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 19th July
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Friday 17th July
5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions
6pm Weekday Mass
Saturday 18th July
9am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, Votive Mass of Our Lady
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 19th July
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday 21st July
5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Weekday Mass
Wednesday 22nd July
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, Saint Mary Magdalene (Feast)
St. Mary Magdalene was one of Christ's disciples, present at his death. On Easter morning she was the first to whom the risen Redeemer appeared.
Thursday 23rd July
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, Saint Bridget of Sweden, Patron of Europe (Feast)
St. Bridget was born in Sweden in 1303 A.D. After the death of her husband (with whom she had eight children) she founded the Bridgettine Order. She wrote works describing the mystical experiences she had on a penitential pilgrimage to the Holy Land. She died in Rome in 1373 A.D.
Friday 24th July
5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions
6pm Weekday Mass
Saturday 25th July
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 26th July
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£663.27. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Our Lady’s Lamp
This Week (18th July – 24th July), Our Lady’s Lamp is for Patricia Richardson.
Oppose Assisted Suicide
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which seeks to legalise assisted suicide, will return to the House of Commons for its Second Reading on Friday, 11 September. The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales continue to oppose this legislation because they believe it does not adequately protect the dignity of every human life and could place vulnerable people under pressure to end their lives. They have also expressed concern about the impact the Bill could have on healthcare professionals, hospices and care homes. Archbishop Richard Moth, President of the Bishops' Conference, has invited Catholics and all people of goodwill to pray for those affected by this issue and to contact their Member of Parliament, asking them to vote against the Bill at its Second Reading. If you would like to respond to the Bishops' call to defend the dignity of human life and to speak up for the most vulnerable, you may wish to contact our local MP for Hyndburn, Sarah Smith.
Email: sarah.smith.mp@parliament.uk
Constituency Office: 9 Blackburn Road, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 1HF
Please take a few moments to make your voice heard. Above all, let us continue to pray that our society will always uphold the dignity and value of every human life, especially the sick, the elderly and the most vulnerable. If you are unsure what to write, a sample letter is available at the back of the church (under the large crucifix) for you to use or adapt when writing to our MP.
A Day of Joy at Our Cathedral
On Thursday, I had the great privilege of representing our parish at the Solemn Mass for the Dedication of the Altar at our Cathedral of St John the Evangelist in Salford. The Mass took place on the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Patroness of our Diocese, and marked the official reopening of the Cathedral following its extensive restoration. After several years of work and an investment of around £20 million, our Mother Church has been beautifully restored for future generations. It was a truly memorable celebration. Priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful from across the Diocese, together with many visitors from further afield, gathered to give thanks to God. We were honoured by the presence of His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols, together with the Holy Father's representative to the United Kingdom, Archbishop Miguel Maury BuendÃa, the Apostolic Nuncio, as well as many of the Bishops of England and Wales.
The restored Cathedral is both beautiful and inspiring. More importantly, it stands as a visible sign of the faith that has been handed on through the generations and continues to flourish in our Diocese today. It is a place of prayer, worship and pilgrimage that belongs to every Catholic in the Diocese of Salford. I hope that, before too long, we might organise a parish visit so that those who have not yet seen the restored Cathedral can experience its beauty for themselves, spend some time in prayer, and appreciate the rich heritage of our diocesan family. I am sure it would be a rewarding and uplifting day for us all.
Lourdes Prayer Intentions
One of our parishioners, Eric, will be visiting Lourdes and has kindly offered to take the prayer intentions of our parish community to the Grotto. A basket will be available at the back of the church for written intentions. Envelopes will also be available for anyone wishing to make an offering towards a candle to be lit in Lourdes. Please place your intentions in the basket before Eric's departure.
Marriage in Difficulty? There is Hope
Every marriage experiences challenges from time to time. If your relationship is going through a difficult period, Retrouvaille offers a practical and confidential programme that has helped thousands of couples rediscover hope, improve communication and rebuild their marriage. The programme is open to couples of all faiths and none and is designed to provide support in a private and respectful setting. The next residential programme takes place 2nd–4th October. For more information, in complete confidence, telephone 07887 296983 or visit Retrouvaille UK.
Who are Retrouvaille? Retrouvaille UK is the England and Wales branch of an international Catholic marriage ministry that helps couples whose marriages are experiencing serious difficulties. The name Retrouvaille is a French word meaning "rediscovery" or "finding each other again." The movement began in Canada in 1977 and now operates in many countries. It offers hope and practical support to couples experiencing difficulties in their marriage. The programme is open to couples of all faiths and none and provides a confidential opportunity to rebuild communication, trust and hope.
Prayers for Our Year 6 Leavers
Over the past week, Fr O’Brien has celebrated the Year 6 Leavers' Liturgies with the children, staff and families of our three parish primary schools: Sacred Heart, St Oswald's and St Mary's. As our young people prepare to leave primary school and begin a new chapter at their respective high schools, we keep them very much in our prayers. This is an exciting time, but it can also be a time of uncertainty and change. We pray that the Lord will guide and protect them, help them to grow in wisdom and kindness, and bless them with good friendships and every success in the years ahead. At each of the liturgies, Fr O reminded the children of something he says every year to the Year 6 ‘The doors of St Mary's Church are always open. Don't be a stranger. You are wanted, and you will always be welcome.’ As a parish family, let us continue to pray for all our young people, that they may always know God's love in their lives and never lose sight of the faith that has been nurtured in them.
Cause for the Beatification of Pedro Ballester
The Diocese of Salford has formally opened the Cause for the Beatification and Canonisation of Pedro Ballester, a young man from Manchester who died in 2018 aged just 21. For more information about the cause, please go to the diocesan website: https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/cause-for-beatification-of-pedro-ballester/
As part of this process, the Diocese is inviting anyone who knew Pedro, or who has memories, testimonies or writings relating to him, to come forward to help build a fuller picture of his life and character. To contribute, please contact the Diocesan Tribunal.
Email: tribunal@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Post: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Free Catholic Social Teaching webinar
Catholic Social Teaching has been referred to as 'the Catholic Church's best kept secret' (Mark Shea). Many people are unaware of the depth of the Church's teaching on social justice, which applies the Gospel to current social issues impacting our communities. With the by-election for the Mayor of Greater Manchester set to take place on Thursday 30 July, the time is right to raise our awareness of Catholic Social Teaching and reflect on how it can help to inform the decisions and choices we make in life. Caritas Salford, our diocesan charity, is running a free webinar to introduce you to the basic principles in an accessible way. Book your free place now: www.caritassalford.org.uk/event/cst-webinar
A Night of Music and Fun
The African Priests and Religious of the Diocese of Salford are inviting you to a concert in celebration of African Liturgical and folk music. This is to be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Failsworth, M35 0NN on 31 July 2026 at 7PM. This promises to be a night of good music (by the invited choir) and laughter (by the priests and religious who also try to sing!). Let us come with our parishioners to have a fun evening.
Join the Catholic Medical Association
Whether you are a doctor, nurse, student, or allied professional — if you are a Catholic in healthcare, join us to grow in fellowship, prayer and formation together.
For more information & upcoming events, visit: https://catholicmedicalassociation.org.uk
New Volunteering Role at Caritas Salford
Our diocesan charity Caritas Salford has a team of almost 200 amazing volunteers, all of whom support their work with people in our parishes who are experiencing poverty, homelessness and discrimination. The team is looking for suitable volunteers who would be interested in giving a little time to work alongside families at their young parent accommodation in Blackburn - supporting and facilitating activities with the babies and their parents. All roles will be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring check. To find out more about this or other volunteering opportunities with the charity, visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/volunteer or contact Matt Yates: m.yates@caritassalford.org.uk
Fancy a Walk?
Caritas Salford is organising a 6-mile scenic, circular sponsored hike in Lancashire, along the delightful Downham Trail. Taking place on 5 September, the walk is an undulating route with the potential for expansive views from the summit of Beacon Fell.
Visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/LancsWalk for more information or to register for your free place.
