News

Below we have a selection of worksheets to download, print and complete.

We will be adding colouring sheets and word searches on a weekly basis.

3rd June 2012

27th May 2012

20th May 2012

The Meeting for Parents of children on the Sacramental Programme for both parishes is on Thursday evening at 6.30pm in Saint Edward’s Parish Hall. Please note that it is for parents and not for the children. Thank you. is

May 16th – 7pm (Just Team members) – Venue to confirm but probably at St. Josephs

May 23rd 6pm – Team members – Parents and God Parents – Part 1

May 30th 6pm – Team members – Parents and God Parents – Part 2

Additional Dates for the Sacramental Programme

May 17th – 6.30PM – Both Parishes to meet at St Edwards Hall – Parents Only

During a recent “sort out” a parishioner found this memorial card for Father Desiderius Vandenweghe who was the first Rector of Darwen and first Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s. It was also during his time as Rector that the original Mission Church of St. Edward was founded. Father Vandenweghe took charge in 1858 and died here on 25th March 1898. He is buried in Darwen Cemetery.

A new gallery of the recent walk up to Darwen Tower has been uploaded.

It can be viewed HERE

As Brownies get older and want to become Guides we at St. Joseph’s need to end our girls away to other parts of the town. We really would like to keep the girls as Guides but at the moment we are unable to do so because we have no Guide unit. We are calling out for volunteers who are interested in starting a Guide Unit at St. Joseph’s and keeping our Rainbows and Brownies who want to become Guides close to us in the Catholic family. St. Joseph’s is the only Girlguiding UK set of units in Darwen who are …

Palm Sunday     The 6.15pm Vigil Mass at St. Joseph’s, the 9.00am Sunday Mass at St. Joseph’s and the 11.00am Sunday Mass at Sacred Heart and St. Edward’s all begin with the Blessing of Palms in the Church Hall and Procession into Church for the Reading of the Passion and celebration of the Eucharist.

Palm Sunday afternoon The annual walk of witness with the Cross meets at The Green in Darwen centre at 2.30pm. After a short service those who wish to follow the Cross up the hill to the tower will do so. Those who wish to walk to St. Peter’s …

A series of paintings by George Pugh will be on display in our Parish Hall at St. Edward’s very shortly.

The artworks range from stunning animal portraits to contemporary abstract floral prints.

The collection can be previewed below.

On Saturday 10th March our Darwen Altar Servers joined 250 others from around the Salford Diocese for a day at Salford Cathedral. They enjoyed a day of activities and a special Mass at which the Vicar General, Canon Anthony Kay, (who is the bishop’s deputy) presented them with medals in recognition of their services to their parish and the diocese. The bishop, who is recovering from a recent heart operation, sent a special message of welcome and appreciation to them.

The winners of the Sweet Dreams Quiz were drawn on Saturday 10th March at the end of the Vigil Mass out of a list of 100% entries. The winners are:

£25   “Swarbrick”

£10   Ann and Gerry Lucas

£5   Susan Blackburn

Well done to all who got 100% correct. Lists of correct answers will be posted in the church porches. Many thanks to all who helped with setting the quiz, duplicating, selling, collecting and marking.

If your child is taking part in the current Sacramental Programme (2011/2012) it is now time to book the date for them to receive Holy Communion for the first time. The lists are up in both St. Joseph’s and Sacred Heart and St. Edward’s churches and you can select the date from those available. To avoid complications please note that it is only possible to select a date in church, in person.

The dates for receiving Holy Communion for the first time at St. Joseph’s are at the Saturday Vigil Mass and Sunday Morning Masses on the weekends of 16/17 June, …

Last year we celebrated the Sacred Triduum Liturgies for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday at St. Edward’s and the Easter Vigil at St. Joseph’s.  Do we want to do the same again this year or shall we celebrate Maundy Thursday and Good Friday at St. Joseph’s and the Easter Vigil at St. Edward’s?  We obviously will not be able to please everyone but I would value your thoughts.

Fr. Peter

The next set of meetings have been arranged for the team to meet up with Parents and God-Parents.

The dates are -

Week 1 – 29th February 2012

Week 2 – 7th March 2012

Both meetings will commence at 6pm for coffee and tea and the presentations will start at 6.30pm.

The meetings will follow the same structure as last time.

Darwen Days have kindly supplied us with some old photos of both of our churches.

They can be viewed online now – CLICK ME TO VIEW

12th March – This week we start a new unit. We think about the mistakes we make and how this is an essential part of our humanity in that  recognising our limitations also provides opportunities for growth. “I know that it’s ok for me to make mistakes” is our theme this week. We hear the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11 – 32). At it’s most simple level it reminds us that if we are truly sorry, God our father will always forgive us. However, the story also reminds us that we have to search so that God’s love …

We would like to congratulate George Pugh on being invited to exhibit a selection of his work in the Wensley Gallery, 6-8 Market Place, Ramsbottom, BL0 9HT from January 8th until February 8th.

George has made various contributions to the liturgy and decoration around St. Joseph’s including the magnificent “Advent and Christmas Windows” which you see in the sanctuary, and the more abstract “Calvary Resurrection” diptych in the Reception area of the Presbytery. We wish George every success and lots of visits and interest.

The 2012 Church Calendar has been added to the site.

The calendar can be found by clicking the button.

Do you have any old photos from the Darwen parishes?

We have received some from Sacred Heart and Saint Edward’s which can now be viewed by clicking on the Gallery on the Home page.

Once you have clicked on Gallery, you find a new page with a few photos on it. Each of these is the entrance to a separate photo album. Click on one to see the rest of the photos in that album. Click on any photo to enlarge it. Move your mouse to the right or left edge of the photo to find the button which leads you to …

I would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. May God bless you and walk ever more closely with you and those you love to protect and guide you during 2012.

Also, a very sincere thanks to all of you who make the parishes of St. Joseph’s and Sacred Heart and St. Edward’s a great place to be and who make the Catholic Community of Darwen and District a lively presence of Jesus Christ in his world.

Fr. Peter