Sunday 21st January 2024
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Friday 19th January
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Wulstan (Memoria)
St. Wulstan was born in Warwickshire 1008 A.D and died in 1095 A.D. He became a Benedictine monk at the Cathedral Priory of Worcester. In 1062 A.D he was appointed Bishop, one of the few Anglo-Saxons to survive in high office following the Norman Conquest. He was renowned for his care of the poor and sick and the high standards he asked of his clergy.
Saturday 20thJanuary
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
"Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother."
St. Pio of Pietrelcina
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass of the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Sunday 21stJanuary
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Tuesday 23rdJanuary
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass (Feria)
Wednesday 24thJanuary
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, Saint Francis De Sales, Bishop & Doctor of the Church (Memoria)
St. Francis de Sales was born into a noble family in Annecy in 1597. He was ordained a priest and worked strenuously for the Church by distributing printed essays on the Faith. He became Bishop of Geneva and is patron saint of journalists and writers.
Thursday 25thJanuary
12noon Requiem Mass for Joan Bourke RIP
Friday 26thJanuary
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saints Timothy & Titus, Bishops (Memoria)
Ss Timothy and Titus were companions of St. Paul, entrusted with the care of the Christian communities in Ephesus and Crete. To them are addressed the Pastoral Letters, attributed to Paul.
Saturday 27thJanuary
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
"We never give more honour to Jesus than when we honour his Mother, and we honour her simply and solely to honour him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek — Jesus, her Son." - St Louis De Montfort
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass of the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Sunday 28thJanuary
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the FourthSunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (20th January - 27th January), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Jean Dwyer RIP.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£928.73. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Parish Donations
Many people have asked can they donate monies towards the parish via Direct Debit and if so what is the name of the parish account: SRCDTR ST MARY OSWALDTWISTLE.
Thank you for your continued support.
Caritas Collection
On the weekend (27th/28th January) Caritas have their diocesan mandatory collection. There will be a basket at the back of church, under the large crucifix, for anybody who wishes to donate monies to this charity.
Caritas Salford Mission Statement: Our mission is to help those across the Diocese of Salford, experiencing poverty, disadvantage and discrimination to transform their lives with dignity. We provide a practical response to those in crisis, suffering hardship or who are at risk. We rebuild lives for the long-term, enabling people to live in a safe, healthy and secure environment. We call for a better, more just world where the voices of the poor are heard and acted upon and positively influence the systems, decisions and resources that affect those in need.
Diocesan Synod: The Parish "Big Listen"
Thank you to all those who have responded over the last few months, at the end of the weekend Masses, and filled in one of the questionnaires.
Sharon Siddle - 07917 002663, Sharon.siddle@yahoo.co.uk
Mike Freeman - 07500 952780, Cowleyfreeman@gmail.com
Joel Garrigan - 07875 132568, joelg_01@hotmail.com
Praying for Vocations
Last weekend the readings at Mass directed our attention to the importance of vocation and the need to pray for men and women to hear God's call. The following is from the Diocesan vocations department and a good reminder that all vocations are rooted in love and service of and for the Lord.
A commitment to love
Each vocation is a commitment to love in a certain way. The object of every vocation is God. Lots of things like self-fulfillment, making life better for people, and building the Church may be involved in a vocation but the main purpose of our vocation is to love Our Lord. As St John Paul II wrote: "Love makes us seek what is good; love makes us better persons. It is love that prompts men and women to marry and form a family, to have children. It is love that prompts others to embrace the consecrated life or become priests."Each vocation challenges us to live our faith more deeply and to follow Christ more closely. Each vocation, if it is lived generously and faithfully, will involve times of lasting happiness and reward, but also occasions of sacrifice and suffering. Finally, it is important not to compare the value of different vocations but to appreciate the value of each one and to work out which one is right for you.
The Call to Holiness
The universal call to holiness is rooted in our baptism. It is a call to know, love and serve the Lord. We come to understand that there is meaning in our lives and a purpose for our existence. God has called us all to do some "definite purpose" for him. When we talk about vocation, we are bringing God into our plans. We no longer just ask ourselves "what do I want to do with my life?" but rather "What is God asking of me?" A willingness to do God's will is built on two pillars. We have to believe that God loves us more than we love ourselves and that God wants our happiness more than we want it. In other words, we have to believe that God knows more than we do about what will make us truly happy. We are to trust that God's will for us is our only chance to find true and lasting happiness.
Priesthood
For those who have chosen the ordained ministry, through sacramental ordination, they share in the priesthood of Christ in a special way. Their very beings are changed so that they can represent Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, for God's people and Christ as the Head of the Church. They not only offer their own lives to the Father, as all Christians do, but they also stand before the Church and minister to the faithful as another Christ. Therefore, when they teach with the authority of the Church, Christ teaches; when they absolve sins in the sacrament of Reconciliation, then Christ forgives; when they offer the Sacrifice of the Mass then Christ offers that Sacrifice; when they love, support and care for God's people entrusted to their care, then Christ is present with his people.
Permanent Diaconate
Deacons have played an integral part of our faith community since the earliest days of the Church, when the apostles appointed men to help care for the communities around them. The work of deacons is based on three key areas: the Ministry of Charity, the Ministry of the Word, and the Ministry of the Altar. Deacons can baptize, witness marriages, perform funeral and burial services outside of Mass, distribute Holy Communion, preach the homily, and are obligated to pray the Divine Office every day. Deacons will also often have a career outside the Church, which they can continue throughout their ministry. Permanent deacons can be single or married but must be married before becoming a deacon.
Consecrated Life
For someone who has chosen the consecrated life, their path of following Christ is through their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. This often involves belonging to a religious order and living with others in community. They are called to live as Christ lived; to model their lives on the life of Jesus – who was chaste, poor and obedient – making their hearts more free for service and prayer.
Marriage
For a married Christian couple, they follow Jesus by giving themselves to each other completely and without any reservation. They promise to love each other faithfully for the rest of their lives. They agree to share their joys and sorrows in whatever circumstances life presents to them. They express their love through their sexual union, which brings them together in the closest intimacy and opens them to the gift of new life in their children.
If you would like to speak to someone about a vocation to the priesthood, our Vocations Director is on hand to listen and to support:
Fr Mark Paver, Vocations Director
St Winifred's Presbytery, Mauldeth Road, Heaton Mersey, Stockport, SK4 3NB
Tel 0161 4324412
mark.paver@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
St. Mary's Warm Welcome
The next warm welcome is on Tuesday 30th 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 31st January from 7pm – 8pm. All are welcome. All you need is a Bible and an openness to come to know Our Lord better.
Date for you Diary - 11th February 2024 - World Day of Prayer for the Sick: St. Mary's Healing Service
At 2pm on Sunday 11th February, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. It's only fitting that this is also the day the Church invites us all to pray for those who are sick and suffering in mind and body. For those who have made the pilgrimage to Lourdes, you will know, that it is a place of healing but not everyone is fortunate to visit. This year, at St. Mary's on Sunday 11th February, there will be the many opportunity to experience both prayer and healing.
Job Vacancies
Communications Assistant (replacement role)
Appointment Type: Full-time, 12 month fixed term
Working hours: 35 hours per week, some evenings and weekends required
Location: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Salary: £22,672 - £24,343
Find out more and apply at https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
Cathedral Estate Caretaker (replacement role)
Appointment Type: Full-time, permanent
Working hours: 35 hours per week, Tuesday - Saturday with some flexible working
Location: Cathedral Estate including the Cathedral, Cathedral Presbytery (Cathedral House) Cathedral House, 250, Chapel Street, Salford, M3 5LE
Salary: £24,983 - £30,710
Find out more and apply at https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
Parish Administrator - Our Lady of Hope, Salford
Appointment Type: Part-time, permanent
Working hours: 12 hours per week, worked Tuesday to Friday
Location: St Luke's Presbytery, 13 Swinton Park Road, Irlam o' th' Height, Salford, M6 7WR
Salary: £12.60 per hour
Find out more and apply at https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
Other Vacancies
PACT (Prison Advice and Care Trust) is looking for a committed Catholic to head up its Faith in Action Team.
Head of Faith in Action - PACT (Prison Advice and Care Trust)
Appointment Type: Full-time, permanent
Working hours: 37.5 hours a week
Location: Home-based with extensive national travel
Salary: £46,225
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