Newsletter: 16th July 2023

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

15.30 Baptism
16.30 Confessions
17.30 VIGIL MASS

09.00 MASS | 10.30 MASS
12.00 Baptisms

Father Brady’s Day Off

10.00 MASS
10.30 Coffee Morning

10.00 MASS
19.30 U.C.M. Meeting

10.00 End of School Year Mass

10.00 MASS

14.30 Marriage Service of Catherine Mills & Alan Caldwell
No Confessions
17.30 VIGIL MASS

09.00 MASS | 10.30 MASS
12.00 Baptisms

SVP MEETING THIS WEEK
on Tuesday 18th July at 7.00p.m

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SUMMER RAFFLE
Tickets available after all Weekend Masses. Tickets cost £1.00 each with prizes of 1st £5,000, 2nd £1,000 and a further additional 15 prizes of £100. Please support this worthy cause.

LOURDES SALFORD DIOCESAN PLIGRIMAGE
28th July—4th August. Please hand in any petitions in an envelope to Father Brady marked Our Lady of Lourdes and these will be placed at the grotto. Please do not include anymonies. Monies for candles or Masses can be given to Father.

BISHOP JOHN ARNOLD’S RUBY JUBILEE
To mark the fortieth anniversary of his ordination to priesthood, Bishop John will be celebrating a special Mass at 3pm today in Salford Cathedral. This Mass is open to all members of the diocese, without the need for tickets, and so you are welcome to come along if you wish to do so. There will be some light refreshments (tea/coffee and biscuits) after the Mass, respecting the Bishop’s wish to keep things simple on this occasion. Let is all keep Bishop John in our prayers as he celebrates this significant anniversary.

WOMEN, SAINTS AND SPIRITUALITY
Join us as we continue our fascinating series of talks exploring the life and spirituality of women in the Church throughout history. Our next session takes place on Friday 21st July and has a special focus on Kateri Tekakwitha. Contact Sister Joan Kerley at joankfmsj@gmail.com or 07934 816 796 to reserve a place. Find out more at https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/women-saints-and-spirituality/

LOURDES PRE-DEPARTURE MASS
Bishop John will lead the Mass at 5.30pm on Sunday 23rd July at St Bernadette’s in Whitefield. All are welcome to attend the Mass and to stay for refreshments afterwards.

THINKING FAITH RETREAT
22nd – 29th July Boarbank Hall, Cumbria. Walk, talk, and pray with like-minded Catholics at a spiritual escape on the edge of the beautiful Lake District. The Thinking Faith course is aimed at younger adults (in their 20s – 40s) and offers a week-long stay in stunning surroundings to nurture mind, heart, body and soul! Led by Sr Margaret Atkins and Fr Richard Finn OP, this retreat provides an opportunity to hear fascinating talks, deepen our faith, make new friends, and explore the wonderful Cumbrian countryside. Prices are flexible but few places remain. For more
information, email margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk or visit www.boarbankhall.org.uk

STANDING ORDERS AND GIFT AID FORMS
If you would prefer to set up a regular donation to the Parish there are Standing Order Forms available in the porch and gift aid forms so that we can reclaim back 25p for every £1 donated for those who pay tax.

PARISH OFFICE OPEN ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY – 9.00AM to 12.00PM

STAY WITH US, LORD, ON OUR JOURNEY

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL

Like any good teacher, Jesus uses pictures – or parables. Ever heard the one about the elephant and the wasp? Or electricity like a toy train going round a room? Anyway, for the next three weeks we have some of these pictures, to show us what Jesus is trying to do. This first one is rather sad. Whatever the sower does seems to fail: seed pecked up by birds, scorched by the sun, choked by thistles. What are my pecking birds, my scorching sun, my choking thistles which annihilate the seed Jesus sows in me? It’s probably different for every one of us. But some, just a little, of the seed bears a fantastic harvest. There must be something I can show to the Lord with pride and gratitude: ‘Look, this is the seed you gave me; it has grown, developed, and here is your harvest.’ Jesus, too, reflected on his mission to establish his Father’s sovereignty on earth. Jesus, too, may well have wondered if he was getting anywhere. It was only when he had failed utterly, alone, deserted and tortured, that his perseverance won the crown. Jesus doesn’t want the successful. He wants the failures as his followers – and that is where the harvest lies. In Jesus’ story what is the seed? What prevents the seed reaching its full growth in me? In what way has the seed made me a better person?

BAPTISMS Please see Fr. Brady after Mass if you would like your child to be baptised. A baptismal certificate for one of the parents must be provided as evidence of baptism in a Roman Catholic Church before a baptism date can be given. We welcome parents and children and by attending Masses at the weekend on Saturday at 5.30pm, Sunday at 9.00am or 10.00am which fulfil the Sunday obligation. All Catholics are OBLIGED to celebrate Mass on EVERY Sunday.

SICK AND HOUSEBOUND If you know of anybody who would like Fr Brady to visit, could you please give him their name and address with postcode and a contact telephone number. Thank you.

MASS INTENTIONS AND NEWSLETTER INCLUSIONS The practice of requesting a Mass to be offered for loved ones, living or deceased, is a beautiful and wonderful part of our Catholic Tradition. Continuing this long-standing practice, you can remember someone who has died recently or many years ago. The Mass can also make beautiful gifts for any special occasion: birthdays, anniversaries, in thanksgiving for a prayer answered etc. You can offer an intention for anybody who is struggling with a serious illness or other difficulties of life. Please hand in any Mass Intentions and items for the bulletin before Thursday as the newsletter is printed on Friday Morning. There are Mass Intention Envelopes provided on the table in the Atrium. Please provide a contact number with Mass Intentions so that any discrepancies can be resolved. Thank you.

WELCOMERS NEEDED: If you would be interested in joining the welcome team, who greet people coming into Mass at the weekend, please speak to Fr. Brady. “Make hospitality your special gift” (Romans 12:13)

MASSES AND PRAYERS RECEIVED THIS WEEK

Lately Dead
Pauline Pullar, Monica Comac, Kath Holroyd, Dave Atkinson, Tom Fairlamb, Angel Liotti

Anniversary
Winifred Beresford, Alice Mallalieu, Mary Teresa Towey, William Sharrock

Birthday Memorial
Winifred Beresford, Mary Barrett

Sick
Geoffrey Hunt, Michael Horan

Other
A lady undergoing surgery
The intentions of the Anigbo Family
The intentions of the Smith and Little families

This week burns:

This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for Angel Liotti.

This week burns:

This week Our Lady’s Lamp burns for William Sharrock.