Red Wednesday is an annual initiative by the Catholic charity, Aid to the Church in
\nNeed, and is a day to gather and draw attention to the plight of those who are
\npersecuted and oppressed for their religious beliefs. Cathedrals, churches and public
\nbuildings around the world are lit up in red to show solidarity with all those who are
\npersecuted for their Christian faith and individuals are invited to wear an item of red
\nclothing.
\nThis year \u2018Red Wednesday\u2019 was held on Wednesday 27 November.
\nAt St Mary\u2019s, Brownedge, Bamber Bridge, a beautiful Votive Mass of the Precious
\nBlood of Our Lord took place on that evening.
\nThe church was floodlit in red, thanks to Mr. Brian Spicer, and Mass was celebrated
\nfor the Deanery of St John Southworth. Fr Mark Harold, Dean and Parish Priest,
\npresided with Fr Colin Battell OSB, Bamber Bridge; Canon Jude Harrison, St
\nAlbans\u2019s, Blackburn; and retired Fr Michael Waters, resident at Larmenier
\nRetirement Village, Blackburn, concelebrating. Also concelebrating, from the
\nneighboring Archdiocese of Liverpool, were Fr Jonathan Cotton OSB, a former
\nParish Priest of St Mary\u2019s, Brownedge, and Fr Bernard McNulty OSB, Parish Priest
\nand Assistant Priest respectively at St Mary\u2019s, Leyland. Michele, Greg, and Charlotte
\nwere the Altar Servers.
\nPupils from St Mary\u2019s, Brownedge RC High School, Bamber Bridge, and St
\nAugustine\u2019s RC High School, Billington, gave the readings, bidding prayers and took
\npart in the offertory procession with teaching staff and the lay chaplains from the
\nschools also present. The organist was Mr. Raymund Livesey and the parish bell
\nringers ensured that the bells of St Mary\u2019s rang out before the Mass. During the
\nMass, pupils and other members of the congregation brought lighted candles to the
\nSanctuary which was placed in front of the Altar in the form of a Cross. Following
\nthe Mass, refreshments were enjoyed in the Narthex.
\nMany thanks to all those who attended, to Fr Mark and the concelebrants, to the
\nAltar Servers and to the pupils of the local schools who took part in the Mass.
\nThanks also to all those involved in any way in the organisation of the Mass,
\nespecially to Mr. Geoff and Mrs. Mary Yeomans, parish representatives for Aid to the
\nChurch in Need, and to those who served refreshments. Thanks to Mr. John
\nRobinson of Lostock Hall for acting as the official photographer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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…<\/p>\n