Sunday 29th
August 2021
Twenty Second Sunday in
Ordinary Time
Dear brothers and sisters,
This week we
reflect with on the Fourth Luminous Mystery – The Transfiguration.
‘He [Jesus] took
with him Peter and John and James and went up the mountain to pray. As he prayed,
the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became brilliant as
lighting. Suddenly there were two men there talking to him; they were Moses and
Elijah appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was
to accomplish in Jerusalem.’
(Luke 9: 28-31)
The following meditation was written by Sherry Antonetti, a
freelance Catholic writer and published author. She was asking her son, John,
what mystery he found the most challenging to mediate on when praying the
rosary...
‘Which one do you find most puzzling?” I asked my son
as we drove to his Confirmation retreat.
John thought for a minute. “The Transfiguration. It’s
one that doesn’t make much sense to me.”
“Okay.” I said, and wished him well on his retreat.
Internally I fretted. That mystery remained mysterious to me too. We understand
something of the Crowning of Mary as Queen of Heaven because we’ve known people
we wished to honour before all others. I could get the descent of the Holy Spirit
because all Confirmed Catholics experience this gift, both in Baptism and all
the more in Confirmation. And who doesn’t see themselves in the sorrowful
mysteries in the course of life? But the Transfiguration?
As I drove home, my thoughts ran in a muddled fashion.
Peter, James and John go up the mountain with Jesus. They pray and fall asleep.
Jesus’s face becomes dazzlingly white and they see Him talking with Moses and
Elijah. Peter loses his head for a moment and says something very Peter, “Let’s
build three booths” because he wants to capture the experience permanently and
stay always on the mountain. I know Moses represents the Law, and Elijah the
prophets. How does that relate to a 13-year old boy preparing for Confirmation?
How does it relate to me? How does it relate to anyone?
I opened the Bible and read Matthew’s Version in
Chapter 17 and it referenced John the Baptist being Elijah for Jesus. My own
son John received his name in Advent of 2003 when I felt struck by the Gospel
and the words, “His name is John.” I decided I needed to brush up on Elijah
too. The prophets, of the Old Testament and the New, were voices crying out in
the wilderness, proclaiming to the people, reminding them that while God is
patient, He does judge, He will bring justice, and we’re culpable for all the
damage we do in our lives to others, and for our own stubbornness to God’s law
and God’s love.
The Luminous mysteries declare to us over and over
again, “Listen.” In the Baptism at the River Jordan, God speaks from the
Heavens, “This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” At
the Wedding Feast in Cana, Mary tells the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”
Jesus gives us the Proclamation of the Kingdom, Jesus’s words to our hearts in
the Beatitudes, in all He reveals at the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus tell us
when He institutes the Eucharist, “This is my body. Do this in memory of me.”
Having read the other two versions of the Transfiguration in Luke 9:28-36 and
Mark 9:2-13, a bright cloud descends and from that cloud comes God the Father’s
voice, God’s declaration. “This is my beloved son whom I love. Listen to Him.”
In that moment, it felt rather hard to miss the point.
How could it be, I’d somehow heard this Gospel year after year and missed God’s
still quiet voice when here He’s practically shouting to the world? Answer?
Even the apostles struggled to stay awake at times, and often in our lives, via
neglect, via sin, via not wanting to think about things, it’s easy to find
one’s self sleeping through the reality of being in the presence of God. The
Transfiguration is a reminder of what is to come, and a “WAKE UP!” call to our
souls about what needs to be ongoing.
Are we on the mountain? Are we taking ourselves to
prayer, talking with Jesus, being with Jesus, consistently seeking to stay in
His presence? Are we seeking to get ever closer to God? Are we awake? Are we
interested in the spiritual high of prayer, or in an actual relationship with
Christ and what that entails? “Good questions for a candidate for
Confirmation,” I thought, not to mention myself. We’re not supposed to get
everything about any of the mysteries. We’re supposed to get that there is
always more within each of these encounters with Christ, and that God being the
infinite Lover, always has more to share with us if only we will stay awake and
listen.”
I can’t wait to share this with John.
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
10am Mass. Saint Edmund Arrowsmith, Priest
& Martyr (Feast)
St. Edmund Arrowsmith
was born in 1585 at Haydock, Merseyside. He was ordained at the seminary in
Douai, France and returned to England to begin his priestly ministry despite
the persecution of the time towards all Catholics. He worked in Lancashire,
including Salmesbury and Walton-le-Dale. He was known for his zealous faith. In
1628 he was arrested, imprisoned at Lancaster and there finally martyred.
10am Mass (Feria)
6pm Mass. Saint
Gregory the Great, Pope & Doctor (Feast)
St. Gregory was born
in Rome in 540A.D. He became a civil servant and Prefect of the City. Gregory
entered the Abbey of St. Andrew and was ordained a deacon in 578A.D. He later
was elected Pope in 590A.D and showed great pastoral care in his preaching,
writing, care for the poor and tirelessly working for the welfare of Rome.
He is known as the “Apostle
of England” because he sent St. Augustine (of Canterbury) to minister there
after encountering English slaves in the Forum.
Saturday 4th September
9am – 10am
Confessions & The Holy Rosary
6:30pmVigil Mass
for The Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
10am Mass for The Twenty Third Sunday in
Ordinary Time
Following guidance from the diocese, we are still strongly encouraged to wear face masks in church and continue with the NHS Test & Trace system. Thank you for continuing to make St. Mary’s a safe and prayerful place for the Glory of God.
The Sacrament of Confession & The Holy Rosary
On Saturday 4th September the Sacrament of
Confession will be available from 9am – 10am. Those who haven taken the
opportunity to come to Confession during the last year will testify to the safe
and prayerful way in which it is celebrated.
The Rosary will be publicly prayed in church, by kind volunteers, during
Confessions. The intention for each rosary will be that all faithful disciples
of the Lord will return to Him in this most merciful Sacrament that He
instituted. The invitation is there, the welcome is warm and His forgiveness is
REAL! Will you come?
Future Masses & Liturgies
Thanks to many good parishioners who are offering up their
time and gifts we are able to have more opportunity for prayer at St. Mary’s.
Come the autumn there will be a Holy Hour (Exposition) before the Blessed
Sacrament on Tuesday’s and Friday’s (5pm – 6pm) and Saturday’s (9am -10am).
There will also be two extra Masses on Tuesday evenings at 6pm and Saturday
mornings at 10am. Again all this is possible because of volunteer parishioners.
If you would like to help then please contact Jennifer Pickles at jennifer.pickles@virginmedia.com
Parish Feast – Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle
On Wednesday 8th September the Universal Church
celebrates The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Our Lady’s Birthday). For
us as St. Mary’s this Feast day marks when our parish church was consecrated
formally in 1948. The memorial stone that records this event is at the side of
church (Hawthorn Ave by the small side gate). It was also on this day, through
parishioners generous contributions, we restored the statue of Our Lady of
Oswaldtwistle and blessed her in 2018. This year on the 8th
September there will be Mass at 7pm. The Mass intention will be for all those
parishioners who have worked to keep our church open during the Covid pandemic.
It will be a Mass giving thanks to God for our parish family and the work
people do, big or small, public or behind the scenes. Everyone is invited and
everyone is welcome. Let’s raise the roof in praise and thanks to God.
Our Lady of
Oswaldtwistle, Pray for us.
Farewell
This weekend we say goodbye to Fr. Stamp. He will be
celebrating his final Mass as parish priest of Accrington at St. Anne’s Church
this Sunday at 11am (29th Aug). Immediately after our parish 10am
Mass I will be driving straight there. Let’s pray for Father as he takes up his
new appointment as parish priest of Our Lady & St. John’s,
Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester. On a personal note I have been very grateful
for Father’s help, support and friendship especially in the transition from
monk to parish priest. Any move is stressful, as I’m sure many of you can
testify to, so let’s keep Fr. Stamp and his new parish in our prayers.
Invitation to Spanish Mass:
Salford Cathedral, 250 Chapel Street, M3 5LE.
Every third Sunday of each month at 2pm
Next mass on Sunday 19th September 2021.
All are welcome to join. Refreshments will be served after
Mass for sharing.
Information: salfordcathedralenespanolmisa@gmail.com /
Mobile: 07475468128
Invitacion a Misa en Español
Catedral de Salford, 250 Chapel Street, M3 5LE
Todos los terceros Domingos de cada mes a las 2pm.
Próxima misa: Domingo 19 de Septiembre 2021.
Todos están bienvenidos a la Misa, Refrigerio compartir
siempre al final de la Misa.
Información: salfordcathedralenespanolmisa@gmail.com / Mobil:
07475468128
During the last year of lockdowns, social distancing,
furloughs and daily life being interrupted many people have found themselves
with time to think. To think about the direction of their own lives, to think
about the fragility of this world, to think about what happens after death and
even daring to contemplate the person of Jesus Christ! If you or somebody you
know is contemplating such things then tell them to email me at
sean.obrien@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or call the presbytery 01254 232 433
(leaving a voicemail if I don’t answer straight away). We are made for the Lord
and we will only find real happiness, true purpose and total completeness in
adoring and loving Him.
‘You have made
us for Yourself, O Lord,
and our hearts
are restless until they rest in You.’
(St. Augustine of
Hippo)
Welcome Home: Inviting People Back to the Post-Pandemic
Church
Tuesday 7 September, 7pm. Join Alpha UK and Divine Renovation
UK as they discuss how to draw people back to Jesus and the Church in the
post-pandemic world. As we as a Church begin to survey the new terrain, we will
face new opportunities to reach those around us. We will be in conversation
with Bishop David Oakley, Bishop of Northampton, Fr Philip Cunnah, parish
priest from St Paulinus in Yorkshire, and Eleanor Oliver, mother and founder of
Colour and Shape.
For more information visit: www.tfaforms.com/4917263
The Covid Vaccine
“Bishop John is urging all adults, who are able to do so, to
be vaccinated. Pope Francis has reminded people of the duty to be vaccinated if
they are able. The Church is clear that all Catholics can take any of the
vaccines on offer with a clear conscience. Even if you are at a low risk of
becoming seriously ill, being vaccinated will lower the risk of transmitting
the virus to somebody else who might then have a severe reaction or even die.
It is particularly important that those in our parishes, clergy and lay-people
who visit those who are housebound or otherwise vulnerable are vaccinated.”
As restrictions are now being eased and parishes around the
diocese are adapting to new circumstances I would like to invite both existing
readers and potential new readers to contact me. The Word of God is so vital
and life giving! It’s through the Scriptures that we encounter the Lord and He
is able to speak, guide, direct, challenge, affirm and heal us. Readers are so
important because through their clarity and voices they transmit the message
that God wants us to hear at the Liturgy.
We have been blessed over the years with dedicated
parishioners who have been chosen by the various parish priests of St. Mary’s
to be Extra-ordinary ministers of Holy Communion. Their chief and first role is
to support the parish priest by visiting the sick who genuinely cannot attend
the Holy Mass and bring the Blessed Sacrament to them. That time of praying
together in the Real Presence of Jesus in Holy Communion brings such healing
and consolation to those who are suffering and housebound.
Similarly, if people would like to stand down I fully
understand and appreciate that things have changed in parish life and nobody
should feel under any pressure to continue. Thank you for what you have done
for our sick and housebound in the past and may God Bless you.
Reopening of Salford Cathedral Centre Facilities
We are delighted to announce that Cathedral Centre Books has now reopened. The shop is open 8.30am - 3.30pm Monday to Friday. Orders can be also placed via the shop website or over the phone on 0161 817 2208. The Cathedral Centre Café has also reopened and is open to the public 8.30am - 1.30pm Monday to Friday.
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O’Brien