Dear Parishioners,

Last Wednesday evening 19 volunteers cleaned, trimmed and clipped the cemetery in preparation for the annual Requiem Mass tomorrow.  This was the largest number we’ve ever had and they all came as a tribute to Les Collinson in recognition of his dedication and care for the old Catholic Cemetery. Our thanks go to all.

Bishop John has invited all parishes to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the amalgamation proposals in the consultation document he presented before the holidays.  He further asks how we as an amalgamated parish propose to use our new structure as a launch pad to attract back ‘resting catholics’ and become an outward looking, relevant and attractive 21st century parish.  This whole parish meeting will be in our School in Dunsop Bridge (Thorneyholme RC Primary) on Wednesday 14th September at 7.30pm.

Fr John

WARNING

Next Sunday 4th September and the

following Sunday 11th September,

Lowergate will be totally closed to strip

(4th) and re-surface (11th) the road. 

Cars may be parked on the school car park.  Please enter and leave by Bayley Fold via

Peel Street and Highfield Road

Dear Parishioners,

The following brief report appeared in last week’s Tablet:

The number of British adults who identify as Christian has risen for the second year while the number who say they have no religion has declined.
Figures from NatCen’s British Social Attitudes survey showed that the number of Catholics rose from 8 per cent to 9 per cent last year, the level it was last at in 2002.
This caused the figure for Christians to rise from 43 per cent of the population to 44 per cent. This coincides with a slight fall in the number of those who identify themselves as having no religion, from 49 to 48 per cent. This is the second year it has fallen. The decline of these so-called “nones” is most pronounced among the under 45’s.
The percentage of adult members of religions other than Christian has remained at 8 per cent.

Ian Simpson, senior researcher at NatCen said: “It appears that the steady decline of religion in Britain has come to a halt, at least for the moment.”

But my quote of the week is from Pope Francis who, when addressing two million youth in Poland, advised them to speak to their grandparents to cultivate a ‘memory’ of their identity, of who they really are. How true! Up until a generation or so ago, Lancashire Catholics had a clear identity of who they were. Today most of our kids have little idea of who they are, their history and the faith their forebears suffered to preserve against all the odds.

This year’s RCIA course will begin after the holidays, next month. The RCIA is an introduction to Catholicism and is of interest to those wishing to learn more about the faith, or who may have missed making their First Communion, or those who wish to join the Church or are simply curious about what makes Catholic tick! If you have a friend who may be interested but possibly shy to come along, then do please consider inviting them and accompanying them to at least the initial session.

Fr John

Some comments from parishioners who joined the Salford Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes two weeks ago…

“Just got to be there to really experience shared joy of Lourdes; there may be tears but it brings it home to you that we are a universal church.  We can speak different languages, have different skin colours and live in different countries but we are all part of the holy family of God.”

“Inspirational, special times – to see the future of our diocese, preaching at the Grotto.  To see Bishop Terence opening our Pilgrimage and being joined by Bishop John following his busy schedule in Poland.  To see Mark Paver preaching the Gospel, following his ordination to the diaconate”

“A very reflective & inspirational journey with our Parish Pilgrims amongst our Salford Diocese Family. An insightful & historic place where you feel even more able to hand everything over to God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and Mary our Mother, wherever you go, whatever you choose to do and take part in, whoever you are with.  Special times, places and people.”

“Celebrating the joy of enthusiasm & hard work of all the volunteers and the young people who are our future. The joy of support they gave to the sick, disabled, elderly or anyone who might need  a helping hand.”

“Beautiful Door of Mercy, very special and inspiring to find the others, offering praise and thanksgiving wherever we may travel”.

“Lourdes is a glimpse of Heaven on Earth.”

“My thoughts and feelings, for different reasons; were very powerful. Summing up: to allow Mary our merciful Mother to accompany us through The Jubillee Door into God’s merciful light. My Pilgrimage of Thanksgiving this year.”

“Lightens peoples’ lives up, everyone so friendly, shaking hands with everyone, a very homely place.”

“Holy hour and journey in completing our Jubilee Passports – a perfect opportunity to spend time with God at the end of the day and reflect with our fellow diocesan pilgrims.”

“The love and kindness of God is felt all around you in the people you meet and the support of our Diocesan family is truly amazing.”

“You just have to be there to see it and feel it, you can’t express it.  I loved both of the torchlight processions; they felt different and it’s all just so special.”

Why not see for yourself next year?

Susan Fellows

In Poland last week…

While the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations are able to recruit small numbers of young people into their deadly campaigns, hundreds of thousands of Catholic youth from all across the planet came together in the streets of a major European city and left no destruction behind, but rather indelible images of friendship and fraternity.

For another, World Youth Day went ahead despite apprehensions about security threats. The presence of police and military throughout the week was palpable but never overweening or distracting, and every night, late into the night, young revellers filled up the squares and parks of the city as if their team had just won the Super Bowl or the World Cup.

In effect, this was a vast throng of loving, caring, positive young people saying to the Islamic State and the other wreakers of havoc in the early 21st century, “We refuse to be terrorized.”

As opposed to other scenarios of large-scale mobilizations one might imagine, crime rates in Krakow plummeted last week, garbage collections declined as these young pilgrims picked up after themselves, and locals were left smiling and delighted with the positive energy coursing through the city.

Finally, these young people exuded a different vision for the future of humanity, one based on a global solidarity, respecting differences of class, race and culture without viewing them as divisive, and embracing religion not as the problem but as the wellspring of the solution.

“Our response to a world at war has a name: its name is fraternity, its name is brotherhood, its name is communion, its name is family,” Pope Francis told the roughly one million youth gathered for a prayer vigil Saturday night.

“We celebrate the fact that coming from different cultures, we have come together to pray. Let our best word, our best argument, be our unity in prayer,” he said.

That might sound like hollow rhetoric, but if you had been in the streets and squares of Krakow in late July, you would understand that it’s not artifice or a pious aspiration, but the living, beating heart of an honest-to-God youth army – in this case, an army dedicated not to violence or hatred, but to hope.

John Allen, Crux

DAY OUT SUCCESS FOR REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS

Saturday 23rd of July saw Our Lady of the Valley parishioners, people from other Clitheroe Churches, and members of the Clitheroe Mosque hosting a day out for 38 refugees and asylum seekers from the Middle East and Africa. The organizing team are grateful to everyone for their financial support, practical help, and goodwill.

The weather was kind, and everyone had a good time. At Edisford Bridge the children paddled and played games, learnt how to cook sausages and make bracelets.  A bagpiper turned up to entertain, and our guests were keen to have their pictures taken with him. Later they played diamond cricket on St. Michael and St. John’s school field. Father John led a walk along the River Ribble for a small group of adults, and the Mosque put on a delicious BBQ. Later in the afternoon, everyone headed to Sabden (by the Nick o’ Pendle to take in the views) for a delicious traditional cream tea, put on by Sabden parishioners. We learned that our love of cream cakes was something we all had in common! It was particularly moving to see the children having so much fun: one 8-year-old lad told me it was the best day since he had left home!

Manager for Revive, the Charity we have been working with in Manchester, has written to say:

I wish to thank you again for the great Day Out you organised for the refugee and asylum community at Revive.

It’s a fantastic experience for all. The opportunity to see the beautiful country side of Clitheroe; the opportunity to experience the generosity/ hospitality and welcome of your Catholic Parishes and Muslim community were awesome and inspiring.

It was bold and courageous of you to lead and drive this amazing outreach project to the refugee and asylum community.

Everyone was gushing with praise and admiration for you and your team. Many declared the day out as one of the best days of their lives. And the question from everyone has been: Can we do this again, regularly?

I thought we could and should. It is a worthwhile event and a win for all, hence I wish we book it in again in our calendar for 2017 (22^nd July). What do you think?

Warm regards to the Christian Parishes and the Muslim community at Clitheroe for making our day.

Thanks and God bless. Uchenna Odenigbo

Just over £1,000 was raised towards the day, and so there are sufficient funds left over in Revive’s account to kick-start a similar event next year. We should give it a go!

Tom Clay