31St May 2020

The Catholic Parish of

The Sacred Heart, Darwen

St. Joseph’s Church St Edward’s Church Bolton Rd Blackburn Rd Parish Office Priest’s Residence Church House St. Joseph’s Presbytery 370 Blackburn Road 149 Bolton Road Darwen , BB3 0AA Darwen, BB3 2PG 01254 702525 01254 702026

“As the Father sent me, so am I e-mail: [email protected] www.darwencatholic.org.uk sending you: receive the Holy Spirit.” newsletter: [email protected] facebook.com/DarwenCatholic st Pentecost Year A 31 May 2020

St. Joseph’s St. Edward’s Sunday 9.00 a.m. 11.00 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass Monday 9.15 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass Fr Brian Tuesday 9.15 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass appreciates Wednesday 9.15 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass anybody who joins Thursday 9.15 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass him in prayer. Friday 9.15 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass Saturday 9.15 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass Sunday 9.00 a.m. 11.00 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass – Trinity Sunday

Live Mass at Salford Cathedral Sundays 11am On the Feast of Pentecost

https://www.churchservices.tv/ Pray that all in public service be inspired by Bishop John celebrates 11am Sunday Mass as a

the Holy Spirit to serve and not be served. call to solidarity &prayer during the pandemic.

Live Streaming Coming to Darwen Soon

We are in the initial stages of setting up live streaming of the Mass for both St Joseph’s &

St Edward’s Churches. Upon completion, this will be available through the Church Services T.V. network. Pray all goes well, as Fr Brian has more faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ than he does in the internet! It will cost money, but after the pandemic crisis, those who are housebound will be able to take part in our community more fully.

CORONAVIRUS CONCERN FUTURE PLANNING & SOCIAL We love each other. Thus as DISTANCING Roman Catholics, we have a great When we re-open there will inevitably be responsibility to demonstrate this n limitations imposed on large gatherings. We will love through care. We must all work have to manage numbers in Church. An initial at staying safe and not allow the review suggests maximum capacity: common frustration and St Edward’s: 2 people a bench = 40 abandonment of restrictions in our St Joseph’s: 3 people a bench = 60 homes and daily routines. Obviously there will be other considerations COVID 19 is still a threat! such as family groups, plus many other issues including arrival & departure arrangements, PERTH COACH HOLIDAY cleaning & hygiene, toilets etc. Planning is No doubt you have been waiting already happening, but we await full to hear this, but after consultation, government regulations a national & diocesan Fr Brian has decided to cancel this trip guidelines from the Church authorities. planned for October. Even though it is a few months away, placing people in an enclosed WEEKLY COLLECTIONS bus for long journeys is not a good idea. Many thanks to those who have sent in ALL DEPOSITS cheques, bank transfers or donations towards WILL BE REFUNDED. the upkeep of the Parish. Your support is greatly appreciated and valued. Please only contribute if you feel you can. BwD Help Hub: 01254 588111 Bank details will be published again next week. www.theshuttle.org.uk/coronavirus .

Mass Intentions:

Lately44444444444444444444ED|R Dead: All who have died recently.

Anniversaries: Thomas Gillett (25th May), Christopher Burke (30th May), Sabina Shannon (4th June), Michael Reddy (11th June)

Birthday Anniversaries: Catherine Louise Haworth (4th June)

Other: All in need of special intentions and for all who are suffering from the COVID 19 virus and its impact.

Please pray: for the families of Franco Bellusci & Maureen Roberts who were limited to private graveside funerals. CORONAVIRUS – CHURCHES CLOSED & PARISH ACTIVITIES SUSPENDED See links to the guidance from: The Government, The Bishops Conference & Salford Diocese: http://www.darwencatholic.org.uk/ & facebook.com/DarwenCatholic THIS SUSPENSION LIFTS OUR SUNDAY OBLIGATION Parishioners can join in spiritual communion and/or watch live streaming of Mass via: https://www.churchservices.tv/ Fr Brian’s sermons are published with the newsletter on our website.

The Lord’s Day at Home FOODBANK This Sunday prayer service is published ESSENTIALS on our website homepage each week. We always need: UHT milk, cereal, tins Wednesday Word of meat, tinned http://wednesdayword.org.uk tomatoes, pasta sauces, dried potatoes.

Birds of a Feather Fr Brian has spied chicks but does not know if these have fledged yet. He has often spotted the local cat population patrolling and he is not popular with the feline fraternity! There is frequent noise Fr Brian’s Socially Distanced disturbance, presumably coming from the Solo Walk 2 nest but Fr Brian is keeping his distance. Another 14 miler, to Entwistle via Belmont. Fr Brian joined Spring iz sprung, the grass iz riz, Darwen moor above Bold Venture Park. He veered off the

I wonder where the boidie iz? main Tower route to take the Witton Weavers’ Way briefly to Duckshaw Clough and then round the back of the They say the boidie’s on the wing. moors, past the old mine shafts to ‘Finger Post’ at Turn But that’s absoid; the wing is on the little boid! Lowe. Here he dropped down and joined the Witton Weavers’ Way alongside Belmont Reservoir and Anon Longworth Moor to Charter’s Moss Plantation. Near Stones Bank Bridge he took the forest trail past Delph MAINTENANCE UPDATE Reservoir to the A666 Bolton Rd near Ciao Baby St Edward’s Parish Hall Kitchen: This is to be Restaurant. Crossing here he headed up to Turton refurbished with new surfaces, extractor fan Heights and over the moor to Green Arm’s Rd, then down serviced and potentially new cookers, depending the field to Entwistle Reservoir. Along the embankment what is found when the units are removed. he turned up to the Strawbury Duck pub & Entwistle St Joseph’s Maintenance: Work continues on station, following the Witton Weavers’ Way round Edge the guttering on the mill-side of the building and Fold and Lowe Hill back to the A666 near Cadshaw Farm. the stonework on the Church main door front. The final leg took him up lower Cadshaw Valley and

Thanks to all who organise this work, securing across to Smith’s Height’s above Bull Hill, where he maintenance of the buildings in the near future joined the Witton Weavers’ Way back to Lord’s Hall Farm and beyond. and down to St Joseph’s.

EASTER EGG CRISIS SUNSHINE ALL THE WAY Fr Brian has done his best to eat as many Easter Enjoy this wonderful weather but eggs as he could before they go out of date. The please remember to stay safe, Foodbank Appeal has already been inundated with follow social distancing guidance chocolate eggs and treats. So with the ‘best before and wash hands regularly. date’ rapidly approaching in the next few weeks, Fr PLEASE always follow the Brian is planning to give the eggs away to anyone he countryside code to look after meets. If you see a strange man with a long beard our town and surrounding environment. bearing chocolate eggs… KEEP YOUR DISTANCE!