Sunday 4th September 2022 – Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Saturday 3rd September
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions
10am Mass (Celebrated in Lady Chapel) Saint Gregory the Great (Feast)
St Gregory the Great was born in Rome in 540A.D; he became a civil servant and Prefect of the City. He entered the Abbey of St. Andrew, and was ordained deacon in 578A.D. In 590A.D Gregory was elected Pope, showing pastoral care in preaching, writing, care for the poor and working for the welfare of Rome. He is the "Apostle of England" because it was he who sent Augustine to minister there, after encountering English slaves in the Forum.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 4th September
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday 6th September
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Weekday Mass (Feria)
Wednesday 7th September
10am Votive Mass of Saint Joseph
'Why was St. Matthew so keen in the Gospel to note Joseph's trust in the words received from the messenger of God, if not to invite us to imitate this same loving trust?' - Pope Benedict XVI
10:30am St. Mary's Coffee Morning - All Welcome
11am St. Oswald's School, New School Year Blessing Service at St. Oswald's School – All Welcome
Thursday 8th September
10am Mass, The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast)
St. Mary's school community will join us for Mass today.
6pm Mass, The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Feast)
Friday 9th September
9am Sacred Heart School, New School Year Blessing Service – All Welcome
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Votive Mass of Our Lady
6:30pm The Holy Rosary
(This will be led by Fr. Stamp who will give a meditation on each mystery)
Saturday 10th September
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions
10am Mass (Celebrated in Lady Chapel) Saint Ambrose Barlow, Priest & Martyr (Feast)
St Ambrose Barlow, born in 1585 at the still standing Barlow Hall in Chorlton-Cum-Hardy, Manchester, became a Benedictine after studies at Douai and Valladolid, before returning to Manchester to work for the many Catholics of this region. He was famed for his preaching and love of the poor, walking long distances in order to fulfill his ministry. He was imprisoned at least four times, before final arrest and execution at Lancaster in 1641. His skull is preserved at Wardley Hall (The residence of the Bishop of Salford), and his jaw-bone at St. Ambrose, Chorlton-Cum-Hardy.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time followed by Torch light procession to Our Lady's Grotto
Sunday 11th September
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass beginning with the procession of the statue of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle
2pm – 5pm Parish Social BBQ
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (3rd September - 10th September), the Sanctuary Lamp burning in prayer before the Tabernacle is for Tenywin & Gianna.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£573.37. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Thanks and Prayers
On Thursday Adam left to return to his diocese of Shrewsbury to begin his extended parish placements. He was very grateful to the kindness and warmth shown by so many parishioners over his stay during the summer. Let's continue to pray for him and all men who are discerning God's call and are training for the priesthood.
Parish Fundraising Raffle
Thanks to the generosity of parishioners donating some wonderful prizes, tickets are on sale for the parish raffle this weekend. All monies will go to the financial support of our church.
1st Prize £100
2nd Prize £50
3rd Prize £25
Other prizes include a Deluxe Facial and a Deluxe Pedicure at Touch of Class Hair & Beauty Salon, Oswaldtwistle and a voucher for a conditioning hair treatment worth £25; A Matrix hair product set worth £25 and a Olaplex product worth £25; A voucher towards a meal at Franco's Italian Restaurant, Oswaldtwistle; 2 x 60mins Spa Sessions and 1 x 30 mins massage or facial at Evolution Spa & Performance Centre, Burnley.
You can buy tickets for the raffle from the stewards at the back of church after Mass. They are £1 a ticket or £5 for a strip. The raffle will be drawn at the Parish BBQ on Sunday 11th September.
Thank you again to all those who have supported our parish raffle with such great prizes!!!
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle
On the 8th September (which is the feast of Our Lady's Birthday), in 1948 St. Mary's was formally consecrated because the parish was finally debt free for the first time since 1897! By the side entrance to the church (Hawthorn Ave), there is a memorial stone to commemorate this event. This is our parish feast and so from Thursday 8th September – Sunday 11th September this year there will be different opportunities for both prayer, celebration and being together as a parish family. Please feel free to invite family, friends and neighbours along to the following events and let them know they'll be warmly welcomed. It's a great time to witness that St. Mary's is very much an active Catholic community who are proud of our faith in Jesus Christ and want others to know about the blessings that Our Lady gives.
Parish BBQ & Bottle Tombola – Sunday 11th September 2pm - 5pm
The parish BBQ in honour of Our Lady and thanking all the volunteers who have done so much over the last two years will be on Sunday 11th September between 2 pm – 5pm. Tickets are on sale at the back of church from the stewards. £2.50 for adults and £1 for children who must be accompanied by an adult. Each ticket entitles the bearer to a free burger/hot dog. There will be a bar, BBQ, refreshments, raffle, entertainment and a bottle tombola. If you could donate any bottles towards the tombola please bring them to church and pass them on to the stewards. God Bless and thanks for you support
Parish Walk – Sunday 18th September
Thanks to Marie Leaver for helping to come up with this parish walk. We'll meet at Witton Park car park, Blackburn at 1:15pm for a 1:30pm start. There is a car park – charge of £1.50 (need to pay as it gets checked). We'll walk through the park and up Buncer hill. Long climb and steep in parts. Good views from the top of the hill. Rest of the walk easier walking. Takes us to Hoghton Bottoms via fields and woods. Last part is along the canal before heading back to the park. The walk is about 8 miles and could take about 4 hours. Some parts can be muddy! Toilets are in the park at the start of the walk.
Sunday 18th September 1:30pm start
Witton Park Main Entrance, 293 Preston Old Rd, Darwen, Blackburn BB2 2TS
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.
St. Mary's Parish Coffee Morning
The next parish coffee morning will be on Wednesday 7th September after the 10am Mass. As always everyone is welcome. It's a great time just to meet up for a brew and chat. If you would like to help out or get more information please contact Ciara Kelly at cjk2988@gmail.com
Parish Schools
This week I was invited by all three of our parish primary schools, Sacred Heart, St. Mary's and St. Oswald's, to give a spiritual talk during their staff inset days and offer prayers and a blessing to all teachers before the pupils return next week. Sacred Heart and St. Oswald's have organised a 'New School Year Blessing Service' and warmly invite all parishioners to come along and join the pupils in prayer:
11am Wednesday 7th September, St. Oswald's school, Hartley Ave, Accrington BB5 0NN
9am Friday 9th September, Sacred Heart School, Bradshaw Row, Church, Accrington BB5 4HG
The school community at St. Mary's will be joining us for the 10am parish Mass on Thursday 8th September for the Feast of Our Lady's Birthday. Let's pray for all our school communities as they return after the summer and begin a new year.
The Relics of Saint Bernadette
This September, the relics of St Bernadette will journey on pilgrimage to England, Scotland, and Wales for the very first time, including a stop at Salford Cathedral. Throughout the two-day period, parishioners will have the opportunity to visit the relics, in addition to joining us for a number of Masses, services, and other events. Please visit www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/saint-bernadette-relic-tour/ to find out more and please do book ahead for all visits, Masses, and services wherever possible.
Tuesday 20th September
4-5pm - Open visits
5.30pm - Mass of Vocation
6.30 - 7.45pm - Open Visits
8pm - Youth Vigil
9pm - Torchlight Procession
Until midnight - Rosary on the hour
Wednesday 21st September
8am - Mass
9am - 11.30am - Open visits
12.10pm - Mass of Anointing (celebrated by Bishop Brain)
3pm - 5pm - Open Visits
5.30pm - Mass of Thanksgiving and Farewell Service (celebrated by Bishop John Arnold)
Volunteers needed for Relics of St Bernadette Visit
If you have an enhanced DBS check and would like to be part of the visit of St Bernadette's relics to our cathedral, we would love to hear from you! Joining our team of stewards is a fantastic opportunity to ensure that everyone who visits the relics enters feeling welcomed, and leaves feeling renewed. There will be a training session at Salford Cathedral for volunteers on Saturday 17 September at 1pm. Please email lourdes.pilgrimage@dioceseofsalford.org.uk by Thursday 8 September to get involved.
Join us for World Youth Day 2023
Registrations are now being taken for young people to join us as our diocesan Youth Ministry Team travels to Lisbon for World Youth Day 2023. Taking place between 31st July - 7th August 2023, World Youth Day will see young people from across the globe meeting in Lisbon to celebrate Mass with the Holy Father. Our own Youth Ministry Team will once again be travelling to World Youth Day with young adults between the ages of 18 and 35. Applications to join our diocesan trip are now open. You can find out more and apply by visiting https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/youth/how-to-get-involved/
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien