6th March 2022
First Sunday of Lent
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Saturday 5th March
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the First Sunday of Lent
Sunday 6th March
9:30am The Holy Rosary
10am Mass for the First Sunday of Lent
1:30pm Parish Walk – Sawley Abbey
(Details about the parish walk can be found further below)
Monday 7th March – Parish Lenten Retreat
6:30pm, Lenten Weekday Mass
7pm – 8:30pm Retreat led by Fr. Samuel Burke OP
(Details can be found further below)
Tuesday 8thMarch – Parish Lenten Retreat
6:30pm, Lenten Weekday Mass
7pm – 8:30pm Retreat led by Fr. Samuel Burke OP
Wednesday 9thMarch – Parish Lenten Retreat
6:30pm, Lenten Weekday Mass
7pm – 8:30pm Retreat led by Fr. Samuel Burke OP
Thursday 10thMarch
10am Requiem Mass for Doreen Pinder RIP
Friday 11thMarch
11am Funeral Service for William Bruce RIP (Accrington Crematorium)
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Lent Weekday Mass
6:30pm Stations of the Cross
Saturday 12thMarch
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Lent Weekday Mass (Celebrated in the Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary
6:30pm Vigil for First Sunday of Lent
Sunday 13thMarch
9:30am The Holy Rosary
10am Mass for the First Sunday of Lent
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (5th March - 12th March) the Sanctuary Lamp is burning in prayer before the Tabernacle for Ken le Pla RIP.
Welcome!!!
This weekend we welcome Maria, Nico, Olivia and Paula as they prepare to be Confirmed and received into full Communion with the Church. Let's pray for them this weekend and may they feel welcomed not only into the Church but also our parish family.
Updated Guidance on Holy Communion
The Bishops' Conference, on advice from Public Health England, has confirmed that the reception of Holy Communion on the tongue is allowed.
St. Mary's Parish Lenten Retreat 7th- 9th March 2022
On Monday our parish Lenten retreat will begin, led by Fr. Samuel Burke OP, a Domincan based at St. Albert's, University Catholic Chaplaincy, Edinburgh. The theme of the retreat will be 'Hope', something we all need to hold on to in these trying and uncertain times! Everyone is welcome to come to the retreat. If you can come to all the events on all the days – wonderful! If you can come to some of the events on some of the days – wonderful! The purpose of the retreat is to give space for people to come closer to Our Lord. Do feel free to invite friends, family, neighbours etc.
Monday 7th March
6:30pm Mass
7pm Talk & Meditation
7:45pm Break Tea/Coffee
8pm Questions & Reflection
8:15pm – 8:30pm Closing prayer with Benediction
Tuesday 8th March
6:30pm Mass
7pm Talk & Meditation
7:45pm Break Tea/Coffee
8pm Questions & Reflection
8:15pm Confessions
Wednesday 9th March
6:30pm Mass
7pm Talk & Meditation
7:45pm Break Tea/Coffee
8pm Questions & Reflection
8:15pm Closing prayer
Parish Lenten & Easter Walks
This Lent and Easter there will be an opportunity to go for some walks with the parish family, not only to enjoy the beauty and rich Catholic history of Lancashire, but to reconnect with people after the restrictions during the Covid Pandemic.
Sawley Abbey Sunday 6th March (Lent)
Walk in the footsteps of the medieval Cisterican monks who prayed amongst these Lancashire hills and were inspired, by God's creation, to discern His will for them.
Meeting at outside St. Leonard's Church, Downham 1:30pm
Distance 6 ¾ miles 10.8km
Approx 3 hours
Tolkein Trail Sunday 20th March (Lent)
The Lord of the Rings reminds us of the power of Good over Evil. It was this landscape in the Ribble valley, around Stonyhurst College, that was meant to have shaped Tolkein's imagination when writing about the home of the Hobbits – The Shire.
Meeting at Hurst Green village car park by the Bayley Arms, 1:30pm
Distance 6 ½ miles 10.5km
Approx 3 hours
Haslingden Grane Sunday 24th April (Easter)
The shortest walk – well it is Divine Mercy Sunday! Beautiful scenic views.
Meeting at Clough Head Information Centre, 1:30pm
Distance 3miles 4.8km
I hope that many parishioners and families will join me and Mr Crompton (St. Mary's School RE Yr 2 Teacher RE Co-ordinator) as well as other familiar faces on these walks for the simple joy of getting out into the fresh air, enjoying the peaceful and prayerful countryside, meeting others and having fun!
It is important to note that each person who joins us will be responsible for themselves and those in their family group. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Be prepared for muddy hillsides and fells. Bring appropriate footware, clothing and food and drinks for the journey. If you would like to ask more questions or get a copy of the route do see me in the sacristy at the end of the Mass.
Deanery Station Masses
There is an ancient practice of the faithful gathering at particular churches during the Lenten season for prayer, witness and solidarity. These are called Station Masses. In our deanery of St. John Vianney (Pendle, Burnely, Hyndburn, Rawtenstall) there will be three Station Masses over Lent. The preacher at each Mass will be Fr. Ian Kelly. Fr. Kelly is a Salford diocesan priest who gives numerous retreats and days of recollection throughout the country for religious communities, lay groups and priests.
Thursday 24th March 7pm at St. John the Baptist, Burnley
Thursday 31st March 7pm at St. Mary's, Clyaton-le-moors
Thursday 7th April 7pm at St. Anselm's, Whitworth
Everyone throughout our deanery is warmly invited and encouraged to come and support these Masses through prayer and witness.
Friendship Club
There will be no Friendship Club meeting in March but hopefully, the first Wednesday of April we will be back for good. If anyone is interested in joining the Friendship Club, please contact Margaret Duggan (01254) 233 070. There is no age or health limits, everyone is welcome. All venues are walker and wheelchair accessible. We look forward to meeting new friends.
How do I pass on the Faith to my children and grandchildren?
This is a question many parents, grandparents and godparents ask, especially in light of our secular world. Over the next coming months I'm offering the opportunity to help give ideas and content about how the Faith can be passed on.
Tuesday 15th March 7pm – 8pm
Tuesday 22nd March 7pm – 8pm
Tuesday 12th April 7pm – 8pm
Tuesday 19th April 7pm – 8pm
Tuesday 26th April 7pm - 8pm
More details to follow next week.
Sacred Heart School
Mrs McGarry invited me to her infants class on Thursday to talk about the Holy Mass. It was a chance to tell the children that the most important prayer we have is the Mass. It was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper and truly reveals His love for us on the Cross. I brought in a Mass kit so the children could see close up the various elements that help us pray the Mass – bread & wine, chalice & paten, Missal & vestments. On Ash Wednesday, Mrs Harling the RE Co-ordinator, facilitated a Liturgy of the Word where the whole school had the opportunity to listen to the word of God and I was able to bless the ashes and distribute them to mark the start of Lent.
St. Mary's School
It was wonderful to see the whole school present at Mass on Ash Wednesday morning – a packed out church with standing room only! So many parishioners remarked on the good behaviour of the pupils and that it was a joy to see young people back in church. Let's pray for all the families in our parish that they know the doors of St. Mary's are always open – daily.
St. Mary's Prayer Group
Dear Parishioners,
As you will have seen this week, Russian forces have invaded Ukraine. Troops have rallied, tanks are rolling and soldiers are on the move. But remember, there is more than one type of soldier. We are called to be Prayer Warriors, and we too are mobilising... for peace.
Jesus told us, 'Do not be afraid', so we refuse to despair, we reject fear and we pray to the Lord our God for a peaceful and rapid resolution to these terrible events. We pray in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine. And we pray that the Holy Spirit inspires a sense of compassion and humanity rather than greed and self-interest in our leaders.
So every Saturday in church, at 6pm, we will be praying The Rosary - our weapon of choice - to pray for peace. Please join us. Prayers said in faith can move mountains. Even if we never see the outcome of our prayers, we can be assured that God has heard us - and our prayers will have been answered.
Sian sianclaireowen30@gmail.com
Environment Resources for Lent
This Lent, we are looking to renew our relationship with the earth and its Creator through the Lenten themes of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. As such, we have created a pack with key environmental resources from across the Catholic community, in addition to stories and ideas from our parishes around the diocese.
Please visit www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/lent-environment-resources-parishes/ to download your copy now.
2022 Salford Lourdes Pilgrimage is Announced
Friday 29th July – Thursday 4th August 2022
We are delighted to announce that we will return to Lourdes this Summer for the 88th Salford Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, led by the Rt Rev. John Arnold, Bishop of Salford.
Full details, including travel and accommodation pricing, insurance details and volunteer application forms will be available in the coming weeks but may we ask in the meantime that if you may be interested in joining us this Summer that you please fill in an 'expression of interest' form by visiting the diocesan webpage.
We look forward to welcoming you to Lourdes for our joyful return in July.
Salford Lourdes Pilgrimage Team
Job Vacancies
DBS Administrator for the Diocese of Salford
Appointment type: Full time (35 hours per week), 12-month fixed-term contract, subject to review and consideration for a permanent position. Part-time hours could be considered.
Location: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Closing date: Monday 28 March 2022, 12 noon
Salary: £19,000 - £22,000 per annum.
Find out more and apply: www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
Communications Manager for Caritas Diocese of Salford
Appointment type: Full time (37.5 hours per week), part-time considered
Location: Caritas House, Manchester, with the opportunity to work flexibly
Closing date: Friday 18 March, 10am
Salary: £31,770 - £34,239
Find out more and apply: www.caritassalford.org.uk
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien