Dear Parishioners,

I wanted to share with you an inspiring testimony from Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Arlington , Virginia in the United States. The accounts are personal and from the heart. It was part of a pastoral letter, which he wrote on the Feast of Christ the King last November (at the end of the Year of Faith). The pastoral letter was entitled “Go Forth With Hearts on Fire”, and below are extracts taken from the letter in Bishop Loverde’s own words.

“I share with you a very personal experience of Christ which occurred just several years ago, decades into my life as a priest and bishop. Without a doubt, I have understood, accepted, and experienced in many ways the love of Jesus for me precisely as a disciple, priest, and bishop. However, there was always a kind of glass wall in terms of experiencing His love. It was as if I could see Him through the wall, and He could presumably see me, but I did not experience His love to the depth that I so desired. That was not His fault, but mine: somehow, I was not receptive enough.

Then, during a silent eight-day retreat with a group of fellow bishops, the retreat director suggested that I bring these passages from Isaiah before the Lord in lectio divina and prayer:

“Because you are precious In my eyes and honoured, and I love you.

Fear not, I am with you… Do not fear, I have redeemed you.

I have called you by name.  You are mine.” (Is 43:2,4-5)

It was during prayer with these texts that the Lord allowed this glass wall to suddenly and unexpectedly shatter! I cannot express in words how profoundly I was touched. I knew without a doubt that He loves me. I was grateful beyond words! I recalled an antiphon from Morning Prayer for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart: “My son, give me your heart; note carefully the way I point to you.” As a result of His great mercy towards me, I live in a new way, not perfectly and not without all the struggles of daily life, but with an inner conviction that I cannot deny or ever forget. This experience can also be yours!”

And a few final words of encouragement from our last Holy Father along the same theme “Faith is above all a personal, intimate encounter with Jesus, and to experience his closeness, his friendship, his love; only in this way does one learn to know him ever more, and to love and follow him ever more. May this happen to each one of us.” Pope Benedict XVI (General Audience 21/10/09)

Fr Frankie

Dear Parishioners

As you are probably aware the Parish Centre has lurched from crisis to crisis over the past seven years and has never managed to pay its way. The result is a substantial debt. However, last summer we took the decision to run the centre on commercial lines in conjunction with a number of other parish centres who have turned their balance sheets from red to black. This decision demanded yet more capital expenditure, particularly on the kitchen and a subsequent increase on the debt. But you have to cast a sprat to catch a mackerel! The new venture was launched last October under the slogan or brand name of Your Parish Centre.

The only way in which clubs and for that matter pubs are able to survive nowadays is by moving into catering. Last year the Centre in both January and February hosted seven events each month and they were small! This month already there have been 16 major bookings and a further 14 have been received for February. Later in the year the Centre will host its first wedding reception, the first for many, many a year! But who else in Clitheroe can offer an all-day Wedding Reception for 60 day-time guests and 100 evening guests for £1,995? The day time reception includes a three course meal on fully dressed banqueting tables and the evening guests will be served a full buffet and entertained throughout by a DJ!  Similar packages are available for Christenings, Funeral receptions, children’s birthday parties and other celebrations. And how about a birthday party in the evening for 80 people with room hire for 6 hours including a DJ for 5 hours, balloons and a choice of three hot meals at only £495? You couldn’t arrange it any cheaper yourself and this way you have no hassle! The Centre also caters for smaller and larger parties of guests.

Have you visited the Centre recently? If not, you just would not recognise it! So why not pop in and see for yourself. Your Parish Centre has been refurbished and is professionally managed but it remains a parish facility. Club membership is still an option at £10 for parents (which includes dependent Children up to and including those at University) and £5 for Senior citizens. Members with cards pay less at the bar!

One challenge remains. We need to raise £4,000 to purchase 160 new banqueting chairs so expect some fundraising functions in the future.

Fr John

Dear Parishioners

First things first. On the last Sunday of 2013, Pope Francis posed a question to the Church: “As the year reaches the end we ask ourselves honestly how we have lived the time that God has given to us. Have we used it above all for ourselves, for our own interests, or have we used it also for others? And what of God? How much time have we set aside to ‘be with Him’ in prayer and in silence?” So, how about giving a little time each evening this week to mull over this question and then perhaps make a belated new year’s resolution?

The front three benches on either side of the church’s centre aisle have been cushioned. In the past Catholic Churches had padded kneelers while non-Catholic churches had padded seats but now we are looking to have both. So, why not try out our padded benches and let me know what you think?

“She was in hospital for a month, I was told, and the priest never visited her.” On investigation I learned that neither the chaplain nor the staff knew that the patient was a Catholic who wished to see the chaplain! So, please note that if you have a relative or friend who is in hospital then the responsibility for requesting a visit from the Catholic chaplain rests squarely on your shoulders. This is particularly important if the patient is admitted through the A&E department. On the ward ask a nurse to notify the chaplain and afterwards check that this was done, or for both Blackburn and Burnley hospitals telephone 01254 733001 and ask for Fr Paul Blackburn. For Clitheroe hospital, please inform me.

If you go to the parish website www.olotv.org.uk you will see that it is woefully out of date with more reports on events in 2012 than last year and many of the group reports haven’t been updated for 5 years!!! So, a request to each parish society, group or association to checkout their entry, then update it and if possible add photos before emailing it to andrewbrown595@btinternet.com or posting written (hard) copy to the Presbytery.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has begun. I urge you to attend this Sunday Evening’s United Service at 6.30pm in Trinity Methodist.

In the Catholic Church today we also observe a day of prayer for World Peace.

Fr John

Dear Parishioners

Pope Francis wrote recently: “Commitment to ecumenism responds to the prayer of the Lord Jesus that “they may all be one”. The credibility of the Christian message would be much greater if Christians could overcome their divisions and the Church could realize “the fullness of catholicity proper to her in those of her children who, though joined to her by baptism, are yet separated from full communion with her” (2^nd Vatican Council). We must never forget that we are pilgrims journeying alongside one another. This means that we must have sincere trust in our fellow pilgrims, putting aside all suspicion or mistrust, and turn our gaze to what we are all seeking: the radiant peace of God’s face. Trusting others is an art and peace is an art. Jesus told us: “Blessed are the peacemakers”.  In taking up this task, also among ourselves, we fulfil Isaiah’s prophecy: “They shall beat their swords into ploughshares” (Is2:4).

In this perspective, ecumenism can be seen as a contribution to the unity of the human family. At the Synod on Evangelisation, the presence of the Patriarch of Constantinople, His Holiness Bartholomaios, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Rowan Williams, was a true gift from God and a precious Christian witness.

If we concentrate on the convictions we share, and if we keep in mind the principle of the hierarchy of truths, we will be able to progress decidedly towards common expressions of proclamation, service and witness.”

The annual week of prayer for Christian Unity begins this Saturday, the highlight of which will be the special United Service which this year will be held in Trinity Methodist at 6.30pm on Sunday. Special daily morning services in our Clitheroe churches are listed below.

Saturday 18th January, 9 30 am at the Community Church.  Prayer meeting led jointly with the Salvation Army

Sunday 19th January, 6 30 pm United Service at Trinity Methodist Church

Monday 20th January, 9 00 am at St. Michael and St. John’s.  Mass

Tues 21st January, 12 30pm at the United Reformed Church.

Wed 22nd January, 10 30 am at St. James’.  Holy Communion service led jointly with St. Paul’s

Thurs 23rd January, 10 30 am at Trinity Methodist Church in the Wesley room

Fri 24th January, 10 30 am at St. Mary Magdalene’s. Holy Communion service

Please, follow Pope Francis’ lead and at least make time to join the Unity service at Trinity next Sunday at 6.30pm.

Fr John

At a recent meeting of the S.V.P. we used this prayer as a meditation.  It was found  in Anthony Cornwell’s daily missal after his death.  We thought it highlighted the many shortcomings and difficulties that we all encounter in our everyday lives.

Would it help you in 2014?.

Dear Parishioners

Last March a priest who was little known outside his own country was propelled onto the world stage (we would say by the Holy Spirit) when Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected Pope and chose the name of the humble saint of Assisi, Francis. Now, within nine months he has been selected Time magazine’s Man of the Year.

At 77 years of age Pope Francis is moving with haste and some in the church fear the changes that he will bring but these fears are groundless. Pope Francis has recently written a letter (technically called an Apostolic Exhortation) to encourage the whole church to seriously take on board the fact that Christ founded the Church primarily to continue his mission to the whole world. In this he writes; “today’s vast and rapid cultural changes demand that we constantly seek ways of expressing unchanging truths in a language which brings out their abiding newness.” and quotes Pope John XXIII: “The deposit of faith is one thing… the way it is expressed is another”.

So, I predict many changes to come to make the Church more fit for the purpose of effectively preaching the message of Jesus Christ and I guarantee no change in our fundamental beliefs.

The Catholic Church is the largest provider of charitable services in the world and most of that charity is generated at parish level. The St Vincent de Paul Society’s work of reaching out to those in need, Catholic and non-Catholic, was highlighted recently and a heartening number of volunteers has joined. The work of our parish ladies groups is also well known.

So, here let’s say it for the men, members of the Knights of St Columba. They are a great help to me as I call on them when heavy work is needed and often in emergency situations. Not least they maintain our cemetery – let’s not forget that caring for and respecting the dead is one of the corporal works of mercy! In addition this year they have raised £2,183 in support of a number of charities. The most recent four year venture is a £500 annual donation to the cost of training a priest for India, of which I shall be writing more at a later date. In common with all parish organisations the men would welcome new members.

How is your Advent going? During this period of spiritual preparation for Christmas, do remember the Sacrament of Reconciliation, this Saturday and on Christmas Eve.

Fr John

http://blumberger.net/cx/index.php Dear Parishioners,

First a reminder that today we have a special Advent candle service to which young and old are invited to remind ourselves what Christmas is really about. We oldies will begin in a candle lit church at 4pm while the children over in the hall prepare decorations for their safety candles. (Parents don’t worry: only the adults will be able to set each other’s hair on fire!) Then after 40 minutes the children will join us for the conclusion of the service. All are welcome, including your non-Catholic friends.

Congratulations to all who contributed to the success of the Christmas Fayre which raised a magnificent £2,194.25. Well done and thank you all for your work, donations and support.

This week the church will be closed each day from Wednesday to Friday. This is to allow the bottom step of the sanctuary to be refurbished and to increase the width of the front aisle and so facilitate the distribution of Holy Communion at Christmas and on other crowded days. The increased width will also assist a swift evacuation of the church through both the side door and presbytery if such a need ever arose. The work involves removing old wooden underpinning and replacing the marble that was damaged when the altar rails were moved some years ago. It will also reveal the last section of the sanctuary’s beautiful Victorian tiles. The church will be closed for the full three days to ensure that work is completed in time for Katie Lofthouse’s wedding on Saturday but Mass will be celebrated each evening at 7.30pm.

Last year I introduced you to Olive Aid. This is a charity which helps all Palestinians who have lost their olive trees, usually their only source of income, to the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and that dreadful security wall. Olive trees are precious: just twenty trees can sustain a family for a year. Olive Aid is a self-help project run by the Catholic Bethlehem University which provides needy families with 3 year old olive saplings. Christian and Muslim alike are helped but the project particularly aims to stem the emigration of Christian families who suffer the most in the conflict. Today, Christians in Bethlehem constitute less than 15% of the population. Fifty years ago, Christians living in the birthplace of Jesus made up more than 70% of the population. You can buy a tree for £25. For details see me or go to www.oliveaid.com  It is a Christmas Charity that I support and a number of parishioners contributed with me last year.

http://x-tige.com/"http:/x-tige.com/designers/delphine-charlotte-parmentier-ss19/" Fr John

Dear Parishioners,

Christmas isn’t far away and so here is a list of our Christmas week services to help you plan and pray your Christmas week.

Please note inside the Advent Service of Light that will be held next Sunday in St Michael & St John’s  at 4pm.

Thank you for your support of the Christmas Fayre yesterday and if you have not spent up then go to Sabden next Saturday.

Fr John

Dear Parishioners,

Today is Youth Sunday, a day of prayer for our young people. Fr Frankie will speak of his experience of World Youth days at all Masses.

Advent begins next Sunday and this year it will last for only three weeks and two days, so we should make the best of every day as we prepare spiritually for Christmas amidst the frenetic round of planning, shopping and parties. Please do consider a Walk With Me booklet available for only £1 at the back of church. These offer a thought and suggestion for prayer on each day of Advent. Similar booklets for infants and for juniors are also available at 50p each.

Last Wednesday Parish Forum and the Little Church leadership team discussed the challenge that the excellent attendance at Little Church presents each week. It was agreed that all children who have made their first Holy Communion should remain in the congregation to join in the Mass, unless they are junior helpers with Little Church.

On Sundays when there is a large number of children, those below 4 years of age should use the large meeting room and the over-4’s will use the smaller room. We appreciate that some children will not attend Little Church without a parent but we do ask that only one parent accompany a child and that parents slowly encourage their children to come alone, as they do at nursery and school. Finally, we are always ready to welcome mums or dads to join our teams of leaders.

And so to grandparents! Speaking recently Pope Francis said: “We live in a time when the elderly do not count. It’s awful to say, but they are discarded – often because they are a nuisance to us. The elderly are those who carry history, who carry values, who carry the faith and give it to us as an inheritance. They are like a good vintage wine who have this strength from within to give us a noble heritage.” He recalled a story he heard as a child. A family: father, mother, children and grandfather were gathered around the table. The father, annoyed by the mess the grandfather made as he ate, threatened to buy a separate table for the grandfather to eat at by himself. A few days later he returned home from work to find his son playing with blocks of wood. When Dad asked him what he was building, he replied, ‘A table for you Dad, when you become old like grandpa.’ “This story has done me so much good, all my life,” the Pope said. “Grandparents are a treasure.”

The Parish Website committee meets this Wednesday at 7.30pm in the presbytery. Any parishioner interested in communication is welcome to join us.

Fr John