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

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

It can be viewed HERE

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.

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

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

There is a selection of photos online from the Masses at St. Josephs’s – 11PM, 24th December and Sacred Heart – 11am, 25th December.

The Christmas music and carols with BwD Junior Band went down a treat with everyone who attended.  This year we saw a massive turnout and St Joseph’s Hall had a full house.

A big thank you to everyone involved with the organisation and planning as well as sorting out gifts for the raffle.

Was the lady holding up the cards for the 12 days of Christmas part of the act?  If she wasn’t , she was very funny.

The winners of the 200 club Christmas Draw drawn at the Blackburn with Darwen Junior Band Concert in St. Joseph’s Parish Hall on Thursday 15th December 2011 are as follows:

1st Prize £500  number 173  winner Terry Griffiths

2nd Prize £300 number 198  winner Nora Jackson

3rd Prize  £100  number 21   winner Joyce Whittam

4th Prize  £100   number 141  winner Peter Bolan

Well done to the winners and many thanks to all who support the draw and Alec and Margaret who give so much of their time to organising it week by week.