http://columbuscameragroup.com/3-19/ 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.

http://cymaticsconference.com/mary-milroy-joe-reilly/ 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)

REFUGEE DAY OUT: JUNE 13 2020

Our hearts have gone out to people forced from their homes by floods but when the misery is further afield, an emotional response may hardly register. In the world today there are around 70 million displaced persons who have fled their homes due to violent conflict. As the problem stretches out its tentacles the world responds not with sympathy but with fear and rejection. We can turn our heads but the early church fathers were clear about Jesus’ message. Giving to the poor is not an act of generosity but a repayment of resources that God had bestowed on all. Hanging on to what we’ve worked hard for comes naturally in a world where structural sin is endemic. We see no reason to blame ourselves for the circumstances of others. But when no-one is responsible everyone is.
From 2016 to 2018 we held a Refugee Day Out but in 2019 our leaders were unable to continue the work they had done with such devotion for three years. For 2020 we have a date of June 13 Giving a hundred or more refugees a day out does nothing to tackle a global problem but it does give a little something to those who desperately need a break from the routine of a life without work or money.
If you feel you can volunteer or perhaps even be part of the planning team please be in touch with Anthony Brown on 01200 422811 or at abrown.boggarts@gmail.com

Hope in the Future

Our next meeting will be in the Presbytery on 19 March at 7.30 when we will discuss ‘Living the Sunday Eucharist.’ A reminder of the questions posed by Bishop John will be printed in the newsletter next week. The meetings last approximately one hour and there is much thoughtful discussion which will help our reflections in Lent. Light refreshments will be served.