Special Occasions
Glory to God

             In August 1997 St Mary's Church Celebrated its 150th  Anniversary
    One of the events was a beautifully designed and well supported flower festival.


Children's Bowling
On 13th September 2009 a Junior Presidents Day was held for our young Bowlers.

A beautiful day was enjoyed by a group of young bowlers, supported by their parents
and friend.

Many prizes were won after hard competition. 

Hannah Craig was the Junior winner
Josh Forshaw won the Merit Award
Luke Roberts was the Finalist Runner Up
and
Hannah Ratcliffe was the Overall Winner

Congratulations to the winners and also the all the junior participants. We are very proud of you all
It was a very successful day and will be looked forward to in the coming years
Bowling Tutors with the trophies
The Saint Vincent de Paul Society  celebrating 70 years of service in
St Mary's Parish.
Display of Members, past and present, mounted by
   Mrs Monica Ormerod.
1939
2009.
Celebrating 70 Years of Work in the Parish

This year marks the seventieth anniversary of our SVP conference.  The first meeting of the conference was on 29th March 1939 and the Conference was aggregated by the General Council later that year. 

There is no doubt that in some ways the work the Conference undertook in its early days was very different to the type of work done by conference members today.  In 1939 the country had been in severe depression for ten years, poverty was widespread and the welfare state did not exist.  Often families in desperate need had nowhere else to turn and relied on the SVP for financial assistance.

Today need still exists; we still give assistance but often in different ways.  The major problems faced by many elderly people today are illness, loneliness, isolation and depression.  Many who are housebound lack meaningful contact with others on a regular basis; they crave some ‘company’.  SVP members are committed to visiting those who would benefit from having someone to chat with.  Twice a year we help to get them together.  Just before Christmas and after our Mass for the sick and housebound in spring we have parties in the Parish Centre.  The chance to get together with old friends is much appreciated.  Those who are unable to get to church are also grateful for the opportunity to attend Mass.

As you can see from our balance sheet for 2008/9 we still offer financial assistance to those in need. We financially support two SVP Conferences in India and communicate with them regularly by letter.  Please take time to look at our display boards at the back of Church for more information on our work.

Finally, a sincere thank you for your continued support, without which our work could not continue.

Frank Waring
President

Charity Registration No. 1053992


                              VISIT OF A SEMINARIAN

We are very lucky because Ged Callacher is with us once again.

Ged has just completed his third year at Ushaw College (three more to go) and he has just graduated with a B A (IHons) in Theology and Ministry.

During his visit this year, Ged has been based once again in the Parish, but he is also working alongside Fr. Peter Stanley at Chorley Hospital.

After his summer visit, Ged will be with us once again in 2010 from January to June.

A very popular visitor, you are welcome in St Mary's Parish anytime.
Congratulations on your Degree.
CELEBRATION OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF
FR. MARSDEN'S ORDINATION
  21ST JUNE  1984  -  2009

PICTURES BY SIMON ECCLES
         ST. MARY'S PARISH WELCOMES FR GODEY HALIBO SEYOUM from ETHIOPIA

          Fr Halibo Seyoum is deputizing for Fr Marsden from 4th - 16th September 2009

Fr Halibo  is from the oldest Catholic diocese in the country. Adigrat. He trained to be a priest at the diocesan seminary and was ordained in 1991. For twelve years he was parish priest at Sebeya, and then was coordinator of the diocese's pastoral programmes in the city of Mekelle. Tigray. His bishop has sent him to study at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, where he has completed a master's degree in Society, Law and Religion, and is continuing for the next two years to do a PhD. He has been doing a summer supply at St Joseph's in Kirkby, and is now here for two weeks.

Fr  Halibo - you are very welcome.
Just relaxing for a few minutes in a busy schedule.

Fr Halibo receiving bowling tips from Michael.
CHORLEY PALS MEMORIAL

On Sunday 28th February 2010
Sister Francis, Daughter of a Chorley Pal and who witnessed her Father march to
war, unvailed the Memorial, with the aid of the Chorley MP Mr Lindsey Hoyle.