Sunday 12th February 2023 - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Saturday 11th February – World Day of Prayer for the Sick
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, Our Lady of Lourdes (Memoria) (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
'I do not promise you happiness in this world, but in the next.' —Our Lady of Lourdes
2pm Healing Service followed by refreshments – All Welcome
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
7:20pm – Candlelight procession to the parish grotto (Weather permitting)
Sunday 12th February
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday 14th February
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saints Cyril & Methodius, Bishops, Patrons of Europe (Feast)
Ss Cyril and Methodius were brothers and missionaries, who carried the Gospel into the Slavonic countries. They translated the liturgical books into the Slavonic language (inventing a new script, Cyrillic, to do do). Cyril died in 869 A.D, Methodius in 885 A.D.
Wednesday 15th February
10am Votive Mass of Saint Joseph
'Saint Joseph, as you have all learned at home and at school, was a very holy man. He had to be, because he was married to the Virgin Mary, the purest, the holiest, the most exalted of all God's creatures.' - Venerable Pope Pius XII
Thursday 16th February
10am Requiem Mass for Mrs Kathleen 'Kath' Mary Bateson RIP
Friday 17th February
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Weekday Mass
Saturday 18th February
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 19th February
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (11th Feb - 18th Feb), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Richard & Gertrude Henry & Cathleen Haworth.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£619.84. Thank you for your kind generosity.
St. Mary's Warm Welcome
On next St. Mary's Warm Welcome is on Tuesday 21st February from 1pm – 3pm. 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 plus there's unlimited brews and fantastic home-made cake in a warm space. Why not come along and experience something different.
St Oswald's School
Thanks to Mrs Guest and all the children in her class who produced such beautiful get well cards for all those who are coming to the healing service on Saturday 11th Feb. Their class patron for this year is Our Lady of Lourdes and they wanted to copy Mary and bring some hope and comfort to those who aren't 100%.
Lent 2023
This year Lent begins on Ash Wednesday 22nd February. Over the next six weeks we are called to re-direct our hearts and minds towards Jesus through fasting, prayer and alms-giving. Lent is our spiritual spring clean that allows us to become aware of those things in life that stop us living for the Lord and loving Him. Throughout this penitential period there will be, as always, plenty of opportunity for prayer and meditation.
Ash Wednesday - 22nd February
10am Mass with the distribution of Ashes
6pm Mass with the distribution of Ashes
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Tuesdays 5pm – 5:50pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays (unless there is a funeral) 9:15am – 9:50am,
Fridays 5pm – 5:50pm, Saturdays 9am – 9:50am
Confessions
Fridays 5pm – 5:45pm, Saturdays 9am – 9:45am
Stations of the Cross
Each Friday after the 6pm Mass (approx 6:30pm)
Consecration to Saint Joseph
Each Wednesday from 7pm – 8pm. Please make sure you register with Fr. O'Brien if you wish to undertake this devotion. For more details see further below in the newsletter.
Parish Lenten & Easter Walks
After the success of last years walks there will opportunity to do some more. Dates and walks to be confirmed later this month.
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.
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.
Mass for Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Sunday 19th February, 5.30pm, Salford Cathedral. Join us for our annual Salford Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage Mass, which will take place on Sunday 19th February, 5.30pm at Salford Cathedral. The Mass will officially open the 2023 pilgrimage. Bishop John will celebrate Mass and the wonderful Lourdes choir will provide music. All are welcome!
Young Adults Mass and Q&A with Bishop John Arnold
Sunday 12th February 5.30pm, St Augustine's Church, Grosvenor Square, Manchester
Salford Youth Ministry is delighted to welcome Bishop John to celebrate the next Young Adults Mass on Sunday 12th February. Bishop John will also be joining the team for our social after Mass for a special Q&A session. As always, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is available between 4.45pm and 5.15pm before Mass. All are very welcome to attend.
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien