Sunday 11th June 2023
Corpus Christi
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Saturday 10thJune
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (In the Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass of Corpus Christi (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ)
Mass will be followed by Benediction
Sunday 11thJune
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass of Corpus Christi (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ)
Mass will be followed by Benediction
Tuesday 13th June
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest & Doctor of the Church (Memoria)
St. Anthony of Padua was born in Lisbon in 1195. He first joined the canons regular of St. Augustine but after being inspired by the stories of Franciscan martyrdoms in Morocco he joined the Friars Minor, though he desired to preach in Africa, he ended up in Italy, where he established a reputation as a great preacher and theologian. He died in Padua in 1231, aged 36.
Wednesday 14thJune
9:15 am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, Dedication of the Cathedral (Feast)
St. John's Church, Salford, was built between 1844 and 1848, it was the first cruciform Catholic church to be built in England since the Reformation and was closely modelled on a number of noted medieval churches. It was opened on 9th August 1848, by Bishop George Brown, who sang the Solemn High Mass, and Bishop Nicholas Wiseman, who gave a ninety-minute sermon (not something many Bishops have tried since!). In 1852, after the Restoration of the Catholic Hierarchy, it was raised to the dignity of a cathedral. St John's Cathedral is the mother church of the diocese of Salford and the seat of our Bishop.
Thursday 15thJune
9:15 am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Weekday Mass (Feria)
7pm The Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation, Rt. Rev. John Arnold, Bishop of Salford at St. Joseph's Church, Accrington
Friday 16thJune
10am Mass, The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Solemnity)
This Mass will be celebrated with the school community of Sacred Heart School
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Solemnity)
Saturday 17thJune
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, The Immaculate Heart of Mary (In the Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 18thJune
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (10th June - 17th June), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Michael Duggan & All Deceased Members of the Family.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£663.03. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Special Collection
Next weekend (17th/18th June) there will be a special Collection for the Day for Life.
The Church teaches that life is to be nurtured from conception to natural death. In England and Wales, Day for Life is celebrated on the third Sunday of June each year. This year it falls on 18 June. For the first time, it will be celebrated in Scotland and Ireland on the same day. The theme is 'Listen to Her' and focuses on post-abortion trauma and the impact of abortion primarily on women, but also men and others. Each year a message is released, usually by the Church's Lead Bishop for Life Issues, offering a reflection on the year's theme. The 2023 message is unique in that the bishops' have given it over to a Catholic woman who has had an abortion to share her experiences. Often the voices of women who have had an abortion are silent in Church and in society. The hope is that this will help break this silence and offer further opportunities for healing and reconciliation. As always, there will be a labelled basket under the large Crucifix at the back of church, to put your donations in. Thank you.
Bishops' Introduction
Voices of women who have had an abortion are often silent in Church and in society. This year's message for Day for Life is written by a woman and hopes to break this silence and offer opportunities for hope, healing and reconciliation.
Jane's Story
I went to Catholic schools, I knew about God and morality on some level, but for me, the culture spoke louder when it came to making decisions around sexuality.
When I was 15, I discovered I was pregnant and the fear clouded everything. I had one aim, and that was to solve the problem I had found myself in. A quick search for confidential help landed me at a clinic connected to an abortion provider. They seemed to genuinely believe that abortion was the solution to my problem and I don't remember discussing any other options. I was relieved when they determined that I was capable enough to make this decision alone, without the involvement of an adult, which is still legal to this day. By hearing other people share their stories and being gently encouraged by the team, I was able to speak the truth of what had happened to me on that day. My feelings were acknowledged, including my sense of loss.
That Saturday I travelled alone to the clinic. My parents were unaware, due to other difficulties in the family home that I didn't want to contribute to. I went through the degrading experience of a surgical abortion, and I thought that if I could just get through that day, I would never have to think about it again. I remember feeling conflicted as a tear rolled down my cheek, that I quickly wiped away. I believed I couldn't be sad because this was something I had chosen to do. So after the initial feeling of relief, I pushed down the experience and avoided anything to do with the topic of abortion. It was difficult to be around pregnant women and I found the anniversary difficult each year.
Over the next few years, I became more curious about faith through the invitation of a friend. I was looking for direction and truth, but my spiritual life was always tainted by the thought that I could never be forgiven for what I had done – somehow, God's mercy didn't apply to me. In the fleeting moments of honesty with myself and God, I knew that my choice didn't make me lose something, but someone. At times, this realisation was unbearable. This led to periods of deep depression and suicidal thoughts, as well as more promiscuous behaviour and numbing the pain with alcohol, food, or isolation.
This all changed when I was encouraged to go to confession. Even when I tried to justify my choice, the priest met me with the love and mercy of Jesus. The tears he shed melted my heart of stone. I began to give up my old ways of life and follow His way.
On this journey I was introduced to Rachel's Vineyard: a healing ministry that provides support for those who are suffering after abortion. I remember the kindness of the woman that I spoke to, and I knew I wouldn't be judged there.
It took so much courage to go on a retreat, but I can genuinely say it changed my life. By hearing other people share their stories and being gently encouraged by the team, I was able to speak the truth of what had happened to me on that day. My feelings were acknowledged, including my sense of loss.
I was finally given permission to grieve for the baby that had died through my choice. I acknowledged my motherhood and named my son Joseph. This was the start of God turning the guilt, shame and unforgiveness into a deep love for my son, as any good mother would have. The healing has continued alongside my faith journey. I've taken responsibility for the role I played in my abortion, but with perspective and time, I can see that my 'choice' wasn't really a choice at all. There were other people's failures, and an inability to truly give informed consent as a teenager that also contributed. The option that was presented as a quick fix solution has eternal consequences, and I truly believe that if I'd have known the impact abortion would have had on my life, even as a teenager, I would have made a different choice.
The Sacrament of Confirmation
On Thursday the Bishop will be visiting St. Joseph's in Accrington to Confirm all our young people, from the various parishes in the deanery. Over the last six months Gabrielle, Kimberly and Theo, from our own parish, have been preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. They have been coming for regular catechesis at the presbytery. We've looked at the Scriptures focusing on the Kerygma; reflected on the person of Our Lord, His life, His Passion and His Resurrection; taken time to remind ourselves about the Sacrament of Confession and how essential it is to the life of a believer; and finally studied the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and how they help us to become holy and engage with the world around us as future saints. Let's keep Gabrielle, Kimberly and Theo in our prayers this week.
If there are any young people in the parish (12 years+) and would like to prepare for Confirmation, then please come and see me at the end of one of the weekend Masses.
Sacred Heart School
On Friday (16th June) we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The school will be coming to church on the Friday morning to celebrate this wonderful feast and they would like to invite all parishioners to join them for Mass at 10am.
Church Organ
Last Thursday our church organ had its annual maintenance check and tuning. The company who undertakes this work is George Sixsmith & Son Ltd.
To the Tuning and maintenance of the Organ on the 31.5.23 Total Net Amount £290.00
Total Tax Amount £58.00
Invoice Total £348.00
Salford Diocesan Synod Parish Representatives
On behalf of all parishioners at St. Mary's I would like to thank Sharon Siddle, Sian Owen, Mike Cowley-Freeman and Joel Garrigan for offering their time and services to represent our parish at the Diocesan Synod and facilitate our responses and reflections. Over the next few months, the diocese synod department will contact our reps and guide us in regards what we do next.
Trees! Trees! Trees!
Update after last week's announcement - Branch Tree Surgeons Ltd Will begin the work on the 19th and 20th June.
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
Job Vacancies
Parish and Central Finance Officer
Appointment Type: Full time, permanent
Working hours: 35 hours per week Mon-Fri
Location: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Salary £23,793 –£29,248 depending on skills & experience
About: The Diocese of Salford is seeking to recruit a suitably experienced Parish and Central Finance Officer to work with the accountants in providing support to parishes in areas such as Gift Aid, use of accounting software, payment of invoices, and contribute to the general activity of the finance team.
Closing date for applications: 12 noon on Monday 19th June 2023.
For all the details please visit: https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
Laudato Si' Centre Environment and Learning Officer
Appointment Type: Full time, permanent
Working hours: 35 hours per week Mon-Fri, though some evening and weekend work will be required.
Location: Wardley Hall, Wardley Hall Road, Worsley, Manchester, M28 2ND
Salary £34,608 - £37,073 per annum, depending on skills & experience
About: The Diocese of Salford is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Environment and Learning Officer to support transformation in keeping with Pope Francis's Laudato Si' encyclical, and to develop and deliver programmes at the Laudato Si' Centre, the flagship environment centre for the diocese. The Laudato Si' Centre is based at Wardley Hall and includes the walled garden and woodland, for schools, parishes and community groups, with a focus on learning, spirituality and wellbeing.
Closing date for applications: 12 noon on Tuesday 27th June 2023.
For all the details please visit: https://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