Sunday 17th December 2023
Gaudete Sunday
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Friday 15thDecember
11am Requiem Mass for Denis Joyce RIP
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
6pm Advent Weekday Mass
Saturday 16thDecember
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Advent 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 Gaudete Sunday
Sunday 17thDecember
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Gaudete Sunday
Tuesday 19th December
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Advent Weekday Mass – O Radix Iesse (O Root of Jesse)
O Root of Jesse, you stand as a sign among the peoples; before you kings will hold their tongues, and you the Gentiles will seek: come to deliver us, and do not delay.
O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum,
quem gentes deprecabuntur: veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.
Wednesday 20th December
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Advent Weekday Mass - O Clavis David (O Key of David)
O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
Thursday 21stDecember
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Advent Weekday Mass - O Oriens (O Rising Sun)
O Morning Star, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
Friday 22ndDecember
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
6pm Advent Weekday Mass - O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
O King of the nations, and their desire, the cornerstone making both one: Come and save the human race, which you fashioned from clay.
O Rex Gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unum: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.
Saturday 23rdDecember
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Advent Weekday Mass - O Emmanuel
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.of Our Lady (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sunday 24thDecember
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent – O Adonai (O Lord)
O Lord and Ruler the house of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with outstretched arms.
O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
Christmas Eve
5pm Carols around the Crib
5:30pm Christmas Eve Mass
Monday 25th December
Christmas Day
9:30am Carols around the Crib
10am Christmas Day Mass & Blessing of Toys
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (16th December - 23rd December), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Bernard Lawrence
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£680.93. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Rock Salt & Muscle Power!
If your passing a garden centre, petrol station or anywhere that's selling rock salt/grit and are able to donate a bag to church then it would be gratefully accepted. Any bags can be left outside, at the rear of the church building, by the bins. We all so need that precious gift of peoples time and energy in helping spread and scatter the grit on icey and frozen days before Masses and liturgies at church so that everyone is kept safe. If you could help then please contact Navada Keenan keenannavada@gmail.com or Karen Beard the parish Housekeeper jakey9998@aol.com
Family Night – Decorating the church for Christmas
Thanks to all those who came to church on Thursday evening and helped to decorate it and made it a fun evening. Thank you.
Let there be Light…
Many parishioners will have noticed, especially those who come to church on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings, the extra outdoor light at the side of church between the side gate on Hawthorn Avenue and the car park. My thanks to Paul Pickles who has generously given his time to do this and many people have gratefully commented what a difference it has made.
Diocesan Synod: The Parish "Big Listen"
The St Mary's Synod Team will be holding another "Big Listen" meeting after this Sunday's 10.00am mass. This will be the last one before we break for Christmas and, whilst they will be back in the New Year, they would love to speak with you this Sunday. They have also been listening to parishioners who have said that they would prefer to take part by completing a questionnaire. And so, from this weekend, a short questionnaire (there are 4 questions to answer) will be available for you to complete. You will find the questionnaire at the back of the church, and we would like to encourage as many of you as possible to fill them in as we would like to hear from as many parishioners as possible.
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
Church Building Update
On the 15th November, John Corrigan the director of the diocesan property department and Mike Briggs, from Bradbury Consulting Chartered Surveyors, came to meet our parish finance & property committee. My thanks to David Neville and Michael Partington who with their professional working backgrounds were able to help facilitate an honest and productive dialogue with John and Mike in regards future work on church property. The result from the November meeting was the following email this week from Mike Briggs:
"I am pleased to confirm that we have re-surveyed the site and are currently finalising the tender documentation with a view to submitting to competitive tender by the close of play this week. Tenders will be returned in the New Year in readiness for reporting to John and the committee meeting in February. We will send a copy of the tender documents to you following issue. This will confirm the tender return dates, tendering contractors etc. We will issue the project to 4 tendering contractors. We will compile a tender list based upon approved contractors that have recently undertaken similar project works for the diocese. Are there any contractors that you would like to invite to tender for the works. They will be required to complete a pre qualification questionnaire to ensure that they have all relevant insurances in place and deemed suitable for this type of work."
If there are any parishioners who would like to put themselves forward for undertaking the work, in line with the diocesan working criteria, then please let me now and I'll forward your contact details to the parish property & finance committee. This will need to be done by the end of the year.
Sean.obrien@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
St. Mary's Warm Welcome
The next warm welcome is on Tuesday 16th January from 1pm – 3pm. Everyone and anyone are welcome! We have some talented parishioners who dispel the winter 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.
Parish Bible Study – St. John's Gospel
The next session is Wednesday 3rd January 2024 from 7pm – 8pm. All are welcome. All you need is a Bible and an openness to come to know Our Lord better.
Blessing Toys
On Christmas Day at the 10am Mass there will be an opportunity for any of our younger parishioners (and older if they want!) to bring the toys they received at Christmas to church and have them blessed at Mass. It's a wonderful prayer that reminds us of God's many blessings through our families. Behind every present is the gift of love.
St. Oswald's School
On Thursday the upper years gathered for an Advent Liturgy to help remind ourselves of the importance of this season of preparation. Listening to the words of the prophet Isaiah was a chance to reflect that not only is Advent a season leading up to the birth of Jesus but it is also a reminder that we believe Jesus will come again. What are we doing to prepare to welcome the Lord when He comes again?
Welcome Home
Adam returns from seminary for the Christmas holidays this week and will be resident here at the presbytery until returning in the New Year to complete his studies at Oscott. Let's continue to pray for Adam and for all those men are studying and discerning a vocation to the priesthood.
Parish Christmas Raffle
Thanks to all those who have donated prizes towards the Parish Christmas Raffle. Tickets are on sale at each Mass - £1 ticket. The draw will take place on New Years Day after the 10am Mass.
Diocesan Almanac 2024
The new almanacs are now available at the piety stall for £3.50
2025 "Pilgrims of Hope" Jubilee
This Advent, Pope Francis invites people across the world to embark on a Year of Prayer in preparation for the 2025 "Pilgrims of Hope" Jubilee. Over the coming weeks and months, the Diocese of Salford will be sharing a range of resources and ideas to help us journey together through this Year of Prayer. Head to https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/jubilee-2025/ to find out more.
Schools singing programme
Schools across the diocese are set to present a wonderful series of festive carol services as part of the Schools Singing Programme. Services will be taking place over the coming weeks in parishes right across the diocese. Head to https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/school-singing-programme-carol-services/ to find a carol service near you!
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
Sanctuary Lamp
Prayer is so important and it works! One of the traditions at St. Mary's is to sponsor the sanctuary lamp, that burns for seven days continuously, before the Real Presence of the Lord in the Tabernacle. The prayers behind each lamp are varied and different. Sometimes it burns in memory of a loved one, other times its for somebody who is sick or waiting for results and at other times it's a prayer of thanksgiving or help for a particular situation or person. If you would like to sponsor a lamp to burn in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament then please see one of the stewards at the back of church. They will have a list of dates from January until December next year where you can choose to sponsor a £5 lamp for the week. I will bless each lamp and light it before the Vigil Mass on a Saturday and it will burn for the whole week. Please give your £5 to the stewards on duty when you choose your week. The new list is now available
Pilgrimage to Walsingham
The Diocese of Salford is now accepting bookings for our 2024 pilgrimage to Walsingham. If you would like to join next year's pilgrimage, bring along a group, or help as a volunteer, please fill out a booking form, available at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/walsingham-2024. You can get in touch by calling 0161 817 2214 or emailing walsingham@pilgrimage@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Youth Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Salford Youth and Young Adults Ministry is delighted to once again offer a dedicated youth pilgrimage to Walsingham, aimed for students in Years 7,8 and 9. This pilgrimage runs alongside the main diocesan pilgrimage and will leave on Friday 3rd May and return on Saturday 4th May 2024. For further details please contact: youth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
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