Dear Parishioners,

In Lent we are asked to prepare for Easter by prayer and sacrifice. If you haven’t decided yet what you will do for Lent then please consider one of the following (or more than one!).

* Give God some silent attention each day.

* Buy (£1) the ‘Walk With Me’ booklet which will help you pray and reflect each day of Lent.

* Join the Stations of the cross in Clitheroe at 7.30pm on Fridays and in Sabden at 7.30pm on Tuesdays.

* Join the Lenten Service after Mass on Thursday at 8.10pm until 9.15pm.

* Spend a little time each day reading the Bible in the quiet of your home.

* Attend daily mass. (Details weekly in the newsletter)

* Come to Exposition on Saturday mornings between 11am and 12noon.

* Pay a visit to the church which is open daily during daylight hours.

* Encourage someone who has been away from Mass to return to practice and accompany them to church.

* Recite the Rosary at home or join the weekday recitation in church at 9.30am.

* Visit someone in need of help or friendship or perhaps an elderly relative you haven’t visited for a while?

* Make up a longstanding quarrel.

* Help to clean the church on Monday mornings at 9.30.

* Give up a favourite treat like sweets, drink, watching too much TV or cigarettes.

* Keep ‘Family Fast day’ on Friday.

* Every Friday give up eating meat.

* Make a clean sweep. Go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), available Saturdays in Clitheroe from 11 to 11.45 and during the Stations of the Cross on Fridays.

* Attend the series of ecumenical Lenten talks on Saturday mornings in the Hall at 11am. (Coffee from 10.30)

* Join a Lent discussion group based on Pope Francis’ recent letter ‘The Joy of the Gospel’, Wednesdays at 7.30pm in the Hall on 17th, Feb, 2nd and 9th March

* Attend a Lenten Station Mass (see the notice board)

Wishing you a fruitful Lent,

buy disulfiram in canada Fr John

St Bakhita

Tomorrow is the feast of St Bakhita, taken by Arab slavers in 1877 at the age of 7, although thanks to people like William Wilberforce slavery was abolished in most of the British Empire in 1833. Nearly two hundred years later his great, great grandson, Fr Gerald Wilberforce has this to say: What would he think about children as young as nine who are asked to steal and pickpocket; what would he say about young men who are enslaved in cannabis factories; what about people who are asked to work as domestic slaves in people’s homes; and young girls brought to this country and sold for sex; and what about those people who do escape but nobody believes them. I think I know what he would have said had been alive today: “Haven’t we abolished slavery? Why is it still going on?” The truth is that slavery still exists and to a large extent we are all complicit in this. We are all part of the same society and we are all personally responsible. It’s time this stopped for good. Together we can end modern slavery.

Tomorrow on St Bakhita’s feast day and during this Year of Mercy let us remember that there are more slaves in the world today than at any time in human history and pray for its end.

• Pray for those forced into slavery to grow our food and make our clothes
• Pray that retail managers become aware of the slave issues in their supply chains and boldly make necessary changes
• Pray for the families who are searching for their lost daughters.
• Pray for the millions of families in India trapped in bonded slavery.
• Pray for the men and women who care for and restore those who have been rescued from slavery.
• Pray for those rescued from slavery that they may heal from years of abuse
• Pray for the church to respond to Pope Frances’ call to rise up and lead in the fight against modern slavery
• Pray that we may become aware of modern day slavery and learn the signs to help the Police identify potential victims.
• Pray that we may come to understand our complicity in buying the goods produced by this evil trade
• Pray that together we can bring an end to modern slavery.

 Anthony Brown , Medaille Trust

Dear Parishioners,

The Forum met a week last Wednesday in Sabden.

With Dunsop Bridge a part of the family it was decided that all future meetings would convene in Clitheroe to save Dunsop parishioners travelling 15 miles to Sabden and vice versa. So we shall next meet in Clitheroe after Easter on Wednesday 6^th April.

Forum also voted in favour of the proposal to celebrate a Children’s Mass on Christmas Eve at 4pm in Sts Michael and John’s. Hopefully this will prove to be a more suitable time for young families and also reduce the pressure on the 6pm Mass. The 8pm Mass will be celebrated in Sabden and on Christmas Day morning Mass will be celebrated in St Hubert’s at 9am and in Clitheroe at 10am.

Also discussed was the irritation of some parishioners at the frequency of retiring collections (so named because these are taken as you leave church). 18 of the collections are compulsory and taken in every Catholic Church in England & Wales. Occasionally another collection may be added in response to a particular need or emergency. What is important to bear in mind is that you are not obliged to give to retiring collections. These collections are not compulsory but an opportunity to support some charities important to the church.

In this Year of Mercy there will be a Reconciliation service in St Michael and St John’s on Tuesday 15^th March at 6.30pm during which children from St Hubert’s will join Sts Michael & John’s pupils to make what most of us remember as their First Confession. Children at St Mary’s will make their First Reconciliation in Sabden the following evening, 16^th March, at 6pm.

Just look at what we found while planning the refurbishment of the Confessional: two stained glass windows. These will be opened up when work begins.

The Church runs an excellent internship scheme that provides recently graduated Catholics with an intensive experience of political and social action in a spiritual context. This year it is offering up to eight internships, including placements with Christian MPs at Westminster; a parliamentary support role within the Bishops’ Conference Secretariat; with the Catholic Agencies CAFOD and CSAN in social action and public policy roles; and a media and communications internship in Archbishop’s House, Westminster.

Applications close soon but there is still time to apply. To learn more: http://faithinpolitics.org.uk

Fr John

EVANGELII GAUDIUM    –    THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL

Pope Francis writes, at the start of his letter to the Church, “The Joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness.” He invites all Christians everywhere to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them.

In our Parish we have made a start responding to Pope Francis by arranging six meetings to examine our Faith through this document. So far we have had two gatherings before Christmas, each lasting one hour. Groups of around eight parishioners read and discuss the message in an atmosphere of welcoming friendship.

Here are some comments from parishioners who attended;

“I really enjoy these groups—meeting with others and talking about our Faith”

“Another excellent and thought provoking session”

“Very friendly group, it was easy to participate for someone who finds it difficult to open up”

We have arranged four more sessions leading up to Easter and invite ALL parishioners to come and experience these groups. The meetings start at 7.30pm on Wednesday evenings in the Parish Centre with refreshments served from 7.15pm. They end at 8.30pm but those who wish may stay on to discuss some issues in greater depth. What a great thing to do for Lent! Please come and join us.

The dates for your diary are 3rd February, 17th February, 2nd March and 9th March.

Parishioners will be available to explain more to anyone interested after all Masses next weekend, 30th/31st January.

We look forward to seeing you on the 3rd February.

Peter Donnelly

Dear Parishioners,

Following last week’s newsletter, I’ve been asked to explain, particularly for the benefit of new parishioners, what the Parish Forum is and how it operates.
Quite simply the Forum is our Parish Council, but unlike many Councils it is totally transparent and inclusive. Its Chair is elected to serve for three years, as is the Secretary, and all parishioners are welcome to attend its meetings, join in discussions and vote in ballots when they are present (no postal voting!). It meets round about every six weeks and each parishioner has the right to suggest items for the agenda.

We meet next Wednesday at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall in Sabden and will finish by 9 o’clock. Tea will be served from 7.15. Further items for the agenda should be submitted to me or the secretary Margaret Donnelly: donnelmarg@aol.com or 01200 441081 by Tuesday evening.

The proposed Christmas Mass schedule and one central venue for future Forum meetings (last week’s newsletter) will be among the issues to be discussed.

Lent is only three weeks away and Maureen Mercer is introducing a new arrangement for groups who this year will lead the Friday Stations of the Cross in Clitheroe. A list will be pinned up in the porch for groups to decide their Friday. First come…..!

Launched last Tuesday a book long interview with Pope Francis. The name of God is Mercy was also released in 20 languages in 86 countries.

Fr John

They say time flies when you’re having fun; this has certainly been the case in my pastoral placement here in the Ribble Valley

I have had a wonderful experience in a Parish full of people with a lively and inspiring faith, which has been greatly encouraging. I have encountered such a great commitment to service among so many of you and you have taught me a great deal. So, it’s with a certain heaviness of heart that I leave you to return to seminary and continue this exciting journey towards priesthood. Please accept my sincere thanks for the privilege of getting to know you over the last five months. I ask for your prayers for the rest of my time in formation and be assured of my prayers for you all.

Wishing you every blessing,

Callum