Pendle church broadcasts services on the internet (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Pendle church broadcasts services on the internet

7:00pm Saturday 16th February 2013 in Pendle

A PENDLE church has answered the prayers of people who can't make it to mass - by streaming them over the internet.

The innovative Good Shepherd Parish has a reputation for forward thinking and embracing technology, and their webcam mass scheme is the latest idea from them.

Masses from Sacred Heart, in Colne, on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, are now broadcast online.

The service is aimed at churchgoers who are housebound, ill or unable to make mass, and they can watch the service on their computer, tablet or smart phone.

The Good Shepherd RC Parish was formed in 2010 as an amalgamation of Holy Saviour (Nelson), Sacred Heart (Colne) and SS Peter & Paul (Barrowford).

Paul Brown, who runs the parish website, said: “Broadcasting the mass live is a way of allowing people who may be housebound, ill or unable to make it to watch online, and we currently have around 15 households set up to use the service.

“There was also scope in the future for developing it further, such as keeping a log of masses so that people who miss it may be able to watch it later in the week.

“With Father Chris taking over three churches he was keen to look at ways of communication and we have embraced technology, Father Chris is now on Twitter and he also does regular podcasts.

“It is exciting times at the parish and we have been very forward thinking, we have held regular meetings over the last six months to look at ways of reaching out to the community."