3rd April 2022 - Fifth Sunday of Lent
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Saturday 2nd April
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil for the Fifth Sunday of Lent
Sunday 3rd April
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Fifth Sunday of Lent
Monday 4th April
10am Parish Tea & Coffee Morning
Tuesday 5th April
10:15am Requiem Mass for Margaret Brynes RIP
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Lenten Weekday Mass
Wednesday 6th April
10am Lenten Weekday Mass
Thursday 7th April
10am Lenten Weekday Mass
7pm Deanery Station Mass at St. Anselm's, Whitworth
Confessions available from 6:30pm onwards
Friday 8th April
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Lenten Weekday Mass
6:30pm Stations of the Cross
Saturday 9th April
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Lenten Weekday Mass (Celebrated in the Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Sunday 10th April
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (2nd April - 9th April) the Sanctuary Lamp is burning in prayer before the Tabernacle for Martin Dwyer RIP.
St. Mary's Tea & Coffee Morning
On Monday 4th April from 10am onwards there will be a coffee morning in church. A chance to catch up with old friends and meet others who you may not have seen since the start of Covid. Everyone is welcome. If you know neighbours or friends who would simply just appreciate getting out to have some social time then do invite them – the more the merrier. For more information contact Ciara Kelly at cjk2988@gmail.com .
Holy Week Masses & LiturgiesSaturday 9th April:
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Lenten Mass (celebrated in the Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary
6:30pm Palm Sunday Vigil Mass
Sunday 10th April:
9:30am The Holy Rosary
10am Palm Sunday Mass
Tuesday 12th April:
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Holy Week Mass.
Wednesday 13th April:
10am Holy Week Mass
Maundy Thursday 14th April:
7:30pm Mass of the Lord's Supper
8:30pm Watching at the Altar of Repose
9:30pm Night Prayer (Compline).
Good Friday 15th April:
9am – 10am Confessions
10am Stations of the Cross
3pm Liturgy of the Lord's Passion.
Holy Saturday16th April:
8:30pm The Easter Vigil
10am Easter Sunday Mass
Offertory Envelopes, Gift Aid & Direct Debit
Thank you for your continued generosity and financial support towards St. Mary's, especially during these days of rising costs. Thank you also to Rob Harrison and Berni McGuinness who are continuing to facilitate this important part of our parish's life. With Covid none of this has been easy. From this weekend the new offertory envelopes will be available until the 13th April. Please ask one of the stewards at the back of church for yours. Any envelopes that are not collected by the 13th April will not be re-ordered as the cost of ordering and printing envelopes is now £361.42 (Envelope Systems Ltd).
Rob and Berni will be available at the back of church this weekend to help answer any questions about paying via Direct Debit/Standing Orders or signing up to the Gift Aid scheme which is always a significant financial boost. For more info contact: berni.mcguinness@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
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, Burnley, 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 7th April 7pm at St. Anselm's, Whitworth
Confessions will be available before each Mass starting at 6:30pm
Everyone throughout our deanery is warmly invited and encouraged to come and support these Masses through prayer and witness.
Mass of the Sacred ChrismThe Cathedral Dean, Fr. Michael Jones, has sent our parish three tickets for the Chrism Mass on Wednesday 13th April at 11am. If you are living in the parish and would like the opportunity to go to this Solemn Mass, where the Bishop blesses the Holy Oils for the diocese, then do email me at sean.obrien@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or see me after Mass.
Online Stations of the Cross Reflections from The Hidden Gem
In the days leading up to Easter, the Diocese of Salford will be presenting a digital version of the Stations of the Cross using the striking paintings from The Hidden Gem Church, Mulberry Street, Manchester. The Stations will give people the opportunity to pray and meditate on Christ's journey to the cross through the powerful reflections written by Bishop Brain. An introduction to the Stations will be posted on Sunday 3 April on the Diocese of Salford website and social media channels, with one station being posted each day until Easter Sunday.
Visit www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/ for more information.
SOS. Volunteers Needed. Church Brasses.
If any kind parishioners would be willing to volunteer to help polish and buff the church brasses (Candlesticks, Thurible & Boat, Paschal Candle Stand etc.) on Tuesday 12th April from 10am then you would be warmly welcomed and there's a brew in it.
Easter Flowers
Maureen Mullen has generously offered to help arrange flower displays for the church windows as well as in front of the statues of St. Patrick & St. Joseph, in memory of loved ones who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. If you would like to sponsor an Easter Flower Display (donation of £12), please see Maureen after a Sunday Mass at the back of church.
Parish Website: Deceased List Name Submission.
We have recently been getting a number of requests to include names on the website without the date being included. This makes it difficult to determine which are recent deaths and which are anniversaries, therefore in which column do we insert them? Please remember that the list is refreshed around the first of the month, so if your anniversary listing is anywhere within the required month please submit it early to ensure it is displayed throughout the whole month e.g. If the anniversary date is 27th and submitted on that date it may only be displayed until the end of the month. John Hughes, Parish Website Administrator.
The Three Kings!!!
Our parish Nativity Set is almost fully restored apart from the Three Kings. Lewis & Lewis who have so beautifully restored our crib figures and Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle have sent through the following costs for the last statues:
'Degrease and prepare all surfaces; King 1 – repair to head and neck, breaks in gown edges; King 2- repair small chips; King 3- repairs to head and neck, fingers. Remove irreparable amateur repairs and re-assemble figure as required. Repaint all figures and add protective coating. £995.'
It would be wonderful to have our Kings fully restored and back at St. Mary's for Christmas this year. Any donations towards the costs would be gratefully appreciated. Thank you as always for your kind generosity. God Bless.
Parish Easter Walk
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 footwear, 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.
Ukraine Crisis
We are all shocked and appalled at the devastating scenes of the invasion of the Ukraine. Catholic agencies are at the centre of the response to the unfolding humanitarian crisis and supporting those whom have been displaced. We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and all those against war. There are regular updates on the Caritas website on the various ways parishes and schools can support the aid effort. Please go to: https://www.caritassalford.org.uk/ukraine-crisis/
Formation Series: Fr Gerard Kelly - Personal Encounter with Jesus
Wednesday 27th April 2022, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Cathedral Centre, Salford, M3 6DP and via Zoom.
Throughout Stage Four of our Hope in the Future journey, we will have several opportunities to explore our faith and role as missionary disciples through our formation series. On Wednesday 27 April 2022, Fr Gerard Kelly will lead a reflection about having a Personal Encounter with Jesus.
Tea and Coffee will be available from 7:00pm. Following the talk there will be chance to ask questions. To register, please visit www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/personal-encounter-with-jesus/
Young Adults Mass
St Augustine's Church, Grosvenor Street, All Saints, Manchester, M15 6BW
Sunday 10th April 2022, 5.30pm
We are delighted to announce the return of our regular Mass for Young Adults. The Mass will take place on the second Sunday of every month at St Augustine's Catholic Church, Grosvenor St, Manchester. Our next Mass will be at 5.30pm on Sunday 10 April - Palm Sunday - and will include a short talk on next year's World Youth Day, and a social event following the celebration of the Mass. All are very welcome to attend. For any further questions, please email Alex at SalfordYoungAdults@vol.dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Ancient Byzantine Iconography course
A full, seven-day immersion in the spirituality and discipline of writing an icon in the Byzantine style, led by Deacon Nikita Andreyev, of the Prosopon School of Iconograph. Residential and non-residential options, with the course taking place from Saturday 25th June to Friday 1st July at the Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst. For more info and to book, https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/iconography-course/
Eco-Gardening Training at Laudato Si' Centre
Various dates beginning April, Laudato Si' Centre at Wardley Hall. The Eco-gardening Essential Training programme enables gardeners of any skill level to confidently adopt sustainable gardening methods. Participants have the opportunity to learn the theory and practice of gardening with ecological patterns. The programme has been designed to skill people up while supporting the development of an eco-garden setting. Find out more and book at https://northernschool.info/eco-gardening-course-laudato-si
Caritas Diocese of Salford Jobs
Concierge at Morning Star Hostel
Appointment type: Full time and part-time roles available
Location: Morning Star Hostel, 104 Denmark Road, Manchester M15 6JS
Closing date: Monday 4 April 2022
Salary: £20,314 per annum
Find out more and apply: www.caritassalford.org.uk
Project workers
Appointment type: Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Location: Cornerstone Day Centre, Hulme, Manchester
Closing date: Monday 18 April 2022, 5pm
Salary: £25,763 - £27,886
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