Sunday 30th March 2025
Laetare Sunday
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!
There is but one and only one,
Whose love will fail you never.
One who lives from sun to sun,
With constant fond endeavour.
There is but one and only one
On earth there is no other.
In heaven a noble work was done
When God gave us a Mother.
- Author Unknown
Masses & Liturgies for the coming week...
Friday 28th March
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Lenten Mass
6:30pm Stations of the Cross led by parishioners
Saturday 29th March
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Lenten Mass (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass of The Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)
Sunday 30th March
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass of The Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)
Tuesday 1st April
5pm – 5:30pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5:45pm Lenten Weekday Mass
Wednesday 2nd April
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Lenten Mass
10:30am Stations of the Cross
Thursday 3rd April
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Lenten Mass
Friday 4th April
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Lenten Mass
6:30pm Stations of the Cross led by parishioners
Saturday 5th April
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Lenten Mass (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass of The Fifth Sunday of Lent
Sunday 6th April
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass of The Fifth Sunday of Lent
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (29th March - 5th April), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Martin Dwyer.
Our Lady's Lamp
This week (29th March – 5th April), Our Lady's Lamp is for Thomas Anderton.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£631.35. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Parish Lenten & Easter Walks
Thank you to all those who came on the parish walk on Sunday following the Tolkein Trail. As always, the opportunity of spending time with the parish family was greatly appreciated by all who came. Some parishioners have kindly offered to facilitate more walks in the future so watch this space. If feel inspired to facilitate a walk please contact the parish office stmarysoswaldtwistle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Tuesday Evening Masses
Each Tuesday evening, starting from Tuesday 25th March (this week) until July, I'll be doing an online study programme with Unbound Ministry Training UK to help me further develop skills as a priest in and around the area of spiritual healing. The course begins at 6:30pm every Tuesday so for the next 14 weeks, temporarily, I'll be celebrating Tuesday Mass 15 minutes earlier at 5:45pm unless advertised differently.
Parish Bible Study – St. John's Gospel
The next session is Wednesday 9th April from 7pm – 8pm. All are welcome. All you need is a Bible and an openness to come to know Our Lord better. We've now completed John's Gospel so on the 9th April we will be looking at different Gospel accounts of the Passion.
Parish Easter Egg Raffle
We are hoping to begin our Parish Easter Raffle next weekend and it would be great if parishioners could donate only Easter eggs as prizes. If you are able to kindly donate an Easter egg then please pass them to one of the stewards at the back of church. Tickets are available from the stewards desk at the back of church - £1 a ticket or £5 a strip.
Easter Flowers
Each year (Christmas & Easter) we offer the opportunity for people to sponsor a flower display in church in prayer for a loved one who has died or for deceased family and friends. We are blessed to have Maureen and other volunteers who freely share their talents to make this happen so that the windows in church and the statues of St. Patrick, St. Joseph and St. Margaret Clitherow are beautifully decorated. If you would like to sponsor a display for £20 please see Maureen Mullen personally this year with your money (Maureen is usually available at church on Wednesday mornings, Friday mornings and Sunday mornings). There has been a significant increase to the cost of flowers so if people would like to donate money for flowers in general during the Easter season then please put your donation in an envelope marked 'Flower Money'. Thank you.
Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum Dates & Times
Saturday 12th April
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Sunday 13th April
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Tuesday of Holy Week 15th April
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Holy Week Mass
Wednesday of Holy Week 16th 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 are blessed by the Bishop for the coming year.
Maundy Thursday 17th April
7:30pm Mass of the Lord's Supper
8:30pm Watching at the Altar of Repose
9:30pm Compline (Night Prayer)
Good Friday 18th April
8:30am – 9:45am Confessions
10am Stations of the Cross
3pm Solemn Liturgy of the Lord's Passion
Holy Saturday 19th April
8:30pm The Solemn Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday 20th April
9:30am The Holy Rosary
10am Mass
Holy Week Retreat at Stonyhurst
A prayerful retreat focusing on the true meaning of Easter is taking place at Stonyhurst College this Holy Week. The retreat will run from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday and provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the resurrection of faith and foster a sense of community and spiritual renewal. A special Children and Young People's programme has also been developed for our young parishioners. Find out more at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/stonyhurst-holy-week-retreat/
Diocesan Youth Ministry Pilgrimages
Our diocesan youth ministry team is organising two fantastic pilgrimage opportunities, led by Bishop John, for young people in Years 7, 8, and 9. The first pilgrimage will take place on Saturday 3 May with a pilgrimage to Walsingham, in conjunction with our main diocesan pilgrimage. The second is a pilgrimage to The Holy Island of Lindisfarne, taking place between 20-22 June. Find out more and register at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/youth/ministry/prayer-and-pilgrimage
Are you aged between 18 and 35 or know someone who is?
Our diocesan charity Caritas Diocese of Salford is looking for young adult volunteers to join their governance committee as co-opted members to help shape the charity in the coming months and years. Find out more about how you can help tackle poverty, homelessness, disadvantage, and displacement in our parish communities at www.caritassalford.org.uk/youngadultboard
Thank you from Caritas Salford
Thank you to everyone who has already supported our diocesan charity, Caritas Diocese of Salford, during this year's Lent campaign. Services have continued to increase, and all of your prayers, kindness and generosity make a huge difference to the lives of people in our parish communities. To find out more about ways Caritas helps local people or to make a donation or support in another ways this Lent or beyond, visit www.caritassalford.org.uk
Mass for People who are Sick and People with Caring Responsibilities
A special Mass to mark the Jubilee for People who are Sick and People with Caring Responsibilities will be taking place on Saturday 5 April. The Mass, celebrated by Bishop John, will also include an opportunity for the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Mass begins at 2pm at Salford Cathedral's Temporary Church. All are welcome to attend.
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien