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 29th March 2026
Palm Sunday
Saturday 28th March
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Lenten Mass
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass of Palm Sunday (Year A)
Sunday 29th March
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass of Palm Sunday (Year A)
Tuesday 31st March
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Mass
Wednesday 1st April
Today the Mass of the Sacred Chrism is celebrated at St. Patrick's, Collyhurst. At this Holy Week Liturgy all the priests gather, from around the diocese, to renew their priestly promises before the Bishop. It is also at the Liturgy that the Sacred Oils (Catechumen, Chrism, Infirm) are blessed by the Bishop for the coming year.
Maundy Thursday 2nd April
7:30pm Mass of the Lord's Supper & Washing of Feet
8:30pm Watching at the Altar of Repose
9:30pm Night Prayer (Compline)
Good Friday 3rd April
(Day of Fasting & Abstinence)
8:00am – 9:30am – Confessions
10:00am – Family Stations of the Cross
3:00pm – Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion
Saturday 4th April
8:30pm The Solemn Easter Vigil
Sunday 5th April – Easter Sunday
9:30am – The Holy Rosary
10:00am – Easter Sunday Mass
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (28th March – 3rd April) the Sanctuary Lamp is for Martyn Dwyer.
Our Lady’s Lamp
This week (28th March – 3rd April) Our Lady’s Lamp is for Catlow and Simpson Family.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£605.88. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Holy Week at St Mary’s, Oswaldtwistle
As we enter into Holy Week, you are warmly and personally invited to join us for these sacred and beautiful days. This is the most important week of the year for us as Catholics. In these liturgies, we do far more than remember events from long ago—we are drawn into them. We walk with Jesus through His Passion, we stand at the Cross, and we rejoice in the joy of His Resurrection. Whether you come to Mass every week or have been away for some time, you are very welcome. Holy Week is a special opportunity to return, to pray, and to encounter the love of Christ in a deeper and more personal way. Even if you can only come to one of the liturgies, I encourage you to make the time. These are powerful moments of grace, peace, and hope.
Thursday 2nd April - Mass of the Lord’s Supper - 7:30pm
We remember the gift of the Eucharist and the priesthood and are called to follow Christ in loving service. During this Mass, the Washing of Feet will take place, as twelve men from the parish recall the example of Jesus, the Servant King, who said: “Do this as an example.” After Mass, the Blessed Sacrament will be taken in procession to the Altar of Repose. There, we are invited to remain and keep watch with the Lord in quiet prayer, just as the disciples were asked to watch with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. This time of silent adoration will continue until Night Prayer (Compline) at 8:30pm.
Friday 3rd April – Good Friday
8:00am – 9:30am – Confessions
10:00am – Family Stations of the Cross
3:00pm – Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion
At 3:00pm, we gather in silence. The liturgy begins in a striking and solemn way as the priest enters and prostrates himself before the stripped bare Altar. This powerful gesture sets the tone for what follows, reminding us of the depth and seriousness of Christ’s suffering and death. On this day, we listen to the Passion, venerate the Cross, and receive Holy Communion, as we reflect on the immeasurable love of Christ poured out for us.
Saturday 4th April – The Easter Vigil - 8:30pm
The most important and beautiful liturgy of the whole year begins in darkness outside the church with the blessing of the Easter Fire and the lighting of the Paschal Candle. From darkness, we are led into light as we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death.
During this Mass, we rejoice to welcome Victoria into the Church through Baptism, and to celebrate the Confirmation of both Victoria and Glenn. Please keep them in your prayers as they take this important step in their journey of faith.
Sunday 5th April – Easter Sunday
9:30am – The Holy Rosary
10:00am – Easter Sunday Mass
On Easter Sunday, we gather with great joy to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. Christ is risen, and with Him comes new life, hope, and renewal for us all. This is a day of great celebration for the whole Church, as we rejoice in the triumph of life over death.
You are warmly invited to come and take part in these sacred days—whether for the first time in a while or you are a “regular”. Come and experience the beauty, prayer, and hope of Holy Week. We gather with great joy to celebrate that Christ is risen!
The Sacrament of Confession
The Sacrament of Confession is a place of healing, peace, and new beginnings. The Lord never tires of forgiving us; He is always ready to welcome us back with love.
Additional opportunities for Confession this week:
Tuesday 31 March — 5:00pm–5:50pm
Good Friday — 8:00am–9:30am
If it has been a while, do not be afraid—come and encounter His mercy.
Date for Your Diary
As Fr O’Brien mentioned recently, we are delighted to welcome the Bishop to St Mary’s on Tuesday 30th June at 7:00pm to celebrate Confirmations in the deanery. On this special evening, the Bishop will bless our new statue of St Carlo Acutis, generously funded by parishioners, and will also bring with him the diocesan relic of St Carlo for veneration. It would be wonderful to see as many parishioners as possible present—to support and encourage our young people, and to give a strong witness that the faith in Oswaldtwistle is alive and vibrant. Please keep this date free if you can.
Young Adults Hub
The diocesan Youth Team are delighted to share news of the Young Adults Hub, created especially for those aged 18–35 across the Diocese of Salford. The Hub offers a welcoming space for young adults to deepen their faith, build authentic friendships, and grow together through prayer, formation, and social gatherings. If you would like more information, please reach out to Mikey hub.president@vol.dioceseofsalford.org.uk and Edward hub.chair@vol.dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Deaf Awareness and Conversational British Sign Language Course
Caritas Salford has developed a brand new 12-week course for parishioners, to equip them with basic British Sign Language skills and greater awareness of accessibility and inclusion in parish life. The course will commence on 14 April, and sessions will be held weekly on Tuesday evenings at St Patrick's Church, Livesey Street, Collyhurst, Manchester, M4 5HF (with parking available in the Caritas Salford car park adjacent to the church). Places for the course are strictly limited. To find out more and book a place, visit: www.caritassalford.org.uk/event/deaf-awareness-bsl