Dear Parishioners,

Last Wednesday, a meeting was held at Dunsop Bridge to discuss the Bishop’s proposals for the restructuring of Parishes. Almost forty people attended, representing each of the three church communities within Our Lady of The Valley parish.
We discussed the principals which underpinned the Bishop’s proposals: the need for change due to reduced numbers of priests, for strengthening our ability to become a missionary church, for larger more dynamic parishes rather than smaller struggling communities, the welfare of our priests, involvement of lay people, developing our outreach to the community, retention of ownership of closed churches and necessary changes to parish structures to face the challenges of the 21^st century.

These proposals were condensed into three questions.

1. How did you feel when you first heard about the proposal to amalgamate with another parish?
2. Fears always lead to opportunities. What opportunities do these changes present?
3. What do you think is our next step should be?

The questions promoted lively debate which highlighted some genuine concerns but also identified positive opportunities that could result from the proposal. All conclusions were noted and will be collated to share with the Bishop and the parish.

This was a productive evening which showed that our three church’s communities were ready and keen to work together.

This coming Wednesday, 21^st September, the Forum meets at 7.30pm in the parish social centre. For the benefit of new parishioners, I should explain that the Forum is our parish council but differs from almost all other parish councils in that you and every parishioner is a member with the right to attend, to speak and to vote. The only condition is that you turn up! We meet every six weeks or so and have full and interesting agendas so do come along and play your part in parish life. Tea and biscuits will be served from 7.15pm.

Laudato si is the first line of a hymn written by St Francis in praise of God’s creation and quoted by Pope Francis to introduce a letter written to the world to warn of the damage that humanity is inflicted on our common home, planet earth. The letter has been praised by many both within and outside Christianity. From Wednesday 5^th October we shall begin a study of this important document. Make a date in your diary! A full list of 7 meetings spread over the coming 7 months will be published next week.

Fr John

Dear Parishioners,

As you are probably aware, the most famous daughter of Albania, Mother Teresa of Calcutta was canonised last Sunday and is now St Teresa.

On 5^th November 38 Albanian martyrs will be beatified (the final step before canonisation), representative of many bishops, priests, men and women religious, and laity who accepted death rather than deny their faith under one of the most despotic communist regimes in Europe.

Among them is a young young teacher who was preparing to join an order of religious sisters. Maria Tuci was 21 years of age when she was arrested in 1949 while teaching at a primary school run by the religious order she intended to join. Maria died a martyr’s death the following year at the age of 22.

In prison, she was brutally tortured for her faith and her religious vocation, humiliated and sexually assaulted by the prison guards. One of the guards told her: “I will reduce you to a state that even your family would not be able to recognize you.” That is exactly what happened.

Resisting to the end, she was tied naked inside a sack with a feral cat whom the guards had beaten and tormented for days. Inside the sack, the cat was again beaten by sticks. Maria was scratched and repeatedly bitten by the cat. Puncture wounds from cat bites can be serious, introducing bacteria deep into the flesh. Infection can be lethal if not quickly attended to.

After days of brutal torture, Maria was admitted to the hospital, disfigured and bruised over her whole body. She died an agonizing death on October 24, 1950, holding a rosary in her hands.

Before her death she said: “I thank God because he gave me the strength to die free.” Despite terrible torture, the 22-year-old forgave her tormentors and the prison guards.

Such witness to faith should prompt us to ask ourselves, what does my faith cost me?

Fr John

WARNING

This Sunday, 11th September,

Lowergate will be totally closed to 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,

Please join Our Lady of the Valley’s special 8 mile Sponsored walk, taking in beautiful riverside views along the River Ribble.  It will be led by our Parish Priest.  Meet outside St Michael & St John’s Church at 1.30pm on Sunday 2nd October 2016.  All funds will be split 50:50 between our Diocesan Caritas Young Parents Service (supporting a Mother/Baby unit in Bolton), and renovating the Ladies Toilets in our Community Parish Hall.  For Registration and Sponsorship forms, please contact Meriel Woodward; m.woodward@caritasssalford.org.uk or 07989 922666.  If you can’t make the event, but would still like to support the team please take a sponsor form at the back of the church or visit http://tinyurl.com/2ndOct2016.  Thank you

(This walk is a project initiated by the Parish Forum which asked Meriel Woodward (Sabden) to organise the event.  Please do support it)

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,

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