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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….

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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 …

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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’ – …

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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 …

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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 …

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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 …

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. …

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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 …

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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.
 …

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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 …

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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….

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Inverted Man Bun!

Thanks to St Edward’s school office staff for this temporary solution to taming Fr Brian’s beard!

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Re-opening Announcement


PLEASE BEAR WITH US! We are not re-opening just yet. Although the government announced today that churches can re-open for public worship on 4th July, we still await full guidance on the regulations for the celebration of Mass and the authorisation to re-open. Today we had a diocesan inspection in both churches, and we are pleased to announce that our planning and preparations met with approval. We are ahead of the game! A risk assessment will be drawn up by the inspector and this will need to be reviewed in the light …

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Social Distancing Benches

Preparations are underway for when Churches re-open. All measures will be announced once we receive the full guidance and instruction from the government and then the Church authorities.

Social distancing benches at St Joseph’s: 32 singe bays or 64 doubles for 2 people from the same household.

St Edward’s: 34 singles or 68 doubles for 2 people from the same household.

…

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NOT RE-OPENING YET

ST JOSEPH’S & ST EDWARD’S CHURCHES ARE NOT RE-OPENING YET. While the law allows churches to reopen on Monday for private prayer, not all churches will be opening as it is too soon. Strict measures have to be put in place and we are preparing to implement these. We await further guidance …

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Crow Nursery

St Edward’s really is a bird haven this spring. A fledgling crow was ‘crawling’ round the back garden while Fr Brian was cutting the grass. The parents kept on returning to feed and encourage the chick to fly.

IMG_8680
Feathers all preened, 1 final practice before flying away into the trees to parents and siblings!

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Empty Nest St Edward’s

Empty nest at St Edwards – 5 fledging blackbirds & both parents now happily flying in & out of the back garden and surrounding trees.

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Update on Church Re-openings

The government has now approved a phased re-opening of churches nationally, beginning with individual private prayer. Not all churches will re-open straight away. Darwen has not yet been contacted so St Joseph’s and St Edward’s will not re-open on 15th June. Planning and preparation is underway for re-opening and details will be communicated once the various infection control measures have been addressed and approved by Salford Diocese. We face big changes ahead and must accept that this will be a very different way forward.https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/churches-to-begin-preparing-for-private-prayer-opening/

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Just for fun!

For shear (pun) good luck, should Fr Brian be shaved on Good Shepherd Sunday?

    

 

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