Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church
Catlow Hall Street, Oswaldtwistle
Lancashire
BB5 3EZ
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. S D O’Brien
Parish Administrator: Ciara Kelly
Tel: 01254-232433
Email: stmarysoswaldtwistle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Sunday 31st August 2025
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Masses & Liturgies for the following week ...
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am 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.
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 31st August
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday 2nd September
5pm – 5:50pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Weekday Mass (Feria)
Wednesday 3rd September
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am 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.
Thursday 4th September
9:30am 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.
Parish Festal Weekend - Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle
Friday 5th September
6pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions.
7pm Healing Mass, with the Sacrament of the Sick and a Eucharist Healing Procession
Saturday 6th September
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady
1pm Wedding Service of Jonathan Eccles & Antonia Carroll
6pm The Holy Rosary
6:30pm Vigil Mass followed by a Torchlight Procession to the Grotto
Sunday 7th September
9:30am The Holy Rosary
10am Mass beginning with the procession of the statue of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle around the church.
Monday 8th September: Day of Celebration
9:30am The Holy Rosary
10am Feast Day Mass
1pm Celebratory Afternoon Tea
6pm Feast Day Mass
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (30th August – 5th September), the Sanctuary Lamp is for In Memory of Irene Bridges.
Our Lady’s Lamp
This week (30th August – 5th September), Our Lady’s Lamp is for Linda Usbourne.
Last Week’s Offertory Collection
£598.47. Thank you for your kind generosity.
St. Mary’s Celebratory Afternoon Tea
Join us on Monday 8th September, at 1:30pm for a delightful Celebratory Afternoon Tea, for our parish feast day – Our Lady’s Birthday. Enjoy a selection of delicious sandwiches, tempting cakes, and traditional scones with jam and cream. There will also be some live entertainment. Tickets are £15 per person, available on a first-come, first-served basis from the stewards’ desk. As numbers are limited, tickets will only be reserved when accompanied by payment. The booking sheet is now available. Please see any of the stewards at the 6:30pm Vigil Mass and the 10am Sunday Mass.
PLEASE NOTE: Payment to be made by Sunday 31st August to confirm your place.
Consultation on Changing the Saturday 6:30pm Vigil Mass Time
Over the past three months, parishioners have raised the possibility of bringing the Saturday Vigil Mass forward. This discussion has come from concerns among older members of our community about attending Mass during darker evenings, as well as the practical needs of families with young children.
Many parishioners have expressed a preference for an earlier time, with 5:30pm being a commonly suggested option. In order to consider this change, we need to address some practical matters. Specifically, we would need volunteers willing to serve as stewards to open and close the church, particularly if our current stewards are unavailable at the new time. Similarly, we would require parishioners to step forward as readers, in case existing readers are unable to accommodate the change.
If you are willing to support this potential change by volunteering as a steward or reader, please email the parish office at stmarysoswaldtwistle@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
during the month of September.
If we are unable to meet these practical needs by the end of September, the Vigil Mass will remain at its current time of 6:30pm.
Be Daring! Be Brave! Try Something New to Strengthen Your Relationship with God!
Opening the Bible and beginning to read can feel daunting or confusing at first—but we believe that through Sacred Scripture, God speaks to us personally. Why not take a step in faith and give it a try?
On Wednesday 10th September, from 7:00pm to 8:00pm, you're invited to explore the Acts of the Apostles, chapter by chapter. Discover the miracles, challenges, and faith of the early Christians. Learn about the cultures that shaped them, the stories behind their lives, and the courage that carried the Church forward in its earliest days.
All you need to bring is yourself and a Bible. This is not an academic course or formal lecture—it’s a welcoming space for believers to gather, reflect, and walk with the Lord through Scripture.
Everyone is welcome. Step out of your routine. Do something different. Come and join us.
Food Bank Update
Some parishioners have recently asked what specific items our local Food Bank is currently in need of. Below is an update from our parish Food Bank liaison, Jackie Ringer:
“The Food Bank is incredibly grateful for the ongoing generosity of St Mary's parishioners and sends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who donates. I recently reached out to find out which items are most needed at the moment. While they currently have a surplus of tinned soup, the following items would be especially welcome:
Tinned fruit, rice pudding, meat, vegetables, and spaghetti
Breakfast cereals, instant noodles, rice, biscuits
Pasta sauces, tea, coffee, sugar
Toiletries: soap, shampoo, conditioner, sanitary towels, toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, toothbrushes”
A big thank you to Jackie for keeping us informed, and to all those who continue to support the Food Bank. God bless you for your kindness and generosity.
Jubilee for the Environment
This September, we celebrate the Jubilee for the Environment with a beautiful Outdoor Mass at the Laudato Si’ Centre at 9.30am on Monday 1st September. For more information and to register, please email laudatosi@dioceseofsalford.org.uk.
The Martyr-Saints of the North-West
A priest of Salford Diocese will be leading a weekend of study exploring more about the Reformation-era martyrs of the North West. Part-retreat, part-biographical, the weekend will be led by Mgr John Allen, who has recently published a book on the history of the diocese. The study weekend runs from 12-14th September at the Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst. For more information and to book: https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/the-martyr-saints-of-the-north-west/
The Mercy Brothers
Enjoy a family-friendly night of musical entertainment with clergy band, The Mercy Brothers. The concert will raise funds for our Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage Fund, which supports our sick pilgrims and medical team. The concert takes place on Friday 3rd October at St Michael's RC Parish, Whitefield. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm start. Tickets cost £15 for adults, £10 for 16-21 year olds, and free for under 16s. Food will be provided and included in the cost. Book now by emailing Lourdes.pilgrimage@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or phone the pilgrimage office on 0161 817 2209.
Mini Pilgrimage Opportunity
The Northern Dioceses Environment Group - of which the Diocese of Salford is a member - is organising a mini pilgrimage from Leeds City Station to Kirkstall Abbey on Saturday 20 September, 12.45 - 4pm. The 4.7 mile pilgrimage runs mainly along the Leeds Liverpool Canal Towpath. All are welcome to join. Find out more by emailing laudatosi@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Marriage Support & Healing
MARRIAGE HELP - Retrouvaille helps couples find hope and healing for their marriage. Next date: 17th-19th Oct. www.retrouvaille.org.uk Tel: 0788 7296983