Sunday 5th May 2024
Sixth Sunday of Easter
There will be no parish newsletter next week. The following are the times and dates for Masses, Liturgies and Funerals for the next two weeks. My thanks to Fr. Ethelbert Arua, based at St. Wulstan's, Great Harwood, for offering support should anyone require a priest. St. Wulstan's – (01254) 884211.
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Saturday 4th May
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Sifth Sunday of Easter -
The Society of African Missions (SMA) Parish Appeal
Sunday 5th May
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Sixth Sunday of Easter -
The Society of African Missions (SMA) Parish Appeal
Wednesday 8th May
12noon Easter Weekday Mass
Thursday 9th May
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
12noon Mass of the Ascension
(Please see other local Catholic Church websites for times of other Masses.)
Saturday 11th May
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Seventh Sunday of Easter
The statue of Our Lady of Lourdes will be crowned and there will be a procession to bless the grotto ready for her re-installation on Sunday morning.
Sunday 12th May
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Seventh Sunday of Easter -
The statue of Our Lady of Lourdes will be crowned and there will be a procession where we will return her to the parish grotto.
Tuesday 14th May
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Matthias, Apostle (Feast)
Wednesday 15th May
11:45am Requiem Mass for Brian Bellas RIP
Thursday 16th May
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Easter Weekday Mass
1pm Funeral Service for John Hall RIP
Friday 17th May
10am Requiem Mass for Hilda Owen RIP
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Easter Weekday Mass
Saturday 18th 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 Pentecost Sunday
Sunday 19th May
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Pentecost Sunday
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (4th May - 11th May), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Edmund Georgy.
The following week (11th May - 18th May) the Sanctuary Lamp is for the McGowan Family.
Last Week's Easter Offertory Collection
£609.05. Thank you for your kind generosity.
The Society of African Missions (SMA) Parish Appeal
Each year the Bishop allows a specific missionary society or religious congregation to share their work with parish communities in the diocese and appeal for help with their work. This year 2024 the Bishop has allowed The Society of African Missions to witness and appeal in our diocese.
"The Society of African Missions (SMA) is committed to preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ chiefly in Africa and to people of African origin. We regard solidarity with the poor and the powerless, commitment to reading the signs of the times, activities for Justice and Peace, dedication to building a better world, including care for the environment, as constitutive dimensions of witnessing to the Good News. We do this through education, health care, development projects and conscientisation for justice. We also help in caring for African immigrants in Europe and the USA and draw attention to those structures that oppress them and other people of the Third World." - https://www.sma-gb.org/
Fr. Rosairo Arputham SMA will be visiting us here at St. Mary's, on the weekend of the 4th/5th May and making his appeal.
Holy Day of Obligation: The Ascension
The Solemnity of The Ascension of the Lord will be on Thursday 9th 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 12noon with Fr Ethelbert celebrating the Mass.
May: Crowning Our Lady
With the SMA Parish Appeal taking place on the first weekend of May we will Crown the statue of our Lady of Oswaldtwistle on the following weekend (11th/12th May). Parishioners and their families are warmly welcome to bring flowers to the 6:30pm Vigil Mass or the 10am Mass and place them before Our Blessed Mother in devotion and thanks for her prayers. This will also be the weekend when we bless the grotto ready for Our Lady of Lourdes to return on the Sunday morning.
"All generations will call me blessed": "The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship."The Church rightly honours "the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of 'Mother of God,' to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs.... This very special devotion ... differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration."The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an "epitome of the whole Gospel," express this devotion to the Virgin Mary. - Catechism of the Catholic Church #971
Rosary around the Campfire
Please join us for a peaceful hour of prayer and reflection as we host a special praying of The Rosary at our Laudato Si' Centre on Monday 20th May at 1pm. All are welcome to join as we settle on our tree trunks around the campfire to share in an ecological reflection on the Sorrowful Mysteries. Please register your interest at https://tinyurl.com/rosaryLSC and feel free to bring your own chair or blanket for additional comfort.
School Governance
At this weekend's Masses (27th/28th April) the schools would like parishioners to think about signing up to become foundation governor. At the end of each Mass there will be current governors from Sacred Heart, St. Mary's, St. Oswald's and Mount Carmel, to answer questions and provide more information.
About School Governors
Governing Boards of Catholic voluntary aided schools are the employers and the admissions body for the school. The board consists of members drawn from a range of backgrounds including parents, staff, the local authority, the parish and wider school community.
Foundation Governors are appointed in the name of the Bishop by the Episcopal Delegate for Education and they form the majority of the Board. They have a legal duty to preserve and develop the Catholic ethos of the school and to ensure that it is conducted in accordance with its Trust Deed. Their responsibility is not only to consider the interests of their individual school or college but also the interests of other schools and colleges and Catholic education in general across the Diocese.
Nominees would not be expected to have a direct knowledge of current education law, of school organisation or governance but should be willing to learn and dedicate reasonable time to their responsibilities. They would be expected to have a genuine commitment to the educational, personal and spiritual development of students and in particular to the wellbeing of the school community as a whole, and to attend all relevant diocesan training. Supportive packs and appropriate training opportunities will be made available.
Mark Chatwood: Book Binding Service
I'm a Catholic bookbinder in Manchester, and I've done a lot of Bible, hand missal, and other book repair work as a result of my details appearing in parish newsletters, including my parish of Holy Family, Boothstown, and repaired a Lectionary for Fr. Bryan Cunningham at St. John Fisher, Kearsley. This made me wonder whether there are people in your parish who would like their irreplaceable books repaired or have custom cases made for them.
If you want a beloved book restored to life, bookbinder Mark Chatwood at My Catholic Library can help. Contact him at mark@mycatholiclibrary.co.uk or 07493292039 (I'm on WhatsApp and Signal) and see more of his work at his website www.mycatholiclibrary.co.uk
Northern Dioceses' Environment Group
The Northern Dioceses' Environment Group (NDEG) invites parishes and individuals to a workshop to find out more about how our food supply system links to our faith. The event, titled "Faith in Food - Thinking and acting both locally and globally about our food system" takes place on Saturday 18th May between 11am and 3:30pm at St Wilfrid's Church, Preston, PR1 8BU. To register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/faith-in-food-tickets-879396337117
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
Job Vacancies
Parish Administrator - St Joseph, Reddish
Appointment Type: 12 Months, fixed term contract
Working Hours: 12 hours per week, over 3 days a week (flexibility required)
Location: St Joseph's Presbytery, 23 Gorton Road, Reddish, SK5 6AZ
Salary: £12.60 per hr
Find out more and apply at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
Parish Administrator - St John Paul II, Padiham
Appointment Type: Part-time, permanent
Working Hours: 12 hours per week – worked Monday, Thursday & Friday
Location: St John's Presbytery, St John's Road, Padiham, Burnley, Lancashire BB12 7BN
Salary: £12.60 per hr
Find out more and apply at https://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