Dear Parishioners,
Speaking of today’s great feast of Pentecost Pope Francis said: ‘Saint Paul concludes his Letter to the Romans by praying that “the God of hope” will make us “abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom 15:13). As a gift of the Spirit, hope is both an anchor (cf. Heb 6:18-19) giving us security amid the storms of life, and a “sail” driving us forward towards the safe harbour of eternal life. The Spirit bears witness within our hearts to the consoling truth of God’s promises and the inheritance that awaits us as his beloved sons and daughters (cf. Rom 8:16). Filled with this hope, we can become, in the words of Cardinal Newman, “consolers in the image of the Paraclete… advocates, helpers and bringers of comfort” to others. The Spirit, who brings hope to all creation (cf. Rom 8:20-22), also inspires in us love and respect for this world in which we live. May this Pentecost find us, like Mary and the Apostles, gathered in prayer, and may the gift of the Holy Spirit make us “abound in hope.”’
Returning from the School break, candidates in Dunsop make their First Holy Communion today, followed next week by the children of Clitheroe and Sabden.
On Weld Day, which this year is Sunday 2nd July, at the special 10am Mass celebrated on the Parish field all the children from the three school communities will be presented to the parish in all their finery and receive their certificates and rather splendid work books as mementos of the day they received the Body of Jesus Christ for the first time and became fully fledged Catholics. The Parish Picnic will follow.
Today also is the last Sunday before we adopt the new Saturday/Sunday Mass schedule which is clearly listed on the front of the newsletter and church notice boards. Please share this news far and wide, particularly among parishioners who may not have been to Mass recently.
Next Sunday, 11th June, due to the First Holy Communions, there will be an extra Mass in Clitheroe at 11am. So, next Sunday only parishes Masses will be:
Saturday at 6pm first Mass of Sunday in DUNSOP
Sunday at 9.30am usual morning Mass in CLITHEROE
Sunday at 11am First Holy Communion Mass CLITHEROE
Sunday at 11am First Holy Communion Mass SABDEN
Sunday at 5pm the new Sunday evening Mass CLITHEROE
The following Sunday’s masses will be at the new times. Please see the red box on the front page.