Dear Parishioners,

This Sunday’s  Day for Life encourages us to reflect how precarious and precious  and interlinked all life is.

Paula has profound intellectual and multiple disabilities and she spends much of her time rocking gently, smiling and looking around her. She cannot talk but she clearly loves to sit outside in her wheelchair, in spontaneous appreciation, listening to the birds, feeling the warmth of the sun and the cool of the wind, taking in the scent of the flowers; just watching the world go by. Above all, she loves people to come and sit with her. As Jean Vanier, the founder of L’Arche says, people like Paula live by the heart.

Paula reminds us all, especially very busy people, to stop and see that God has given us so many gifts, and often the most wondrous gifts are the simple ones that we take for granted. It is also easy to overlook or ignore or indeed think less of people who rely on the heart, who do not seem to be ‘like us’ because of disability, age, vulnerability or frailty.

In Luke’s Gospel, the disciples come to a crucial turning point as Jesus asks them, “who do you say I am?” Peter’s reply, you are “the Christ” is inspired and spontaneous. It is from the heart. People like Paula ask simply by their presence, “who do you say I am?”. The response is also inspired: each human being, whatever his or her capacities, is wonderfully made in the image of God and as St Paul tells the Galatians, all the baptised are one in Christ. There is no ‘us’ and ‘them’.

In his encyclical on ecology, Laudato si, Pope Francis points out that we are deeply connected to the world around us. However, he adds that “a sense of deep communion with the rest of nature cannot be real if our hearts lack tenderness, compassion and concern for our fellow human beings.” The Pope says that “we have only one heart” because ecology is also human ecology. An attitude of the heart allows us to see the world around us with wonder and as grace filled, so that all creation is alive to the glory of God. And the heart reminds us that every human being is a Christ for the other. Pia Matthews

We must arrange a Parish study of  Laudato si  after the summer.

Fr John

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend in all Catholic Churches in England and Wales the Queen’s 90th birthday will be marked by the recitation of the following prayer. It will be said before the final blessing:

Prayer for the Queen

V  O Lord, save Elizabeth, our Queen

1. And hear us on the day we call upon you.
2. O Lord hear our prayer.
3. And let our cry come before you.
4. The Lord be with you.
5. And with your spirit.

Together we pray:

Almighty God, we pray, that your servant Elizabeth, our Queen, who, by your providence has received the governance of this realm, may continue to grow in every virtue, that, imbued with your heavenly grace, she may be preserved from all that is harmful and evil and, being blessed with your favour may, with her consort and the royal family, come at last into your presence, through Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life and who lives and reigns with you in the unit of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen

On Wednesday 33 attended the Parish meeting in the Social Centre.  Each was given the choice of joining one of three groups.

Group  1  What can we do to make every parishioner/visitor feel welcome to each of our churches?

Group 2   How can we help all parishioners feel that they belong to our parish community?

Group 3  How best may we welcome and integrate new parishioners?

A committee of three was appointed to carry this work forward and a full report will be made available.

Next Sunday is First Communion Sunday.  Masses will be at the usual times in each church with an extra Mass in St Michael & St John’s at 11am.

The next Parish Forum is a week on Wednesday 22nd June at 7.30pm in the Clitheroe Parish Centre.

Fr John

Dear Parishioners

At the request and encouragement of Pope Francis and Bishop John we shall hold the second of our missionary parish meetings this Wednesday, 8^th June. In April the first meeting attracted 50 parishioners from our three churches/communities. Each and every parishioner is invited this Wednesday to participate and help shape the future of Our Lady of the Valley Parish.

Tea will be served from 7.15pm

7.30pm Opening prayer

Father, we ask you for the gift of discernment, that we may see the way that you wish us to go; for the gift of wisdom, that we may make the right choices; and for the gift of courage, that we may not fear to implement decisions.  May the values of the Gospel determine our every step and that you, Lord, will stay with us on our journey.

Our aim (5 minutes)

Discussion (20 minutes) in one of three groups

Group 1

What can we do to make every parishioner/visitor feel welcome to each of our churches?

Group 2

How can we help all parishioners feel that they belong to our parish community?

Group 3

How best may we welcome and integrate new parishioners?

Break (10 minutes)

Feedback from Groups (20 minutes)

Before 9pm Closing prayer

All loving father, who sent Jesus your Son to show us your mercy and to teach us to how to forgive one another, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us.  Help us to remember that we are all sinners.  Let this year of Mercy be a pilgrimage, a journey back to you.  Make us ambassadors of mercy, sharing your forgiveness with everyone, especially those who feel that they are beyond your love.  We make this prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Finally thank you all who helped to make last Monday’s Sponsored Walk for Right to Life such a huge success: stewards, sweepers, bakers and the Ladies who provided great hospitality for the huge number of walkers.                                                         Fr John

‘WELCOME THE STRANGER’

2015 saw the largest number of displaced people worldwide since WW2, with over 15 million people fleeing conflict and persecution, death and torture, in their own land.

For this Year of Mercy, we have been exhorted by Pope Francis more than ever to do what we can to help; “Indifference and silence lead to complicity whenever we stand by as people are dying of suffocation, starvation, violence, and shipwreck….. Biblical revelation urges us to welcome the stranger; it tells us that in doing so, we open our doors to God, that it is in the faces of others we see the face of Christ himself” .

As a first small step, a group of Parishioners has teamed up with Revive, a Roman Catholic project supporting refugees and asylum seekers, to provide a day out in the Ribble Valley for around 60 refugees and asylum seekers stuck in Manchester and living on subsistence incomes.

These people and families have fled their homes and countries under threat of imprisonment, torture, and even death, and found sanctuary in the UK. They know little of our country, and are often traumatised by their ordeal. A trip to the countryside provides a chance to learn more about their new country, to have a relaxing day out, and to gain solace from the peace and tranquillity of this rural idyll. It also gives an opportunity to be companioned for the day by ordinary friendly UK citizens.

The visit on July 23rd will include a walking day for single people, and a picnic and outdoor games for families with children followed by afternoon tea at St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Sabden.

Please help, by coming to the fund raising Street Parties in Clitheroe on the 11th June, and by volunteering to help on the day.

For further details contact Tom Clay on 07962136749 or email tomclay48@hotmail.com., or fill in the form at the back of the Church.

Dear Parishioners,

This an abbreviated extract from an American Bishop’s column in a regional newspaper…

Mercy may seem reckless to us at times. Mercy trusts those who have proven themselves untrustworthy, those who have failed us. Mercy loves those who acted without love. Mercy hopes in those for whom it seems all hope is lost.

Very often, we question the practice of mercy. A wife forgives an unfaithful husband, and her friends call her a fool. If we befriend the weak, or the elderly, or the unborn, or the disgraced, the world believes we are wasting our time.

But God is merciful. God trusts us, even when we have failed him. God hopes in us, even when we disappoint. God loves us, with love beyond measure, even when we do not believe that we are worthy of his love.

God is not merciful because he is reckless. God is merciful because we are his children. God is merciful because we are made in his image; in God’s sight, we are worthy of his sacrificial love, for the sake of our redemption. God’s mercy is a mystery. But the mystery of God’s mercy gives us new life.

Our lives are often messy, complicated, and disappointing. Very often, we have the sense of being unloved. Our sins can leave us depressed and despondent: without a sense of meaning, or purpose, or hope. Unhappiness, rootlessness, and loneliness seem often to be endemic to the human condition. But mercy gives us new life in God’s friendship.

There is nothing more profound than receiving the mercy of God. And in his grace, we can receive his mercy through the sacramental life of the Church. Pope Francis says that the sacraments – especially the sacrament of confession – are the “bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to a hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness.”

St. Paul says that at all times “God is rich in mercy, because of his great love.” In the sacrament of confession, God reminds us that his love has no conditions, no bounds, and no exceptions.

Mercy forgives, and it strengthens, and comforts, and restores. Mercy is not reckless, because mercy prepares us to leave our sinfulness behind, and to love as God loves, in faithfulness and freedom. Mercy sets us free for new lives of holiness and joy.

Fr John

Dear Parishioners,

As a Catholic school our mission at St Michael and St John’s is to serve and to make Christ known through our work with our children, families, parish and Diocese.  So our whole community was delighted when a recent inspection by Salford Diocese in March judged us to be ‘outstanding’ in our commitment to Catholic faith and teaching.

Our purpose as a school is underpinned by our mission statement: “Following the example of Jesus, together we learn, love and respect one another to be the best we can be”.

As a Catholic school we endeavour to make the person of Jesus Christ known and loved and ensure that Christ and His teachings are central to all school activities.   The Gospel values are studied, assimilated and lived out in practice and this creates what would be described as the ethos of the school.

The inspectors found that: “All staff act as excellent role models for the children and help them in recognising that God is with them in every aspect of school life.”…“The quality of outreach support provided by the school is absolutely outstanding as not only senior leaders but all members of the community of St. Michael and St John’s live out the gospel message to care for others in their service to the community.”

Our pupils are supported not only by the staff but also by our outstanding Pupil Chaplains who plan, prepare and deliver daily acts of collective worship, prayer and reflection.  Parents and parishioners who have observed these have shared with us how are impressed they are by their quality.

The school recognises that parents are the primary evangelisers for their children and as a Catholic school we seek to support our parents accordance with the teachings of the Church.

As the inspectors commented: “The home, school and parish links are inclusive, creative and effective.”… “All children are provided with a Catholic education in a caring and supportive environment where individual needs are exceptionally well catered for.”

These findings are a well-deserved recognition of our pupils and testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole team involved with St Michael and St John’s.   The strength of the relationships between the school, Priests, Catechists and Parishioners ensures our school is the special place it is.  Thank you and congratulations to all.

Mrs Zoe Mabbott  (Headteacher)

The full report is available on the school website at  http://www.ssmj.lancs.sch.uk