers will be required to be present in the churches when they reopen to ensure that the conditions concerning social distancing are observed by people coming to the church.” We will, therefore, need a team of volunteers who will be ready to ensure that our Church is COVID-19 Secure when we are eventually open (almost certainly first for private prayer.)

Volunteers Needed
When the time comes, we will of course only be able to open our doors for private prayer if we have at least two people in there at all times that we are open so as to direct people in what is permissible and to make sure all guidance which we will be given is followed. Perhaps this might mean the church would be opened for just a limited time each day.
We obviously need to wait and see what the Bishops and the Government instruct us to do. But we certainly need to be looking ahead to the time when we can open our Churches again. So if you are under 70, and free of any underlying conditions, and would like to volunteer for this role, which would eventually allow our churches to be open, please email me at paul.brindle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk  or Janet at janet.clegg@dioceseofsalford.org.uk with your name and contact details, or ring me on 01200 423307. As we receive more guidance from the Diocese I will then be in touch. Thank you.

First Holy Communions  Some people have been asking ‘When will the year three children be receiving their First Holy Communion?’ The simple answer is, we do not know. We do not know yet the date on which public worship will be allowed to recommence nor the social distancing conditions that will be required. Until we do it is impossible to arrange dates or, indeed, make plans about the kinds of celebrations and the numbers involved.

Mass for health workers: The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales recognise that this time of the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting every person in our countries. Those who are sick, and their families, are suffering many hardships of isolation from contact with those they love. Our front-line workers in hospitals and in care homes all over our lands are giving exceptional service to those who are vulnerable at this time. In order to show a spiritual solidarity with all those who are involved in the ways described above, each Thursday, a Catholic Bishop will celebrate Mass in their Cathedral which will be livestreamed for people to join. This will take place every Thursday at 7pm. Links can be found at https:// tinyurl.com/yaf2rprj

Cardinal Nichols said, ‘Use that time before 8 o’clock on a Thursday to offer your prayers of thanksgiving for these generous, courageous people, for their support – their encouragement – that God will sustain them in this great work that they’re doing. We applaud, but we pray and we pray fervently for them. May God bless them all.’

Bishop Robert Byrne, Hexham & Newcastle 28th May.

Live streamed Masses: It is possible to see Mass live streamed from various places by going to

https://www.mcnmedia.tv/schedule or https://www.churchservices.tv

The Act of Spiritual Communion,   St Alphonsus

My Jesus, I believe that Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee above all things and I desire Thee in my soul. Since I cannot now receive Thee come at least spiritually into my heart. As though you were already there, I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee; permit that I should never be separated from Thee. Amen

Feasts this coming week:

Monday – Saint Bede the Venerable: Bede was born in 673, and was educated by the Benedictines; he eventually joined the monastery there, and began a life of great erudition, producing many writings: he particularly worked on the interpretation of the Scriptures and the History of the Church in Britain. He died in the year 735.

Tuesday – Saint Philip Neri: renowned for his prayerfulness and sense of fun and humour, Philip was born in Florence in 1515; he arrived in Rome, and after a mystical experience in the catacombs, gathered a community of friends to look after the sick, which eventually became the Oratory. He died in 1595.

Wednesday – Saint Augustine of Canterbury: in 597 Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine, then a monk of the monastery of Saint Peter on the Celian hill in Rome, to evangelize the people of Britain. Despite turning back once, Augustine succeeded in converting King Ethelbert and founding the see of Canterbury. He died in 605.+

We need to find a New Normal…

On April 29^th Caritas Salford hosted a webinar: “Reimagining CARITAS – Love in Action in a Post-Corona-virus Society“.  One of those speaking was our Bishop John Arnold.  Bishop John does not speak from notes and this is a rough transcript of what he said:

‘There are great opportunities.  There are great responses from people in our parishes who are networking their actions, but we have to address the wider issues beyond how we look after ourselves.  The tendency has been to look inwards.  A great call within our faith encouraged by Pope Francis has been to look outwards and tackle, for example, famine, modern slavery and the disintegration of aspects in our own society.  There is a built in tendency to wait for government to do something.  A recent report cites UK children being the unhappiest in Europe.  We must be more generous in what are we going to do about social problems.  If the pandemic allows us the time to think about the common objectives that we have in our common home, that people are our brothers and sisters, and that people have common dignity, then to go back to normal would be to neglect demands that we are beginning to see so much more clearly.  We need to find a new normal that includes more of a sense of common wellbeing that we owe to all our brothers and sisters.

‘We have been made aware by countless radio and media interviews of the immense suffering of people. There is a great spiritual angle – people have been critical about closing churches but there was good reason to protect people from contaminating others and protecting health and wellbeing. Wherever we are we are Church. How wonderful it is that we can meet in public buildings and share the sacraments and liturgy but the fact that we cannot do that at this moment puts us in solidarity with many people around the world who have no churches. We are denied that sense of gathering in public that puts us in solidarity with each other.   More importantly we should develop the idea that we are church wherever we are. St Paul calls us ambassadors for Christ.  Pope Francis calls us to be missionary disciples, to do things in a Christ-like manner.  Being Catholic is more than just being in buildings.’

Anthony Brown, Parish CARITAS Rep.

Parish of Our Lady of the Valley

 Newsletter for 17^th May 2020 – 6^th Sunday of Easter

NEXT THURSDAY we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord.

Lately Dead: We keep in prayer all who have died recently especially Liz Foley

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From the archives – How times have changed…

The following is taken from a school Log book for the BOYS School in April 1869:

Report of H.M. Inspector

“The failures are fewer this year and the general tone of the instruction of the school is much improved.  A newly certificated Master who has been here a few weeks, is doing his best to render it efficient.  I am glad that there is some prospect of an enlargement of the room in which the boys are taught. Vouchers should be produced with the account books of the School and should be kept, as far as possible separate from those of any other establishment that the Managers may happen to superintend.  The offices should be furnished with doors.” – Richard Cardwell.

The log then reads:

A People who Hope in Christ:

A Message from the Metropolitan Archbishops of the Catholic Church in England and Wales

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The radiance of the risen Lord shines upon us. At a time when so many shadows are cast into our lives, and upon our world, the light of the resurrection shines forever to renew and restore our hope.
In the words of our Holy Father, Pope Francis: “In the midst of isolation when we are suffering from a lack of tenderness and chances to meet up, and we experience the loss of so many things, let us once again listen to the proclamation that saves us: he is risen and is living by our side.” (27 March 2020)

The impact of COVID-19, both nationally and internationally, has been immense. So much of what we take for granted has changed. Our health and physical interaction, our capacity to travel and gather, have all been affected. There is uncertainty in our future, especially with work and the country’s economy. As we know, very sadly, large numbers of people have died because of the coronavirus, and others have been or remain seriously ill. Keyworkers, not least in the National Health Service and care sectors, are serving selflessly to sustain the life of our nation. Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone who is suffering because of COVID-19, and to all those battling to overcome its effects. May those who have died rest in peace and those who are bereaved find comfort.

When the Prime Minister announced the lockdown, this included places of worship and therefore Catholic churches. These measures were put in place to stem the general transmission of the virus. It is right that the Catholic community fulfils its role in contributing to the preservation of life and the common good of society. This must continue until the restrictions applied by the Government are lifted.

None of us would want to be in the situation in which we find ourselves. While the live-streaming of the Mass and other devotions is playing an important part in maintaining the life of faith, there is no substitute for Catholics being able to physically attend and participate in the celebration of the Mass and the other sacraments.
Our faith is expressed powerfully and beautifully through ‘seeing, touching, and tasting.’ We know that every bishop and every priest recognises the pain of Catholics who, at present, cannot pray in church or receive the sacraments. This weighs heavily on our hearts. We are deeply moved by the Eucharistic yearning expressed by so many members of the faithful. We thank you sincerely for your love for the Lord Jesus, present in the sacraments and supremely so in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The bishops and priests of every diocese are remembering you and your loved ones at Mass each day in our churches as we pray ‘in hope of health and well-being.’ We thank our priests for this faithfulness to their calling.
As the Government’s restrictions are relaxed step by step, we look forward to opening our churches and resuming our liturgical, spiritual, catechetical and pastoral life step by step. This will also be of service to those beyond the Catholic Church who depend on our charitable activity and outreach through which much goodness is shared by so many volunteers from our communities.
None of us knows, as yet, how or when the lockdown will end. There is likely to be a phased return to travelling and gathering. As a church, we are now planning for this time and our discussions with the statutory public health agencies and Government representatives are ongoing. Together with Catholics across England and Wales we desire the opening of our churches and access to the sacraments. Until then, we are continuing to pray and prepare.
We want to acknowledge with gratitude the service of our fellow bishops and priests, our deacons and religious, our families and lay faithful, together with all our parish and school communities, for the wonderful ways the life of the faith is being nourished at this time, especially in the home. We also pay tribute to the Catholic organisations and networks that are working to support the vulnerable and needy.

On that first Easter day, the disciples were in lockdown and the doors were closed. In their isolation the Lord Jesus came among them and said ‘Peace be with you.’ May the peace of the risen Lord reign in our hearts and homes as we look forward to the day we can enter church again and gather around the altar to offer together the Sacrifice of Praise.

We unite in asking the intercession of Our Blessed Lady and assure you of our prayers and blessing
Yours devotedly in Christ,
✠ Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster
✠ Malcolm McMahon OP, Archbishop of Liverpool
✠ Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham
✠ George Stack, Archbishop of Cardiff
✠ John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark

Lately dead:

We keep in prayer all who have died recently especially Ellen Walters and Mary Monica McGrail whose funerals are later this week. We also pray for Fr. Paul Dillon who used to be parish priest in Whalley, who was buried in Ireland last week.

Mass for health workers:

The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales recognise that this time of the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting every person in our countries. Those who are sick, and their families, are suffering many hardships of isolation from contact with those they love. Our front-line workers in hospitals and in care homes all over our lands are giving exceptional service to those who are vulnerable at this time. In order to show a spiritual solidarity with all those who are involved in the ways described above, each Thursday, a Catholic Bishop will celebrate Mass in their Cathedral which will be livestreamed for people to join. This will take place every Thursday at 7pm. Links can be found at https://tinyurl.com/yaf2rprj
Cardinal Nichols said, ‘Use that time before 8 o’clock on a Thursday to offer your prayers of thanksgiving for these generous, courageous people, for their support – their encouragement – that God will sustain them in this great work that they’re doing. We applaud, but we pray and we pray fervently for them. May God bless them all.’
14th May, Bishop Robert Byrne, Hexham & Newcastle
21st May, Bishop Mark Davies, Shrewsbury
28th May, Bishop Terence Drainey, Middlesbrough

Live streamed Masses:

It is possible to see Mass live streamed from various places by going to
https://www.mcnmedia.tv/schedule or https://www.churchservices.tv

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION:

St. Thomas Aquinas – Spiritual Communion is “a desire to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament”.
This practice was explained by Pope Paul in his encyclical, The Church and the Eucharist.
It is good to cultivate in our hearts a constant desire for the sacrament of the Eucharist. This was the origin of the practice of “spiritual communion,” which has been established in the Church for centuries and recommended by saints who were masters of the spiritual life. St Teresa wrote: “When you do not receive communion and you do not attend Mass, you can make a spiritual communion, which is a most beneficial practice.”
The Eucharist which is the “summit and source of the Christian life”, is at the root of this practice.
St. John Vianney: If we are deprived of Sacramental Communion, let us replace it, as far as we can, by spiritual communion, which we can make every moment; for we ought to have always a burning desire to receive the good God.

The ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION – St Alphonsus:
My Jesus, I believe that Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love Thee above all things and I desire Thee in my soul. Since I cannot now receive Thee come at least spiritually into my heart. As though you were already there, I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee; permit that I should never be separated from Thee. Amen.

In the first words of Jesus in today’s gospel (John 14:1-6) , Our Lord says to us very calmly, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me”.
What powerful words, and much needed for all of us to hear again during these days.
So let us try and maintain a calm and trusting peace. God is with us, he does understand and care for us. Jesus is the Way that leads us to the Father, the Truth that will set us free, the Life that endures for ever.
When life is tough and things seem bad, may we all hear those powerful but gentle words of Jesus saying to us again, “Trust in God still, and trust in me”.

Keep safe and well, and let us continue to pray for each other.

During the coming week I will celebrate Mass each day at 9am (in a locked church), when you will be daily remembered in a special way.
God bless you all. Fr. Paul.

From the archives:

St Michael & St John’s
The entry in the diary for 1873 written by the Parish Priest Rev W Lea:

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. Fr Wm Lea came to take charge of the Clitheroe Mission in place of Fr Thomas Cooper on January 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 the year 6 beautiful new Candlesticks were bought for the High Altar, at a cost of £30; and the Tabemacle together with all the centre part of the Altar were taken down and brought forward at a cost of a little more than E20.

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 the old one that was low and in danger of falling.

Behind our cottages in Lowergate Thos Bemard Trappes re-built part of the wall separating our garden from his own.

At the beginning of this year we commenced haying Rosary & Benediction on Saturday evenings at 6 o’clock. On Trinity Sunday Dr Vaughn 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 Moor to come to their own School.

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

May 23rd 1873

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For Sabden 1876:

On Whit Monday there was a grand Procession of the Congregation & School children to Sabden, for the purpose of laying the Foundation Stone of a new School Chapel. The stone was blessed by Fr Anderson & laid by Captain Trappes

Has anyone out there any memories of days gone by that may make an interesting entry on our shortened newsletter since we have had lockdown? Please ring Janet 01200 424657 or 07866 898109 or email janegg@hotmail.co.uk or janet.clegg@dioceseofsalford.org

And finally…
Please do not use the smsj@btinternet.com email address from now on as we cannot access it.  If you have sent any messages you will of course not have received a reply so use janet.clegg@dioceseofsalford.org

Congratulations…
to Barrie and  Margaret Swales who were married at St. Michael and St. John’s on 30^th April 1960 and are celebrating their Diamond wedding anniversary.

Prayers:
We keep in our prayers all who are sick and those who care for them, and all who keep our wonderful NHS going in these difficult times. We commend to the Lord all who have died recently, especially Ellen Walters and Margaret Donnelly who died suddenly this week.

Offertory Collection:
Parishioners are asking what they should do at this time. Our main concern is for your well being and everything else is secondary. Thank you for your continued financial support of the parish at this time. Several people have dropped their envelopes through the letterbox at the presbytery. If, as some people have asked, you would like to set up a direct debit for your offertory collection, please get in touch with Janet at janet.clegg@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or paul.brindle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or ring the presbytery.

 “STRONG IN THE FACE OF TRIBULATION”

The Vatican has this week published a new book, called “Strong in the Face of Tribulation”, containing prayers used by Pope Francis during the current crisis, as well as all his daily Mass homilies from March 9th. The book is available to download as a PDF in English from  https://tinyurl.com/ycv227fo
Also highly recommended for Church and world news at this time is  the Vatican News Service, available at www.vaticannews.va/en

MASS FOR HEALTH WORKERS

The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales recognise that this time of the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting every person in our countries. Those who are sick, and their families, are suffering many hardships of isolation from contact with those they love. Our front-line workers in hospitals and in care homes all over our lands are giving exceptional service to those who are vulnerable at this time. In order to show a spiritual solidarity with all those who are involved in the ways described above, each Thursday, a Catholic Bishop will celebrate Mass in their Cathedral which will be live streamed for people to join. This will take place every Thursday at 7pm. Links can be found at  https://tinyurl.com/yaf2rprj

The Word This Week:

This Sunday is traditionally called Good Shepherd Sunday, because of the Gospel references to Jesus as the Good Shepherd. It is also the day of prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood. On this Sunday we hear one of the great ‘I am’ statements of Jesus from Saint John’s Gospel today ‘I am the gate of the sheepfold’.

Through Jesus we enter into life and safety, and we go through Jesus, the gate by baptism. This image is implied in all today’s readings: the people listening to Peter find this gateway and enter through it: Peter writes to remind us that we have come back to the Good Shepherd, who heals us by his wounds.

Let us pray for all our clergy and pray also that those who God is calling to the Priesthood or the Religious Life, that they will hear his call and generously respond.

May Sunday

Today is of course the first Sunday in May, as we used to call it ‘May Sunday’, and May is the month of Mary.

“And you so loved the world, Father most holy, that in the fullness of time you sent your only Begotten Son to be our Saviour. Made incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, he shared our human nature in all things but sin” (Eucharistic Prayer 1V)

Mary listened to God’s Word, she acted on God’s Word, and so through her the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Let us continue to listen to God’s Word, let us act on it, so that through us Jesus may continue to be known and loved.

Mary is the faithful one – the one who is full of faith. She is our model. She is the true believer, the one whose faith we must do our best to imitate. We must receive the Word of God in faith and ponder over it, as she did. By doing this the Son of God becomes incarnate among us.

Perhaps we could try and say at least one decade of the Rosary each day. Let us never be afraid to turn to Our Lady in faith and ask her help. When the Angel appeared to Mary at Nazareth, she must have been confused, afraid, frightened, but she still said ‘Yes’. During these times we perhaps feel confused, afraid, frightened, so let us turn to Our Lady in this time of great need, and ask her intercession. Let us try during these days to deepen our love and admiration for Our Lady. Our Lady, Queen of the Rosary, pray for us.

Thank you…

for your notes and emails and phone calls, they are much appreciated. Thankfully I am keeping well.

Keep safe and well, and let us pray for each other.

I continue to celebrate Mass at 9am each morning, and although no one else can be present, you are always in my prayer.
God bless. Fr. Paul.

Memorare

Remember,
O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known, that anyone
who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence,
I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To thee I come, before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word incarnate,
despise not my petition,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

The Ribble Valley Foodbank is still operating (taking telephone referrals and making deliveries), and we are still in need of non-perishable food particularly UHT milk, tinned tomatoes, tinned potatoes/instant mash and sponge puddings at the moment.  There are collection points in Tesco, Booths and Sainsbury’s and our warehouse is currently open to receive donations on Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays froom 10am – 12noon and on Friday from 9am – 11am.
info@ribblevalley.foodbank.org.uk or tel 07849 534431

Your prayers are asked for the following who have died recently:

AIDAN CALLAN

JEAN LITTLER

WINIFRED GREGORY

VIOLET ROBSON

FRANK WORDEN

ANDREW MOORE

JOHN GIDLOW

Several parishioners have recently contacted Fr Paul with requests about how to pay their Sunday collections by direct debit. If you have questions concerning this, please contact Janet Clegg on 01200 422560 or 01200 424657, or email janet.clegg@dioceseofsalford.org.uk

Easter Message from Fr. Paul

I hope that you are all keeping safe and well, as thankfully I am.

People often say to me at this time of year “Father, this is your busy time of year”, and usually they are right! But this year has been very different, for myself and for all of us. Holy Week this year has been so different to any other, and at times difficult too. It still seems so strange to celebrate Mass alone, and in a locked church. But as we know, needs must. For obvious reasons the Triduum was particularly difficult, but despite all of this I am very much aware that none of us are ever alone, as God is always at our side. As I stand at the altar each day, you are all very much in my prayer, and will continue to be so. Let us go on praying for each other, and also for our world, for all suffering from Corona Virus, for their loved ones, for those who care for the sick, for our wonderful NHS, for those who have died and for their families and friends. We have certainly so much that we need to bring to God in our prayer.

Next Thursday at Mass we hear my favourite Resurrection story (Luke 24: 35 – 48), the two Apostles meeting our Lord on the Road to Emmaus, and recognising him in the breaking of bread. We continue to see the Lord as one who works among us unseen until he pronounces our names, as one who walks among us unknown until he breaks bread for us. That day will certainly come when again we can gather together around the Lord’s table, and recognise him in the breaking of bread.

Until then, keep safe and well, and let us continue to do what is being asked of us at this time.

May the risen Lord fill you and your families with his peace and his love.

God bless.

Fr. Paul

Message from Fr. Paul:

I hope that you are all keeping safe and well.

I was of course looking forward to celebrating my first Holy Week and Easter with you here in Our Lady of the Valley parish. But as we know only too well, things have changed dramatically over the last few weeks, and that will no longer be possible. We are certainly living in challenging and difficult times.

You can see from below that I am of course still celebrating Mass each day, albeit alone, which of course is so necessary at this time, and will celebrate Holy Week here in church, again alone, at the times you can see listed. It is all very different to what we are used to, and at times we may think that we are alone, but we never are, as I believe and know from my own life, as you will from yours. God is so good, even when we perhaps find it difficult to understand.

I promise to continue to keep you all in my thoughts and prayers as I celebrate Mass each day, and in my other prayers too, and ask if you could please remember me in yours.

Thank you for the many phone calls, emails and notes, asking how I am and saying that you are thinking of me. They are very much appreciated, and encourage me greatly.

The coming weeks and are no doubt going to bring difficulties and uncertainty for all of us, as we are reminded of just how fragile we are and how we need God and each other.

But again, let us remember that we are never completely alone: Christ is beside us, before us, behind us, on our right and on our left, beneath us and above us. He will never desert us. Let us stay close to him, and to one another.

Stay safe and keep well, and let us all do what is being asked of us at this difficult and challenging time.

God bless you and your families.

Fr. Paul

Bishop John will celebrate the following Holy Week Ceremonies at the Cathedral, and they can be seen live by going on the diocesan website –

Palm Sunday Mass 11am

Holy Thursday Mass 7.30pm.

Good Friday Liturgy 3pm.

Holy Saturday Vigil 8pm.

Easter Sunday Mass 11am.

Fr. Paul will be celebrating the following liturgies in St. Michael and St. John’s church, alone as presently required, at the following times:

Palm Sunday Mass 9am.

Monday Mass 9am.

Tuesday Mass 9am.

Wednesday Mass 9am.

Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper 6pm.

Good Friday Stations of the Cross 10am.

Liturgy of the Passion 3pm.

Holy Saturday Vigil 6.30pm.

Easter Sunday Mass 9am.

Mass is broadcast daily from some churches in U. K. and in Ireland.
They can be viewed by going on the following websites,

www.churchservices.tv

www.mcnmedia.tv

Bishop John says ‘Thank you’  and you can find the link here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPzwvG2IxBM

Money Matters

Several people have been asking what have they to do about their offertory collection, should they put it through the presbytery letterbox. I would suggest that, if you wish, and are able to, then perhaps you could just put it to one side each week and then place it on the offertory basket when we are able to celebrate Mass again together. A day we all look forward to so much.

Gift Aid envelopes 2020/21

Following recent government restrictions announced earlier this week the new 2020/2021 Gift Aid envelopes WILL NOT be available for collection from this Sunday 29th March as stated in last week’s newsletter (22nd March). Please keep checking OLOTV website (http://www.olotv.org.uk/) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/olotv/members/ for any updates.

Still on Gift Aid: I have had several phone calls from parishioners saying that they wished to change from weekly envelope to direct debit. If you wish to do this please ring me (Janet) on 01200 424657 or mobile 07866 898109 or email me on janegg@hotmail.co.uk.

SABDEN
The Weekly Bonus Ball has been suspended for the time being but again keep checking the website for any updates.

Please pass on this news to anyone you know who does not have access to the internet.

If anyone has any news they have and would like to share on the newsletter then again give me a ring or email me (Janet)

Announcements and Arrangements
concerning the current pandemic situation

Mass Offerings

Whilst there are no masses, Mass offerings can still be requested, just give details to Fr Paul or pop through the letterbox in an envelope.

Fr Paul is still available should you need him, so please don’t hesitate to contact him for whatever reason, just call at the presbytery or  telephone (01200 423307 ext 1)  or Email:  paul.brindle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk

Gift Aid

We have had several calls regarding Gift Aid envelopes: Fr Paul has asked that you keep your offerings at home until we are back up and running.

New Gift Aid and Non Gift Aid envelopes for the forthcoming year 2020/2021 start again on April 12th.  These will be available for you to collect if you so wish, from the presbytery – from Sunday 29th March onwards.

Newsletters

Future newsletters will still be posted up on our website, olotv.org.uk, but will be basic and just to update parishioners on any changes there may be.  There will also be a newsletter posted up in the outside notice board and porch at all of our three churches.

Many of our elderly parishioners do not have access to the internet and rely on a hard copy of the weekly newsletter. Unfortunately there will be no hard copies so if you know of someone in this situation please give them a ring and keep them up to date with what’s going on.

Janet will be working from home but don’t hesitate to contact her on mobile 07866 898109 or 01200 424657 or by email: janet.clegg@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or janegg@hotmail.co.uk

Easter Lilies

For the last few weeks people have been giving £3 for an Easter Lily in memory of a loved one on the Altar at Easter.  Because of the current situation this will not happen this year. More on this next week.

Easter cards are still on sale in the side porch (Clitheroe)