Sunday 17th November 2024
Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Masses & Liturgies for the coming week...
Friday 15th November
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Weekday Mass (Feria)
Saturday 16th November
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (celebrated in the 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. Padre Pio
2pm Parish November Prayer Service
for all those loved ones who have died over the last year (see below for details)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Sunday 17th November
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Wednesday 20th November
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Weekday Mass (Feria)
11:40am Funeral Service for Veronica McNulty RIP at Accrington Crematorium
7pm Parish Synod Meeting III
Thursday 21st November
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Weekday Mass (Feria)
Friday 22nd November
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr (Memoria)
St. Cecilia suffered martyrdom with her husband and brother in the second century.
Saturday 23rd November
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (celebrated in the Lady Chapel)
'In trial or difficulty, I have recourse to Mother Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear.' - St. Therese of Lisieux
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King "Christ the King" (Year B)
Sunday 24th November
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King "Christ the King" (Year B)
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (16th November - 23rd November), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Patrick Haworth & Family
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£614.72. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Hospital Emergency Call
This week I'll be helping out the 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. Please note: Fr. Samson can only visit you during your stay in hospital if you request him through the ward staff.
Safeguarding Training
On Tuesday I'll be at Salford Cathedral for the diocesan safeguarding department's clergy awareness and training day. Thank you to everyone in the parish who allows our St. Mary's not only to be a welcoming place but a safe place as well.
"Creating a safer environment is paramount to ensuring that the Diocese of Salford fosters a culture of safeguarding. We will ensure that everyone in the Diocese understands their responsibility to safeguarding and promote the well-being of those who worship in our churches or who join us for any activity facilitated by church members. We will continue to strive towards the highest standards of practice to keep people safe."
Building Update
On Thursday morning the team from Ross Roofing Contractors Ltd began work on the sanctuary gable end of church. Over the next four/five weeks, dependent on weather conditions, they have told me that they are hoping to have completed the work. Let's ask the intercession of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle and St. Joseph that everything runs smoothly.
St. Mary's Warm Welcome
The next warm welcome will be on Tuesday 10th December from 1pm – 3pm and will have a pre-Christmas twist!!!. Everyone and anyone is welcome! We have some talented parishioners who will dispel the coming winter blues with live upbeat music that everyone can sing along to. Plus there's unlimited brews in a warm space. Why not come along and experience something different.
Deanery Pilgrimage to Rome 2025
The Holy Father has designated 2025 as A Holy Year. One of the features of a Holy Year is to make a pilgrimage to a religious shrine. St John Vianney Deanery are organising a Pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi and San Giovanni in October 2025. For further info please contact Fr Francis Wadsworth at St Anne's Church, Cobham Road, Accrington, BB5 2AD Telephone 01254 232920 email francis.wadsworth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Holy Hour: A Holy Hour for the Dignity of Human Life
Cardinal Nichols has asked that the bishops should come together at the Plenary Assembly to pray for the Dignity of Human Life. He also asked if all the bishops might be able to encourage such an hour of prayer in all our parishes across England and Wales. In response to the Cardinal's request and in light of the Assisted Suicide debate taking place at government level there will be a directed Holy Hour here at St. Mary's on Tuesday 26th November at 5pm with Scripture readings and reflections to help direct our prayer. The Holy Mass will be at 6pm.
Take Action to Oppose Assisted Suicide
Catholics across England and Wales are being called to unite in prayer and compassionate action in opposition to a new Bill on assisted suicide. The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales has pulled together a range of resources with more information, a pastoral letter from Cardinal Nichols, and a link to an online tool to contact your MP to voice your opposition to the bill. Find out more at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/opposing-assisted-suicide
Piety Stall: Sunday Missal
If you would like to order a new translation Sunday Missal (£20), please sign the list at the back of church. We have a lovely collection of Christmas cards and books on the Piety Stall.
New Lectionary Resources
With the new edition of the Lectionary for Mass coming into use on the First Sunday of Advent, the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has signposted us to some useful resources introducing the new edition, what changes have been made, and why. Find out more at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/lectionary/
Diocesan Synod: Parish Update
Synod Big Listen: Workshop 3 "Enabling Access" - Wednesday 20 November - 7.00pm-8.00pm
This Wednesday we will have the 3rd in our series of sessions connected with the Diocese of Salford Synod. The topic - Enabling Access - will help us look at the barriers currently affecting people with a view to looking at how best we can welcome all to the "Lords Banquet". The session will explore both the physical an
d emotional barriers that are faced by people, and will look for suggestions and ideas as to how, both locally and across the Diocese, we can collectively reduce these barriers.
Caritas is buzzing about new launch...
Have you seen the special short animation and new campaign for Advent from our diocesan charity Caritas Salford? This year they are asking people to make a real difference this Christmas and not make it all about the tinsel, the parties, and the supermarket queues. Watch the specially created animation, find out more, donate, or take part in the appeal in another way: www.caritassalford.org.uk/beethere
Mens' Spiritual Exercises, 31 March – 5 April 2025
A 5-day version of the Ignatian Exercises offered specifically for men (whether lay or ordained), this retreat will be preached by the Benedictine Monks of St Joseph's Abbey, France. Founded in 1988, this community has retained its charism of a specific apostolate to men and of engaging them through a shortened version of the Ignatian Exercises. One-to-one direction will be offered alongside the talks. Priests are welcome to attend and concelebrate or celebrate their own Mass. For more information and to book: https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/mens-spiritual-exercises/
Job Vacancies
Cleaner - Parish of Corpus Christi (replacement role)
Appointment Type: Part-time, permanent
Working Hours: 4 hours per week, working pattern to be agreed with Parish Priest
Location: St John's Presbytery, The Crescent, Bromley Cross and St Brendan's Church, Harwood.
Salary: £12 per hour.
Find out more and apply at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies
Parish Hall Supervisor - Parish of The Sacred Heart and St Francis of Assisi
Appointment Type: Part-time, permanent
Working Hours: Variable (weekly worked hours to be agreed with Parish Priest)
Location: Sacred Heart Presbytery, Levenshulme Road, Gorton, Manchester, M18 7WJ
Salary: £12 per hour.
Find out more and apply at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies
Project Administrator - Diocese of Salford
Appointment Type: Full-time, permanent, part-time considered
Working Hours: 28 hours per week or 35 hours per week
Location: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Salary: £24,983
Find out more and apply at https://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