An exciting opportunity has arisen for someone to support Fr David's work as Vicar of the United Benefice of Accrington and Area Dean of Accrington as his Personal Assistant (PA)This is a new role and one that will grow and develop, working closely with the Area Dean / Vicar. The purpose of the role is to provide support in the administrative and missional work of the Area Dean of Accrington and Vicar of the Benefice. This post is key in enabling growth in the ministry and mission in Accrington Deanery, in line with the Diocesan Vision, ‘Healthy Churches Transforming Communities’.If you are interested, or know anyone who might be interested, please see the Diocesan Website or the attached documents for further details, or contact Fr David (07786168261).
Sunday 10 July - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time8.00 am: Said Mass at St Mary Magdalen's9.30 am: Family Eucharist at St Andrew's11.00 am: Solemn Mass at St Mary Magdalen's2.00 pm: Family Mass at St Peter'sFor those unable to get to Church for whatever reason, please find an order of service for Worship at Home in the linkWorship this week:Monday 11 July (S Benedict): School Mass at St Mary Magdalen's at 1.15 pmTuesday 12 July: Mass at St Peter's at 7.00 pmWednesday 13 July: Mass at St Peter's at 9.30 amThursday 14 July: Mass at St Andrew's at 10.30 amFriday 15 July (S Bonaventure): Mass at St Mary Magdalen's at 10.00 amSaturday 16 July (Our Lady of Mount Carmel): Mass at St Mary Magdalen's at 10.00 amNext Sunday, 17 July - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time8.00 am: Said Mass at St Mary Magdalen's9.30 am: Family Eucharist at St Andrew's11.00 am: Solemn Mass at St Mary Magdalen's2.00 pm: Family Mass at St Peter's
On Monday evening, Fr Jordan gathered together with a congregation of around 60 to celebrate mass for the first time, in St Andrew's Church. The mass was a votive mass of the Holy Spirit, giving thanks for the gift of the Holy Spirit imparted upon him at his ordination the evening before. Fr David preached, noting Fr Jordan's courage in inviting his Training Incumbent to preach, particularly considering he was his DDO as he went through the selection process.Fr Jordan was encouraged in the sermon to continue to place his trust in the Holy Spirit each and every time he approaches the altar to celebrate mass, and whenever he administers any of the sacraments of the New Covenant, whether baptising, administering the Sacrament of the Sick, celebrating Holy Matrimony, or reconciling penitents when they seek absolution in Confession.He continued in the mass celebrating with confidence, and using his skills as a musician in singing the Eucharistic Prayer. The highlight of the evening was when, after censing the Image of Our Lady, and presenting flowers, he then presented his own mother with the maniturgium (the linen cloth used to bind his hands the night before after they had been anointed), and a bunch of flowers, followed by the presentation of flowers to his wife Becky. There was hardly a dry eye in the church at that point!Fr Jordan concluded the mass with the general blessing, before imparting individual blessings to anyone who wished, and a large queue soon formed to receive this grace from the newly ordained priest.Fr Jordan looks forward this week to celebrating his first mass of Our Lady, on Tuesday evening at St Peter's at 7.00 pm, and then his first Requiem mass on Wednesday at St Peter's at 9.30 am. He will be celebrating the three main masses on Sunday (9.30 am at St Andrew's, 11.00 am at St Mary Magdalen's and 2.00 pm at St Peter's).
On Sunday evening, around 200 people gathered in St Mary Magdalen's Church for the Ordination to the priesthood of our own Fr Jordan and Fr Matteo Zambon, from Torrisholme. The service was celebrated by the Bishop of Burnley, the Rt Revd Philip North, CMP, and the preacher was the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Revd Julian Henderson, in one of his last engagements before he looks forward to his retirement from full time ministry. In his sermon, Bishop Julian spoke of the reality of ordination being the beginning of learning how to inhabit the ministry God is calling the candidate to, noting that after nine years, he is still learning how to be a bishop. For Fr Jordan and Fr Matteo, they have a lifetime of learning ahead of them, as they seek to inhabit the priestly ministry to which they are called.It was good also to welcome members of the Diocesan hierarchy, including the two archdeacons, the Ven Mark Ireland and the Ven David Picken, together with the Director of Vocation, the Revd Nick McKee and the Director IME (Initial Ministerial Education), the Revd Jane Atkinson, as they supported the two candidates on this momentous occasion in their lives.
