Sunday 30th August 2026 - Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church

Catlow Hall Street, Oswaldtwistle

Lancashire

BB5 3EZ

 

Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. S D O’Brien

Parish Administrator: Ciara Kelly

Tel: 01254-232433

Email: stmarysoswaldtwistle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk

 

Sunday 30^th August 2026

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

 

Friday 28^th August

5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

6pm Mass, Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Memoria)

St. Augustine was born in 354, and thanks to the prayers of his mother Monica, he became a Christian and was chosen as bishop of Hippo, in North Africa. Here his pastoral care, teaching and writings were exemplary. He died in 430, leaving many works most famous of which was his "Confessions".

 

Saturday 29^th August

9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

10am Votive Mass of The Passion of Saint John the Baptist (Memoria)

'The king promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.' (Mark 6:17-29)

6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

6:30pm Vigil Mass for Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Sunday 30^th August

9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

10am Mass for Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Tuesday 1^st September

5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

6pm Weekday Mass (Feria)

 

Wednesday 2^nd September

9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

10am Weekday Mass (Feria)

10:35am Devotions to Saint Joseph

(At the foot of the parish statue of St. Joseph, see below for more details)

 

Thursday 3^rd September

9:30am Mass, Saint Gregory the Great, Pope, Doctor of the Church (Feast)

St Gregory the Great was born in Rome in 540A.D; he became a civil servant and Prefect of the City. He entered the Abbey of St. Andrew, and was ordained deacon in 578A.D. In 590A.D Gregory was elected Pope, showing pastoral care in preaching, writing, care for the poor and working for the welfare of Rome. He is the "Apostle of England" because it was he who sent Augustine to minister there, after encountering English slaves in the Forum.

 

Friday 4^th September

3.00pm Divine Mercy Chaplet and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

5.00pm Sacrament of Confession

6.00pm Holy Mass, Saint Cuthbert, Bishop (Memoria)

St. Cuthbert was born 643A.D, died on Farne 20th March 687 A.D. A shepherd boy, he became a monk at Melrose. After the Synod of Whitby in 664 A.D, he became prior of Lindisfarne and won over the community to Roman customs. In 676 A.D. he left the monastery to live in solitude on the island of Farne. For the last two years of his life he served as bishop of Lindisfarne but returned to his island to die.

6.30pm – 9.00pm Continued Eucharistic Adoration

9pm Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament

 

Saturday 5^th September

9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

10am Weekday Mass

6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

6:30pm Vigil Mass for Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Sunday 6^th September

9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

10am Mass for Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

with the procession of the statue of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle around church.

2pm St. Mary's Celebratory Afternoon Tea

 

 

Last Week's Offertory Collection

£476.76. Thank you.

 

Our Lady’s Lamp

This Week (29^th August – 4^th September), Our Lady’s Lamp is for Bee Adeyaba.

 

Devotions to Saint Joseph

On Wednesday 2^nd September, after the 10am Mass, there will be our first Wednesday devotions to St. Joseph (at the foot of his statue at the back of church). The devotions will include praying the Litany of St. Joseph, the Memorare of St. Joseph and the Prayer of the Holy Cloak Novena. In these devotions our prayer is to ask St. Joseph to pray for our parish family and for those who have wandered away from Church, that they may return and find a warm welcome.

 

Our Parish Feast of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle - Tuesday 8th September 2026

The day is almost here!

As we approach Tuesday 8th September, I would like to warmly invite every parishioner to make a special effort, if at all possible, to join us for our Parish Feast - Our Lady’s Birthday. As I mentioned last week, our church was solemnly dedicated in 1948 on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Our Lady's Birthday. From that time, our parish has been placed under Our Lady's loving care and protection. It is therefore a beautiful tradition for us to come together each year on this feast, entrusting ourselves and our parish once again to Mary and asking her to lead us ever more closely to her Son, Jesus. This year, we will mark our Parish Feast with a special Day of Healing and Prayer. Throughout the day there will be opportunities to pray together, spend time before the Blessed Sacrament, receive the Sacraments, and enjoy fellowship with one another.

Programme for the Day

10.00am – The Holy Rosary

Children from our three parish primary schools – Sacred Heart, St Mary's and St Oswald's – will lead us in praying the Rosary as we honour Our Blessed Lady.

12.00 noon – Eucharistic Adoration and Confession

The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for Adoration, and several visiting priests will be available throughout this time to celebrate the Sacrament of Confession.

1.00pm – Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

We will celebrate the Feast of Our Lady together with a Solemn Mass. There will also be an opportunity during the Mass to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

7.00pm – Evening Healing Service

We will conclude our day with a simple and prayerful service of healing, including the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and to receive individual prayer ministry.

Whether you are carrying a particular burden, seeking healing in body, mind or spirit, longing to return to the Sacrament of Confession, or simply wishing to spend some quiet time with Our Lord and Our Lady, there is a place for you on this special day.

You do not need to come for the whole day. Please come for whatever part of the programme you can manage. What matters is that, as a parish family, we take this opportunity to come together in prayer and place our lives, our families and our parish into the loving hands of Our Blessed Mother.

Please continue to pray for our Parish Feast, that Tuesday 8th September may be a day of abundant grace, healing and renewal for our whole parish community. I very much look forward to celebrating this special feast with you.

Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us. God bless, Fr O'Brien

 

 

First Friday Eucharistic Adoration- “Could You Not Watch One Hour With Me?”

Friday 4th September – 3.00pm–9.00pm

This Friday our church will be open from 3.00pm until 9.00pm for our monthly First Friday Eucharistic Adoration. The First Friday devotion has a long tradition in the Church and is especially associated with devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At its heart is a simple invitation: make time for Jesus. In the midst of our busy lives, we are invited to come before the Blessed Sacrament, to pray, to be still, and simply to spend time with Our Lord. When the Blessed Sacrament is exposed, Jesus is truly present. What a wonderful opportunity to come into His presence, bring Him our prayers and concerns, and allow Him to speak to our hearts.

Friday's Programme

3.00pm — Divine Mercy Chaplet and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

5.00pm — Opportunity for Confession

6.00pm — Holy Mass

6.30pm -  9pm — Eucharistic Adoration

9pm Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament

 

You don't need to come for the whole evening. Come for an hour, half an hour, or simply call into church when you can. The important thing is to take the opportunity to spend some time with Jesus.

Could You Give One Hour to the Lord?

To ensure that the Blessed Sacrament is never left unattended, we need two parishioners for each hour to act as our First Friday “watchers”. If you can commit to one hour, please add your name to the sign-up sheet on the noticeboard at the back of church. Everyone is welcome to come and pray, whether or not you are signed up as a watcher. Jesus is waiting. Come and spend some time with Him. God bless, Fr O'Brien

 

Urgent: Stop assisted suicide - postcards available

The vote on assisted suicide is on 11 September.

Not Dead Yet UK have provided postcards you can send to your MP to ask them to vote NO to assisted suicide in the vote in the House of Commons on 11 September.

Please take action now - collect a red and white postcard, fill out your details, add a stamp and post it to your MP today!

 

New Volunteering Role at Caritas Salford

Our diocesan charity Caritas Salford has a team of almost 200 amazing volunteers, all of whom support their work with people in our parishes who are experiencing poverty, homelessness and discrimination. The team is looking for suitable volunteers who would be interested in giving a little time to work alongside families at their young parent accommodation in Blackburn - supporting and facilitating activities with the babies and their parents.  All roles will be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring check. To find out more about this or other volunteering opportunities with the charity, visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/volunteer or contact Matt Yates: m.yates@caritassalford.org.uk

 

 

Fancy a Walk?

Caritas Salford is organising a 6-mile scenic, circular sponsored hike in Lancashire, along the delightful Downham Trail.  Taking place on 5 September, the walk is an undulating route with the potential for expansive views from the summit of Beacon Fell.

Visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/LancsWalk for more information or to register for your free place.

 

 

Parish Administrator Role

The parish of Our Lady & St Alphonsus Moss Side are looking for a Parish Administrator to provide a broad range of support to the parish including communications, coordinating the liturgical calendar and parish events, parish administrative tasks and liaising with volunteer and community groups. To find out more about the role and how to apply, please visit the diocesan website: https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/

 

 

 

Sunday 23rd August 2026 - Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church

Catlow Hall Street, Oswaldtwistle

Lancashire

BB5 3EZ

 

Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. S D O’Brien

Parish Administrator: Ciara Kelly

Tel: 01254-232433

Email: stmarysoswaldtwistle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk

 

Sunday 23^rd August

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

 

Friday 21^st August

5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

6pm Mass, Saint Pius X, Pope (Memoria)

St. Pius X was born in Riese (Italy) into a poor family in 1835, he was ordained and worked as parish priest for 17 years before bring made spiritual director at the seminary, then bishop of Mantua, patriarch of Venice and finally Pope in 1903. He sought to renew Christian life, by emphasising charity and the Eucharist; he worked to avoid war in 1914, but died shortly after its outbreak.

 

 

Saturday 22^nd August

9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (In the Lady Chapel)

"Mary means Star of the sea, for as mariners are guided to port by the ocean star, so Christians attain to glory through Mary's maternal intercession." - St. Thomas Aquinas

6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

6:30pm Vigil Mass for The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memoria)

'This is why the Blessed Virgin is called Powerful—nay, sometimes, All-powerful, because she has, more than anyone else, more than all Angels and Saints, this great, prevailing gift of prayer. No one has access to the Almighty as His Mother has; none has merit such as hers. Her Son will deny her nothing that she asks; and herein lies her power. While she defends the Church, neither height nor depth, neither men nor evil spirits, neither great monarchs, nor craft of man, nor popular violence, can avail to harm us; for human life is short, but Mary reigns above, a Queen for ever.' - St. John Henry Newman

 

Sunday 23^rd August

9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

10am Mass for Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Tuesday 25^th August

5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

6pm Weekday Mass

 

Wednesday 26^th August

9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

10am Mass, Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God (Memoria)

followed by the veneration of his relic (see below for more details)

Blessed Dominic Barberi was born in Viterbo in 1792; he became a Passionist and travelled to England in 1841; here he worked tirelessly, establishing four Passionist houses and bringing many people into the Church by his preaching and writing; he received St. John Henry Newman into the Church. He died at Reading in 1849.

 

Thursday 27^th August

9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

10am Mass, Saint Monica (Memoria)

followed by the veneration of her relic (see below for more details)

St. Monica, born in North Africa in 133 A.D, was mother of St. Augustine Thanks to her prayer, her husband was baptized; she also prayed for Augustine, living a wild life; he was eventually baptized in Milan in 387A.D, but she fell ill and died at Ostia while going home to Africa.

 

Friday 27^th August

5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

6pm Mass, Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Memoria)

St. Augustine was born in 354, and thanks to the prayers of his mother Monica, he became a Christian and was chosen as bishop of Hippo, in North Africa. Here his pastoral care, teaching and writings were exemplary. He died in 430, leaving many works most famous of which was his "Confessions".

 

Saturday 28^th August

9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

10am Votive Mass of The Passion of Saint John the Baptist (Memoria)

'The king promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.' (Mark 6:17-29)

6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

6:30pm Vigil Mass for Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Sunday 29^th August

9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

10am Mass for Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

 

Last Week's Offertory Collection

£642.32. Thank you for your kind generosity.

 

The Sanctuary Lamp

This Week (22^nd August – 28^th August), The Sanctuary Lamp is for Richard & Gertrude Henry.

 

Our Lady’s Lamp

This Week (22^nd August – 28^th August), Our Lady’s Lamp is for Hilda & Derek Cruise.

 

 

Emergency Calls: Supporting the Hospital Chaplain

Like many of the priests in our area, I regularly offer my help to Fr Christogonus Manu, the Hospital Chaplain at the Royal Blackburn Hospital. I will be on emergency call from Thursday 27th August until Saturday 29th August. Of course, an emergency is never a planned event, so I apologise in advance if I am called away unexpectedly and an appointment or parish commitment needs to be postponed or changed. Thank you for your patience and understanding. I would also like to thank all those parishioners who generously volunteer as church stewards, opening and locking the church. Even if I am called away and unable to get to a Mass or liturgy on time, their generosity means that our church can remain open for people to come and spend time in prayer.

If you, or a Catholic family member, are in hospital and would like a visit from the Catholic Chaplain, it is important to let the nursing staff on the ward know and ask them to contact Fr Christogonus. Because of data protection, the Catholic Chaplain does not have direct access to the hospital's patient lists. This means that he may not know that a Catholic patient is in hospital unless the ward staff are informed. This is especially important if someone would like to receive the Sacraments of Confession, Anointing of the Sick or Holy Communion. Please do not assume that the chaplain will automatically know that a Catholic patient would like to see him. Finally, please continue to pray for all those who are sick at this time, for their families and loved ones, and for all those who care for them. God bless, Fr O'Brien

 

 

Two Wonderful Days with the Saints

The coming week gives us two wonderful opportunities to celebrate the lives of Blessed Dominic Barberi on Wednesday 26th August and St Monica on Thursday 27th August.

Blessed Dominic Barberi was an Italian Passionist priest who came to England as a missionary in 1841. Filled with a great love for Christ, he worked tirelessly to share the Catholic faith and is especially remembered for receiving John Henry Newman into full communion with the Catholic Church in 1845. His life reminds us of the importance of courage, perseverance and missionary zeal in sharing the Gospel.

St Monica is perhaps best known as the mother of St Augustine. For many years she prayed faithfully and patiently for the conversion of her son and husband. Her perseverance was eventually rewarded, and Augustine became one of the Church's greatest saints. St Monica is a wonderful example of trusting in God and never giving up praying for those we love.

After each Mass, there will be an opportunity to venerate a relic of the saint whose feast we celebrate that day. This is a wonderful opportunity to ask for their intercession and to be inspired by their example as we seek to live more faithfully as disciples of Jesus.

Catholics do not worship relics—worship belongs to God alone. Rather, we venerate them as a way of honouring the saints and remembering that God worked through their lives. Their relics remind us of their faithfulness and encourage us to follow their example and ask for their prayers. Let us take these opportunities to bring our own needs, our families and those we love before the Lord, asking Blessed Dominic Barberi and St Monica to pray for us.

 

Save the Date – Annual Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle Sunday Afternoon Tea

Final week to secure your place! Our Annual Parish Afternoon Tea takes place on Sunday, 6th September at 2.00pm as part of our Feast of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle celebrations.

There are 40 tickets available at £15 each, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Payment must be made when booking to secure your place.

Final bookings and payment must be made by Sunday, 23rd August. If you have any allergies or dietary requirements, please let us know by this date.

 

Keep the Date Free – Parish Feast of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle

Tuesday 8th September 2026

I would like to encourage every parishioner to keep Tuesday 8th September free in your diary if at all possible, as we celebrate the Parish Feast of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle. Many people are unaware that when our church was solemnly dedicated in 1948, it was consecrated on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Our Lady's Birthday). Since that day, our parish has been placed under Our Lady's loving care and protection. It is therefore fitting that, each year, we celebrate this feast together and entrust ourselves once again to Mary, asking her to lead us ever more closely to her Son, Jesus Christ. This year we will mark our Parish Feast with a special Day of Healing and Prayer, offering opportunities throughout the day to receive the Lord's grace through prayer, the sacraments and fellowship.

Programme for the Day

10.00am – The Holy Rosary

Children from our three parish primary schools – Sacred Heart, St Mary's and St Oswald's – will lead us in praying the Rosary as we honour Our Blessed Lady.

12.00 noon – Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Confession

The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for Adoration, and several visiting priests will be available throughout this time to celebrate the Sacrament of Confession.

1.00pm – Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

During Mass there will also be the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

7.00pm – Evening Healing Service

We will conclude the day with a simple service of prayer for healing, including the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and individual prayer ministry.

Whether you are seeking healing in body, mind or spirit, wishing to return to the Sacrament of Confession, or simply wanting to spend time in prayer with Our Lord and Our Lady, I warmly invite you to join us for all or part of this special day. Please keep this date free and pray that our Parish Feast may be a day of abundant grace, healing and renewal for our whole parish community. Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.

God Bless. Fr O'Brien

 

 

New Volunteering Role at Caritas Salford

Our diocesan charity Caritas Salford has a team of almost 200 amazing volunteers, all of whom support their work with people in our parishes who are experiencing poverty, homelessness and discrimination. The team is looking for suitable volunteers who would be interested in giving a little time to work alongside families at their young parent accommodation in Blackburn - supporting and facilitating activities with the babies and their parents.  All roles will be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring check. To find out more about this or other volunteering opportunities with the charity, visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/volunteer or contact Matt Yates: m.yates@caritassalford.org.uk

 

 

Fancy a Walk?

Caritas Salford is organising a 6-mile scenic, circular sponsored hike in Lancashire, along the delightful Downham Trail.  Taking place on 5 September, the walk is an undulating route with the potential for expansive views from the summit of Beacon Fell.

Visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/LancsWalk for more information or to register for your free place.

 

 

Parish Administrator Role

The parish of Our Lady & St Alphonsus Moss Side are looking for a Parish Administrator to provide a broad range of support to the parish including communications, coordinating the liturgical calendar and parish events, parish administrative tasks and liaising with volunteer and community groups. To find out more about the role and how to apply, please visit the diocesan website: https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/

 

 

Open Afternoon at the Lalley Centre

There will be a special open afternoon at the Lalley Community Allotment run by our diocesan charity, Caritas Salford, on Tuesday 18 August from 12:00-3:30PM. For more information please contact the team at lalleycentre@caritassalford.org.uk or simply pop along on the day to Caritas Lalley Community Allotment, St Malachy's RC Primary School, Eggington Street, Collyhurst, Manchester, M40 7RG

 

 

 

Sunday 16th August 2026 - The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church

Catlow Hall Street, Oswaldtwistle

Lancashire

BB5 3EZ

 

Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. S D O’Brien

Parish Administrator: Ciara Kelly

Tel: 01254-232433

Email: stmarysoswaldtwistle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk

 

Sunday 16^th August 2026

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Friday 14^th August

10am Requiem Mass for Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Burton RIP

5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

6pm Mass, Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest & Martyr (Memoria)

St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe was born in Poland in 1894. He became a Franciscan in 1910. Arrested by the invading German forces in 1939 and sentenced to heavy labour in the extermination camp at Auschwitz. When a married man was chosen to be executed, Maximilian volunteered to take his place. He was killed by lethal injection on 14th August 1941. He was canonised in 1982 in the presence of the man whose life he saved.

 

Saturday 15^th August

9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (In the Lady Chapel)

"Mary, give me your Heart: so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate; your Heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor."- Saint Teresa of Kolkata

6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

6:30pm Vigil Mass for The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Sunday 16^th August

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Holy Day of Obligation

'It was fitting that she, who had kept her virginity in childbirth, should keep her own body free from all corruption even after death. It was fitting that she, who had carried the Creator as a child at her breast, should dwell in the divine tabernacles… it was fitting that God's Mother should possess what belongs to her Son and that she should be honoured by every creature as the Mother and the Handmaid of God." - St John Damascene

9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

10am Mass for The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Tuesday 18^th August

5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

6pm Weekday Mass

 

Wednesday 19^th August

9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

10am Weekday Mass (Feria)

 

Friday 21^st August

5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

6pm Mass, Saint Pius X, Pope (Memoria)

St. Pius X was born in Riese (Italy) into a poor family in 1835, he was ordained and worked as parish priest for 17 years before bring made spiritual director at the seminary, then bishop of Mantua, patriarch of Venice and finally Pope in 1903. He sought to renew Christian life, by emphasising charity and the Eucharist; he worked to avoid war in 1914, but died shortly after its outbreak.

 

 

Saturday 22^nd August

9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (In the Lady Chapel)

"Mary means Star of the sea, for as mariners are guided to port by the ocean star, so Christians attain to glory through Mary's maternal intercession." - St. Thomas Aquinas

 6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

6:30pm Vigil Mass for The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memoria)

'This is why the Blessed Virgin is called Powerful—nay, sometimes, All-powerful, because she has, more than anyone else, more than all Angels and Saints, this great, prevailing gift of prayer. No one has access to the Almighty as His Mother has; none has merit such as hers. Her Son will deny her nothing that she asks; and herein lies her power. While she defends the Church, neither height nor depth, neither men nor evil spirits, neither great monarchs, nor craft of man, nor popular violence, can avail to harm us; for human life is short, but Mary reigns above, a Queen for ever.' - St. John Henry Newman

 

Sunday 23^rd August

9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

10am Mass for Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Last Week's Offertory Collection

£542.48 Thank you for your kind generosity.

 

The Sanctuary Lamp

This Week (15^th August – 21^st August), The Sanctuary Lamp is for Gattei & Bevan Family.

 

Our Lady’s Lamp

This Week (15^th August – 21^st August), Our Lady’s Lamp is for Michael Salmon.

 

 

The Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this great feast, we rejoice in the truth that, at the end of her earthly life, Mary was taken body and soul into the glory of Heaven. The Assumption reminds us that Mary, who faithfully shared in the life, death and resurrection of her Son, now shares fully in His glory. For us as Catholics, this feast is also a sign of hope: what God has accomplished in Mary points towards our own destiny. We too are called to share in the resurrection and eternal life promised to us through Christ. As we honour Our Lady, may she pray for us and lead us ever closer to her Son.

 

 

Keep the Date Free – Parish Feast of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle

Tuesday 8th September 2026

I would like to encourage every parishioner to keep Tuesday 8th September free in your diary if at all possible, as we celebrate the Parish Feast of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle. Many people are unaware that when our church was solemnly dedicated in 1948, it was consecrated on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Our Lady's Birthday). Since that day, our parish has been placed under Our Lady's loving care and protection. It is therefore fitting that, each year, we celebrate this feast together and entrust ourselves once again to Mary, asking her to lead us ever more closely to her Son, Jesus Christ. This year we will mark our Parish Feast with a special Day of Healing and Prayer, offering opportunities throughout the day to receive the Lord's grace through prayer, the sacraments and fellowship.

Programme for the Day

10.00am – The Holy Rosary

Children from our three parish primary schools – Sacred Heart, St Mary's and St Oswald's – will lead us in praying the Rosary as we honour Our Blessed Lady.

12.00 noon – Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Confession

The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for Adoration, and several visiting priests will be available throughout this time to celebrate the Sacrament of Confession.

1.00pm – Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

During Mass there will also be the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

7.00pm – Evening Healing Service

We will conclude the day with a simple service of prayer for healing, including the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and individual prayer ministry.

Whether you are seeking healing in body, mind or spirit, wishing to return to the Sacrament of Confession, or simply wanting to spend time in prayer with Our Lord and Our Lady, I warmly invite you to join us for all or part of this special day. Please keep this date free and pray that our Parish Feast may be a day of abundant grace, healing and renewal for our whole parish community. Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.

God Bless. Fr O'Brien

 

 

Save the Date – Annual Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle Sunday Afternoon Tea

As part of our celebrations for the Feast of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, there will be the Annual Parish Afternoon Tea on Sunday, 6th September. At the 10.00am Parish Mass, our beautiful statue of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle will once again be carried in procession around the church as we honour Our Blessed Lady and entrust our parish to her loving care. In the afternoon, we will gather for our much-loved Parish Afternoon Tea, which starts at 2.00pm—a wonderful opportunity to celebrate together, enjoy good company, and strengthen the friendships that make our parish such a welcoming community. There are 40 tickets available at £15 each. As this event is always very popular and sells out quickly, tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Parishioners are asked to pay when booking to secure their ticket. The deadline for booking and payment is 23rd August. If you have any allergies or dietary requirements, please let us know before 23rd August, as we may not be able to accommodate requests received after this date.

 

New Volunteering Role at Caritas Salford

Our diocesan charity Caritas Salford has a team of almost 200 amazing volunteers, all of whom support their work with people in our parishes who are experiencing poverty, homelessness and discrimination. The team is looking for suitable volunteers who would be interested in giving a little time to work alongside families at their young parent accommodation in Blackburn - supporting and facilitating activities with the babies and their parents.  All roles will be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring check. To find out more about this or other volunteering opportunities with the charity, visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/volunteer or contact Matt Yates: m.yates@caritassalford.org.uk

 

 

Fancy a Walk?

Caritas Salford is organising a 6-mile scenic, circular sponsored hike in Lancashire, along the delightful Downham Trail.  Taking place on 5 September, the walk is an undulating route with the potential for expansive views from the summit of Beacon Fell.

Visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/LancsWalk for more information or to register for your free place.

 

 

Parish Administrator Role

The parish of Our Lady & St Alphonsus Moss Side are looking for a Parish Administrator to provide a broad range of support to the parish including communications, coordinating the liturgical calendar and parish events, parish administrative tasks and liaising with volunteer and community groups. To find out more about the role and how to apply, please visit the diocesan website: https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/

 

 

Open Afternoon at the Lalley Centre

There will be a special open afternoon at the Lalley Community Allotment run by our diocesan charity, Caritas Salford, on Tuesday 18 August from 12:00-3:30PM. For more information please contact the team at lalleycentre@caritassalford.org.uk or simply pop along on the day to Caritas Lalley Community Allotment, St Malachy's RC Primary School, Eggington Street, Collyhurst, Manchester, M40 7RG

 

 

 

 

Sunday 9th August 2026 - Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church

Catlow Hall Street, Oswaldtwistle

Lancashire

BB5 3EZ

 

Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. S D O’Brien

Parish Administrator: Ciara Kelly

Tel: 01254-232433

Email: stmarysoswaldtwistle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk

 

Sunday 9^th August 2026

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Friday 7^th August

3.00pm Divine Mercy Chaplet and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

5.00pm Opportunity for the Sacrament of Confession

6.00pm Holy Mass

6.30pm – 9.00pm Continued Eucharistic Adoration

8.50pm Solemn Benediction

 

Saturday 8^th August

9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

10am Mass, Saint Dominic, Priest (Memoria)

St. Dominic, born in 1170 in Spain, Dominic became a priest and after strenuous preaching against the Albigensians he founded the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) to continue his work. He died in 1221.

6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

6:30pm Vigil Mass for Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Sunday 9^th August

9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

10am Mass for Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

 

Tuesday 11^th August

5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

6pm Mass, Saint Clare (Memoria)

St. Clare was born in Assisi in 1193, followed St. Francis in his life of poverty and was the founder of an order of nuns (Poor Clares). She led a very austere life, abounding in works of piety and charity. She died in 1253.

 

Wednesday 12^th August

9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

10am Weekday Mass (Feria)

 

Thursday 13^th August

9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

10am Weekday Mass (Feria)

 

Friday 14^th August

10am Requiem Mass for Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Burton RIP

5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

6pm Mass, Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest & Martyr (Memoria)

St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe was born in Poland in 1894. He became a Franciscan in 1910. Arrested by the invading German forces in 1939 and sentenced to heavy labour in the extermination camp at Auschwitz. When a married man was chosen to be executed, Maximilian volunteered to take his place. He was killed by lethal injection on 14th August 1941. He was canonised in 1982 in the presence of the man whose life he saved.

 

Saturday 15^th August

9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (In the Lady Chapel)

"Mary, give me your Heart: so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate; your Heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor."- Saint Teresa of Kolkata

6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

6:30pm Vigil Mass for The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Sunday 16^th August

SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Holy Day of Obligation

'It was fitting that she, who had kept her virginity in childbirth, should keep her own body free from all corruption even after death. It was fitting that she, who had carried the Creator as a child at her breast, should dwell in the divine tabernacles… it was fitting that God's Mother should possess what belongs to her Son and that she should be honoured by every creature as the Mother and the Handmaid of God." - St John Damascene

9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

10am Mass for The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Last Week's Offertory Collection

£605.11 Thank you for your kind generosity.

 

A Book Recommendation – Forgiveness

In my homily last weekend, I spoke about the remarkable story of Immaculée Ilibagiza, the Rwandan genocide survivor who, despite experiencing unimaginable suffering, was eventually able to pray with sincerity the words of the Our Father: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." A number of parishioners asked me afterwards could I recommend a book to learn more about her extraordinary witness of faith, hope and forgiveness. The book is entitled Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, written by Immaculée with Steve Erwin. It is Immaculée's autobiographical account of surviving the 1994 Rwandan genocide. During the violence, she spent 91 days hiding with seven other women and throughout her ordeal, she drew strength from constant prayer, especially the Rosary. Her story is a powerful testimony to God's grace and to the transforming power of forgiveness, demonstrating how faith can overcome even the deepest hatred and suffering. If you are looking for a spiritually inspiring and deeply moving read, I can warmly recommend this book. It is a profound witness to the truth that, with God's grace, forgiveness is possible even in the face of the greatest evil. God Bless, Fr. O’Brien

 

 

Building & Maintenance Update

The drainage repair project at St Mary's has now begun. Following approval of the works by the Diocesan Property Committee, contractors from Metro Rod formally commenced work on Monday 3rd August. These essential works will repair the deteriorated sections of the drainage system serving both the church and presbytery, as identified during the CCTV drainage survey carried out earlier this year. The project is being overseen on behalf of the Diocese by Lee Sloan from the Diocesan Property Department. As with any major programme of works, there may be some temporary disruption around parts of the church and presbytery while the repairs are underway. Further updates will be provided as the project progresses and significant milestones are reached.

 

 

Please contact your MP to oppose assisted suicide

The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is back in the House of Commons and seeks to legalise assisted suicide. It will have its Second Reading and vote on Friday, 11^th September 2026. Please write to your MP to make your voice heard and oppose the Bill. “This bill is wrong in principle,” says Archbishop Richard Moth, President of the Bishops’ Conference, “It is also deeply flawed and, if passed, could lead to vulnerable people feeling pressured into ending their lives. The Bill has a serious lack of protection for health and social care staff and risks putting many wonderful hospices and care homes in the position of no longer being able to operate. I urge you to write to your Members of Parliament to petition them to vote against the Bill at Second Reading.”

You can support the Archbishop’s call and contact your MP now as a matter of urgency. Even if you have already done so in the past, please speak up and voice your opposition. The charity Right to Life UK has a simple online mechanism to do this. It takes little more than a few minutes to enter your postcode, make sure the suggested text suits your viewpoint and submit your message to ask your MP to stop this flawed Bill progressing through parliament.

For more information and resources, visit:

cbcew.org.uk/opposing-assisted-suicide

righttolife.org.uk/Sept11vote

 

 

Keep the Date Free – Parish Feast of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle

Tuesday 8th September 2026

I would like to encourage every parishioner to keep Tuesday 8th September free in your diary if at all possible, as we celebrate the Parish Feast of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle. Many people are unaware that when our church was solemnly dedicated in 1948, it was consecrated on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Our Lady's Birthday). Since that day, our parish has been placed under Our Lady's loving care and protection. It is therefore fitting that, each year, we celebrate this feast together and entrust ourselves once again to Mary, asking her to lead us ever more closely to her Son, Jesus Christ. This year we will mark our Parish Feast with a special Day of Healing and Prayer, offering opportunities throughout the day to receive the Lord's grace through prayer, the sacraments and fellowship.

Programme for the Day

10.00am – The Holy Rosary

Children from our three parish primary schools – Sacred Heart, St Mary's and St Oswald's – will lead us in praying the Rosary as we honour Our Blessed Lady.

12.00 noon – Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Confession

The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for Adoration, and several visiting priests will be available throughout this time to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

1.00pm – Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

During Mass there will also be the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

7.00pm – Evening Healing Service

We will conclude the day with a simple service of prayer for healing, including the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and individual prayer ministry.

Whether you are seeking healing in body, mind or spirit, wishing to return to the Sacrament of Confession, or simply wanting to spend time in prayer with Our Lord and Our Lady, I warmly invite you to join us for all or part of this special day. Please keep this date free and pray that our Parish Feast may be a day of abundant grace, healing and renewal for our whole parish community. Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.

God Bless. Fr O'Brien

 

 

Save the Date – Annual Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle Sunday Afternoon Tea

As part of our celebrations for the Feast of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, there will be the Annual Parish Afternoon Tea on Sunday, 6th September. At the 10.00am Parish Mass, our beautiful statue of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle will once again be carried in procession around the church as we honour Our Blessed Lady and entrust our parish to her loving care. In the afternoon, we will gather for our much-loved Parish Afternoon Tea, which starts at 2.00pm—a wonderful opportunity to celebrate together, enjoy good company, and strengthen the friendships that make our parish such a welcoming community. There are 40 tickets available at £15 each. As this event is always very popular and sells out quickly, tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Parishioners are asked to pay when booking to secure their ticket. The deadline for booking and payment is 23rd August. If you have any allergies or dietary requirements, please let us know before 23rd August, as we may not be able to accommodate requests received after this date.

 

Services to Support Local People

Caritas Salford runs a wide range of community and outreach services to help people in our diocesan communities who are experiencing poverty, homelessness, isolation and discrimination.  If you, or someone you know, might benefit from their support, you can find details on their website: www.caritassalford.org.uk/services

 

 

Love Knitting, Crocheting, Sewing or Making?

Our diocesan charity, Caritas Salford, is looking for creative parishioners who might be able to help them raise funds to help support people in our parish communities who are experiencing poverty and homelessness.  They're looking for people who can either make items to sell in aid of the charity, or groups of people from our parishes who can be paired with local schools to help knit hats and scarves for pupils to wear in their Big Sleep Out fundraisers.  If you can help, please get in touch with the team at fundraising@caritassalford.org.uk or call 0161 817 2250.

 

 

New Volunteering Role at Caritas Salford

Our diocesan charity Caritas Salford has a team of almost 200 amazing volunteers, all of whom support their work with people in our parishes who are experiencing poverty, homelessness and discrimination. The team is looking for suitable volunteers who would be interested in giving a little time to work alongside families at their young parent accommodation in Blackburn - supporting and facilitating activities with the babies and their parents.  All roles will be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring check. To find out more about this or other volunteering opportunities with the charity, visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/volunteer or contact Matt Yates: m.yates@caritassalford.org.uk

 

 

Fancy a Walk?

Caritas Salford is organising a 6-mile scenic, circular sponsored hike in Lancashire, along the delightful Downham Trail.  Taking place on 5 September, the walk is an undulating route with the potential for expansive views from the summit of Beacon Fell.

Visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/LancsWalk for more information or to register for your free place.