Sunday 29th January 2023 - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Saturday 28th January
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest & Doctor of the Church (Memoria)
(Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
St. Thomas was born in Aquino in 1225 A.D. Becoming a Dominican he studied at Cologne under St. Albert the Great. An outstanding thinker, writer and teacher, he died in 1274A.D.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 29th January
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday 31st January
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint John Bosco, Priest (Memoria)
St. John Bosco, born in 1815 in the north of Italy, dedicated his priestly ministry to working with young people, especially street children whom he encountered in Turin. He established the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, to assist in this work. He died in 1888.
Wednesday 1st February
10am Mass, Votive Mass of Saint Joseph
'Whereas Adam and Eve were the source of evil which was unleashed on the world, Joseph and Mary are the summit from which holiness spreads all over the earth.' - St. John Paul II
Saturday 4th February
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 5th February
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (28th Jan - 4th Feb), the Sanctuary Lamp is for A Prayer of Thanksgiving.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£763.94. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Caritas Collection
£27.65. Thank you for your donations.
Cleaners Wanted
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: jakey9998@aol.com
First Aiders
The parish recently had a diocesan health and safety visit and we were asked to find named first aiders who could help should ever an incident happen. Thank you to those parishioners who stepped forward last weekend to put their names down for the Vigil and Sunday Masses.
For the Vigil Mass our named First Aiders are:
Robert Okolski, Anna Spiteri-Braysford and Lee Beveridge
For the 10am Sunday Mass our named Firs Aiders are:
Rebecca Dearden-Taylor and Anne-Marie Radigan
On behalf of the parish I'd like to thank them for coming forward and helping St. Mary's out.
St. Mary Warm Welcome
The next warm welcome is on Tuesday 7th January from 1pm – 3pm. (As requested the new start time is from 1pm – you get half an hour extra!) Everyone and anyone is welcome! We have some talented parishioners who dispel the cold winter blues with live upbeat music that everyone can sing along to. From The Wild Rover to Uncle Joe's Mint Balls – there is something to make you smile, plus there's unlimited brews and fantastic home-made cake in a warm space. Why not come along and experience something different.
Saint Joseph
'If Joseph was so engaged, heart and soul, in protecting and providing for that little family at Nazareth, don't you think that now in heaven he is the same loving father and guardian of the whole Church, of all its members, as he was of its Head on earth?' - Pope Pius XII
As many of you know Saint Joseph is a powerful intercessor in Heaven. It was God who chose Joseph to be the husband of Our Lady and the foster father of Jesus. It was into the home of this carpenter that Our Lady and Christ were loved, protected and cherished. Would you like to entrust yourself to Saint Joseph? Do you want to come closer to Jesus and be a better person? Do you want foster a greater devotion to Our Lady? If the answer is 'Yes' then why not consecrate yourself to St. Joseph. What does it mean to consecrate yourself to St. Joseph? Well, it basically means that you acknowledge that he is your spiritual father, and you want to be like him. To show it, you entrust yourself entirely into his paternal care so that he can help you acquire his virtues and become holy. This Lent there will be an opportunity to undertake this act of consecration here at St. Mary's. If you would like to do this then contact Fr. O'Brien via email sean.obrien@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or speak to him at the end of Mass for what you'll need to undertake this life giving prayer and spiritual act. The date of the meetings will be:
Wednesday 1st March 7pm – 8pm. First Group Meeting.
Wednesday 8th March 7pm – 8pm. Second Group Meeting.
Wednesday 15th March 7pm -8pm. Third Group Meeting
Wednesday 22nd March 7pm – 8pm. Fourth Group Meeting.
Wednesday 29th March 7pm -8pm. Fifth Group Meeting.
Wednesday 5th March 7pm – 8pm. Sixth Group Meeting and Consecration Day.
World Day of Prayer for the Sick: St. Mary's Healing Service
On Saturday, 11th February, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. It's only fitting that this is also the day the Church invites us all to pray for those who are sick and suffering in mind and body. For those who have made the pilgrimage to Lourdes, you will know, that it is a place of healing but not everyone is fortunate to visit. This year, at St. Mary's on Saturday 11th February, there will be many opportunities to experience both prayer and healing, for yourself or on behalf of others.
9am – 9:50am – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
The Sacrament of Confession is that wonderful gift from God that helps to heal the soul. Come this morning to allow the Lord to soothe and strengthen.
10am – Mass of Our Lady of Lourdes
Are there people you know who are suffering? Then bring them in prayer to the Mass, especially at that moment when Our Lord is lifted up by the priest in the Host and offered to God the Father. Bring those you know who are sick and give them to Jesus at that most sacred moment.
2pm – Healing Service
A simple liturgy where we will listen to the Word of God and sing hymns, followed by intercessions for healing for ourselves and those we know and the opportunity for the Sacrament of the Sick for those Catholics who are sincerely ill finishing with a final blessing.
2:30pm – Tea, Coffee & A Catch Up
There will be time after the healing service for tea & coffee, a chance for others to talk and meet up with faces they may not have seen for a long time.
6pm – The Holy Rosary
As always, there will be the opportunity on this for praying the Rosary together as a parish family, for those who are sick among friends, family and in our community.
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
7:20pm – Candlelight procession to the parish grotto (Weather permitting)
One of the highlights of any Lourdes pilgrimage is the torch light procession where pilgrims walk together in prayer, song and solidarity in honour of God's gift to us, Mary, Our Mother. If you would like to bring flowers to lay at the grotto for loved ones who can't join us on this day then please do.
There is prayer throughout the day and at different times. I invite all parishioners to come to at least one event and be part of that powerful voice interceding for our brothers and sisters. If you would like the names of someone who is sick to be read out at the 10am Morning Mass of Our Lady of Lourdes or the 2pm Healing Service then you must have their permission. There will a box you can place their names in the Lady Chapel nearer the time. Please print names clearly.
Building Maintenance
The recent health and safety visitor from the diocese reminded us that if the gutters around the church and presbytery were not maintained part of our insurance would be void. A local company, Approved Roofing & Building Ltd, undertook this immediate work as directed. They cleaned the out & off gutters, sealed the joints as needed, re-secured the loose side guttering as needed and removed all debris with a 10 year guarantee for the materials. As the weather improves they intend to replace some of the down-spouts that are no longer fit for purpose and there are some roof slates they can reach and replace, safely, without the cost of a cherry picker or scaffold. The total bill for this work is £1056.00 including VAT and any financial donations towards it would be happily received. I'm very grateful to Approved Roofing for helping keep some of the water out of our church until we hear formally from the diocesan building department about proposed work on our church roof.
Lent is soon coming!
Wednesday 22nd February is Ash Wednesday the beginning of Lent.
New Year: New Start
If you are seeking to enrich your spiritual life while carrying out your daily commitments, the Associates of the Franciscan Missionaries of St. Joseph would like to welcome you. In the company of others and in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi we seek to deepen our love for God and the world. For more information and contact details please take a leaflet from the back of church. All are welcome. Tel: 0161 707 9537. Email jennyfmsj@gmail.com
Sacred Heart School
On Friday Miss Dawes invited me to talk to Year 3 about the Sacrament of Confession. I explained how Jesus didn't just forgive people he met in the Gospels like the paralyzed man or the good thief. Through Confession Jesus continues to share His mercy and forgiveness with us, here and now. It is through His gift of this Sacrament that our sins are truly forgiven and we are free to move closer to heaven.
Saint Mary's School
Over the last two weeks I've been invited by Mrs. Wolfenden and Mr. Egan to talk to their classes about the saints. We looked at how these holy people are our brothers and sisters in heaven, actively praying for us daily and inspiring us by their lives. I told the story of St. William of York who prayed for all those citizens who were drowning in the river after waiting to welcome him into their city as the new Archbishop. Through his powerful intercession not one person was drowned. I then spoke about St. Frances Xavier Cabrini who was filled with courage. Despite her fear of water she sailed from Italy to America to help the influx of daily immigrants begin their new lives with dignity. Whose the saint that inspires you?
Saint Oswald's School
This week I was invited to talk to Miss Collinge's class and Miss Barlow's class. Both classes now have a patron saint for 2023 – Venerable Elizabeth Prout and St. Margaret Clitherow. I told the story of these brave and courageous women, living at very different times, but still filled with faith in the one Lord Jesus Christ. It was through their love of Our Lord that both Elizabeth and Margaret made a positive and sanctifying difference to the communities they lived in.
World Youth Day - Last few places remaining!
There are still a few places left to join us for World Youth Day 2023! Join our Salford Youth Ministry team between 31 July and 7 August as they make their way to Lisbon to join other young Catholics from around the world in a joyous celebration of faith, culminating in an unforgettable Mass with Pope Francis himself! Find out more and register online at: www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/wyd-2023
Sharing the Hope Deanery Days
As part of our Hope in the Future programme, the Diocese of Salford Department for Formation is set to host a number of deanery days to help individuals, parishes, and deaneries learn more about the needs in their community and then to prayerfully discern how best to respond with the resources available to them. The second of our Sharing the Hope Days will have a specific focus on Blackburn and Burnley deaneries and will take place on Saturday 18th February (10am – 2pm) at Our Lady and St John RC High School, Blackburn, BB1 1PY.
Walsingham Pilgrimage 2023
Saturday 20th May 2023. You can now register your interest to join our annual diocesan pilgrimage to Walsingham this May! The cost for a day pilgrim is expected to be between £35 and £45. Our overnight option has been well received and is now nearly full. The cost of this is expected to be between £130 - £150 (includes evening meal, breakfast, and packed lunch.) Due to increased transport costs, we may look to reduce the number of coaches this year, so we would be grateful if you could please register your interest by email walsingham.pilgrimage@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or calling 0161 817 2214. Further information and booking forms will be made available soon.
Great Manchester Run - Free places with Caritas Diocese of Salford Team
Thinking of taking on a new challenge for 2023? Would you please consider running the Great Manchester Run in aid of Caritas Salford? The team has secured a limited number of free charity places for the 10km run on Sunday 21st May. To find out more or secure your place, please visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/every-step-you-take-helps-local-people-take-a-step-towards-transforming-their-lives or email fundraising@caritassalford.org.uk
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien