Sunday 14th May 2023
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Saturday 13th May
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, Our Lady of Fatima (In the Lady Chapel)
'If men knew what eternity is, they would do everything to change their lives.' - Our Lady of Fatima
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Sixth Sunday of Easter
Sunday 14th May
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Sixth Sunday of Easter
Tuesday 16th May
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Easter Weekday Mass
Wednesday 17thMay
9:15 am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Easter Weekday Mass
Thursday 18thMay
THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
This is a Holy Day of Obligation for Roman Catholics
"Today our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven; let our hearts ascend with him. Listen to the words of the Apostle: If you have risen with Christ, set your hearts on the things that are above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God; seek the things that are above, not the things that are on earth." - St. Augustine of Hippo
10am Mass of the Ascension
6pm Mass of the Ascension
Friday 19th May
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Easter Weekday Mass
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)
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (13th May - 20th May), the Sanctuary Lamp is for the Robinson & Higgins Family.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£645.99. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Catholic Communications Network
Next weekend of 20th/21st May the diocese have 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.
Easter Raffle Prizes!!!
After this Sunday 10am Mass (14th May) any Easter Raffle prizes that are not claimed will no longer be available. There are some excited and expectant Altar Servers!!!
Thank You
Thank you to all those volunteers on Saturday morning who come to help with the parish grounds. You will have noticed that many rolls of turf have been laid along the piece of land between the church and presbytery. It looks neat and tidy with the benefit of being easier to maintain in the future. It's been wonderful to hear parishioners and visitors comment on the upkeep of the gardens which is a reflection of the generous community we have here at St. Mary's. If people ever have some free time and would like to volunteer to help (don't worry there are no contracts or lifelong commitments), then please email Navada at keenannavada@gmail.com who helps to facilitate the volunteers.
Holy Day of Obligation: The Ascension
The Solemnity of The Ascension of the Lord will be on Thursday 18th May. It is a day that all faithful Roman Catholics are obliged to come to Mass. There will be the opportunity to fulfill the obligation at either 10am Mass or 6pm Mass that day.
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.
Mass for Vocations to the Priesthood
People across the diocese are being invited to pray for the future 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.
You may wish to share this link or print copies of the folded A5 booklet.
Printed copies will be available for attendees of the Information Sessions.
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.
St. Oswald's School
On Wednesday I was invited to talk about the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary with the lower infant classes at school. It's always an education to not only reflect about those episodes in Our Lord's life but to see and hear how they are understood by the children.
A Day of Recollection
Fr. Ian Kelly will give a Day of Recollection at St. Joseph's church hall, Belgarth Road, Accrington on Saturday 27th May 2023.
10am Mass in St. Joseph's Church
10:30am to 11:00am Welcome, Tea/Coffee at St. Joseph's church hall
11am – 12noon Fr. Ian Kelly's initial talk
12noon to 1pm Lunch, please bring your own packed lunch
1pm to 3pm Fr. Kelly's afternoon session
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham, Saturday 20th May, 2023
The Diocese of Salford's annual pilgrimage to Walsingham will be returning on Saturday 20th May.
This year's pilgrimage has a number of places available to join the Day Pilgrimage and a very limited number of places for the overnight stay. The cost is £45 for the day trip and £134 for an overnight stay in a Standard room, and £150 for an overnight stay in an En-Suite room. For more information, email walsingham.pilgrimage@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or call 0161 817 2214.
Alongside the main pilgrimage, we will also have our Youth Pilgrimage. For more information please email youth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
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
Job Vacancies
Responsible Investment Intern - Diocese of Salford
Appointment type: Full time, fixed term (12 months)
Location: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Salary: £19,838 - £20,850 (depending on experience)
Closing Date: 12 noon Friday 19th May 2023
To find out more and apply, please visit www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien