Day for Life 2010 aims to present the Church’s teaching on death; it will highlight the importance of the sacrament of the sick, of praying for the dead and of accompanying the dying person as they journey towards God. It will also point towards the consoling presence and support of the community of faith and all of those who ‘have gone before us marked with the sign of faith’.

Each year, in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the Bishops’ Conferences work closely together to celebrate Day for Life. In Scotland the Day is celebrated on 31 May – The Feast of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. In England and Wales, Day for Life falls on 25 July and in Ireland it will be celebrated on 3 October.

www.dayforlife.org

Many of us will remember hearing Anselme speak here at St Clare’s.

Anselme will have arrived in Cameroon in fear for his life and without any means of support. He wasn’t even allowed to charge his mobile phone before deportation.

If anyone would like to make a donation, no matter how small, to help Anselme at this dreadful time please see Barbara, Gerry or Brian.

We currently have three students discerning their vocation in seminary; one in the first year, one in the third and one in the fourth. The normal course is of six years duration.

• The cost of training a student to priesthood is £120,000
• Last year our collection raised £40,000
• We (the Diocese) had a legacy of £28,000

Today a new collection box for the Priests’ Training Fund is being launched.

Boxes are available in our parish; may I encourage each family to have a box in their home and support all the efforts being made to raise funds for the training of present and future priests for our Diocese.

Three of our priests have died in the past 18 months – Frs Jimmy Purcell, Austin O’Neill and Joe O’Brien; in total 146 years of priestly service.

Please remember them and all our priests in your prayers.

Many thanks to St Margaret’s, Salvation Army and St Clare’s volunteers for all their support.

Copies of recipes used for the Lenten Soups are available to purchase at the back of church for only £1.

All proceeds to the CAFOD Haiti appeal!

There will be a retiring collection for CAFOD’s Family Fast Day after Masses on the weekend of 6th and 7th March 2010.

Many, many thanks to Mrs Fall, and all the staff, governors, parents and children for their generous kindness and compassion.

Also any donations gratefully accepted. Contact Theresa on 01642 591009 or Val on 01642 284462.

Mark Raine will be running in the Great North Run on Sunday 20th September in aid of Motor Neurone Disease.

If you would like to sponsor him he would be grateful if you could add your name on the sponsor form at the back of church or see Maureen Raine.