St Mary's Parish Horwich
Weekly Newsletter
Sunday 26th March (5th Sunday of Lent)
Mass this Week
Tuesday 28th March - 10am Mass with Exposition from 9.30am
Wednesday 29th March - 10am Mass with Exposition from 9.30am
Thursday 30th March - 10am Mass with Exposition from 9.30am
Friday 31st March - 12 Noon Mass; 6:30pm Stations of the Cross
Saturday 1st April - 11am Mass followed by Exposition, Rosary and Confessions
Sunday 2nd April (Palm Sunday) - 6.30pm Vigil Mass; 10.30am Sunday Mass
Prayer List
Last week we welcomed into the Catholic Church by baptism Jude William Pugh. Congratulations to him and his family. Please keep in your prayers all our parents preparing for the baptism of their child.
Our sick and housebound: Stephen Tootill, Stan Ellison, Gordon Mellor, Simon Taylor, Eva Naylor, Laurence Frith, Geoff Ratcliffe, Paul Davis, Adele Memon, Betty Keenan, Maureen McManus, Marie Murphy.
Lately Dead: Fr Michael Coleman, Philip Compton, Christopher Feaher, Joan Kevill. Anniversaries: Michael McHugh.
Collection Envelopes
The collection envelopes for the new tax year (2023-24) start from Easter Sunday (9th April). In order to reduce costs, we have decided once again to only issue envelopes to those who have continued to use them during the last financial year. For those who have continued to use them, the boxes of new envelopes, can be collected from the back of church from this weekend.
Parish Lunch Club
As noted several weeks ago, our Parish was delighted to receive a Special Recognition Award from Age UK. Salford Diocese wanted to share this news more widely and so the Communications department has published an article about our Parish Lunch Club on the Diocesan website. In addition to the article reporting the Lunch Club, the Communications department also wanted to highlight the work of our Parish YCW group in addressing the issue of 'loneliness'. This also receives attention in the same article. To access the full article on the Diocesan website please click here.
Parish YCW Group
"The YCW are proud to announce that we are organising a community walk on Easter Monday (10th April) followed by refreshments in the Rosary Room. Everybody is welcome, so if you are interested, please see a member of our group at the back of church on Sunday to sign up and buy a ticket. A recommended donation of £1 per person or £2.50 for a family ticket would be greatly appreciated. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you there!"
APF Mill Hill Red Mission Boxes
The Spring Collection of red mission boxes is now due and the ‘Mission Today’ magazines will soon be delivered by promoters. If you have any queries, please contact Paula Rowlinson, tel. 01204 770378 or mobile 07565 555502.
St Joseph's Dramatic Holy Week Presentation
On Wednesday 29th March at 6pm, St Joseph's RC High School and its partner primaries present
'The King is Crucified'. The purpose is to get people talking about and reflect on the full significance of Jesus' death and resurrection in a modern context as we prepare for Holy Week and then signpost people to local churches for the Easter Triduum. See poster at the back of church for more details.
Urban Outreach
The next Urban Outreach collection is on Monday 3rd April at St Elizabeth's, Cedar Avenue from 11.00-13.00. Donations may also be out in the Grub Tub in the church porch. There is a list of items needed near the tub. If every household put in one item the tub would be filled.
Road works: Chorley New Road
Bolton Council has issued a notice that road resurfacing and drainage works will be taking place between Crown Lane and Victoria Road, commencing 3rd April. This may mean disruption in the journey to get to Sunday Mass for some of our parishioners. Please check local Press and Social Media for more details.
St Joseph’s High School Library Volunteer
St Joseph’s is looking for someone who is passionate about reading and is willing to commit to supporting our young people every Thursday and Friday in our library. There is flexibility on the times, but it is important for the library to be supervised 10.45 – 1.45. We have a lovely group of students who are keen to work with you so you would not be on your own during break time or lunch. This position requires a DBS check. If you would like more information about what this is and what it involves, please contact Mrs Howe in school on 01204 697456.
Alpha Course at St Thomas of Canterbury
The Alpha Course is a chance to explore the Christian Faith. It takes place at St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Eastbourne Grove, Heaton, BL1 5TR. The Course is for everybody, so please pass on the details to anyone who might be interested. Also, if anyone would be interested in helping to run the Course, they can get in touch by email to: Bridget Galaska: alpha@stcuthberts.org.uk or telephone the parish office: 01204 497068.
New Ukraine Link Officer to support people in your parish community
Our diocesan charity Caritas Salford is pleased to have received external grant funding to introduce a new role of Ukraine Link Officer. Taking up the position is Iryna Rybalska, who will work to ensure people from Ukraine can be signposted to appropriate services while providing opportunities such as volunteering and integration. She will provide feedback and understanding to Caritas Salford in how Ukrainian people's lives are being impacted to help shape future service provision too. If there is anyone in your local community who is from Ukraine who would like to contact Iryna, please email i.rybalska@caritassalford.org.uk
Register for the Laudato Si’ Animators’ Course
The Vatican-backed Laudato Si Movement organises an online Laudato Si' Animators' Course which is set up to educate and enable people to inspire others, in parishes, schools and in the world at large, to engage in dialogue and action on the current environmental crises. The course, which starts on 19th April 2023, will educate and empower you to bring the Laudato Si' Encyclical to life. The course is from Wednesday 19th April – May 17th with weekly seminars at 2pm (or you can view the recordings afterwards). For more information and to register see: https://laudatosianimators.org/see or watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy9YGWle8AA
Enquirers morning for Vocations to the Diaconate
Saturday 1st April,10am, St Patrick's Church, Livesey Street, Manchester, M4 5HF.
The Diocese of Salford's Department for Formation is holding an enquirers morning for anyone who may be discerning a vocation to the diaconate.
If you would like to learn more about what a deacon is or does, or would like to speak to someone about how God might be calling you to serve as a deacon in our diocese, this event will help you find out more. Come along to an Enquirer’s Morning at St. Patrick’s Church, Livesey St, Manchester, on Saturday 1st April, starting with Mass at 10am and finishing with a sandwich lunch.
Email formation@dioceseofsalford.org.uk to let us know you’re coming. You can also learn more about the role of deacons by visiting https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/diaconate-faqs/
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Saturday 20th May, 2023
The Diocese of Salford's annual pilgrimage to Walsingham will be returning on Saturday 20th May.
This year's pilgrimage has a number of places available to join the Day Pilgrimage and a very limited number of places for the overnight stay. The cost is £45 for the day trip and £134 for an overnight stay in a Standard room, and £150 for an overnight stay in an En-Suite room. For more information, email walsingham.pilgrimage@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or call 0161 817 2214.
Alongside the main pilgrimage, we will also have our Youth Pilgrimage. For more information please email youth@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Parish “Donate” website function
It is now easier than ever to make a financial donation to our Parish. If you would like to do this at home and you have access to the internet, simply visit the St Mary’s Parish website (www.stmaryshorwich.com) and click on the ‘Donate’ icon on the homepage. This will give you instructions on how to set up a Standing Order or make a one-off donation to the Parish.
Donations made to Charities by Cheque
You can make a donation to a particular charity at any time by putting it in the Parish Collection (e.g. CAFOD, Caritas Diocese of Salford etc.). If you do this by cheque, please make it payable to: ‘St Mary’s RC Horwich’ and write the name of the charity you wish to support on the back. Thank you.
Manchester and Salford Ecumenical Whit Walks
On the 29th of May this year the Manchester and Salford Ecumenical Whit Walks will return to the streets of Manchester once again. This is the first time the walks have taken place since 2019. In 2019 over 1,000 people joined this 200-year-old tradition.
This year the procession will leave Cathedral Gardens at 10.00am and we will process to the centre of town (the precise route is still being finalised) for an Act of Worship, before returning to Manchester Cathedral. If you would like consider bringing a group from your parish or Deanery and carrying your church banner with pride please contact revd.caroline.hewitt@gmail.com of the Diocese of Manchester for more information.
Hope in the Future - Cycle of Prayer
Please click here to access the latest Hope in the Future Cycle of Prayer.
Hearing the Cry: Responding with Hope
This Lent, the Diocese is launching its updated environment strategy, “Hearing the Cry: Responding in Hope” – a positive new document setting out our diocesan response to our ecological crisis. The document begins with a powerful call from Bishop John, reminding us that caring for creation is an integral part of our Catholic faith – a faith grounded in hope. Despite the severity of the challenges we face, it is precisely this sense of hope that provides the building blocks for our strategy, highlighting the positive impact we can make within our diocese and the wider Christian community for the good of our common home. You can read the full document by clicking here.
Lenten School of Prayer
Fridays of Lent 10.00am – 12.30pm at Wardley Hall, M28 2ND
Led by Mgr. Paul Smith, Sister Joan Kerley, Jenny Bond and Maria Kidd.
Join us at Wardley Hall for our Lenten School of Prayer. This year we will be focusing on “Praying with Laudato Si" - Coming to know and love God through his creation. For more information on the individual sessions, please click here. There is a limit of 30 participants. Please contact Sister Joan Kerley at: joankfmsj@gmail.com or 07934 816 796 to reserve a place. We would be grateful for donations to cover tea/coffee.
CAFOD Syria-Turkey Earthquake Appeal
Our prayers are with all those affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey. We would appreciate your support in inviting people in your parish to pray for everyone affected and to consider donating to CAFOD’s Syria-Turkey Earthquake Appeal online. Thank you, as ever, for your ongoing support. Thanks to regular Family Fast Day collections and other fundraising for CAFOD in your parish, we are able to respond quickly when disasters strike and provide urgent assistance wherever the need is greatest. To donate, please visit CAFOD’s Syria Turkey Emergency Appeal online at https://cafod.org.uk/give
Caritas Salford Lent Appeal
Thank you to everyone who has already supported Caritas Salford's Lent appeal. By remembering our diocesan charity during Lent, your donations and prayers will make a real difference to people in our local communities facing poverty, disadvantage, homelessness and isolation. Find out more at https://www.caritassalford.org.uk/service-view/lent2023/ and please continue to keep the work of Caritas Salford in your prayers.
Pray with Nature – we need your help!
The Diocese of Salford’s Laudato Si’ Centre is calling on parishes, schools, and individuals across the diocese to help with a special prayer campaign this Lent. The Pray with Nature campaign is a series of reflections on our Laudato Si’ Centre social media channels that uses photos to help us reflect on the gift of creation and to draw ever closer to God, the Creator. If you have a photo of nature you’d like to share – be it a flower, an animal, a sunset, or even a raindrop in a puddle – we’d love to hear from you! Simply send your photo to communications@dioceseofsalford.org.uk by Monday 20th February.
The 89th Salford Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 28th July - 3rd August 2023 We are delighted to announce that travel and accommodation booking is now available for this Summer’s pilgrimage to Lourdes, led by Bishop John Arnold. Full details are available on the pilgrimage website: www.salfordlourdes.co.uk. All bookings and enquiries can be made via Joe Walsh Tours, (ATOL 11313), by phone on 0808 1890468, or by email: info@joewalshtours.co.uk
Volunteer Information Evening for Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Are you interested in joining our incredible team of volunteers for our 89th diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes? For anyone who may be interested in volunteering with us when we travel to Lourdes next summer, you can sign up to the information session by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/SalfordLourdes23
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Lourdes office on: Lourdes.Pilgrimage@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Lent at the Hidden Gem
St Mary's Church, 17 Mulberry St, Manchester M2 6LN. If you are visiting Manchester City Centre during the Season of Lent, why not pop into St Mary’s, the Hidden Gem? Each weekday during Lent there will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (10.30am) and Confessions (11.00am), Rosary (12noon), Holy Mass (12.30pm) and Stations of the Cross (1pm). There will also be the weekly evening Mass Wednesday at 5.15pm, followed by a series of Lenten Meditations each Wednesday at 6pm given by Fr Ian Kelly. More details about St Mary's Lenten Programme will be available on the diocesan website. Everyone is welcome.
First Saturday Devotions at St Mary’s, the Hidden Gem
There will be First Saturday Mass and Devotions at the Hidden Gem, Mulberry Street, Manchester. All are welcome to join.
10.30am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
10.30am Confessions
11.30am Holy Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
12noon Holy Mass
12.30pm Break for taking refreshments locally
1.30pm Devotions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Spiritual Conference
followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Solemn Benediction
3.00pm Conclude
Social coffee morning for Ukrainian families
Caritas Salford is holding free, weekly coffee mornings for Ukrainian families in local communities. These are an opportunity for people to get together to socialise, connect and support each other, and are held every Tuesday from 10.30am to 12noon at Caritas House, Nobby Stiles Drive, Collyhurst, Manchester, M4 4FA. For more information, contact Samia: s.farid@caritassalford.org.uk or 07960 151 283.
Family is Sacred Course
The Department of Formation for the Diocese of Salford is introducing the second course of 'Family is Sacred’, where you are invited to join us on a course offered to families interested in enrichment in married and family life. The course can be attended via Zoom or in person at St John Fisher Parish, Manchester Road, Kearsley, Bolton, BL4 8QQ. Find out more by visiting https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/family-is-sacred-course/
Help for families in crisis
As people continue to struggle with the financial impact of the pandemic, or with illness and unemployment, it is possible to access funds secured by Caritas Salford for families in-crisis. If you would like further information, please speak either to Fr Richard or with staff at St Mary’s or St Joseph’s Schools.
The Caritas Bishop’s Fund
As the cost of living crisis has well and truly taken hold, many families across our diocese will be worrying about how they are going make ends meet over the coming weeks whilst their children are not in school. As such, we would like to remind you that The Caritas Bishop’s Fund is available to parishes and schools to help individuals and families in crisis. Please access further details and the application form here https://www.caritassalford.org.uk/news/caritas-bishops-fund/
Cost-of-Living Crisis Guidance
Parishes in our diocese have been reaching out and seeking ways to support members of their community through the cost-of-living crisis, and Caritas Salford has created a guidance webpage to signpost a number of ways both parishes and individuals can navigate through the crisis and support others. The information can be viewed by clicking here. You can also contact Matthew Yates at Caritas on m.yates@caritassalford.org.uk for more information.
Diocesan Job Vacancies
We are currently hiring for the following roles:
SDC Café Supervisor
Appointment Type: Permanent.
Working hours: Minimum 20hrs per week, to be worked 10am-2pm, Mon-Fri.
Location: St Sebastian Community Centre, 1 Douglas Green, Salford, M6 6ES.
Salary & Benefits: £11.67 per hour, 20 days holiday, plus statutory bank holidays (subject to pro-rata).
About: SDC Trading is seeking to recruit an experienced Café Supervisor to provide high-quality food and hospitality services to customers and visitors to St Sebastian’s Centre.
Parish Administrator (Three Martyrs)
Appointment Type: Part-time, permanent.
Working hours: 12 hours per week to be over two days – Tuesday and Friday.
Location: St Thomas of Canterbury Presbytery, 327 Great Cheetham Street East Higher Broughton Salford M7 4UE.
Salary & benefits: £11.26 per hr, 25 holidays, plus statutory bank holidays and 5 Diocesan closure days (subject to pro-rata).
About: The Three Martyrs: St Sebastian, St Boniface, and St Thomas of Canterbury are looking for a Parish Administrator to provide administrative support to the parish including office administration, secretarial and basic accounting duties.
For more information and to apply, click here.
Caritas Job Vacancies
Caritas Diocese of Salford currently have several varied job opportunities, including:
Operations & Facilities Manager
Social Worker (Schools Service)
Project Workers (Nights)x3
Bank Project Worker (Nights)
Project Worker (Day).
Visit: https://www.caritassalford.org.uk/careers/ for more information and to apply.
Mass for the forthcoming Sunday (Palm Sunday))
If you would like to prepare for next Sunday by meditating on the Scripture readings, the texts are:
First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm 21
Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel: Matthew 26:14-27:66
To view the daily and Sunday Mass Readings for up to a week in advance, go to: www.universalis.com