Sunday 11th August 2024
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Church Building: Update
The scaffolding continues being put up which will eventually result in around 90% of the church building being covered. As a consequence the small side gate on Hawthorn Ave is no longer open and there is no access directly from the car park to the church because of the scaffolding along the side of St. Mary's. The car park will still be open but users will have to walk along the public footpath on Hawthorn Ave to access church. The gates at the very bottom of Hawthorn Ave will still be accessible as well as the Lychgate entrance on Catlow Hall Street. The project manager and the roofers have estimated that all roof works should be completed by September.
Masses & Liturgies for the Coming Week…
Friday 9th August
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Virgin & Martyr, Patron of Europe
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was born in Germany in 1891. She was killed with her sister Rosa in the gas chamber of Auschwitz in 1942. A convert from Judaism, she became a Discalced Carmelite, and embraced in her life the cross of Christ.
Saturday 10th August
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Saint Lawrence, Deacon & Martyr (Feast) (in the Lady Chapel)
St. Lawrence was a Deacon in Rome in the time of Pope Sixtus II. He was responsible for the charitable works of the Roman Church. He was asked, when arrested, for the treasure of the Church to which he responded by pointing to the poor, hungry, lepers and widows he served. Tradition tells that he was killed by being roasted on a grid.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Sunday 11thth August
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Tuesday 13th August
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Weekday Mass (Feria)
Wednesday 14th August
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest & Martyr (Memoria)
St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe was born in Poland in 1894. He became a Franciscan in 1910. Arrested by the invading German forces in 1939 and sentenced to heavy labour in the extermination camp at Auschwitz. When a married man was chosen to be executed, Maximilian volunteered to take his place. He was killed by lethal injection on 14th August 1941. He was canonised in 1982 in the presence of the man whose life he saved.
1pm Requiem Mass for Margaret Tattersall RIP
Thursday 15th August
SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Holy Day of Obligation
'It was fitting that she, who had kept her virginity in childbirth, should keep her own body free from all corruption even after death. It was fitting that she, who had carried the Creator as a child at her breast, should dwell in the divine tabernacles… it was fitting that God's Mother should possess what belongs to her Son and that she should be honoured by every creature as the Mother and the Handmaid of God." - St John Damascene
9:15am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass
5:30pm The Holy Rosary
6pm Mass
Friday 16th August
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Weekday Mass (Feria)
Saturday 17th August
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (In the Lady Chapel)
"Mary, give me your Heart: so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate; your Heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor."- Saint Teresa of Kolkata
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Sunday 18th August
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (10th August - 17th August), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Raymond Davitt.
Last Week's Easter Offertory Collection
£767.24. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Holy Day of Obligation...
On Thursday 15th August we celebrate the Solemnity of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a holy day of obligation and all faithful Roman Catholics are obliged to come to Mass that day. At St. Mary's there will be Masses at 10am and 6pm. There will also be opportunity for The Rosary & Adoration. (See timetable above)
Update on our Diocesan Synod
Following on from the first gathering of the diocesan journey, we are now able to share the
'Big Listen' Report. This report shares the responses and themes identified from the diocesan
wide listening exercise. You can access the full report via the diocesan website code below. The four principal themes that emerged from the Big Listen stage of the process, which took place between October 2023 and January 2024 are:
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Nurturing Faith in Tomorrow's World
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Building Connections
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Enabling Access
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Fostering Christ-like Care
As well as the full report, four summary leaflets and other related resources will be made
available in monthly stages on a theme by theme basis, starting in September with Theme
One: Nurturing Faith in Tomorrow's World. You will be able to access these via the same link.
Please look out for more details on how you can get involved in the next stage of our parish's
involvement in the Synod. To find out more about the latest updates, what's next for our diocesan synod, or how you can get involved, please visit https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/faith/synod/
We will be holding 4 meetings at St Mary's Church where we will be looking at each theme individually. As soon as we have the dates and times for these meetings, we will let you know.
Sharon and Mike - St Mary's Synod representatives.
100 Miles for St. Mary's
As announced at the 10am Sunday Mass last week, one of our younger parishioners, Gabrielle, is attempting to walk 100 miles in the month of August to raise money for our church. If you would like to sponsor her please find the relevant forms at the back of church (under the large crucifix). I would like to say thank you again to Gabrielle for undertaking this challenge and how edifying it is, seeing our young people investing time and energy into the parish they value and appreciate. Good Luck Gabrielle.
The Feast of Saint Monica
This Feast of St. Monica this year falls on Tuesday 27th August. As we know, St. Monica was a devoted wife and mother who earnestly prayed for her family to return to the Church. Her prayers were expressed in words and tears that came straight from the heart, asking Our Lord to bring her family, especially her son Augustine, back to the Faith. As Brandon Vogt comments:
"St. Monica exemplifies the power of a praying parent. She wasn't able to convince Augustine with words, and in fact, whenever she tried to talk to him about religion, he brushed her away. But through her daily, committed intercession, over more than fifteen years, Augustine was able to journey into the Church."
We all know people, especially loved ones, family and friends, who struggle with the Faith and who have lapsed for all kinds of reasons. Let's come together on Tuesday 27th August to ask St. Monica's intercession to bring them home to the Lord. At 7pm there will be the celebration of Mass followed by the opportunity to venerate a relic of St. Monica and invoke her aid. Her statue, which will be placed on the sanctuary, will have a prayer box before it where people are invited to write the names of family and friends and place them in the box asking for St. Monica's intercession. All are welcome and do spread the word so that others may know and come.
Date for you Diaries…
St. Mary's Parish Feast & Celebration, Friday 6th September – Sunday 8th September 2024.
Friday 6th September: 10am 'Happy Birthday Our Lady!' - All are welcome as the children from our three parish primary schools (Sacred Heart, St. Mary's and St. Oswald's) celebrate a prayer service thanking God for the gift of His Mother Mary.
5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament followed by 6pm Votive Mass of Our Lady
Saturday 7th September: 9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions,
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady, 2pm Healing Service with the Sacrament of the Sick, 6pm The Holy Rosary, 6:30pm the Vigil Mass
Sunday 8th September: 9:30am The Holy Rosary, 10am Mass beginning with the procession of the statue of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle around the church, 2pm Celebratory Afternoon Tea (For details about tickets to the Afternoon Tea see below).
If any other parishioners would like to volunteer their time and facilitate an event they are more than welcome to. Please see Fr. O'Brien to share what you would like to do. Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
St. Mary's Celebratory Afternoon Tea
On the afternoon of Sunday 8th September at 2pm there will be a Celebratory Afternoon Tea as part of the parish festal weekend. There will be sumptuous sandwiches, tempting cakes, traditional scones with jam and cream. Tickets will be £15pp on a first come first serve basis and will available from the stewards desk. Numbers are limited and so in fairness people will only be able to put their name down if they have payment with them when booking. The booking sheet will be available this weekend (14th/15th July) at the 6:30pm Vigil Mass and the 10am Sunday Mass.
Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) Campaign
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children is leading a campaign calling on the government to end the two-child credit cap. To find out more about this campaign and to sign the petition, please visit https://www.spuc.org.uk/end-benefit-cap
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Rome 2025
The Diocese of Salford is delighted to announce a number of pilgrimages to celebrate the 2025 Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee, including a pilgrimage to Rome in September. Bookings for the pilgrimage, led by Bishop John, will open on Monday 5th August. Please email info@northernstartravel.com or call 0161 773 2115 to book your place. Please note, places are extremely limited. For more information on our other pilgrimages at home and overseas, please visit https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/jubilee-pilgrimages/.
World Youth Day Rome 2025
Are you aged 16-35? Are you looking for an unforgettable opportunity to share your faith with other young Catholics? Pope Francis has announced a special World Youth Day in Rome next summer to celebrate the Church's Year of Jubilee and our diocesan Youth Ministry team invites you to be part of this once-in-a-25-year event! The pilgrimage will take place between 28 July and 3 August. For more information and to register your interest, please email youth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Salford Lourdes Pilgrimage Centenary Window
Our Salford Lourdes Coordination Team is delighted to announce the commission of a beautiful stained-glass window, which will be installed in our newly-restored cathedral, commemorating the centenary of this much-loved pilgrimage. You can be part of this wonderful legacy by donating in memory of a loved one, as a gift, or in your family name, with names being recorded in a special commemorative book. To find out more, visit https://www.salfordlourdes.co.uk/centenary-window.
Caritas Diocese of Salford Summer Appeal
Our diocesan charity, Caritas Diocese of Salford, has launched its summer appeal as new research reveals child poverty to be at an all-time high across Greater Manchester and Lancashire. To find out more about the appeal and how you can support families across our diocese, please visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/campaign/child-poverty
Message from John McManus, St. Mary's Clayton
The Knights of St Columba are intending to organise a coach to Ladyewell Shrine, Fernyhalgh one Saturday in September (Date to be Arranged). The coach will pick up at our churches at 8:45am and return at 4:30pm. The cost will be £11 per person. The coach parks in the car park of St Mary's Church, Fernyhalgh and there is a pilgrims walk of 500 yards to the Shrine. Transport is available from the car park to the Shrine if needed. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided on arrival, followed by time to look around Ladyewell House and Gardens. Mass is at 12:00 noon in the Lancashire Martyrs Chapel. Please bring your own lunch – tea and coffee will be provided. Benediction is at 2:15pm, followed by the return coach journey. If you would like to join the visit, please add your name to the sheet at the back of church. Please note that you are not booking a place at this stage. Once there is an idea of numbers, then the Knights of St Columba will be able to finalise the date and then information on how to book will be circulated.
Job Vacancies
Maintenance Operative - Diocese of Salford
Appointment Type: Full-time, Permanent
Working Hours: 35 hours per week to be worked Monday to Friday
Location: Around the diocese
Salary: £21,840 – £24,343 per annum (depending on skills and experience)
Find out more and apply at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies
Skilled Maintenance Operative - Diocese of Salford
Appointment Type: Full-time, Permanent
Working Hours: 35 hours per week to be worked Monday to Friday
Location: Around the diocese
Salary: £29,525 – £32,735 per annum (depending on skills and experience)
Find out more and apply at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/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 (depending on skills and experience)
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