Sunday 23rd June 2024
The Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
There will be no parish newsletter next week as I'm going on the Intercession for Priests Retreat. Canon Law requires that a priest goes on retreat regularly to spend time with God. A retreat is the opportunity to pray and listen to what the Lord is saying, to assess both direction and purpose of life and to reflect and meditate on God's presence. The Intercession for Priests Retreat is at Hinsley Hall in Leeds Diocese this year. At the back of church, under the crucifix, there is a box with paper and pens to which you can write any petitions, prayers, issues, people or situations that you would like me to pray for. I'll take them with me on Sunday afternoon and pray with them over the week.
The following are the times and dates for Masses and Liturgies for the next two weeks. My thanks to Fr. Ethelbert Arua, based at St. Wulstan's, Great Harwood, for being available to support anyone who should require a priest. St. Wulstan's – (01254) 884211. And my thanks to Adam who is back from seminary and resident in the presbytery for the summer.
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Friday 21st June
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious (Memoria)
St. Aloysius Gonzaga was born into a noble family in 1568 and entered the Jesuits at the age of 17. He worked to help the victims of the Roman plague from which he died, aged 23.
Saturday 22nd June
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass (in the Lady Chapel) Saint John Fisher, Bishop and Saint Thomas Moore, Martyrs
St. John Fisher was born at Beverley (Yorkshire) in 1469, died at London on 22nd June 1535. As Bishop of Rochester he combined pastoral ministry with study and writing. St. Thomas Moore, was born in London in 1478, died there on this day in 1535. Oxford scholar and an incorruptible judge, Speaker and Lord Chancellor. Both men were drawn into conflict with Henry VIII over his remarriage and papal supremacy, imprisoned and beheaded for treason.
12:30pm Wedding of Ms Laura Topping & Mr Samuel Davis
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Sunday 23rd June
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Wednesday 19th June
12noon Weekday Mass (Feria)
Saturday 29th June
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul, Apostles
"Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, and Paul followed. And so we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles' blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labours, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith." - St. Augustine of Hippo
Sunday 30th June
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul, Apostles
"There are the gates of our true country, the two lights of the immense world. There Paul's voice is heard like thunder; there Peter withholds or hurls the bolt. The former opens the hearts of men, the latter opens Heaven. Peter is the Foundation-stone, Paul the Architect of the temple where stands the Altar by which God is propitiated. Both together form a single Fountain, which pours out its healing and refreshing waters." St. Venantius Fortunatus
Tuesday 2nd July
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Weekday Mass (Feria)
Wednesday 3rd July
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, Saint Thomas, Apostle (Feast)
St. Thomas the Apostle, you became a faithful follower of Jesus. Though you struggled with an occasion of doubt, that struggle transformed you into a new man. Please pray for us, that every struggle and weakness we have will be eliminated and transformed so that God can use us to fulfill His holy and perfect will.
10:25am – 10:35am Devotions to Saint Joseph
(At the foot of the parish statue of St. Joseph, see below for more details)
7pm – 8pm Parish Bible Study Group (see below for details)
Thursday 4th July
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Weekday Mass (Feria)
Friday 5th July
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Votive Mass of the Precious Blood
'This blood, when worthily received, drives away demons and puts them at a distance from us, and even summons to us angels and the Lord of angels. This blood, poured out in abundance, has washed the whole world clean. This is the price of the world; by it Christ purchased the Church." ~St John Chrysostom.
Saturday 6th July
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin & Martyr (Memoria)
followed by the veneration of a relic of St. Maria Goretti (in the Lady Chapel)
St. Maria Goretti was born into a poor family in Ancona, Italy in 1890. She spent her childhood at Nettuno, helping her mother in the domestic chores. She was a religious girl, much given to prayer. In 1902, while defending her chastity against a neighbour trying to rape her, she preferred to die rather than give way, and was fatally stabbed. She forgave her attacker before she died, the following day. (in the Lady Chapel)
1pm Wedding of Ms Zoe Gallagher & Mr Edward Mountain
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Sunday 7th July
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (22nd June - 29th June), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Ken Hargreaves & May Hargreaves.
For the following weekend (29th June - 6th July), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Owen Houston and the departed members of the family.
Last Week's Easter Offertory Collection
£660.76. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Day for Life
Thank you to all those who donated towards the Day for Life collection last weekend. We raised altogether £148.36.
Peter's Pence Collection
The annual collection for Peter's Pence, which funds the Pope's charitable works, takes place on the Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul this year – 29th/30th June. The Secretariat for the Economy has sent a reminder to all bishops conferences regarding the importance of this collection in the work of the Holy See. There will be a labeled collection basket at the back of church (under the crucifix) from the Vigil Mass (29th June) until after the 10am Sunday Mass 20th June) for any donations towards the works of Our Holy Father, the Pope. Further information regarding the collection, as well as supporting materials, can be found at https://www.obolodisanpietro.va/en/giornate-dell-obolo.html
Welcome Back
On Wednesday we welcome back Adam from seminary who returns for a break in his studies for the priesthood. He will be resident here at St. Mary's over the summer before resuming his training at Oscott College in September. Let's continue to pray for Adam as he, God willing, prepares to receive Holy Orders to the Diaconate this December and then ordained a priest next year.
Prayer for Vocations
Loving Father,
you call us by name.
As we journey through life
help us to be confident in our own unique identity
and to find opportunities
to develop our own gifts and passions.
We pray that the Holy Spirit
will pour on us wisdom and guidance
to help us realise and follow our dreams,
discerning your plan for our lives.
Bless your Church
by raising up dedicated and generous people
from our families and friends
who will serve as Priests, Deacons,
Sisters and Brothers.
May we support one another in response to God's call.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Salford Diocesan Big Listen: Upddate
On the 18 May, Sharon and Mike represented St Mary's at the latest Salford Diocese "Big Listen" meeting which took place at Bolton Wanderers Football Club. Over 200 parish representatives, alongside Bishop Arnold, heard the feedback and findings from the first Big Listen exercise which started in November 2023 and finished in January 2024. Over 30,000 comments were reviewed by academics and senior priests, and after a thorough analysis we were presented with the four key themes which will form the basis of the next wave of activity. The themes are:
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Nurturing Faith for Tomorrow's World.
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Building Connections
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Enabling Access
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Fostering Christ-like Care
The next request from the Diocese is for the parishes to dig deeper into the four themes and create proposals for action. To do this at St Mary's, Sharon and Mike would like to invite you to 4 meetings where each of the topics will be considered in turn. The dates for your diary are:
Wednesday 10 July: 7.00pm-8.00pm
Wednesday 4 September: 7.00pm - 8.00pm
Wednesday 2 October: 7.00pm - 8.00pm
Wednesday 6 November: 7.00pm - 8.00pm
We hope to hold all of the sessions in the Church, but we will confirm the details of the location and session theme nearer the time. This is a wonderful opportunity to continue to play an important part in the future of our Diocese, and we hope to see as many of you as possible at the sessions.
Devotions to Saint Joseph
On Wednesday 3rd July, after the 10am Mass, there will be our first Wednesday devotions to St. Joseph (at the foot of his statue at the back of church). The devotions will include praying the Litany of St. Joseph, the Memorare of St. Joseph and the Prayer of the Holy Cloak Novena. In these devotions our prayer is to ask St. Joseph to pray for our parish family and for those who have wandered away from Church, that they may return and find a warm welcome.
Parish Bible Study – St. John's Gospel
The next session is Wednesday 3rd July from 7pm – 8pm. All are welcome. All you need is a Bible and an openness to come to know Our Lord better.
Bishop John Arnold: General Election Letter
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The next UK general election is set for Thursday 4th July.
It is a privilege to vote, and I encourage each one of us to actively participate in the process. Not just on polling day but in engaging with the key issues that matter to us as individuals and as Catholics, focussing on how we want our society to operate.
The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council reminded us of the importance and purpose of voting. They went so far as to call it a duty, and not just for Catholics. "All citizens, therefore, should be mindful of the right and also the duty to use their free vote to further the common good" (Gaudium et Spes, 75)."
We should be looking beyond the superficial soundbite and to the heart of matters. As Catholics we can use this as an opportunity to put our faith into action, prioritising issues, policies, and politicians that reflect and share our values. We must avoid the politics of polarisation and division and seek to find a narrative that is for the common good.
There are many issues that will speak to you, but the Bishops' Conference have chosen to highlight a number:
· Respect for The Dignity of Every Human Being
· Education
· Promotion of Peace and Reconciliation
· Upholding The Sanctity of Life
· Eradication of Poverty (through promoting a just economic system and promoting the dignity of work)
· Criminal Justice
· Care For Our Common Home - this Planet.
· International relations and Human Rights
· Migration and Refugees
With the right to vote comes the responsibility and I encourage everyone to get to know the individual candidates standing in their constituency - and to learn what they stand for.
Along with my fellow faith leaders in Greater Manchester and Lancashire I also urge you to vote for people who will promote positive relationships and cohesion between all our communities, and who oppose anything that causes racial or religious hatred or prejudice on grounds of race, nationality, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age or religion – especially Antisemitism or Islamophobia in the current international climate.
We must never take this democratic freedom for granted. I urge everyone who can vote to do so. Please remember that Photo ID is now necessary in order to be permitted to vote.
You may also, individually and in your parishes, wish to pray for the General Election. A suggested prayer is provided by the Columban Missionaries:
A Prayer for Elections
Eternal God, Lord of creation,
As we look towards the upcoming election
We ask that your Spirit of Truth be upon us.
Let us, your people, be guided by Gospel values,
Of Love of neighbour, truth, justice
And compassion towards all.
Particularly the 'least' of our sisters and brothers.
Help us to choose political parties and candidates willing
To place the needs of the many before the profits of the few.
To put the wellbeing of the majority above the wellbeing of the markets,
And the conserving of our common home ahead of the
cosseting of corporations that harm creation.
Amen
Stay with us Lord, on our journey.
+John
SPUC (Society for the Protection of Unborn Children): General Election Message
A General Election has been called for 4th July 2024. The threat of abortion being decriminalised was averted when this election was called, but these extreme proposals are sure to return. The next Parliament will also likely see a big push to legalise assisted suicide. It is therefore vital that we elect MP'S who will oppose these threats to life. To contact your candidates, and to check on their voting intentions, please go to https://www.spuc.org.uk/General-Election-2024
Information and Guidance on Upcoming Elections
In light of the upcoming general elections on July 4, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has shared very useful resources that offer information and guidance on key topics of interest to Catholic voters. The resources can be viewed online at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/election24/
Caritas: Register to Vote
Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) are encouraging all Catholics to #RegisterToVote before 23:59 on the 18 June 2024 in preparation for the General Election. CSAN have launched a number of resources to help Catholics inform their conscience and navigate the political landscape at this time, find more at www.csan.org.uk/general-election-2024
Refugee Week 2024
Bishop John Arnold has shared a message for this year's Refugee Week, taking place 17-23 June. In his message, Bishop Arnold asks us to pray for the 130 million people who are forcibly displaced in our world today, calling us to be "instruments of peace and wellbeing" as we work to ensure dignity and justice for all. Visit https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/refugee-week-2024/ for the Bishop's full message.
Fancy a run?
If the recent Great Manchester Run inspired you to get moving, or if you're looking for a new challenge, then join the Caritas Salford race team to help alleviate family poverty and homelessness in our diocese. Whether you're looking for a marathon, half marathon or a 10k place for yourself, or you're part of a group at work or in the community and want to join team Caritas, they'd love to hear from you as they make charity plans for 2025. They also have limited places available for this October's Manchester Half Marathon. Read all about it and register for your place here: www.caritassalford.org.uk/take-part-in-a-caritas-fundraising-event-or-activity/
St. Oswald's School
On Wednesday the upper school joined us for the 10am parish Mass. In the gospel Jesus spoke to his disciples about the importance of prayer, not just communally, but also privately. We were reminded that prayer is essential to not only come closer to God and feel His presence but also that prayer is the place where He talks to us.
Get Social
Are you aged 18-35? Are you looking to celebrate your faith with other young Catholic adults across the diocese? Give the Diocese of Salford Young Adults Ministry a follow on Instagram! For the latest on upcoming events, opportunities to connect and get involved, as well as regular content and resources to nurture your faith life on the go, simply search @salfordyouth on Instagram.
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
Caritas Parish Representatives
Caritas Salford is inviting parishes who do not currently have a Caritas Parish Rep as part of their social action/justice provision to get in touch to find out more about how they can help their community put love and faith into action. For more information, please email m.yates@caritassalford.org.uk
Madonna Del Rosario procession
The annual Madonna Del Rosario procession, organised by the Manchester Italian Association, will take place on Sunday 7 July 2024. The procession will begin at 1.15pm from St Michael's (former church), George Leigh Street, in Ancoats. It will continue through Manchester City Centre to St Peter's Square. All are welcome to join this wonderful celebration.
Job Vacancies
Grant and Bid Writer - Diocese of Salford (replacement role)
Appointment Type: Full-time, permanent
Working Hours: 35 hours per week to be worked Monday to Friday
Location: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Salary: £36,338 – £40,289 per annum
Find out more and apply at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/
Education Administrator - Diocese of Salford (replacement role)
Appointment Type: Full-time, permanent (term time only will be considered)
Working Hours: 35 hours per week to be worked Monday to Friday
Location: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Salary: ££24,983 – £28,668 per annum (FTE)
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