Sunday 18th February 2024
First Sunday of Lent
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Friday 16th February
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
6pm Mass, Lent Weekday
6:30pm Stations of the Cross
Saturday 17th February
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Mass, Lent Weekday (celebrated in the Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the First Sunday of Lent
Sunday 18th February
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the First Sunday Sunday of Lent
Tuesday 20th February
Parish Lenten Retreat – All are Welcome
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration & Confessions
6pm Holy Mass
6:45pm Talk by Fr. Bryan Cunningham SI
7:30pm Tea/Coffee Break
7:45pm Reflections & Questions
8pm Final Prayers & Blessing
Wednesday 21st February
Parish Lenten Retreat – All are Welcome
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration & Confessions
6pm Holy Mass
6:45pm Talk by Fr. Bryan Cunningham SI
7:30pm Tea/Coffee Break
7:45pm Reflections & Questions
8pm Final Prayers & Blessing
Thursday 22nd February
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, The Chair of Saint Peter (Feast)
St. Peter and his successors, the popes, were chosen as the "visible and principal signs of unity", a point of reference so as to embark on the journey of faith confidently and securely. The Feast of the "Chair" of Peter, therefore, is a recognition of the spiritual significance of St. Peter and his successors, as well as a privileged manifestation of God's love who is our good and eternal Shepherd who wants to gather His entire Church and guide it on the path of salvation.
Friday 23rd February
11:30am Requiem Mass for John Murden RIP
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
6pm Mass, Lent Weekday
6:30pm Stations of the Cross
Saturday 24th February
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Mass, Lent Weekday (celebrated in the Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of Lent
Sunday 25th February
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Second Sunday of Lent
Dignity of Life: Note from Bishop John Sherrington
"From the end of February, it is likely that the Criminal Justice bill will return to parliament and that amendments will be tabled to decriminalise abortion up to the point of birth. As well as a direct attack on the dignity of the unborn, it is highly likely that these amendments, if passed, will have unforeseen consequences which could be very serious for both unborn babies and their mothers, especially given the increase in home abortions following the legalisation of the provision of abortion pills by post. It is possible that there will be other amendments more favourable to the rights of unborn babies. Work will be carried out by the secretariat, including the provision of a website tool to allow people to contact their Member of Parliament. You may wish to draw this to the attention of parishioners so that they can contact Members of Parliament as well as keeping our parliamentarians in their prayers at this time."
+John Sherrington
9th February 2024
Take Action: What we can do here at St. Marys
Contact our MP – Sara Britcliffe (Hyndburn)
It is now very important that MPs are flooded with letters ahead of any vote at Report stage. Please contact our MP, asking her to oppose any attempt to decriminalise abortion. If you can, write a handwritten letter to her. Writing a personal, physical letter is one of the most effective ways to be a pro-life influence on her. Below is a template letter. It is very important that you edit this template to create a letter in your own words and make it personal. Add your own concerns, and any personal stories you might have.
Dear Sara,
I am writing to ask you to oppose and vote against any attempt to decriminalise abortion through amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill. NC1, by Dame Diana Johnson, and NC2, by Stella Creasy, both calling for the decriminalisation of abortion, were debated and withdrawn at the Committee Stage on 25th Jan.
However, Dame Diana has now tabled a very similar amendment at Report stage (also NC1).
This amendment says "For the purposes of sections 58 and 59 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929, no offence is committed by a woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy." Removing these offences means a woman could induce her own abortion at any time, for any reason. This would include abortion up to birth and sex selective abortion.
This amendment is extreme, and dangerous to women. While the goal is supposedly to stop women being prosecuted for illegal abortion, the recent high profile cases of this have occurred because of the pills by post policy, which allows abortion providers to send abortion pills to women without an in-person consultation.
An example of this is Carla Foster, whose daughter Lily died at 32-34 weeks gestation, after she obtained abortion pills over the phone claiming that she was only seven weeks pregnant. It is this policy that needs to end to avoid such tragic cases in future. Removing any criminal sanction for abortion will only lead to more of these traumatic and dangerous late term abortions.
Please speak and vote against this amendment when it comes before Parliament.
Kind regards,
[Your Name]
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (17th February - 24th February), the Sanctuary Lamp is for the Simpson & Catlow Family.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£586.88. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Date for you Diary – Parish Lenten Retreat - 20th - 21st February 2024
This year Fr. Bryan Cunningham, the superior of the Schoenstatt community, has kindly offered to give our parish Lenten retreat. See further down for more details.
St. Mary's Healing Service
Thank you to all who came and helped to make last Sunday's Healing Liturgy such a prayerful and peaceful occasion.
Lent 2024
This year Lent began on Ash Wednesday 14th 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.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
"The Eucharist bathes the tormented soul in light and love. Then the soul appreciates these words, 'Come all you who are sick, I will restore your health." - St. Bernadette Soubirous
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
"There are people who are afraid to go to confession, forgetting that they will not encounter a severe judge there, but the immensely merciful Father." - Pope Franics
Ash Wednesday 9:15am – 9:45am, 5pm – 5:45pm; Fridays 5pm – 5:45pm; Saturdays 9am – 9:45am
Stations of the Cross
"In difficult moments, I will fix my gaze upon the silent Heart of Jesus stretched on the Cross, and from the exploding flames of His merciful Heart, will flow down upon me power and strength to keep fighting." – St. Faustina
Each Friday after the 6pm Mass (approx 6:30pm)
Parish Lenten Retreat - 20th - 21st February
His Holiness, Pope Francis, has announced a Holy Year in 2025 and in preparation for this event he has called 2024 The Year of Prayer. To help us understand the Pope's call to prayer Fr. Bryan Cunningham SI, will be giving our parish Lenten retreat. Fr. Bryan is parish priest at St John Fisher church in Kearsley and helps facilitate the diocesan catechesis programme in regards marriage & family life. Fr. Is also a priest of the Schoenstatt movement...
"As a movement of renewal in the Catholic Church, Schoenstatt functions to aid renew the Church and society in the spirit of the Gospel, seeking reconnection of faith with daily life, significantly through a profound love of Mary, the Mother of God. As an international movement it is present on all continents and has members from all vocations and walks in life. It is a spiritual family whose many branches and communities join to form a single Schoenstatt family."
The timetable for both days (Tuesday 20th/Wednesday 21st) will be:
5pm Adoration & Confessions
6pm Holy Mass
6:45pm Talk by Fr. Bryan Cunningham SI
7:30pm Tea/Coffee Break
7:45pm Reflections & Questions
8pm Final Prayers & Blessing
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.
Deanery Station Masses
During Lent there is the tradition of Station Masses. This is where a Lenten Mass will be celebrated in a particular parish in the deanery and other parishes are invited to come. It's a wonderful reminder that we are part of a bigger family and are united by Our Lord in the sacrifice of the Mass. Our parish will be hosting one of the deanery Station Masses on Thursday 29th February at 7pm. Everyone is welcome. There will be a visiting priest who will preach followed by refreshments afterwards. The other Station Masses will be:
St. Mary's, Catlow Hall Street, Oswaldtwistle, BB5 3EZ on Thursday 29th February at 7pm.
Sacred Heart, Queen Street, Colne, BB8 9NB, on Thursday 7th March at 7pm.
St. James the Less, Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, Lancashire, BB4 8HH, on Thursday 14th March at 7pm.
Hail Holy Queen
At the weekend Masses during Lent, when we conclude the bidding prayers and ask for the intercession of Our Lady, we'll pray the Hail Holy Queen. For those who make have forgotten the prayer or just need their memories refreshing below are the beautiful words:
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.
Lent resources
During Lent, the diocese will be sharing a range of resources to accompany people in prayer over the coming weeks. The resources have been created to support our journey throughout this Year of Prayer, as we prepare for the Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee in 2025. Resources can be accessed via the diocesan social media channels or by visiting the website at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/lent-2024-rediscovering-prayer/
Parish Bible Study – St. John's Gospel
The next session is Wednesday 28th February from 7pm – 8pm. All are welcome. All you need is a Bible and an openness to come to know Our Lord better.
St. Mary's Warm Welcome
The next warm welcome is on Tuesday 27th February from 1pm – 3pm. Everyone and anyone is welcome! We have some talented parishioners who dispel the winter blues with live upbeat music that everyone can sing along to. Plus there's unlimited brews and fantastic homemade cake in a warm space. Why not come along and experience something different.
Stations of the Cross at the Laudato Si' Centre
The Laudato Si' Centre - Wardley Hall Lane, Worsley - will be hosting a special Stations of the Cross this Lent. The Stations of the Cross will take place on Saturday 16th March in the beautiful setting of the Centre's woodland area. Specific times will be announced in due course.
Caritas Salford Appeal for Volunteers
Caritas Salford, our diocesan charity, is appealing for volunteers to support its work across Greater Manchester and Lancashire. Even a few hours can have a huge impact on the lives of others locally. To find out more about the huge range of opportunities available - from gardening to van driving, supporting their services to becoming a Caritas parish rep or accessibility advocate - visit their website now: www.caritassalford.org.uk/volunteer
Gregorian Chant - A Workshop for Singers
A wonderful opportunity to discover more about Gregorian Chant is coming to St Augustine's, Grosvenor Square, Manchester, this month. Dr Rosemarie Darby, from the St Philip Neri Singers, will lead the workshop on Saturday 24th February (11.30am – 4pm), helping singers to learn more about this enchanting style of music and how it can be used to complement the Liturgy. For details of registration, or for more information, please contact Dr Rosemarie Darby by email: stphilipnerisingers@yahoo.co.uk
SJOG Homes for Ukraine
As an official provider of the government scheme, SJOG Homes for Ukraine acts as a matching, training, and support pathway for guests from Ukraine and hosts in the UK who are willing to provide much-needed support. Our programme operates collaboratively with the esteemed Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN). At SJOG Homes for Ukraine, we offer a range of services to ensure fulfilling experience for both guests and hosts. These services include matching, training for hosts and guests, transportation assistance, a Welcome Box for Ukrainian guests upon arrival, and support during the placement. More information on the project can be found at the following links
Website: https://sjog-homesforukraine.uk
E-mail: homesforukraine@sjog.org.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/sjoghomesforukraine
YouTube: youtube.com/@sjoghomesforukraine
Job Vacancies
Communications Assistant (replacement role)
Appointment Type: Full-time, 12 month fixed term
Working hours: 35 hours per week, some evenings and weekends required
Location: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Salary: £22,672 - £24,343
Find out more and apply at 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