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Saint Mary's Roman Catholic Church
Catlow Hall Street, Oswaldtwistle
Lancashire
BB5 3EZ
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. S D O'Brien
Parish Administrator: Ciara Kelly
Tel: 01254-232433
Email: stmarysoswaldtwistle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Sunday 16th November 2025
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Masses & Liturgies for the following week ...
Friday 14th November
5pm – 5:45pm Adoration of Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Weekday Mass (Feria)
Saturday 15th November
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady
'Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.' - St. Maximilian Kolbe
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 16th November
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday 18th November
10am Requiem Mass for Judith Mary Jackson RIP
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, The Dedication of the Basilicas of Ss Peter & Paul, Apostles (Memoria)
From the 12th century the dedications of the Vatican Basilica and Basilica of St. Paul on the Via Ostiense have been kept on this day to honour the memories of the Princes of the Apostles.
Wednesday 19th November
10am Requiem Mass for Paul Darwin RIP
7pm Parish Bible Study
Thursday 20th November
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Weekday Mass (Feria)
Friday 21st November
5pm – 5:45pm Adoration of Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Mass, The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memoria)
The Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple recalls – according to the apocryphal gospels, the day on which Mary, while still a child, was brought to the temple in Jerusalem to be offered to God. The Church wants to emphasize not so much the historical event in itself, of which there is no trace in the Gospels, but the total gift that Mary made of herself, by listening: "Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and observe it" (Lk. 11:28). This experience prepared the young girl from Nazareth to become the "temple of the Son of God".
Saturday 22nd November
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady
'The greatest saints, those richest in grace and virtue will be the most assiduous in praying to the most Blessed Virgin, looking up to her as the perfect model to imitate and as a powerful helper to assist them.' - St. Louis Marie de Montfort
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Christ The King Solemnity
Sunday 23rd November
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Christ The King Solemnity
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (15th November – 21st November), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Patrick Haworth & Family.
Our Lady's Lamp
This week (15th November – 21st November), Our Lady's Lamp is for Mia Cross.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£670.29. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Parish Bible Study
Our next session is on Wednesday 19th November, from 7.00–8.00pm. All you need is yourself and a Bible — and a warm welcome awaits you!
Emergency On Call Royal Blackburn Hospital
This week, Fr O'Brien will be helping Fr Christogonus ('Fr Chris') Manu OMD to have some time off by being on emergency call for the Catholic Chaplaincy at the Royal Blackburn Hospital. He will be on emergency call from Thursday 20th November until Saturday 22nd November. Emergencies are never planned so please be aware that Fr O'Brien may occasionally be delayed for appointments, liturgies, or parish events while he helps Fr Chris out. Should any changes or cancellations occur, this will be the reason. Let us keep in our prayers all priests who minister to the sick, the dying, and the housebound, and also those who bear the cross of illness themselves. May the Lord bless them with strength, peace, and healing.
Mini Parish Jubilee Year Pilgrimage!!!! Saturday 29th November!!!
The idea of a Jubilee Year goes back deep into the Old Testament. Every twenty-fifth year, the people of Israel celebrated a new beginning with God and with one another. It was seen as a gift from God — a time of forgiveness, renewal, and fresh hope. Debts were cancelled, relationships restored, and faith renewed. In gratitude, the people would make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem as a sign of their desire to live this new life in thanksgiving and holiness. In the early centuries of Christianity, this beautiful idea continued. Every twenty-five years, pilgrims travelled to Rome to celebrate a Jubilee Year. At several of the great basilicas, the Holy Doors — sealed for twenty-five years — were opened once again. Passing through these doors became a powerful sign of spiritual renewal, symbolising a believer's recommitment to Christ, to the Church, and to a new life of grace. Now, in 2025 — This Jubilee Year — the late Holy Father, Pope Francis, invited the whole Church to live this same spirit of renewal and reconciliation. We no longer need to travel all the way to Rome: each diocese throughout the world will have its own designated Holy Door. For us here in the Diocese of Salford, our nearest Holy Door is at St Mary's Church, Burnley. Those who pass through a Holy Door can receive a Plenary Indulgence — the complete remission of temporal punishment due to sin — as a sign of God's mercy and renewal in our lives. To receive this grace, the Church asks us to:
- Pass through the Holy Door with a sincere spirit of faith and conversion.
- Make a Sacramental Confession within twenty days (before or after passing through the door).
- Receive Holy Communion.
- Pray for the Pope's intentions.
- Have a genuine desire to turn away from sin.
As a parish, Fr. O'Brien has facilitated with the parish of St John Southworth, Nelson, Brierfield & Fence, to make a pilgrimage to visit the church of St. Mary's, Yorkshire Street, Burnley and pass through the Holy Door on Saturday, 29th November at 2:00 p.m. (the First Weekend of Advent). After our time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament — especially for the Holy Father Pope Leo's intentions — there will be refreshments in the parish room. Let us use these last few weeks of the Jubilee Year as a grace-filled time to renew our faith, deepen our love for the Lord, and begin again with hearts full of gratitude and hope.
World Day of the Poor
The ninth World Day of the Poor will be marked on Sunday 16 November. Our diocesan charity Caritas Salford has a range of resources, prayers, and other information to help us learn more about how we can support their work to end poverty in our diocese. Visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/resources for more information.
'Neurodiversity and Our Faith' Research
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England & Wales and Birmingham Newman University are conducting research into Neurodiversity and our Faith. If you are an adult neurodivergent Catholic or a caregiver of a neurodivergent Catholic, they would like to hear from you. Your experiences will help them to become more inclusive and responsive to your needs. To find out more and to complete the short surveys, please visit: www.godwhospeaks.uk/neurodivergent-catholic-surveys/
Thank You Message: Parish Remembrance Liturgy:
Thank you to everyone who helped make last Saturday's service such a poignant and prayerful occasion. It was a bittersweet moment to see so many families and friends gathered in church to light candles in memory of their loved ones who have died over the past twelve months. In times like these, when hearts ache with grief, it is the light of faith in Our Lord that sustains us — helping us to keep loving, living, and hoping, even through the pain of loss. My sincere thanks to all who came to pray, and to everyone who contributed to the liturgy and the refreshments afterwards. Your presence and generosity helped create a beautiful atmosphere of comfort, remembrance, and faith.
A Talk on Pedro Ballester
In November, the Catholic Chaplaincies of Manchester University (MUCC) and the Holy Name Church have invited Pedro Ballester's father to deliver a talk about his son's life, legacy, and love of God. Pedro Ballester Arenas was born in Manchester in 1996 and was devoted to his lifelong faith as instilled in him first by his parents, and later through classes of Christian formation at Greygarth Hall. He went on to become a numerary member of Opus Dei and was deeply faithful to his vocation until his untimely death from cancer in 2018 at the age of 21. This illuminating talk will take place at Holy Name Church on Tuesday 25 November at 6pm – for more information please visit https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/a-talk-on-pedro-ballester/
Diocesan Synod Update - Calling Young Adults
As we continue the implementation stage of our Diocesan Synod, we're calling on young adults across the diocese to join one of a number of working groups that will explore how best to implement the recommendations of our Diocesan Synod. Join us 2-5pm on Sunday 23 November at Cathedral Centre, Salford (M3 6DP), for an introductory meeting. Email youth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk to find out more and to register.
A Day of Reflection on the role of Sacred Music in the Liturgy
On 29 November, a practical day course will be held on understanding the use of Sacred Music within the Mass, starting at 11am and finishing with sung Mass at 5:15pm. The morning session will take place at St. Augustine's, Grosvenor Square, and the afternoon session and Mass will take place at St. Mary's, the Hidden Gem. The cost is £20 per person, which includes a buffet lunch and light refreshments. To book and for more information please contact Dr. Rosemarie Darby via email: rosemarie.darby@manchester.ac.uk
Job Vacancies
Parish Administrator - St Wilfrid's, Longridge
Appointment Type: Part-time, permanent
Working Hours: 12 hours per week to be worked between Monday-Friday, though some flexibility will be required and can be offered. Working pattern to be discussed and agreed with Parish Priest.
Location: St Wilfrid's Presbytery, 44 Derby Road, Longridge, Preston, Lancs PR3 3JT
Salary: £13.23 per hour, 60 hours holiday (equates to 5 weeks), plus bank holidays and 5 diocesan closure days (subject to pro rata)
Find out more and apply at https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/