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 26th July 2026
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Friday 24th July
5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions
6pm Weekday Mass
Saturday 25th July
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 26th July
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday 28th July
5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Weekday Mass
Wednesday 29th July
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, Ss Martha, Mary and Lazarus (Memoria)
St. Martha received the Lord into her house and provided for his needs while Mary hung on his every word. Lazarus was raised from death by Jesus.
Thursday 30th July
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Weekday Mass
Friday 31st July
5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions
6pm Mass, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest (Memoria)
St. Ignatius was born in 1491. After life in the army, he converted to a deep spiritual life. He studied in Paris and gathered companions around himself, who later became the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). They were effective in teaching and evangelising. He died in 1556.
Saturday 1st August
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop & Doctor of the Church (Memoria)
St. Alphonsus Liguori, after a career as a lawyer, he became a priest and founded the Redemptorists. He wrote on Moral Theology and was vigorous in combating Jansenism. He died in 1787
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 2nd August
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£619.47. Thank you for your kind generosity.
Sanctuary Lamp
This week (25th July – 31st July), the Sanctuary Lamp is for Fussell & Beveridge Family.
The Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Last weekend, I spoke in my homily about the Brown Scapular and the rich spiritual tradition associated with this well-loved Catholic devotion. The Brown Scapular has its origins in the Carmelite Order and has been worn by Catholics for centuries as an outward sign of love for Our Lady and a desire to follow Christ more faithfully. According to Carmelite tradition, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St Simon Stock in the thirteenth century, encouraging this devotion as a sign of her maternal care and protection. The Brown Scapular is not a charm or a superstition. Rather, it is a sacramental of the Church, reminding those who wear it of their commitment to live the Gospel, to pray regularly, to receive the sacraments faithfully, and to entrust themselves to the loving care and intercession of Our Blessed Lady. The Church teaches that those who wear the Brown Scapular with faith and devotion, striving to live a Christian life, may confidently hope for Our Lady's maternal assistance throughout life and especially at the hour of death. The scapular is a beautiful reminder of Mary's constant invitation to draw closer to her Son, Jesus Christ. If you would like to begin wearing the Brown Scapular, a number are available to purchase from the piety stall at the back of the church. If you have not previously been enrolled in the Brown Scapular, please speak to me, as the Church provides a simple rite of enrolment which is celebrated only once. God Bless Fr. O’Brien
World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly: 26 July 2026
"The celebration of the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly is an opportunity to rediscover that the Church is called to be a mother to all and that at any age it is always possible to recognize ourselves as sons and daughters of God. May this day, therefore, be an inspiration for everyone, especially the young, to revive the beautiful custom of visiting their grandparents, the elderly members of the family, and even those who have no-one to visit them." Pope Leo XIV.
As World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly approaches, take a look at a free resource from Caritas Salford, on celebrating and developing relationships with older family members and older people within our parish and wider communities: www.caritassalford.org.uk/OlderPeopleResource
Cause for the Beatification of Pedro Ballester
The Diocese of Salford has formally opened the Cause for the Beatification and Canonisation of Pedro Ballester, a young man from Manchester who died in 2018 aged just 21. For more information about the cause, please go to the diocesan website: https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/cause-for-beatification-of-pedro-ballester/
As part of this process, the Diocese is inviting anyone who knew Pedro, or who has memories, testimonies or writings relating to him, to come forward to help build a fuller picture of his life and character. To contribute, please contact the Diocesan Tribunal.
Email: tribunal@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Post: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Services to Support Local People
Caritas Salford runs a wide range of community and outreach services to help people in our diocesan communities who are experiencing poverty, homelessness, isolation and discrimination. If you, or someone you know, might benefit from their support, you can find details on their website: www.caritassalford.org.uk/services
Love Knitting, Crocheting, Sewing or Making?
Our diocesan charity, Caritas Salford, is looking for creative parishioners who might be able to help them raise funds to help support people in our parish communities who are experiencing poverty and homelessness. They're looking for people who can either make items to sell in aid of the charity, or groups of people from our parishes who can be paired with local schools to help knit hats and scarves for pupils to wear in their Big Sleep Out fundraisers. If you can help, please get in touch with the team at fundraising@caritassalford.org.uk or call 0161 817 2250.
Free Catholic Social Teaching webinar
Catholic Social Teaching has been referred to as 'the Catholic Church's best kept secret' (Mark Shea). Many people are unaware of the depth of the Church's teaching on social justice, which applies the Gospel to current social issues impacting our communities. With the by-election for the Mayor of Greater Manchester set to take place on Thursday 30 July, the time is right to raise our awareness of Catholic Social Teaching and reflect on how it can help to inform the decisions and choices we make in life. Caritas Salford, our diocesan charity, is running a free webinar to introduce you to the basic principles in an accessible way. Book your free place now: www.caritassalford.org.uk/event/cst-webinar
A Night of Music and Fun
The African Priests and Religious of the Diocese of Salford are inviting you to a concert in celebration of African Liturgical and folk music. This is to be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Failsworth, M35 0NN on 31 July 2026 at 7PM. This promises to be a night of good music (by the invited choir) and laughter (by the priests and religious who also try to sing!). Let us come with our parishioners to have a fun evening.
New Volunteering Role at Caritas Salford
Our diocesan charity Caritas Salford has a team of almost 200 amazing volunteers, all of whom support their work with people in our parishes who are experiencing poverty, homelessness and discrimination. The team is looking for suitable volunteers who would be interested in giving a little time to work alongside families at their young parent accommodation in Blackburn - supporting and facilitating activities with the babies and their parents. All roles will be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring check. To find out more about this or other volunteering opportunities with the charity, visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/volunteer or contact Matt Yates: m.yates@caritassalford.org.uk
Fancy a Walk?
Caritas Salford is organising a 6-mile scenic, circular sponsored hike in Lancashire, along the delightful Downham Trail. Taking place on 5 September, the walk is an undulating route with the potential for expansive views from the summit of Beacon Fell.
Visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/LancsWalk for more information or to register for your free place.