Sunday 26th November 2023
Christ the King
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Friday 24thNovember
10:30am Funeral Service for Colin Sanderson RIP
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and his Companions, Martyrs (Memoria)
Between1820 and 1862 these 117 Vietnamese martyrs were killed in a brutal persecution. St. Andrew Dung-Lac was a parish priest; the group includes eight bishops, fifty priests and fifty nine laymen and women.
Saturday 25thNovember
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
'In trial or difficulty, I have recourse to Mother Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear.' - St. Therese of Lisieux
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Christ the King
Sunday 26thNovember
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Christ the King
Tuesday 28th November
10:20am Funeral Service for Amanda Long RIP at Accrington Crematorium
1pm – 3pm St. Mary's Warm Welcome (see below for details)
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass (Feria)
Wednesday 29thNovember
10:30am Funeral Service for Hubert 'Bert' Ward RIP
7pm – 8pm Parish Bible Study Group (see below for details)
Thursday 30thNovember
10:20amFuneral Service for Andrei Kuji RIP at Accrington Crematorium
6:30pm Diocesan Mass with His Excellency Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain at St. Patrick's Church, Colllyhurst
(see below for details)
Friday 1st December
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass (Feria)
Saturday 2nd December
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
'To give worthy praise to the Lord's mercy, we unite ourselves with Your Immaculate Mother, for then our hymn will be more pleasing to You, because She is chosen from among men and angels. Through Her, as through a pure crystal, Your mercy was passed on to us. Through Her, man became pleasing to God; Through Her, streams of grace flowed down upon us.'
- St. Faustina
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the First Sunday of Advent
Sunday 3rd December
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the First Sunday of Advent
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (25th November - 2nd December), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Michael Beard & Michael Power.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£582.21. Thank you for your kind generosity.
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.
Thank You!
A big Thank You to all those who helped organise and supported the parish social event at Franco's last Sunday afternoon. Wonderful food and wonderful company. Thank you to James & Stephanie Wright for being able to host us. We raised £454.60 for the church roof.
Parish Bible Study – St. John's Gospel
The next session is Wednesday 29th 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 28th November 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.
Diocesan Synod: The Parish "Big Listen"
The idea of the Synod's "Big Listen" is for people across the Diocese of Salford to come together in groups to give their thoughts, as well as to listen to what others have to say, in response to four questions posed by Bishop Arnold which will reflect our feelings about our faith and the role of the church both today and in the future.
We have purposely not published the questions as we want our congregation to be guided by the Holy Spirit and give their answers "in the moment" at the meetings that are being held after Saturday evening and Sunday morning Mass. However, we appreciate that the weekends are a busy time and people may not have the opportunity to stay behind and join us for the meetings. And so, our Synod team would like to know how you would like to take part. For example, would you prefer the meetings to take place on a different time and day, or would you like to fill in a short questionnaire and leave your anonymous answers in a box at the back of our Church?
It is important that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to this really important initiative, as this is your chance to help shape what our Diocese will look and feel like in the future. And so, if you are unable to join the meetings this weekend after the Saturday evening or Sunday morning masses, please contact Sharon, Joel or Mike and let them know how you would like to be part of the "Big Listen". All ideas will be gratefully received.
Contact details for the Synod Team should you have any further questions:
Sharon Siddle - 07917 002663, Sharon.siddle@yahoo.co.uk
Mike Freeman - 07500 952780, Cowleyfreeman@gmail.com
Joel Garrigan - 07875 132568, joelg_01@hotmail.com
Lancashire Day Event
On Monday 27th November there will be a celebration of all things Lancashire at Oswaldtwistle Library starting at 1:30pm. There will be folk songs with our very own Dylan Owen, the Bard of Oswaldtwistle, and tea & parkin. Everyone is welcome.
St. Mary's School
On Thursday Mr Egan's class, The Eagles, joined us for the 10am parish Mass. The first reading was from the book of Maccabees which spoke about the courage of Mattathais towards King Antiochus. The king wanted the people to worship him as a god which was against the First Commandment, 'You shall have no other gods but me the Lord your God." Mattathias and his family bravely spoke against the king and witnessed to the True God. Do we have the same courage to witness to those around us?
Mrs McGarry's class visited church later on in the morning to learn all about the Sacrament of Baptism and we have a willing volunteer in Baby Matthew the doll!
St. Oswald's School
On Wednesday the Bishop came to school to plant a tree as part of the Forest Schools Initiative. He reminded the children of our duty, given by God, to be stewards of creation. Miss Collinge's class later on asked him what it was like being a Bishop and the tasks involved.
Advent is Coming!!!
Next Sunday is the beginning of the Advent season. Four weeks of preparation before the celebration of Christmas with its solemnities and feasts. Have you thought how you are going to prepare to come closer to Our Lord during the Advent season and greet Him on Christmas Day? I hope the information below helps with thinking about prayer, reflection and resources to prepare for Our Lord's birth.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during Advent
Take some time each week to be with Our Lord in Adoration. Sacrifice a few minutes each week to pop into church and simply be in His presence before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. No words are required, no actions are asked but to be simply present to Him. To have that silence in church to listen to Him. During each time of Adoration there will be a table of resources at the back of church to help people in prayer. Please feel free to use and read whatever you find useful. For times of Adoration look at the parish newsletter.
"If Jesus stays with us wherever there is a consecrated Host, what need is there to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem to visit places he lived two thousand years ago?
If only people visited tabernacles with the same devotion!" - Blessed Carlo Acutis
"Know also that you will probably gain more by praying fifteen minutes before the Blessed Sacrament than by all the other spiritual exercises of the day. True, Our Lord hears our prayers anywhere, for He has made the promise, 'Ask, and you shall receive,'
but He has revealed to His servants that those who visit Him in the Blessed Sacrament will obtain a more abundant measure of grace." - St. Alphonsus Liguori
Confessions
Over the season of Advent there will be extra opportunities for Confession. Many people still become anxious when they hear the term 'Confession', but as we know Our Lord's words of forgiveness from the Cross give us such hope and courage to live and live with joy. Jesus' mercy is boundless and I can tell you as a penitent, to receive his forgiveness is the most freeing and peaceful experience you can ever have. I came across this article written by a priest called Fr. Patrick Briscoe O.P. in 2021. I think he hits the nail on the head and I would like to share it with you.
There's really no reason to *not* start Advent with a good confession!
1 NEW YEAR, NEW START
Advent opens the Church's liturgical calendar. The First Sunday of Advent sets the cycle in motion, beginning a new year. Pope Benedict XVI writes, "The first Sunday of Advent, the Church begins a new Liturgical Year, a new journey of faith that on the one hand commemorates the event of Jesus Christ and, on the other, opens to its ultimate fulfilment."
Every confession is a fresh beginning, a new start. As the prophet Isaiah puts it, "Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow."
In confession Christ wipes away our sins, opening the door to new life with him.
2 PREPARATION
Pope John Paul II says, "Preparing ourselves to receive him requires first and foremost an attitude of intense and trusting prayer. Making room for him in our hearts demands a serious commitment to convert to his love."
The sacrament of penance is a powerful prayer, a very great prayer which drives out sin. Casting out the shadows of darkness, we give our hearts over to Christ's light and love.
3 MEDITATING ON THE LAST DAY
Pope Francis writes, "During Advent we do not just live in anticipation of Christmas; we are also called to rekindle the anticipation of the glorious return of Christ, when he will return at the end of time , preparing ourselves, with consistent and courageous choices, for the final encounter with him. We remember Christmas, we await the glorious return of Christ, and also our personal encounter: the day in which the Lord will call."
For Christians thinking of Jesus "coming" has a double meaning, a double perspective. We think of Christ's first coming in Bethlehem. Traditionally, too, we also think of his "coming again in glory" as we say in the Creed.
Confession readies us to meet Christ, who will come again as our judge. Will we be ready to stand before Jesus and make an account of our lives?
4 PENITENTIAL
For many Catholics, confession is a purely penitential exercise. In many places it's difficult to find convenient, available confessors. Confession demands an examination of conscience, an honest look into the dusty corners of the soul. The priest might not offer any helpful advice, or worse yet, he might be distant or dismissive.
And yet we believe that God works through the sacrament anyway. In Advent all of these aspects of confession can be offered up, given over to God as penance. It suits the character of the season!
5 JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM
How do we walk with Jesus and Mary again to the manger? The most important way is by imitating their closeness to God.
In confession, God draws us very near, pouring out his merciful love. In confession we are brought close to God, we might even say, as if we were standing in the midst of the Holy Family in Bethlehem!
6 DON'T WAIT!
Last-minute Advent confessions are as painful as last-minute Christmas shopping. The best reason to begin Advent with a confession is that you won't be scrambling in the mad rush before Christmas!!! You too can avoid long lines by taking the time to confess today!
Advent Spiritual Reading
Below are a list of book titles that you might find to be interesting reading over Advent and Christmas. All are accessible and are available via the Cathedral Centre Books (Mon – Fri 8:30am – 3:30pm Tel: 0161 817 2208 www.cathedralcentrebooks.com) or www.amazon.co.uk
Jesus of Nazareth, The Infancy Narratives by Pope Benedict XVI
God With Us: Encountering Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew by Edward Sri
Forming Intentional Disciples, The Path to knowing and following Jesusby Sherry A. Weddell
Into His Likeness, Be transformed as a Disciple of Christ by Edward Sri
Habits for Holiness, Small Steps for Making Big Spiritual Progress by Fr. Mark Mary Ames CFR
Befriending Silence, Discovering the Gifts of Cistercian Spirituality by Carl McColman
Toward God, The Ancient Wisdom of Western Prayer by Michael Casey
Journeying with Jonah, The struggle to find yourself by Denis McBride CSsR
Christmas Window Displays
Maureen Mullen with her team of helpers have offered to produce some Christmas window displays (not flower displays) for the nine windows in church and other areas. If you would like to sponsor a display for your family/friends or in memory of a loved one then please see one of the stewards this weekend before or at the end of one of the Masses. The donation is £20.
Appeal: Parish Christmas Raffle Prizes
At the start of Advent (2nd/3rd December) we are hoping to sell tickets for our annual St. Mary's Christmas Raffle and are asking parishioners for any items they would be happy to donate. Do you work for a company/business who would be happy and open to offering vouchers, treatments, meals, or gift tokens etc. as prizes? Any donations that people can generously give, please leave with the stewards at the back of church.
109 Loyola Scout Group Christmas Fayre
Saturday, 2nd December 2023, 10am – 2pm at St. Mary's R.C Primary School, Oswaldtwistle
£1 entry includes, free raffle ticket (Accompanied children free). There will be a raffle, tombola, games, craft stall, cafe and more! All monies raised goes to the running of the 109 Loyola Scout Group. Come and visit Father Christmas and have lunch at our pop up café.
Deanery Lourdes Group
Friday 26thJuly to Friday 2nd August 2024
Hotel St Georges £909 (sharing) Single Room £1059 per person
Hotel Padoue £979 (Sharing) Single Room £1204 per person
PRICE INCLUDES: Return flights Manchester to Carcassone and transfers by coach to and from Lourdes. Airport Duty and Passenger Taxes. 1 suitcase per person for the aircraft hold 20kgs.
7 nights full board at either Hotel St Georges or Hotel Padoue (see above for price). Salford Affliation Fee. Northern Star Representative. A deposit of £300 per person is required to make a booking.
NOT INCLUDED: Travel Insurance £60 per person, Travel to and from Manchester Airport.
Further information available from Fr Francis Wadsworth at St Anne's, Accrington Tel 01254 232920 email: francis.wadsworth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk . There will be a meeting for all who are interested in travelling with us on Monday 15th January 2024 at 7:00pm. This will be held in St Joseph's Parish Hall, Belgarrth Road, Accrington BB5 6AH. At this meeting there will be an opportunity to ask questions and to collect booking forms.
Your travel to church
As the Diocese of Salford works to reach its goal of being net zero by 2038, we're looking to find out more about the travel patterns of people across the diocese. Our diocesan environment team has put together a short survey to find out more about how people travel to and from church and would be very grateful for your response. The survey can be found at https://forms.gle/skCHYCknBzhDrvbn9.
Mount Carmel School
The school would like to invite members of our parish to their community Christmas party at Mount Carmel on Monday 11 December 2023. There is a sign up sheet by the stewards desk for all who are interested. They would like to know numbers by Monday 4th December. For more information contact the school on (01254) 233458.
Caritas Diocese of Salford Advent Appeal
Our diocesan charity, Caritas Salford, has launched its Advent appeal for 2023, including a very special animation film voiced by local children. You can view the short animation and find out more about how you can make a donation to the appeal, or take action to help people in your parish who are experiencing crisis this Christmas, by visiting the Caritas Salford website: www.caritassalford.org.uk/beethere
Homes for Ukraine Matching Service
Caritas Social Action Network, in partnership with St John of God Hospitaller Services, an international Catholic charity with many services for the vulnerable in the UK and Ireland, are matching Ukrainian people displaced by the brutal war with people in the Catholic community willing to host them in their homes for six months. If you have room in your home and in your heart to consider welcoming a stranger displaced by war, then we'd love to hear from you. Please visit https://sjog-homesforukraine.uk/ for more information.
Advent Cantata
A much-loved choir is heading to our diocese on Saturday 2nd December at 6pm to provide a musical start to the season of Advent. The Forum for the Inculturation of Liturgical Music has become a regular feature at the Parish of the Nativity in Failsworth and Limeside, and is back at St Mary's church this December by popular demand. Tickets are £5 per adult and £1 per child and can be bought on the door or booked in advance by emailing nativityparish@yahoo.com
Job Vacancies
Parish Administrator - Blessed Dominic Barberi parish, Bolton (replacement role)
Appointment Type: Part-time, permanent
Working hours: 12 hours per week - worked over two days
Location: St Osmund's Presbytery, Long Lane, Breightmet, Bolton, BL2 6EB
Salary: £11.26 per hour
Find out more and apply at https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
Diocese of Salford - Property Administrator (replacement role)
Appointment Type: Full time, permanent contract
Working hours: 35 hours per week, with some flexible working required
Location: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Salary: £23,793 - £25,488 depending on skills and experience
Find out more and apply at https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
Diocese of Salford - Pilgrimage Office Administrator (replacement role)
Appointment Type: Full time, permanent contract
Working hours: 35 hours per week, Mon- Fri. Flexible working will be required including evenings and weekends.
Location: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP - although may sometimes be required to work at the office of the Pilgrimage Director.
Salary: £23,793 - £29,248 depending on skills and experience
Find out more and apply at https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien