Sunday 22nd December 2024
Fourth Sunday of Advent
A Message from Deacon Adam:
Dear Parishioners of St Mary's, Ossy, I would like to record my appreciation and grateful thanksgiving to each and everyone of you. Last Saturday I was ordained to the order of Deacon by the grace of God to serve you, His Church. It was such a joy and a privilege on Sunday to process out holding the Book of the Gospels to see so many of you who have 'been there' through the years of my formation here in this parish church, whether in conversation or silence, supporting me by your prayers and encouragement. St. Mary's is my home from home, and you will always have a special place in my heart. As I write this to you, I am preparing to embark on my mission to the Diocese of Shrewsbury to the parish of Our Lady's and St Christopher's, Romiley. Please keep me in your daily prayers and help me, by God's grace to win souls for Jesus, in whose being I am more closely conformed to by the laying on of hands. With my remembrance in prayer for you and your parish priest.
Deacon Adam
Masses & Liturgies for the next TWO WEEKS...
Friday 20th December
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Advent Weekday Mass - O Clavis David
O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel; qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
Saturday 21st December
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Advent Weekday Mass - O Oriens (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
O Morning Star, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.
O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentes in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C)
Sunday 22nd December
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year C)
!!!HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL & EVERYONE!!!
Thank you to every parishioner who has actively helped make this season such a prayerful and joyous occasion. From musicians and singers, readers to cleaners, church garden angels and altar servers, from Christmas tree and crib decorators to saintly stewards and raffle prize donaters, from parishioners in the pew and to all of you – A Big THANK YOU! God Bless.
Tuesday 24th December - Christmas Eve
9am – 10am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5pm Carols around the Crib
5:30pm Christmas Eve Mass
'Teacher of children became himself a child among children, that he might instruct the unwise. The Bread of heaven came down to earth to feed the hungry.'
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386)
Wednesday 25th December - Christmas Day
9:30am Carols around the Crib
10am Christmas Day Mass
'Dearly beloved, today our Saviour is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness. No one is shut out from this joy; all share the same reason for rejoicing. Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no man free from sin, came to free us all.'
- St. Leo the Great (c.400-461)
Friday 27th December
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Mass, Saint John the Evangelist, Apostle, Secondary Patron of the Diocese of Salford (Feast)
St. John's Gospel is another form of witness to the Word made flesh; as we read his Gospel we are once more presented with the mystery of this Christmas Season.
Saturday 28th December
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
12noon Ordination Mass of Theo Sharrock (Salford Diocesan Seminarian)
to the Diaconate at St. Mary's, Burnley
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Holy Family of Jesus (Year C)
Sunday 29th December
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Holy Family of Jesus (Year C)
Tuesday 31st December
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Christmas Weekday Mass
!!! Happy New Year!!!
Wednesday 1st January 2025
9:30am The Holy Rosary
10am Mass, The Solemnity of Holy Mary, Mother of God
At the end of Mass there will be, as always, the opportunity for our Saint of the year to choose us from the basket.
Thursday 2nd January
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, Saints Basil the Great & Gregory of Nazianzen, Bishops & Doctors of the Church (Memoria)
St. Basil the Great & Saint Gregory Nazianzen were close friends and great figures of the Eastern Church in the fourth century. Basil was Bishop of Caesarea and active in promoting the monastic life, writing a "rule" which is still observed today. Gregory was Bishop of Constantinople and because of his great learning is still known in the East as "Gregory the Theologian"; he eventually retired from the episcopacy to return to his monastery in Nazianzus. Gregory summed up their lives: 'Our great concern, our great name, was to be Christians and be called Christians."
Friday 3rd January
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, The Most Holy Name of Jesus (Memoria)
The greatest promoters of this devotion were St Bernardine of Siena and St. John Capistrano, who used the monogram of the Holy Name in their preaching. Because the manner in which St. Bernardine preached this devotion was new, he was accused before Pope Martin V, but was successfully defended by John. This feast reminds us that the word "Jesus" means "God saves", and our salvation comes through Christ alone.
Saturday 4th January
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Votive Christmas Mass of Our Lady (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass of The Epiphany of the Lord & Blessing of Epiphany Chalk
Sunday 5th January
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass of the Epiphany of the Lord & Blessing of Epiphany Chalk
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (21st December – 28th December), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Nikki Duhan RIP.
The following week (28th December - 4th January), the Sanctuary Lamp is a Thanksgiving for all those who volunteer and help, in so many ways, here at our church of St. Mary's, Oswaldtwistle
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£692.24. Thank you for your kind generosity.
New Parish Email
For all future enquiries and communications, the diocesan IT department have set up a new email for the parish - stmarysoswaldtwistle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Let there be light...
Thank you to Ben MacCallion, from Sign It Signmakers in Oswaldtwistle and also a parishioner here at St. Mary's, and Nick from Gizzi Electrical & Engineering, Clitheroe for kindly volunteering and offering their services to set up the new outdoor path lights leading from the Lychgate to the church main entrance. On these dark nights it will make the path easier to access and more inviting.
Crisis support over the Christmas period
If you or anyone in your local community requires support over the Christmas period, Caritas Salford has put together a page on their website which includes information on when their services are open, as well as signposting to other organisations who might also be able to support those in urgent need. You can read more here: www.caritassalford.org.uk/service-christmas-opening-times/
Opening Mass for the Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee
Pope Francis has invited dioceses across the world to unite in prayer as we begin the 2025 "Pilgrims of Hope" Jubilee. Our diocese will be marking the start of the Jubilee with a Mass, celebrated by Bishop John, on Sunday 29th December at 2pm at Salford Cathedral's Temporary Church. All are welcome to join us as we mark the start of this special year of grace.
Saints in a Basket
On New Years Day at the end of the 10am Mass there will be the opportunity to 'pick a saint' from the basket. It's a wonderful devotion at the start of the year where a saint will choose us to be their patron over the next 12 months. Over the year, in thanks to God for our Saint, we learn more about their life, become inspired by their words and deeds and invoke their intercession.
Rock Salt & Muscle Power!
If you're passing a garden centre, petrol station or anywhere that's selling rock salt/grit and are able to donate a bag to church then it would be gratefully accepted. Any bags can be left outside, at the rear of the church building, by the bins. We all so need that precious gift of peoples time and energy in helping spread and scatter the grit on icey and frozen days before Masses and liturgies at church so that everyone is kept safe. If you could help then please contact Navada Keenan keenannavada@gmail.com or Karen Beard the parish Housekeeper jakey9998@aol.com
Advice as energy bills continue to rise
If you, anyone you know, or someone in your wider parish community is in need of support around rising energy bills, Caritas Salford has put together some helpful advice on their website. You can find out more by visiting https://www.caritassalford.org.uk/fuel-poverty-challenges/ and can also find details on the website page on how to arrange a session with their energy advice service team.
New Pilgrims of Hope book launched
Monsignor John Allen has harnessed his love of the geography and history of our diocese, penning a very special book which is being sold in aid of Caritas Salford. The book, Pilgrims of Hope, has been published in time for the start of the 2025 Jubilee Year which is also focussed on the theme of Pilgrims of Hope, and is available to purchase by visiting the Caritas website: www.caritassalford.org.uk/pilgrimbook
Caritas driver
Caritas Salford, our diocesan charity that supports people across Greater Manchester and Lancashire, is in urgent need of the support of a volunteer van driver. Van drivers are vital to Caritas services and are essential to their day-to-day running. If you can drive, have a few hours to spare each week, and want to help Caritas to support people across the diocese, then please contact their volunteer coordinator Matt on m.yates@caritassalford.org.uk or visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/volunteer
Job Vacancies
Parish Administrator - St Mary and St John Fisher
Appointment Type: Part-time, permanent
Working Hours: 9 hours per week, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 9.30am-12.30pm
Location: St Mary's Presbytery, Duke Street, Denton, M34 2AN
Salary: £12.60 per hour.
Find out more and apply at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies
Thank you
Thank you to everyone who has contributed in all different ways to making Christmas unique and prayerful at St. Mary's. My personal thanks for all the cards and gifts that have arrived at the front door and sacristy for myself and Adam. They are much appreciated. May God Bless you and your families this Christmas.
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien