!!!HAPPY NEW YEAR & A BLESSED 2023 OR EVERYONE!!!
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Saturday 31st December – New Years Eve
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Christmas Mass (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the New Year
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Mary, Holy Mother of God (Solemnity)
Sunday 1st January 2023 – New Years Day
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the New Year
10am Mass for Mary, Holy Mother of God (Solemnity)
Wednesday 4th January
10am Christmas Weekday Mass
Thursday 5th January
10am Christmas Weekday Mass
11am Mass at Sacred Heart School
Friday 6th January – The Epiphany of the Lord (Solemnity)
This is a Holy Day of Obligation for all Roman Catholics. There is no abstinence today.
10am Mass of the Epiphany
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass of the Epiphany
Saturday 7th January
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Christmas Weekday Mass (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for The Baptism of the Lord
Sunday 8th January
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for The Baptism of the Lord
Please pray for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI
At the end of the General Audience on Wednesday, 28 December, Pope Francis asked for "special prayers" for Benedict XVI "who is very ill." On Thursday, 29 December, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said the Pope Emeritus was able to rest well overnight. "He is absolutely lucid and alert. Today, although his condition remains serious, the situation remains stable at the moment," he said. "Pope Francis renews his invitation to pray for him and accompany him in these difficult hours. "Please join us in praying this prayer:
Almighty and Eternal God,
You are the everlasting health of
those who believe in You.
Hear our prayers for your sick servant Benedict
for whom we implore the aid of
Your tender mercy,
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Sanctuary Lamp
This week ( 31st December - 7th January 2023), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Stanley Nicholas Bury
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£1,609.32. Thank you for your kind generosity.
A BIG THANKS!!!
I think the huge numbers of people who felt welcome to come to our church over Christmas, especially at the Christmas Eve Mass, shows us that Our Lord is still calling people to know Him, adore Him and love Him. Thank you to every parishioner who has actively helped make this season such a prayerful and joyous occasion. From musicians and singers, readers to cleaners, church garden angels and altar servers, from Christmas tree and crib decorators to saintly stewards and raffle prize donators, from parishioners in the pew and to all of you – A Big THANK YOU! God Bless.
Parish Christmas Raffle
Thank you to all those who donated prizes for the Christmas Raffle and bought tickets. The draw took place after Mass on St. Stephen's Day and you can find out the winning ticket numbers by visiting the parish website or looking at the noticeboard at the back of church. If you are a winner pass on your ticket to one of the stewards and they'll find your prize.
A St. Mary's Warm Welcome!
Some parishioners have put forward the excellent idea of having a 'Warm Welcome' twice a month at church on a Tuesday. What is a 'Warm Welcome'? It's the opportunity for a brew, meet up, catch up and sing a long in a warm St. Mary's. We have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on a Tuesday followed by an evening Mass so with the heating already on in church it makes sense to invite people to come along to a warm place, especially in these cold times and as many of you know expensive energy times! Dylan Owen (Saturday Vigil Mass musician) and Anthony Flanagan (Sunday Mass Choir Master) have generously offered their services to facilitate, as part of the 'Warm Welcome', a sing along. Something to make us smile and bring us together in the New Year. Everyone is welcome to come, bring neighbours, friends, family, people you know would love to get out of the house and do something different, parents and carers on their way to pick up children from school – Everyone is Welcome!!!
As always we need help. If you could volunteer to help join in with the brewing up, the extra voice to sing along, the opening up and closing up then please contact Fr. O'Brien at sean.obrien@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or one of the stewards at the weekend Masses. The more the merrier. If good numbers come to the first session then we'll know it's a project worth pursuing.
First St. Mary's Warm Welcome – Tuesday 10th January 1:30pm – 3pm.
Everyone Welcome – Spread the word!
Church Flowers
We are blessed to have such talented people like Maureen Mullen and the ladies who transform our church with their amazingly beautiful flower displays. However, flowers do cost money and we are always ready to accept any donations towards the cost of these arrangements. If you would ever like to make a donation towards church flowers then it would be more than gratefully accepted. Place your money in an envelope marked 'church flowers' and pass it on to one of the stewards or through the presbytery letterbox. God Bless.
The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord – Holy Day of Obligation
Friday 6th January 2023 is the date for the Epiphany of the Lord. It is a Holy Day of obligation, all Roman Catholics are obliged to to come to the prayer of the Mass on this day.
9:30am The Holy Rosary
10am Mass of the Epiphany
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass of the Epiphany
Though the Epiphany falls on a Friday there is no abstinence as it is a solemn celebration of the Lord.
Christmas Tree Recycling Project
Do you have a real Christmas tree to dispose of this year? The JustHelping Christmas tree recycling project is a convenient way to dispose of your tree while making a difference to our planet and raising funds for local charities. To find out more about the project or other collection points across Greater Manchester and Lancashire, head to https://just-helping.org.uk/register-tree
Confirmation Classes
On Wednesday 11th January I'll begin my Confirmation classes for those young people who are baptised Roman Catholic, 12 years old and up and live in the parish. For those young people who have already approached me at church, come and see me again and I can give you more details. I'll also be offering classes in September for those young people who need more time to think and discern if they want to be Confirmed as it is a big decision and a life impacting one – which you will never regret.
Deaf Awareness Training for Clergy and Parishes
Free training delivered by Dr. Minna Moffatt-Feldman, Accessibility Co-Ordinator, Diocese of Salford. Tuesday 10th January 2023 6:30pm – 8:30pm, St. Anne's, Cobham Road, Accrington, BB5 2AD. To book a place please email m.moffatt-feldman@caritassalford.org.uk
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.
Ecological Gardening Course
Our Laudato Si' Centre has teamed up with the Northern School of Permaculture and Ecospheres Design to create a fascinating training course on Ecological Gardening. Ecological gardens are self-regulating green havens, designed to re-vegetate the Earth, capture carbon, nurture biodiversity and mitigate climate change. This programme was developed to bridge the knowledge gap between conventional landscaping, gardening and horticulture, and designing resilient eco-gardens and re-wilding projects. Find out more at https://laudatosicentre.org.uk/general/eco-gardening-training/
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/
Refugee Entrepreneurship Programme Officer
Appointment Type: Full-time, fixed term contract until 31 March 2023
Working hours: 37.5 hours per week
Location: Caritas House, M4 7FA, with some opportunity to work flexibly
Salary and benefits: £31,340
About: The post holder will provide practical support to refugee entrepreneurs who wish to start their own business. If you have experience of working with refugees in a one-to-one setting, giving advice on business start ups, have experience of creating business and training opportunities in the North West of England then we would love to hear from you!
Closing date: 9am Friday 13 January 2023.
For further information and to apply, please visit www.caritassalford.org.uk
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien