Who to contact in the absence of Canon Hayes

As I am sure you are all aware Fr Alf is away this week and next at a Army Cadet Camp. Should you require a Priest please see the contact details below:

Fr Peter Draper - 01253 873331 (St Marys, Fleetwood)
Fr Gerry Dunn - 01253 822154 (St John Southworth, Cleveleys)
Fr Chris Cousens - 01253 853340 (St Teresas, Cleveleys)
Fr John Winstanley - 01253 620964 (Chaplain to Blackpool Victoria Hospital)

Theme for the World Day of Peace 2010

If you want to cultivate peace, protect the creation" is the theme chosen by Benedict XVI for his Message for the 43rd World Day of Peace, which will be celebrated on 1 January 2010.

"The theme", says a communique made public today, "aims to raise awareness about the strong bond that exists in our globalised and interconnected world between protecting the creation and cultivating peace.

"This close and intimate tie", the communique adds, "is further accentuated by the many problems concerning man's natural environment, such as the use of resources, climate change, the application and use of biotechnology, and demographic growth. If the human family is unable to face these new challenges with a renewed sense of social justice and equity, and of international solidarity, we run the risk of sowing seeds of violence among peoples, and between current generations and those to come".

The communique goes on: "Following the precious guidelines contained in paragraphs 48 to 51 of the Encyclical 'Caritas in veritate', the papal Massage will make it clear that the protection of the environment is a challenge for all humankind. It is shared and universal duty to respect a collective asset destined for everyone".

The communique concludes by noting that "ecological questions must be faced, not just because of the dreadful prospects that environmental degradation presages; they must be translated, above all, into a strong motivation to cultivate peace

(VIS)

Holy Father's Holiday in Valle d'Aosta Comes to an End

This evening the Holy Father's holiday at Les Combes near Introd - his third there since the start of his pontificate - is due to come to an end. The Pope travelled to Les Combes in the Italian alpine region of Valle d'Aosta on 13 July.

Benedict XVI is due to leave his residence at 5 p.m., travelling by helicopter to Caselle airport near the northern Italian city of Turin. From there he will fly by plane to Rome's Ciampino airport.

From Ciampino he will be taken by car to the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo, where he will spend the rest of the summer and continue treatment of his right wrist which he broke in a fall on 17 July.

On Saturday 1 August he is scheduled to receive around 100 athletes who are currently participating in the world swimming championships in Rome. On Sunday 2 August he will pray the Angelus from the balcony overlooking the central courtyard of the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo. Weekly general audiences will resume from Wednesday 5 August.

(VIS)

Dean of the College of Cardinals

The Dean of the Sacred College of Cardinals (Latin: Decanus Sacri Collegii) is the president of the College of Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church, and as such always holds the rank of Cardinal Bishop. The Dean is not necessarily the longest-serving member of the whole College (who might never become a Cardinal Bishop). For example, the longest-serving cardinal at present is Eugênio Cardinal de Araújo Sales, who is a Cardinal Priest. It was customary for centuries for the longest-serving of the six Cardinal Bishops of suburbicarian sees to be Dean, and this was in fact required by canon law from 1917 until Pope Paul VI empowered the six to elect him from among their number in 1965. This election, a formality until the time of Pope John Paul II, must be confirmed by the pope. While the Dean (or in his absence or inability, the Subdean) presides over the College of Cardinals, he has no power of governance over the other cardinals. Instead he functions as primus inter pares in the college. There is no mandatory age of retirement for the position.

It is the Dean's responsibility to summon the conclave to elect a new pope when the previous one dies or resigns, and to preside over the conclave unless he is too old to vote in it. Additionally, the dean has the responsibility of communicating the "news of the Pope's death to the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See and to the Heads of the respective Nations." According to Canon 355 (from the Latin Code of Canon Law 1983), if the newly-elected Supreme Pontiff is not already a bishop, it is the right of the Dean to ordain him as such. If the Dean is unable, then the right falls to the Sub-Dean, and then to the senior Cardinal Bishop.

According to section 4 of Canon 350, the Cardinal Dean has "the title of the diocese of Ostia, together with that of any other church to which he already has a title." The Cardinal Dean, then, continues to hold the title of his former suburbicarian diocese as well as being titular bishop of Ostia. This has been the case since 1914, by decree of St. Pius X—previous deans had given up their prior suburbicarian see for the joint titles of Ostia and Velletri.

Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church

The Camerlengo is the administrator of the property and revenues of the Holy See; his responsibilities formerly included the fiscal administration of the Patrimony of St. Peter. As regulated in the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus , Camerlengo is always a Cardinal. His heraldic arms are ornamented with two keys (one gold, one silver) in saltire surmounted by an ombrellino, a canopy or umbrella of alternating red and yellow stripes, which are also the arms of a Sede Vacante (i.e. a Papal interregnum).

Until the 11th century, the Archdeacon of the Roman Church was responsible for the administration of the property of the Church (i.e., the Diocese of Rome), but its numerous ancient privileges and rights had come to make it a frequent hindrance to independent action on the part of the Pope; as a result, when the last Archdeacon Hildebrand was elected to the papacy as Gregory VII in 1073, he suppressed the Archdiaconate and the cardinal entrusted with the supervision of the Apostolic Camera (Camera Apostolica), i.e., the temporalities of the Holy See, became known as the Camerarius, or Chamberlain.

Chief among the present responsibilities of the Camerlengo is the formal determination of the death of the reigning Pope; the traditional procedure for this was to strike gently the Pope's head three times with a silver hammer and to call his baptismal name ("Albine, dormisne?", i.e. "White One, do you sleep?"). After the Pope is declared dead, the Camerlengo removes the Ring of the Fisherman from his finger and cuts it with shears in the presence of the Cardinals, and also destroys the face of the Pope's official seal. These acts symbolize the end of the late Pope's authority. The Camerlengo then notifies the appropriate officers of the Roman Curia and the Dean of the College of Cardinals. He is then involved with the preparations concerning the conclave and the Pope's funeral.

Until a successor Pope can be elected, the Camerlengo serves as acting head of State of the Vatican City. He is not, however, currently responsible for the government of the Roman Catholic Church during a sede vacante. Universi Dominici Gregis placed that task in the hands of the College of Cardinals — although this power of government is extremely limited, being merely enough to allow Church institutions to continue to operate and perform some basic functions without making any definitive decisions or appointments that are normally reserved to other powers delegated by the Pope. The Camerlengo, though, does keep his office during the sede vacante, as opposed to the rest of the Roman Curia. The only other person who keeps his office is the Major Penitentiary.

Three Camerlengos have been elected Pope: Cosimo Gentile Migliorati (Pope Innocent VII) in 1404, Gioacchino Pecci (Pope Leo XIII) in 1878 and Eugenio Pacelli (Pope Pius XII) in 1939. Two others, Cencio, who was elected as Pope Honorius III in 1216, and Rinaldo Conti di Segni, elected as Pope Alexander IV in 1254, did not occupy that post at the time of their elections to the papacy (Cencio was camerlengo from 1188 until 1198, while Rinaldo from 1227 until 1231).

The current Camerlengo is His Eminence Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, S.D.B., appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.

Seventeenth Sunday of the Year

We have the familiar story in our gospel today of Jesus feeding the five thousand with nothing more than five loaves and two fish. The Evangelist John tells us how the disciples doubted that their Master could do anything to meet the physical needs of such a large number of people. The implication was that the disciples’ faith in Jesus was still imperfect; as yet they did not and could not fully grasp his true identity as the Son of God. The same could be said for the crowd. Once they had had their fill of food they wanted to make Jesus their earthly king because they recognised him as someone special, having unique powers. However, this was not the kind of leader and Messiah which Christ came to be, and he hurriedly went back to the hills alone.
Like the prophet Elisha in our first reading, the Lord Jesus cared about people and even worked a miracle to satisfy their material needs. We are told on several occasions in the gospels that he felt sorry for the crowds, for they seemed to be wandering aimlessly with no one to care for them or give them a sense of direction. As chapter 6 of John’s gospel unfolds over the next few Sundays, we will discover that Jesus had a greater purpose than just to satisfy the needs of the moment. He has come to bring another kind of food, more enduring and more satisfying than
ordinary bread. His message and preaching would bring comfort and hope to the often bruised and troubled human spirit, because it would be a message from God himself.
The disciples would eventually come to discover that the true bread of life would be Jesus himself, and from the earliest days of the first Christian community the Eucharistic table would be at the centre of their life and worship. The celebration of Mass which has come down to us from the apostles remains at the heart of our Catholic faith, and will always be so until the Lord Jesus returns in glory. Implied in our second reading from the letter to the Ephesians is that oneness and unity of purpose which God wills for his Church, and which come from our sharing in the one bread and one body of Christ. Because there is just a single bread, Paul remarks elsewhere, then we who are many are one in Christ.
The Church has always recognised in the feeding of the five thousand a sign and anticipation of a greater miracle, that of the Holy Eucharist. In this Year of the Priest let us pray that we will always have good and holy priests to feed God’s people at the table of the Eucharist.

+ Michael Campbell OSA
Bishop of Lancaster

(from the Diocesan website)

Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue's new address

As previously reported Bishop O'Donoghue has been appointed assistant priest in Bantry Ireland. Below is his new address and telephone number:

Parochial House, Bantry, Co Cork, Ireland.

Tel: 00 353 27 56398

The Holies

A few weeks back St Wulstans hosted the Holies concert which is made up of Canon Alf Hayes, Rev Bill Seville (Methodist), Rev David Cooper (C of E) and Anthony Ryan.The evening was a great success with 200 people in attendance and the collection at the end raised £550 for parish funds.

If you would like to view the Photos from the evening please click here

Ring of the Fisherman

The Ring of the Fisherman, also known as the Piscatory Ring, Annulus Piscatoris (in Latin) and the Anello Piscatorio (in Italian), is an official part of the regalia worn by the Pope, who is described by the Catholic Church (of which he is the head) as the successor of Saint Peter, who was a fisherman by trade. It features a bas-relief of Peter fishing from a boat, a symbolism derived from the tradition that the apostles were "fishers of men" (Mark 1:17). The Fisherman's Ring is a signet used until 1842 to seal official documents signed by the Pope.

A new ring is cast in gold for each Pope. Around the relief image is the reigning Pope's Latin name in raised lettering. During the ceremony of a Papal Coronation or Papal Inauguration, the Dean of the College of Cardinals slips the ring on the third finger of the new Pope's right hand. Upon a papal death, the ring is ceremonially crushed in the presence of other cardinals by the Camerlengo, in order to prevent the sealing of backdated, forged documents during the interregnum, or sede vacante.

A letter written by Pope Clement IV to his nephew Peter Grossi in 1265 includes the earliest known mention of the Ring of the Fisherman, used for sealing all private correspondence by pressing the ring into red sealing wax melted onto a folded piece of paper or envelope. Public documents, by contrast, were sealed by stamping a different papal seal onto lead which was attached to the document. Such documents were historically called papal bulls, named after the stamped bulla of lead. Use of the Fisherman's Ring changed during the 15th century when it was used to seal official documents called papal briefs. That practice ended in 1842, when the wax with its guard of silk and the impression of the ring was replaced by a stamp which affixed the same device in red ink.

Through the centuries, the Fisherman's Ring did not become known for its practical use but by its feudal symbolism. Borrowing from the traditions developed by medieval monarchs, followers showed respect to the reigning Pope by kneeling at his feet and kissing the Fisherman's Ring. The tradition continues to this day.

Pope Benedict XVI is set to make an historic visit to the UK

The German pontiff will make the first Papal visit to this country in nearly three decades.

It is understood that the historic event is being timed to coincide with the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman, who is on the path to becoming the first British saint for 40 years.

Details of the visit, which will attract crowds of hundreds of thousands of people, are still under discussion, but cities being considered include London, Birmingham, Oxford, Edinburgh, Armagh and Dublin.

A senior cardinal is due to make a private trip to Britain in the summer to make preparations for the Pope's visit, which could be announced by the end of this year.

The Catholic Church in England and Wales will hope that such an event will capture the imagination of the country's four million Catholics, of whom only a quarter now regularly attend Mass.At the same time, the Government has embarked on a major diplomatic mission in an attempt to change the long-standing law banning Catholics from succeeding to the throne.

Relations between the Catholic Church and the Government have been strained following clashes over the introduction of laws enforcing homosexual equality and the Embryo Bill, which paved the way for the creation of human-animal hybrid embryos.

However, secret talks began between the Catholic Church in England and Wales and the Vatican shortly after Pope Benedict's election in 2005, long before Gordon Brown's private audience last month.

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the Archbishop of Westminster, wrote to the Pope in 2006, suggesting that he should come to Britain in 2007 to mark the 25th anniversary of the visit by the late Pope John Paul II.He proposed that a tour should include a lecture at Oxford University as well as an address to the Houses of Parliament.

The Cardinal was in Rome last week, where he met with Cardinal Bertone, the Vatican's secretary of state, and it is likely they discussed plans for a Papal visit.It has yet to be decided whether the Pope would travel to Britain solely for a service of beatification for Cardinal Newman or whether it would be turned into a tour of the British Isles.

A senior source in Rome revealed that bishops in England are divided over whether the service would be conducted in Birmingham, where his remains are venerated, or in London at Westminster Cathedral or Wembley stadium.The Pope has privately expressed an interest in travelling to Oxford, having previously only visited Cambridge, and would also be likely to visit Scotland and Northern Ireland.

(Telegraph)

Pope recovering from wrist fracture

Recovering well from his wrist fracture, Pope Benedict devoted the first part of his Sunday Angelus address to thanking the doctors who treated him “with such diligence, with such competence and friendship,” as well as the faithful who “reinforced the network of prayer that unites us in every part of the world.”

Pope Benedict’s address took place in Romano Canavese, the northwestern Italian town of 3,000 where Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone was born. The address followed a Mass concelebrated by Cardinal Bertone and Bishop Arrigo Miglio of Ivrea.

Paying tribute to the town’s history, the Pontiff urged the faithful not to cave in to discouragement in the face of economic difficulties. “The fundamental values of the family and respect for human life, sensibility for social justice, the capacity to endure toil and sacrifice, the strong link to Christian faith through parish life and especially through participation at Holy Mass, have been your strength over the centuries,” he said. “These same values will permit today’s generations to build their future with hope, giving life to a true solidarity and a fraternal society, in which all the various spheres, institutions and economy are permeated by an evangelical spirit.”

(CWN)

Sixteenth Sunday of the Year

Our gospel story today implies how excited the apostles were as they recounted to Jesus all that they had accomplished on the missionary journey on which he had sent them. The Lord’s reaction was to take them apart for a period of rest and reflection. In so doing, he was instructing them in the need to combine their busy active life with space for relaxation and prayer. As human beings we are composed of body and spirit and both of these dimensions of our make-up must be catered for. Otherwise our lives become one-sided. The frenetic pace of the modern world, with its emphasis on material possessions and bodily satisfaction, can blind us to our spiritual needs, the needs of the heart where in silence and stillness we encounter the presence of the indwelling God, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The long Christian tradition of the interior life has its roots in Jesus calling his disciples apart from the busy daily round.
Speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord God laments the lack of good government among his people, a government which in this passage are called shepherds. Instead of placing the interests of God’s people above their own, these so called rulers were responsible for them being scattered and sent into exile. Almighty God demands ethical behaviour of the highest
standard in those who have been entrusted with responsibility for the common good and welfare of others. That demand on those who govern is as valid today as ever it was. The prophet goes on to speak of the day when God himself will send a truly just and impartial leader to this people, whom we now know and believe to be his only Son, Jesus Christ.
That righteous ruler, St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians, would bring peace, justice and unity to the divided nations of the world through the sacrifice of himself on the cross. By offering himself in obedience to the Father, the Lord Jesus broke down the seemingly insurmountable barriers that separated the Jewish people from the gentile world. Through his blood he has made atonement for the sins of the whole world and conferred on us all the dignity of adopted sons and daughters of God his Father. Each one of us believers really does need to take up the invitation of Jesus Christ, come apart, and ponder the wonder of it all.

+Michael Campbell OSA
Bishop of Lancaster

(from the Diocesan website)

Farewell to some Cardinal Allen staff

This summer Cardinal Allen say goodbye to four long-serving colleagues who retire this year.
Val Neill began work at cardinal Allen in September 2000 (D.T)
Anne Moran started work at Cardinal Allen in 1990 (M.F.L)
Sheila Hornshaw started work at Cardinal Allen in 1989 (English)
Jeff Emmett was appointed as Head of English in 1992 (English)

Cardinal Allen also say goodbye to 3 other Members of staff.
Kathryn Wilson was appointed to Cardinal Allen in September 2006 (R.E)
Saranne Hornbuckle joined the Cardinal Allen staff in September 2006 (Science)
Chris Chambers joined the Cardinal Allen staff in September 2007 (Cover Supervisor)

An update on Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict was released from hospital this afternoon, with his ring on his left hand, because his right wrist is in a cast (see image).For more details please see previous post.

Pope breaks wrist after falling

Pope Benedict XVI has fractured his right wrist after falling while on holiday in northern Italy, the Vatican and hospital officials say.

The 82-year-old Pope went to hospital in the alpine town of Aosta after the accident early on Friday.He underwent an operation to reduce the fracture and a top regional official said the procedure went well.The Vatican said Pope Benedict fell during the night in his chalet and that the injury was not serious.In a statement, it said the pontiff celebrated Mass and ate breakfast before going to hospital.

The operation, performed under local anaesthetic, went well, the president of the Val d'Aosta region said in televised remarks quoted by AFP news agency.He has been staying at a house in the village of Les Combes in the Valle d'Aosta region. It was a favourite vacation spot of his predecessor, Pope John Paul II.

(BBC)

St Margaret Clitherow,Catholic Church, Blackpool has been closed with immediate effect

Some of you might of already heard the news, St Margaret Clitherow, Catholic Church, Blackpool has been closed with immediate effect at the decision of Rt Rev Michael Campbell OSA. Below you can read the letter to the people of St Margaret Clitherow from Bishop Campbell.

My dear people of St. Margaret Clitherow’s,
As you must know, the church dedicated to Saint Margaret Clitherow on Lytham Road has been closed since Easter of this year. The reasons for this closure will also be well known to you; for example, a leaking roof and general deterioration of the church fabric. There were a number of options open to the Diocese where Saint Margaret Clitherow’s church was concerned. Short-term repairs could have been carried out at limited cost, or major work undertaken running to many thousands of pounds. Neither of these choices was felt to be pastorally justified or appropriate.
Therefore, in the light of the recent Fit for Mission? deliberations, the proximity of other Catholic churches, and a feeling that Mass-going Catholics are generally well served in the area, as Bishop of the diocese I have taken the decision to close Saint Margaret Clitherow church for worship with immediate effect. The closure of a church is never an easy decision, but in this instance I do believe that this is the right choice.
I thank you for your understanding, and ask that we pray for one another to remain strong in our Catholic faith, above all in our love for the Mass and the abiding presence of the Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

With my blessing,

Yours sincerely in Christ,

+Michael Campbell OSA
Bishop of Lancaster

(from the Diocesan website)

Becoming a Catholic

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Catholic please contact Fr Alf on 01253 873609 or fr.alf@sswulstanandedmund-fleetwood.org.uk. Our Diocesan website has more on the Catholic Faith and becoming a catholic here.

Pope Benedict begins Alpine vacation

Pope Benedict XVI left Rome on Monday, July 13, to begin a 2-week vacation in the Italian Alps. The Pontiff flew from Rome to Turin, continuing by helicopter to Les Combes, where he will stay in the same chalet that he chose for his vacation in 2005 and 2006. The chalet is located in the mountains about 12 miles from Aosta, with views of Mont Blanc. Local police have deployed a team of 200 men to guard the Pope's privacy and security. Pope Benedict told reporters that he planned to "rest and also work-- but above all rest."

15th Sunday of the Year

When the Lord Jesus sends out his apostles to preach the gospel and heal the sick he emphasises that they must not be preoccupied by the thought of material possessions or what they are to take for the journey. Their mission was to be a spiritual one, and in order to carry it out Christ gave them a share in his own divine power over unclean spirits and sickness. Material equipment would prove to be a hindrance rather than a help in their work of proclaiming that the Kingdom of God was very near. Christ in this gospel passage was training his disciples to look at things from another angle. They were to concentrate on the utter importance of the life-giving message of salvation which they were offering to the men and women of their time. What was inessential, such as extra clothing or the like, must not be allowed to divert the apostles from the true purpose of their calling.
In our first reading today, the prophet Amos defends himself from those who would prefer if he stopped proclaiming the word of God and moved elsewhere. Amos answered his critics by declaring that as a prophet he was only answering God’s gratuitous call. Almighty God had chosen him to be a prophet and he therefore had no choice but to obey his divine calling. The history of the prophets reminds us of how God is ever active for the well-being of his people, revealing his saving purposes through his messengers. The mission of the Twelve, as Mark records it today, is in reality a picture of the Church in every age. The sole reason for the Church’s existence is to proclaim to the world the closeness of the Kingdom of God, and she can only accomplish this, in her preaching and sacramental life, through the power of the Holy Spirit given to her by the risen Christ. The mission Christ left to the apostles and their successors, the bishops, is a spiritual one, and material goods, affluence and wealth must not be permitted to get in the way.
In the extended reading from the letter to the Ephesians we are told that by believing in Christ we possess wealth and riches of another kind, the sort that only God can give. By giving us Christ, Almighty God has lavished the good things of heaven upon us. Anything else on earth pales in comparison by what we have received from heaven. With Paul we can truly exclaim, Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing…!”

+Michael Campbell OSA
Bishop of Lancaster

(from the Diocesan website)

Miracle of Cardinal Newman approved

A short video about the cure of Jack Sullivan which has now been officially recognised as miraculous, paving the way for the beatification of John Henry Newman.

14th Sunday of the Year

Almighty God remains ever constant in his desire and will for our good. The story of our salvation has at its heart God’s faithfulness, and the amazing truth that he never gives up on us human beings. In his dealings with the ancient people of Israel, his own chosen people, God often met with indifference and rejection. Yet this did not deflect him in his determination to speak and reveal his saving will to them, as we hear in the passage from the prophet Ezekiel in our first reading today. If God’s offer of grace is not accepted, it will not be for want of effort on his part! Those to whom Ezekiel was sent failed to recognise God at work, speaking his word through the prophet. Are we as alert and attentive as we should be when the word of God is proclaimed to us in the readings at Mass?
This drama of rejection of the messengers of God reaches a highpoint, sadly, when Jesus returned to Nazareth, his own home town, and only meets with gossip and pettymindedness on the part of his townsfolk. In their arrogance and selfassurance they were convinced that they knew all about Jesus Christ, his origin and his background. After all, was he not one of them? St. Mark tells us that Jesus was amazed at the total lack of faith on the part of the people of Nazareth, and as a result he could work no miracles there. A recurring theme in the gospels is the willingness of Jesus to heal and perform miracles for those who have expressed faith in him. The people of Nazareth failed to rise above their own prejudices and blinkered outlook and so the grace of God passed them by. It seems likely that Jesus never returned again to Nazareth.
Our faith in Jesus as the Son of God needs to colour our lives. He is always passing by, waiting to come to us, nourish us and strengthen us in faith, hope and love. But he needs to find the open door of faith on our part, a willingness to acknowledge our dependence upon him as our Saviour. The Lord Jesus meets us in many ways throughout the course of our lives, and especially when we gather as a community to celebrate his memory in the holy Eucharist. He continues to be present in his Church, in his people, as he promised he would be. What we as individuals, and the Church as a whole, are asked to do is to believe in him.

+Michael Campbell OSA
Bishop of Lancaster

(from the Diocesan website)

Armed Forces Flag Raising

As part of the National 'Fly a Flag for our Armed Forces' Day a specially commissioned flag - inspired by the Union Jack - was proudly raised outside the Civic Centre. The ceremony was opened by the band of Shakespeare Primary School of Fleetwood and the service was delivered by the Mayors Chaplain Canon Alf Hayes.

To view the video from the event please click here

Flu Pandemic:

As we know numbers of people contacting swine flu in the Uk are slowly increasing, but are nowhere near epidemic proportions here in Lancashire (5 confirmed cases so far). We have been asked to think ahead about the distribution of Holy Communion with the chalice. It may be in a few months time, if things change radically, that we decide to resort to Holy Communion under one kind, while the pandemic is on. Although there’s nothing to worry about at present, we will be cleaning the chalices in boiling water after each Mass for the foreseeable future.

Bishop Campbell Merges Three Preston Deaneries

Following the diocesan Fit for Mission? parish review and the decisions of Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue (announced on 21/22 February 2009) affecting the linking and merging of parishes in the Diocese and other pastoral reorganisation and after consulting with the Council of Priests (23 February 2009 & 25 March 2009) and others, it is hereby decreed that the three Deaneries of Preston should be revised so as to strengthen the fostering of “pastoral care through common action” (Canon 374 s1):
Given the above reasons and the new circumstances in which we find ourselves the existing three Preston Deaneries – English Martyrs, Preston, St Walburge, Preston and St Augustine, Preston shall be merged into one new deanery as one from the First Sunday of Advent (29 November 2009).

Click here for the Decree merging the 3 Deanery's from Bishop Campbell

(from the Diocesan website)

Tests support belief that St. Paul's tomb has been discovered, Pope reveals

As he presided at ceremonies closing the Pauline Year, Pope Benedict XVI made the dramatic announcement that new scientific tests have strengthened the traditional belief that human remains buried beneath the altar of the Roman basilica of St. Paul-outside-the-Walls are those of St. Paul himself.

The Pope led a Vespers service on Sunday evening, June 28, to conclude the observance of the Pauline Year. In his homily he mentioned the initiatives that had been taken during the year, especially the pilgrimages that many Christians have made to sites connected with St. Paul's missionary journeys. Commenting then on the Apostle's letter to the Romans, the Holy Father said that the world cannot be renewed unless we ourselves undergo renewal first, and we can experience that renewal only throught the New Man, Jesus Christ. Pope Benedict also took note of St. Paul's references to an adult faith, and said that phrase has unfortunately been invoked by many Catholics who want to uphold only those truths of faith that they find comfortable for themselves.

As he neared the conclusion of his homily, the Pope announced that carbon-14 dating tests have established that bones and scraps of clothing found in the tomb below the basilica date back to the 1st century, thus supporting the belief-- which, he pointed out, has never been contested-- that this is the burial place of St. Paul. That likelihood, the Pontiff said, "fills our souls with profound emotion" as the Church pays homage to the Apostle.