Whose feast is it today? You don’t know, so you look it up. But stop now and ask yourself how the list of Saints got there in the first place. You think some committee in Rome did it? Not entirely. There is a world-wide calendar and there are national calendars, but there is also a diocesan calendar of local Saints. We are in the process of revising our Calendar and fitting our local Saints Days into the general calendar of all saints is more complicated than you might think. Some of “our” saints will be additions to the general calendar, while others will already be in the general list, but are so important to us that we want to give them a higher rating. Fr Paddy Hibbert is in charge of the whole process and here are some of his suggestions. He invites and welcomes your comments.

January 19th: St. Kentigern, He has traditionally been included in our Diocesan Calendar and is associated with the diocese as a missionary in the Cumbria area.
January 19th is also that of St. Wulstan in the National Calendar. Both could share the same day & rank as alternatives in our Diocesan Calendar.
February 11th: Our Lady of Lourdes. This is the day of our principal patroness, and so is marked as a Feast.
June 25th: Our Lady of Fernyhalgh. This is a suggested new addition to be celebrated as a Memorial. With no special historic date, one has been chosen as practical for pilgrimages. There is considerable ancient & present devotion to Our Lady of Fernyhalgh, with important continuity through penal times.

Diocesan Martyrs - There is now in addition a large body of beatified martyrs associated with the Diocese in addition to those who have already been canonised. I propose that we celebrate all of them in three groups, over the space of three Obligatory Memorial days, as follows:
July 19th: Martyrs of Lancashire. These martyrs originated in the Preston, Garstang & Fylde area of Lancashire but were martyred elsewhere in the country. The group includes: St. John Plessmgton, St. John Wall O.F.M.,Blessed Thomas Cottam SJ., William Harcourt S.J., William Marsden, George Haydock. John Sandys, George Beesley. 19 July is the day of martyrdom of St. John Plessington.
July 24th: Martyrs of Cumbria. Those originating in the present county of Cumbria who were all martyred elsewhere except Bl. Christopher Robinson who was born, worked, and martyred in Carlisle. The group includes St. John Boste. who was martyred on this day, and these martyrs, comprising a significant strong witness from an area of the former Westmorland, including Blessed John Mason, layman , Thomas Someis, James Duckett, layman .Thomas Tunstall OSB. William Ward, John Duckett, John Pickering OSB. Thomas Sprott.
August 7th:The Lancaster Martyrs. This is the group of those who were martyred at Lancaster on the hill above our Cathedral including St. Edmund Arrowsmith S.J., St. Ambrose Barlow O.S.B. & these 12 Blessed martyrs: Blessed James Bell, & John Finch, layman, Richard Hayhurst, Robert Nutter O.P., Edward Thwing, Thurstan Hunt & Robert Middleton S.J., John Thules & Roger Wrenno, layman, plus Edward Bamber, John Woodcock O.F.M.. & Thomas Whitaker, these three being the last group of Lancaster martyrs executed on this day, 7th Aug 1646

St. Oswald was an influential northern king-saint who worked with Aidan & whose kingdom once covered the northern part of our diocese. He continues to be included in our Diocesan Calendar as an Optional Memorial. He is not in the National Calendar.
St. Cuthbert is the secondary patron of the Diocese & is included as an Obligatory Memorial.
St. Ninian has been included from our old calendar as a Celtic missionary based SW Scotland with a possible influence over the North, and as representative of this Celtic mission.
St. Herbert - suggested as an addition, hermit (20th March?) friend of Cuthbert, associated with the Lakes. Should he be included, or just an option in Windermere or the Lakes?
Dedication of Cathedral. This anniversary is celebrated in each Diocese, and for us displaces St Francis. I suggest transferring St Francis to the next day rather omitting him altogether.

All comments and sugegstions to Fr Patrick Hibbert, St. Alban’s, 64 Kilnhouse Lane, Lythan St. Annes, Lancs. FY8 3AA