Sunday 31st December 2024
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Friday 29thDecember
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Bishop & Martyr (Feast)
St. Thomas Becket was born in London in 1118; he became Chancellor of England and in 1162 was chosen as Archbishop of Canterbury. He defended the rights of the Church and King Henry II exiled him to France. On his return the followers of the king murdered him in 1170.
Saturday 30thDecember
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Mass, Sixth Day of the Christmas Octave (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
The shepherds went in haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the Infant lying in a manger. Lk 2:16
Sunday 31stDecember
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
The shepherds went in haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the Infant lying in a manger. Lk 2:16
Monday 1st January 2024
9:30am The Holy Rosary
10am Mass, Holy Mary, Mother of God
Tuesday 2nd January
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Basil the Great & Saint Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops (Memoria)
St. Basil the Great & Saint Gregory Nazianzen were close friends and great figures of the Eastern Church in the fourth century. Basil was Bishop of Caesarea and active in promoting the monastic life, writing a "rule" which is still observed today. Gregory was Bishop of Constantinople and because of his great learning is still known in the East as "Gregory the Theologian"; he eventually retired from the episcopacy to return to his monastery in Nazianzus. Gregory summed up their lives: 'Our great concern, our great name, was to be Christians and be called Christians."
Wednesday 3rdJanuary
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, The Most Holy Name of Jesus (Memoria)
The greatest promoters of this devotion were St Bernardine of Siena and St. John Capistrano, who used the monogram of the Holy Name in their preaching. Because the manner in which St. Bernardine preached this devotion was new, he was accused before Pope Martin V, but was successfully defended by John. This feast reminds us that the word "Jesus" means "God saves", and our salvation comes through Christ alone.
10:30am – 10:40am Devotions to Saint Joseph
(At the foot of the parish statue of St. Joseph, see below for more details)
Thursday 4th January
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Christmas Weekday Mass
Friday 5th January
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Christmas Weekday Mass
Saturday 6th January
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Votive Christmas Mass of Our Lady (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass of The Epiphany of the Lord
& Blessing of Epiphany Chalk (See below for details)
Sunday 7th January
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass of the Epiphany of the Lord
& Blessing of Epiphany Chalk (See below for details)
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024!!! AND A BIG THANKS!!!
I think the huge numbers of people who felt welcome to come to our church over Christmas, especially at the Christmas Eve Mass, shows us that Our Lord is still calling people to know Him, adore Him and love Him. Thank you to every parishioner who has actively helped make this season such a prayerful and joyous occasion. From musicians and singers, readers to cleaners, church garden angels and altar servers, from Christmas tree and crib decorators to saintly stewards and raffle prize donaters, from parishioners in the pew and to all of you – A Big THANK YOU! God Bless. Ho Ho Ho I can't forget – Thank you Father Christmas for making a detour to Ossy on your most busy night. A lot of parishioners, young and old, were very happy!
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (30th December - 6th January 2024), the Sanctuary Lamp is for The Deceased Members of the Duggan Family. Last weekend it was for the Fussell & Beveridge Families.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
Fourth Sunday of Advent 23rd/24th Dec - £543.17
Christmas Eve and Day Collection - £1,368.72
Financial Gifts & Donations
In memory of Denis Joyce, who was well know to many in the parish, a generous donation of £500 has been donated towards the church building fund.
We have also has a £66 donation from those kind volunteers who produced the wonderful knitted Stockings and Christmas Puddings that have been sold after Mass over the last few weeks. Thank you.
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.
Saints in a Basket
On New Years Day at the end of the 10am Mass there will be the opportunity to 'pick a saint' from the basket. It's a wonderful devotion at the start of the year where a saint will choose us to be their patron over the next 12 months. Over the year, in thanks to God for our Saint, we learn more about their life, become inspired by their words and deeds and invoke their intercession.
Hospital Emergency Call
This week I'll be helping out Fr. Samson Ojekunle, the Catholic Chaplain at the Royal Blackburn Hospital by going on the emergency 'on call' rota. As you'll appreciate an emergency is never planned and so it may mean that certain visits or appointments, I've made will be either delayed or postponed. Thank you to all our stewards in advance, whose invaluable help means that, even if I can't make it in time for a Mass the church is open for prayer. Let's pray for all the sick and those who care for them. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for them.
Devotions to Saint Joseph
On Wednesday 3rd January there will be the first Wednesday 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.
Blessing of Epiphany Chalk
In various parts of the world, the Epiphany is marked with the time-honoured tradition of "chalking the doors." The formula for the ritual is simple: take chalk of any colour (ideally blessed by a priest on the Feast of the Epiphany) and write above the entrance of your home: 20 + C + M + B + 24
The letters have two meanings. First, they represent the initials of the Magi - Caspar, Malchior and Balthazar - who came to visit Jesus in the place where he was born. They also abbreviate the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat, which translates as "May Christ bless the house." The "+" signs represents the cross, and the "20" at the beginning and the "24" at the end mark the year.
This inscription is a request for Christ to stay with those who dwell or work therein throughout the entire year. At the weekend Masses of the Epiphany I will bless any chalk that people would like to bring so that they can carry out this wonderful tradition.
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
Diocesan Synod: The Parish "Big Listen"
The next "Big Listen" meetings will start again on the weekend of the 6th January 2024. In the meantime, at the back of the church you will find a questionnaire that poses the questions that the Bishop is looking to us all to answer. If you are unable to attend any of the future workshops, but would still like your voice to be heard, please complete the questionnaire and place it in the box at the back of the church. We will then make sure your answers are inputted onto the diocese database. Thank 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
St. Mary's Warm Welcome
The next warm welcome is on Tuesday 16th January from 1pm – 3pm. Everyone and anyone is 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 – Change of Date
The next session is Wednesday 17th January 2024 from 7pm – 8pm. All are welcome. All you need is a Bible and an openness to come to know Our Lord better.
Diocesan Almanac 2024
The new almanacs are now available at the piety stall for £3.50
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
Free energy advice service for local people
As the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit our communities hard, Caritas Salford, our diocesan charity, has introduced a new service to support people with energy advice. The service includes advice on saving money on utility bills, as well as practical support such as insulation methods, support with condensation and damp, LED bulbs and draught excluders. For more information on the service or to find out when and where sessions will take place, contact energyadvice@caritassalford.org.uk or call 0161 817 2250.
Job Vacancies
Parish Administrator - St James and All Souls
Appointment Type: Part-time, permanent
Working hours: 22 hours per week - worked over four days
Location: Mother of God and St James Presbytery, Heywood Way, Pendleton, Salford, M6 5UJ
Salary: £11.26 per hour
Find out more and apply at https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
Childcare Assistant - Early Years Practitioner (St Hubert's)
Appointment Type: Part-time, fixed-term until 31st July 2024
Working hours: 21.5 hours per week - worked Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Location: Our Lady and St Hubert's Playgroup, Hallfield Road, Great Harwood, Blackburn, BB6 7SN (with some flexibility to work out of St Wulstan's Pre-School, Great Harwood)
Salary: £12 per hour
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