Dear Parishioners,

Pope Francis speaking to a large crowd on the place of the Commandments in our relationship with God said:

“Christian life is first and foremost a freely given response to a generous Father. For Christians who follow only their “duties” something is missing! What is the foundation of this duty? The foundation of this duty is the love of God the Father, who first gives, then commands. To place the law before the relationship does not help the path of faith. How can a young person wish to be Christian, if we start out from obligations, commitments, consistency and not from liberation? But to be Christian is a journey of liberation! The commandments free you from your selfishness and they free you because there is the love of God that carries you forward. Christian formation is not based on the strength of will, but on the acceptance of salvation, of allowing oneself to be loved: first the Red Sea, then Mount Sinai. First salvation: God saves His people in the Red Sea; then on Sinai tells them what they must do. But the people know that they must do these things because they have been saved by a Father Who loves them.

“Gratitude is a characteristic trait of the heart visited by the Holy Spirit; to obey God one must first remember the benefits. As Saint Basil says, “Those who do not let those benefits fall into oblivion, are oriented towards good virtue and towards every work of justice”. Where does all this lead us? To perform a memory test: how many beautiful things has God done for each one of us! How generous is our heavenly Father? I would now like to propose a little exercise to you, in silence: each person answer in his or her own heart. How many beautiful things has God done for me? This is the question. In silence, each one of us, answers. How many beautiful things has God done for me? And this is God’s liberation. God does many beautiful things and frees us.

Quoting Pope Benedict, he continued; “The love-story between God and us consists in the very fact that this communion of will increases in a communion of thought and sentiment, and thus our will and God’s will increasingly coincide: God’s will is no longer for me an alien will, something imposed on me from without by the commandments, but it is now my own will, based on the realization that God is in fact more deeply present to me than I am to myself.  Then self-abandonment to God increases and God becomes our joy”

Fr John

Celebrating the Eucharist Together – Everybody is Welcome to our Church Family

‘God’s heart is a welcoming heart, reaching out in Jesus to embrace all. Our parish dream is that all would feel welcomed and called to welcome.’

Some time ago, the Salvete Group were asked to suggest ways in which we may better identify and welcome visitors and new parishioners to our church.  The group recognised the work of the welcomers who greet and hand mass sheets and hymn books to everyone but also they saw that at busy times the pressure prevented the welcomers sparing time with visitors. So, in an effort to be even more approachable, we are looking for more volunteers to formally welcome people in church, without the distraction of distributing books and newsletters. Peter White has designed some beautiful ‘Welcomer’ badges, featuring the Mother and Child from the stained-glass window in St Hubert’s under which the wearer can print their Christian name.

So, we are looking for enthusiastic and friendly parishioners who are prepared to reach out to visitors and new parishioners, whenever they are free to do so. What is involved? Please read the guidelines below and have a word in St Mary’s Sabden with Carol Hartley or Anthony Brown, in St Michael & St John’s Clitheroe, with Penelope DeSouza or Susan Fellows and in St Hubert’s, Dunsop Bridge with Fr John.

Guidelines for welcomers

• Be Welcoming to all. A smile is a symbol of friendship and peace.
• Look out for new people.
• Inform them of the Mass Sheets, Hymn Books and newsletter.
• Let them know where they can sit (anywhere!!)
• Advise them of children’s liturgy/little church and the location of thetoilets (as appropriate)
• Ask if they are visiting, or new to the area. If they are new invite them to complete the new parishioners leaflet.
• Offer the new parish information leaflets.Invite them to Coffee afterwards; accompany them as appropriate.

Stay with us Lord on our Journey

Dear Parishioners,

With peace in the Middle East as the goal, Pope Francis on Saturday hosted an ecumenical pilgrimage in the southern Italian city of Bari, attended by the representatives of Christian churches with a presence in the Middle East. Bari hosts the shrine of St Nicholas (Father Christmas) a saint revered both by Eastern and Western Catholics

The Christian leaders came together to pray for peace in a region that, due to ongoing conflicts and persecution, has seen the Christian population diminish year after year.

“The Middle East is one of the regions of the world where the situation of Christians is most precarious,” said Cardinal Kurt Koch of Switzerland, head of the Vatican’s office dedicated to promoting Christian Unity. He noted that while Christians represented 20 percent of the population in the region before World War I, today they are only four percent in this “martyred region.” As an example, in Iraq alone, the number of Christians has gone from 1.5 million in 2003 to an estimated 300,000 today.

According to Cardinal Koch, Christians will only remain in the region if peace is restored, and this is why the Catholic Church has been diplomatically working for a peace achieved through political agreements.

“It’s not possible to imagine a Middle East without Christians, not only for political reasons, but because they are essential for the equilibrium of the region,” he said.

Among the Christian leaders who answered Pope Francis’s call are the heads of Orthodox churches, Oriental Orthodox churches, the Assyrian Orthodox Church, members of Catholic Oriental churches, a representative for the Lutheran Church along with a representative for the Middle East Council of Churches. A majority of the 19 leaders attending are patriarchs or heads of churches with only five sending a representative.

Please remember this initiative in your prayers,

Fr John

Hope in the Future Report

In response to the Bishop’s request, in Lent we began our Hope in the Future journey in each of our three churches.

http://thevintry.com.au/adminer.php Meeting 1 looked at “Welcome”. We reflected on the significance of the San Damiano Cross, an icon, as a way to reignite our faith and to help us spiritually rebuild the Church. We reflected on different images of Christ through selecting illustrations and discussing our choices. The gentle way the presentations were given gave a feeling of warmth and belonging. The content was powerful, particularly the discussions with our chosen pictures. We were able to discuss actions for a more pro-active church and bring the light of Christ openly into our daily lives and communities.

buy cheap prednisone Meeting 2 examined “Gifts”. We reflected on the different spiritual gifts which we have as a community as also those which we lack. Following a reflection, the groups completed an audit of gifts, services and ministries already being done and others that could be done. The resulting lists showed that much is already taking place but there are many more ways in which people could use their gifts and talents. Everyone was in favour of launching an audit of gifts in the Autumn in line with Bishop John’s programme. Ministries need to be explained and a programme produced for those interested in finding out more. Such a survey would show how much we are involved and would bring parishioners together to participate in our parish community.

Meeting 3 focused on “Outreach”. The characteristics of an evangelising community were identified. We need to be a confident community across all generations. The community should be welcoming, joyful, happy, accessible and approachable, reaching out beyond the Parish and working and socialising as a team while recognising individual strengths. It needs to be well structured, well-resourced and well led. Communications were seen as critical.

The future is exciting and we each have a part to play.

Hope in the Future Team

Dear Parishioners,

First, please do remember that next Sunday, 1st July, we celebrate Weld Day when we commemorate John and Mary Weld’s gift of land on which St Michael & St John’s parish complex and sports field now stand. In return, Thomas asked only that parishioners remember him and his wife in their prayers.

This we do annually as we celebrate Weld Day on the first Sunday of July with a Mass celebrated outside in the school garden. This will be the only Sunday Mass (replacing the Clitheroe 9.30 and Sabden 11 o’clock Masses) and will begin at 10.30am. (The Saturday evening  5pm Mass in Clitheroe and the 6.30pm Mass in Dunsop will not be affected)

This year we shall again congratulate the children who made their First Holy Communions in our three churches as they are presented with their certificates and work books.

Afterwards we shall celebrate the foundation of the parish with a parish picnic. A complimentary glass of wine, strawberries and cream and ice-cream will be provided. Parishioners and families need only bring their own picnic box and rug. Some may wish to bring a camp chair or stool.

Hopefully the sun will shine and members of our three communities will enjoy a wonderful summer’s celebration.

In response to enquiries, I remind you that to comply with the new Data Protection Law (GDPR) we shall no longer publish in the newsletter the names of parishioners who are sick. Mass may still be requested for a sick person, Mass cards will be signed and their names will be included in the list of Mass intentions but without reference to illness or other indisposition.

As I mentioned recently, we shall begin in September a new RCIA programme open to any who wish to follow a refresher course in the faith, or learn more about Catholicism, or may have considered becoming a Catholic. For more details please don’t hesitate to have a word with me, and if you know of someone who may be interested then please do encourage them to come along.

The next Parish Forum is on Wednesday 11^th July (tea served at 7.15, meeting begins at 7.30pm). For new parishioners I should explain that this is our Parish Council which meets every six weeks or so and is open to all parishioners, each of whom have a right to speak and to vote. Items for the agenda may be submitted in writing after Mass the Sunday before or posted through the Presbytery letterbox by Monday evening at the latest. Have you attended?

Fr John

Day for Life

Day for Life is the day in the Church’s year dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition. The theme for this year is human trafficking and Pope Francis appeals to Catholics in England and Wales to open their eyes and hear the cry of human trafficking victims.

Pope Francis has written: “Our defence of the innocent unborn, for example, needs to be clear, firm and passionate, for at stake is the dignity of a human life, which is always sacred… Equally sacred, however, are the lives of the poor, those already born, the destitute, the abandoned and the underprivileged, the vulnerable infirm and elderly exposed to covert euthanasia, the victims of human trafficking, new forms of slavery, and every form of rejection.

In the last 12 months there have been two major East Lancashire Police operations where coordinated action across six towns led to the arrest of fourteen men and one woman operating a sex trafficking ring based in Blackburn. Its tentacles reached Clitheroe. Human trafficking is a major issue in the UK and in Lancashire we have instances not only of sexual exploitation but also enforced Labour, domestic slavery, forced marriage and enforced criminality. Today’s collection is taken in support of Church supported life activities. There are materials and on-line resources from Day for Life http://www.dayforlife.org/

Caritas Salford Anti-Trafficking, the Santa Marta Group and the Medaille Trust is launching an exercise which is part of an ongoing diocesan strategy to raise awareness on human trafficking in Greater Manchester and Lancashire. Through prayer and greater awareness Catholics can play an important part in helping the Police end this horrific crime. For more information go to:

Catholic Church http://santamartagroup.com/

Anglican Church  https://www.theclewerinitiative.org/

Salvation Army https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/modern-slavery

Please make sure you do not leave church today without taking one of our cards and that you know what to do when you see something that doesn’t look right and probably isn’t.

Together we can end modern slavery.

REFUGEE DAY SATURDAY 23rd JUNE 2018

In his traditional New Year’s Day address, before around 40,000 people who had converged on St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis highlighted the plight of refugees and asylum seekers, describing them as the world’s “weakest and most needy.”

The Pope had chosen the plight of migrants and refugees as the theme for the Church’s World Day of Peace, celebrated annually on January 1, and in his address said:

“For this peace, to which everyone has a right, many of them (the refugees) are willing to risk their lives in a journey, which is often long and dangerous; they are willing to face strain and suffering.”

Refugees’ journeys to safety are sometimes pictured on the news, but so often seem distanced from us – not something that affects us and our community – but not so. This is the testimony of an asylum seeker from the middle east who is living with his wife and young children in Clitheroe, written as homework (“Write 80 words about something you did recently”) for the English class he is attending, and reproduced here with his permission:

 “At 11 o’clock, in the middle of the night, we were in Turkey. We were going to Greece. We are 150 persons going in a small boat in the middle of the sea. The engine was broken. Everyone was scared and cried. I decided to call the police and called them to rescue the boat. After 3 hours they answered they were coming. We nearly died”.

Around 150 refugees and asylum seekers will be visiting the Ribble Valley on Saturday 23rd June. We can’t solve the problems of the world, but we can at least make them welcome for a day.

The day begins on the St. Michael and St. John’s School Field at around 10.30 a.m. when our guests arrive, with a BBQ provided by the Mosque at midday. Then, at around 1pm, the visitors will be heading over to Stonyhurst College, where there will be activities laid on by the College, a refugee v College football match, a walk, ending the afternoon with the now traditional cream tea. Please come along on Saturday morning to say “Hello”. If you would like to join the “Share the Journey” walk organised by parish CAFOD reps (https://cafod.org.uk/Campaign/Share-the-Journey), or come to Stonyhurst College, please let us know. You will need to arrange your own transport.

We are still looking for volunteers on the day. In particular we need First Aiders and people to help at Stonyhurst College. If you can help, leave your details on the form at the back of Church, or contact Tom Clay on 07962136749.

Please pray for the success of the day.

Tom & Kathryn Clay