Steady progress is being made on our bid to start classes in Clitheroe, but we need more volunteers for the following — cooks—washers up—collecting food from supermarkets—to name but a few. If you are interested in this project or are willing to help in any way then why not come along to our next meeting on Monday 17th August at 7.30pm at The United Reformed Church. We would be delighted to see you and whether or not ask that you will hold this project in your prayers
PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES. Anyone who wishes a petition to be taken for them, to be placed at the grotto, please use the box at the back of the church. The box will be available until Wednesday 29th July. Boxes are also available both in Sabden and Dunsop Bridge
VACANCY Salford Diocese have a vacancy for a Building Surveyor. This is a full time appointment. See poster in porch or click here to download
Dear Parishioners,
Some time ago the Bishop wrote a letter inviting people to write to him and share ideas on how our diocese should organise itself and move forward as a Christian community in the 21st century. He received a massive response both by letter and email and has consolidated many of the questions and suggestions into a questionnaire to gauge opinion on a wide range of issues such as the appropriate age for First Communion, Confirmation, lay involvement in the management of the diocese, the mission of our schools, a diocesan development plan and, Chris Carr will be delighted to learn, whether we should have permanent deacons. All in all there are 33 questions, most of which require ticking either a Yes or a No box.
The paper questionnaire is available at the back of the church or may be answered online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Salford2015 or by the diocesan website at http://www.salforddiocese.net Please note that you must respond before Friday 7th August.
As the new Parish Priest, last Sunday I celebrated Mass in St Hubert’s Dunsop Bridge and afterwards met and discussed a number of issues with parishioners. Mgr Chaloner is to remain in retirement living in the Presbytery and has kindly agreed to celebrate a 10am Mass on Sundays in St Hubert’s. Midweek I shall celebrate a Mass on Tuesdays at 9.30am and whenever required. Then after the holidays on the 6th September I shall again celebrate the Sunday Mass and afterwards meet with the whole parish in Thorneyholme School to arrange how best we all may contribute to the growth and organisation of the parish within the parish of Our Lady of the Valley.
Teenager Betty Ward, a Dunsop parishioner, writes “My unruly, curly hair is one of my defining features and up until a few years ago I couldn’t bear to think of losing it. However, I met a brave young girl who at the age of 11 was diagnosed with alopecia and began losing her hair. The thing is you don’t just lose your hair; you lose your confidence and feel self-conscious. Please help me support the Little Princess Trust which provides real hair wigs to children with hair loss by sponsoring my hair donation. For me, my hair will grow back but for some children it never will. Help make a little girl feel like a princess again.” So Betty will donate her hair and also hopes to raise money by people sponsoring her. Text BWRD56 followed by £2/£5/£10 to 70070 or go to www.justgiving.com/bettyward.
Happy Weld Day!
Fr John
Dear Parishioners,
Today I celebrate Sunday Mass in St Hubert’s, Dunsop Bridge, and afterwards shall meet with parishioners to begin the process of shaping our three very different Catholic communities into a cohesive Missionary Parish – as Pope Francis has asked us to become. Thankfully we have behind us the successful amalgamation of St Michael and St John’s Clitheroe with St Mary’s Sabden, in the process of which both communities generously shared, learned and benefited from each other.
Today I have only three aims. The first is to organise a general meeting of St Hubert’s community at which a couple of representatives from Clitheroe and Sabden will be invited to share the stories of their journey to amalgamation and respond to any anxieties which may exist within the Dunsop Bridge community. The second is to arrange for a midweek morning Mass in St Hubert’s (not on Sabden’s Wednesday)! The third is to organise a meeting with a member from the parish finance committee, Mgr Chaloner and a Dunsop representative to discuss finance.
On a different topic, in the 1800’s a Pedlar’s Trunk was discovered at Samlesbury Hall where it had lain hidden in a priest hole for 200 years. The Trunk contained all that was necessary for the celebration of Mass (but disguised as a pedlar’s wares) and is thought to have been used by our martyrs St Edmund Arrowsmith and/or St John Southworth. In 1892 the Trunk was sold at general auction to a local Catholic man who recognised its religious significance. Subsequently it was handed over to the care to Stonyhurst College. The College has loaned it as part of an exhibition at Samlesbury Hall over the coming year. If you would like to visit the exhibition, the Hall is open for visitors Sunday to Friday 11am – 4pm but closed on Saturdays and occasional Fridays. (To check opening times contact 01254 812010). This is a golden opportunity to introduce your children to Lancashire’s Catholic heritage and have a day out.
Finally we celebrate the beginnings of our parish next Sunday on Weld Day, beginning with Sunday Mass at 10.30am in the garden, followed by a parish picnic. A complementary glass of wine, strawberries and ice-cream are provided by kind sponsors – you bring along the family, a picnic and some sunshine.
Fr John