Liturgical life of the Parish:

We were blest with a lovely sunny day for the children making their First Holy Communion (9 children) and it was a day to remember for everyone involved.

In September (17th) a coach full of parishioners left at 8.00am to travel to Wales for a day of recollection at Pantasaph run by the Franciscan Friars. This year ( 2006) the Bishop asked the parishes of the Diocese to re-instate the weekend or 40 hours devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. We held the weekend of Exposition on 3 0th - 1st October beginning after Saturday morning Mass and ending on Sunday afternoon at 3.30pm. The weekend concluded with a holy hour for the Eucharistic Ministers which was well attended. This is to become an annual event.

In November there were outdoor prayers for the dead at Stoneyroyd cemetery on the first Sunday which was attended by about 200 people and the second Sunday in our own parish at Sowerby Bridge cemetery with about 35 people. We were blest with fine but cold weather. That same month the Cathedral in Leeds re-opened after being extensively restored (costing over 2,000,000) As a parish outing we filled two small coaches on Wednesday January 31st & about 65 of us celebrated Mass (with the doors locked!) Everyone then enjoyed seeing the renovations before we retreated to the Italian restaurant next door.

The Christmas Masses were well attended and the singers who had been practicing during Advent sung well. The revived Children‘s music group excelled themselves at the Vigil mass (numbers were approximately 6.30pm 250 Midnight 130 11 am 120) After a lapse following Mrs Christine Hopkin‘s sudden death the music group which she founded almost ceased to function. But this year, with more school involvement has attracted more children than ever with between four and six meetings with the deacon or priest. As yet, we have not set up a baptism course although we have bought a DVD programme on the preparation of families for the baptism of their child.

Parish Numbers:

Our school & numbers at the Childrens Masses has increased over the last two years, numbers at the Advent &Lenten Penitential services with confessions has declined somewhat (is there less sin about?) The Deanery (Halifax) clergy decided to try, at Easter to hold confessions all day at St Mary‘s Gibbet Street on Saturday 31st March with at least two priests hearing confessions continually. There were 296 penitents from 9am - 6pm. Services in Holy Week were both well attended & celebrated with devotion, music & flowers. There were good numbers on Holy Thursday (about 100) Good Friday afternoon (200) but as usual the Easter Vigil was not well supported (75) whilst Easter Sunday morning (9am-45, 11am- 210) was full. After the Easter Vigil when two adults were confirmed we held a party in the hall.

Catechetics:

Last year 9 children made their First Confession & Holy Communion and were prepared by our three catechists. Only one teenager presented themselves as a candidate for the Sacrament of Confirmation & was prepared by the family. The Confirmation took place this year in the Deanery at St Malachy‘s parish. Our Deacon has been promoting the Come & See programme which is a five year project sponsored by the Diocese. David has introduced some of the ideas in the programme at the Sacred Heart School to parents, teachers and pupils.

The Journey in Faith programme has just been completed for this year and we had ten members besides the clergy. We covered the whole teaching of Christianity over a period stretching from last September until the end of May. As a result of the process, two adults were confirmed at Easter, one of whom was not previously a Catholic. In 2006 we had 8 couples being prepared for marriage.

Relationships with the Methodist & Church of England continue to grow. In November 2006 we held a joint gathering of our parish council along with the parish council of Christchurch & St Paul’s Methodist council in our parish hall. As a result of this we organised two hours of Carol singing at the entrance to the Tesco’s supermarket in Sowerby Bridge. The usual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was held between the churches at Christchurch on a very wet Sunday afternoon in January. As a result it was far from crowded. In March the clergy (4 Anglicans, 1 Methodist, 2 Catholics) had a day of recollection at Perceval Hall in the Dales led by Mgr. Steele (formerly in charge of ecumenism in Leeds Diocese). On Good Friday morning we held our joint Stations of the Cross beginning at St Paul‘s Methodist Church & ending at St Patrick’s (followed by tea in the hall). It was attended by about 120 people. We held a second joint council meeting in March in the hall. The Calderdale Interfaith Council chaired by the Mayor of Calderdale continues to meet and in 2006 they produced an extensive book describing the different faiths throughout our area.

Annual Statistics:

Last year 2006 -Baptisms 12 - Reception into the Church Adults 2 Children 1 -First Confessions and Holy Communion 9 - Marriages 8 - Funerals - 12 . The average Mass attendance in October was 243 (previous year 238).

Parish Council:

The Parish Council have held 7 meetings during this last year. They usually meet every six weeks to discuss parish priorities and organise parish life. The present members are Mrs Jill Schorah (Chairperson) Mrs Anne Bridges (Secretary) Deacon David Marshall, Mr Kevin Barker, Mr Andrew Pachowko, Mr Colin Harrison, Mrs Helen Harrison, Mrs Rachel Hughes (School representative) Mrs Fiona Collins, Mrs Suzanne Ackroyd, Mrs Muriel Ghose and Fr K. Firth.

This group was set up last year to oversee the parish finances and organise repairs etc. On the committee are Mrs Muriel Ghose, Mrs Helen Harrison, Mr Kevin Barker and Mr Stephen Helliwell. Unfortunately the Annual Financial statement was not ready as we were producing this booklet.

Regarding parish property it seems to have been a fairly quiet year. In the church, we finally had all the kneelers replaced by Christmas. Now everyone wants to kneel all through mass because they are so comfortable! Over the past year we have been struggling to get Heating Engineering firms to give us quotations for a new church heating system. It has taken us the better part of a year to get four quotations and these have been sent to the Diocesan Finance committee for permission to allow us to replace the 1934 pipes etc.

During the Roman pilgrimage your parish priest bought a new set of vestments to be used at the school masses. In addition we had the large monstrance regilded one chalice regilded and the monstrance base and missal stand re-brassed.

The church grounds continue to be beautifully maintained by Kevin Barker with Sheila Pickles working hard on the rockery. We are busy saving our coppers to pay for the new heating system which will keep us warm ( we hope) when next winter comes.

The school has now a new Head teacher, Mrs Moya Whitworth. Mrs Rachel Hughes who co-ordinates R.E. in the school is a visible link between the school and the Parish on the Parish council. The parents and pupils continue to play 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. There is an increased support in the Family Masses. 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.

The Web Site:

This is maintained by Colin and Helen Harrison. It is proving very popular and has had many Hits. There is a lovely children‘s section. The address is: www.sacredheartsowerbybridge.org.uk

A very successful Barbecue was held on July 2nd. The Christmas Fayre on November 25th was again well supported by both the Parish &the Parents & children from the school. In February 32 parishioners, Fr Firth & Deacon David visited Rome. Mass was attended in St Peters, The Catacombs & The English College. We even had our own altar servers. The highlight was the audience with Pope Benedict when 6 of our party were presented to the Pope. It is hoped we can arrange another one but a shorter one is to be held in 2007 to Walsingham. Following the Easter Vigil a lovely buffet was enjoyed. A social to celebrate St George‘s Day was very successful. New idea s for event always welcome.

The ladies group usually meet every other Wednesday evenings. All ladies in the Parish are welcome to attend. The group celebrated the 20th Anniversary of its formation with a party on June 21st last year. It now has 28 members.

They have continued to organise the Senior Parishioners Mass and tea and catering for the Rushbearing. They have hosted talks, made cards and table decorations. We are pleased to be able to give Father Firth a cheque for £300 from funds raised.

The rota system for providing music for all the masses has proved very successful. This enables new music to be introduced. The adult choir have again led the singing at the Christmas and Holy Week celebrations. Family Masses have begun again for the children and are being well attended.