Sunday 21st May 2023
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Saturday 20th May
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Easter Votive Mass of Our Lady (In the Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Seventh Sunday of Easter
Sunday 21stMay
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Seventh Sunday of Easter
1:30pm Parish Walk: Entwistle Reservoir (see below for more details)
Tuesday 23rd May
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Easter Weekday Mass
Wednesday 24thMay
9:15 am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Easter Weekday Mass
Thursday 25thMay
9:15 am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest & Doctor of the Church (Memoria)
St. Bede was born in 673 A.D. and educated by the Benedictines; he joined the monastery, and began a life of great erudition, producing many writings: particularly on the Scriptures and History of the Church in Britain. He died in 735 A.D.
Friday 26thMay
9am St. Oswald's School Rosary Rally (See below for more details)
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Philip Neri, Priest (Memoria)
St. Philip Neri, renowned for prayerfulness and humour, was born in Florence in 1515; he arrived in Rome, and after a mystical experience in the catacombs, gathered a community of friends to look after the sick, which eventually became the Oratory. He died in 1595.
Saturday 27th May
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, Feast of Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop (In the Lady Chapel)
In 597 A.D. Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine, then a monk of the monastery of Saint Peter on the Coelian hill in Rome, to evangelise the people of Britain. He converted king Ethelbert and founded the See of Canterbury. He died in 605 A.D.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Pentecost Sunday
Sunday 28thMay
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass of Pentecost Sunday
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (20th May - 27th May), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Pam & Andrew Yates and family.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£658.61. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Catholic Communications Network
This weekend the diocese has asked for a collection for the Catholic Communications Network. There will be a donation basket for this at the back of church, under the large crucifix.
Next Parish Walk: Sunday 21st May 2023
Thanks to Marie and Shelia for helping to plan our next parish walk which will be around Entwistle Reservoir, about a 5mile loop.
Starting at Entwistle Reservoir car park either upper or lower as they are near to each other.
You can get to both from Green Arms lane off the A666.
Walking is easy – quite a bit of uphill but all gradual.
Underfoot likely to be wet and/or muddy in places.
Nice afternoon stroll with a good viewing stop for a drink.
It is important to note that each person who joins us will be responsible for themselves and those in their family group. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring appropriate footware, clothing and food and drinks for the journey.
Sacred Heart School
I'd like to say a Big Thank You to the school community of Sacred Heart School for their generous gift of £180 towards the church roof. They raised the money by having a cake sale a few weeks ago. Two of the girls who presented the school donation, along with Mrs Harling and Mrs Pollard, approached me in the playground and their comments have really left me smiling. They said they wanted to help raise money for church because St. Mary's is "our church". It was really affirming to see pupils have a genuine sense of connection to the parish and wanting to help in a practical way. Thank you.
Also, on Friday I was invited by Miss Dawes to answer Year 3's questions about the Resurrection. It is a mistake to limit the Paschal mystery as a moment we recall on Easter Sunday because it is so much more. It is the bed rock of our faith – Jesus Christ, Our Lord and God, has destroyed the power of death and truly risen in the body to call us to live a new life of hope and joy. I find Question and Answer sessions like this with Year 3 so helpful for my own prayer life because it gets me thinking.
Saint Oswald's School
On Thursday I was invited into school to continue explaining the Five Glorious Mysteries to another year group as the school prepares to have their Rosary Rally on Friday 26th May at 9am, to which all parishioners are welcome. If you have any petitions, please place them in the Rosary Prayer Box that school have provided, at the back of church, and they will be prayed for by the pupils at the Rosary Rally,
Congratulations!!!
On Ascension Thursday, Adam (seminarian), received Candidacy which is one of the milestones marking his journey towards the priesthood. The liturgical celebration took place at Oscott, the seminary Adam is training at, and was presided by Bishop Arnold. Let's continue to keep Adam in our prayers as he comes closer towards receiving Holy Orders (Diaconate followed by Ordination to the Priesthood) in the next 18 months or so.
Mass for Vocations to the Priesthood
People across the diocese are being invited to pray for the f
uture of the priesthood in our diocese in a series of vocations Masses. The next Mass will take place at 7pm on Thursday 25th May at St Mary's church, Bamber Bridge. All are very welcome to attend. To find out more about our Vocations Masses, please visit www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/monthly-vocations-masses/
Salford Diocesan Synod
At the Chrism Mass 2023, Bishop John convoked our Diocesan Synod, inviting us all to prayerfully discern how we can best address the changing needs of our diocesan community. A Diocesan Synod is an opportunity for the bishop, clergy and lay-people of our diocese to come together in a spirit of prayer, discerning what God is asking of His Church in our Diocese.
Each parish is asked to nominate two lay Synod Members. Please prayerfully consider how you can contribute to our Synod and pray to The Holy Spirit for the right people to come forward as prospective Synod Members for our parish.
The following Synod Information Sessions have been arranged:
- Thursday 11th May 2023, 7pm-9pm - St Ambrose Barlow RC High School, Swinton
- Saturday 13th May 2023, 10am-12pm - Newman Catholic College, Chadderton
- Tuesday 16th May 2023, 7pm-9pm - Mount Carmel RC High School, Accrington
Register your place at www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/faith/synod or register on arrival.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by email synod@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or by calling 0161 817 2214.
Kind regards,
The Synod Team
The new deadline for submitting the names of your parish Synod Members is Tuesday 30th May 2023. A form to collect this information will be sent out nearer the time.
Parish Synod Representatives
Role of a Synod Member
• To lead/facilitate small discussion groups in the parish with the support of the
other Synod Members and volunteers in the parish.
• Synod Members will be tasked with listening, reflecting and discerning.
• They will be asked to find ways of listening to the concerns, needs and reflections
of their communities and to 're-present' these to the Synod where they will be
gathered together.
• Synod Members will be called to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit guiding the
life and mission of the Church in this place and time.
• Synod Members will be asked, with their communities, to formulate the concrete
proposals upon which the Synod gathering will vote on in February 2025.
• No prior theological knowledge or expertise is required for this role but personal
commitment, preparation, prayer, being open to guidance and enthusiasm are
crucial to it.
• Members must be willing and able to commit to the Synod process for a period of
two years. Members will need to be present for the two Synod gatherings, to
facilitate two/three local listening sessions and attend training sessions.
All Synod Members will need to be nominated with a reference from their parish priest
plus a secondary reference.
A resource for prospective Synod Members is at www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/faith/synod.
Who might be a Synod Member
A Synod Member is a baptized Catholic who is…
• open to the presence and activity of the Spirit of God in our world, in our Church
and in each person .
• outstanding in firm faith, good morals, and prudence (cf. Canon 512).
• prepared to listen carefully to the needs of the Church in Salford Diocese.
• trying to foster a personal prayer life.
• committed to the Baptismal call to play a part in the Church's mission and to the
Synod journey.
• willing (with guidance and support) to facilitate group discussions.
• willing to put aside personal agendas to listen with respect and without judgment
to the ideas and opinions of others.
• prepared to gather and record people's ideas and to feed them back faithfully to
the diocese.
If you would like to nominate yourself, or a prospective candidate from the parish, to be considered for the opportunity of representing St. Mary's at the Synod please see Fr. O'Brien after the weekend Mass you usually come to or email him sean.obrien@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Devotions to Our Lady during the month of May
At St. Mary's there will be the opportunity to honour Our Lady during the month of May in a variety of ways:
The Angelus Prayer
Before each of the weekend Masses in May (6:30pm Vigil and 10am Sun) we will pray the Angelus to remind us of Mary's faith filled 'Yes' to God and His great gift to us in the Word becoming flesh.
V. The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary……..
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord: R. Be it done to me according to your word.
Hail Mary……..
V. And the Word was made flesh: R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary……..
V. Pray for us O holy Mother of God. R. That we made be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Hail Mary……..
Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by his passion and cross + be brought to the glory of his resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
The Holy Rosary
Why not come to church a little earlier and join us for the The Rosary asking Our Lady's intercession for the struggles and challenges that our world faces.
6pm Saturday evenings
9:30am Sunday mornings
Saturday Morning Mass
The 10am Saturday morning Mass is held each week in the Lady Chapel where we thank God for the gift of Mary and ask her prayers to help us imitate her as a disciple and pray for our parish, families and friends. In this month of May why not come to an extra Mass to honour the Mother of God and come closer to her Son in the Blessed Sacrament.
St. Oswald's School Rosary Rally
At the back of church (under the crucifix) from the weekend of the 6th/7th May the school will have a petition box for any prayers and intentions that parishioners would like to place in it. The box will be taken to school for Friday 26th May when the school will have their Rosary Rally. I've been invited by Miss Collinge to teach the children the Glorious Mysteries over May so that at their Rosary Rally, when we crown Our Lady's statue, the Glorious Mysteries will be prayed for all those parishioners intentions in the petition box. Everyone is invited on the 26th May to join the school for the Rally, times are to be confirmed soon.
Sacred Heart Memorial Mass
Tuesday 27th June marks the 20th anniversary since Sacred Heart Church in Accrington closed. 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. On Tuesday 27th June 2023 the 6pm Mass will be a Mass of Thanksgiving to celebrate the former parish of Sacred Heart and the many blessings' people received from it. Everyone is welcome. Thanks to Michael Leeming and Bernard Dowling who will continue the good work started by John Hughes to produce an exhibition to tell the story of Sacred Heart parish. This exhibition will be at the back of church during the week of 27th June - 2nd July. 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 leave them in an envelope, with your contact details, at the stewards desk and label the envelope to either Michael or Bernard.
Society of St Gregory Summer School - Joyful Proclamation of the Gospel
26 - 29 July, Liverpool Hope University, Hope Park Campus, Childwall, L16 1JD
Join the Society of St Gregory this July for a fascinating Summer School that delves a little more into the importance of liturgy. The workshops will explore practical ideas for parish ministry, such as how we plan music in our liturgy, how to be more creative in planning our liturgy, how to help young people in liturgical ministry, and how to find deeper meaning in our celebrations. The course will welcome a number of guest speakers to help explore these topics, including Bishop John Arnold.
Find out more and register at www.ssg.org.uk/summer-school-2023
Karen Hughes RIP
The Requiem Mass for Karen Hughes will be on Wednesday 31st May at 1:30pm.
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien