Sunday 19th November 2023
Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Friday 17thNovember
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Hugh of Lincoln, Bishop (Memoria)
St. Hugh of Lincoln, born in France in 1140 and a Carthusian became bishop of Lincoln in 1185, and devoted to the pastoral care of his flock. He was a supporter of the oppressed, especially the Jewish community, for whom he risked his life.
Saturday 18th November
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
"You must know that when you 'hail' Mary, she immediately greets you! Don't think that she is one of those rude women of whom there are so many-on the contrary, she is utterly courteous and pleasant. If you greet her, she will answer you right away and converse with you!"
- St. Bernardine of Siena
1pm Blessing Graves at Dill Hall Cemetery
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 19th November
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
1pm Parish Social at Franco's, Oswaldtwistle
Tuesday 21st November
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memoria)
This day saw the dedication in 543A.D of the Church of Our Lady near to the Temple in Jerusalem. We celebrate that dedication of herself which Mary made to God from her very childhood.
Wednesday 22ndNovember
10am Planting of Trees and Blessing of Forest School Initiative at St. Oswald's School by the Rt. Rev. John Arnold, Bishop of Salford.
- All parishioners are welcome (see below for details)
Thursday 23rdNovember
9:15 am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass (Feria)
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
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (18th November - 25th November), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Amy Houston.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£758.76. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Parish Visit from the Bishop
On Wednesday (22nd November) the Bishop will be visiting our parish school, St. Oswald's on Hartley Avenue (BB5 0NN), to plant a number of trees as part of the Forest Schools Initiative. Following the Holy Father's call for all to engage with the responsibility of stewardship over creation, the Bishop will be encouraging the school community in their positive response towards care for the environment. The Bishop's Blessing will hopefully begin at 10am and the school have invited all parishioners to come and take part in this prayer with refreshments available afterwards.
Thank You!
This week the parish received a donation of £2000 from a local company, The Accrington Celesti Heritage Shop Ltd. On behalf of the parish I would like to say thank you to the Heritage Shop Ltd for their very generous donation towards St. Mary's. It is very much appreciated, especially at this time of year with rising fuel costs.
Diocesan Synod: The Parish "Big Listen"
We had the first of our Synod events last Sunday, and it was wonderful to hear the thoughts of those attending around the 4 key questions we are asking on behalf of Bishop Arnold and the Diocese of Salford. Our next event will be after the 10.00 am mass on Sunday 19 November, and it would be great to hear from you, as your opinion really matters. So, if you can spare some time it would be wonderful to see you.
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
This Sunday will be the parish social event at Franco's. It will begin at 1pm prompt – no earlier I'm told - and we can be ready to order our food on receipt of the days menu. The day will conclude at 4pm. Thanks again to all those involved in helping to organise this event for the parish. It's nice to have opportunities like this to catch up with others. For more information contact Tony Alveston 07837386755
Mass for Vocations to the Priesthood
St Bernadette's, Bury New Road, Whitefield, Manchester, M45 7SX,
Each month, our diocesan vocations team travels to a different deanery to hold a special Mass to pray for the future of the priesthood in our diocese. The next Mass for Vocations to the Priesthood is set to take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday 21st November at St Bernadette's in Whitefield. All are welcome to attend.
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.
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:
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.
St. Oswald's School
On Wednesday morning the school joined us for the 10am parish Mass. Being the month of November it was a good opportunity to remind the pupils of the importance of praying for all those who have died. We lit the Paschal candle to help us understand that though death is a sad time, we have hope as believers in the Risen Jesus. The flame of the Paschal Candle represents the light of Life Himself dispelling the darkness of the tomb.
In the afternoon I was invited by Miss Collinge to talk to her class about the vocation of the priesthood and religious life. It's always a wonderful opportunity to share faith with our younger people.
St. Mary's School
Mrs Duckworth's Class, The Dolphins, joined us for the 10am parish Mass on Thursday when we celebrated the Memoria of St. Margaret of Scotland. I showed the children the stained glass window in our church dedicated to this saintly wife and mother, known for her works of mercy. I then told the pupils about her story from being a refugee to becoming a queen. Why do we have a window to St. Margaret of Scotland in our church? Because the first parish priest of St. Mary's, Fr. Brereton, was Scottish and his mum was called Margaret!
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.
Why God Became Man: Pre-Advent Retreat 24th - 26th November
Join the Christian Heritage Centre's pre-Advent retreat reflecting on the mystery of the Incarnation and exploring the beauty and the implications of Christmas. Preached by Fr de Malleray FSSP, Mass will be offered in the Extraordinary Form, with daily Holy Hour, and plenty of time for prayer and reflection. Find out more at https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/why-god-became-man-weekend-retreat/
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
Music for Eternal Life
On Wednesday 22 November, Salford Cathedral Choir will join forces with pupils from Holy Family RC Primary School, Rochdale, to give a one-hour concert inspired by the 'Eternal Life' mosaic at St John the Baptist's church, in Rochdale. Admission is free to the concert, which starts at 7pm, but booking is essential due to limited seating. Find out more at https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/music-for-eternal-life/
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