Sunday 11th December 2022 - Gaudete Sunday
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Saturday 10th December
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, Our Lady of Loreto (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
The shrine of Our Lady of Loreto recalls the Holy House of Nazareth which, by ancient tradition, was transported there miraculously.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for The Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday
Sunday 11th December
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for The Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday
Tuesday 13th December
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Mass, Saint Lucy, Virgin & Martyr (Memoria)
St. Lucy, a Sicillian martyr who died in the persecution of the fifth century under the Emperor Diocletian. She is an example of faithfulness and innocence and her cult was very popular in the early church.
Wednesday 14th December
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, Saint John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor of the Church (Memoria)
St. John of the Cross, born in 1542, a Carmelite friar and friend of St. Teresa of Avila, with whom he worked for the reform of the order. A poet and mystic, he died in 1591.
Thursday 15th December
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Advent Mass
Friday 16th December
2:20pm Funeral Liturgy for Thomas McSorley RIP at Accrington Crematorium
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Advent Mass
Saturday 17th December
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Advent O Sapientia Mass (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
O Sapientia: O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from one end to the other, mightily and sweetly ordering all things: Come and teach us the way of prudence.
O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for The Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sunday 18th December
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for The Fourth of Advent - O Adonai
O Adonai and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.
O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (10th December - 17th November), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Domenico Pirraglia & Antonio Assalone.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£704.22. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Thank You
A Big Thanks to all those who came to church on Wednesday evening to help decorate the tree, crib and sanctuary ready for our Christmas celebrations. God Bless you.
The Season of Advent
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during Advent
Take some time each week to be with Our Lord in Adoration. Sacrifice a few minutes each week to pop into church and simply be in His presence before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. No words are required, no actions are asked but to be simply present to Him. To have that silence in church to listen to Him. During each time of Adoration there will be a table of resources at the back of church to help people in prayer. Please feel free to use and read whatever you find useful.
If Jesus stays with us wherever there is a consecrated Host,
what need is there to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem to visit places he lived two
thousand years ago?
If only people visited tabernacles with the same devotion!
Blessed Carlo Acutis
"Know also that you will probably gain more by praying fifteen minutes before the Blessed Sacrament than by all the other spiritual exercises of the day. True, Our Lord hears our prayers anywhere, for He has made the promise, 'Ask, and you shall receive,'
but He has revealed to His servants that those who visit Him in the Blessed Sacrament will obtain a more abundant measure of grace."
St. Alphonsus Liguori
Saturday 10th December 9am – 9:50am
Tuesday 13th December 5pm – 5:50pm
Wednesday 14th December 9:15am – 9:50am
Thursday 15th December 9:15am – 9:50am
Friday 16th December 5pm -5:50pm
Saturday 17th December 9am – 9:50am
Confessions
Over the season of Advent there will be extra opportunities for Confession (See weekly timetable above). Many people still become anxious when they hear the term 'Confession', but as we saw in the Gospel, a few Sundays ago with the Good Thief St. Dismus, the words of Our Lord's forgiveness give us such hope and courage to live and live with joy. Jesus' mercy is boundless and I can tell you as a penitent, to receive his forgiveness is the most freeing and peaceful experience you can ever have.
Friday 9th December 5pm – 5:45pm
Saturday 10th December 9am – 9:45am
Tuesday 13th December 5pm – 5:45pm
Friday 16th December 5pm -5:45pm
Saturday 17th December 9am – 9:45am
Advent Spiritual Reading
Below are a list of book titles that you might find to be interesting reading over Advent and Christmas. All are accessible and are available via the Cathedral Centre Books (Mon – Fri 8:30am – 3:30pm Tel: 0161 817 2208 www.cathedralcentrebooks.com) or www.amazon.co.uk
Jesus of Nazareth, The Infancy Narratives by Pope Benedict XVI
God With Us: Encountering Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew by Edward Sri
Forming Intentional Disciples, The Path to knowing and following Jesus by Sherry A. Weddell
Into His Likeness, Be transformed as a Disciple of Christ by Edward Sri
Habits for Holiness, Small Steps for Making Big Spiritual Progress by Fr. Mark Mary Ames CFR
Befriending Silence, Discovering the Gifts of Cistercian Spirituality by Carl McColman
Toward God, The Ancient Wisdom of Western Prayer by Michael Casey
Journeying with Jonah, The struggle to find yourself by Denis McBride CSsR
Rock Salt & Muscle Power!
Thank you to the generous people who have donated some bags of rock salt to help keep the paths around church safe – as always it is much appreciated. If your passing a garden centre, petrol station or anywhere that's selling rock salt/grit and are able to donate a bag to church then it would be gratefully accepted. Any bags can be left outside, at the rear of the church building, by the bins. We all so need that precious gift of peoples time and energy in helping spread and scatter the grit on icey and frozen days before Masses and liturgies at church so that everyone is kept safe. If you could help or be a contact then please contact Navada Keenan keenannavada@gmail.com or Karen Beard the parish Housekeeper jakey9998@aol.com
Easyfundrasing – Helping our parish when doing your Christmas Shopping
Please remember to use easyfundraising when you do your Christmas online shopping this year, see our parish web site for more information www.saintmarysoswaldtwistle.co.uk/easyfundraising.html.
Over 7,000 brands including eBay, John Lewis & Partners, Argos and M&S will donate to St Mary's Oswaldtwistle Community Care Fund for FREE when you use easyfundraising to shop with them. This means you can raise donations for us when you buy anything from decorations and festive food shopping to gifts like toys, jewellery, tech, experiences and more!
These donations really help us and all you have to do is use easyfundraising when you're ordering the things you'll be buying anyway. Follow this link to sign up.
Mass Times for Christmas & New Year
24th December – Christmas Eve
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Advent Mass
5pm Carols around the Crib
5:30pm Christmas Eve Mass
25th December – Christmas Day
9:30am Carols around the Crib
10am Christmas Day Mass
26th December – St. Stephen's Day (Boxing Day)
12noon Mass with a Blessing for all the toys that father Christmas delivered.
(All children are warmly encouraged to bring a toy to Mass as a prayer of thanksgiving.)
29th December
10am Mass – St. Thomas Becket
30th December – Feast of the Holy Family
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration & Confessions
6pm Mass
31st December
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Advent Mass
6pm The Holy Rosary
6:30pm Vigil Mass, Mary, Holy Mother of God
1st January 2023
9:30am The Holy Rosary
10am Mass, Mary, Holy Mother of God
3rd January
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration & Confessions
6pm Mass, The Most Holy Name of Jesus
4th January
10am Christmas Mass
5th January
10am Christmas Mass
6th January – The Epiphany – Holy Day of Obligation
10am Mass
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration
6pm Mass
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.
St. Mary's School
On Wednesday Mrs Wolfenden and her class joined us for our parish 10am Mass. I talked about Saint Ambrose whose life reminds us that we sometimes have difficult jobs, even jobs we have no energy for! But if we copy Saint Ambrose and embrace the words of Jesus:
'Come to me all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest',
then we too can receive the same wonderful graces and rise to any challenge and have that real strength and support from Jesus.
Mount Carmel High Schooled
After the parish Mass on Thursday for the Immaculate Conception, I was able to share my vocation story with some of students from the school and talk about my belief in Jesus. Despite the cynicism of the world, Our Lord does bring so much peace and joy and it's important that we share our faith experiences with our young people.
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
Sacred Heart Memorial Mass
Last weekend a parishioner reminded me that on the 27th June 2023 it will be twenty years since Sacred Heart Church in Accrington closed down and part of the parish was formally amalgamated with St. Mary's, Oswaldtwistle. So many people have fond memories of Sacred Heart. It was part of their family history; that special place where they received Our Lord in the Sacraments; that home where they felt supported and encouraged by fellow 'Sacred Hearters', who have long since died but whose prayers and friendship are still warmly remembered. Next year we will have a Mass of Thanksgiving to celebrate the former parish of Scared Heart and the many blessings people received from it. John Hughes will be producing an exhibition to tell the story of Scared Heart parish that will be open to all in June next year (times and dates to be confirmed). If you have any photos (copies) you would like to pass on for the exhibition or you have some memories/experiences you would like to write down and share then please contact John at: hughes.john.d@gmail.com
Cost-of-Living Crisis Guidance
Parishes in our diocese have been reaching out and seeking ways to support members of their community through the cost-of-living crisis, and Caritas Salford has created a guidance webpage to signpost a number of ways both parishes and individuals can navigate through the crisis and support others. The information can be viewed here: Cost of Living - Caritas Diocese of Salford (caritassalford.org.uk) and you can also contact Matthew Yates at Caritas on m.yates@caritassalford.org.uk for more information.
Job Vacancies
Gardener and Well-being Co-ordinator (Replacement Role)
Appointment Type: Full-time, permanent
Working hours: 35 hours per week, Mon-Fri though some evening and weekend work will be required.
Location: Wardley Hall, Wardley Hall Road, Worsley, Manchester, M28 2ND.
Salary and benefits: £22,660 – £27,855 per annum dependent on skills and experience, 25 holidays, plus statutory bank holidays and 5 Diocesan closure days.
About: The Diocese of Salford seeking to recruit a Gardener and Wellbeing Coordinator to tend to the grounds of the Hall, including the Laudato Si' Centre (in accordance with seasonal needs), and support horticulture, well-being school, and community programmes.
For further information and to apply, please visit www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
Parish Property Maintenance Manager
Appointment Type: Full-time, permanent
Working hours: 35 hours per week, Mon - Fri, flexible working will be required including evenings and weekends.
Location: Cathedral Centre, Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP - though will be deployed to locations around the Diocese as the role requires.
Salary and benefits: £41,200 – £50,645
About: The Diocese of Salford is seeking to recruit a skilled, qualified tradesperson and highly motivated individual to lead the important work of maintaining and developing a wide and diverse array of properties and estates. These include churches, presbyteries and residential accommodation, social centres/parish facilities and other associated buildings.
Closing date: 12 noon Monday 19th December 2022
For further information and to apply, please visit www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
Pilgrimage Officer Administrator (Events)
Appointment Type: Full-time, permanent
Working hours: 35 hours per week, Mon - Fri, flexible working will be required.
Location: Cathedral Centre, Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Salary and benefits: £22,660 – £27,855
About: The Diocese of Salford is seeking to recruit a skilled, and experienced individual to provide first class administrative and operational support to Pilgrimage Leaders. The successful candidate will play an important role in ensuring the effective administration and smooth running of the pilgrimage office and also provide support to pilgrimage leads whilst on pilgrimage.
Closing date: 12 noon Monday 19th December 2022
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