Sunday 29th October 2023
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Friday 27thOctober
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass (Feria)
Saturday 28thOctober
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles (Feast) (celebrated in the Lady Chapel)
The name Simon is placed eleventh in the list of apostles and nothing is known of him, except that he was born at Cana and was known as the Zealot. Jude, also known as Thaddaeus, was the apostle who at the Last Supper, asked the Lord why he showed himself only to his disciples and not to the whole world.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 29thOctober
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday 31st October
1pm – 3pm St. Mary's Warm Welcome (see below for details)
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of All Saints
Wednesday 1st November
All Saints, Holy Day of Obligation
10am Mass for the Solemnity of All Saints
7pm – 8pm Parish Bible Study Group (see below for details)
Thursday 2nd November
All Souls
9:15 am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, All Souls
Friday 3rd November
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Winifride, Virgin (Memoria)
Very little is known for certain about her except that she lived in the 6th/7th century near Treffynon (Holywell) in Clwyd. Her cult has been widespread since the middle ages, centres at Shrewsbury where he reamins were enshrined in 1138, and her well at Holywell, which has remained a placeof healing and pilgrimage through penal times to today.
Saturday 4th November
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Parish Requiem Mass
For all those parishioners who have died throughout the year (Nov 2022 – Nov 2023) and for all those names who are in the Holy Souls Box – Everyone is welcome to this powerful prayer.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 5th November
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Thirty FirstSunday in Ordinary Time
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (28th October - 4th November), the Sanctuary Lamp is for The Doherty Family.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£654.32. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Holy Day of Obligation...
On 1st November we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints. This is a holy day of obligation and all faithful Roman Catholics are obliged to come to Mass that day. At St. Mary's there will be the opportunity to come to Mass on:
Tuesday 31st October
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm – The Vigil Mass for All Saints
Wednesday 1st November
10am Mass
Devotions to Saint Joseph
We usually have our parish devotions to St. Joseph on the first Wednesday of the month after the 10am Mass. Due to the 1st November being the Solemnity of All Saints we'll transfer devotions to our spiritual father on Wednesday 8th November. The devotions 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 the Church, that they may return and find a warm welcome.
Parish Grounds
The drop in temperature and the darker nights can only mean one thing – autumn has arrived! This also means that trees begin to shed their leaves and as we all know we have plenty of trees on the parish grounds. Volunteers are always greatly appreciated with this yearly task and all help is gratefully accepted. Maintaining the paths and keeping them free from leaf debris isn't the most glamorous of jobs but it's an important one for health and safety reasons. If there is a day you are free, or a time you can pop down to church, which is convenient for you, please contact Navada Keenan who helps to facilitate all our parish garden volunteers – email: keenannavada@gmail.com
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who do so much to keep our church gardens looking pristine and tidy. It is much appreciated. Thank you.
Parish Grotto: Our Lady of Lourdes
You may have noticed that the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes is currently not in the grotto behind church. Sadly the Lancashire weather has taken its toll and on Thursday Lewis & Lewis Ltd, the church statue repair company, have taken her away for a repaint so that she can return to the grotto in the next few months refreshed and a vibrant reminder of God's love for us through Our Blessed Mother.
Church Lights
On Wednesday, Dome Electrical Project Solutions Ltd, began the installation of LED lights in church starting with the sanctuary and the 'front' part of church. Over the next few weeks the rest of the church lights will be replaced with LED bulbs hopefully having an impact environmentally and financially! The company have completed the electrical safety checks and mapped out the 'unique' wiring plan of St. Mary's.
November: Month of the Holy Souls
The month of November, for us as Roman Catholics, is traditionally a time dedicated to praying for the dead and all the Holy Souls in purgatory who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. On Thursday 2nd November, All Souls Day, we will have our usual box containing the names of those who have died placed in front of the Altar. Throughout the month of November all those names of loved ones in the Holy Souls Box will will be prayed for. If you would like to have the names of people you have known who have died then please feel free to write their names down on a piece of paper and place them in the Holy Souls Box. Throughout the whole of November you are welcome at anytime to place further names in the box in front of the Altar.
Parish Requiem Mass
On Saturday 4th November at 10am there will be Requiem Mass for all those who have died in the parish over the last year (Nov 22 – Nov 23) and for all those whose names who are in the Holy Souls box in front of the Altar. All are welcome. There will be opportunity for light refreshments afterwards.
Blessing Graves
The last few years our parish has joined St. Anne & St. Joseph's for the blessing of graves at Accrington cemetery and Dill Hall Cemetery. Fr. Wadsworth, the parish priest at St. Anne's, has organised the following dates for this years blessing of graves:
Accrington Cemetery - Sunday, 12th November at 2:00pm
Dill Hall Cemetery - Sunday, 19th November at 2:00pm
The date for Dill Hall is also the same day as our parish social at Franco's therefore on Saturday 18th November at 1pm I'll be at Dill Hall to bless the graves of those who won't be able to make the Sunday afternoon.
Remembrance Day
On Friday 10th November at 11am there will be a short service held after the national two minute silence in front of the Pieta statue in the parish grounds (by the Lychgate accessed via Catlow Hall Street). Everyone is welcome where we will pray for all those who have died in war and conflicts throughout the world.
Mass for deceased members of St. Mary's Choir
On Friday 10th November the 6pm Mass will be a Requiem for all deceased members of St. Mary's Choir. Photo albums will be on display of choir members past and present and at the end of Mass refreshments will available. Everyone is welcome.
Mass for the Deceased Clergy
On Tuesday 14th November at 7pm, there will be a Mass for all those priests who have ministered to our Catholic community in East Lancashire and died. This special deanery Mass will be at St. Mary's, Clayton-le-Moors. What a wonderful opportunity to come together as a deanery and pray for all those priests who have served our families over the years. Everyone is welcome.
Parish Schools
During November Sacred Heart, St. Mary's and St. Oswald's schools will be creating space and opportunity for pupils and families to pray for all those who have died among friends and family, people they have known and those they haven't.
St. Oswald's School
On Wednesday 15th November pupils from St. Oswald's will join us for the 10am parish Mass and bring forward a book of remembrance with the names of people who have died that they would like to be prayed for.
Take a moment and recite this prayer given to us by Jesus through St. Gertrude the Great:
"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."
Pastoral Visit of the Apostolic Nuncio
His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain, will make a pastoral visit to Salford Diocese on 29th 30th November. As part of his visit he will celebrate Mass at St Patrick's, Collyhurst on Thursday 30th November at 6:30pm where he will impart an Apostolic Blessing on all those present. All are welcome to attend the Mass and there is no need to register.
Diocesan Synod - The Big Listen
Last weekend we heard the pastoral letter from the Bishop about the launch of the first key stage of our diocesan synod - The Big Listen. Over the coming months, we're being invited to reflect on the needs of our community today and how our diocese is being called to respond. Sharron, Mike and Joel are our synod representatives and they will be facilitating opportunities, over the next few weeks, for our reflections to be recorded. https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/faith/synod/
Prayer cards with the diocesan synod prayer are available at the back of church.
Parish Bible Study – St. John's Gospel
The next session is Wednesday 1st November from 7pm – 8pm. All are welcome. All you need is a Bible and an openness to come to know Our Lord better.
St. Mary's Warm Welcome
The next warm welcome is on Tuesday 31st October from 1pm – 3pm. Everyone and anyone is welcome! We have some talented parishioners who dispel the autumn blues with live upbeat music that everyone can sing along to. Plus there's unlimited brews and fantastic homemade cake in a warm space. Why not come along and experience something different.
Friendship Club – Next Meeting 1st Nov
FRIENDSHIP CLUB - The next meeting of the Friendship Club will be on Wednesday, 1st November from 2:00pm - 4:00pm in St Joseph's Hall at St Joseph's RC Church, Belgarth Road, Accrington, BB5 6AH. We will be having a Christmas theme followed by pie and peas and mince pies! Our waiting list is now open. If you would like to join us, please contact Karen Dabrowski on 07986990333.
Parish Social: Franco's
On Sunday 19th November 2023 there will be a parish social and fundraising event at Franco's starting from 1pm. The cost will be £20 for a Starter, Main Course & Dessert and will also include a donation to our Building Fund. After the meal there will be the opportunity for people to take part in stand up Bingo (£2 per person per game). There will be a sign up sheet on the stewards desk (church narthex) and people will be able to give their monies to the stewards at the weekend Masses. Any dietary/allergies please make a note on the sign up sheet. The deadline for buying tickets will be Sunday 12th November. For more information contact Tony Alveston 07837386755
Diocesan Young Adults Mass - The Big Listen
Sunday 12th November, 5.30pm, St Augustine's Church, Grosvenor Square, Manchester, M15 6BW. Young adults from across the diocese are invited to join us this November as we turn our attention to our diocesan synod at our next monthly Mass. Fr David Yates, director of Salford Youth and Young Adults Ministry, will lead our celebration of Mass before handing over to our young adult synod representatives, who will conduct The Big Listen exercise for our diocesan synod. Find out more at https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/young-adults-nov-23/
Queen of Peace Prayer Group
Saturday 18th November, 10am, Sacred Heart Church, Rochdale, OL16 5BX
A new monthly prayer group is set to begin in Rochdale with a special focus on praying for peace. The Queen of Peace Prayer Group will meet once a month at Sacred Heart Church in Rochdale. The first meeting takes place on Saturday 18th November and will begin at 10am with a welcome session and a talk on Our Lady's messages and the Five Stones of Medjugorje. This will be followed by adoration, praying the Rosary for peace, and the opportunity for confession. The morning will come to a close with midday Mass. All are welcome to join.
Volunteering at the Laudato Si' Centre
The Diocese of Salford's environment hub - the Laudato Si' Centre - is looking for new recruits to join its team of volunteers. This flexible, rewarding opportunity can be on a regular or ad hoc basis as the team works to develop the Centre's beautiful walled garden and woodland areas, set within the grounds of Wardley Hall. Email laudatosi@dioceseofsalford.org.uk to find out more!
Craft Events at The Laudato Si' Centre
This autumn, the Diocese of Salford's environment hub - The Laudato Si' Centre - is inviting people across the diocese to reconnect with nature through a series of craft workshops. Taking place within the beautiful grounds of the Centre - based at Wardley Hall in Worsley - these fantastic workshops include felting and wreath making. Email laudatosi@dioceseofsalford.org.uk for upcoming dates and further information.
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien