Sunday 5th November 2023
Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
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 remains were enshrined in 1138, and her well at Holywell, which has remained a place of 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 First Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday 7th November
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass (Feria)
Wednesday 8thNovember
9:15 am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Votive Mass of Saint Joseph
'Saint Joseph is the patron and protector of a happy death. Those who pray to him are certain to die in good dispositions. He is the model of those who wish to die in the Lord.'
- St. Peter Julian Eymard
10:25am – 10:35am Devotions to Saint Joseph
(At the foot of the parish statue of St. Joseph, see below for more details)
Thursday 9thNovember
9:15 am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (Feast)
Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, the oldest and highest ranking of the basilicas in Rome. The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of the diocese of Rome, the official ecclesiastical seat of the Holy Father, the Bishop of Rome, not St. Peter's Basilica as so many mistakenly believe. It the oldest church in the West, built in the time of Constantine and was consecrated by Pope Sylvester in 324. This feast became a universal celebration as a sign of love for and union with the See of Peter.
Friday 10thNovember
11am 'Remembrance Service' in front of the Pieta (Sacred Heart War Memorial) with children from Sacred Heart, St. Mary's & St. Oswald's
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Requiem Mass for deceased members of St. Mary's Choir
Saturday 11th November
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
St. Martin of Tours was born in 316A.D, he became a solider, was baptised and founded a monastery in France under the direction of St. Hilary. He became Bishop of Tours; here he worked hard to visit his flock, and preach against paganism. He died in 397A.D and was honoured as a saint – one of the first non-martyrs to be honoured.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 12th November
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Thirty SecondSunday in Ordinary Time
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (4th November - 11th November), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Brian Flynn.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£629.31. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Devotions to Saint Joseph
On Wednesday 8th November there will be devotions to St. Joseph after the 10am Mass (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 the Church, that they may return and find a warm welcome.
The 'Big Listen' 38th Diocesan Synod
Our parish Synod Team, Sharon, Joel & Mike, would like to invite all parishioners to share their experiences as missionary disciples in understanding what God is asking of His Church and our Diocese of Salford. They are hoping to arrange a number of parish 'listening sessions' after 10am Mass on Sunday mornings where they will present four questions for us to reflect on, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The team hope to start these sessions from Sunday 12th, 19th and 26th November with a view to adding Saturday night Vigil Masses and weekday Masses at a later date. 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
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
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.
Church Lights
Dome Electrical Project Solutions Ltd, are continuing the rest of the installation of LED lights in 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. Throughout November we will have our usual box containing the names of those who have died placed in front of the Altar and each Mass they 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.
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."
St. Mary's School
On Wednesday Miss Roberts class came to church to find our more about the Sacrament of Baptism. The children brought baby Harry, their doll from school, to make sure he became part of God's family and see what prayers and symbols are used during the sacrament. On Thursday they returned again to further explore church and learn more about the different features from the Tabernacle, to the Altar, from the statues of the saints to singing in the choir loft.
St. Oswald's School
On Thursday afternoon Miss Barlow invited me to her class to talk about the Sacrament of Marriage and how the different symbols reveal both the couples lifelong commitment to each other and God's loving grace within their union. It was a great opportunity to teach the children that the wedding day is just one day, the real work with its joys and blessings comes after. A Life of real love and not just a moment.
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.
Parish Bible Study – St. John's Gospel
The next session is Wednesday 15th 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 14th 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.
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.
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.
Mount Carmel High School
Sue Fielding the Partnership Manager at Mount Carmel has emailed to ask for the following to be included in the newsletter:
"Mount Carmel is officially the best school in Hyndburn for pupil progress. This is according to the School and College Data Performance website. The progress measure for schools is based on the starting point (Key Stage 2 SATS) and end point (GCSE results) for pupils' best 8 subjects including English and Maths. Tours of our school can be requested, call 01254 233458 to make an appointment."
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