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Saturday, 19 April 2025

Easter Sunday - Sunday 20th April 2025

Sunday 20th April 2025

 Easter Sunday

 

 

!HAPPY EASTER!

He is Risen, Alleluia!

 

Masses & Liturgies for the coming week...

 

Holy Saturday 19th April

8:30pm The Easter Vigil

 

Easter Sunday 20th April

9:30am The Holy Rosary

10am Easter Mass

 

Easter Tuesday 22nd April

5pm – 5:30pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

5:45pm Easter Mass

 

Wednesday 23rd April

9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

10am Easter Mass

7pm Parish Bible Study (see below for details)  

 

Easter Thursday 24th April

9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

10am Easter Mass

 

Easter Friday 25th April (No Abstinence)

5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

6pm Easter Mass

 

Easter Saturday 26th April

9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

10am Easter Mass (In the Lady Chapel)

6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)

 

Sunday 27th April

9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

10am Mass for the Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)

2pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

2:45pm Divine Mercy Chaplet & Act of Consecration

3:05pm Benediction followed by Holy Mass for the Second Sunday of Easter

 

Monday 28th April

10am Mass, Saint George, Martyr & Patron of England (Solemnity)

St. George was martyred at Lydda (Israel) around 303 A.D, in the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian. His cult, which predates the legend of his slaying the dragon, spread quickly through the East and West. King Richard I of England placed his army under his protection and in 1222 his feast was proclaimed a national holiday.    

 

 

 

Sanctuary Lamp

This week (19th April – 26th April), the Sanctuary Lamp is for The Fussell & Beveridge Families.

 

 

Our Lady's Lamp

This week (19th April – 26th April), Our Lady's Lamp is for Joanne & Karen Hughes.

 

 

Last Week's Offertory Collection

£813.35. Thank you for your kind generosity.

 

 

Easter Blessings & Thanks

Thank you to everyone who made this Easter such a prayerful and joyous celebration. The faith and love that have made people go above and beyond has truly been inspiring. From the beautiful flower displays and Lychgate, the commitment shown by the altar servers, the talents of the musicians and singers who came on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, the faithfulness of the stewards, the buffing, polishing and dusting of the cleaners, the dedication of the readers, the behind the scenes work of anonymous volunteers…Thank you! But also a huge Thank You to all who came to the various Masses, Liturgies and prayers during the Triduum. May God continue to bless you in your faith and witness to the Risen Lord.

 

 

Parish Social Media: St Mary's Facebook & Instagram  

Thanks to Jacqueline who has been maintaining our parish presence on social media and allowing others beyond the church walls to feel connected and experience our Catholic Faith in the Lord Jesus. If you haven't yet, then do check out the photos and videos that have been posted of our celebrations over the Easter Triduum at St. Mary's.

Facebook (St Marys RC Church Oswaldtwistle)

https://www.facebook.com/share/164UHbBSuw/

Instagram (stmarysrcoswaldtwistle)

 https://www.instagram.com/stmarysrcoswaldtwistle?utm_source=qr&igsh=MTl5cHhqdm9yOWtp

 

  

Prayers of Welcome

Let's pray for Dean, Paul and Sam who will all be received into the Church at the Solemn Easter Vigil. It's always a wonderful occasion when the Lord brings new brothers into the family. Sam will be baptized and then, along with Dean and Paul, receive Confirmation

 

 

Parish Bible Study – St. John's Gospel

The next session is Wednesday 23rd April from 7pm – 8pm. All are welcome. All you need is a Bible and an openness to come to know Our Lord better. Never we've read through St. John's Gospel we will stand with the Book of Revelation which often fills some people with dread but it's actually full of hope. Come and join us.      

 

 

Divine Mercy Sunday

Join us for Divine Mercy Devotions, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Confessions and Holy Mass on Sunday 27th April at 2pm.

 

 

The Divine Mercy Devotion

Devotion to the Divine Mercy involves a total commitment to God as Mercy. It is a decision to trust completely in him, to accept his mercy with thanksgiving, and to be merciful as he is merciful. The devotional practices proposed in the diary of Saint Faustina and set forth in here are completely in accordance with the teachings of the Church and are firmly rooted in the Gospel message of our Merciful Saviour. Properly understood and implemented, they will help us grow as genuine followers of Christ.

 

The Divine Mercy Message:

The message of mercy is that God loves us "all of us" no matter how great our sins. He wants us to recognise that his mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon him with trust, receive his mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share his joy. It is a message we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC.

 

A — Ask for his Mercy. God wants us to approach him in prayer constantly, repenting of our sins and asking him to pour his mercy out upon us and upon the whole world.

 

B — Be merciful. God wants us to receive his mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as he does to us.

 

C — Completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know the graces of his mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more we will receive.

 

The Chaplet of Mercy

The Lord revealed to Saint Faustina a powerful prayer that He wanted everyone to say – the Chaplet of Mercy. Saint Faustina prayed the Chaplet almost constantly, especially for the dying, and the Lord urged her to encourage others to say it, too, promising extraordinary graces to those who would recite this special prayer. The Chaplet can be said anytime, but the Lord specifically asked that it be recited as a novena, especially on the nine days before the Feast of Mercy.

 

Our Lord said to Saint Faustina:

Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you. … Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. … When thy say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the Merciful Saviour. … Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy. I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy. … Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will. (Diary, 687, 1541, 1731).

 

HOW TO PRAY THE CHAPLET OF THE DIVINE MERCY

The Chaplet of Mercy is recited using ordinary rosary beads of five decades and could be preceded by two opening prayers from the Diary of Saint Faustina and followed by a closing prayer.

 

1. The Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

 

2. The Our Father: Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen

 

3. The Hail Mary: Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen

 

4. The Apostles' Creed: I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen

 

5. On the "Our Father"bead before each decade: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

 

6. On the "Hail Mary"beads of each decade: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

 

7. Repeat "Eternal Father" and "For the Sake of His sorrowful Passion": Numbers 5 & 6 Prayers for four more decades.

 

8. After 5 decades, the concluding prayer (three times): Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

 

For more information about the Divine Mercy devotion please see the following website: https://divinemercyapostolate.co.uk/

 

 

Date for your Diary!

This year the Solemnity of St George, which falls in Easter week (23rd April), has been transferred to Monday 28th April. As St. George is the patron Saint of our country Mass will be at 10am followed by a late morning breakfast of coffee and croissants, very traditionally English refreshments! Don't worry, there will be tea as well. St. George patron saint of England pray for us.       

 

 

Parish Easter Egg Raffle

The parish raffle will be drawn next week and all winners will be able to collect their Eggs from the stewards desk at the weekend Masses (26th/27th April). There is still time to buy tickets from the stewards desk at the back of church - £1 a ticket or £5 a strip.

 

 

St Oswald's School

On Tuesday of Holy Week, I was invited by school to celebrate a liturgy where we all gathered to reflect on Jesus' example of washing His disciples feet. We were reminded in the prayer that we are all called to imitate Jesus and serve others. Some of the pupils gave wonderful examples of how we could do this practically both at home and school.      

 

 

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Ladyewell

Join us for a prayerful pilgrimage this summer as we visit Our Lady's shrine at Ladyewell. Situated on the doorstep of our diocese, this day pilgrimage presents a wonderful opportunity to take up the Jubilee call to pilgrimage without travelling too far away from home. The pilgrimage will take place on Saturday 28th June. For more information and to register, please visit https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/ladyewell-pilgrimage-2025

 

 

Two-Child Benefit Cap Survey

Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) has recently launched a lived experience survey to better understand the impact of the two-child benefit cap on Catholic families in England and Wales and to explore how parishes are supporting families in need. Your responses will contribute to a short report/briefing, and insights gathered will inform further advocacy work to support families affected by the cap, as well as other financial hardship.

You can find the survey here: https://www.csan.org.uk/news/familysurvey/ 

 

 

God Bless and keep praying.

Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, pray for us.

 

Fr. O'Brien



Friday, 11 April 2025

Palm Sunday - Sunday 13th April 2025

Sunday 13th April 2025

 Palm Sunday

 

Masses & Liturgies for the coming week...

 

Friday 11th April

3pm Funeral Service for Thomas Wheelan RIP at Accrington Crematorium

5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

 6pm Lenten Mass

6:30pm Stations of the Cross led by parishioners 

 

Saturday 12th 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 Palm Sunday

 

Palm Sunday 13th April

9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

10am Mass of Palm Sunday

 

Tuesday of Holy Week 15th April

5pm – 5:30pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

5:45pm Lenten Weekday Mass

 

Wednesday 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 (Catechumen, Chrism, Infirm) are blessed by the Bishop for the coming year.

 

Maundy Thursday 17th April

7:30pm Mass of the Lord's Supper & Washing of Feet

8:30pm Watching at the Altar of Repose

9:30pm Night Prayer

 

Good Friday 18th April

(Day of Fasting & Abstinence)

8:30am – 10am Confessions 

10am Stations of the Cross

3pm Solemn Liturgy of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

 

Holy Saturday 19th April

8:30pm The Easter Vigil

 

Easter Sunday 20th April

9:30am The Holy Rosary

10am Easter Mass

 

 

Sanctuary Lamp

This week (12th April – 19th April), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Phylis Clayton.

 

 

Our Lady's Lamp

This week (12th April – 19th April), Our Lady's Lamp is for Doreen Robinson.

 

 

Last Week's Offertory Collection

£638.96. Thank you for your kind generosity.

 

 

Good Friday Collection

The Bishop has reminded us of the mandatory collection on Good Friday for the places of Palestine, which supports the life of the Church in the Holy Land.

 

 

Divine Mercy Sunday

Join us for Divine Mercy Devotions, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Confessions and Holy Mass on Sunday 27th April at 2pm.

     

 

Date for your Diary!

This year the Solemnity of St George, which falls in Easter week (23rd April), has been transferred to Monday 28th April. As St. George is the patron Saint of our country Mass will be at 10am followed by a late morning breakfast of coffee and croissants, very traditionally English refreshments! Don't worry, there will be tea as well. St. George patron saint of England pray for us.       

 

 

Parish Easter Egg Raffle

Tickets are available from the stewards desk at the back of church - £1 a ticket or £5 a strip.

 

 

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Ladyewell

Join us for a prayerful pilgrimage this summer as we visit Our Lady's shrine at Ladyewell. Situated on the doorstep of our diocese, this day pilgrimage presents a wonderful opportunity to take up the Jubilee call to pilgrimage without travelling too far away from home. The pilgrimage will take place on Saturday 28th June. For more information and to register, please visit https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/ladyewell-pilgrimage-2025

 

 

Mass to Celebrate Jubilee Wedding Anniversaries

Are you celebrating a special anniversary this year? Join us on Tuesday 3 June at 7pm at St Bernadette's in Whitefield. Couples celebrating a Jubilee Wedding Anniversary during this Holy Year of Jubilee are invited to join us for this special celebration and to acknowledge this wonderful Sacrament. Friends and family are welcome and everyone is invited to join for refreshments after Mass. For more information please email: formation@dioceseofsalford.org.uk

 

 

Lourdes Diocesan Youth Group

Are there any young people in your parish who might want to join this year's pilgrimage to Lourdes? The Salford Lourdes Coordination Team and the Diocesan Youth Ministry Team have set up a new "group" so that any young person can join the pilgrimage without having to set up a parish or school-based group. The pilgrimage dates are from 30th July to 7th August inclusive of travel, which is by coach, and will cost £669 including travel, hotel accommodation, and all meals.

Young people can join one of three age groups:

·         13-15 (aspiring volunteers)

·         16-17

·         18+

If you have any young people who might be interested, please ask them to send an email to youth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk and all the information they need will be sent back to them. Please promote this great opportunity in your parishes to help our young people grow in their faith and build community in this Jubilee Year as Pilgrims of Hope.

 

 

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

 

 

Two-Child Benefit Cap Survey

Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) has recently launched a lived experience survey to better understand the impact of the two-child benefit cap on Catholic families in England and Wales and to explore how parishes are supporting families in need. Your responses will contribute to a short report/briefing, and insights gathered will inform further advocacy work to support families affected by the cap, as well as other financial hardship.

You can find the survey here: https://www.csan.org.uk/news/familysurvey/ 

 

 

God Bless and keep praying.

Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, pray for us.

 

Fr. O'Brien



Friday, 4 April 2025

Fifth Sunday of Lent - Sunday 6th April 2025

Sunday 6th April 2025

 Fifth Sunday of Lent

 

Masses & Liturgies for the coming week...

 

Friday 4th April

5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

 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

 

Tuesday 8th April

5pm – 5:30pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

5:45pm Lenten Weekday Mass

 

Wednesday 9th April

9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

10am Lenten Mass

 10:30am Stations of the Cross

7pm Parish Bible Study (See below for details)

 

Thursday 10th April

9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

10am Lenten Mass

 

Friday 11th April

3pm Funeral Service for Thomas Wheelan RIP at Accrington Crematorium

5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions

 6pm Lenten Mass

6:30pm Stations of the Cross led by parishioners 

 

Saturday 12th 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 Palm Sunday

 

Sunday 13th April

9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World

10am Mass of Palm Sunday

 

 

Sanctuary Lamp

This week (6th April – 12th April), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Jack and Andrew Hargreaves.

 

 

Our Lady's Lamp

This week (6th April – 12th April), Our Lady's Lamp is for C. Hester & M. Hester.

 

 

Last Week's Offertory Collection

£599.94. Thank you for your kind generosity.

 

 

Pastoral Letter: Assisted Suicide  

This weekend there will be a Pastoral Letter from the Bishops Conference which will be read at all Masses in England and Wales this weekend, 5th/6th April. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, is urging Catholics to contact their MPs – even if they have done so already – to oppose the Bill that seeks to legalise assisted suicide. As well as restating the Bishops' objections to the Bill in principle, the Cardinal also expresses his dissatisfaction regarding the "deeply flawed" and under scrutinized parliamentary process.

 

 

Not Dead Yet UK

Not Dead Yet UK is a network of Disabled and terminally ill people who fear that, if the Bill is passed, many people's lives will be ended prematurely due to errors and abuse. The right to choose for the privileged few will be at the expense of the right to a decent life for many. There are postcards that parishioners can sign and post to our MP at the back of church.    

 

 

Mercy in the Holy Year

The Diocese of Salford has produced a number of resources to help us learn more about the theme of mercy and reconciliation in the Jubilee Year, including an FAQ sheet on Plenary Indulgences. To find out more, please visit https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/plenary-indulgences

 

 

Parish Bible Study

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 the 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.

 

 

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/

 

 

CAFOD's Myanmar Earthquake Appeal

CAFOD (the Catholic Agency For Overseas Development) has shared details of its Myanmar Earthquake Appeal. Funds raised for this appeal will provide much-needed water, food, solar lights, mosquito nets and water purification tablets to those devastated by this disaster. Your generosity will extend far and wide and will help the Catholic Church in Myanmar bring comfort and relief to families who are in urgent need. Visit cafod.org.uk/myanmar to find out more and donate.

 

 

Caritas Salford E-newsletter

Did you know that Caritas, our diocesan charity, now has a monthly e-newsletter providing updates, free resources, news and event details, plus much more? To begin to receive it, visit: https://www.caritassalford.org.uk/newsletter/

 

 

Lourdes Diocesan Youth Group

Are there any young people in your parish who might want to join this year's pilgrimage to Lourdes? The Salford Lourdes Coordination Team and the Diocesan Youth Ministry Team have set up a new "group" so that any young person can join the pilgrimage without having to set up a parish or school-based group. The pilgrimage dates are from 30th July to 7th August inclusive of travel, which is by coach, and will cost £669 including travel, hotel accommodation, and all meals.

Young people can join one of three age groups:

·         13-15 (aspiring volunteers)

·         16-17

·         18+

If you have any young people who might be interested, please ask them to send an email to youth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk and all the information they need will be sent back to them. Please promote this great opportunity in your parishes to help our young people grow in their faith and build community in this Jubilee Year as Pilgrims of Hope.

 

 

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

 

 

God Bless and keep praying.

Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.

Saint Joseph, pray for us.

 

Fr. O'Brien