Sunday 20th November 2022 - Christ the King
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Saturday 19th November
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
'Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much.
You can never love her more than Jesus did.' - St. Maximilian Kolbe
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Christ the King
Sunday 20th November
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Christ the King
2:30pm Blessing Graves at Dill Hall Cemetery
Tuesday 22nd November
5pm – 6pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Wednesday 23rd November
10am Votive Mass of Saint Joseph
'O faithful guardian of the Mother of God, keep those who honour you amid the trials and joys of this life. Lovable tutor of Jesus, help your servants in the dangers and difficulties of their exile; may they feel the effects of your love. Obtain for them devotion to your spouse, fidelity to your Son, unfailing respect for the Eternal Father who reigns with the Holy Spirit through endless ages.'
- Blessed William Joseph Chaminade
Thursday 24th November
10am Mass, Saint Andrew Dung-Lac and his Companions, Martyrs (Memoria)
Between1820 and 1862 these 117 Vietnamese martyrs were killed in a brutal persecution. St. Andrew Dung-Lac was a parish priest; the group includes eight bishops, fifty priests and fifty nine laymen and women.
Friday 25th November
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Katherine of Alexandria, Virgin & Martyr (Memoria)
Tradition tells us that she was a noble lady, learned in science and oratory, who came to Christianity after receiving a vision. At 18 years old she offered to debate with the pagan philosophers, who were convinced by her arguments; the Emperor ordered her execution, and she was beheaded.
Saturday 26th November
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
'In trial or difficulty, I have recourse to Mother Mary, whose glance alone is enough to dissipate every fear.' - St. Therese of Lisieux
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for The First Sunday of Advent
Sunday 27th November
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for The First Sunday of Advent
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (19th November - 26th November), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Patrick Haworth, May Haworth & Family RIP..
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£636.94. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Mission Appeal – Daughters of Divine Love
Thank you to all those who supported Sister Ann Ugoh (DDL) after her mission appeal last week. The total raised was £349.67.
You can find out more about the Daughters of Divine Love via: www.ddlenglishregion.org
Flower Donation
Thank you to the family of the late Bernard Robinson who donated their flowers to church after the funeral.
Advent is soon here!!!
Next Sunday (27th November) marks the beginning of the Advent season. Four weeks of preparation before the celebration of Christmas with its solemnities and feasts. Have you thought how you are going to prepare to come closer to Our Lord during the Advent season? Rosary? Reading one of the gospels? Fasting? Creating space for silence and reflection each day?
Appeal: Parish Christmas Raffle Prizes
At the start of Advent (26th/27th November) we are hoping to sell tickets for our St. Mary's Christmas Raffle and are asking parishioners for any items they would be happy to donate. We have at the moment, even before our appeal has started, the following:
£150 voucher for CarpetMarket, Burnley (floorcoverings)
Fortnum & Mason Champagne and Port in presentation box
Do you work for a company/business who would be happy and open to offering vouchers, treatments, meals, or gift tokens etc. as prizes? Any donations that people can generously give, please leave with the stewards at the back of church.
The Sacrament of Confirmation
If there are any younger members of the parish family who are 12years + and would like to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation or want to know more about it then please see Fr. O'Brien at the end of a weekend Mass. It's a sacrament that is life changing and affirming.
November: Month of the Holy Souls
From the Catechism: The meaning of Christian death
1010. Because of Christ, Christian death has a positive meaning: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Phil 1:21) "The saying is sure: if we have died with him, we will also live with him. (2 Tim 2:11)
What is essentially new about Christian death is this: through Baptism, the Christian has already "died with Christ" sacramentally, in order to live a new life; and if we die in Christ's grace, physical death completes this "dying with Christ" and so completes our incorporation into him in his redeeming act:
It is better for me to die in Christ Jesus than to reign over the ends of the earth. Him it is I seek - who died for us. Him it is I desire - who rose for us. I am on the point of giving birth .... Let me receive pure light; when I shall have arrived there, then shall I be a man.
- St. Ignatius of Antioch
1011. In death, God calls man to himself. Therefore the Christian can experience a desire for death like St. Paul's: "My desire is to depart and be with Christ. "(Phil 1:23). He can transform his own death into an act of obedience and love towards the Father, after the example of Christ (Lk 23:46)
I want to see God and, in order to see him, I must die. - St. Teresa of Avila
I am not dying; I am entering life. - St. Therese of Lisieux
1013. Death is the end of man's earthly pilgrimage, of the time of grace and mercy which God offers him so as to work out his earthly life in keeping with the divine plan, and to decide his ultimate destiny. When "the single course of our earthly life" is completed, we shall not return to other earthly lives: "It is appointed for men to die once." (Heb 9:27) There is no "reincarnation" after death.
1014. The Church encourages us to prepare ourselves for the hour of our death. In the litany of the saints, for instance, she has us pray: "From a sudden and unforeseen death, deliver us, O Lord"; to ask the Mother of God to intercede for us "at the hour of our death" in the Hail Mary; and to entrust ourselves to St. Joseph, the patron of a happy death.
Every action of yours, every thought, should be those of one who expects to die before the day is out. Death would have no great terrors for you if you had a quiet conscience .... Then why not keep clear of sin instead of running away from death? If you aren't fit to face death today, it's very unlikely you will be tomorrow - The Imitation of Christ
Praised are you, my Lord, for our sister bodily Death,
from whom no living man can escape.
Woe on those who will die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they who will be found in your most holy will,
for the second death will not harm them. - St. Francis of Assisi
Holy Souls Box
The month of November is traditionally dedicated to that time when we pray for the Holy Souls. Loved ones, friends, family and the Holy Souls in purgatory who have all died and gone before us marked with the sign of faith. If you would like to have your deceased loved ones prayed for, you are more than welcome to write their names on a piece of paper and place them in the Holy Souls box in front of the Altar throughout November.
Blessing Graves
The last few years have seen our parish join with St. Anne & St. Joseph's in November where we pray for the dead and bless parishioners graves at Accrington cemetery and Dill Hall Cemetery. Fr. Wadsworth, the parish priest of St. Anne and St. Jospeh's, has kindly welcomed us to join them again this year on the following dates:
20th November, Dill Hall Cemetery at 2:30pm
St. Oswald's School
On Wednesday the staff and older pupils from school joined us for our parish Mass. Over the month of November the community at St. Oswald's have been writing names of deceased loved ones in their remembrance book, which they brought to church on Wednesday and placed in front of the Altar during Mass. Their book will remain on the sanctuary until the beginning of Advent. The children's singing was fantastic! Confident, joyful and a good uplifting sound to hear in church, especially in these dark autumn days of November.
Sacred Heart School
On Wednesday afternoon the school had their 'Remembrance Liturgy' where all the children gathered to pray and mediate about those people among their friends and families who have died. Though November, the month of the dead, can be a sad and reflective time the school liturgy reminded us of our faith and hope in the Resurrection.
Cleaners
We are blessed at St. Mary's to have a dedicated number of people, who give up their time on a Tuesday morning to be on a rota and help keep our church clean and tidy. Volunteers are always needed as the more helpers the less pressure and frequency for people to be on the rota. If you could help in anyway please contact the parish housekeeper, Karen Beard via email:
Parish Grounds
The drop in temperature and the darker nights can only mean one thing – autumn has arrived! This also means that trees begin to shed their leaves and as we all know we have plenty of trees on the parish grounds. Volunteers are always greatly appreciated with this yearly task and all help is gratefully accepted. Maintaining the paths and keeping them free from leaf debris isn't the most glamorous of jobs but it's an important one for health and safety reasons. If there is a day you are free, or a time you can pop down to church, which is convenient for you, please contact Navada Keenan who helps to facilitate all our parish garden volunteers – email: keenannavada@gmail.com
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who do so much to keep our church gardens looking pristine and tidy. It is much appreciated. Thank you.
Sacred Heart School
The school and nursery would like to invite people to come and visit them on their Open Days:
Tuesday 22nd November 10am, 1pm, 4pm
If these are not convenient for you please contact the school to make and appointment.
Tel: (01254) 233 382 or Email: bursar@sacredheart-church.lancs.sch.uk
Mount Carmel High School
'We are hoping to hold our community Christmas party once again this year, for the senior members of our parishes who would like to come together and join us for a two-course Christmas meal and entertainment.'
Christmas Meal with Entertainment at Mount Carmel High School, Monday 12th December 2022.
Pre-bookings only please, Telephone: 01254 233 458
Arrival time 12:30pm. Expected finish time 2:15pm.
World Youth Day, Lisbon, Portugal 31st July - 7th August 2023
World Youth Day (WYD) is the gathering of young people from all over the world with the Pope. It aims to provide all participants with a universal Church experience, fostering a personal encounter with Jesus Christ. WYD seeks to promote peace, unity and fraternity among peoples and nations around the world.
Cost £980. The price includes Travel (flights), Accommodation (Hotel Empire), WYD Registration Fees, Day Pilgrimage to Fatima, Insurance, and Preparation Days.
For more information: youth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk Tel: 0161 817 2205/ 07436157005 www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Volunteer Information Evening for Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Are you interested in joining our incredible team of volunteers for our 89th diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes? We're hosting an online information session on Wednesday 30th November (7pm – 8pm) for anyone who may be interested in volunteering with us when we travel to Lourdes next summer.
You can sign up to the information session by visiting https://tinyurl.com/SalfordLourdes23
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Lourdes office on: Lourdes.Pilgrimage@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Independent Listener at Stonyhurst College - Volunteer role
Appointment Type: Voluntary
Location: Stonyhurst College, Stonyhurst, Clitheroe, BB7 9PT
Salary and benefits: Unpaid, voluntary position
About: Stonyhurst College and Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall are looking for an empathetic individual to volunteer as an Independent Listener at our School. Stonyhurst has a system whereby any child who wishes to talk to an independent adult can do so.
For more information about this position, please visit www.stonyhurst.ac.uk/work-at-stonyhurst
Would you like to volunteer at the Laudato Si Centre, Wardley Hall?
The Laudato Si Centre at Wardley Hall is looking for volunteers. The Centre is a statement of environmental hope, rooted in the belief that we can all make a difference through the actions we take. The work we do at the Centre provides the tools and learning needed to enable all to hear and respond to the cry of the earth and cry of the people. We have opportunities to volunteer in our walled garden and woodland, including general gardening activities, maintenance and supporting school and community activities. We would also love to hear from any retired teachers who would be interested in developing material for our school visits. Please contact laudatosi@dioceseofsalford.org.uk to express an interest.
Volunteering Opportunities
Did you know that Caritas Salford has 263 amazing volunteers, supporting work in local communities across Greater Manchester and Lancashire? Would you be interested in joining them? Perhaps you may consider becoming part of our team of Caritas Parish Reps, supporting your parish in its local social action mission?
If you have a few hours to spare each week and would be happy to help Caritas to support people in your community, please get in touch. There are a range of different opportunities available to meet individual needs and skillsets, and full training and support is given every step of the way.
If you're interested in finding out more, please contact Sashi Thapa on 07939 995 952 or email s.thapa@caritassalford.org.uk
Diocesan Job Vacancies
Parish Administrator (St Charles', Swinton)
Appointment Type: Part-time, permanent
Working hours: 15 hours per week, working pattern to be agreed with Parish Priest
Location: St Charles' Presbytery, Moorside Road, Swinton, M27 9PD
Salary and benefits: £10.23 per hr., 25 holidays, plus statutory bank holidays and 5 Diocesan closure days (subject to pro-rata).
About: The parish of St Ambrose Barlow are looking for a Parish Administrator to provide administrative support to the parish including office administration, secretarial and basic accounting duties.
Please visit www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/ to apply.
Caritas Job Vacancies
Allotment and Food Bank Coordinator (Lalley Centre)
Appointment Type: Full-time, fixed-term contract for 12 months
Working hours: 37.5 hours per week
Location: The Lalley Centre, Collyhurst, Manchester M40 7RG
Salary and benefits: £27,000, and casual car allowance
About: Caritas are looking for a candidate who, using knowledge of environmental issues, food poverty and growth, will expand existing projects and develop new programs run within our allotment and food bank to benefit the overall wellbeing of the community. The role will involve working with local organisations in the health, environmental, corporate and voluntary fields to increase the awareness of environmental issues and Caritas projects.
Please visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/careers/ to apply.
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien