Our Blog

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – Conclusion

 Conclusion

So strange I can understand the death

So much easier than the resurrection

So sad I can appreciate the suffering

So much more than the joy

So I again begin this journey

To wherever it may take me

For there is always

More

There is always more

Have faith

Rejoice

There is always more

Read more

Golden Wedding

Congratulations to James & Christine Currie who celebrate 50 years of marriage on Saturday 3rd April. They were married at St Mary’s Haslingden and the photos show them then and now!

Read more

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – 14

 The Fourteenth Station

The body of Jesus is placed in the tomb

 

We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee

Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world

 

First Voice

There is still need for dignity

Ritual and familiarity

With spices and cloths

And a new tomb

This body placed into the earth

Having accomplished

At total cost

 

Second Voice

But there is no conclusion

They move away from the place

Meaning to return

But there is no return

Everything that was the same

Is now different

The new way begins

 

I love you Jesus

My love above all things

I regret with my whole heart of having offended thee

Never permit me to separate …

Read more

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – 13

 The Thirteenth Station

Jesus is taken down from the cross

 

We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee

Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world

  

First Voice

Unspoken strength

She wipes the blood

From limbs

first formed within her womb

She did not understand then

She does not understand now

Oh clement, Oh loving, oh sweet Virgin Mary

 

Second Voice

She is the faith

The one they seek to care for

She is the protection

The one they seek to serve

She is your mother

Fragile weeping accepting

Where the secret thoughts may be laid bare

 

I love you Jesus

My love above all things

I regret with my whole heart of having …

Read more

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – 12

The Twelfth Station
Jesus dies upon the cross
 
We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee
Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world
 
First Voice
This is where
the words lose meaning
the void too vast to cross
I am incapable of speaking
Deaf to all said
He is dead
I am lost

Second Voice
From the noise of violence
To this silence
From the impatience of the crowd…

Read more

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – 11

 The Eleventh Station

Jesus is nailed to the cross

 

We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee

Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world

 

First Voice

Insatiable

No justification no gratification

Those are the hands of God

Pierced and broken

Your act proves nothing

but the futility of your pride

While this humility

Redeems the world

 

Second Voice

I too crucify

One of this insatiable crowd

Draining the water

Burning the earth

Refusing responsibility

For My sister held down by production

My brother crucified by poverty

 

I love you Jesus

My love above all things

I regret with my whole heart of having offended thee

Never permit me to separate myself from thee again

Grant that …

Read more

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – 10

 The Tenth Station

Jesus is stripped of his garments

 

We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee

Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world

 

First Voice

Part of the ritual of humiliation

Is this stripping naked

Back to Adam’s sin

But here the sinless one

Exposes our regret

Confronts the shame

We spend a lifetime covering

 

Second Voice

Take from me each layer

Remove the pretence

The cloak of wealth

The veneer of respectability

The trappings of security

In truth I have nothing but my love

That Lord is all that I am

have mercy on me a sinner

 

I love you Jesus

My love above all things

I regret with my whole heart …

Read more

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – 9

 The Ninth Station

Jesus falls for the third time

We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee

Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world

 

First Voice

Drained strained empty

There is no independence physically

What blows have not damaged

What cursing and cruelty have not cut

What is left

Is utter dependency

The son of God yields

The body has nothing left

Second Voice

When these bones have nothing

When I am close to death

When the kind nurse wipes my mouth

When they leave the room

So that I can be cleaned

Then Christ crucified share with me

The acceptance that becomes defiance

 I love you Jesus

My love above all things

I …

Read more

Stations of the Cross by Fr Brian Kealey – 8

 The Eighth Station

 

Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

 

 We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee

Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world

 

 First Voice

They cry and wail

So sad for him

Keeping the distance

Between those who care

And those who fail

Safe maintaining the illusion

Of difference

 

Second Voice

This cross is ours

The crucifixion shared

That starving child is yours

These families are mine

The agony felt

A part of the life

Of those prepared to take with Christ this path

 

I love you Jesus

My love above all things

I regret with my whole heart of having offended thee

Never permit me to separate myself from thee again

Grant that I may …

Read more

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – 7

 The Seventh Station

Jesus falls for the second time

 

We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee

Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world

 

First Voice

They want more

Not enough to destroy the body

They want the will

And Jesus falls

Through pain they seek submission

Probing beyond the physical

And Jesus falls

 

Second Voice

Trapped in this web of depression

With Jesus I fall

Taking poison for Cancer

With Jesus I fall

Reaching the years of frailty

With Jesus I fall

And with Jesus

I will arise

And go on

 

 I love you Jesus

My love above all things

I regret with my whole heart of having offended thee

Never permit me to …

Read more

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – 6

 The Sixth Station

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

 

We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee

Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world

 

First Voice

Who did she see

Who did see recognise through the crowd

The victim

The criminal

The second-rate citizen

Was it a clear understanding

That here was a man

 

Second Voice

So many images

The news entertaining with disaster

Pain anesthetised by familiarity

So look through the presentation

See beyond your comfort

The patronising position of your security

Then have the courage like Veronica

To act

 

I love you Jesus

My love above all things

I regret with my whole heart of having offended thee

Never permit me to separate …

Read more

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – 5

 
The Fifth Station
Simon of Cyrene is called to help carry the cross
 
We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee
Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world
 
First Voice
He is dragged in
Wrong place, wrong time
Ordered to take up the burden of this victim
But who is he helping
The man so close to death
Or the powerful Legion
Who choose to preserve this specimen
The subject of their sport….

Read more

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – 4

 
The Fourth Station
Jesus meets his mother
 
We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee
Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world
 
First Voice
Look now from this place
Beyond the soft romance and presentation
Through centuries of confusion
Past our needs
Past our fears
To this powerful woman
Prepared to suffer
And in real pain
Second Voice
To see from such a distance
From prayer to conception
From …

Read more

Happy St David’s Day – 1st March 2021


David’s last words to his followers came from a sermon he gave on the previous Sunday: ‘Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things that you have heard and seen me do.’ The phrase ‘Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd’ – …

Read more

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – 3

 
The Third Station
Jesus falls for the first time
 
We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee
Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world
 
First Voice
There is screaming and panic,
and pushing and power
As they herd the victims from train to chamber
In chains into stinking ships
Using fear to reduce with labour before death
And some fall
and are beaten

Second Voice
That the Son of God …

Read more

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – 2

The Second Station
Jesus receives the cross
 
We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee
Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world
 
First Voice
Again it is the threat of pain
The symbol more powerful than the act
To kill was not enough to subdue
The victim’s screams needed to echo in the brain
Obedience a willing escape
From the consequence of independence
Safety compliance and mediocrity
Second Voice
The symbol more …

Read more

Stations of the Cross 2021 by Fr Brian Kealey – 1

  
 The First Station
Jesus is condemned to death
 
We adore thee Oh Christ and we praise thee
Because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world
 
First Voice
There is little that is, as it seems
Pilate is neither all powerful
Nor really interested in a vagrant preacher
Killing to the Romans simply a means of imposing discipline
Justice a naive concept
It is you and I that project respect
It is our needs that try to …

Read more

Darwen Churches Remain CLOSED

DARWEN CHURCHES CLOSED
Our doors are closed for another month
due to the continuing high local infection rates.
These are falling but not fast enough.
Fr Brian is hopeful that it may be safe enough
to re-open after this.
VACCINATIONS NOT ENOUGH
If you have had your vaccination, thanks be to God!
But recognise that you it takes time to have full effect
on the body, and that you can still spread the virus.
There will be others not yet vaccinated and not yet immune.

Read more

Darwen Catholic Churches – Covid Closure

Darwen Catholic Churches doors closed and no public Masses until further notice. Due to the very high infection rates in our area, Fr Brian feels obliged to make a local decision to protect everyone and prevent our hospitals being overwhelmed. The situation will continue to be reviewed and any changes published on our website, Facebook and weekly online newsletter.

Read more

Feast of the Epiphany 6th January 2021

Epiphany Mass today and picture of the cribs with Kings in both Churches.  Fr Brian said prayers for everyone in the Parish; that we may stay safe, keep well and remain strong and positive.

Read more

Booking Christmas Mass

CHRISTMAS MASSES
ᐈ Christmas nativity stock backgrounds, Royalty Free christmas nativity pictures | download on Depositphotos®
LIMITED PLACES
Please only book 1 Mass
DON’T JUST TURN UP!
Bookings by text only – Lines open Mon-Sat 10-4pm
TEXT:   CHRISTMAS MASS – SURNAME – TIME – CHURCH – NO. OF PLACES
e.g. Smith  9am St Joseph’s  2 places.

A simple YES /NO reply will be returned.

Christmas Eve – Thursday 24th December
Vigil Mass 6.15 pm St Joseph’s: FULLY BOOKED
Midnight Mass St Edward’s 12.00: 07772 257315

Christmas Day – Friday 25th December
9.00. a.m. St Joseph’s:  07598 908987
11.00 a.m. …

Read more

Lockdown Closure from 5th November 2020


OUR CHURCHES & HALLS WILL CLOSE AGAIN FROM THURDAY 5th NOVEMBER
UNTIL THE CURRENT LOCKDOWN RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED.
https://www.cbcew.org.uk/statement-on-the-four-week-national-lockdown-and-a-call-to-prayer/
The Prime Minister announced further widespread restrictions in England beginning on Thursday 5 November.  The Government have published their New National Restrictions Guidance on their website here.  Whilst there was no formal announcement on Places of Worship by the Prime Minister, there is clear guidance on the Government website that places of worship will be required to end all acts of collective worship, except for funeral ceremonies.
We will continue to publish …

Read more

Marathon Walk for Hospice

Fr Brian thanks everyone who supported his marathon walk. Fr Brian has added the donations sent in to Church to the Just Giving page which will go direct to the hospice. The target of £1,000 has been doubled with gift aid  and there is still one week to go for donations. Many thanks also to everyone who supported with  prayers and acts of kindness plus those who ‘Walked with Fr Brian’ in so many different ways on the day. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and shows our Parish is active and caring.
 …

Read more

Petition – Don’t Criminalise Trespass.


PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION
TO HELP PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM OF THE MOORS & RIGHT TO ROAM
petition.parliament.uk/…39/signatures/new
Don’t criminalise trespass

The Government’s manifesto stated “we will make intentional trespass a criminal offence”: an extreme, illiberal & unnecessary attack on ancient freedoms that would threaten walkers, campers, and the wider public. It would further tilt the law in favour of …

Read more

Salford Diocese Update

“As some churches begin to reopen for public worship, Mass will look and feel different for a while to ensure it is safe….

Read more