Sunday 3rd October 2021
Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Tuesday 5th October
5pm -5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Thursday 7th October
1pm Requiem Mass for Gerald Francis Finn RIP
Saturday 9th October
6pm The Rosary
6:30pmVigil Mass for The Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 10th October
9:30am The Rosary
10am Mass for The Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Following guidance from the diocese, we are still strongly encouraged to wear face masks in church Thank you for continuing to make St. Mary's a safe and prayerful place for the Glory of God.
October: The Month of The Holy Rosary
'The Rose is the queen of flowers, and so the rosary is the rose of all devotions and it is therefore the most important one. It would hardly be possible for me to put into words how much Our Lady thinks of the holy rosary and of how she vastly prefers it to all other devotions.'
- St. Louis de Montfort
October is the month of The Rosary, a devotion that is rooted in Scripture. Each weekend before the Vigil and Sunday morning Masses there will be an opportunity to pray the Rosary as a parish family. It's a devotion that brings us closer to knowing Jesus and understanding the love and mercy He has for us. You may not have prayed the Rosary for along time; you may find it a difficult prayer; you may never have prayed it before or even picked up a set of rosary bead's – no matter where your coming from, join us over the month of October to know this powerful prayer and love the fruits it will bear in your own life.
'There is no surer means of calling down God's blessing upon the family
than the daily recitation of the Rosary.' Pope Pius XII
October Reading
As the temperature drops and the nights draw in, it's always a good excuse to pick up a book. Maybe for the month of October, dedicated to Our Lady, I can recommend the following titles which might be helpful in developing our devotion to Mary. These books can be purchased via Amazon or by contacting the Cathedral Bookshop Tel: 0161 817 2208
10 Wonders of the Rosary by Donald H. Calloway
Praying The Rosary Like Never Before: Encounter the Wonder of Heaven and Earth by Edward Sri
Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God by Scott Hahn
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary: Unveiling the Mother of the Messiah by Brant Pitre
Marian Procession
St. Mary's school have invited me during the month of October to give catechesis to different classes about the Rosary. If you have children or grandchildren, nephews or nieces, help to encourage them pray this devotion. It will not only increase their love for Mary but bring them closer to Jesus. One of the plans to help the children understand Our Lady better is to have a Marian procession from the school to church on Friday 22nd October. More details to follow.
Guardian Angels
With the celebration of the Archangels and Guardian Angels last week, Sacred Heart school invited me to give a short reflection about God's care for all His children through these Heavenly beings. I then blessed each classroom for the start of the new academic year. One of the prayers I remember from school is the Guardian Angel Prayer:
Angel of God, My Guardian Dear,
to whom God's love commits me here,
ever this day/night,
be at my side,
to light and guard,
to rule and guide. Amen.
Red Box Missions – Update for volunteer collectors September 2021
Missio have recently restarted the seasonal Magazines and have sent copies to Church.
However, it is most important that volunteer collectors do not feel under any obligation or pressure to distribute these and/or empty the mission boxes of parishioners if they feel it is too early for them to do so safely.
Fr O'Brien has kindly allocated a cupboard at the back of church for Red Box use.
If you feel happy to re-start distributing the magazines/emptying the mission boxes can you please let me know and I can collate the magazines for you. At present I have 4 yellow books which were still at Church when lockdown started and expect the rest are with individual collectors.
I have also contacted Missio to ask if they have any guidance they are able to give us regarding restarting.
I can be contacted by telephone on 01254 234343 or email :jeanbpartington@gmail.com.
Please contact me to let me know your preference or for any further information
Once again, please do not feel under any pressure to re-start at this time should you have any concerns.
Jean Partington
Red Box Co-ordinator on behalf of St Marys RC Church Oswaldtwistle
Action on the Assisted Dying Bill
Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, has written an open letter inviting Catholics to pray for the defeat of the Assisted Dying Bill, due to be debated in the House of Lords in October. It encourages us to write to peers at the House of Lords stating the reasons why we oppose this legislation and particularly explain from personal experience the reasons why this change in the law should be opposed. Discussion and communication about this important matter is vital for the defeat of the Bill and in our diocese, Bishop John is asking all parishioners to act now by praying, writing and sharing. You can find out more details about how to help oppose the bill in Bishop Sherrington's letter on the Diocese of Salford's website at www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/action-on-the-assisted-dying-bill/
Diocesan Walk for our Climate
On Sunday 10 October there will be a Walk for our Climate from Salford Cathedral to the Laudato Si' Centre. We will start with a prayer then depart from Salford Cathedral at 12.30pm, arriving at the Laudato Si' Centre around 3.30pm for a short service. The walk is approximately 8.6 miles long. En route, we will have the opportunity to take time to reflect on our care for our common home.
The reflections will take place in the churches listed below alongside the route and timings:
Route: https://goo.gl/maps/SSy6VoL4Kf9AvsEE9
Meet at Salford Cathedral piazza 12.15
Depart from Salford Cathedral 12.30
St James Church 13.00
St Peter and St Paul Church 13.45
St Charles Church 15.00
Laudato Si Centre 15.30
All are welcome to join us. You do not need to do the full 8.6 miles, you can meet us at one of the churches and walk part way or just come along for the reflections. For further information please contact laudatosi@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
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."
Diocese of Salford Vacancies
Synod Coordinator
Appointment type: Full-time, three-year fixed-term contract (35 hours per week. Some evening and weekend work will be required).
Location: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Salary: £26,000 - £28,000
For further information and to apply, please visit www.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