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Fr Loughran.JPGFrom time to time, until we have a Parish Magazine, I intend to produce a periodic news letter to keep parishioners up to date with any news and developments. There does seem to be quite a lot going on at present and I can’t think of any other way of sharing it all with you.

I have been here since the 15th of September; and I took it as a good sign that that day was a feast of our Lady. My first impression of the parish was of the warmth of welcome and the friendliness of the parishioners. I am not surprised at this because it is a trait of Preston people. Nonetheless, the sense of loss which you must have felt at the departure of a much loved Parish Priest must be still quite raw. I was in my previous appointment for twelve years and found it a wrench to move away, how much more acute must that feeling have been for all of you and, of course, for Fr. Lakeland.

So this is a new chapter in my life; it is nearly 30 years since I moved away from Preston. As I said on my first Sunday here, in those days Preston was but a town, now it is a city; then it has just a Polytechnic and now it boasts a University; then it had a second rate football team, and now……..well, we live in hope!

My aim here is to build on what has gone before. Not only have there been two outstanding pastors in the shape of Fr. Callan and Fr. Lakeland but there have been so many committed parishioners who have worked so hard to take the parish forward to where it is now. Our task as a parish community is to engage with the 21st century and all the challenges and hopes that it brings. We have to be like the householder in the Gospel who ‘brought out things both old and new.’ To me that means we retain what is of everlasting value and we embrace the new things that will help us in our mission as the Church in the 21st century.


THE SEASON OF ADVENT

If any Season in the Church’s year gets overlooked it is the Season of Advent. And that is such a pity. Advent is well and truly overshadowed by what I will call Commercial Christmas. Commercial Christmas begins usually around the end of September; that is when many of the retailers put Christmas stock on to the shelves in their stores, and hype gets greater and greater with the addition of decorations, carols played throughout the speaker system and the TV adverts. And this is all before December! But we can’t just blame retailers; we are all part of it: Christmas parties seem to get earlier and earlier, and so it goes on. And during this frenzy of activity poor old Advent hardly gets a sniff.

Christmas is that time when we should supremely focus in the feast of the Incarnation of God. This feast is second only in importance to Easter and is why, like Easter, it has a run up period for preparation.  Lent has that penitential air about it, Advent less so. It is more plaintive, reflective, or at least it would be if we managed to observe it.

In one regard we do heaps of preparation in Advent, but it is usually of the material kind: cards, presents, buying in provisions and booze. Oh yes, we know how to enter into that sort of period of preparation but what of the other sort? You will be ready come Christmas Day for the feasting and merrymaking with your families and friends, and rightly so. But just how prepared will we be greet Christ? It is his birthday, that is what all the fuss is about – at least for us who profess Christianity. We are called to a different preparation, a spiritual one. John the Baptist cries out in the liturgy: Prepare a way for the Lord, make straight his paths. How do we do that? Some extra quiet time in prayer, read a spiritual book, read the scriptures, visit a quite church – Fernyhalgh, Claughton, Scorton, even our own chapel; gently say the rosary in union with our Lady; go to the parish Advent Scripture Workshop. Be really bold and give yourself half a day at Hyning Hall or some other quiet place.


 

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

As you are probably aware, this body was established in response to the Fit For Mission Review. Previously there had been a body which had met in an ad hoc fashion as and when necessary. These days it is seen as good practice that each parish should have a Pastoral Council. In theory the PPC has a set number of members who are fairly representative of the groups in the parish and the parishioners. At this stage the members are not elected. Peter Metcalf has been appointed Chairman.

At the meeting of the PPC in September Fr. Loughran outlined his vision for the parish. He said that in his preaching, Jesus had come to establish a Kingdom: The Kingdom of God. This is not to be confused with Heaven, our eternal home, but rather the Kingdom of God is made present anywhere in this world where the rule or the reign of Christ exists. Father suggested that it is the role of every generation to find ways of establishing or carrying forward the K of G. He presented 5 areas in which he saw the Kingdom being enhanced in our parish: 1) Liturgy & Spirituality; 2) Education & Formation; 3) Mission & Outreach; 4) Social, and 5) Fabric & Finance.

In all things God must come first, in that way blessings flow into what ever we do, that is why Liturgy & Spirituality is at the top of the list. Fr Loughran was embarking on a series of meetings with those involved in helping to lead the liturgical celebrations in order to make good liturgy even better. The old adage of ‘never being too old to learn’ is often balanced out by the one that says, ‘you can’t teach and old dog new tricks.’ But being a Christian is a life-long learning curve; that is one of the reasons why there is a homily every day at Mass and why the parish and diocese are forever offering new ways of exploring our faith. Father has embarked upon a couple of ventures for Advent; one is built upon the weekly scripture group, it is an Advent Scripture Workshop and the other is 3 sessions about the Mass on the first 3 Tuesdays of Advent. Any parish worth its salt will be outward looking with an eye to Mission and Outreach. The parish is a supporter of CAFOD, and other aid actions. Probably in the future other areas of outreach will be identified.

Community is built by members coming together for all manner of things especially social activities. The parish has an active Social Group brimming with ideas. Lastly, we have to remember that we are the stewards of the parish property and that is why it is important that the finances and fabric of the parish be properly managed. There has long been a Finance Group, Father has added the element of ‘fabric’ to it so it now has oversight of both these elements.


 

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE PARISH

There are 2 of these and, both are very good indeed. The moment I set foot in St. Clare’s school I could tell that it is a special place. There is an atmosphere of order about the place which is complimented by care. Over my years as a priest I have been in many primary schools, I can’t think of one that outshines St. Clare’s. It is no wonder that it is oversubscribed. To have one school like this is such a blessing but to have 2 is remarkable. The second, of course, is Corpus Christi Sports College. Again I was so impressed by my visits there. It is a school that is obviously trying to live out its Catholic status. And what excellent facilities! Millions of pounds have recently been spent on all manner of facilities; the technology suite is amazing and the sporting facilities are just top rate. I have been saddened however, to learn that some parents are sending their children to non-Catholic secondary schools in preference to Corpus Christi. The driving reason is exam results. And I put this to the Headteacher. He had to admit that historically Corpus Christi had done less well overall academically that some other schools. This is something that is changing. But he shared an interesting piece of information, it was that the children who go to Corpus Christi from St. Clare’s get as good GCSE results as do those who go to other nearby schools. This tells me that what matters an awful lot is the support and the attitude of the parents of the young people at High School.

We are truly blest as a parish community to have these excellent educational establishments so close to us. We must do all that we can to support them and to encourage not only the students but also the teachers and support workers.


 

MY OTHER JOB!

It is unlikely that many of you will have heard of the Cenacolo Community. But this Community in Cumbria is where I spend some time each week. Besides being Parish Priest here, I am also Spiritual Director for this Community of men who are former drug addicts. To give you a little flavour of what goes on I need you to travel not just back in time 25 years but also a thousand or so miles into northern Italy to the city of Saluzzo (about 60 miles from Turin). It was here that a little Italian nun, a cook and kindergarten teacher, Sr. Elvira Petrossi finally convinced her superiors that she was being called to work with young lads and girls who were addicted to drugs.  It was a very inauspicious start: a tumble-down property was leased to her by the city of Saluzzo and there she began what is now referred to as a ‘School of Life’ – scuola di vita. Her aim was not just to get the young people off drugs but to give them a whole new way of life. Indeed, to teach them how to live; how to live free from the shackles not just of drugs but from the shackles that contemporary society places about all of us but especially the young.  Elvira seems to speak the language of the young; she fiercely challenges them to a different and new way of living.  And they accept the challenge. They begin to really live, they learn to put God first, others second and themselves way down the line. It is a hard regime centred on three principles: prayer, friendship and work. The members of the Community rise at 6am, they fill their day with work punctuated by prayer – the rosary, sharing the Gospel, Mass when a priest is available – and time to talk with and encourage each other.  Oh, and football. That is one addiction they seem not to be able to overcome! The movement is called ‘Cenacolo’ because it is Eucharistic based. ‘Cenacolo’ is the Italian word for the Upper Room where Jesus had his last supper; in English we might call it The Cenacle. One of the most important ingredients in their ‘walk’ as they call it, is their hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. This is usually carried out in the middle of the night, each lad spending an hour before the Lord. So, if ever I am not available, it is likely that I am working with the lads in Cenacolo at Dodding Green 


 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO FOR A WALK?

Having a newly constituted Fabric & Finance group, it was decided that an inspection of the plant (mainly outside) was necessary, and what a good job we did. In the two hours it took to work our way around the church, hall and presbytery we identified many jobs that need remedying in the near future. A long schedule was draw up of items to be tackled. For instance, it was decided that a drain inspection was called for because of how the footpaths had buckled and moved; another area of concern were some of the soffits and facia boards. Some of the rainwater goods (gutter and downspouts) needed attention; and it was found that nearly all the presbytery window frames had rotted. Certain works on roofs and garage and hall were identified. And noticed that someone had attempted to remove lead from the hall roof! So if you see workmen around the place in the weeks and months ahead you will know what it is about.

But what of the inside? Well, already two important works have been identified: one is the renewal of the heating system in the Parish Hall which has served well over many years but is now nearing the end of its useful life. The other is an upgrade of the Toilet for the Disabled also in the Parish Hall.  I feel that these works are but a beginning to a long schedule of up grades and improvements. Already people have been suggesting to me certain changes that they would like to see in the church to ‘beautify’ it. This is music to my ears, it tells me that people care enough about their church to have considered how to make it more ‘user friendly.’  One woman, who was originally from St. Ignatius’ Parish, reminded me that the lovely old churches in the town had taken many years to become as beautiful and lovely as they are, ‘They weren’t built like that.’ We have a solid church, a good size generally for our congregation and one that is relatively easy to maintain.  I suppose that it is time now for us to look to ways of enhancing the beauty of the church building so that it is not only a practical building but also one that lifts our spirits just by the fact of having stepped into it. One of the Psalms proclaims: How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord God of Hosts. That should be our aim.


 

 

ALL THE FUN OF THE CAR PARK

Well, not quite! How impressed was I on coming from a parish where there was no car-parking area to find oceans of car-parking space around our church, ‘What a blessing,’ I thought. Others said, ‘What a nightmare.’ And I soon found out why!  What is it that turns normally reasonable, mild-mannered individuals into just the opposite? Car parking spaces – vying for them! I’ve been told that Fr Callan, the first Parish Priest, would not allow anyone to use the car park except for weekend Masses. They must have been halcyon days!

Just this year the parish has spent £16,000 on resurfacing the car park and white-lining it (though why they put spaces right up to the priests’ garage is a mystery to me!).  For a number of years there has been an agreement with the hospital that 30 staff/volunteers (badge holders) may use the car park Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 2.45pm thus avoiding the chaos known as ‘the school run.’ But it is quite obvious that the car park is being abused. Everyone and his friend seem to think that they have carte blanch to park there whenever they are going to the hospital. In one sense this is understandable, trying to park at the hospital can be an utter nightmare. But there are even people parking early in the morning and going off for the day, presumably in a car share activity, and collecting their vehicle late in the evening. So what is the solution? There isn’t an easy one. Already we have had signs put up to say that it is a private car park for use only of parishioners and designated badge holders. More signage is afoot for we are going to open the second gate on the property to make a one way system. That is ‘in’ at the gate opposite the church and ‘out’ at the one opposite the presbytery with a voluntary left turn out of the car park for road safety purposes.  Hopefully, this will ease the congestion and lower the blood pressure, but it will have little effect on the ‘illegal’ users. One sign is going to tell folk that we intend to lock the gates on an ad hoc basis outside of normal usage times just to reinforce that it is a private area. However, watch this space and happy motoring!


 

O COME LET US ADORE HIM

There is an old clerical joke: What is the difference between a liturgist (someone who studies/teaches liturgy) and a terrorist? You can negotiate with a terrorist! Liturgy, which is our public worship of God, is important. It is important because it is the action of Jesus, our High Priest. The liturgy is not the possession of any one person, it belongs to the Body of Christ, the Church. That is why it is regulated by the Church for the good of all.  The liturgy is that place where we ‘kiss’ God, so to speak, where we come into intimate contact with him. In the liturgy we join together as brothers and sisters to worship and adore God, our Father. The liturgy is not about how I feel or what I get out of it, rather, it should be about my effort to praise God, to go out of my way to worship him.  But God can never be outdone in giving; whenever we offer him praise we are the ones who benefit, the blessing rebounds upon us. The cry that ‘I am bored at Mass,’ means that someone is not tuned in to what is going on, the awesome action of Calvary played out on our altars in sacramental fashion.

It is so important that we celebrate liturgy to the best of our ability, and everyone has a part to play in that.  Even if you don’t have an obvious active role, you can arrive in good time to prepare yourself in prayer and by reading the scripture for the day. The atmosphere of the church should be reflective, quiet; of course you should greet your fellow parishioners and be concerned for them; but full blow conversations are for another time, coming together for coffee after Mass.  Habitually coming late for Mass can be a distraction to others trying to listen to the Word or be at prayer; of course anyone can be late from time to time, these things happen. So it is not just Readers, Servers, Musicians, Priests, Greeters and Eucharistic Ministers who need to follow their rotas and be in good time, no, it is all of us, for we are all called to participate in the great prayer of Christ that we call the liturgy.

From time to time it is important to take stock of our liturgical celebrations; how well we are doing them, the times that we are celebrating, how, if at all, we can improve and so on. In all these things, one guiding principle is the Jesuit motto: Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam. All that we do should be done for The Greater Glory of God.