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 5th April
Easter Sunday
Saturday 4th April
8:30pm The Solemn Easter Vigil
Sunday 5th April – Easter Sunday
9:30am – The Holy Rosary
10am – Easter Sunday Mass
Tuesday 7th April
6pm Easter Weekday Mass
Wednesday 8th April
10am Easter Weekday Mass
Saturday 11th April
2pm Wedding Liturgy for Miss Victoria Limberger & Issac Whelan
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for the Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)
Sunday 12th April
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for the Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (4th April – 10th April) the Sanctuary Lamp is for Dawn Livesey.
Our Lady’s Lamp
This week (4th April – 10th April) Our Lady’s Lamp is for Thomas Anderton.
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£611.73. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Thank You – Holy Week & Easter
I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all who helped to make Holy Week and Easter here at St Mary’s such a prayerful and welcoming time, especially for the many visitors who joined us. There is always a danger, when thanking individuals, of unintentionally leaving someone out. So to each and every one of you — thank you. From our cleaners, readers, gardeners, flower display team, altar servers, singers and musicians, stewards, and those who donated Easter eggs and gifts; to all who supported the raffle, and to everyone who came to pray and worship — your contribution, in whatever way, helped make this a truly special and grace-filled time. Thank you all for your generosity and dedication. God bless you, and a very Happy Easter to you all. Fr O’Brien
Welcome to the Family
At the Easter Vigil, we are delighted to welcome Victoria, who will be baptised, and together with Glen, will be confirmed and receive their First Holy Communion. Their witness of faith is a great joy and encouragement to us all as a parish family. It reminds us that others continue to see the truth and beauty of the Lord, and come to encounter Him within His Church. Let us keep Victoria and Glen in our prayers, and also remember all our new brothers and sisters who have become part of the Catholic family this Easter. God bless them all as they begin this new chapter in their journey of faith.
Gift Aid Envelopes Available This Weekend
Our new Gift Aid envelopes will be available at Mass this weekend. If you are already signed up, please collect your envelopes. If you have not yet registered for Gift Aid, forms will also be available for you to complete. Please ensure that all sections of the form are filled in fully and clearly, as incomplete forms will prevent us from being able to claim Gift Aid on your donations. Thank you for your continued support.
Parish Office Hours
Please note that for this week only the parish office will be open on Tuesday and Friday from 9:00am until 1:00pm. Office hours will then resume as normal on Wednesdays and Fridays (9:00am–1:00pm) from next week. If you need assistance, Mass intentions, certificates, or general enquiries, our Parish Administrator, Ciara, will be happy to help. Please visit or contact us during these times.
Missionary Appeal – Divine Mercy Sunday (11th/12th April)
Next weekend, Divine Mercy Sunday, we will welcome Fr Pius Duke MSP, of the Missionary Society of St Paul (MSP), who will make the annual missionary appeal at all Masses. The MSP is a religious congregation working in various parts of the world, dedicated to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and sharing in the saving work of God the Father in the Holy Spirit. There will be a basket at the back of church (underneath the crucifix) for all those who would like to donate and support The Missionary Society of St Paul. If you wish to support the mission further, donations can also be made by direct debit or cheque using the details below:
Account Name: The Missionary Society of St Paul
Sort Code: 20-29-63
Account Number: 73306224
Bank: Barclays Bank
Parish Audit: Great News
Each year, the Diocesan Finance Department commissions an independent audit of five parishes across the Diocese. This process ensures accountability, transparency, and the highest standards of financial stewardship in the care of parish resources. For the financial year 2025–2026, St Mary’s was one of the five parishes selected for audit. The Diocese works with Crowe UK, a leading firm in audit, tax, advisory, and consulting services, to carry out this important work. We are delighted to report that the audit of St Mary’s resulted in a very positive outcome. The auditors commended the parish on the careful and thorough way in which income is collected, counted, and banked, and noted that the accounts for 2025–2026 are maintained to a meticulous standard. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Ciara Kelly, our Parish Administrator, for her dedicated and conscientious work in overseeing the parish finances. I am also very grateful to parishioners Catherine Richardson and Kathryn Harrison for their commitment and generosity in giving their time to assist with counting and banking.
We also acknowledge with thanks the support and guidance provided by the Diocesan Finance Department, especially Helen Whall and Katarzyna Chadwick. This excellent report reflects the strong sense of responsibility and care within our parish community. Thank you to everyone who contributes in any way to the life and mission of St Mary’s.
Date for Your Diary
As Fr O’Brien mentioned recently, we are delighted to welcome the Bishop to St Mary’s on Tuesday 30th June at 7:00pm to celebrate Confirmations in the deanery. On this special evening, the Bishop will bless our new statue of St Carlo Acutis, generously funded by parishioners, and will also bring with him the diocesan relic of St Carlo for veneration. It would be wonderful to see as many parishioners as possible present—to support and encourage our young people, and to give a strong witness that the faith in Oswaldtwistle is alive and vibrant. Please keep this date free if you can.
Sacred Heart School
Fr O’Brien was invited to Sacred Heart School this week to celebrate a Holy Week liturgy with the children. The focus of the liturgy was the Agony in the Garden, where Jesus turns to his disciples in prayer, yet finds them asleep. In speaking to the children, Fr O’Brien reflected on how we can all experience moments of feeling alone or let down, especially when others are not there to support us. He encouraged the children not to be like the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, but to be awake and alert—not just during Holy Week and Easter, but in everyday life. The children were invited to stay close to Jesus through simple acts of love: looking out for others, showing kindness and generosity, treating everyone with dignity and respect, and reaching out to those who may feel alone. As we enter the Easter break, let us keep all our young people in our prayers, that they may be safe and that many will join us in celebrating the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter.
Young Adults Hub
The diocesan Youth Team are delighted to share news of the Young Adults Hub, created especially for those aged 18–35 across the Diocese of Salford. The Hub offers a welcoming space for young adults to deepen their faith, build authentic friendships, and grow together through prayer, formation, and social gatherings. If you would like more information, please reach out to Mikey hub.president@vol.dioceseofsalford.org.uk and Edward hub.chair@vol.dioceseofsalford.org.uk