This Sunday: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time 9.30 am: Family Eucharist at St Andrew’s 11.00 am: Family Celebration Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s Worship this week: Tues: 6.00 pm: Mass at St Andrews Wed: 10.00 am: Mass at St Andrews 3.30 pm: Youth Church at St Christopher’s School Thur: 9.00 am: Leavers’ Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s 6.00 pm: Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s Fri: No Mass Next Sunday: 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time 8.00 am: Said Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s 9.30 am: Family Eucharist at St Andrew’s 11.00 am: Solemn Mass at St Mary Magdalen’s Morning and Evening Prayer are usually said at 8.00 am at St Mary Magdalen’s and 5.00 pm at St Andrew’s Monday to Friday
As our Primary Schools get ready to say farewell to the Year 6 classes, all at the Parish of the Good Shepherd offer our thoughts and prayers as they look forward to a new start at their High Schools. It is a huge step for 11-year olds to take, and as they do so, it is important that they know that they have our love and support in whatever the future holds for them.On Thursday 4 July, Fr David, in his role as Year 7 Chaplain at St Christopher's School, spent time with Year 6 pupils as they engaged with their taster day. In conversations with them at lunch time, he heard that they had all taken part in three High School classes in the morning, which they spoke of with a great deal of enthusiasm, looking forward to beginning their High School career in earnest in September.In the afternoon, they spent time in the Hall in worship as a new year group, which was led by Mr Pountain, the Spirituality Coordinator, and Fr David, who spoke of the transition from Primary to High School, and the need to take with them the experiences that have gone before, good and bad, as these are the things that shape us into the person God calls us to be. It is with this in mind, and with the reassurance of the story of St Peter that God calls even those who are flawed to follow him, that they were encouraged to reflect on the call of God on their lives, in order that they might be the very best person they can be, and that they might do great things for God.This is something that can be said for each Year 6 pupil who moves on to High School, whichever School that might be, and so, wherever it is that they may go, they go with our hope and expectation that with the grace of God, they do so with his love surrounding them and sustaining them in all that they will do.
On 6 June, a good number of people gathered at the War Memorial in Oakhill Park to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy. During the service the Town Crier, Rawden Kerr, announced the Anniversary, and we gave thanks for the bravery and dedication of the men who were landed on the beaches of Normandy during the Second World War, and remembered those who made the Ultimate Sacrifice as we laid poppy wreaths in their memory. Pupils from the Hollins Academy took part in the event. The D-Day landings of 6 June 1944 was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Along with the associated airborne operations, it marked the beginning of the liberation of France and western Europe. (From the Royal British Legion Website). Further information about the commemorations across the country for the 80th Anniversary are available on the RBL Website. Later in June, on 24th, we gathered at Oakhill Park again, to mark the beginning of Armed Forces' Week. The Armed Forces' Flag was raised in the Park, and the Deputy Lieutenant, Mrs Christine Kirk, announced the beginning of the week and Fr David offered prayers.Just a week later, and we marked the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July, with a short service at the newly renovated Pals' Memorial at St James' Church, where a group of people gathered to offer prayers and lay wreaths in memory particularly of those of the Accrington Pals who gave their lives in that terrible battle of the First World War.Each of these events were organised and attended by members of the Accrington Branch of the Royal British Legion, and further photos are available on the Accrington RBL Facebook Page.
