Dear Parishioners

Congratulations to the children of both churches who made their First Holy Communions last Sunday. We pray that they will grow in appreciation of God’s greatest gift to us.

Please remember in prayer the Christians of Iraq. Mass was not celebrated in Mosul last Sunday for the first time in 1,600 years!

Next Sunday, 7^th July is Weld Day, the day on which we remember the generosity of Thomas Weld who in 1798 gave the land on which our parish stands. Thomas asked for no payment other than our prayers for himself and his wife Mary. There will be only one Mass on the field for both Sabden and Clitheroe at 10.30am during which the school choir will lead the singing. The usual complimentary glass of wine, strawberries and ice cream will be on offer: you bring along the family, a picnic and some sunshine.

The following Sunday, 13^th July, in both churches Head teachers Zoe Mabbott and Claire Halstead will symbolically deliver their year 6 pupils from their tender care to the more robust hands of St Augustine’s Head teacher Mr Mike Wright.

New gates have been erected on the parish field at a cost of £2,000. After almost 6 years chasing dogs and their owners from the field (doggy business and little children don’t mix well!) as also teenagers holding secret drinks parties (and worse) I decided robust policing didn’t enhance my priestly image! Hopefully the gates will give the message: no trespassing!

Some years ago Parish Forum agreed that we would support a seminarian in the developing world. We are currently sponsoring a young man in India during the final four years of his training for the priesthood by paying £500 a year. Last year, fundraising didn’t get off the ground so the Knights paid the initial £500 instalment. I appeal to the parish as a whole to run small independent fundraising schemes along the lines of a coffee morning for friends with a small raffle to help raise this year’s £500. There is a letter from the seminarian with his picture on the notice board.

Hopefully this will generate a greater awareness of the need for vocations in our diocese. Worryingly, last year no new student entered training and there is no one this year. Please do not be tempted to think that there are Fr Frankie Mulgrews or Mark Pavers in every parish.

Fr John

Dear Parishioners,

During his historic pilgrimage to the Holy Land Pope Francis said: “I am convinced that the progress which has been made in recent decades in the relationship between Jews and Catholics has been a genuine gift of God, one of those great works for which we are called to bless his holy name.”
He stated that progress would also not have come about “without the efforts of so many courageous and generous people, Jews and Christians alike”, and he paid tribute to the “growing importance” of the dialogue between the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Holy See’s Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews.
“Inspired by the visit of Pope John Paul II to the Holy Land, this dialogue was inaugurated in 2002 and is already in its twelfth year. I would like to think that, in terms of the Jewish tradition of the Bar Mitzvah, it is just coming of age. I am confident that it will continue and have a bright future in years to come”.
But the Pope stressed that Jews and Catholics need to do “more than simply establish reciprocal and respectful relations on a human level.”
“We are also called, as Christians and Jews, to reflect deeply on the spiritual significance of the bond existing between us,” he said. “It is a bond whose origins are from on high, one which transcends our own plans and projects, and one which remains intact despite all the difficulties which, sadly, have marked our relationship in the past.”
“On the part of Catholics, there is a clear intention to reflect deeply on the significance of the Jewish roots of our own faith. I trust that, with your help, on the part of Jews too, there will be a continued and even growing interest in knowledge of Christianity, also in this holy land to which Christians trace their origins. This is especially to be hoped for among young people”.
“Mutual understanding of our spiritual heritage, appreciation for what we have in common and respect in matters on which we disagree: all these can help to guide us to a closer relationship, an intention which we put in God’s hands. Together, we can make a great contribution to the cause of peace; together, we can bear witness, in this rapidly changing world, to the perennial importance of the divine plan of creation; together, we can firmly oppose every form of anti-Semitism and all other forms of discrimination”, he concluded. “May the Lord help us to walk with confidence and strength in his ways. Shalom!”

Fr John

Dear Parishioners
How can we get teenagers to go to Mass, remain active in their faith and develop their commitment to Christ and the Church?
Here, I propose one effective answer: Youth 2000. Youth 2000 is a group run for and by young people. Their annual August prayer festival in Walsingham is the largest gathering of young Catholics in the country. They also run several other festivals around the country over the year. Each is a Eucharist centred weekend combining perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with daily Mass, Confession, healing services, praise and worship, prayer sessions including the Rosary, talks from internationally-renowned Catholic speakers, discussion groups, and – no less importantly – a chance to make new friends. It has proved to be a very successful recipe for getting young people excited about Jesus and the Church’s mission.
What do young people want? What are they looking for? Love is the answer. They are searching for something all-consuming. At Youth 2000 events young people have such an intimate experience of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament that real conversions happen. They are touched by his love in a transforming way. The teachings of the Church challenge them. They come into contact with other young people who have an active and lively faith, which inspires them.
There is justified worry that the number of Catholic baptisms, marriages and ordinations have fallen significantly over recent decades. What is the problem? A crisis in vocation? Not at Youth 2000. In its 25 year history, over 100 men ordained to the Catholic priesthood testify that Youth 2000 has played an important role in the discernment of their vocation. Father Frankie is one of those. I am aware of many Catholic married couples who met through Youth 2000. My husband and I are one of those.
This works. This really helps young people to take ownership of their faith and live it. If you care about my first questions, please help! Pray for Youth 2000, invite someone you know in the 16-35 age-group to attend a Youth 2000 event, and consider whether you might have something as small as £1 a month to donate regularly to Youth 2000. Youth 2000 is addressing the spiritual poverty which Mother Teresa regarded as even more serious than material poverty, here, at home in the UK, and it needs your support.

Thank you! Terrenia Morley
(I live in Hurst Green with my husband and two children. I am a part-time GP in Blackburn)

Dear fellow Parishioners

When a journalist asked Pope Francis, “Who is Jorge Mario Bergoglio?” he replied, “I am a sinner whom the Lord has looked upon”. While that may sound profound coming from Pope Francis, it perhaps sounds a bit pompous coming from a student for the priesthood and, though it may be equally true, I still have a large blank space to fill so I better say something more.
I grew up in Manchester and went to Catholic schools until going to study for a degree in law at the University of Sheffield. After graduating I started a career for a large accountancy firm in Manchester and eventually transferred within the firm to their New York office. New York was a great place live. I made some good friends and enjoyed the lifestyle, especially the sports – running, cycling and swimming mainly – although I did miss my football (the real kind, played with the feet). Work was going well but I had a sense that it wouldn’t satisfy me for the rest of my life. After 6 years in New York and some soul searching I decided to respond to what had been a persistent, gentle prodding for a number of years: that the priesthood might be where the Lord wanted me. There was no great lightning strike, no whispers in my ear while praying and no visions of the Virgin Mary involved; just a sense that I might find fulfilment in the priesthood in a way that I would not were I to follow one of several possible alternative ways of life.
I entered the seminary in the Archdiocese of New York and completed the first two years in their diocesan seminary. I was then invited to continue to study in Rome at the North American College where I started a degree in Theology at the Gregorian University and gradually picked up a version of Italian in the process. Having completed two years of that degree, I am now in the process of a year of practical pastoral experience before continuing with my studies.

It’s great to be here in Clitheroe and Sabden. Thank you for your kind welcome over the past week or so. I look forward to getting to know you all over the next couple of months.

Mark Paver

Dear Parishioners

Now that we are two priests, Confirmations in both churches will be next Sunday, the Feast of Pentecost at 11am in Sabden during the Sunday Mass and in Clitheroe at a special Confirmation service without Mass at 11.30am.
First Holy Communions will be on the Feast of Corpus Christi, 22^nd June, at 11am in Sabden during the Sunday mass and in Clitheroe during an additional Mass at 11.30am.

Over 100 people joined the Right to Life  sponsored walk on a beautiful Sunday afternoon last weekend. Visitors commented on how privileged we are to live in the Ribble Valley as also they commended the hospitality and generosity of parishioners. So again, I thank all the bakers and all who contributed confectionary and our Ladies who made the sandwiches, organised the catering and cleaned the hall after the invasion of muddy boots. Three years ago the first Right to Life walk attracted only around 40 people and its growth is due in no short measure to your generosity.

Visitors to St Michael and St John’s often comment on the beauty, cleanliness and prayerful atmosphere of our church. Despite its need of redecoration, the church is kept neat and tidy by a dedicated band of voluntary cleaners who generously offer an hour of their time with plenty of elbow grease from 9.30am on Monday mornings. Over the past eighteen months, age and eternal reward has thinned their ranks markedly. Please do consider whether you may offer an hour of you time on Monday mornings (or a little longer if you stay for tea, refreshments and good company!). And this appeal is not just directed to women: at least one man is required for some of the heaver work. Please do consider this request.

At last we have permission (it is a listed building) to renovate the Dower House. We have a budget of £20,000 which is just about sufficient to transform it into a desirable rentable, three bedroomed property in the centre of town with large back garden and parking. When this debt is cleared we shall further improve the property.

Finally, let us thank God for Pope Francis’ successful visit to the Holy Land during which he danced through national and religious minefields. The next event will be the prayer meeting in Rome on Sunday June 8th when he will pray with Presidents Perez of Israel and Abbas of Palestine. When President Perez bid farewell to the Pope he said: “You walked in pilgrimage to the Holy Land and you paved a road. May you be blessed.”

On another matter I recommend www.notdeadyetuk.org

Fr John

Dear Parishioners

Robert Calderisi, the author of “An Open Letter to Pope Benedict XVI from a Gay Catholic”, cannot be accused of being an uncritical friend of the Church. He was, however, the former director of the World Bank, the United Nations bank founded to combat world poverty. During a recent debate he is reported as saying “the Catholic Church has probably lifted more people out of poverty in more countries than any other organisation in human history”. Having worked in this sector for almost 30 years I can categorically assert that this could never have been done and wouldn’t continue to be done today without the work of our religious sisters (nuns) for whom Sr Renate appealed last weekend. Thank you for your extremely generous response of £666.74!

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of Pope Francis’ pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He will be accompanied by two non-Catholic friends from his Buenos Aires days, Rabbi Abraham Skorka and Imam Omar Abboud. The very presence of the Pope , a Rabbi and Muslim leader together will demonstrate that the three Abrahamic faiths can not only live in peace but also in friendship. The Head of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Patriarch Bartholomew will also travel to the Holy Land to meet with Pope Francis and further consolidate the improving relations between Western and Eastern Catholicism. Pope Francis has asked for prayer that his pilgrimage will promote peace in this troubled land.

The SVP, Knights and Women superbly organised the transport and the Healing Mass last Sunday afternoon along with the bakers who produced a wonderful variety of cakes for the tea party that followed. Of course, every mass is a healing mass, repairing the fractured areas of our lives and strengthening our relationship with God and each other. However, this Mass celebrated with our sick and infirm, during which they received their special sacrament of anointing, invoked God’s love and strength for them as they face the challenges that illness and infirmity bring. They were overjoyed to hear that in the future there will be two healing Masses each year, the next on Sunday 28^th September.

And while thinking of cakes: bakers, please of your goodness, we need cakes this Bank Holiday for 3.30pm to provide tea for those who complete the Right to Life sponsored walk.

Enjoy the holiday.                                                      

Fr John

In this country we abort 580 unborn children each year. Some are aborted because they are the wrong sex. We must do all we can to fight this crime again humanity.

On 26th May 2014 at 1pm we are having  a sponsored walk in the Ribble Valley from St Michael & St Johns Church Car Park, Lowergate Clitheroe.

Jim Dobbin MP will wave us off and  we will be led by Lord David Alton and several priests including Fr John Corcoran and Fr Frankie Mulgrew. Approximately 60 people walked last year and you are invited to join us on the 26th.

Further details are available from: Arnold Marsden 31 Park Ave Clitheroe.

Telephone (01200 427096)

Remember the only thing needed for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing

Dear Parishioners

Today we welcome Sr Renate Ziaja to preach this year’s Mission Appeal on behalf of her sisters working in the developing world. As you probably know the Catholic Church is the largest provider of medical care, education and other social services in Africa alone. This practical application of the Gospel message worldwide – including countries such as India or Mongolia – is largely due to the work of religious sisters (nuns). Today offers us an opportunity to support them in prayer and with financial help.

When I was asked what the Church will do to protest the huge hike in bus fares for pupils attending St Augustine’s my reply was to call a meeting. Parents have two great weapons: parent and voting powers. So there will be a meeting on Wednesday in the Parish Centre at 7.30pm that will be attended by Mr Michael Wright and myself to encourage parents to organise themselves to protest and create a great who-ha that politicians may ignore at their peril. The meeting is open to parents of pupils at St Augustine’s regardless of parish.

Over the past couple of years there have been two attempts to legalise assisted dying (assisted suicide or euthanasia by other names) and both were decisively defeated not by hard hearted Jurassic remnants of another age but by people concerned to protect the vulnerable and the aged in our society who undoubtedly will come under pressure to die if such a law were introduced. It is no coincidence that every society and organisation in this country that supports disabled people is vehemently against the introduction of such a law! Right to Life has proved to be the most effective organisation in tutoring, lobbying and encouraging opposition within Parliament. But this work costs money. Please support the sponsored walk on Bank Holiday Monday, 26^th May, either by walking and collecting sponsorship or by sponsoring a walker. Fr Frankie and I shall both be walking.

Finally, you may be forgiven for thinking that the Jesuits have returned to Clitheroe! On Friday, Fr Frankie and I shall be joined by Mark Paver who is nearing the completion of his studies for the priesthood. Mark will be with us for two months but should have arrived four months ago! However the Parish priest he was stationed with fell seriously ill, and Mark was left to run the parish for a couple of months. So, fingers crossed that he won’t launch a takeover here.

Fr John

Dear Parishioners,

This weekend is Good Shepherd Sunday and the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, where the church takes the opportunity to pray in a special way for vocations to the priesthood and religious Life. The Church teaches that there are 4 vocations – Priesthood, Religious life, Marriage and Consecrated Life – and so it is important to pray for those that have not yet found their vocation and true calling in life. But it is with a heightened emphasis that this Good Shepherd Sunday is seen as a great opportunity to pray and promote vocations for the priesthood and religious life. Currently within the Salford Diocese we have 7 students training to be Priests, two of them will be Ordained this July 18^th at Salford Cathedral, they are Alfred Rebello (a former solicitor) and Laurence Gambella (a former R.E. teacher). Please keep them in your prayers along with our other Salford students in Seminary formation, Gavin Landers, Callum Brown at St Mary’s College, Oscott; Michael Deas and Richard Howard at the Venerable English College, Rome; and Kevin Murphy at the Beda College, Rome.

The national director for vocations Fr Christopher Jamison OSB, encourages us to help nurture vocations by becoming a culture of vocation. He talks about how God has a way of inviting us to answer our own prayers. For example if I pray for the housebound, God might put into my mind an elderly lady who lives a few doors down from me who is housebound and would really appreciate a visit. The same is true of today’s intention, as parishes pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life God may invite people to consider what they can do to further develop the culture of vocation in their Parish. A culture of vocation involves talking about all vocations throughout the year and offering active support to people as they seek to discover God’s will in their life. There are a growing number of ways that this service is being offered by dioceses, parishes and colleges, for more information please go to www.ukvocation.org/discernment-groups

Finally I leave you with words of encouragement from Pope Francis on this matter “Behind and before every vocation to the priesthood or to the consecrated life there is always the strong and intense prayer of someone: a grandmother, a grandfather, a mother, a father or a community. Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer; and only through prayer can they persevere and bear fruit.”

“God calls each of us to be holy, to live his life, but he has a particular path for each one of us.

Fr Frankie

Dear Parishioners

During a recent homily based on the Gospel of Nicodemus meeting Jesus at night, Pope Francis proposed three marks of a “people reborn,” which characterized the early Christian community. He said then as now a Christian community should be characterized by interior unity, witness of Christ, and care of its members.

He spoke of the “rebirth from on high” in the Holy Spirit, who gave life to the first group of “new Christians” “They had one heart and mind,” the Pope said, and so were a community in peace. “This means that in this community there was no room for gossip, envy, calumnies, defamation. Rather peace and forgiveness: ‘Love covered everything.'”

Francis stressed the importance of today’s Christians’ attitudes: “Are they meek, humble? Do they vie for power between each other in their community? Are there envious quarrels? Is there gossip? [Then] they are not on the path of Jesus Christ. This feature is so important, so important, because the devil always tries to divide us. He is the father of division.”
But he also recognised that problems existed even for the first Christians. He recalled “the infighting, the doctrinal struggles, power struggles.” As an example of this he pointed to the widows who complained of a lack of assistance so that the Apostles “had to create deacons.”

Pope Francis proposed a reflection for today’s Christian communities: “Does this community give witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? Does this parish, this community, this diocese really believe that Jesus Christ is Risen?”

He went on to describe the third characteristic which measures the life of a Christian community: their care for the poor. “What is your attitude or the attitude of this community toward the poor?” he asked. “Second, is this community poor? Poor in heart, poor in spirit? Or does it place its trust in riches, in power?”

“Harmony, witness, poverty and care for the poor. This is what Jesus explained to Nicodemus: This comes from above. Because the only one who can do this is the Holy Spirit,” the Pope concluded. “This is the work of the Spirit. The Church is built up by the Spirit. The Spirit creates unity. The Spirit leads us to witness. The Spirit makes us poor, because He is our wealth and leads us to care for the poor.”

Fr John