Sunday 1st September 2024
Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Friday 30th August
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saints Margaret Clitherow, Anne Line and Margaret Ward, Martyrs (Memoria)
St. Margaret Clitherow was born in York in 1556, and died there on the 25th March 1586. At 15, she married a butcher, John Clitherow, and three years later became a Catholic. She hid priests in their house. In 1586, the secret hiding places were discovered. She refused to plead at her trial, for which she was crushed to death.
Saint Anne Line was born at Dunmow (Essex) in 1565 and hanged at Tyburn on 27th February 1601. In her teens, she became a Catholic and was disinherited and in 1585 married Roger Line who was exiled for his faith leaving her destitute. She kept house for priests. After people had been seen at her house for Mass, she was arrested, tried and condemned to death.
Saint Margaret Ward was born at Congleton (Cheshire), but entered into the service of a family in London. She was arrested after assisting a priest escape from prison, but refused to reveal his hiding place or renounce her faith. She was tried at the Old Bailey and executed in 1588.
Saturday 31st August
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, Saint Aidan and Saints of Lindisfarne (Memoria) (In the Lady Chapel)
St. Aidan, born in Ireland and died at Bamburgh (Northumberland) in 651A.D. A monk of Iona, he was sent to Northumbria when King Oswald asked for help in converting his kingdom, and established his monastery on the island of Lindisfarne. With him are remembered the holy abbots, bishops, teachers and missionaries who made Lindisfarne a cradle of English Christianity.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Sunday 1st September
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Tuesday 3rd September
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Gregory the Great, Pope, Doctor of the Church (Feast)
St Gregory the Great was born in Rome in 540A.D; he became a civil servant and Prefect of the City. He entered the Abbey of St. Andrew, and was ordained deacon in 578A.D. In 590A.D Gregory was elected Pope, showing pastoral care in preaching, writing, care for the poor and working for the welfare of Rome. He is the "Apostle of England" because it was he who sent Augustine to minister there, after encountering English slaves in the Forum.
Wednesday 4th September
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, Mass, Saint Cuthbert, Bishop (Memoria)
St. Cuthbert was born 643A.D, died on Farne 20th March 687 A.D. A shepherd boy, he became a monk at Melrose. After the Synod of Whitby in 664 A.D, he became prior of Lindisfarne and won over the community to Roman customs. In 676 A.D. he left the monastery to live in solitude on the island of Farne. For the last two years of his life he served as bishop of Lindisfarne but returned to his island to die.
Thursday 5th September
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Weekday Mass (Feria)
Parish Festal Weekend
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle
Friday 6th September
10am 'Happy Birthday Our Lady!' Children's Liturgy
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 – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Votive Mass of Our Lady
Saturday 7th September
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (In the Lady Chapel)
2pm Healing Service
This will be an opportunity to pray for all those who are ill and struggling with all kinds of health problems in body and mind and asking Our Lady's intercession for them. For those who are struggling the Sacrament of the Sick will be offered.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Because of scaffolding around the church, access to the outside grotto is temporarily restricted hence there will be no usual torchlight procession on this occasion.
Sunday 8th September
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
with the procession of the statue of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle around church.
2pm St. Mary's Celebratory Afternoon Tea
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (31st August - 7th September), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Maurice Cross.
Last Week's Easter Offertory Collection
£613.93. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Contactless Donations
An overwhelming number of parishioners have asked for the option of financially supporting St. Mary's via the weekly collection through contactless payment. As of this weekend (31st Aug/ 1st Sept) at the back of church you will now see a contactless card reader station. In a few weeks time there will be the opportunity for people who Gift Aid to enter their donations but more details on this will follow. On behalf of the parish I'd like to say Thank You to Eric & Berni Parr for helping to facilitate this method of supporting our church.
The Feast of Saint Monica
Thank you to all those who came and supported the Mass on Tuesday evening. Over 100 people came to ask for St. Monica's intercession and venerate her relic on behalf of family and friends. The distances people had traveled was humbling to hear. Thank you to Fr. Wadsworth from St. Anne's, Accrington for hearing Confessions at the end of the Mass. I think for all of us who came on Tuesday evening the Lord helped not only to affirm and encourage us but there was a lot of healing.
Dear Saint Monica, you were once the mournful mother of a prodigal son. Your faithfulness to prayer brought you and your son so close to God that you are now with him in eternity. By your intercession and God's grace, your son St. Augustine became a great and venerable Saint of the Church. Please take my request to God with the same fervor and persistence with which you prayed for your own son.
(Mention your intentions here)
With your needs, worries and anxieties, you threw yourself on the mercy and providence of God. Through sorrow and pain, you constantly devoted yourself to God. Pray for me that I might join you in such a deep faith in God's goodness and mercy.
Above all, dear Saint Monica, pray for me that I may, like your son, turn from my sin and become a great saint for the glory of God.
Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be… Amen.
Diocesan Obituary for Rev. Fr. Derek Woodhead RIP
"Dear Father, I write to inform you of the death of Father Derek Woodhead, who died peacefully on Sunday 18th August at Dr Kershaw's Hospice in Royton. Fr Woodhead was in his seventy seventh year, the fifty second year of his Sacred Priesthood. May he rest in peace.
Derek was born on 25th October 1947 in Oswaldtwistle and baptised on 9th November 1947 at St Mary's, Oswaldtwistle. He was educated at St Mary's Junior School and Holy Family Secondary Modern School.
Derek was accepted as an Ecclesiastical student for the Diocese of Salford in June 1961 and studied at St Hugh's College, Tollerton Hall. In September 1967, he transferred to St Joseph's College, Upholland.
Father Derek Woodhead was ordained to the Priesthood at St Alban's, Blackburn as part of their Bicentenary Celebrations, on 23rd June 1973.
Fr Woodhead served:
1973-1978: St. Mary, Blackburn as Assistant Priest
1978-1984: Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Blackley as Assistant Priest
1984-1986: Our Lady of Grace, Prestwich as Assistant Priest
1986-1988: St. Margaret Mary, New Moston as Parish Priest
1988-1999: St. Mary, Ashton-under-Lyne as Parish Priest
1999-2023: St. Anne & St Michael, Oldham as Parish Priest
2018-2023: Sacred Heart and Our Lady, Oldham as Parish Priest in addition to St. Anne & St Michael.
Fr Derek retired on 1st September 2023, residing at Fleet Street, Oldham until he moved to Dr Kershaw's Hospice in Royton at the end of July this year.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Marie Sartini
Bishop's PA"
Invocation at Adoremus
You can now register to join us at Invocation at Adoremus this September! Taking place at St Mary's College, Oscott, on 15 September, this beautiful day is designed specifically for adults discerning a particular vocation or direction; providing them with an opportunity to pray, to talk about their journey, and to find support and resources to help them along the way. Find out more and register online at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/invocation-adoremus-2024/ If you would like to enquire about transport options, please email youth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
LOOKING FOR A LATE CATHOLIC GAP YEAR?
Do you know anybody who is Catholic, aged around 18 to 22 and still not got anything lined up for the year ahead? Castlerigg Manor (the Diocese of Lancaster retreat centre, located in the Lake District) are still looking for young people to join their youth ministry in internship scheme. The scheme provides comprehensive training and experience as well as accommodation and food for the year, and a stipend each week. Anyone who is interested can check out castleriggmanor.com >> join the team, or Email Jack Regan – director@castleriggmanor.co.uk
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
Young Adults Mass
Our Young Adults Mass returns to St Augustine's in Manchester this September after our summer break! Join us at 5.30pm on Sunday 8 September as we gather together for our Mass and the start of a series of talks entitled "The Thrill of Orthodoxy", based on G K Chesterton's "Orthodoxy". The series will unpick how an exploration of religious, philosophical, social, and political ideas leads us to embrace our Christian faith.
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/.
Season of Creation
This September, our diocese joins Christians across the globe in celebrating Season of Creation - a month-long campaign inviting us to renew our relationship with God and His Creation. This year, we will be celebrating by sharing updates on key diocesan projects, as well as top tips to support your efforts at home. Follow our news pages at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news to stay up to date.
Caritas Salford Sponsored Walk
Caritas Salford is organising a sponsored walk around beautiful Whalley, Lancashire, on Saturday 14 September. The walk will cover a moderately challenging route of 14km, with a shorter option available for those who prefer. Every step you take will also help local people experiencing homelessness, poverty and discrimination. To sign up to join the walk, visit: www.caritassalford.org.uk/lancswalk
Manchester-based charity seeks new trustees
Out There - a Manchester-based charity founded by the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul - is looking for two new recruits for its board of trustees to help guide the charity's mission to offer support to families affected by the imprisonment of a family member. To find out more about the position or the charity, please visit www.outtherecharity.org/volunteer/
Catholic Association for Racial Justice 40th Anniversary
To mark the important milestone of their 40th anniversary, the Catholic Association for Racial Justice (CARJ) is holding a free conference in Oldham on Saturday 21st September.
The 'Agenda for Change' conference will build on the experiences and learning of the past 40 years and put forward a strategy for bringing about greater equality and creating a racially-just Church and society. Find out more at www.carj.org.uk
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
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien