Sunday 4th May 2025
Third Sunday of Easter
Masses & Liturgies for the coming week...
Friday 2nd May
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Saint Athanasius (Memoria)
St. Athanasius (296 A.D – 373A.D) led a tumultuous but dedicated life of service to the Church. He was the great champion of the faith against the widespread heresy of Arianism, the teaching by Arius that Jesus was not truly divine. The vigour of his writings earned him the title of doctor of the Church
Saturday 3rd May
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass Saints Philip & James, Apostles (Feast)
St. Philip was born in Bethsaida. Formerly a disciple of John the Baptist, he became a follower of Jesus. St. James, son of Alphaeus and cousin of the Lord led the Church of Jerusalem and was martyred in 62 A.D.
6pm The Holy Rosary for THE ELECTION OF THE NEXT POPE
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Third Sunday of Easter
Sunday 4th May
9:30am The Holy Rosary for THE ELECTION OF THE NEXT POPE
10am Mass for the Third Sunday of Easter
Tuesday 6th May
5pm – 5:30pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
5:45pm Easter Weekday Mass
Wednesday 7th May
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Easter Weekday Mass
7pm Parish Bible Study (see below for details)
Thursday 8th May
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Easter Weekday Mass
Saturday 10th May
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Easter & Columban Missionaries Appeal
Sunday 11th May
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Easter & Columban Missionaries Appeal
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (3rd May – 10th May), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Edmund Georgy.
Our Lady's Lamp
This week (3rd May – 10th May), Our Lady's Lamp is for The Hanratty Family.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£661.70. Thank you for your kind generosity.
May: Crowning Our Lady
We will Crown the statue of our Lady of Oswaldtwistle this weekend (3rd/4th May). Parishioners and their families are warmly welcome to bring flowers to the 6:30pm Vigil Mass or the 10am Mass and place them before Our Blessed Mother in devotion and thanks for her prayers.
"All generations will call me blessed": "The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship. "The Church rightly honours "the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honoured with the title of 'Mother of God,' to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs.... This very special devotion ... differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration. "The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an "epitome of the whole Gospel," express this devotion to the Virgin Mary. - Catechism of the Catholic Church #971
Divine Mercy Sunday
Thank You to all those involved in making last Sunday's devotions and Mass such a prayerful opportunity to reflect and experience God's Divine Mercy.
Columban Missionaries Appeal – 10th/11th May
Each year the Bishop gives permission for a Religious Order to make an appeal throughout the diocese to raise awareness of the charitable works they do and to request financial support in donations from parishes. This year the Columban Missionaries have been allocated the opportunity to make their appeal throughout Salford Diocese. On the weekend of the 10th/11th May, here at St. Mary's, Fr. Patrick O'Beirne SSC will celebrate the Masses:
"The principal purpose of the weekend visit to you is to raise awareness of our missionary vocation. to encourage people to be more involved in the missionary work of the church, to thank our loyal supporters. to seek greater support for our mission magazine, "The Far East" and with your permission, to take up a Mission collection at all Masses."
There will be a collection basket under the large Crucifix at the back of church should people wish to make a donation towards the work of the Columban Missionaries.
Parish Social Media: St Mary's Facebook & Instagram
Thanks to Jacqueline who has been maintaining our parish presence on social media and allowing others beyond the church walls to feel connected and experience our Catholic Faith in the Lord Jesus. If you haven't yet, then do check out the photos and videos that have been posted of our celebrations over the Easter Triduum at St. Mary's.
Facebook (St Marys RC Church Oswaldtwistle)
https://www.facebook.com/share/164UHbBSuw/
Instagram (stmarysrcoswaldtwistle) https://www.instagram.com/stmarysrcoswaldtwistle?utm_source=qr&igsh=MTl5cHhqdm9yOWtp
Parish Bible Study – The Book of Revelation
The next session is Wednesday 7th May from 7pm – 8pm. All are welcome. All you need is a Bible and an openness to come to know Our Lord better. Come and join us.
Prayer Visitors
At the start of the year, I mentioned about creating a group in the parish – Prayer Visitors – who would visit people and pray alongside them. Many housebound and vulnerable parishioners are blessed with good caring families but often lack spiritual accompaniment. They long to have another believer simply just visit and pray with them. I think this is a need that we can help fulfil at St. Mary's with volunteers, going out in at least twos, prayer visiting those who are isolated for all kinds of reasons. As a priest I visit many people ministering the sacraments but I'm not always able to spend quality time with them so Parish Prayer Visitors would be a great help towards the life of the parish. On Tuesday at 1pm there will be a preparation session in church where potential volunteers can come and learn more about the practicalities and safeguarding.
"Come and See" Day for the Permanent Diaconate
On Saturday 17th May, our diocesan vocations team will be holding a "Come and See" event for anyone interested in learning more about the permanent diaconate. Whether you're discerning a possible vocation to this wonderful ministry, or would just like to learn more about the work of a permanent deacon and how that supports our parishes, our vocations team is on hand to help you discover more. Join us for our drop-in session at St Patrick's Church, Collyhurst, any time after 10am Mass and before 3pm. Email diaconate@dioceseofsalford.org.uk to find out more.
St. Mary's School
On Thursday 8th May, the school will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of VE Day. As part of the celebrations, the school council will be holding tea and cake for any grandparents/ great grandparents of pupils. Mrs Wolstenholme would like to extend that invite to parishioners- any who wish to come for tea and cake are very welcome to from 2.30pm in school. It will be an opportunity to share stories and memories.
Diocesan Mass for Young Adults
Young adults across the diocese are once again invited to join our next Diocesan Mass for Young Adults. The Mass will take place at 5.30pm on Sunday 11 May at St Augustine's, Manchester. Confessions are available between 4.45pm - 5.15pm and please join us after Mass for a short talk exploring more about our Catholic faith.
Diocesan Youth Pilgrimage to Lindisfarne
Young pilgrims in Years 7, 8, and 9 are invited to join the Diocese of Salford's Youth Ministry Team for a faith-filled pilgrimage to The Holy Island of Lindisfarne. The pilgrimage will be led by Bishop John Arnold and will take place between 20-22 June. To find out more, please email youth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or call 0161 817 2214.
The Royal British Legion
The Royal British Legion together with the East Lancashire Concert Band and a few other special guests bring you a shared moment of celebration with an evening of entertainment and reflection to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day, Thursday 8th May 2025, at 7.30pm, at Immanuel Parish Church, New Lane, Oswaldtwistle. Tickets £5.00. Admission strictly by ticket only (due to the popularity of the D-Day 80 Concert). Tickets available from Sarah Barton on 07412647168.
Ecological Rosary at the Laudato Si' Centre
Join us at the Diocese of Salford's Laudato Si' Centre on Friday 9th May as we gather together to pray the Ecological Rosary. There will be a gathering at the woodland to pray an ecological-focussed Rosary together, surrounded by the beauty of nature. This event is a wonderful opportunity to connect with others in prayer and enjoy the tranquillity of the outdoors. Email laudatosi@dioceseofsalford.org.uk to find out more and to register.
God Bless and keep praying.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Fr. O'Brien