Red Wednesday is an annual initiative by the Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in
Need, and is a day to gather and draw attention to the plight of those who are
persecuted and oppressed for their religious beliefs. Cathedrals, churches and public
buildings around the world are lit up in red to show solidarity with all those who are
persecuted for their Christian faith and individuals are invited to wear an item of red
clothing.
This year ‘Red Wednesday’ was held on Wednesday 27 November.
At St Mary’s, Brownedge, Bamber Bridge, a beautiful Votive Mass of the Precious
Blood of Our Lord took place on that evening.
The church was floodlit in red, thanks to Mr. Brian Spicer, and Mass was celebrated
for the Deanery of St John Southworth. Fr Mark Harold, Dean and Parish Priest,
presided with Fr Colin Battell OSB, Bamber Bridge; Canon Jude Harrison, St
Albans’s, Blackburn; and retired Fr Michael Waters, resident at Larmenier
Retirement Village, Blackburn, concelebrating. Also concelebrating, from the
neighboring Archdiocese of Liverpool, were Fr Jonathan Cotton OSB, a former
Parish Priest of St Mary’s, Brownedge, and Fr Bernard McNulty OSB, Parish Priest
and Assistant Priest respectively at St Mary’s, Leyland. Michele, Greg, and Charlotte
were the Altar Servers.
Pupils from St Mary’s, Brownedge RC High School, Bamber Bridge, and St
Augustine’s RC High School, Billington, gave the readings, bidding prayers and took
part in the offertory procession with teaching staff and the lay chaplains from the
schools also present. The organist was Mr. Raymund Livesey and the parish bell
ringers ensured that the bells of St Mary’s rang out before the Mass. During the
Mass, pupils and other members of the congregation brought lighted candles to the
Sanctuary which was placed in front of the Altar in the form of a Cross. Following
the Mass, refreshments were enjoyed in the Narthex.
Many thanks to all those who attended, to Fr Mark and the concelebrants, to the
Altar Servers and to the pupils of the local schools who took part in the Mass.
Thanks also to all those involved in any way in the organisation of the Mass,
especially to Mr. Geoff and Mrs. Mary Yeomans, parish representatives for Aid to the
Church in Need, and to those who served refreshments. Thanks to Mr. John
Robinson of Lostock Hall for acting as the official photographer.
