• Re the Pope’s visit:  coaches will be leaving Oldham from Ss. Aidan and Oswald’s church, Royton, at about 5am. for the Mass for the Beatification of John Henry Newman which will take place at 9.30am. in Cofton Park, Birmingham, on Sunday 19th September. There are no arrangements to travel by car – anyone wishing to travel privately would have to meet up with the main group before being able to enter the site. The total cost of travel together with a “Pilgrim Pack” with everything needed for the Mass will be a donation of £25.00. The cost for the Prayer Vigil in Hyde Park, London,  on the afternoon of Saturday 18th September, has yet to be determined as transport arrangements are not yet finalised. Places are strictly limited for the whole deanery to 245 persons at Hyde Park and 196 persons at Cofton Park. Anyone interested in joining the pilgrimage please take a form from the back of church and hand it in as soon as possible. The closing date for applications is FRIDAY 30TH JULY.
• Will  St. Patrick’s Readers and Eucharistic Ministers please collect a copy of the rota for the next three months from the sacristy after Mass today.

• The Universe Media Group Ltd. Have a new 104-page book called “Pius XII – A Saint in the Making”.  If you would like a copy, (priced at £6.50), please take an order form from the back of church.
• Mancunia Travel have organised a one-day pilgrimage to Lourdes for Wednesday 8th December (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception) at a cost of £239. If you are interested, please see the poster on the church notice board.

READERS:                    10.00am. Mass              11.30am. Mass           6.00pm. Mass
TODAY:                P. Bagapuro & L. Nicholls         P. Marshall               A. Haines
NEXT SUNDAY:   M. Chiappi & D. Thomas           D. Hilton                 P. Dunne

• Day of Prayer for Vocations in St. Patrick’s church on Monday 2nd August.
• Day of Prayer for Vocations in St. Mary’s Church on Wednesday 18th August.
• “Let’s Dance” in the Parish Hall on Saturday 18th September at 7.30pm.
• St. Mary’s Parish Team meeting at 7.30pm on Monday 20th September.
• St. Patrick’s Parish Team meeting at 7.30pm on Thursday 23rd September.

ST.  PATRICK’S  REPORT  TO  THE  A.G.M. SUBMITTED  BY  SR.  EILEEN
          Following our Jubilee Year which was very eventful and generated a lot of energy, interest and involvement, we went forward with a new sense of pride in our heritage, as well as an impetus for mission now and for the future. Linked to who we are, was the updating/revision of the leaflets about our two churches, available at the back of church and on the www. These were prepared by Michael Howell and Steve Owen. Our newsletter continues to be on the www and is a marvellous means of communication, reaching the housebound and those removed by distance. It is so much more than its joke slot attraction!
          As usual we are answerable to our parish mission statement, as we are to our Bishop, who visited us for Parish Visitation on the 7th March. This was preceded by the Quinquenial inspection by the diocesan team, who noted areas of our buildings in need of repair etc. This was placed in the hands of our buildings’ team/committee, who meet to plan the upkeep and development of the buildings and have a 10 year project in place – to be reported on by a committee  member. The Tuesday Club continues to keep us looking well-cared for inside and out, as do our slightly increased band of volunteers for cleaning the church etc. The house has had new central heating, declared to be energy efficient and the ground floor toilet has had a much needed refurbishing, an asset as it serves the many groups who meet in the dining room – AA, NA, ADS, and many interfaith groups. Fire officers have brought us into line with Fire Regulation Requirements. The CCTV recorder has been updated.  Gift Aid returns have increased considerably, a result of Colin’s hard work and has supported these maintenance jobs.
          Following the Quinquennial Report, the Bishop came  and concelebrated morning Mass in both churches, staying around to greet the people before having an excellent lunch, which included secret recipes! However we have had neither accolades nor reprimands related to how he found us, so we presume all was in order. He had to cancel his planned visit to the school and the sick.
          Our Mission Statement speaks of serving the society we live in. As we are very much in a multifaith area, we continue to support interfaith activities. A new venture in this area came from a Muslim initiative at the Khadija Centre in Glodwick. The centre’s Imam invited about 30 of us to join and mingle with members of the centre, to share information on our respective faiths and to enjoy food together. It was a good experience and the food delightful. The return vist has not happened yet.
           We are committed to serving those in need. This parish makes a splendid contribution to CAFOD throughout the year and also gave generously to their appeal following the Haiti earthquake disaster. Other projects benefited as well e.g. Survive Miva and Fr. Jose’s project for children in Chitadurga. As usual there are many ad hoc requests for material help, as well as supporting many other needs e.g. of immigration, of homeless, and many requests that spring from being a town centre church. As a gem church, we are open each day for prayer and quiet space. A diversity of people drop in. A new group, the Eritrean community, meet for communal prayer in their mother tongue and have shown a remarkable ability to lead services as lay people – a lesson for us, as priest shortages begin to bite. (to be continued next week)        

“SMILE – A – WHILE”
Did you hear about the thoughtful Scotsman who was going out to the pub? He turned to his wee wife before leaving and said, “Margaret – put your hat and coat on lassie.” She replied, “Aw Jock that’s nice – are you taking me to the pub with you?”  “Naw”, Jock replied, “A’m switchin’ the central heatin’ off while a’m oot.”