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 13th September 2026
Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Friday 11th September
5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Weekday Mass (Feria)
Saturday 12th September
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Mass, Most Holy Name of Mary
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Twenty- Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 13th September
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Tuesday 15th September
10am Requiem Mass Joseph ‘ Joe’ Harrison RIP
5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
6pm Mass, Our Lady of Sorrows (Memoria)
'Turn your eyes incessantly to the Blessed Virgin; she, who is the Mother of Sorrows and also the Mother of Consolation, can understand you completely and help you. Looking to her, praying to her, you will obtain that your tedium will become serenity, your anguish change into hope, and your grief into love.' - St. Pope John Paul II
Wednesday 16th September
9:15am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10am Mass, Saint Cornelius, Pope and Saint Cyprian, Bishop & Martyr
Ss. Cornelius and Cyprian both lived in a time of turbulence in the Church: they were at the forefront of the debate on reconciling those who had denied the faith under persecution. Together they struck a middle course and guided the Church onward by writing and preaching. Cornelius died in exile in 253A.D. Cyprian was martyred in 258A.D.
12:45pm Funeral Service for Bernard Doyle RIP
Friday 18th September
5pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
6pm Weekday Mass (Feria)
Saturday 19th September
9am – 9:50am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
10am Votive Mass of Our Lady
6pm The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
6:30pm Vigil Mass for Twenty- Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 20th September
9:30am The Holy Rosary for Peace in the World
10am Mass for Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Last Week's Offertory Collection
£619.35. Thank you.
Our Lady’s Lamp
This Week (12th September – 18th September), Our Lady’s Lamp is for Bill Moorhouse.
A Heartfelt Thank You
A very sincere thank you to everyone who helped to make our Parish Feast of Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle such a beautiful and memorable occasion. I would particularly like to thank all those who supported our Afternoon Tea on Sunday 6th September. Thank you to everyone who helped with the refreshments, music and all the practical preparations, to those who gave their time in so many different ways, and to everyone who simply came along and helped to make it such a warm and joyful occasion. Your generosity and presence made the afternoon very special. I would also like to thank everyone who helped to make Tuesday 8th September such a prayerful and grace-filled day. From the children leading us in the Rosary, to those who helped with the Adoration, Confessions, Mass, refreshments and evening Healing Service, there were many people whose quiet work and generosity made the day possible. Most of all, thank you to everyone who came to pray. It was wonderful to see so many people coming together as a parish family and, through the loving care of Our Blessed Mother, having the opportunity to encounter her Son, Jesus, in prayer, in the Sacraments and in a particular way through the healing ministry of the day. I am very grateful to everyone who played a part, in whatever way, in making these days such a blessing for our parish. May the graces and blessings we have received continue to bear fruit in our lives and in the life of our parish.
Our Lady of Oswaldtwistle, pray for us.
Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us.
God Bless, Fr O’Brien
Home Mission Sunday
On Sunday 20th September, we will celebrate Home Mission Sunday, a day for us as the Catholic community in England and Wales to celebrate our faith in these lands, and our shared commitment to communicate the beauty and the joy of knowing Jesus Christ. Celebrating the Holy Father’s first encyclical, the theme for this year is “Magnifica Humanitas” as the heart of mission. We can celebrate together the call the Holy Father has placed before us to live out our authenticate humanity which finds it’s fullness in Christ. More details about this can be found on the Bishops’ Conference website - Home Mission Sunday - Catholic Bishops' Conference. The Second Collection on this weekend is to support the work carried out by the Bishops’ Conference Mission Directorate. Through the Mission Directorate we support our Church in a wide field of service and mission here in England and Wales. Please hold this important work in your prayers and give as generously as you can. Thank you.
Could you be called to serve the church as a Permanent Deacon?
If you are a Catholic man interested in learning more about the Permanent Diaconate in the Diocese of Salford, please come along to the next ‘Come and See’ event, which takes place on Saturday 3rd October 2026 between 10am and 2pm. The event will be held at St John Henry Newman Parish, 5 Roseneath Road, Urmston, Manchester, M41 5AX. There will be opportunities to talk to some of our deacons and find out more about their journey and the ministry without committing to anything further. For more information please email diaconate@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Pantasaph Monastery
We are pleased to announce our diocesan pilgrimage to the Pantasaph Monastery in North Wales for the Year of St Francis of Assisi, which takes place on Saturday 17 October 2026. The day coach will leave the 1st pick up point at 9am and will be returning at around 6pm. The cost of the trip is £35pp, which includes the following:
Coach travel
Lunch
Tea/coffee
Donation to the monastery
For more information and to book your place, please contact the pilgrimage office by telephone on 0161 817 2209 or email: walsingham.pilgrimage@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Marriage Help
Communication failure is a major cause of marital breakdown - 1,000's of couples have found Retrouvaille helped their relationship. Retrouvaille is not counselling but a programme to help married couples work through conflicts more effectively. We focus on helping restore trust and hope. Bookings close 18th Sept. www.Retrouvaille.org.uk +44 7887 296 983
Caritas Conference: Tackling poverty and injustice in the Diocese of Salford
Caritas Salford invites you to join them for a free day of learning and reflection on the social teaching of Pope Leo XIV. This conference will be held on Saturday 10 October from 11AM to 3.30PM. Guest speakers will be present with a free lunch provided. For more information and to book your place please visit www.caritassalford.org.uk/CaritasConference
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
Caritas Fundraising Concert - Friday 18th September, 7pm
Mercy Brothers Concert with string Quartet for Caritas at St Ambrose Barlow High School Swinton M27 6QP. This event will include Solanus string quartet, the Mercy Brothers band performing music to sign and dance to, as well as the school’s steel band and their rock band. It will certainly be a night to enjoy and remember! Solanus members include newly ordained diocesan priest Fr Theo, Fr Chris, and Hannah and Holly who work in roles across the diocese. The Mercy Brothers, formed in the Year of Mercy 2013, now includes Fr Mark as lead singer and rhythm guitar, Fr Joe on lead guitar, Fr Nick on bass guitar, Fr Chris on keyboard, and Tom the drummer.
For tickets please visit: https://www.caritassalford.org.uk/fr-gorton-silver/
Latest Vacancies Within the Diocese
Cathedral Business Manager
Choral Director: Schools Singing Programme
Please find more information about these jobs and how to apply on the Diocese website: https://dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/