7th Sunday in Ordinary time – 19th February 2017

Dear Parishioners,

Wardley Hall, built in the mid-1500s, after a long and eventful history was given in trust to Salford Diocese in 1930 to become the residence of the Bishops of Salford. Bishop John wishes to make it a resource for the whole diocese. In popular mythology, it is the home of the screaming skull!

On offer are:

Seroquel Period of reflection on Ambrose Barlow with opening and closing prayer services;

Evangelii Gaudium

  1. Reflection time on what does it mean to be a missionary parish, including Ambrose as an inspiration of a missionary disciple
  2. Formation experience based on Evangelii Gaudium: 5 sessions, approx… 2 hours per time, discussing the information contained in each chapter and how it can be applied to parishes. This would be open to parish groups, preferably accompanied by the parish priest.

Themed quiet/study days

Forming young Christian leaders; spiritual accompaniment of young people; developing lay leadership in parish ministry; quiet days including a talk and time for individual prayer; Faith in Action (See, judge, act);

Pope Francis’ document: Laudato Si; Ignatian or Franciscan spirituality themes; quiet day based on a Scriptural theme or Mary; discernment process using Ignatian spirituality;

Study day on aging and spirituality, with suggestions on how parishes can address the spiritual needs of older parishioners;

Women Speaking Wisdom:  either a reflection day or a series of talks on women saints or women in the Old Testament.

A tour of the history of Wardley and its connection to St Ambrose Barlow can be included in all visits.

School groups may want to bring their students for a visit, talk on Ambrose Barlow or provide their own programming.

 

What would you think of a parish visit in the summer or attendance at one of the above? Topic for the next Forum?

Fr John

 

6th Sunday in Ordinary time – 12th February 2017

Kadınhanı THE MEDAILLE TRUST

The Medaille Trust is a UK Catholic charity that works to eradicate human trafficking and to offer support to those who have been trafficked. Founded ten years ago by Sister Ann Therese of the Order of St Joseph of Annecy, the charity is named after the founder of her order, Fr Jean Pierre Medaille.

It is impossible to fully comprehend the horrors that trafficked people experience and many of them never recover. An extreme example is of a man who was held captive in enforced labour for 30 years, and no less harrowing are the stories of girls locked up and bought and sold across Europe.

The EU requires countries to fund a 45-day recovery and reflection period for victims of human trafficking.  During this time a victim cannot be removed from the UK.  However, the 45-day period is often not enough to help victims overcome the trauma they have experienced so the average stay in a Medaille safe house is 100 days.  Some stay for two years.

As well as caring for the victims, the Medaille Trust is committed to promoting the eradication of human trafficking by raising awareness of modern day slavery. Pope Francis has said: “Every citizen of every country must be made aware of human trafficking and join the fight against it.”

The Trust has an active programme of education and awareness training that reaches out to schools, churches, community groups and other interested parties.  A teaching pack was provided to 453 Catholic secondary schools in 2015.

The Medaille Trust also works with Police Forces, the Gangmasters’ Licensing Authority, the Border Force, HM Revenue and Customs and the National Crime Agency.

Today’s retiring collection at the end of Mass is for the work of the Medaille Trust. The charity has low overheads and almost all the money it raises goes directly to supporting victims in their safe houses. In this country, the work of the Medaille Trust is strongly supported by Cardinal Nichols and most dioceses now have a Diocesan Representative who coordinates a growing number of Medaille volunteers and supporters.

To learn more about the Medaille Trust or about human trafficking please take a copy of the Medaille magazine from the porch or contact your Medaille Diocesan Representative: Anthony Brown at a.brown@medaille-trust.org.uk or  (01200) 422811.

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

I thank you all who prayed for Fr Wareing during these past weeks of illness.  Now he has happily gone to the Lord whom he followed and served so devotedly.  He died at 2pm last Tuesday, 7th February, having celebrated his 86th birthday on the 18th January.  Fr Wareing joined the Society of Jesus in 1949 and served this parish from 1981—2006; his longest posting and the longest period served by any parish priest of St Michael & St John’s. Bernard Warren who knew him both as man and boy has written an appreciation of his life for the Clitheroe Advertiser.

Fr Wareing will be received into church at 7.30pm on Tuesday 21st February and Mass will be celebrated to accommodate those unable to attend his requiem and commendation the following day, Wednesday, at 12.30pm to be followed by his committal in Clitheroe cemetery.

Mass offerings and cards for Fr Wareing’s family may be left at the presbytery  and will be given to his sister Teresa on the day of his requiem.

Fr Wareing – Funeral

Fr Joseph Wareing SJ, retired Parish Priest of St Michael & St John’s, died on Tuesday 7th February, aged 86.

The funeral will take place at 12.30pm on Wednesday 22nd February at St Michael & St John’s Church, Clitheroe.

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

Fr Joseph Wareing SJ – R.I.P.

Fr Joseph Wareing SJ, retired Parish Priest of St Michael & St John’s, died on Tuesday 7th February, aged 86.

Details of his funeral will be published as soon as we know them.

Requiescat in Pace.

4th Sunday in Ordinary time – 5th February 2017

Dear Parishioners,

Following the Bishop’s letter on restructuring our parishes and last week’s celebration of the work of CARITAS with the publication of its annual review (which was an eyeopener to many) the diocese has launched two new projects.

The first is to support the many volunteers in our parishes who work as catechists. Catechists play an important role in this parish and I think this is a rather exciting project. It is a six-week course on Becoming Confident Catechists starting on Monday 27 February at Sts Aidan & Oswald’s Royton. It will provide an introduction to the role and ministry of the catechist, with the hope that it might encourage participants to take part, at a later stage, in further ongoing formation. It is designed to help catechists to approach their role with renewed energy and confidence and is suitable for those working with both adults and children – RCIA, sacramental preparation programmes, children’s liturgy, etc. Don’t let the cost deter you: the £40 course fee will be paid from parish funds. If you are interested or are simply curious to know more, please contact me.

A service which we do not have in the diocese at the moment is that of the Deacon. The ministry of the Permanent Diaconate (as opposed the Diaconate which is a stage in preparation to being ordained a priest) was re-introduced by the Church 50 years ago, following the Vatican Council. We are the only diocese in the country that does not have them! But no longer, for the diocese is to begin selecting candidates who feel called to this ministry. A candidate must be male, baptised and practicing, aged between 35 and 50 years old, married or single,  be recommended by his  parish priest. Successful candidates will follow a part-time five-year course before ordination and service in the diocese. If you are interested, please have a word with me.


I would be grateful if any past Eucharistic Minister who no longer serves on the rota but has a Pyx would return it to me as soon as possible. We need to keep account of these small receptacles which are used to take the Body of the Lord to our many housebound parishioners and residents in care homes.


On Wednesday, the Parish Forum meets in the parish hall at 7.30pm when we shall discuss these, the Parish Hall and a number of other important issues. Tea is served from 7.10; the meeting begins at 7.30 and will end by 9pm.
Please send any agenda items you may have to me before Wednesday morning.

Fr John

4th Sunday in Ordinary time – 29th January 2017

CARITAS SUNDAY

Caritas is the Latin word for Christian love and from which the word charity derives.  As the official catholic charity of our Diocese, Caritas Diocese of Salford runs 21 services and centres covering helping the homeless; alleviating poverty; assisting those suffering from benefit sanctions; raising awareness of human trafficking; welcoming the stranger; visiting the elderly and housebound; campaigning for justice; raising awareness in our schools; housing needs; and supporting single mothers and babies.

A particularly important aspect of Caritas’ work this year will be responding to the Refugee crisis.  Bishop John has written: “In view of the continued Refugee Crisis and Pope Francis’ call to ‘Welcome the Stranger’, the Refugee Response will continue to be main focus of awareness raising and fundraising for Caritas for this year.”

Caritas Diocese of Salford has received terrific local response from individuals and groups of people who have come together from individual churches, ecumenical and multi-faith groups to help with the Refugee Crisis.  With the help of volunteers and learning from professionals, Caritas has set up Refugee and Asylum Drop-In Centres to provide casework support, English lessons, and a welcome face.

      Caritas is pioneering a Community Sponsorship Programme, following a Canadian model, where a community group welcomes a refugee family; from meeting them at the airport, to finding local accommodation, helping with schools, medical registration and providing friendship.

Caritas also offers emergency accommodation to those who find themselves destitute, and individual supporters have campaigned for individual asylum seekers and even housing them in their own homes!

Our parish has worked with Caritas and Revive, a Catholic charity in Manchester, to arrange days out in the countryside, and are piloting the Refugee ‘Come Dine with Me’ project for the diocese.

We should also acknowledge the valuable work done in our parish by the SVP group whose work dovetails with that of Caritas.

There are now 70 Caritas Representatives across the Diocese; volunteers in our parishes who promote both awareness of the charity and encourage support of its work.

If you are interested to get involved in social action with Refugees or to help others in need, then please speak to our parish’s Caritas Representative, Anthony Brown at: abrown.boggarts@googlemail.com or ( 01200 422811 or contact Caritas directly on ( 0161 817 2270 or www.caritassalford.org.uk.

Of today’s retiring collection for Caritas’ Refugee Response, Bishop John appeals: “I warmly invite you to take up the opportunities Caritas Sunday offers for prayers, action and donations.”

 

Retreat – ‘Recreate me in Heart & Spirit’

Once again Fr Kevin will be leading a retreat at Craig Lodge, Dalmally, Scotland, 25-29 September 2017.  Entitled “Recreate me in Heart & Spirit,” the retreat focuses on reading and writing that reflect the Catholic faith. Come and hear the Word and find your own words.  If interested, please speak to Fr Kevin.  You can book directly via 01838 200216 or mail@craiglodge.org

3rd Sunday in Ordinary time – 22nd January 2017

Pause for Hope—a prayer initiative against cancer

 I am sure that practically all of us have been affected by cancer, whether it be a close relative, friend or acquaintance, or perhaps even yourself.

Professor Ray Donnelly MBE is a retired surgeon who in 1990 founded a cancer charity which became the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation of which he is the current President. In 1999 he brought together many of the cancer charities in Merseyside for a day of prayer for those affected by cancer entitled “Pause for Hope”. They developed the initiative, the highlight of which is an annual service in one of Liverpool’s two cathedrals.

Pause for Hope works:

  • to encourage prayer that the day will quickly come when all cancers can be prevented or cured
  • to bring together in prayer those affected by all forms of cancer, their loved ones and carers
  • to remember dear ones lost to cancer
  • to pray for those with responsibility for providing and allocating resources required in the investigation, treatment and care of patients with cancer
  • to help those affected to understand the Christian value of suffering and the great power of the prayers of the sick and those who look after them.
  • to help those who don’t have cancer but have a great fear of the disease
  • to reach out to those who are at home or in hospital as patients or carers and unable to attend the Pause for Hope services.

This service is open to all dominations and faiths as well as those of little or no religious faith.

I attended this annual service in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Liverpool.  We were welcomed by Bishop Tom Williams, the auxiliary Bishop of Liverpool, then Monsignor Peter Cookson, who has fought cancer for many years, read his own prayer.

This was followed by prayers and readings by various representatives of different organisations involved with cancer. The prayers were intermixed with hymns and songs by the Birkenhead Operatic Society and a family trio.

I would very much like to have a Pause for Hope event in the Ribble Valley, where everyone could attend and take part and maybe find some solace and comfort.  Would it be possible to form a group in the hope of organising such an event?  If you are interested, please contact me, Carol Riley.  Tel. 01200 426769 or e-mail: cariley.t21@btinternet.com

2nd Sunday in Ordinary time – 15th January 2017

Summary of Proposals for Deanery of Saint John Southworth:

The following parishes will remain as they are at present:

Saint Peter, Stonyhurst
Saint Mary, Bamber Bridge
Our Lady of Lourdes and Saint Gerard Majella, Lostock Hall

The following parishes, already sharing a priest, are proposed for amalgamation:

Sacred Heart, Blackburn and Saint Anne, Blackburn
Saint Alban, Blackburn and Holy Souls, Blackburn [three churches]
Holy Family, Blackburn and Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Blackburn
Sacred Heart and Saint Edward, Darwen and Saint Joseph, Darwen
Saint Wilfrid, Longridge and Saints Peter and Paul, Ribchester and Saint Mary, Chipping
Our Lady of the Valley (Clitheroe and Sabden) and Saint Hubert, Dunsop Bridge
Our Lady and Saint Patrick, Walton le Dale and Saint Mary and Saint John, Salmesbury

In addition, the following amalgamations of parishes are proposed:

Saints Mary and John, Pleasington and Saint John Vianney, Blackburn and Saint Peter in Chains, Blackburn [initially with two priests whilst determining which of the church buildings to retain]
English Martyrs, Whalley and Saint Mary, Langho and Saint Mary, Osbaldeston

The following churches are proposed for closure:

One or two of the churches in the new parish of Saints Mary and John, Pleasington (which includes St Paul’s chapel of ease) and Saint John Vianney, Blackburn and Saint Peter in Chains, Blackburn [to be determined during the amalgamation process]

Summary of proposals across the Diocese:

37 parishes remaining as at present
14 amalgamations of parishes already sharing a priest (involving 31 parishes)
32 additional amalgamations (involving 69 parishes)
22 churches closing (or 24 depending on further considerations); 3 of these not currently used
6 situations requiring further consideration (involving 13 parishes)

When all proposals are implemented:

88 or 89 parishes (depending on further considerations) as opposed to 150 at present
161 or 163 churches (depending on further considerations) as opposed to 185 at present