Sunday 2nd February 2025
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Jubilee Prayer
Father in heaven,
May the faith you have given us in
Your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
And the flame of charity enkindled
In our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
Reawaken in us the blessed hope
For the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into
Tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within
Both humanity and the whole cosmos
In the sure expectation of a
New heaven and a new earth,
When, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
Your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
Reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
A yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
The joy and peace of our Redeemer
Throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
Be glory and praise for ever. Amen
Jubilee Resources
Want to learn more about our Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee? Want to find out how we're observing the Holy Year in our diocese? The Diocese of Salford's website has a range of information to accompany you this Jubilee Year, with information on our Designated Churches, upcoming pilgrimages, and a range of different resources. Explore more at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/jubilee-2025
Masses & Liturgies for the coming week...
Friday 31st January
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint John Bosco, Priest (Memoria)
St. John Bosco, born in 1815 in the north of Italy, dedicated his priestly ministry to working with young people, especially street children whom he encountered in Turin. He established the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians, to assist in this work. He died in 1888.
Saturday 1st February
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady (Celebrated in Lady Chapel)
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass of The Presentation of the Lord
Sunday 2nd February
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass of The Presentation of the Lord
Monday 3rd February
6pm Reception of the Body of Muriel Conway RIP
followed by the Holy Rosary
Tuesday 4th February
10am Requiem Mass for Muriel Conway RIP
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Weekday Mass (Feria)
Wednesday 5th February
10am Requiem Mass for Mary Wilson RIP
7pm Parish Bible Study (See below for details)
Thursday 6th February
9:30am Mass, Saints Paul Miki & Companions, Martyrs (Memoria)
St. Paul Miki & Companions were Japanese martyrs. Towards the end of the 16th century there began a persecution of the Church in Japan and among those arrested were Paul Miki, a young Jesuit, and 25 others, some as young as 13. They were all taken to Nagasaki where they were crucified in 1597.
Friday 7th February
10:15am Funeral Service for Michael James Crane RIP
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Weekday Mass (Feria)
Saturday 8th February
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Sacrament of Confession
10am Mass, (Celebrated in Lady Chapel) St Josephine Bakhita, Virgin (Memoria)
St. Josephine Bakhita was born in Sudan in 1869. She was kidnapped and sold as a slave. In Italy she entered the sisters of Mary Magdalene where she took part in the life of the community in prayer, cooking, sewing and attending to the door. She died on this day in 1947.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass of The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Sunday 9th February
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass of The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (1st February – 8th February), the Sanctuary Lamp is for the Intentions of Paddy Clayton.
Our Lady's Lamp
This week (1st February – 8th February), Our Lady's Lamp is for Gerald & June McCaffrey.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£619.69. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Parish Donations
Many people have asked can they donate monies towards the parish via Direct Debit and if so what is the name of the parish account: SRCDTR ST MARY OSWALDTWISTLE.
Thank you for your continued support.
Caritas Collection
This weekend (1st/2nd February) Caritas have their diocesan mandatory collection. There will be a basket at the back of church, under the large crucifix, for anybody who wishes to donate monies to this charity. Caritas Salford Mission Statement: Our mission is to help those across the Diocese of Salford, experiencing poverty, disadvantage and discrimination to transform their lives with dignity. We provide a practical response to those in crisis, suffering hardship or who are at risk. We rebuild lives for the long-term, enabling people to live in a safe, healthy and secure environment. We call for a better, more just world where the voices of the poor are heard and acted upon and positively influence the systems, decisions and resources that affect those in need.
Parish Bible Study – St. John's Gospel
"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ!" - St. Jerome
A strong statement from St. Jerome yet true! One of the simplest ways to come close to Our Lord, to know Him better, to discern His will for us is to pick up our bible yet this can be a daunting task. Where do we start? How are we meant to read this or understand that? This New Year there will be the opportunity for scripture study in the parish – open to everyone. No prior knowledge is expected, no biblical or theological training is needed. Simply bring yourself, your bible, and the desire to know God more. We will be journeying through the final chapters of St. John's Gospel that lead up to the Lord's Passion, Death and Resurrection. The Parish Bible Study group normally meets every two weeks on a Wednesday from 7pm – 8pm. Even if you can only attend one session it's worth doing: The next meeting will be on Wednesday 5th February– Everyone is welcome.
Feast of St Josephine Bakhita
The feast day of St Josephine Bakhita, the patron saint of victims of human trafficking and modern slavery, takes place on 8th February. There are 50 million victims of human trafficking across the world and as many as 130,000 in the UK. Charities across the UK and our diocese are working hard to raise awareness and take action on what Pope Francis describes as "a crime against humanity". Resources to help you find out more can be found at santamartagroup.org/resources
Our Lady of Lourdes: Healing Service
On Tuesday, 11th February, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. It's only fitting that this is also the day the Church invites us to pray for those who are sick and suffering in mind and body. For those who have made the pilgrimage to Lourdes, you will know that it is a place of healing but not everyone is fortunate to visit. This year, on this special feast day at St. Mary's, there will be many opportunities to experience both prayer and healing, for yourself or on behalf of others.
12noon - 12:45pm – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
The Sacrament of Confession is that wonderful gift from God that helps to heal the soul. Come this evening to allow the Lord to soothe and strengthen.
1pm – Healing Service.
A simple service where we will listen to the Word of God and sing hymns, followed by intercessions for healing for ourselves and those we know; the opportunity for the Sacrament of the Sick for those Catholics who are sincerely ill and a final blessing.
1:45pm – Tea, Coffee & A Catch Up
There will be time after the healing service for tea & coffee, a chance for others to talk and meet up with faces they may not have seen for a long time.
6pm – 6:45pm – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
The Sacrament of Confession is that wonderful gift from God that helps to heal the soul. Come this evening to allow the Lord to soothe and strengthen.
7pm – Mass of Our Lady of Lourdes with Sacrament of the Sick
Are there people you know who are suffering? Then bring them in prayer to the Mass, especially at that moment when Our Lord is lifted by the priest in the Host and offered to God the Father. Bring those you know who are sick and give them to Jesus at that most sacred moment.
Salford Lourdes Pilgrimage Centenary Window
This year marks the Centenary of the first diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. To mark this anniversary the Salford Lourdes Coordination Team is delighted to announce the commission of a beautiful stained-glass window depicting Our Lady of Lourdes, which will be installed in our newly restored cathedral. You can be part of this wonderful legacy by donating to help fund the Centenary celebrations in memory of a loved one, as a gift, or in your family name. Names will be recorded in a special commemorative book. To find out more, visit https://www.salfordlourdes.co.uk/centenary-window. You can also take one of the printed leaflets from the back of church.
Marriage Blessings
The 14th of February is known throughout the world as St. Valentine's Day, a day to celebrate love. On Friday 14th February I would like to invite any couples who were married at St. Mary's, Oswaldtwistle or Sacred Heart, Accrington or another Roman Catholic Church, or any couples who are engaged to be married at St. Mary's, to come to the 6pm evening Mass for a blessing. It will be a wonderful opportunity to bring friends and family and receive that special prayer in thanks for your vocation as husband and wife. If you would like to have a blessing that Friday evening, please email stmarysoswaldtwistle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
'You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves.' -St. Francis de Sales
Pilgrim's Passport
Create new family traditions this Jubilee year by picking up our family-friendly guide to Jubilee churches in the Diocese of Salford. With fast facts, thought-provoking questions, and different activities, our Pilgrim's Passport is the ideal companion to help families pray and journey together this Jubilee Year. Find out more at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/pilgrims-passport/ or visit one of our Designated Churches to begin.
Jubilee for Communications
In celebration of the Holy Year, we are having a Jubilee of Jubilees to shine a light on a number of different themes represented in our diocese. We begin with our Jubilee for Communications, in which we explore this month's Gospels to reflect on how we can share the Good News in our world today. Access the resources now at https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/jubilee-2025/calendar/
Laudato Si' Centre Gardening Club
The Diocese of Salford's environment hub, The Laudato Si' Centre, is delighted to announce a regular gardening club, taking place on Fridays. Parish groups and volunteers are invited to join the team at the Centre to explore sustainable gardening techniques, top tips, and to come together in shared faith to care for our common home. Email laudatosi@dioceseofsalford.org.uk to find out more.
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien