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 Tuesday 9.15 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass Wednesday 9.15 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass Thursday 9.15 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass Friday 9.15 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass

Private Funeral – Angela Haworth R.I.P. Saturday 9.15 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass Sunday 9.00 a.m. 11.00 a.m. Doors closed - Fr Brian Mass – 6th Sunday of Easter A

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St. Joseph’s Church St Edward’s Church Bolton Rd Blackburn Rd

The Catholic Parish of The Sacred Heart, Darwen

5th Sunday of Easter Year A 10th May 2020

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

e-mail: admin@darwencatholic.org.uk www.darwencatholic.org.uk newsletter: news@darwencatholic.org.uk facebook.com/DarwenCatholic

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

Invitation from Bishop John Live Mass at Salford Cathedral Sundays 11am

https://www.churchservices.tv/ Bishop John will be celebrating 11am Sunday Mass during the remainder of the lockdown as a diocesan

call to solidarity and prayer during the pandemic.

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING At home or at work, remember to keep your

distance and stay safe, following all the regulations and hygiene advice.

V.E. Day Remembrance The sun shone for the ‘stay-at-home’ street parties to celebrate the anniversary of this occasion. The flags flew and the bells rang out at St Joseph’s Church, in

memory of those who lost their lives in the war and all who faced life without their loved ones. Celebrations of

freedom indeed; but above all, remembrance of the horror and sacrifice that so many experienced.

The only thing that evil needs to thrive is that good people do nothing.

Fascism emerged in the same place as Beethoven, Mozart and some of the greatest cultural achievements in Europe. May we never forget the lessons of history. May the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.

Fr Brian appreciates anybody who joins him in

prayer.

Message from Cardinal Nicholls Weekly live Mass, Thursdays 7pm, to show spiritual

solidarity with those who are sick & their families, NHS Front line workers & those working in social care.

14th May Bishop Robert Byrne, Newcastle Cathedral

WASH YOUR HANDS It is our prayer that we will return to Church.

But before we do so, let us lodge in our subconscious the necessity to wash our hands as we leave our homes on our way to Church and

then wash them again on our return home.

VE Day 2020

Seventy-five years ago the laughter

and joyful banter confirmed your grief

The bottles of whisky hidden over those years

shared declared the relief

that their sons were coming home

And you smiled and you were grateful

for what was said As your husband lost his head

and went to drink what he could

and hide in the noisy crowd

He was only a boy He was only a boy

Fr Brian Kealey 8th May 2020

CORONAVIRUS IS REAL; LOCKDOWN GOES ON PLEASE be very careful when lockdown

restrictions are eased. The pandemic is far from over and we need to be mindful that this

deadly virus is still circulating.

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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.

FOODBANK ESSENTIALS UHT milk, cereal, tins of meat, tinned

tomatoes, pasta sauces, dried potatoes. Drop-off at Sainsburys & St Joseph’s Church garage.

PLEASE JUST DROP & LEAVE. MANY THANKS TO ALL INVOLVED.

Mass Intentions:

Lately Dead: Gerry Costello, Angela Haworth

Anniversaries: Joyce Harwood (8th May) & all whose anniversaries are at this time

Birthday Anniversaries: Donald Harwood (6th May), Bernard Healey (12th May)

Other: 2 special intentions & all in need of special intentions.

Please pray for: Angela Haworth R.I.P. & her family, who are limited to a private funeral at the Cemetery.

SHOP LOCAL with DELIVERY SERVICES Market traders in Darwen & Blackburn are offering

local home delivery services with fresh supplies. https://theshuttle.org.uk/new-market-delivery-

service-for-blackburn-and-darwen/ There are also take-away menus from local eating establishments and pubs. Plus various businesses offering delivery/collection. Search via GOOGLE.

DOMESTIC GOD! Having mastered a couple of new,

wholesome recipes, Fr Brian has turned his attention to perfecting other household skills.

Sunday afternoons ironing provide additional meditation time, while mid-week grass-cutting, cleaning & hoovering are now

a regular part of his fitness routine!

BwD Help Hub: 01254 588111

www.theshuttle.org.uk/coronavirus .

WEEKLY COLLECTIONS - THERE IS NO NEED TO CONTRIBUTE UNLESS YOU ARE ABLE!

We recognise that circumstances have changed as a result of the pandemic and incomes may be affected. At the same time we are aware that parishioners have asked how they can continue to contribute to the Parish during Church

closures and self-isolation period. WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR MONEY - IN THE SHORT-TERM THE PARISH CAN COPE. However, obviously parish income has also been hit, and longer-term we need to look at how to continue the good

work from contributions of the past. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE: 1. Online Bank Transfer: SRCDTR, The Sacred Heart, Barclays Bank PLC, Mosley St Branch, Manchester M2 3QH2

Account no. 40835803 Sort code: 205534 2. Standing Order: Set up temporary or permanent standing order using details above. This would need to be done

privately with your bank as we cannot currently manage administration through the parish. 3. Post a Cheque: To keep within current restrictions we are not encouraging hand delivery but Royal Mail post.

Cheques made payable to “The Parish of Sacred Heart Darwen”. Postal Address see top of newsletter. 4. Save Collection in Envelopes: This is the least favourable method for our finance team, as it will be difficult to

process. However, if this is the best option for you, we fully understand and will manage it accordingly. PLEASE DO NOT DELIVER YOUR ENVELOPES YET! But DO SAVE YOUR ENVELOPES for gift-aid purposes.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 200 Club This is separate and currently suspended. Subscriptions will be carried forward or resume when we re-open.

Birds of A Feather

During the week it appeared that Fr Brian’s new neighbours at St Edward’s may have decided that the area is not up to standard. Perhaps they were considering the unruly nature of the cats, magpies, gadeners and clergy. HOWEVER… on Saturday morning there are lodgers back in residence and claiming full squatters’ rights!

Wednesday Word The idea is to take time out each week to reflect on

the readings for the coming weekend Mass. It is a lead reflection which gently helps you to focus &

understand the scripture. Our primary schools usually hand out printed copies so during lockdown this is

available online: http://wednesdayword.org.uk

The Lord’s Day at Home Salford Diocese publishes a weekly service if you are

housebound or self-isolating. These prayers are to unite yourself with the worship of the Universal

Church, and your own Parish, on Sundays. The LDAH leaflet is published on our website homepage each week and the link is posted on our facebook page.