Thursday 2nd February 2023
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
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
Tuesday 7th February
1pm – 3pm St Mary's Warm Welcome
(See below for more details)
Friday 10th February
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Scholastica, Virgin (Memoria)
St. Scholastica, the sister of St. Benedict, was born in Umbria 480 A.D. Like her brother she devoted her life to God, founding the Benedictine Sisters and dying on Monte Cassino in 547 A.D.
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
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (4th Feb - 11th Feb), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Bill Moorhouse.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£610.31. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Welcome
Fr. Noel Wynn SM, who is the Marist community superior in Blackburn, will be celebrating the Vigil and Sunday Masses this weekend. As always I'm grateful to Fr Wynn for helping us out at St. Mary's with his time.
St. Mary Warm Welcome
This Tuesday 7th February 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 homemade cake in a warm space. Why not come along and experience something different.
Saturday 11th February: 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.
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.
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 downspouts 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 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 almsgiving. 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 year's walks there will opportunity to do some more. If any parishioners have walks they know well and would be willing to share them with the parish the please contact Fr. O'Brien.
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.
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
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!
Mass for Vocations to the Priesthood
Friday 10th February, 7pm, St Brendan's, Harwood, Bolton, BL2 3JF. The Diocese of Salford's series of Masses for Vocations to the Priesthood is set to return this month to help inspire conversation and prayer around priestly vocations. The next Mass will take place at 7pm on Friday 10th February at St Brendan's, Harwood, BL2 3JF. All are very welcome to attend. Find out more at
www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/vocations-mass-feb-2023/
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.
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.
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien