The Sunday after the Feast of Corpus Christi we celebrated the year of the Eucharist as a Deanery at St Catherine’s High School. The event consisted of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, children miming the Last Supper, Taize music led by the school, a procession round the school and outside of the Blessed Sacrament ending with Benediction. There were about 100 people present.

On Sunday September 18^th (2005) there was a successful day of recollection at Pantasaph in North Wales run by the Capuchin Friars , whose headquarters it is. There were nearly 50 parishioners on the coach and everyone appreciated the event. (another to be held on September 17^th this year) In November there were the usual prayers and procession with the Rosary at Stoneyroyd Cemetery on the first Sunday (with 200 participants) and the second Sunday in our Parish at Sowerby Bridge Cemetery with about 40 parishioners. We were blessed with fine (if cold) weather.

The Catenian Association held a Holy Hour on Sunday 23^rd October in our church to celebrate the year of the Eucharist which was very well attended. There was Rosary and Benediction each Sunday afternoon in October. A new liturgical event during Advent(29^th November) was a Deanery Primary schools service on Tuesday at 10.30am at St Mary’s Church with the classes who had made their first Confession and Holy Communion the previous summer. There was music, singing, prayers and mimes ending in Benediction.

The biggest event of the year was the Ordination to the permanent diaconate of David Marshall. He lives in Liversedge but was appointed by the Bishop to minister in our Parish. The Ordination took place on Saturday 17^th December at 6.30pm Mass and, besides Bishop Roche there were a number of Priests and deacons. Unfortunately the Ordination was not well attended by the Parishioners . David’s role in the Parish will encompass many areas. Besides reading the Gospel and preaching at least once a month at the Sunday Masses, David will be ministering to the sick and housebound, preparing families for the Baptism of their babies, then baptising them, preparing and marrying engaged couples, performing funerals and leading some of the Journey in Faith programme for people learning more about the Catholic Faith. David’s example and witness will make a tremendous difference to the spiritual growth of our parish.

The Christmas liturgies were very well attended (Vigil 6.30pm- 250, Midnight- 100 and 11 am- 120). During Lent the numbers at weekday Masses were notably higher and the Sunday afternoon Stations of the Cross and benediction were relatively well attended (about 30). The Easter Services were up in numbers too which was encouraging. On Palm Sunday a group of school children mimed the Passion of Our Lord. We now have 18 altar servers.

Catechetics:

Last summer 14 children made their First Confession and Holy Communion and were prepared by 3 catechists. This year however we have only 8 candidates. The Sacrament of Confirmation took place at St Bernard’s Boothtown and we had 3 teenagers and 2 adults receiving the Holy Spirit. The Journey in Faith group which is just about to finish had six members (besides the clergy) and two were received into full Communion with the Catholic Church at Easter. Nine couples are getting married this year in the church and several more are booked for next year. We had an evening on St Mark’s Gospel led by our own deacon in May.

Ecumenism:

Relationships with the Methodist and Church of England are quite close. There are regular meals of the clergy together and a day of Recollection for the clergy took place in November in an Anglican retreat centre in Appletreewick. At St Patrick’s we held a joint service for the week of Christian Unity in January with over a hundred in the congregation. On Good Friday we organised a joint procession from St Paul’s Methodist Church with Stations of the Cross all the way through the town culminating with Veneration of the cross in St Patrick’s and light refreshments in the hall.

The Calderdale Interfaith Council chaired by the Mayor of Calderdale met in our Parish hall in March and the Catholic Church is represented by your Parish priest and up to four lay people.

Last year 2005 -Baptisms- 12 (13) Reception into the Church - 3 (1) First Confession and Holy Communion - 14 (8) Confirmation - 8 (14) Marriages - 8 (4) Funerals - 6 (16). The average Mass attendance in October was - 238 (235) The number in brackets are those for 2004.

At last years A.G.M. we elected four new members to the council. They meet every six weeks. Members are Jill Schorah (Chairperson) Suzanne Ackroyd, Kevin Barker, Anne Bridges, Fiona Collins, Muriel Ghose, Colin and Helen Harrison, Rachel Hughes, Andrew Pachowko.

Finance Committee:

This group met for the first time recently with four members to oversee the income and expenditure of the Parish - Muriel Ghose, Kevin Barker, Stephen Helliwell and Helen Harrison.

The Sacred Heart School:

The school has had difficulties with falling numbers but in the last few months concerted efforts have been made led by Mrs Whitworth the Acting Head ,to recruit new pupils. This campaign has met with some success. Mrs Rachel Hughes who co-ordinates R.E. has joined the Parish Council as a visible link between the school and the Parish. The parents and pupils played a big part in our parish Christmas Fayre. There are school/parish masses on Holydays and regular services in the Classes - Masses, Benediction and Liturgies of different sorts including Stations of the Cross and Marian devotions. The P.T.F.A. has grown in strength and organisation and have been another link between parish and school with quite a lot of social events in the parish hall, Catholic Club and in the school itself.

Property:

The grounds continue to be beautifully maintained by Mr Kevin Barker and Mrs Sheila Pickles looking after the central rockery. Recently a tree was planted by the music group in memory of Mrs Christine Hopkins who died suddenly in December last year. The parish received a Certificate from the Mayor of Calderdale when Sowerby Bridge was entered for the “Yorkshire Town in Bloom” competition (received 5^th December at the Moorings Inn). In the church we have just started the long process of replacing the kneelers which are in a bad state. Fortunately, we are blessed with an upholsterer in the parish. A considerable number of bushes and trees have been cut down at the rear of the church, hall and presbytery and others pruned. This gives us much more light.

Social Activities:

A very successful Barbecue was held last summer, hence another is to be held on July 2^nd. The Christmas Fayre on November 26^th was again well supported by both the Parish and the Parents and children from the school. The St Patrick’s night social was most enjoyable with Irish dancing from one of our own children. Following the Easter Vigil a lovely buffet was enjoyed. New ideas for event are very welcome.

They have continued to organise the Senior Parishoners Mass and tea and catering for the Rushbearing. They have hosted talks, made visits to Father Sharp and the Theatre. Rosary and Benediction for Ladies from other Parishes in the Deanery was very well attended. We are pleased to be able to give Father Firth a cheque for £500 from funds raised.

Music:

We are now very fortunate to have six musicians who on a rota system provide music for all masses. This enables new music to be introduced. The adult choir have again led the singing at the Christmas and Holy Week celebrations.

We hope to be able to begin the Family Masses for the children again after the holidays. If anyone would like to help with these please let Father Firth know.