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 24th May
Pentecost Sunday
Saturday 23rd May
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Pentecost Sunday
Sunday 24th May
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Pentecost Sunday
Tuesday 26th May
11am Requiem Mass for Gerry Michael Keenan RIP
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Mass, Saint Philip Neri, Priest (Memoria)
St. Philip Neri, renowned for prayerfulness and humour, was born in Florence in 1515; he arrived in Rome, and after a mystical experience in the catacombs, gathered a community of friends to look after the sick, which eventually became the Oratory. He died in 1595.
Wednesday 27th May
10am Requiem Mass for Eileen Aspin RIP
Friday 29th May
10am Requiem Mass for Robert Doolan RIP
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Weekday Mass
Saturday 30th May
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Easter Weekday Mass
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Holy Trinity Mass
Sunday 31st May
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Holy Trinity Mass
Our Lady’s Lamp
This Week (23rd May – 29th May), Our Lady’s Lamp is for Daniel O’Brien Birthday Intention.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£584.61. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Gift Aid Envelope number 60
If you currently have Gift Aid envelope number 60, please speak to a steward as soon as possible. It appears that this envelope has been taken in error and belongs to another parishioner. We are unable to claim Gift Aid on donations when we do not know who the claimant is for a particular envelope, so it is important that Gift Aid envelope number 60 is returned to the correct person. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Pentecost Sunday — Come, Holy Spirit
This weekend the Church celebrates the great Feast of Pentecost — the moment when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles gathered in prayer with Our Lady in the Upper Room. Filled with the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit, the frightened disciples were transformed into courageous witnesses to the Gospel, going out into the world to proclaim Jesus Christ. Pentecost is often described as the “birthday of the Church,” because through the coming of the Holy Spirit the Church was strengthened and sent forth on mission. The same Holy Spirit given to the Apostles is given to each one of us through Baptism and Confirmation. Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as the Helper, the Counsellor, and the Advocate — the One who strengthens us, guides us, comforts us, and enables us to do far more than we ever could simply through our own human efforts and abilities. In every age, the saints remind us that holiness is not achieved by our strength alone, but by allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us. To help parishioners deepen their relationship with God the Holy Spirit, there are a number of prayer cards and prayers to the Holy Spirit available at the back of church this weekend. Please feel free to take one home and use it in your own daily prayer if you find it helpful.
“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.”
“Could You Not Watch One Hour With Me?”
Extended Friday Adoration During June
Since our Parish Lenten Retreat led by Angela McMorrow earlier this year, together with the recent visit of the relics to the diocese of the young Eucharistic saint, Saint Carlo Acutis, a number of parishioners have approached me asking whether there could be increased opportunities for prayer and Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. I am very happy to help facilitate this. Personally, I know what a powerful and deeply real encounter it is to spend time in the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. In a busy and often noisy world, the Lord continually invites us to come and rest in His presence. Therefore, during the month of June, the church will remain open each Friday from 3:00pm until 9:00pm for extended Eucharistic Adoration. The afternoon and evening will take the following format:
3:00pm — Divine Mercy Chaplet and beginning of Adoration
5:00pm — Opportunity for the Sacrament of Confession
6:00pm — Holy Mass
6:30pm – 9:00pm — Continued Adoration
8:50pm — Solemn Benediction
In order for this prayerful endeavour to work well, we will need parishioners willing to commit to spending time with the Lord so that the Blessed Sacrament is never left unattended. We are therefore looking for at least two people to sign up for each of the following hours:
3:00pm – 4:00pm
4:00pm – 5:00pm
7:00pm – 8:00pm
8:00pm – 9:00pm
And the Friday dates would be – 5th June, 12th June, 19th June, 26th June. If you would be willing to offer an hour of your time to the Lord during the month of June, please sign one of the sheets available at the back of church. As Saint John Vianney once said: “He is there. He is waiting for you.” and in the Gospel, Jesus says to His disciples: “Could you not watch one hour with me?” (Matthew 26:40) May this become a beautiful opportunity for our parish community to deepen its love for the Eucharistic Jesus and to encounter the peace and presence of Christ more profoundly.
God Bless Fr. O’Brien
Cause for Beatification of Pedro Ballester
The Diocese of Salford are pleased to announce the opening of the Cause for the Beatification and Canonisation of Pedro Ballester, a young Manchester man whose life of faith and witness continues to inspire many. Pedro died on 13 January 2018 at the age of 21. Born in Manchester in 1996, he grew up in a Catholic family and was widely known for his warmth, generosity and dedication. In his late teens, he committed his life fully to God as a member of Opus Dei, dedicating himself to its apostolic work.
Deanery Corpus Christi Procession – Sunday 7th June
Many of our parishioners will remember the beautiful Corpus Christi processions that were once such a familiar and cherished part of Catholic life. These were wonderful occasions when we came together publicly to give glory to God and to witness to our faith in the Eucharistic Lord. Sadly, in many places, this tradition has waned over the years. Following the visit of the relics of St Carlo Acutis to the Diocese in February, many people were inspired anew by the deep Eucharistic faith of this young saint, who reminded us that: “The Eucharist is my highway to heaven.” Since then, there has been a real desire among the faithful to respond to this call to rediscover the centrality of the Eucharist in our lives. In response, the St John Vianney Deanery is organising a Corpus Christi Procession on Sunday 7th June at 3.00pm at St Mary Magdalene’s RC Church, Burnley. The afternoon will include the Blessed Sacrament procession, devotions, reflections from some of the deanery priests, and the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Confession. What makes such an occasion truly prayerful—what makes it a moment of grace where faith is deepened and love for the Lord renewed—is simply this: that we come. That we accept the invitation.
The Lord himself beckons us:
“Could you not watch one hour with me?” (Matthew 26:40)
and again, in the mystery of the Eucharist:
“Do you also wish to go away?” (John 6:67)
He calls each of us personally. All are warmly welcome. The Lord is calling—will you come and be with Him?
Day for Life – Sunday 21 June 2026
Every individual, precisely by reason of the mystery of the Word of God Who was made flesh (Jn 1:14), is entrusted to the maternal care of the Church. Therefore every threat to human dignity and life must necessarily be felt in the Church’s very heart; it cannot but affect her at the core of her faith in the Redemptive Incarnation of the Son of God, and engage her in her mission of proclaiming the Gospel of life in all the world and to every creature (Mk 16:15). - Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) by Pope Saint John Paul II
There will be a Novena in preparation for the Day for Life which will run from Saturday 23rd May to the Feast of the Visitation (Sunday 31st May). This is the third year in which the Dioceses of England and Wales will join with those of Scotland and Ireland to pray this Novena. It will be available on the Bishops’ Conference website, as well as at https://prayforlife.ie/.
Free energy bill advice from Caritas
If you are worried about rising energy costs, our diocesan charity Caritas Salford runs a range of free drop-in advice sessions to help with everything from energy debt to making your home more energy efficient. You can find out more about these and other ways the team can help people across Greater Manchester and Lancashire on the Caritas website at www.caritassalford.org.uk/energysupport
Caritas Volunteer Week
From 1 to 7 June it is national Volunteer Week, with various celebrations and activities taking place across the UK. Our diocesan charity, Caritas Salford, has a wide range of volunteering opportunities available to help support their work with people in Greater Manchester and Lancashire who are experiencing homelessness, poverty and discrimination. If you have a passion or skillset you'd like to share with others, you can find out more about the volunteering opportunities available on their website at www.caritassalford.org.uk/volunteer or contact Matt Yates at m.yates@caritassalford.org.uk
