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FEAST OF SAINT PETER AND SAINT PAUL (YEAR A)
WEEK: JUNE  28TH  - JULY 4TH  2020

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners andfriends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK : Sr. Catherine; Vivien Higgins; Breda Barret; Margaret Lawless;  Lesley  Hayes;    Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle; Martha McGlade;,   Dominic Boardman.  Antonia Patra, Kath Green: Cyril Clarke.
LATELY DEAD: Paul Carroll; John McCloy; Patricia Ann Cosgrove; Basil Ellison; Alan Devine
ANNIVERSARIES: Kathleen Street; John Coen; James and Mary Fogg, Jan Bordiuk, Annie and Tom Higson, Luke Tully (Jr)

COLLECTION:Envelopes: £153.00
Monthly payments directly to the bank:
to 29th May 2020:  One off donations £300.00. Standing Order:  £467.00

DONATIONS  /COLLECTIONS:many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD: £5.00; £200.00; £35.00; Foodbank: £20.00;Parish Funds:£30.00; £50.00; £20.00
Many thanks for your kind generosity

Cheque Payment:  Please note ALL cheque payments for offertory / donations to the parish or any charities eg. CAFOD, should be made out to ‘Our Lady and St. Patrick’s Parish’, not to Fr. Phil, unless they are meant to be a personal gift.  Many thanks. 

QUOTATION FROM POPE FRANCIS:    
“The protection of the environment and respect for the biodiversity of the planet are issues that affect us all. We cannot pretend to be healthy in a world that is sick. The wounds inflicted on our mother earth are wounds that also bleed in us. Caring for ecosystems demands a look to the future, one that is not concerned only with the immediate moment or that seeks a quick and easy profit, but rather one that is concerned for life and that seeks its preservation for the benefit of all.”

THIS WEEK’S SAINTS:
Tuesday 30th June: First Martyrs of the Roman Church:  These are the Christians who died (with St.Peter) in the great persecution under the Roman Emperor Nero.
Wednesday 1st July:  St Oliver Plunket.  Born in Count Meath (Ireland) in 1625 and died at Tyburn in 1681.  He was ordained in Rome and later appointed as Archbishop of Armagh.  He was imprisoned, tried , condemned and executed in London, the final victim of the so called the ’Popish Plot’, and the last to be martyred for the faith in England.
Friday, 3rd July: St Thomas: Perhaps, unfairly remembered as ‘Doubting Thomas’, his profession of faith ‘My Lord and my God’ is the climax of one of the Easter stories.  Tradition has it that after Pentecost, his Apostolic work took him as far as India, where he preached and was martyred there.

OPENING THE CHURCH FOR PRIVATE PRAYER:
The church has been open for private prayer and reflection for over a week now, and we have received a steady flow of parishioners and others taking advantage of this facility.  The times of opening are given above.

New Guidelines for Non-Eucharistic funeral services in Churches.
From this weekend, “the pattern of funeral practices which, up to now, have been permitted in chapels at cemeteries and crematoria can now take place in church.”
As a principle, numbers attending should be minimised as far as possible.  Only the deceased person’s close family or household, or if these are unable to attend, close friends are permitted to attend.  Social Distancing and Sanitizing Practices should be maintained.  Congregational singing will not be allowed at this time, although recorded music will be permitted. It is important that anyone attending should not exhibit any Symptoms of COVID 19, or place themselves or anyone else at risk.
Opening of churches for the celebration of Mass from 4th July:  This will only apply to churches that currently fulfil the requirements for opening for private prayer.
The OBLIGATION to attend Mass on Sunday REMAINS SUSPENDED. Please be aware that there will be a limit on the number of people who can attend, determined by social distancing requirements.  We cannot return immediately to our customary practices.  This next step is not, in any sense, a moment when we are ‘going back to normal’.
Given there is no Sunday obligation, we ask you to consider the possibility of continuing to follow the Mass online or of attending Mass on a weekday. This will ease the pressure of numbers for Sunday and allow a gradual return to the Eucharist for more people.  When we return to Mass there will some differences in how the celebration takes place. For the time being, there will be no congregational singing and Mass will be shorter than usual. None of this detracts from the centrality of our encounter with the Risen Christ in the Eucharist. We ask everyone to respect and follow the guidance that will be issued and the instructions in each church.

OPENING THE CHURCH FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP:
I would appreciate having some idea of the number of people who might want to attend Mass in the church on Sunday 5th July. I could allocate benches for families who can attend together but I would also have to keep some benches for individuals who do not have access to the internet. Could you phone me or email me? You won’t simply be able to turn up. It must be on a first come, first served basis. I will, of course, continue to broadcast the Mass online

TODAY’S FEAST: S.S. Peter and Paul. 
On June 29 the Church celebrates the feast day of Sts. Peter & Paul. As early as the year 258, there is evidence of an already lengthy tradition of celebrating the solemnities of both Saint Peter and Saint Paul on the same day.          
Peter, who was named Simon, was a fisherman of Galilee and was introduced to the Lord Jesus by his brother Andrew, also a fisherman. Jesus gave him the name Cephas (Petrus in Latin), which means ‘Rock,’ because he was to become the rock upon which Christ would build His Church. Despite his human weaknesses, Peter was chosen to shepherd God's flock. The Acts of the Apostles illustrates his role as head of the Church after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. Peter led the Apostles as the first Pope and ensured that the disciples kept the true faith.  St. Peter spent his last years in Rome, leading the Church through persecution and eventually being martyred in the year 64. Tradition has it that he was crucified upside-down at his own request, because he claimed he was not worthy to die as his Lord.  Peter was buried in the catacomb on the Vatican Hill, under what is now the Basilica of St Peter.

St. Paul, often called, the Apostle of the Gentiles, wrote most of the Letters included in the writings of the New Testament, and through them we learn much about his life and the faith of the early Church. Before receiving the name Paul, he was Saul, a Jewish pharisee who zealously persecuted Christians in Jerusalem.  Saul's conversion took place as he was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christian community there. As he was travelling along the road, he experienced a great light from heaven which blinded him. He then heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He answered: “Who are you, Lord?” Christ said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”  Saul's conversion took place as he was on his way to Damascus to persecute the Christian community there. As he was traveling along the road, he was suddenly surrounded by a great light from heaven. He was blinded and fell off his horse. He then heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He answered: “Who are you, Lord?” Christ said: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”  Saul continued to Damascus, where he was baptized and his sight was restored. He took the name Paul and spent the remainder of his life preaching the Gospel tirelessly to the Gentiles of the Mediterranean world.  Eventually, he was imprisoned by the Jewish authorities and after claiming his right as a Roman citizen was sent and taken by a very circuitous route to Rome, where, after about three years, he was beheaded in the year 67.  He is buried in Rome under what is now the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

 

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12TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)
WEEK: JUNE  21st  - JUNE 27TH  2020

Jesus said “Do not be afraid, everything now hidden will be made clear.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners andfriends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK : Sr. Catherine; Vivien Higgins; Breda Barret; Margaret Lawless; Lesley  Hayes; Emma  Golden; Michael Guilfoyle; Martha McGlade; Dominic Boardman.  Antonia Patra, Kath Green, Megan Taylor 
LATELY DEAD: Victor Febrero; Joseph Mellor; Trevor Sykes; Paul Carroll, Mrs. Twoey
ANNIVERSARIES: Alan Redvers Whitehead;  Kristian Bordiuk;  Gordon Higham; Bernard and Mary Grogan, Michael McGladdery, John Coen.

COLLECTION:Envelopes: £230.00
Paid directly to the bank:
to 30th April 2020:  One off donations £495.00  Standing Orders: £310.00
to 29th May 2020:  One off donations £300.00. Standing Order:  £467.00

DONATIONS  /COLLECTIONS:many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD: £5.00; ;Foodbank:£20.00; Conerstone:£20 ; Parish Funds: £42.00Many thanks for your kind generosity

Cheque Payment:  Please note ALL cheque payments for offertory / donations to the parish or any charities eg. CAFOD, should be made out to ‘Our Lady and St. Patrick’s Parish’, not to Fr. Phil, unless they are meant to be a personal gift.  Many thanks. 

QUOTATION FROM POPE FRANCIS:    
O Mary, woman and mother, you carried the divine Word in your womb, you recounted by your life the magnificent works of God. Listen to our stories, hold them in your heart and make your own the stories that no one wants to hear. Teach us to recognize the good thread that runs through history. Look at the tangled knots in our life that paralyse our memory. By your gentle hands, every knot can be untied. Woman of the Spirit, mother of trust, inspire us too. Help us build stories of peace, stories that point to the future. And show us the way to live them together.”

TODAY IS FATHER’S DAY:
In most ‘Catholic’ countries, Father’s Day is celebrated on March 19th (St. Joseph’s day).  Here, of course, we follow the secular ‘American’ model! But it’s only fair that we should take one day a year, at least, to acknowledge the fathers of our community who have been such a positive influence on their children. At the same time, we pray for forgiveness for those who failed in their responsibilities in this regard. 

THIS WEEK’S FEASTS:
Monday 22nd St John Fisher and St Thomas More:  Two great men who gave their lives rather than accept the claims of King Henry VIII in his Act of Supremacy, that he was the Supreme Head of the Church in England. John Fisher, who died 22 June 1535, was Bishop of Rochester, and Thomas More, who died 6th July 1535, was Lord Chancellor of England.
Tuesday 23rd St Etheldreda (St. Audrey):  Born and lived in Suffolk, she founded a monastery at Ely (now Ely cathedral), where she died in 679.   She was famed for her virginity (despite having been married twice) and for her personal austerity.
Wednesday 24th The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.  A solemnity, that is one of the most important feast days of the year, as John is revered as the forerunner of Christ.  It is counted as one of the Quarter Days of the financial year.
Saturday 27th St. John Southworth:  Born in Salmsbury in 1582.  He trained in Douai for the priesthood during the time of Catholic persecutions during the Protestant Reformation.  He returned to England to work in Lancashire.  He was caught and imprisoned in Lancaster.  He was moved to London and was hanged drawn and quartered at Tyburn at the age of 72.

OPENING THE CHURCH FOR PRIVATE PRAYER:
The church opened for private prayer on Thursday last week and will continue to be open for private prayer and reflection Monday to Saturday 12 noon - `1pm. 
It will be quite a different experience from your previous visits to church.  When you arrive.  You will be greeted by two of our stewards, not, perhaps, as they would like to do so, with a handshake or similar welcome; SOCIAL DISTANCING must be maintained.  Sanitizer hand gel will be available at the door.  When you enter you will be asked to keep to a one-way system, entering the church by the side aisle (on our Lady’s side of the church) and leaving by the side aisle on the sacristy side.  The centre aisle is out of use.  Only the central bank of pews can be used and every second and third one of those have been roped off in order to maintain social distancing.
It’s all a bit of a nuisance, but it is a step on the way to getting back to ‘normal’.

LITURGICAL COLOURS:  This Sunday Fr. Phil will be wearing Green Vestments for the first time (on a Sunday) since 25th February.  Why?  The theological virtue of Hope, is symbolised by the colour green.  Green is the colour of growing things, and of hope.  Liturgically, green is the colour of Ordinary Time, the orderly sequence of weeks throughout the year, a season in which we are neither single-mindedly penitent (in purple) nor overwhelmingly joyful (in white).
Generally we could say that White is worn for Feasts of our Lord and our Lady, and for feast day of saints who are not martyrs.  Red is for Feasts of the Holy Spirit and the Martyrs.  Purple is used in Penitential Seasons.

WELCOME:
Welcome to Fr. Lawrence Imoisili as the new priest in charge of the Divine Mercy Parish (St. Hertbert’s and Corpus Christi).

SMILE AWHILE:
A man, his wife and his mother-in-law went on vacation to the Holy Land. While they were there, the mother-in-law passed away.  The undertaker told them, 'You can have her shipped home for £5000, or you can bury her here in the Holy Land for £150.'  The man thought about it and told him he would just have her shipped home.  The undertaker asked, 'Why would you spend £5000 to ship your mother-in-law home, when it would be wonderful to have her buried here and spend only £150?'  The man replied, ‘Jesus died here and rose from the dead.  I can’t chance it with her!’

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI)
WEEK: JUNE  14TH  - JUNE 20TH  2020

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners andfriends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK : Sr. Catherine; Vivien Higgins; Breda Barret; Margaret Lawless; Lesley  Hayes; Emma Golden; Michael  Guilfoyle; Martha McGlade;, Dominic Boardman.  Beatrice Tucker, Antonia Patra, Paul Carroll, Kath Green.
LATELY DEAD: Vera Howells;  Stephanie Finch;  Mrs Kolodzej; .Mary Fleming;  Jane McDermot; Joseph Mellor; Kathleen Rose.
ANNIVERSARIES: Terry Mills Sr; Terry Mills Jn. Mary Lowry;  John Cartmell; Raymond Wood; Kristian Bordiuk

THANKSGIVINGS: COLLECTION: Birthday Thanksgivings for Cora Overton; Denis O’Grady.
COLLECTION:   Envelopes: £335.00 (There are other donations, paid directly into the bank, that we won’t be able to report on until the end of the month.

DONATIONS  /COLLECTIONS: many thanks for the following donations:CAFOD: £35.00  £5.00; ;Foodbank:£20.00 £25.00; Cornerstone: £20 
Many thanks for your kind generosity

Cheque Payment:  Please note ALL cheque payments for offertory / donations to the parish or any charities eg. CAFOD, should be made out to ‘Our Lady and St. Patrick’s Parish’, not to Fr. Phil, unless they are meant to be a personal gift.  Many thanks. 

QUOTATION FROM POPE FRANCIS:    
“ Many people suffer due to the great difficulties they endure.  We can help them by accompanying them along a journey full of compassion which transforms people’s lives.  It brings us closer to the Heart of Jesus, which welcomes all of us into the revolution of tenderness.  We pray that all those who suffer may find their way in life, allowing themselves to be touched by the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.”

THIS WEEK’S FEASTS:
Friday: The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus:  Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is devotion to Jesus Himself, but in the particular ways of meditating on his interior life and on His threefold love.  His divine love, His burning love that fed His human will, and His sensible love that affects His interior life.
The source of the modern devotion is the religious experience undergone by St Margaret Mary, which took place on June 16th 1675.  In that vision, Christ asked Margaret Mary to request that the Feast of the Sacred Heart be celebrated on the Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi.  The Sacred Heart of Jesus represents not simply His physical heart, but His love for all mankind.

OPENING THE CHURCH FOR PRIVATE PRAYER:
We are going to open the church for private prayer from Thursday of this week but only from 12 noon till 1pm (Monday to Saturday). Even with these reduced opening times we are still unable to cover some of the slots.  If you can help, please contact Fr. Phil – contact details on front of the newsletter. The slots still required to be covered are: one person for each of Monday’s slots (12.00 -12.30 & 12.30 – 1pm), two people for Thursdays from 12.30pm – 1pm, one person for Fridays from 12.00-12.30pm and two people for Fridays from 12.30pm-1pm. The reason we cannot open before Thursday is that the rope, which we have ordered from the diocese to block access to every second and third bench, hasn’t arrived yet. We could have used tape but I didn’t want the church to look like a crime scene!

TODAY’S FEAST:
The Feast of Corpus Christi, or the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, as it is known today, goes back to the 13th century, but celebrates something much older:  the institution of the Sacrament of Holy Communion at the Last Supper. While Holy Thursday is also a celebration of this mystery, the solemn nature of Holy Week and the focus on Christ’s Passion overshadows this aspect of Holy Thursday.
For centuries, after the celebration was extended to the universal Church, the feast was celebrated with Eucharistic processions. More generally, the practice has now been discontinued.

SMILE AWHILE:
One day a man decided to get as close to God as he could. He thought climbing a mountain would be the best route to get there. Once he reached the top of the mountain, he called out to God. To his amazement, God answered him loud and clear. With such an amazing opportunity to speak with God, he wanted to ask a few philosophical questions. “God, how long is a million years to you?”“It’s like a minute to you,” answered God. “What does a million dollars mean to you?” “It’s like a penny,” answered God. The man replied, “Can I have a penny?” The Lord answered, “In a minute.”

Thank you from the Deputy Leader of Oldham Council:
“I’m writing because I don’t want the incredible work of groups like yours to go unrecognised. The support St. Patrick’s has given to Oldham Foodbank is hugely appreciated. Without a doubt Oldham would be in a far worse situation if it wasn’t for the generosity, spirit and determination we have seen from residents helping those who need it with food, equipment or just a friendly word. It reminds me why we are lucky to live where we do, and how much we have to build on when the recovery begins.” (Councillor Arooj Shah).

Pastoral letter from the Bishop:
The bishop has sent a link for an audio file of his pastoral letter.
https://soundcloud.com/salford-diocese/pastoral-letter-june-2020

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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TRINITY SUNDAY (YEAR A)
WEEK: JUNE  7TH  - JUNE 13TH  2020

THE MOST HOLY TRINITY

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners andfriends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK : Sr. Catherine; Vivien Higgins; Breda Barret; Margaret Lawless;  Lesley  Hayes;     Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle; Martha McGlade;,  Joseph Mellor, Veera Howells, John Bahyra; Kath Green; John and Mara Bahyra;  Beatrice Tucker;  Paul Carroll.  Dominic Boardman.
LATELY DEAD: Joseph Mellor;  Kathleen Rose; Basil Ellison;  Arthur Hamer;  John Cleary;  Paul Vincent Lennon, Stephanie Finch, Jane McDermott

THANKSGIVINGS: COLLECTION: Envelopes: £75.00 (There are other donations, paid directly into the bank, that we won’t be able to report on till the end of the month).

DONATIONS  /COLLECTIONS: many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD: £50.00  £5.00; ;Foodbank:£20.00 £5.00; Conerstone:£20  £10;
Parish Funds £80.00 (in memoriam Alice Lees – again, at least one other donation has been paid directly into the bank).
Many thanks for your kind generosity

Cheque Payment:  Please note ALL cheque payments for offertory / donations to the parish or any charities eg. CAFOD, should be made out to ‘Our Lady and St. Patrick’s Parish’, not to Fr. Phil, unless they are meant to be a personal gift.  Many thanks. 

QUOTATION FROM POPE FRANCIS:
“The Church is feminine because it is ‘’church’ and ‘bride’.  She is also mother; she gives life.  Bride and Mother.  The Fathers of the Church go further and say that even your soul is the bride of Christ and mother. And it is with this attitude that comes from Mary, who is Mother of the Church,  with this attitude we can understand this feminine dimension of the Church, which, when it is not there, the Church loses its identity and becomes a charitable organization or a football team, or whatever, but not the Church.......
A Church that is mother goes along the path of tenderness.  It knows the language of caresses, of silence, of the gaze that knows compassion.  This way of being a member of the Church, knowing that he or she is a mother and must go along the same path: a person who is gentle, tender, smiling, full of love.”.

THIS WEEK’S FEASTS:
Tuesday 9th June: St. Columba:  Born in Donegal about 520 and went into the Church at anearlt age.  He reluctantly left Ireland (as an exile for Christ) and founded a community on Iona from where he converted much of Western Scotland.  His followers carried the Gospel to much of northern England.
Thursday 11th June: St Barnabas (Apostle) was born in Cyprus, became a companion of St Paul in his missionary journeys before returning to Cyprus to preach the Gospel there
Saturday 13th June: St Anthony of Padua.   An Augustinian canon who became a Franciscan working in Italy. A great preacher and theologian

150 Years old this week!   
“On Sunday 4th June 1870, the present church of Our Lady and St. Patrick’s was opened for the first time for divine service. At 11am the clergy and people assembled at the old chapel (just next door) and walked in procession to the new church. Solemn High Mass was sung and, during the singing of the Gloria, the statue of Mary, the mother of the world’s Redeemer, was unveiled. The formal opening of the church was actually later in the year, on August 20th. Then, the Rt. Rev. Doctor Turner, Bishop of Salford, formally dedicated the church in the name of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. Patrick. The music of the Mass, Haydn’s Imperial No. 3, was performed by the full choir (how times have changed!). Don’t forget that you can access the history of this church on the Parish website (Faith of our Fathers and Faith of our Fathers II). The Bishop was due to be celebrating the Mass with us this Sunday to mark the Jubilee, but the Corona Virus has put a stop to that! We’ll have to ask him to come later in the year when, hopefully, we will be able to be together again in church.

Other anniversaries this week!
I’m afraid that not having Setu (one of our altar servers) to inform me of the birthdays of many of our parishioners, I’m restricted to the ones I know; This week, on 11th June it’s Peter Hilton’s birthday and it also happens to be mine on the same day. Then, on 12th June, it’s Bishop John Arnold’s birthday and the 44th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood!

OPENING THE CHURCH FOR PRIVATE PRAYER:
We are still hoping to open the church for private prayer when we are cleared to do so by the Diocese.  However, we still need more volunteers, who will work in pairs gently to encourage social distancing and to carry out the required sanitising of surfaces e.g. door handles and benches touched by visiting people.  So far, we have received twelve names of people willing to help, which means that we will only be able to open for about an hour each day, Monday to Saturday.  We were hoping to open longer, but to do so we need more volunteers.  If you can help, please contact Fr. Phil – contact details on front of the newsletter.

SMILE AWHILE:
A little boy opened the big and old family Bible with fascination, and looked at the old pages as he turned them. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible, and he picked it up and looked at it closely. It was an old leaf from a tree that had been pressed between the pages.  Mummy he cried, “Look what I’ve found”  “What have you got there” she asked.  With astonishment in his voice, the boy replied, “I’m not one hundred percent certain, but I think it’s Adam’s suit!” 
What excuse did Adam give his children for no longer living in Eden?
“Your mother ate us out of house and home!”

NEW WINDOW UPDATE:
Progress with the stained-glass window to mark our coming together as different communities:

It had been hoped that we would have had the windows installed by now, but I suppose we will have to blame Covid-19 for the delay. However, as you can see, work is progressing. Yes, you have to use your imagination at this stage, but the basics are there.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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PENTECOST   SUNDAY (YEAR A)
WEEK: MAY  31ST  - JUNE 6TH  2020

Come O Holy Spirit!

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners andfriends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK :Sr. Catherine; Vivien Higgins; Breda Barret; Margaret Lawless;  Lesley  Hayes;     Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle; Martha McGlade;,  Joseph Mellor, Dominic Boardman, Veera Howells, John Bahyra; Ann Wilson Kath Green, Paul Carrol
LATELYDEAD: Alice Lees; George Greenwood; Katarina Bugalova, Paul Legowski; Beatrice Corless (Mona), Clifford Owen
ANNIVERSARIES: Frank Winterbottom;  Frank Wisniewski (Sr.);  Martin Lucas;  Rita Higham;  Michael and Catherine McGladdery;  Eileen Lomas;  Stella Paterson; 
Bessie Beswick.

THANKSGIVINGS: COLLECTION:   Envelopes: £175.00

DONATIONS  /COLLECTIONS: many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD: £50.00  £5.00; ;Foodbank:£10.00 £5.00; Conerstone: £10; Parish Funds £120.00 (in remembrance of Alice Lees)
Many thanks for your kind generosity.

Cheque Payment:  Please note ALL cheque payments for offertory / donations to the parish or any charities eg. CAFOD, should be made out to ‘Our Lady and St. Patrick’s Parish’, not to Fr. Phil, unless they are meant to be a personal gift.  Many thanks

QUOTATION FROM POPE FRANCIS:
“Each of us can say: there is a place for me. We do not live aimlessly and without destination. We are awaited. We are precious. God is in love with us, we are his children. And he has prepared for us the most worthy and beautiful place: Paradise. Let us not forget this: the dwelling place that awaits us is Paradise. We are in transit here. We are made for Heaven, for eternal life, to live forever. Forever: it is something we cannot even imagine now. But it is even more beautiful to think that this forever will be entirely in joy, in full communion with God and with others, without any more tears, without resentment, without division or turmoil.”

‘LAUDATO SI’: This month marks the fifth anniversary of  ‘Laudato si’,Pope Francis’ great encyclical on the environment.  The Vatican is planning a special Laudato si Anniversary Year with a year- long series of initatives dedicated to the safeguarding and care of the Earth.  As Pope Francis reminds us, “All of us can co-operate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.”  What can YOU do?

SMILE A WHILE:
What time of day was Adam created?   A little before Eve!
What kind of man was Boaz, before he married Ruth ?     Ruthless!
What did Adam say the day before Christmas?    It’s Christmas Eve!

Opening of the Church for private prayer.
We still hope to be able to open the church for private prayer in the near future (when we are cleared to do so by the Diocese). But, we need many more volunteers, who will work in pairs to ensure that surfaces are cleaned after anyone has been into the church and gently to encourage those praying to keep the required distance between themselves and others. So far, I have had about ten people; this, at half an hour a time, would only enable us to open up half an hour each day (during the week) and an hour on Saturday.

Oldham Council Press Release - Friday 29th May. Military-run coronavirus testing unit in Oldham Town centre from Sunday 
A Mobile Testing Unit staffed by the army will be visiting Oldham next week to provide testing for COVID-19 for local residents (adults and children over 5 years) and keyworkers.  
The Unit will be at the Old Leisure Centre Car Park, on Rock Street, in the Town Centre for 3 days, from Sunday 31st May to Tuesday 2nd June.  
Testing will be by pre-booked appointment only and people can arrive either by car or by foot and are advised to follow the national social distancing guidelines.
 Residents wishing to book at test will be able to make an appointment through the national booking website (the NHS testing site) from the evening of Saturday 30th May. 
Employers of keyworkers can also book tests for their staff at this site, by referring staff through the national employer booking portal. Employers need to register via e-mail (portalservicedesk@dhsc.gov.uk) at the Coronavirus testing guidance site to be able to refer their employees.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
Wednesday, 3rd June: St. Charles Lwanga and Companions.  Charles and 21 others all under the age of 25 were martyred by burning or beheading under a persecution of Christians of all denominations by the deviant King Mwanga of Uganda in 1885/7.
Thursday, 4th June: Feast Our Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest. A new feast day instituted by Pope Francis last year.
Friday 5th June:  St Boniface.  An Englishman, born in Devon who evangelized the Germanic peoples.  He was martyred in the Netherlands in 754.
Saturday 6th June.  St Norbert.  Born in Germany, and after a religious experience became a priest and formed a religious community, known as the Premonstratensian (or Norbertine) Order of preachers.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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7TH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR A)
WEEK: MAY  24TH  - MAY 30TH  2020

Now, Father, is the time for you to glorify me with that glory I had with you before the world was.

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners andfriends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK: Sr. Catherine; Vivien  Higgins;  Breda  Barret; Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;     Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle; Martha McGlade; Veronica Sobieralski,  , Joseph Mellor, Veera Howells, John Bahyra; Ann Wilson; Dominic Boardman.
LATELY DEAD: Roy Eaton, Jordan Lees; Rose Dawson; Kathleen Mills, Kathleen Mayres, Doreen Whitehead, Dr, Catherine McGrother; Doreen Lesyk; George Greenwood; Fred Lees; Elizabeth Ann (Alice) Lees, Clifford Owen
ANNIVERSARIES:Stirling Smith;  Rosemary Atkins;  Kenneth John Chorley;  Frank Winterbottom;  Hilda Kilroy, Rita Higham, Eileen Lomas, Stella Paterson, Martin Lucas

THANKSGIVINGS: COLLECTION:   Envelopes: £105.00
DONATIONS  /COLLECTIONS: many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD: £20.00  £5.00; ;Foodbank: £20.00 £10.00 £5.00; Cornerstone: £20; Parish Funds £20
Many thanks for your kind generosity.

Cheque Payment:  Please note ALL cheque payments for offertory / donations to the parish or any charities eg. CAFOD, should be made out to ‘Our Lady and St. Patrick’s Parish’, not to Fr. Phil, unless they are meant to be a personal gift.  Many thanks

QUOTATION FROM POPE FRANCIS:
Contemplating the face of Christ with the heart of Mary, our mother, will make us even more united as a spiritual family and will help us overcome this time of trial.  You can decide according to your own situations whether to pray individually, in a family group or in other groups. It is easy on the internet to find good models of prayers to follow.

Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus.
Since its start in May 2016, God has grown Thy Kingdom Come from a dream of possibility into a movement. In 2019 Christians from 172 countries took part in praying ‘Come Holy Spirit’, so that friends and family, neighbours and colleagues might come to faith in Jesus Christ.  While this year may be different and mostly taken part at home, we can still get involved from home.
Thy Kingdom Come have come up with a few ways that your family and church can get involved.  Inspired by the love and kindness shown by people so far through the coronavirus pandemic, a new strand has been added to this year’s Thy Kingdom Come, which is to put your faith into action and care for those you are praying for. Whether this is a friendly phone call or sharing a book or small gift you think someone may enjoy, you can make a big difference. (see diocesan website for more details)

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
Monday: St Bede the venerable, renowned for the History of the Church in Britain.
He died in735.
Tuesday: St. Philip Neri, who founded a community that would eventually be referred
to as the Oratorians. Died 1595.
Wednesday: St. Augustine of Canterbury. Died in 605

The Post!
Yesterday, a huge bundle of post, from the last three weeks, arrived on my doorstep. So, if some of you have been wondering why I did not mention names in the anniversaries or the sick that you had sent in, this is because the Post Office have been holding on to your correspondence, some of it for as long as three weeks! Any donations sent through the post or directly to the bank have not been included yet in the amounts reported because they came in after the first part of this newsletter had been typed. The Bank statement also arrived in the same post!

Opening of the Church for private prayer.
Several churches across the Diocese have now been selected to be opened for periods during the week for private prayer. St. Patrick’s is one of the churches that has been selected for this purpose. But all must be done under certain restrictions and taking precautions to keep surfaces clean. The number of hours we will be able to leave the church open will depend on the number of volunteers who are prepared to give half an hour of their day to be monitors. We must have two monitors on duty at any time and they would be expected to ensure that surfaces are wiped down after each person has visited for private prayer. If anyone is prepared to be a monitor, please contact me either by telephone, mobile or email, giving me an idea about the time of day you would be available.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR A)
WEEK: MAY  17TH  - MAY 23RD  2020

Jesus said: “I shall ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate.

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners andfriends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK: Sr. Catherine; Vivien Higgins; Breda Barret; Margaret Lawless;  Lesley  Hayes;  Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle; Martha McGlade; Veronica Sobieralski; Joseph Mellor; Veera Howells; John Bahyra; Ann Wilson.
LATELY DEAD: Roy Eaton, Marika Babych, Alice Lees, Frank Norcliffe, Esther Casey, Theresa Ingred Hulme, Michael John Kerling, Paul Lennon; Katherine Holdaway.
ANNIVERSARIES: Stirling Smith

THANKSGIVINGS: For the safe arrival of baby Rosie Mae Ruffle

COLLECTION: Envelopes: £115

DONATIONS /COLLECTIONS: many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD: £20; Foodbank: £20; Conerstone: £20; Parish Funds £20
Many thanks for your kind generosity.

Cheque Payment:  Please note ALL cheque payments for offertory / donations to the parish or any charities eg. CAFOD, should be made out to ‘Our Lady and St. Patrick’s Parish’, not to Fr. Phil, unless they are meant to be a personal gift.  Many thanks. 

QUOTATION FROM POPE FRANCIS:
“The peace the world gives isolates us from others. It lulls us to sleep, and is temporary and sterile. The peace the Lord gives is lasting, fruitful, contagious. It makes us go out to create community. It is filled with hope because it looks toward Heaven.”

RECOGNITION: 
Deputy Head of Blessed John Henry Newman RC College, Mr. Glynn Potts, has been appointed as Deputy Lieutenant, in assisting the Queen’s Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester,, Sir Warren Smith, as her representative of the city region. 
Deputy Lieutenants are asked to support in areas including, honours nominations, suggesting names for Royal Garden Parties, and representing the Queen at citizenship ceremonies.

‘OUR PLAN TO REBUILD: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy’.
The Catholic Bishops responded to this document on May 11th.  The following is an excerpt.
 “In dialogue with the Government, the Catholic Church will continue its engagement… and has already submitted a detailed plan, in full accordance with public health guidelines, for churches to be opened for private prayer.”

There is no date given for when this might take place and with what restrictions.

WORDS FOR TODAY'S MUSIC AT MASS Entrance Hymn: Alleluia, sing to Jesus, his, the sceptre, his, the throne; Alleluia his, the triumph, his, the victory alone: Hark, the songs of peaceful Sion thunder like a mighty flood: Jesus, out of every nation, hath redeemed us by his blood. Alleluia, not as orphans are we left in sorrow now: Alleluia, he is near us, faith believes nor questions how; Though the cloud from sight received him when the forty days were o’er, Shall our hearts forget his promise, “I am with you evermore”. Alleluia, King eternal, he the Lord of lords we own; Alleluia, born of Mary, earth his footstool, heav’n his throne; He within the veil has entered robed in flesh, our great High Priest; He on earth both priest and victim in the Eucharistic feast. Kyrie Lord have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on us all. Gloria (Peruvian): Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the Father. To him be glory forever. Alleluia, Amen. Glory to God…Son of the Father. Glory to God…Glory to the Spirit. Gospel Acclamation: Halle, Halle, Halle. Sanctus Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, Holy is the Lord God almighty! Who was and is and is to come; Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord. Blessed, blessed, blest is he who comes, blest is he who comes in the Lord’s name. Hosanna in the heights of heaven. Blessed, blessed, blessed is the Lord. Communion: Be still and know I am with you; be still I am the Lord. I will not leave you orphans. I leave with you my world. Be one! You fear the light may be fading; you fear to lose your way. Be still and know I am near you. I’ll lead you to the day, and the sun. Be glad the day you have sorrow; be glad for then you live. The stars shine only in darkness, and in your need I give my peace. Recessional: Come down O Love Divine, seek thou this soul of mine, And visit it with thine own ardour glowing. O comforter draw near, within my heart appear, and kindle it thy holy flame bestowing. O let it freely burn, till earthly passions turn to dust and ashes in its heat consuming. And let thy glorious light, shine ever on my sight And clothe me round, the while my path illuming. Let holy charity mine outward vesture be And lowliness become mine inner clothing. True lowliness of heart, which takes the humbler part And, o’er its own shortcomings, weeps with loathing.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR A)
WEEK: MAY  10TH  - MAY 16TH  2020

Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No-one can come to the Father, except through me.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK: Sr. Catherine; Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan; Dominic  Boardman; Sarah  Bell;  Breda  Barret; Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;  Ann  Frost;   Anne  Devlin;   Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle; Martha McGlade; , Margaret Mills,  Shirley Stanley, Rosie Barber, Veronica Sobieralski, Darrel Smith, Mildred Winterbottom, Joseph Mellor, Veera Howells, John Bahyra
LATELY DEAD: Frank Norcliffe, Ernie Rowbottom, Kath Mayers, Alfredo Dumalaog, Rose Dawson, Esther Casey, Kathleen Mills, Jordan Lees, Doreen Lesyk (née Hallett), Roy Eaton, Marika Babych, Alice Lees, Fr. Paul Dillon and Fr. Liam Comer
ANNIVERSARIES: Mary Bowden, Catherine Duddy, Michael and Catherine McGladdery

COLLECTION:   Envelopes: £115.00

DONATIONS  /COLLECTIONS: many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD: £20 ; Foodbank: £20; Conerstone: £20; Parish Funds £20
Many thanks for your kind generosity.

WORDS FOR TODAY'S MUSIC AT MASS Entrance Hymn: Lead kindly light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead thou me on; The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead thou me on. Keep thou my feet, I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me. I was not ever thus, nor prayed that thou shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead thou me on. I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, pride ruled my will: remember not past years. So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on, O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone; And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I have loved long since and lost awhile. Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. Gloria: Eh Gloria, Gloria Eh Gloria, Gloria Gloria nkembo ah Gloria O Likolo nkembo ah Gloria O nse boboto ah Gloria 1) Kun ‘olikolo o o  Na ndzambe tata aaa Azalisi Biso o o o 2) Kun ‘olikolo oo   Na Ndzambe mwana a a a Abikisi biso ooo  3) Kun ‘olikolo o o N’elimo santu u u u A santisi biso o o o   (Basse) Nkembo (Basse) Nkembo (Basse) Nkembo (Basse) Nkembo (Basse) Nkembo (Basse) Nkembo (Basse) Nkembo (Basse) Nkembo (Basse) Nkembo Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Give the glory and the honour to the Lord. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia. Give the glory and the honour to the Lord. Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.

STANDING ORDERS:  Many thanks to those people who have decided to pay their Offertory Money by Standing Order.  I will of course be able to still claim Gift Aid on your donation if you have already made a Gift Aid Declaration.  This means that your offering / donation is increased in value by 25%.
Gift Aid, can be claimed on any donation made by someone who pays income tax, provided of course they pay enough tax to cover the claim and have filled in a Declaration Form.  Anyone who would like to make a Gift Aid Declaration please contact Colin by e-mail at colinriley.rjl@gmail.com or phone Fr Phil’s mobile 07976 230 919.
For the benefit of anyone else wishing to make a Standing Order, our Bank Details are:

Our Bank Details are:
Our Bank: Barclays Bank
Account Name: SRCDTR St Mary’s with St Patrick
Sort Code 20 55 34
Account Number 50949825
Reference: St Pats Contributions  

Cheque Payment:  Please note ALL cheque payments for offertory / donations to the parish or any charities eg. CAFOD, should be made out to ‘St. Patrick’s church’, not to Fr. Phil, unless they are meant to be a personal gift.  Many thanks. 

RECENT TWEET FROM POPE FRANCIS
Let us #PrayTogether for all those who are suffering from sadness, because they are alone, do not know what future awaits them, or cannot take care of their family because they have no job. Let us pray for them today.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS (incorrectly put in last week but correctly put in this week!)
Tuesday - St. Pancras: Suffered martyrdom under Diocletian (c304) and was buried on the Via Aurelia with a basilica over his tomb.  Tradition has it that he was only around 13 years of age at his death.
Thursday -St. Matthias.  He was chosen by the apostles to replace Judas Iscariot, so that the number of apostles should remain at twelve.
Wednesday - Our Lady of Fatima.: (Feast Day)

CAFOD launched a coronavirus emergency appeal on 30 April. The effects of coronavirus on developing countries where CAFOD works are likely to be devastating. Families without enough to eat and without access to clean water and healthcare are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. The poorest and most marginalised communities will be pushed further into poverty. Your prayers and gifts are needed now more than ever to help protect the lives of those in poor communities. While we are not able to hold physical collections in our church, you can donate as individuals at cafod.org.uk/coronavirusappeal, or post a donation through the door of the presbytery marked “CAFOD”.  

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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4TH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR A)
WEEK: MAY  3RD  - MAY 9TH  2020

Jesus said: “I am the gate to the sheepfold.  All others who have come are thieves and brigands ..... Anyone who enters through me will be safe.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners andfriends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK: Sr. Catherine;Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan; Dominic  Boardman;Sarah  Bell;  Breda  Barret;Roy Eaton;Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;  Ann  Frost;   Anne  Devlin;   Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle; Martha McGlade; , Margaret Mills,  Doreen Lesyk,  Shirley Stanley, Rosie Barber, Veronica Sobieralski, Darrel Smith, Mildred Winterbottom
LATELY DEAD: Doreen Alicia Whitehead, Antonietta Zelenczuk; John Stanley,   Bill Ince;  Ernie Davis.. Maureen McCoy; Marie Adams;  Mary Joyce Odams; Marie Terese Hocktor;  Stephen Grimshaw; Anne Marrie McGrail, Teresa Devlin, Frank Norcliffe, Kath Mayers, Alfredo Dumalaog
ANNIVERSARIES: Ellie McDermott; Ann Vause;  Gerry Taylor

COLLECTION:   Envelopes: £40.00

DONATIONS  /COLLECTIONS: many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD:  £5.00;    Parish Funds: £50.00
Many thanks for your kind generosity.

STANDING ORDERS:  Many thanks to those people who have decided to pay their Offertory Money by Standing Order.  I will of course be able to still claim Gift Aid on your donation if you have already made a Gift Aid Declaration.  This means that your offering / donation is increased in value by 25%.
Gift Aid, can be claimed on any donation made by someone who pays income tax, provided of course they pay enough tax to cover the claim and have filled in a Declaration Form.  Anyone who would like to make a Gift Aid Declaration please contact Colin by e-mail at colinriley.rjl@gmail.com or phone Fr Phil’s mobile 07976 230 919.
For the benefit of anyone else wishing to make a Standing Order, our Bank Details are:

Our Bank Details are:
Our Bank: Barclays Bank
Account Name: SRCDTR St Mary’s with St Patrick
Sort Code 20 55 34
Account Number 50949825
Reference: St Pats Contributions  

Cheque Payment:  Please note ALL cheque payments for offertory / donations to the parish or any charities eg. CAFOD, should be made out to ‘St. Patrick’s church’, not to Fr. Phil, unless they are meant to be a personal gift.  Many thanks. 

QUOTATIONS FROM POPE FRANCIS
If one has the answers to all the questions - that is the proof that God is not with him. It means that he is a false prophet using religion for himself. The great leaders of the people of God, like Moses, have always left room for doubt. You must leave room for the Lord, not for our certainties; we must be humble.

YEAR OF THE WORD:  Acts of the Apostles
Following Peter’s declaration of Salvation in the name of Jesus, the temple authorities arrested Peter and John and several other Nazarenes, as they were known.  The following day they were brought before the Sanhedrin.  The apostles were full of the Holy Spirit and, when they appeared before the Sanhedrin, they continued their proclamation of the Risen Messiah with such eloquence that Annas, the high priest, and his associates were so astounded they could not think how to proceed.  News of the healing of the lame man was everywhere and hundreds, even thousands of ordinary Jews, were joining their cause.  In the end they let the apostles go, with a stern warning not to preach in the name of Jesus again.  This had no effect whatsoever.  
They continued their preaching, and the community grew at an amazing rate.  They were now living a common life, sharing their wealth.  We are given an example: A Cypriot convert, whom the apostles had named Barnabas, donated the proceeds of the sale of a field he owned to the common fund.  Unfortunately, all was not to run smoothly for long. A couple called Ananias and Sapphira tried to cheat the community and, when they were challenged by Peter, they dropped down dead!
The apostles continued their preaching and found themselves in prison again.  St Luke tells us that they were miraculously released during the night by the intervention of an Angel of the Lord.  This could possibly have been an explanation used by Luke to protect a senior officer in the gaol, a convert to ‘the Way’, who had perhaps facilitated the escape. Maybe, however, it could have been an Angel of the Lord!    To be continued.......
THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
Tuesday - St. Pancras: Suffered martyrdom under Diocletian (c304) and was buried on the Via Aurelia with a basilica over his tomb.  Tradition has it that he was only around 13 years of age at his death.
Thursday -St. Matthias.  He was chosen by the apostles to replace Judas Iscariot, so that the number of apostles should remain at twelve.
Wednesday - Our Lady of Fatima.: (Feast Day)

CAFOD launched a coronavirus emergency appeal on 30 April. The effects of coronavirus on developing countries where CAFOD works are likely to be devastating. Families without enough to eat and without access to clean water and healthcare are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. The poorest and most marginalised communities will be pushed further into poverty. Your prayers and gifts are needed now more than ever to help protect the lives of those in poor communities. While we are not able to hold physical collections in our church, you can donate as individuals at cafod.org.uk/coronavirusappeal, or post a donation through the door of the presbytery marked “CAFOD”.  

TODAY is Good Shepherd Sunday when we traditionally think of vocations. There are many different vocations, which we could perhaps describe as ministries of service to each other through which we feel a sense of fulfilment in our lives. Yes, traditionally, we tend to focus on vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. And the current crisis has flagged up again just how much these are needed; so many of our priests, for example, have had to “self-isolate” because of being over 70! But the current crisis has highlighted for us other vocations for which we must be so thankful, namely, those of nurses and care-workers, who, like Jesus, are putting their lives on the line for the rest of us. We are truly blessed by many of these vocations within our community. Thank you and thank God!

SMILE – A –WHILE 
A collector of rare books ran into an acquaintance who told him he had just thrown away an old Bible that he found in a dusty, old box. He happened to mention that Guten-somebody-or-other had printed it. ‘Not Guttenberg’ gasped the collector, ‘it would be worth a fortune’.  ‘Yes that was it’ the friend said, ‘But it was ruined, it had scribbling all over it by some chap called Martin Luther! 

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR A)
WEEK: APRIL  26TH  - MAY 2ND  2020

Now  while  he was  with  them  at  table,  he  took  the  bread  and  said  the  blessing;  then  he  broke  it  and  handed  it  to  them.  And  their  eyes  were  opened  and  they  recognised  him;  but  he  had  vanished  from  their  sight.

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK: Sr. Catherine;Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan; Dominic  Boardman;Sarah  Bell;  Breda  Barret;Roy Eaton;Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;  Ann  Frost;   Anne  Devlin;   Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle; Martha McGlade; Irene Carr, Margaret Mills,  Doreen Lesyk, Frank Norcliffe, Joseph Mellor
LATELY DEAD: Doreen Alicia Whitehead,  Mary Joyce Oadams, Antonietta Zelenczuk and Kath Mayers
ANNIVERSARIES: Martin James Culkin;  James Andrew Fogg; Aaron; Billy  Murphy and Tony Martin

COLLECTION: Envelopes: £35.00   Loose:£0.00 Total:£35.00
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  /COLLECTIONS: many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD:  £5.00; Restoration:  £7.00.

STANDING ORDERS:  There has been considerable interest by parishioners in setting up Standing Orders with their bank as a way of continuing the day to day financial support of the parish.  As has been said earlier, we are in the fortunate position of being able financially to weather the storm for a few weeks..But it looks as though this  corona virus situation is going to last for more than a few weeks. It would be irresponsible and indeed disrespectful to those, who in the past have contributed their pennies and pounds, according to their means, not to ensure the financial stability of the parish.  Therefore, the use of Standing Orders is a way of getting us through this difficult time.
If you use online banking you can arrange a Standing Order on-line.  You will be asked to make an initial payment. (whatever you decided).  Then you will be asked to make a fixed payment (your normal donation) to be paid on a fixed date every week / month.  
The date suggested to start the fixed payment is the 7th day of each month until further notice.  This is purely for administrative purposes - Colin is not getting younger - it is easier to track and record payments if they are all made more or less at the same time.
Then you will be asked who you want to pay. That's us:

Our Bank Details are:
Our Bank: Barclays Bank
Account Name: SRCDTR St Mary’s with St Patrick
Sort Code 20 55 34
Account Number 50949825
Reference: St Pats Contributions  

The advantage of a Standing Order, is that you are in control.  You can increase / decrease or stop the payments as you wish.  The parish has no control whatsoever.  The parish will be able to claim Gift Aid on any donations made this way.  Anyone who has not made a Gift Aid Declaration already, and wishes to do so, should contact Colin Riley at colinriley.rjl@gmail.com .
If you do not have access to on-line or phone banking, Colin will provide a hard copy of a Standing Order Mandate which you can fill in and send to your bank.  Just inform the Parish Office by e-mail  colinriley.rjl@gmail.com  or leave a message on Fr. Phil’s mobile: 07976 230919 and leave your name and full postal address.

“TWEETS”  FROM  POPE  FRANCIS
Many things can divide communities: money, vanity, gossip. But the Spirit comes to save us from divisions. The Holy Spirit is the Master of harmony. He creates harmony in the community, because He Himself is harmony, the harmony between the Father and the Son.

YEAR OF THE WORD:  Acts of the Apostles
The Lectionary of the Church allows for the reading of the Acts of the Apostles as the First Reading at Mass throughout the Easter Season.  The book of Acts was written by St. Luke around the year 70 AD, Some people suggest that it was intended to be part of his Gospel account, but it was certainly regarded as a separate book when the Canon of Scripture was compiled. The book is a record of the development and growth of the Apostolic Church
Following the death of Jesus, the Apostles and the other followers of Jesus, were dumbfounded, all their hopes for a Messiah had been dashed – this despite Jesus himself having told them clearly that all this had to happen. Despite too, the evidence of the empty tomb and the witness of Mary Magdelen.   We know two of them set off from Jerusalem to their home in Emmaus. 
Then it happened.  Jesus appeared amongst them, in a closed room. ‘Look at me, touch me’, he said.  He even ate a piece of grilled fish! This was no ghost!  After this there was no stopping them.  The Acts of the Apostles tells us that they were out in the temple every day telling people about the Risen Jesus, and meeting in their homes for the Breaking of Bread.  One day Peter and John were going into the temple and met a man crippled from birth.  Peter healed him in the name of Jesus.  The man was obviously overjoyed and naturally was running around telling everyone exactly what happened.  The temple authorities were definitely not impressed.  They asked Peter, by what power they had managed to cure this man who everyone knew had been a cripple from birth.  Peter did not hold back in proclaiming that it was in the name of Jesus, who they had killed, who was now alive having risen from the dead.  He then added, ‘ there is no other name under heaven by which you can be saved!’
The temple authorities were horrified ...... they couldn’t let that go. To be continued............

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Sacramental Programme: postponed  till  further  notice.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
Tuesday - St. Peter Chanel:the first martyr of Oceania, born in France in 1803, he joined the Marists and travelled to the S. Pacific. He had varied success and was clubbed to death. His martyrdom succeeded in converting all the islanders to the Catholic faith.
Tuesday - St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort: born in 1673, he founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine wisdom and the Missionary Priests of Mary.
Wednesday – St. Catherine of Siena: born in Italy in 1347, she entered the Third Order of St. Dominic while still an adolescent. She brought harmony between her fellow citizens and did much for the religious life. She is a Patron of Europe.
Thursday -St. Pius V:a Dominican who became Pope in 1566, and began a reform of the Church and revival of the clergy. He built seminaries for the training of priests and the creation of a catechism of the Catholic faith.
Saturday - St. Athanasius:a Bishop of Alexandria and a fighter against Arianism, for which he was vilified and exiled several times. He died in 373.

A PRAYER FROM POPE FRANCIS:  Domus Sta. Marta, Rome
“Let us pray together for the sick, for all the people who are suffering. We seek refuge under your protection, Oh Holy Mother of God.  Do not despise our pleas- we who are put to the test – and deliver us from danger.  Oh glorious and blessed Virgin.  I thank all Christians, all men and women of good will who pray at this moment, in unison whichever religious tradition they belong to.”

SMILE – A –WHILE

• An old man was wondering if his wife had a hearing problem. So one night, he stood behind her while she was sitting in her lounge chair. He spoke softly to her, "Honey, can you hear me?" There was no response. He moved a little closer and said again, "Honey, can you hear me?"  Still, there was no response. Finally he moved right behind her and said, "Honey, can you hear me?" She replied, "For the third time, Yes!”
• Sixty year old John went on to his annual check-up. The doctor asked him if he was still getting up in the middle of the night and going to the bathroom.  He replied, "Yes But the lord has made it much better for me, He turns on the light when I go and He turns off the light when I am done".  The doctor replied, "Really"!!!  About an hour after that the doctor called John’s wife and said: He looks fine. But he said that God is making it better for him, when he gets up and goes to the bathroom during the night God turns on and off the light.  She replied, "that old fool he has been going to the bathroom in the refrigerator again".
  

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR A)
WEEK: APRIL  19TH  - APRIL  25TH  2020

Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK: Sr. Catherine; Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan; Dominic  Boardman; Sarah  Bell;  Breda  Barret; Roy Eaton; Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;  Ann  Frost;   Anne  Devlin;    Emma   Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle;    Martha McGlade;    Irene  Carr,   Margaret Mills, Bill Ince, Frank Norcliff
LATELY  DEAD:  Don Carr;  Sheila  Heald;  Stanislaw  Ogorek,  Stephen Grimshaw,  Mary Joyce Oadams, Stephen Mulholland, Anne Marie McGrail
ANNIVERSARIES: Maureen Sumner, Peter Jennings, Jeff Wright, William Brian Burgin, Brenda Taylor, Marion Fitzpatrick, Christopher Frankland

COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £35.00    Loose:  £0.00    Total:  £35.00
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  /COLLECTIONS: many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD:  £5.00;    Church Expenses: £25   .

STANDING ORDERS:  There has been considerable interest by parishioners in setting up Standing Orders with their bank as a way of continuing the day to day financial support of the parish.  As has been said earlier, we are in the fortunate position of being able financially to weather the storm for a few weeks..But it looks as though this  corona virus situation is going to last for more than a few weeks. It would be irresponsible and indeed disrespectful to those, who in the past have contributed their pennies and pounds, according to their means, not to ensure the financial stability of the parish.  Therefore, the use of Standing Orders is a way of getting us through this difficult time.
If you use online banking you can arrange a Standing Order on-line.  You will be asked to make an initial payment. (whatever you decided).  Then you will be asked to make a fixed payment (your normal donation) to be paid on a fixed date every week / month.  
The date suggested to start the fixed payment is the 7th day of each month until further notice.  This is purely for administrative purposes - Colin is not getting younger - it is easier to track and record payments if they are all made more or less at the same time.
Then you will be asked who you want to pay. That's us:

Our Bank Details are:
Our Bank: Barclays Bank
Account Name: SRCDTR St Mary’s with St Patrick
Sort Code 20 55 34
Account Number 50949825
Reference: St Pats Contributions  

The advantage of a Standing Order, is that you are in control.  You can increase / decrease or stop the payments as you wish.  The parish has no control whatsoever.  The parish will be able to claim Gift Aid on any donations made this way.  Anyone who has not made a Gift Aid Declaration already, and wishes to do so, should contact Colin Riley at colinriley.rjl@gmail.com .
If you do not have access to on-line or phone banking, Colin will provide a hard copy of a Standing Order Mandate which you can fill in and send to your bank.  Just inform the Parish Office by e-mail  colinriley.rjl@gmail.com  or leave a message on Fr. Phil’s mobile: 07976 230919 and leave your name and full postal address.

“TWEETS”  FROM  POPE  FRANCIS
Pray for government leaders, scientists and politicians who are beginning to study a way out of the pandemic, though its "aftermath" has already begun. May they find the right way, always for the good of their people.

TEACHING VACANCY
The Governors at Holy Rosary are looking to appoint a committed, energetic and caring teacher to join a warm, enthusiastic team. If you would like to visit the school before you apply you will be very welcome. Please contact the office if you wish to visit. Successful applicants will be observed teaching prior to interview as part of the application process. 
Salary MPS – UPS . Hours Full Time for 12 months initially.   Starting 1st September 2020
Experience - at least 2 years experience
Applicants should be: committed to uphold the Catholic ethos of our school; an excellent classroom practitioner with experience of teaching across Key Stage Two; have high expectations of pupils’ achievement and behaviour; is able to inspire and motivate by providing high quality teaching and learning experiences; Self-motivated and able to work cooperatively as part of a team In return we can offer: friendly children who are keen to learn; a welcoming and caring catholic ethos; the opportunity to be part of a hard-working, supportive team; the opportunity for career and professional development
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
This position is subject to an enhanced disclosure check and pre employment check in line with safer recruitment guidelines. Applications are available from the school head@holyrosary.oldham.sch.uk  Closing Date for Applications: noon on Tuesday 28th April 2020 Shortlisting: Friday 1st May 2020. Interviews: Thursday 7th May

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Sacramental Programme: postponed  till  further  notice.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
Tuesday - St. Anselm: born in Italy in 1033 abbot at Bec in France and became Archbishop of Canterbury. He disagreed with the king and left many fine writings.
Thursday - St. George the Patron Saint of England:  martyred about 303 in Emperor Diocletian’s persecution. During the Crusades, he was seen to personify the ideals of Christian chivalry and King Richard 1 of  England placed his crusading army under his protection and in 1222 his feast was proclaimed a national holiday.
Friday - St Adalbert: became the second Bishop of Prague. He went to Poland then travelled as a missionary converting many in E.  Europe and was martyred there in 997.
Saturday - St. Mark: an apostle and a cousin of St. Barnabas. Traditionally he is credited with founding the Church of Alexandria in Egypt.

SMILE – A –WHILE

• An elderly couple were celebrating their sixtieth anniversary. The couple had married as childhood sweethearts and had moved back to their old neighbourhood after they retired. Holding hands they walked back to their old school. It was not locked, so they entered, and found the old desk they'd shared, where Andy had carved "I love you, Sally." On their way back home, a bag of money fell out of an armoured car, practically landing at their feet. Sally quickly picked it up, but not sure what to do with it, they took it home. There, she counted the money - fifty-thousand dollars! Andy said, "We've got to give it back." Sally said, "Finders keepers." She put the money back in the bag and hid it in their attic. The next day, two FBI agents were canvassing the neighbourhood looking for the money, and knocked on the door. "Pardon me, but did either of you find a bag that fell out of an armoured car yesterday?" Sally said, "No." Andy said, "She's lying. She hid it up in the attic." Sally said, "Don't believe him, he's getting senile." The agents turn to Andy and began to question him. One says: "Tell us the story from the beginning." Andy said, "Well, when Sally and I were walking home from school yesterday. The other FBI agent turns to her partner and says, "We're outta here."
• A man who had just undergone a very complicated operation kept complaining about a bump on his head and a terrible headache. Since his operation had been an intestinal one, there was no earthly reason why he should be complaining of a headache.   Finally his nurse, fearing that the man might be suffering from some post-operative shock, spoke to the doctor about it.  The doctor assured the nurse, "Don't worry about a thing. He really does have a bump on his head. About halfway through the operation we ran out of anaesthetic."
• One of the great things about getting older, when it comes to Easter Egg Hunts is that you have no difficulty whatsoever organising your own ........ at home!
  

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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EASTER  SUNDAY (YEAR A)
WEEK: APRIL  12TH  - APRIL  19TH  2020

 

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK: Sr. Catherine; Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan; Dominic  Boardman; Sarah  Bell;  Breda  Barret; Roy Eaton; Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;  Ann  Frost;   Anne  Devlin;   Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle; Mara  Bahyra; Joan Coop; Lina Feniuk; Martha McGlade; Irene Carr and Margaret Mills
LATELY DEAD: Don Carr; Arthur Hamer, Dr. John Kelley, Peter Boothby;  Margaret Turner, Shiela Heald, Kevin McDonagh, Ann McGough and Stanislaw Ogorek
ANNIVERSARIES: Tom and Mary Wadsworth, Joan Walkden and Peter Jennings

COLLECTION:Envelopes: £80.00  Loose:£0.00  Total:£80.00
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  /COLLECTIONS: many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD:  £5.00;  Oldham Food Bank:£20.00; Cornerstone: £20.00

STANDING ORDERS:  There has been considerable interest by parishioners in setting up Standing Orders with their bank as a way of continuing the day to day financial support of the parish.  As has been said earlier, we are in the fortunate position of being able financially to weather the storm for a few weeks..But it looks as though this  corona virus situation is going to last for more than a few weeks. It would be irresponsible and indeed disrespectful to those, who in the past have contributed their pennies and pounds, according to their means, not to ensure the financial stability of the parish.  Therefore, the use of Standing Orders is a way of getting us through this difficult time.
If you use online banking you can arrange a Standing Order on-line.  You will be asked to make an initial payment. (whatever you decided).  Then you will be asked to make a fixed payment (your normal donation) to be paid on a fixed date every week / month.  
The date suggested to start the fixed payment is the 7th day of each month until further notice.  This is purely for administrative purposes - Colin is not getting younger - it is easier to track and record payments if they are all made more or less at the same time.
Then you will be asked who you want to pay. That's us:

Our Bank Details are:
Our Bank: Barclays Bank
Account Name: SRCDTR St Mary’s with St Patrick
Sort Code 20 55 34
Account Number 50949825
Reference: St Pats Contributions  

The advantage of a Standing Order, is that you are in control.  You can increase / decrease or stop the payments as you wish.  The parish has no control whatsoever.  The parish will be able to claim Gift Aid on any donations made this way.  Anyone who has not made a Gift Aid Declaration already, and wishes to do so, should contact Colin Riley at colinriley.rjl@gmail.com .

SMILE-A-WHILE:

Joshua, a Jewish father was troubled by the way his son, Benjamin, had turned out, and went to see Rabbi Goldberg about it. 'I brought Benjamin up in the faith, gave him a very expensive bar mitzvah; it cost me a fortune to educate him, then he tells me last week he has decided to be a Christian. Rabbi, where did I go wrong?' pleaded Joshua. ‘Funny, Joshua, that you should come to me,' commented Rabbi Goldberg. 'Like you I, too, brought my boy up in the faith, put him through University; that cost me a fortune, then one day he, too, tells me he has decided to become a Christian.'  What did you do?' inquired Joshua.  'I turned to God for the answer,' replied the Rabbi.  'And what did He say’, was the next question.  'God said, 'Funny you should come to me..........'

An atheist was taking a walk through the woods. 'What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!', he said to himself. As he continued walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes. Turning to look, he saw a 7 foot grizzly charging towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. Looking over his shoulder he saw that the bear was closing in on him. His heart was pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster. He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear raising his paw to take a swipe at him. At that instant the atheist cried out: 'Oh my God!...'Time stopped.  The bear froze.  The forest was silent.  It was then that a bright light shone upon the man and a voice came out of the sky saying: 'You deny my existence for all of these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to a cosmic accident.  Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?'  The atheist looked directly into the light.  'It would be hypocritical of me suddenly to ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps, could you make the BEAR a Christian?'  'Very well, 'said the voice. The light went out, and the sounds of the forest resumed.  And then the bear lowered his paw, bowed his head and spoke: 'Lord, bless this food which I am about to receive and for which I am truly thankful, Amen.'

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Sacramental Programme: postponed  till  further  notice.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
EASTER WEEK is the Most Sacred Week of the Christian Year.  Each day is treated as though it was Easter Day itself.  No other Feasts or Celebrations are allowed at this time

TWEET FROM POPE FRANCIS:
I would like to pray today for pastors who need to accompany the people of God during this crisis.  May the Lord grant them the strength and ability to choose the best ways to help.

And a further Message from the Pope:  Last Friday, in an address ‘to the city and the world, Pope Francis stood alone in St Peter’s Square with the rain lashing down to lead a meditation on Jesus’ calming of the storm from St Mark’s Gospel.  ‘Thick darkness’ he said, ‘has gathered over our streets and cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with deafening silence’ We feel it in the air, we notice it in people’s gestures, their glances give them away.  We find ourselves afraid and lost’  ‘Why are you afraid?  Have you no faith/’ Francis said, quoting Jesus.  He went on: ‘Lord your word this evening strikes us and regards us, all of us.  In this world, that you love more than we do, we have gone ahead at breakneck speed, feeling powerful and able to do anything .....  Now that we are in a stormy sea, we implore you: ‘Wake up Lord!’’

Post Script to the article on Standing Orders:  If you do not have access to on-line or phone banking, Colin will provide a hard copy of a Standing Order Mandate which you can fill in and send to your bank.  Just inform the Parish Office by e-mail  colinriley.rjl@gmail.com  or leave a message on Fr. Phil’s mobile: 07976 230919 and leave your name and full postal address.

EASTER MESSAGE FROM FR. PHIL: 
It’s very difficult to get a sense of Easter at this time of continued lockdown. And how can we “turn on” the celebration mode when many families are losing loved ones and have not even been able to accompany them in their final hours. But there are some “green shoots” beginning to show; in China the lockdown is being relaxed, and Italy and Spain are beginning to see the death-toll level off and even fall. Here too, there’s been a slight decline in people needing critical care in hospital. Easter begins with green shoots and then we gradually become more aware of it.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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PALM / PASSION  SUNDAY (YEAR A)
WEEK: APRIL  5TH  - APRIL  11TH  2020

Blessed  is  the  King  who  comes  in  the  name  of  the  Lord!  Peace  in  heaven  and  glory  in  the  highest!

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners andfriends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK: Sr. Catherine;Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan; Dominic  Boardman;Sarah  Bell;  Breda  Barret;Roy Eaton;Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;  Ann  Frost;   Anne  Devlin;   Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle;   Mara  Bahra;   Joan  Coop;Lina  Feniuk;   Kevin  McDonough; Martha McGlade.
LATELY DEAD: Margaret Mary Turner, Sheila Heald, Peter Boothby, Arthur Hamer, Theresa Morris, Geoff Smith, Joan Taylor, Harry Hearne and Terence Oldfield.
ANNIVERSARIES: Eric  Emsis, William Sumner

COLLECTION: Envelopes:£;25.00   Loose:£;00  Total:£25.00
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  /COLLECTIONS: many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD:  £5.00;  Oldham Food Bank:£10.00; Restoration: £7.95.

PARISH  NEWS

• New Offertory Envelopes for Tax Year 2020/21 are now available.  They have been prepared and are ready for collection, but because of the present lock-down situation it is not presently possible to distribute them.As a parish, we are in the fortunate position of having sufficient money in the bank to see us through a few weeks of this crisis. However the bills still have to be paid!The advantage of the Offertory Envelope Scheme is that even when we are not able to go to Mass we can still put our offering in the envelope until a later date.If you have spare old envelopes, they can be used, otherwise an ordinary envelope, with the word ‘Offertory’ AND your envelope number, will do fine.  These can be handed in the usual way when this dreadful trial is over. If you would prefer to set up a bank transfer on a one-off basis, just contact Fr. Phil, either by text or email (cf. the bottom of this newsletter for the mobile or email details). Re: Standing orders – see note at the end of this newsletter.
• Confirmation:  Any young person not confirmed and wishes to be confirmed in 2021, and is currently in Years 7 - 10 should kindly inform Fr. Phil or Colin.
• Faith of our Fathers 2:  A history of the developments in the parish over the last 20 years, containing photographs, testimonies and articles.  Now available at the piety shop.  Suggested donation of £5.00 to defray cost of printing.  An on-line version is available on the parish web site free of charge.

TWEETS FROM  POPE  FRANCIS
Profoundly moved and troubled, He weeps (Jn 11:35). We ask the Lord for the grace of weeping today before all the people who are suffering the consequences of this pandemic. May today be for everyone like a Sunday of tears
Pray  togetherfor the many people who are not succeeding in coping and remain in fear because of this pandemic. May the Lord help them to have the strength to cope for the good the entire community.
We are one human family. Let us bring all hostilities to a halt. May our joint fight against the COVID-19 pandemic bring everyone to recognize the great need to reinforce brotherly and sisterly bonds.

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TODAY is Palm / Passion Sunday and Mass will be live-streamed from St. Patrick’s at 10.00am
TUESDAY: Parish Team meeting is postponed
SATURDAY: NO CONFESSIONS - No live-streaming of a Mass
BAPTISMS: Deferred till after the crisis except in emergency
MARRIAGE: 6 months notice must be given (Diocesan requirement)

SMILE – A –WHILE

• An old tired-looking dog wanders into a guy's yard. He examines the dog's collar and feels his well-fed belly and knows the dog has a home.The dog follows him into the house, goes down the hall, jumps on the couch, gets comfortable and falls asleep. The man thinks it’s rather odd, but lets him sleep. After about an hour the dog wakes up, walks to the door and the guy lets him out. The dog wags his tale and leaves.The next day the dog comes back and scratches at the door. The guy opens the door, the dog comes in, goes down the hall, jumps on the couch, gets comfortable and falls asleep again. The man lets him sleep. After about an hour the dog wakes up, walks to the door and the guy lets him out. The dog wags his tale and leaves.This goes on for days. The guy grows really curious, so he pins a note on the dog's collar: "Your dog has been taking a nap at my house every day."The next day the dog arrives with another note pinned to his collar: "He lives in a home with four children -- he's trying to catch up on his sleep. Can I come with him tomorrow?'
• One of my friends is in charge of the part-time help hired by an old-age home run by an order of nuns. She confided to the mother superior, a feisty little nun of 70, that she always felt uncomfortable giving the young girls the obligatory lecture about the need to be careful around certain of the older male patients. The Mother Superior volunteered to give it for her, and eventually reduced my friend’s 30 minutes of embarrassed rambling to a one-liner that has now become famous around the place. "Girls," she announced. "Just remember—old ain’t dead."

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Sacramental Programme: postponed  till  further  notice.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St. Francis of Paola:born in Italy in 1416, he founded  congregation of hermits and was approved by the Holy See. He died in France in 1507.
St. Isidore was born in Spain 560 and brought up strictly by his brother, the Bishop of Seville. He succeeded his brother as bishop and established the discipline of the Spanish Church calling the Councils of Seville and Toledo. He was a great teacher and wrote prolifically. He died peacefully and was declared Doctor of the Church.

MARY’S  DOWRY
Because of the Corona Virus Pandemic, it is hardly surprising that the Re-dedication of England as the Dowry of Mary by the English Bishops last weekend was overlooked. Whatever the term actually means is unclear, but it is unlikely that the Blessed Mother cares more about the English than the Welsh, Scots or Irish.
English Catholics have always shown a great love and devotion to our Lady as her shrine at Walsingham  testifies, and therefore we can confidently call upon her for prayer and support in this time of trial .....................
“O Mary, you always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and hope.  We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the cross took part in Jesus' pain, keeping your faith firm.  You know what we need and we are sure you will provide so that, as in Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and to feasting after this time of trial.  Help us Mother of Divine Love to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who has taken upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows to lead us through the Cross to the joy of the Resurrection.  Amen.”

STANDING ORDERS: Several parishioners have asked if they can pay their collection money by Standing Order during this time of lock-down.  The simple answer is “yes”. Anyone wishing to use this method please e-mail Fr. Phil (Philip_sumner@tiscali.co.uk)  or Colin (colinriley.rjl@gmail.com) making the request and including full name, home address and telephone number. The necessary form will then be sent to you.  Parishioners using this method may still request a box of envelopes - NOT for their offertory money, but for any occasional donations (for flowers etc) which they may want to make.  If the donor is a taxpayer, these extra donations can then be gift-aided. 

MESSAGE FROM FATHER PHIL
I pray that God keeps us all safe. While it’s strange to say Mass in an empty church each day, I have a real sense that there are many who worship with me through the internet and show their appreciation. Those who don’t have the internet are also held in our prayer.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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FIFTH  SUNDAY  OF  LENT  (YEAR A)
WEEK: MARCH  29TH - APRIL  4TH  2020

“I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life.  If  anyone   believes  in me,  even  though  he  dies  he  will  live,  and  whoever  lives  and  believes  in  me  will  never  die.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;    Dominic  Boardman;    Sarah  Bell;    Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton; Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;    Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin;   Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle;   Mara  Bahra;   Joan  Coop;  Lina  Feniuk;   Kevin  McDonough. 
LATELY  DEAD:   Ida  Jones;  Kevin Nickerson. Terence Oldfield, Harry Lawless and Harry Hearne
ANNIVERSARIES: May They Rest in Peace.
COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £0.00;     Loose:   £0.00;    Total:   £40.00
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:                     
CAFOD:  £14.00;  Oldham Food Bank: £100.00 and £20.00; Cornerstone: £20  

PARISH  NEWS

• MISSIO:  Anyone wishing to assist the work of APF World Missions, by using the Red Missionary Boxes, please feel free to take one of the red boxes from the table at the back of church.  Just leave your name at the piety shop or sacristy.
• Confirmation:  Any young person not confirmed and wishes to be confirmed in 2021, and is currently in Years 7 - 10 should kindly inform Fr. Phil or Colin.
• Faith of our Fathers 2:  A history of the developments in the parish over the last 20 years, containing photographs, testimonies and articles.  Now available at the piety shop.  Suggested donation of £5.00 to defray cost of printing.  An on-line version is available on the parish web site free of charge.

TWEETS FROM  POPE  FRANCIS

“Today Jesus speaks those same words to you: “Take heart, I am here with you, allow me to enter and your life will change”

“Let us pray for the many people who are dying alone, without being able to say goodbye to their loved ones. Let us pray also for the families who cannot accompany their loved ones on that journey."

“Pray for the deceased, those who have died because of the virus. Let us pray especially for healthcare providers who have given their life in service of the sick.”

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Parish Team meeting on Tuesday 7th April Postponed
Sacramental Programme: postponed  till  further  notice.                             

OUR  LADY  and  ST.  PATRICK’S  WEEKLY  SERVICES

During the Corona Virus Crisis the church will be closed, in line with government guidelines.
MASSES will be live-streamed until further notice:
Weekdays at 9.30am.
SUNDAY at 10am
At the last look, 345 people/households followed Mass through this app last Sunday and 96 people/households followed Mass last Thursday. Live-screening the Mass during the week has enabled me to iron out the creases in my broadcasting technique. Some of you will have realised that the broadcast, last Sunday, crashed 4 minutes before Mass was due to start; I received a phone-call on the phone which I was using for the broadcast. I’ve now found out how to block calls while I’m broadcasting. But, on Wednesday, the broadcast crashed again when I was at the offertory of the Mass. This time it was my family who were WhatsApping! But I now mute my family while I’m broadcasting. I hope I’ve also found a better position for the camera so that you can all hear better.
SATURDAY: NO CONFESSIONS   
BAPTISM: Deferred till after the crisis except in emergency
MARRIAGE: 6 months notice must be given (Diocesan requirement)

CHURCH  CLEANING  ROTA  (Suspended)

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TODAY:  CANCELLED: Parish Reconciliation Service.
TUESDAY;  CANCELLED ;Lenten Station Mass at St. Jospeh’s,.Mossley.
NEXT  SUNDAY:  is Palm / Passion Sunday. Mass will live-streamed from St. Patrick’s at 10.00am
NEW OFFERTORY ENVELOPES for Tax Year 2020/21 are now available.  Have been prepared and are ready for collection.  Because of the present lock-down situation it is not presently possible to distribute them.

COLLECTION MONEY: As you will see elsewhere, the collection last week amounted to £40.00!  DON'T PANIC! As a parish, we are in the fortunate position of having sufficient money in the bank to financially see us through a few weeks of this disaster. However the bills still have to be paid! The advantage of the Offertory Envelope Scheme is that even when we are not able to go to Mass we can still put our offering in the envelope until a later date.
If you have spare old envelopes, they can be used, otherwise an ordinary envelope, with the word ‘Offertory’ AND your envelope number, will do fine.  These can be handed in the usual way when this dreadful trial is over.
In the meantime, if you wish to make a donation now please email Father Phil at philip_sumner@tiscali.co.uk for details of how to arrange a direct debit or a one-off payment.

SMILE – A –WHILE

• A priest, a minister, and a rabbi want to see who’s best at his job. So each one goes into the woods, finds a bear, and attempts to convert it. Later, they all get together. The priest begins: “When I found the bear, I read to him from the catechism and sprinkled him with holy water. Next week is his first Communion.”“I found a bear by the stream,” says the minister, “and preached God’s holy Word. The bear was so mesmerized that he let me baptize him.”They both look down at the rabbi, who is lying on a gurney in a body cast. “Looking back,” he says, “maybe I shouldn’t have started with the circumcision.”
• When my husband, James Rowles, was in the seminary, he was invited to preach at a small rural church. However, the man who was to introduce him to the congregation had trouble pronouncing his name. So James offered this verbal clue: “Remember rolls, like hot buttered rolls.”It worked. When it came time for the introduction, the man announced, “We are pleased to have with us the Reverend James Biscuits.”
• A priest and a pastor are standing by the side of a road holding up a sign that reads “The end is near! Turn around now before it’s too late!”A passing driver yells, “You guys are nuts!” and speeds past them. From around the curve, they hear screeching tires—then a big splash. The priest turns to the pastor and says, “Do you think we should just put up a sign that says ‘Bridge Out’ instead?”
• An elderly couple, admitted by St. Peter through the Pearly Gates, found conditions there just heavenly. Said the man to his wife, "I could have been here two years ago if you hadn’t fed me all that oat bran."
• Seen while passing by a church: "Get in touch with God by knee mail.”

                          
THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St. Francis of Paola: born in Italy in 1416, he founded  congregation of hermits and was approved by the Holy See. He died in France in 1507.
St. Isidore was born in Spain 560 and brought up strictly by his brother, the Bishop of Seville. He succeeded his brother as bishop and established the discipline of the Spanish Church calling the Councils of Seville and Toledo. He was a great teacher and wrote prolifically. He died peacefully and was declared  Doctor of the Church.

A POETIC THOUGHT
As your cupboards creak and crumble as you chuckle to yourself,
And then wander off for more supplies and empty every shelf.
As you cram and stuff your freezer with the things you do not need
May your conscience sneak upon you and remind you of your greed.
We are in this thing together and this is just the start
So look deep inside your trolley and then deep inside your heart.

MESSAGE FROM FATHER PHIL
I pray that God keeps us all safe. While it’s strange to say Mass in an empty church each day, I have a real sense that there are many who worship with me through the internet and show their appreciation. Those who don’t have the internet are also held in our prayer.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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FOURTH  SUNDAY  OF  LENT  (YEAR A)
WEEK: MARCH  22ND - MARCH  28TH  2020

As  Jesus  went  along,  he  saw  a  man  who  had  been  blind  from  birth.  He  spat  on  the  ground,  made  a  paste  with  his  spittle,  put  this  over  the  eyes  of  the  blind  man,  and  said  to  him,  “Go  and  wash  in  the  Pool  of  Siloam”.  So  the blind  man  went  off  and  washed  himself,  and  came  away  with  his  sight  restored.

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;    Dominic  Boardman;    Sarah  Bell;    Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton;    Harry  & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;    Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin;    Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle;    Angela  Spencer;    Teresa  Brown;   Paul Carroll;  Joanna;   Arthur Bodden;   Lillian Watt;   Sr. Esther Armstrong;   Mara  Bahra;   Joan  Coop;  Lina  Feniuk;   Kevin  McDonough. 
LATELY  DEAD:  Dr. David  Atherton, Paul Nickerson and Leon Richards
May They Rest in Peace.

COLLECTION:  Envelopes:   £471.80;     Loose:   £315.18;    Total:   £786.98.
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:                     
Restoration Fund:  £10.00;  £7.00; £5.00;  CAFOD:  £10.00; £27.21;  Fast Day Envelopes:  £104.00;   Oldham Food Bank: £10.00 and £10.00;    MISSIO:  Anyone wishing to assist the work of APF World Missions, by using the Red Missionary Boxes, please feel free to take one of the red boxes from the table at the back of church.  Just leave your name at the piety shop or sacristy

PARISH  NEWS

CORONA VIRUS (COVID 19): 

• Confirmation:  Any young person not confirmed and wishes to be confirmed in 2021, and is currently in Years 7 - 10 should kindly inform Fr. Phil or Colin.
• Faith of our Fathers 2:  A history of the developments in the parish over the last 20 years, containing photographs, testimonies and articles.  Now available at the piety shop.  Suggested donation of £5.00 to defray cost of printing.  An on-line version is available on the parish web site free of charge.  

I just received this instruction in the Bishop’s Friday email to all his priests: “There are to be no public celebrations of Mass. Please do not celebrate Mass in a church which is open and accessible to people.”

TWEETS FROM  POPE  FRANCIS
Pray together today for those who are working to guarantee public services: those working in pharmacies, supermarkets, transportation, police officers, and for all those working to allow social and civil life to go ahead.

OUR  LADY  and  ST.  PATRICK’S  WEEKLY  SERVICES
This “gem church” will be open each day for private prayer and meditation from 8.30am. until 3.30pm.

NO  MASS  OR  EUCHARISTIC  SERVICE TILL FURTHER NOTICE

Sunday Mass will be livestreamed at 10am from St. Patrick’s on: https://www.periscope.tv/OLASPChurch

CONFESSION: Saturday  11.00 – 11.50am  These will still take place!    

BAPTISM: By  appointment (But no dates will be accepted in the immediate future because of the Corona Virus)
MARRIAGE: 6 months notice must be given (Diocesan requirement)

CHURCH  CLEANING  ROTA
This  week:   Week  1  -  Mary  &  Francis
Next  week:   Week  2  -  Indian  Community

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TUESDAY\; Lenten Station Mass at 7.30pm at St. Christopher’s church, Lees New Rd., Ashton  (CANCELLED)
SATURDAY:  is the start of British Summer Time. Don’t forget to move your clocks and watches FORWARD ONE HOUR!
NEXT  SUNDAY:  The Parish Reconciliation Service at 3.00pm. (CANCELLED)

SMILE – A –WHILE
When my son, William, was young, we belonged to a small country church. On Communion day, deacons would pass around the “bread and juice.” One Sunday, we attended another church that was more formal. What our church called bread and juice, this one referred to as elements, a word William didn’t understand. As Communion began, the pastor said, “If the deacons will come forward, the elements will pass among us.”William was suddenly excited. Then he leaned toward me, whispering something that caused me to burst out laughing. With all eyes on us, I took him by the hand and we made a hasty exit. All protested. “Mom, we’re going to miss the circus. The pastor said the elephants were going to pass among us! All the way to the car, he protested. “Mom, we’re going to miss the circus. The pastor said the elephants were going to pass among us!”

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Parish Team meeting on Tuesday 7th April at 7.30pm.
Sacramental Programme: Postponed till further notice!

THIS  WEEK’S  FEAST
St. Turibius of Mogrovejo: born in 1538, he trained as a lawyer and became a professor at the University of Salamanca. He was made Archbishop of Lima (Peru), he was an excellent choice, controlling the abuse of the clergy and protecting the poor from oppression. He learned the native Indian dialects in order to talk with the natives.

ITEMS  FROM  THE  PARISH  TEAM  MEETING  HELD  ON  FEBRUARY  27TH

• Mass for Sick and Housebound:  It was pointed out that February was not the ideal month for getting elderly and frail parishioners out to attend a Mass for the sick.  It was agreed to plan for June or July and to approach John Green to see if he would be interested in organizing the event as he has considerable experience from past occasions.
• Taize.  It was agreed to approach Betsie Jones of St. Edward’s ,Lees to seek advice on setting up a Taize group, as it is thought that she has had some experience there.
• 10 year Plan.  Informal talks have taken place regarding setting up of the Building Committee and the formulating of a 10 year plan for the parish with particular regard to reducing our carbon foot print.  This is continuing.
• Year of the Word: The suggestion from the team for a series of talks on the scriptures was taken up with enthusiasm by the priests of the deanery when Fr. Phil mentioned it at the Deanery Conference.  They decided to organise the plan on a deanery wide basis.  The first meetings as arranged so far, which will be at St Edward’s ‘Upper Room’, Lees, are:
• 1) Wednesday 6th May 7pm when the subject will be ‘The Pentateuch’ i.e. First 5 books in the Bible, led by Fr. Gaspar Oladosu.
  2)  Wednesday 13th May 7pm when the subject will be ‘The Psalms, led by Fr Michael Lavin.
  3) Wednesday 20th May 7pm when the subject will be ‘the Major Prophets’, led by Mgr. John Marsland
  4) Wednesday 27th May when the subject will be the ‘History Books’ i.e. Samuel, Kings, Chronicles and Judges.  Leader to be decided.
  The second half of the programme, beginning at the end of September would be held at St Ann’s, Ashton and will focus on the New Testament. 
  1) Wednesday 30th September, when the subject will be ‘The Synoptic Gospels’, leader to be decided.
  2) Wednesday 7th October, when the subject will be ‘The Gospel of John’, when the leader will be Fr. Callum  Brown. Wednesday 14th October, when the subject will be ‘the Epistles’ led by Fr. Simon Firth.
  NB. All these dates have now been postponed. The programme is hoped to be able to start in October.
  

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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THIRD  SUNDAY  OF  LENT  (YEAR A)
WEEK: MARCH  15TH - MARCH  21ST  2020

“Whoever  drinks  this  water  will  get  thirsty  again;  But  anyone  who  drinks  the  water  that  I  shall  give  will  never  be  thirsty  again;  the  water  that  I  shall  give  will  turn  into  a  spring  inside  him,  welling  up  to  eternal  life.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;    Dominic  Boardman;    Sarah  Bell;    Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton;    Harry  & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;    Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin;    Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle;    Angela  Spencer;    Teresa  Brown;  Jack  Bowland;   Emily McGladdery;   John  Cummings; Paul Carroll;  Joanna;   Arthur Bodden;   Lillian Watt;   Sr. Esther Armstrong;   Mara  Bahra;   Joan  Coop;  Lina  Feniuk;   Kevin  McDonough. 
LATELY  DEAD:  Dr. David  Atherton;    Hermine Korolczuk.
ANNIVERSARIES:   Josephine Craven; George Murphy; Marie Francoise Boyi;  Romain Kibiti; Vera Melia; Lesley & John  Duffy; Robert Hendrick; Marjorie Hindle;   Francis Coop; Margaret  &  Edgar Lees; Paul   Lees,  Elijah Joseph. May They Rest in Peace.
COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £489.61;     Loose:   £339.06;    Total:   £828.67.
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  
Many thanks for the following donations:                     
Restoration Fund:  £40.00 and £30.00;  CAFOD:  £1,000.00; £10.00;  £3.03;  Fast Day Envelopes:  £92.20;   Oldham Food Bank: £20.00 and £10.00;  Cornerstone £20.00;    MISSIO:  Anyone wishing to assist the work of APF World Missions, by using the Red Missionary Boxes, please feel free to take one of the red boxes from the table at the back of church.  Just leave your name at the piety shop or sacristy.

PARISH  NEWS

• CORONA VIRUS (COVID 19):  Responsible action has been taken in this parish to reduce the risk of contracting or spreading the Corona Virus: 1) Holy Communion will only be given in one kind - communion from the chalice is suspended.  2) Communion will only be distributed on the hand. 3) The physical Sign of Peace (kissing / handshakes etc.) is suspended (except between close family).  British Deaf Sign Language or 'praying hands' are suggested as alternative ways of non-contact acknowledgement.  4) The use of Holy Water Stoups is suspended. A full update of the advice from the Bishops' Conference is available on the parish notice board.
• Will all Readers and Eucharistic Ministers please take a copy of the Easter rota from the table at the back of church and when completed return it either to John Green, Colin or the Piety Shop TODAY.
• Confirmation:  Any young person not confirmed and wishes to be confirmed in 2021, and is currently in Years 7 - 10 should kindly inform Fr. Phil or Colin in the Parish Office.
• Faith of our Fathers 2:  A history of the developments in the parish over the last 20 years, containing photographs, testimonies and articles.  Now available at the piety shop.  Suggested donation of £5.00 to defray cost of printing.  An on-line version is available on the parish web site free of charge.

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TODAY: Sacramental Programme: Mass at 10.00am in church with the topic of “We Celebrate God’s Gifts"
TUESDAY; Lenten Station Mass at 7.30pm at St. Mary’s church, Failsworth.
SATURDAY: A get together with the women of the Pitt Street Mosque has been organized by some of our women at 2.00pm here at St. Patrick's.  Any of our women who would like to join the group for an enjoyable afternoon, welcoming other women of faith, and sharing afternoon tea please add your name to the list on the table in the narthex. 

SMILE – A –WHILE
Little Susie, a six-year-old, came home from school whining, "Mommy, I've got a stomach ache." "That's because your stomach is empty," her mother replied. "You'd feel better if you had something in it." She gave Susie a snack and sure enough, Susie felt better right away. That afternoon the family's priest dropped by. While he was chatting with Susie's mum, he mentioned he'd had a bad headache all day long. Susie perked up. "That's because it's empty,"  she said. "You'd feel better if you had something in it." 

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Lenten Station Mass on Tues. 24th March at 7.30pm at St. Christopher’s, Lees New Road, Ashton.
The Parish Reconciliation Service before Easter at 3pm on Sunday 29th March.
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday 31st March at 7.30pm at St Joseph’s, Mossley.
Parish Team meeting on Tuesday 7th April at 7.30pm.
Sacramental Programme:  parents’ meeting & children’s lesson at 10.00am in church on Saturday 16th May.
Sacramental Programme:  First Holy Communion on Sunday 17th May at 2.30pm in church.    

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St. Patrick: born about 385, as a youth he was taken captive to Ireland as a slave and worked as a herdsman. After making his escape he became a priest and became Bishop for Ireland. He preached the Gospel and converted many to the faith.  He was buried at Downpatrick.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem: became Bishop of Jerusalem in 348 and defended the faith during the Arian heresy, being exiled 3 times.. He organised the liturgy of the city of Jerusalem.

HOLY ROSARY R.C. PRIMARY SCHOOL, Fir Tree Avenue, Oldham OL8 2SR. The Governors wish to appoint a Site Manager to provide maintenance services, general assistance and security on school premises. Salary: Grade 4 (SCP12 – 17) £21,589 - £23,836 per annum. Salary: Grade 4 (SCP12 – 17) £21,589 - £23,836 per annum. Contract: Permanent starting 17th August 20.  Hours: Full Time - 36hrs 40mins per week (Term Time - Mon-Fri 7.00am-10.20am & 2.00pm-6.00 and School Holidays - 7hr 20minutes per day ) (20 days holidays plus Bank Holidays - Any holidays to be taken during school holidays). This position is subject to an enhanced disclosure check and pre employment check in line with safer recruitment guidelines. Applications should be completed on the CES application form and emailed to head@holyrosary.oldham.sch.uk by the closing date below. Visits to the school are welcomed and encouraged. Please contact the school office on 0161 624 3035 to make an appointment. Closing Date for Applications: by noon on 27th March 2020; Shortlisting: Monday 6th April 2020 Interviews: Week Beginning 21st April.

ITEMS  FROM  THE  PARISH  TEAM  MEETING  HELD  ON  FEBRUARY  27TH

• Mass for Sick and Housebound:  It was pointed out that February was not the ideal month for getting elderly and frail parishioners out to attend a Mass for the sick.  It was agreed to plan for June or July and to approach John Green to see if he would be interested in organizing the event as he has considerable experience from past occasions.
• Pitt Street Mosque:  Sr. Joan O’Gorman and Christine O’Donnell have met with some of the women at the mosque and are hoping to hold the next meeting of this joint group of women at St Patrick’s in the second half of March..

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SECOND  SUNDAY  OF  LENT  (YEAR A)
WEEK: MARCH  8TH - MARCH  14TH  2020

Jesus  took  Peter,  James  and  John  up  a  mountain  where  he  was  transfigured,  his  face  shone  like  the  sun  and  his  clothes  became  as  white  as  the  light.  From  a  bright  cloud  a  voice  said,  “This  is  my  Son,  the  Beloved,  he  enjoys  my  favour.  Listen  to  him.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;    Sarah  Bell;    Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton; Harry  & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;     Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin; Emma  Golden;   Michael  Guilfoyle;    Angela  Spencer;    
Jack  Bowland;   Emily McGladdery;   John  Cummings. Paul Carroll;  Joanna,   Arthur Bodden;  Lillian Watt;   Sr. Esther Armstrong.
LATELY  DEAD:  Nicky  Burns;   Edna  O’Connell;   Nicky  James  McShane;    David Taylor, Teresa Brown.    
ANNIVERSARIES:   John  Worthington;   Regina  Wisniewski.;   John  Fogg;   Bernard  Doran.  May They Rest in Peace.

COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £716.68;     Loose:   £427.55;    Total:   £1,144.23.
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:                     
Restoration Fund:  £10.03;  CAFOD:  £30.00;  £20.00  £10.00;  £10.00;  £5.00;   Oldham Food Bank: £58.00  and £10.00;  Cornerstone £20.00;   Syro Malabar community:   £25.00 and £10.00  MISSIO:  Anyone wishing to assist the work of APF World Missions, by using the Red Missionary Boxes, please feel free to take one of the red boxes from the table at the back of church.  Just leave your name at the piety shop or sacristy.

PARISH  NEWS

• Will all Readers and Eucharistic Ministers please take a copy of the Easter rota from the table at the back of church and when completed return it either to John Green, Colin or the Piety Shop by next Sunday, March 15th.
•    Confirmation:  Any young person not confirmed and wishes to be confirmed in 2021, and is currently in Years 7 - 10 should kindly inform Fr. Phil or Colin in the Parish Office.
• Faith of our Fathers 2:  A history of the developments in the parish over the last 20 years, containing photographs, testimonies and articles.  Now available at the piety shop.  Suggested donation of £5.00 to defray cost of printing.  An on-line version is available on the parish web site free of charge.
• Cornerstone Big Sleep-out: This event has been held at St Christopher's Ashton, but this year will be at the Xaverian College, Lower Park Road M14 5RB on April 24th.  Anyone interested in taking part as a mark of solidarity with the homeless, register asap at 0161 232 8888 or www.cornerstoneecds.org.uk.
• The Wall Safes for donations (CAFOD, Heating etc) have all been repaired and are now back in use.

TWEETS FROM  POPE  FRANCIS
“I ask you to remember me in your prayers and also the members of the Roman Curia, who this evening begin a week of Spiritual Exercises.”
“We pray, fast, and perform the works of mercy in this time of grace, so that the Lord might find our hearts ready and fill them with the victory of His love.”

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TUESDAY; Lenten Station Mass at 7.30pm at St. Michael’s church, Abbeyhills.
THURSDAY:  Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting – children’s and parents’ lesson at 3.00pm in Holy Rosary school.
SATURDAY:  Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting -  children’s and parents’ lesson at 10.00am in the Parish House.
SUNDAY:  Sacramental Programme: Mass at 10.00am in church with the topic of “We Celebrate God’s Gifts

SMILE – A –WHILE

• The teacher of the earth science class was lecturing on map reading. After explaining about latitude, longitude, degrees, and minutes, the teacher asked, "Suppose I asked you to meet me for lunch at 23 degrees, four minutes north latitude and 45 degrees, 15 minutes east longitude?" After a confused silence, a voice volunteered, "I guess you'd be eating alone.
• Little Johnny's new baby brother was screaming up a storm. Johnny asked his mom, “Where’d he come from?”  “He came from heaven, Johnny.” Johnny responded: “Wow! I can see why they threw him out!”

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday 17th March at 7.30pm at St. Mary, Failsworth.
Lenten Station Mass on Tues. 24th March at 7.30pm  St. at Christopher’s, Lees New Road, Ashton.
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday 31st March at 7.30pm at St Joseph’s, Mossley.      

THIS  WEEK’S  FEAST
St. Frances of Rome:  born in Rome in 1384, was married with 3 children. Known for her love of the sick and victims of the epidemics among the poor. She founded a Congregation. 

HOLY ROSARY R.C. PRIMARY SCHOOL, Fir Tree Avenue, Oldham OL8 2SR. The Governors wish to appoint a Site Manager to provide maintenance services, general assistance and security on school premises. Salary: Grade 4 (SCP12 – 17) £21,589 - £23,836 per annum. Contract: Permanent starting 17th August 20.  Hours: Full Time - 36hrs 40mins per week (Term Time - Mon-Fri 7.00am-10.20am & 2.00pm-6.00 and School Holidays - 7hr 20 minutes per day ) (20 days holidays plus Bank Holidays - Any holidays to be taken during school holidays). The role will be to: ensuring the site is secure and well-maintained including daily cleaning and minor  improvement and decoration work, supervise a range of external contractors, ensure health and safety requirements and school regulations are met at all time, manage the external cleaning service provider and support the existing cleaning staff, need excellent communication and IT skills ability to work effectively with all members of the school community. Applicants must be able to provide evidence of previous experience in the same or similar role. This position is subject to an enhanced disclosure check and pre employment check in line with safer recruitment guidelines. Applications should be completed on the CES application form and emailed to head@holyrosary.oldham.sch.uk by the closing date below. Visits to the school are welcomed and encouraged. Please contact the school office on 0161 624 3035 to make an appointment. Closing Date for Applications: by noon on 27th March 2020; Shortlisting: Monday 6th April 2020 Interviews: Week Beginning 21st April.

ITEMS  FROM  THE  PARISH  TEAM  MEETING  HELD  ON  FEBRUARY  27TH

• Hope in the Future: The meeting of ministers of the Word and Eucharist has not yet taken place.  It was agreed that Fr. Phil and Colin would arrange a date in the parish diary as soon as possible.
• Faith of our Fathers 2:  Feedback from parishioners and friends who have taken the booklets has been very favourable.  The booklet is still available at the piety shop.
• Wall safes:  It was agreed to repair or replace the damaged wall safes in church.
• Plug Sockets:  It was agreed to get covers for the plug sockets in church in order to prevent children possibly hurting themselves when playing with the plug sockets.
•  The Parish Reconciliation Service before Easter will be at 3pm on Sunday 29th March. 
  

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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FIRST  SUNDAY  OF  LENT  (YEAR A)
WEEK: MARCH  1ST - MARCH  7TH  2020

Tell  these  stones  to  turn  to  loaves;
Man does not live on  bread alone but from every word that comes from the  mouth of God.
If you are the Son of God throw yourself down;      
You must not put the Lord your God to the test.
I will give you all these if you fall at my feet and worship me;
Be off Satan for scripture says you must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone. Then the devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him.

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;    Sarah  Bell;    Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton;    Harry  & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;     Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin;    Mark  Wilson;    Emma  Golden;    Angela  Spencer;   Kath  Tierney;   Teresa  Brown;  Jack  Bowland;   Emily McGladdery;   John  Cummings.
LATELY  DEAD:  Nicky  Burns;   Edna  O’Connell;   Nicky  James  McShane. 
ANNIVERSARIES:  Mary  Heaton;   Judith  Warburton;   Bernard  Doran;   John  Joceylin;        Norman  &  Austin  Hussey;   Dr.  John  Duddy.                      
May They Rest in Peace.

THANKSGIVING  MASSES  will be offered for:  a birthday;  for Colum Malone, Dan Aherrn, Ann and Ken Freakley; and in thanksgiving to our Lord and our Lady for healing.

COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £633.05;     Loose:   £416.60;    Total:   £1,049.65.
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:                     
CAFOD:  £100.00;  £10.00  £5.00;  £1.76;  £1.00;   Oldham Food Bank: £20.00;  £10.00 and £10.00;   Cornerstone  £40.00 and £30.00;  Thanks also for donations of £20.00 and  600 euros.  MISSIO:  Anyone wishing to assist the work of APF World Missions, by using the Red Missionary Boxes, please feel free to take one of the red boxes from the table at the back of church.  Just leave your name at the piety shop or sacristy.

PARISH  NEWS

• Confirmation:  Any young person not confirmed and wishes to be confirmed in 2021, and is currently in Years 7 - 10 should kindly inform Fr. Phil or Colin in the Parish Office.
• Cafod  Donations: Please note that the Wall Box for donations, at the back of the church has been damaged by thieves and cannot now be opened.  DO NOT USE THIS BOX. All donations should be put in a CAFOD envelope (on the table at the back of church) and handed in to the piety shop or sacristy. It has been agreed to repair or replace the box a.s.a.p.
• Faith of our Fathers 2:  A history of the developments in the parish over the last 20 years, containing photographs, testimonies and articles.  Now available at the piety shop.  Suggested donation of £5.00 to defray cost of printing.  An on-line version is available on the parish web site free of charge.
• Cornerstone Big Sleep-out: This event has been held at St Christopher's Ashton, but this year will be at the Xaverian College, Lower Park Road M14 5RB on April 24th.  Anyone interested in taking part as a mark of solidarity with the homeless, register asap at 0161 232 8888 or www.cornerstoneecds.org.uk.
• Lourdes Fund Concert by Oldham Council Music Centre & Oldham Youth Choir (plus soloists from both groups) on Friday 6th March 7.00 – 8.30pm at St Edward’s church Lees. Adults £3.00,  Children £2.00,  Family £10.00.
• The second diocesan Mass for LGBT+ Catholics, their families and friends, will be celebrated on Saturday 7th March at the Holy Name, Oxford Rd, Manchester at 3pm.
  The celebrant and preacher will be Fr. Brendan Callaghan SJ. There will be refreshments after Mass and an opportunity to discuss the next steps.

Congratulations and best wishes to Sheila Mills (nee McGladdery) on your 80th birthday.

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TUESDAY\; Lenten Station Mass at 7.30pm at Ss. Aidan and Oswald, Royton.
FRIDAY:  CAFOD Lent Family Fast Day is the 60th anniversary of the first Family Fast Day and is an opportunity to reach out and support highly-skilled local experts around the world who help the poorest members of our global family. Please collect your Family Fast Day envelope this week and give whatever you can to help experts like Sister Consilia - a nun and trained pharmacist who treats people in rural Zimbabwe - continue their vital work

SPECIAL NOTICE: ‘Women Growing together’ Join this group in celebrating and empowering local women of all ages and different beliefs. Guest speakers and refreshments.  An opportunity to interact, network and share a light meal.  Organised by the Oldham Interfaith Forum..
6pm. The Chadderton Suite, Oldham Civic Centre.  Thursday 19th March .

SMILE – A –WHILE
What did the strawberry do when it crossed the road?  It made a traffic jam!!
What did one ocean say to another ocean?  Nothing, they just waved!
Why did the scientist put a knocker on his door? He wanted the No-bell prize!
Thanks, Alexa!!

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday10th March at 7.30pm at St. Michael’s, Abbeyhills.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting – children’s and parents’ lesson at 3.00pm in Holy Rosary school on Thursday 12th March.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting -  children’s and parents’ lesson at 10.00am in the Parish House on Saturday 14th March.
Sacramental Programme : Mass at 10.00am in church on Sunday15th March with the topic of “We Celebrate God’s Gifts”.
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday 17th March at 7.30pm at St. Mary, Failsworth.
Lenten Station Mass on Tues. 24th March at 7.30pm  St.Christopher’s, Lees New Road, Ashton.
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday 31st March at 7.30pm at St Joseph’s, Mossley.      

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St. Casimir: the son of the King of Poland, he was born in 1458, and became known for his practice of Christian virtues especially chastity and love of the poor. He died at 26 of a lung disease and is remembered for his love of the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Ss. Perpetua and Felicity: both died in Carthage in 203 in the persecution of Septimus Severus – the account of their lives, written by themselves and eye-witnesses, survives.

Colin’s Luxury Lenten Lentil Bake. (As a penance: Say that again, twice and quickly)
Ingredients: 1 tbsp; 1 lge onion;2 carrots, 2 celery stalks, 1 red pepper ( seeds removed), 2 garlic cloves; 1 tbsp hot curry powder, 1 tbsp tomato purée,  1 tin lentils, 5000ml vegetable stock, 4 free-range eggs, handful fresh coriander, chopped, salt and freshly ground black pepper, pinch paprika, tomato, cucumber, naan bread..
Method: Finely chop all the vegetables and crush the garlic cloves.  Drain tin of lentils. Heat the oil in a large frying pan with a lid over a medium heat.  Add the onion, garlic, carrot, celery and pepper and gently fry, for 8-10 minutes, until softened and starting to take on colour. Add the tomato purée and curry powder and cook for five minutes. Add the lentils and the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to simmer for 10 minutes. Make sure the mix does not stick to the pan.  When the mix is firm (not sloppy) place into an oven proof dish.  Make four 'wells' in the lentil mixture and crack an egg into each hole.  Place dish into pre-heated oven (180 degrees) until the eggs are cooked to your liking. Sprinkle with coriander and season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add a pinch of paprika to the top of each egg. To serve, carefully spoon a portion of the lentils with an egg onto each plate. Serve with warmed naan bread and tomato and cucumber slices. 

Quotation for Lent: In the matter of almsgiving, not only the rich but those of average means and the poor are able to play their part.  Those who are unequal in their capacity to give can be equal in the love in their hearts. (Pope St. Leo the Great).

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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7TH  SUNDAY  IN  ORDINARY  TIME  (YEAR A) 
WEEK:  FEBRUARY 23RD - FEBRUARY 29TH 2020

“Love  your  enemies  and  pray  for  those  who  persecute  you;  in  this  way  you  will  be  sons  of  your  Father  in  heaven,  for  he  causes  his  sun  to  rise  on  bad  men  as  well  as  good  and  the  rain  to  fall  on  honest  and  dishonest  men  alike.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;    Sarah  Bell;    Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton; Harry  & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;     Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin;   Mark  Wilson;   Emma  Golden;    Michael  Guilfoyle;   Lilian  Watt;   baby  Noah  Kenneally;   Angela  Spencer;   Kath  Tierney.  
LATELY  DEAD:  Jean  Lamb;    Marie  Jubb;   Wendy  Marley;   Madeleine  Inianga, Teresa Brown.      
ANNIVERSARIES:  Hannah  Sexton;   Joseph  Diveney;  Anna  &  Stirling  Smith;    Kitty  Finegan;      Thomas  Finegan.  
May They Rest in Peace.

COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £574.10;     Loose:   £312.17;    Total:   £886.27
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:                     
CAFOD:  £10.00;  £7.00  £5.00;  £5.00a cheque for £75.00 in memory of the late Marie Jubb has been sent direct.  Food Bank £10.00..  (MISSIO:  Anyone wishing to assist the work of APF World Missions, by using the Red Missionary Boxes, please feel free to take one of the red boxes from the table at the back of church.  Just leave your name at the piety shop or sacristy.

PARISH  NEWS

• Confirmation:  Any young person not confirmed and wishes to be confirmed in 2021, and is currently in Years 7 - 10 should kindly inform Fr. Phil or Colin in the Parish Office.
• Cafod  Donations: Please note that the Wall Box for donations, at the back of the church has been damaged by thieves and cannot now be opened.  DO NOT USE THIS BOX. All donations should be put in a CAFOD envelope (on the table at the back of church) and handed in to the piety shop or sacristy.
• Faith of our Fathers 2:  A history of the developments in the parish over the last 20 years, containing photographs, testimonies and articles.  Now available at the piety shop.  Suggested donation of £5.00 to defray cost of printing.  An on-line version is available on the parish web site free of charge.
• Cornerstone Big Sleep-out: This event has been held at St Christopher's Ashton, but this year will be at the Xaverian College, Lower Park Road M14 5RB.  Anyone interested in taking part as a mark of solidarity with the homeless, register asap at 0161 232 8888 or www.cornerstoneecds.org.uk.

“TWEETS”  FROM  POPE  FRANCIS
“To follow Jesus we must take three steps: draw close to Him to know Him better, confess - with the strength of the Holy Spirit - that He is the Son of God, and accept the path of humility and humiliation that He chose for the redemption of humanity.”
“The option for the poor and the abandoned motivates us to liberate them from material poverty and to defend their rights, but also to invite them to friendship with the Lord, who loves them and has given them immense dignity.”

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TUESDAY\;  Shrove Tuesday or “Pancake Day” is a way of using up fatty foods, eggs, sugar etc. before the start of the season of Lent. In some Catholic countries it is called Mardi Gras or “Fat Tuesday” and is a day of carnivals and parades.
WEDNESDAY:  Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, a day of fast and abstinence.
THURSDAY:  Parish Team meeting at 7.30pm in the Parish House.
SATURDAY:  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 10.30 – 11.

SMILE – A –WHILE
Having lost most of his hearing a number of years ago, this elderly man goes to the doctor to be fitted with hearing aids which promise to allow him to hear 100%. A month later, he returns to the doctor for a check up on his progress. The doctor tells him that his hearing is perfect and asks if his family is pleased. The man says, "Oh, I haven't told them about the hearing aids yet. I just sit around and listen to them talk. I've changed my will three times!

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday 3rd March at 7.30pm at Ss. Aidan and Oswald, Royton/
CAFOD Family Fast Day on Friday 6th March.
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday10th March at 7.30pm at St. Michael’s, Abbeyhills.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting – children’s and parents’ lesson at 3.00pm in Holy Rosary school on Thursday 12th March.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting -  children’s and parents’ lesson at 10.00am in the Parish House on Saturday 14th March.
Sacramental Programme : Mass at 10.00am in church on Sunday15th March with the topic of “We Celebrate God’s Gifts”.
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday 17th March at 7.30pm at St. Mary, Failsworth.
Lenten Station Mass on Tues. 24th March at 7.30pm  St.Christopher’s, Lees New Road, Ashton.
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday 31st March at 7.30pm at St Joseph’s, Mossley.      

The Lectionary:  In line with the Bishop's declaration of the Year of the Word and our own bishop's initiative in the Hope in the Future programme 'Living the Sunday Eucharist', the following article has been produced and is well worth reading:

LITURGY OF THE WORD: Lectionary v Bible
One of the richest products of the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council was the book we call the “Lectionary.” Literally this simply means “A Book of Readings”, and it describes the arrangement of the bible passages that we hear at Mass on Sundays, weekdays and in the celebration of the Sacraments. There is something very special about the Lectionary: it differs from the Bible as a book because passages are not read in the order found in the Bible, nor are they read at random. There is a very careful structure to the passages we hear! This is not all a product of Vatican II: the earliest “Lectionaries” date way back into the first millennium of the Church, and consist of lists of bible passages to be read on certain days. So, for example, the different Gospels we read today for the Vigil, Midnight, Dawn and Day Masses of Christmas have been set as such for hundreds of years! What the Vatican II Lectionary does is extend this, making sure that in the course of a three-year cycle someone coming to Mass every Sunday will hear most of the four Gospels, most of the letters of Saints Paul, Peter, James and others, and a very rich selection of passages from the Old Testament. There is nothing to stop you reading the Bible at home, starting at Genesis and working your way through to the Apocalypse, but in the proclamation of the Word of God at Mass we allow the Church to guide our reading, so that we may be helped in our listening to, and understanding of the love of God revealed through the Word.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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6TH  SUNDAY  IN  ORDINARY  TIME  (YEAR A) 
WEEK:  FEBRUARY 16TH - FEBRUARY 22ND 2020

“.....the  man  who  infringes  even  one  of  the  least  of  these  commandments  and  teaches  others  to  do  the  same  will  be  considered  the  least  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven;  but  the  man  who  keeps  them  and  teaches  them  will  be  considered  great  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;    Sarah  Bell;    Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton;    Harry  & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;     Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin;   Mark  Wilson;   Emma  Golden;     Paul  Carroll;    Ian  Curley;   Michael  Guilfoyle;   Lilian  Watt;   baby  Noah  Kenneally.
LATELY  DEAD:  Sally  Quarmby;   Marie  Jubb;   Damien  Sheeran;   Kath  Tierney;
Terry  Kenneally;    Winnie  Myron;   Tim  Steffiuk;   Malcolm.      
ANNIVERSARIES:  Alice  Dutson;     Henryk  Sobieralski;   Una  Lester.
May They Rest in Peace.

COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £623 60;     Loose:   £260.13;    Total:   £883.73
Retiring Collection for Catholic Association for Racial Justice:  £106 23
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD:  £10.00;  £7.00  £5.00;  £1.00;   Oldham Food Bank: £10.00;   Cornerstone:  £20.00;     Missio  £50.00. MISSIO:  Anyone wishing to assist the work of APF World Missions, by using the Red Missionary Boxes, please feel free to take one of the red boxes from the table at the back of church.  Just leave your name at the piety shop or sacristy.

PARISH  NEWS
Minutes of St Patrick’s Finance Meeting,11th February 2020
Presentation of Financial Report:  Cyril Clarke, the parish accountant, gave an overall view of the Annual Financial Statement, presented to the diocese for the year ending 31st December 2019.  The following points were raised: 1) Cash in bank at the start of the year: £69,792.33.
Cash in bank at the end of the year:   £53,815.99. Difference: -£15,976.34.
The negative balance was attributed mainly to unexpectedly heavy maintenance costs over the year, particularly with regard to the car park barrier and the reconstruction of the shed in the church garden. The analysis  of income and expenditure was accepted as a true record.
2)  In the Analysis of Income /expenditure, Cyril pointed out:  a) The Tax Refunds on Gift Aided income had produced an income of £8,564.22 from the government.  This indicates the importance of using the Offertory Envelope Gift Aid Scheme by taxpaying members of the congregation. b) The income from Fr. Phil’s ministry activities brought in £8,039.93. The amount paid by the parish to Fr. Phil amounted to £5,047.71. c) The amount paid to the diocese as our Diocesan Levy was £16,665.26.  This fee is now calculated at a percentage, set by the diocese, of the  money received as collection on Sunday. 
The foreseeable planned spending for 2020 includes:
i) The new stained glass window, planned as part of our Jubilee Celebrations.  ii)   Investigation and correction of a leak problem in the church roof. iii)    Investigation and correction of a leak problem in the double glazed windows in the presbytery (particularly in Fr. Phil’s sitting room). iv)  Reconstruction of the en suite facility in Fr. Phil’s bedroom. These projects were agreed

NOTE: Faith of our Fathers 2 booklets are still available from the piety shop: Suggested donation: £5.00.

SMILE – A – WHILE

• One Sunday morning when my son was about five years old, we were attending church in our community. It was common for the preacher to invite the children to the front of the church and have a small lesson before beginning the sermon. He would bring in an item they could find around the house and relate it to a teaching from the Bible.This particular morning, the visual aid for his lesson was a smoke detector. He asked the children if anyone knew what it meant when an alarm sounded from the smoke detector. My child immediately raised his hand and said, "It means Daddy's cooking dinner."
•  Paddy’s working on the cake stall at the fete. Mick walks up and asks Paddy, “How is it that most of your cakes are 50p but that one’s £1?” Paddy said, “That’s Madeira cake!”

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Parish Team meeting on Thursday 27th February at 7.30pm.
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday 3rd March at 7.30pm at Ss. Aidan and Oswald, Royton/
CAFOD Family Fast Day on Friday 6th March.
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday10th March at 7.30pm at St. Michael’s, Abbeyhills.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting – children’s and parents’ lesson at 3.00pm in Holy Rosary school on Thursday 12th March.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting -  children’s and parents’ lesson at 10.00am in the Parish House on Saturday 14th March.
Sacramental Programme : Mass at 10.00am in church on Sunday15th March with the topic of “We Celebrate God’s Gifts”.
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday 17th March at 7.30pm at St. Mary, Failsworth.
Lenten Station Mass on Tues. 24th March at 7.30pm  St.Christopher’s, Lees New Road, Ashton.
Lenten Station Mass on Tuesday 31st March at 7.30pm at St Joseph’s, Mossley.      

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order; born in Florence, these seven men lived the life of hermits, before founding the 0rder in 1304. On this date St. Alexis Falconieri died.
St. Peter Damian; born in 1007 Peter became a hermit before taking part in a reform of the Church then became Bishop of Ostia and was immediately venerated as a saint.
The Chair of St. Peter; this feast of the See of Rome has been kept from the 4th century and celebrates the unity of the Church gathered around Peter, the Prince of the Apostles.

ITEMS  FROM  THE  PARISH  TEAM  MEETING  ON  JANUARY  23RD

• Kneelers in Church: Christine Wilson volunteered to fix some of the broken kneelers in church, which she did most successfully.
• Year of the Word:Fr Phil informed the team that Fr. Michael Lavin from St Joseph’s Mossley had agreed to speak at one of the proposed talks planned for after Easter.  He will be speaking on The Psalms.  He also said that he would try to arrange speakers for the other three talks at the next Deanery Conference.
• Taize.  It was suggested that we might set up a Taize style music/meditation group in the parish.  It was agreed that the idea should be pursued.
• The re-formation of the Buildings Committee was agreed with a mandate to prepare a ten-year development plan with the aim to seriously reduce our carbon footprint, hopefully to zero, over the next ten years. 
• Lenten Station Masses: The following dates were announced:

  3rd March:   Ss. Aidan and Oswald
  10th March:   St. Michael
  17th March:   St. Mary, Failsworth
  24th March:  St. Christopher, Lees New Road, Ashton
  31st March:  St Joseph, Mossley.      
  All these Masses start at 7.30pm

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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5TH  SUNDAY  IN  ORDINARY  TIME  (YEAR A) 
WEEK:  FEBRUARY 9TH - FEBRUARY 15TH 2020

“A  city  built  on  a  hill-top  cannot  be  hidden.  No  one  lights  a  lamp  to  put  it  under  a  tub; they  put  it  on  the  lamp-stand  where  it  shines  for  everyone  in  the  house.  In   the  same  way,  your  light  must  shine  in  the  sight  of  men,  so  that,  seeing your  good  works,  they  may  give  the  praise  to  your  Father  in  heaven.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;   Andrea  Spencer;    Sarah  Bell;    Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton;    Angela  Spencer;   Harry & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;     Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin;   Mark  Wilson;   Emma  Golden;   Peter  Hilton;   Paul  Carroll;   Ian  Curley;   Michael  Guilfoyle;   Lilian  Watt;   baby  Noah  Kenneally.
LATELY  DEAD:  Marie  Jubb;     Mary McDermott;    Edu  Dumadapat,  William Cooke;   Kath Teirney; Terence  Kenneally.
ANNIVERSARIES; Arthur Haynes; Margaret Mahady; Una Lester; Romeo Tee;
Henrique Novais; Louis de Melchor; Elizabeth and John Riley.
(May they rest in peace)

COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £483.55;     Loose:   £423.68;    Total:   £907.23.
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:
Redecoration  Fund:  £0.00    Gift Aided:  £0.00.                      
CAFOD:  £10.00, £7.00 and £3.00;   Oldham Food Bank: £10.00;   Cornerstone:  £10.00;   Caritas:   £5.00.  
MISSIO:  Anyone wishing to assist the work of APF World Missions, by using the Red Missionary Boxes, please feel free to take one of the red boxes from the table at the back of church.  Just leave your name at the piety shop or sacristy.

PARISH  NEWS

• CAFOD  DONATIONS: Please note that the Wall Box for donations, at the back of the church has been damaged by thieves and cannot now be opened.  DO NOT USE THIS BOX. All donations should be put in a CAFOD envelope (on the table at the back of church) and handed in to the piety shop or sacristy.
• Apologies again for the mistake in last week’s bulletin, indicating the Mass on Tuesday to be at 10am. This applies especially to the members of the Walsingham Association whose meeting day it was. Nevertheless, the Mass was offered for the intentions of the W.A.

FROM  THE  DIOCESE
Safeguarding  Officer  Appointment Type: Full time, permanent.
Working Hours: 35 hours per week, flexible working will be required to include evening and weekend work. Location: Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP
Salary: £42,000- 45,000 per annum based on skills and experience
The Diocese is seeking to recruit a suitably experienced and qualified practitioner to join our Safeguarding Team. They will be a highly motivated and well-organised professional, able to contribute to the development and implementation of safeguarding policies and strategies throughout the Diocese. They will have a practical working knowledge and experience of safeguarding and the ability to relate this experience to providing advice and support.
The closing date for this role is 12 noon on Friday 21st February 2020
To find out more about the role and how to apply, please visit our vacancies page: www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TODAY: is a Day of Prayer for Racial Justice and there will be a basket at the back of church if you wish to make a donation. The beneficiary is the Catholic Association for Racial Justice.

SMILE – A – WHILE

• A man walked into a church one day and knelt down to pray. "Lord," he said, "I’ve made mistakes, but I’m determined to change. If you let me win the lottery, I promise to be a good servant and never bother you again." Nothing happened. So the next week the man tried again. "Please, God, let me win the lottery, and I’ll come to church every week." Again nothing happened. So the man decided to try one last time. "Lord," he implores, "why haven’t I won the lottery? Have you abandoned me?" Suddenly a deep voice booms down from above. "My son, I have not abandoned you, but at least meet me halfway—buy a ticket!"
• Wife:  “I have blisters on my hands from that broom.”  Husband: “Next time, take the car, silly.”
• What happens to a frog's car when it breaks down?  It gets toad away.

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Parish Team meeting on Thursday 27th February at 7.30pm.
CAFOD Family Fast Day on Friday 6th March.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting – children’s and parents’ lesson at 3.00pm in Holy Rosary school on Thursday 12th March.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting -  children’s and parents’ lesson at 10.00am in the Parish House on Saturday 14th March.
Sacramental Programme : Mass at 10.00am in church on Sunday15th March with the topic of “We Celebrate God’s Gifts”.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St. Scholastica:  the sister of St. Benedict, was born about 480 in Italy. She dedicated her life to God, forming a community of contemplative religious.  She died at Monte Cassino.
Our Lady of Lourdes: in 1858, Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous near Lourdes (France). Through her, Mary called sinners to penance and there arose a spirit of prayer and charity in helping the poor and the sick.
Ss. Cyril and Methodius: were brothers and missionaries who took the Gospel to the Slavs, translated liturgical books into the Slavonic language.  Both died in the late 9th century.

ITEMS  FROM  THE  PARISH  TEAM  MEETING  ON  JANUARY  23RD

• First Mass of Christmas:  It was agreed that the Christmas Masses had been well organized and attendances were very good.  The soloist (Justine) was commended on her solo singing of ‘O Holy Night’.  It was thought that the first hymn, ‘Gaudate’ in the Carol Service, before the First Mass, should have been a congregational song rather than being sung by the choir; as the congregation had arrived early with the intention of singing carols.  ‘Gaudate’could have been sung later. The team took note, but it was left to Steve, the choir master, to decide, having been made aware of the concern. 
• Pitt Street Mosque:  Following the visit of some of our women to Pitt Street Mosque, it was agreed that: a return visit of the mosque women to us will be arranged soon, probably next month.  It was also agreed that the parish would facilitate the event, paying for food etc. which will be organized by our women. Incidentally it was mentioned that some of our young men are in the process of organizing an ‘open age’ football team (Colin has volunteered to be goal keeper). It was suggested that if this comes to pass, some kind of match with Pitt Street Mosque might be arranged.
• Mass for Sick and Housebound:  It was agreed to revive the Mass for the Sick and Housebound.  The suggestion was accepted that this should be held on the Feast of our Lady of Lourdes (World Day for the sick) in 2021.  It is too late to organise for this year as the feast falls on February 11th.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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3RD  SUNDAY  IN  ORDINARY  TIME (YEAR A) 
WEEK:  JANUARY 26TH - FEBUARY 1ST 2020

“This  is  the  one  I  spoke  of  when  I  said  :  A  man  is  coming  after  me  who  ranks  before  me  because  he  existed before  me ....... he  is  the  one  who  is  going  to  baptise  with  the  Holy  Spirit”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;   Sarah  Bell;   Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton;    Angela  Spencer;   Harry & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;     Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin;   Mark  Wilson;   Emma  Golden,    Peter Hilton,   Paul Carroll;    Marie Jubb;     Kath  Tierney;   Terrence  Kenneally.
LATELY  DEAD:  Madeline  Mary  Summerscales;   Kenneth  Winger;   Rita  Lowe;   Jack  Lawton;   Tim  McCormack.
ANNIVERSARIES:  Catherine & Lewis  Laverty;   Joao  Luis  Silva;   Joe  Rimmer;   Victoria Otoghile. 
May They Rest in Peace.   

COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £611.66   Loose   £423.37   Total:   £1,035.03
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:
Redecoration  Fund:.£8.78;     CAFOD   £10.00;  £7; £1.00;   Oldham Food Bank  £10.00 and £10.00;  Cornerstone £10.00;  Missio  £34.64.

PARISH  NEWS

• Will all Readers and Eucharistic Ministers please collect a copy of the new rota for February, March and April from the sacristy after Mass today (if you have not done so already).
• Faith Of Our Fathers  2:  A history of the developments in the parish over the last 20 years. Containing photographs, testimonies and articles.  Now available at the piety shop. Suggested donation: £5.

TWEET FROM POPE FRANCIS
“Ecumenical hospitality requires a willingness to listen to other Christians, paying attention to their personal stories of faith and to the history of their community.”
“This year, the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was dedicated to the theme of hospitality.”

SMILE – A – WHILE

• When my husband, James Rowles, was in the seminary, he was invited to preach at a small rural church. However, the man who was to introduce him to the congregation had trouble pronouncing his name. So James offered this verbal clue: “Remember rolls, like hot buttered rolls.” It worked. When it came time for the introduction, the man announced, “We are pleased to have with us the Reverend James Biscuits.”
• A priest and a pastor are standing by the side of a road holding up a sign that reads “The end is near! Turn around now before it’s too late!”
• A passing driver yells, “You guys are nuts!” and speeds past them. From around the curve, they hear screeching tyres—then a big splash. The priest turns to the pastor and says, “Do you think we should just put up a sign that says ‘Bridge Out’ instead?”
  

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TODAY is Caritas Sunday and there will be a retiring collection after each Mass for Caritas Diocese of Salford. Formerly the Catholic Children’s Rescue Society (founded in 1886), Caritas Diocese of Salford has now expanded to respond to many areas of need in our parishes, from our work with the homeless, with children, families and the wider community, and in welcoming refugees. This time last year, thanks to your help, our appeal raised £29,833, which went directly to fund where the need was greatest; namely work with Children and Families in our Bolton Young Parents’ Home; work with Homeless people at Cornerstone Day Centre; and their work with Refugee education and integration.

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting – children’s and parents’ lesson at 3.00pm in Holy Rosary school on Thursday 12th March.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting -  children’s and parents’ lesson at 10.00am in the Parish House on Saturday 14th March.
Sacramental Programme : Mass at 10.00am in church on Sunday15th March with the topic of “We Celebrate God’s Gifts”.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St. Angela Merici:  born in Italy around 1470, she entered the Order of St. Francis and gathered girls around her to share the work of charity. She founded the Ursulines (who were devoted to education of poor girls in Brescia in 1535 and died in 1540.
St. Thomas Aquinas: born in Italy around 1225, entered the Dominican Order and studied under St. Albert the Great in Cologne, an outstanding writer and teacher of philosophy.
St. John Bosco:  born near Turin in 1815, he was ordained priest and laboured to improve the education of young people, founding a religious congregation (the Salesians) for this purpose.

YEAR OF THE WORD: Pope Francis has designated today as the start of this special year., when we are asked to pay special attention to the Word of God in the Scriptures.  The Parish Team are in the process of organising an event, later in the year, in order to help parishioners join in this celebration.

WORLD HOLOCOST DAY is on 27th January.  Many Christians will be keeping this in their thoughts and prayers at this time.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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2ND  SUNDAY  IN  ORDINARY  TIME (YEAR A) 
WEEK:  JANUARY 19TH - JANUARY 25TH 2020

“This  is  the  one  I  spoke  of  when  I  said  :  A  man  is  coming  after  me  who  ranks  before  me  because  he  existed before  me ....... he  is  the  one  who  is  going  to  baptise  with  the  Holy  Spirit”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;   Sarah  Bell;   Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton;    Angela  Spencer;   Harry & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;     Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin;   Mark  Wilson;   Emma  Golden, Sr. Regina, Doris Wild, Baby Ruby Lee Farrow, Peter Hilton, Marie Jubb;   Sister  Eileen, Kath Tierney
LATELY  DEAD:  Richard Teefy, Carole Barnes, Anthony Richard Warburton, Teresa Flannigan,  Christtine  Barnes (former  teacher  at  St. Alban’s and St. Augustine’s schools); Teresa, Maureen and Veronica Crane and Sue Boothroyd.
ANNIVERSARIES;  Joe Rimmer, Olga Tyl,  Michael Mahady. May They Rest in Peace.   

COLLECTION:   Envelopes  £564.01   Loose   £519.58  Total:   £1083.59
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:
CAFOD  £10;   Oldham Food Bank  £10;   Cornerstone £10.

PARISH  NEWS

• Will all Readers and Eucharistic Ministers please collect a copy of the new rota for February, March and April from the sacristy after Mass today.

TWEET FROM POPE FRANCIS:
“The Lord has so much compassion, He involves Himself in our problems. Let us often repeat this simple prayer: Lord, I am a sinner, have mercy on me, have compassion for me.”
“Jesus had authority because there was consistency in what he taught and what he did, in how he lived. Authority is seen in this: consistency and witness”

SMILE – A – WHILE
Father Michael, of St Mary's church began his sermon with this story: 'I was on a plane last week, from Edinburgh to London, when we ran into some very severe weather which resulted in turbulence.  As it got worse, the passengers became more and more alarmed, and even the airline stewards began to look concerned.  Finally, one of them noticed that I had 'Reverend' in front of my name on the passenger list, so she approached me, and said, 'Sir, this is really frightening. Do you suppose you could, I don't know.........do something religious?'  So I took up a collection,' said Father Michael with a grin.
Father Phil (not that one), told the congregation, 'Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you all understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark, chapter 17.'  The following Sunday, as he prepared to deliver his sermon; Fr Phil asked for a show of hands, he wanted to know how many people had read Mark 17. Almost every hand went up.  ‘That’s great’ he said, ‘except, St Mark’s Gospel only has 16 chapters ...... NOW, about lying!

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TODAY is a Day of Prayer for Peace.
THURSDAY:  Parish Team meeting on at 7.30pm in the Parish House.
SATURDAY: End of Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity.
NEXT SUNDAY is Caritas Sunday and there will be a retiring collection after each Mass for Caritas, Diocese of Salford. Formerly Catholic Children’s Rescue Society (founded in 1886), Caritas, Diocese of Salford, has now expanded to respond to many areas of need in our parishes, to include our work with the homeless, with children, families and the wider community, and in welcoming refugees. This time last year, thanks to your help, our appeal raised £29,833, which went directly to fund where the need was greatest; namely work with Children and Families in our Bolton Young Parents’ Home; work with Homeless people at Cornerstone Day Centre; and their work with Refugee education and integration.

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting – children’s and parents’ lesson at 3.00pm in Holy Rosary school on Thursday 12th March.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting -  children’s and parents’ lesson at 10.00am in the Parish House on Saturday 14th March.
Sacramental Programme : Mass at 10.00am in church on Sunday15th March with the topic of “We Celebrate God’s Gifts”.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St. Fabian: chosen as Bishop of Rome in 236, he gave leadership when the Emperor Decius decided to restore pagan worship and he died a martyr  being buried on the Via Appia.
St. Sebastian; a native of Milan, he was martyred in Rome  and buried on the Appian Way.
St. Agnes; martyred at age of 12 or 13 around the year 300.
St. Vincent: a deacon from Spain who died in the persecution of Diocletian.
St. Francis de Sales: born in 1597, he was ordained priest and worked for the Church by distributing printed essays on the Catholic faith. As Bishop of Genoa, he was exemplary in his pastoral care.

THANK YOU
We have had letters of thanks from both the Oldham Food Bank and Cornerstone for our recent donations, totalling over £2000.  Our help is so greatly appreciated by those on the front line, fighting against poverty and homelessness on our own door step.

UNCLAIMED CHRISTMAS  DRAW PRIZES

3	£50	Marie Williams	1761
7	Box Roses Chocs	J. Leach	1599

Unclaimed Prizes will be kept until February 1st 2020 after which they will be recycled.

JUST  A  PRAYER
Just a little word of kindness, just a little word of love,
Just a little smile of tenderness are all blessings from above.
Just a little thought of comfort, just a token that you care,
Just a little gesture of sympathy may be answer to a prayer.
Just a little smile of happiness and a little song of peace.
Just a word of praise at eventide will give the soul release.
For the little bit of kindness and the little bit of care.
The little bit of tenderness are the essence of a prayer.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (YEAR A) 
WEEK:  JANUARY 12TH - JANUARY 18TH 2020

A voice spoke from heaven
’This is my Son, the Beloved;
My favour rests on him”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;   Sarah  Bell;   Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton;    Angela  Spencer;   Harry & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;     Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin;   Mark  Wilson;   Emma  Golden, Sr. Regina, Doris Wild, Baby Ruby Lee Farrow, Peter Hilton, Paul Carroll. Marie Jubb.
LATELY  DEAD:  Richard Teefey, Maureen Arthur, Michael Winterburn.
Rita Lowe (Walsingham Association)
ANNIVERSARIES Margaret Grudzien, Judith Dwyer, Sergio Auxtero, Margaret Blachburn, Joe Beswick, Anthony Holland, Paddy Joe Canny, Alan Henthorn, Myron Patra, Ron Kain, Mary and Robert McFall,.
May They Rest in Peace.   

COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £610.90;    Loose   £361.75;    Total:   £972.65.
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:
Redecoration  Fund:.£0.00.  Christmas Donation from Polish Community £750.58  CAFOD   £22.03,  £10;   Oldham Food Bank  £10;   Cornerstone £20.

PARISH  NEWS
Shop sale:  all 2020 Catholic calendars and children’s books have been reduced to less than half price.

TWEET FROM POPE FRANCIS:
Salvation is in the name of Jesus. We must testify to this.  He is the only Saviour.

SMILE – A – WHILE
Two beggars were sitting on a park bench in Ireland.  One was holding a cross and the other a Star of David.  Both were holding hats to collect contributions.  People walked by, lifted their noses at the man with the Star of David and dropped money into the hat of the man with the cross.  Soon, the hat of the man with the cross was filled and the hat of the man with the Star of David was empty. Father O'Malley, the priest, was watching for a while and then approached the men. He said to the man with the Star of David, 'Don't you realize that this is a Catholic country?  You'll never get any contributions holding a Star of David.'  The man turned to the one with the cross and said, 'Moishe, can you imagine, this guy is trying to tell us how to run our business?'

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TODAY  is the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, (End of the Christmas Season)
: Sacramental Programme: Mass in church at 10.00am with the theme: “We Are People Who Celebrate God’s Word”.
SATURDAY: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins.

THANK YOU
We have had letters of thanks from both the Oldham Food Bank and Cornerstone for our recent donations, totalling over £2000.  Our help is so greatly appreciated by those on the front line, fighting against poverty and homelessness on our own door step..

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Parish Team meeting on Thursday 23rd January at 7.30pm.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting – children’s and parents’ lesson at 3.00pm in Holy Rosary school on Thursday 12th March.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting -  children’s and parents’ lesson at 10.00am in the Parish House on Saturday 14th March.
Sacramental Programme : Mass at 10.00am in church on Sunday15th March with the topic of “We Celebrate God’s Gifts”.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St  Hilary (Bishop and Doctor of the Church). : Born of pagan parents in Poitiers in France in 315; he and his family were baptised, and shortly afterwards Hilary was chosen as bishop of Poitiers; he fought strenuously against Arianism, being exiled to Phrygia for this. He died in 367, after publishing works outstanding in their doctrine.
St. Anthony (Abbot): Inspired by the words of the Lord “Sell everything you own and give it to the poor” Anthony retired to the Egyptian desert at the age of twenty; he attracted many followers, who shared his ascetic life, and bequeathed to the Church an example of life spent in solitude and total devotion to prayer. He died in the year 356, aged about 105 

2020 AT ST PATRICKS
2020 looks like it is going to be  a full and exciting year, as usual, for our parish community.
We began the year with Holy Mass with around 200 people meeting to seek God’s blessing on the year and to celebrate the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God. In the early part of the year the Parish Team, together with Fr. Phil, will be planning our next Ten Year Plan, as required by our Parish Mission Statement. The main event planned for 2020 is of course our 150th anniversary of the opening of this church in June. Plans are already underway, which involve the installation and dedication by the bishop of  the new ‘Unity’ Window.  The   booklet ‘Faith of our Fathers 2’ which  gives details of the changes and development of the parish over the last 20 years should be out in about a month or so. We expect that our practice of a fundamental option for the poor, as stated in our Mission Statement will continue.  Our charitable giving last year was exceptional.  All in all it looks as though we are going to be busy about the Lord’s work ........ again.

UNCLAIMED CHRISTMAS  DRAW PRIZES

3	£50	Marie Williams	1761
7	Box Roses Chocs	J. Leach	1599

Unclaimed Prizes will be kept until February 1st 2020 after which they will be recycled.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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THE  EPIPHANY  OF  THE  LORD (YEAR A) 
WEEK:  JANUARY 5TH - JANUARY 11TH 2020

“.......they  saw  the  child  with  his  mother  Mary,  and  falling  to  their  knees  they  did  him  homage.  treasures,  they  offered  him  gifts  of  gold  and  frankincense  and   myrrh."

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;   Andrea  Spencer;   Sarah  Bell;   Breda  Barret; Roy Eaton;    Angela  Spencer; Michael O’Connor;   Harry & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;     Ann  Frost; Anne  Devlin; Mark  Wilson; Emma  Golden;   Rita  Wells, Sr. Regina, Doris Wild, Baby Ruby Lee Farrow, Peter Hilton. 
LATELY  DEAD:  Richard Teefey, Lucy Thornhill, Christopher Eames    
ANNIVERSARIES:   James & Hannah  Sexton;   James  Fogg (Snr.);  Dorothy & Keith      Taylor -  Holroyd;   Janet  Shaw; Patrick and Margaret Kelley, Laura Silva, Joanna Felismina Jesus, Frances Atkinson, Nathan McLean.  May They Rest in Peace.                                                   

COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £477.17;    Loose   £426.91;    Total:   £904.08.
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:
Redecoration  Fund: £20. CAFOD   £21, £10;   Oldham Food Bank  £10;   

PARISH  NEWS

• Shop sale:  all 2020 Catholic calendars and children’s books have been reduced to less than half price. 

TWEETS FROM POPE FRANCIS:
Let us ask for the Grace to live this New Year with the desire to take others to heart and to care for them.

SMILE – A – WHILE
After Quasimodo's death, Bishop Thomas of the cathedral of Notre Dame sent word through the streets of Paris that a new bell ringer was needed. The bishop decided that he would conduct the interviews personally and went up into the belfry to begin the screening process.  After observing while several applicants demonstrated their skills, he decided to call it a day.  Just then a lone, armless man approached him and announced that he was there to apply for the bell ringer's job.  Bishop Thomas was incredulous. 'You have no arms..’ No matter,' said the man, 'observe!' He then began striking the bells with his face, producing a beautiful melody on the carillon. The bishop listened in astonishment, convinced that he had finally found a suitable replacement for Quasimodo. Suddenly, while rushing forward to strike a bell, the armless man tripped and plunged headlong out of the belfry window to his death in the street below. The stunned bishop immediately rushed down the stairways. When he reached the street, a crowd had gathered around the fallen figure, drawn by the beautiful music they had heard only moments before. As they silently parted to let the bishop through, one of them asked, 'Bishop, who was this man?'  'I don't know his name,' the bishop sadly replied, 'but his face rings a bell.'

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TODAY  is the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, a Holyday of Obligation, which has been transferred from January 6th.
THURSDAY: Sacramental Programme:  3rd meeting – children & parents’ lesson at 3.00pm in Holy Rosary school.
SATURDAY: Sacramental Programme: 3rd meeting – children & parent’s lesson at 10.00am in the Parish House.
SUNDAY: Sacramental Programme: Mass in church at 10.00am with the topic “We Are People Who Celebrate God’s Word”.

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Parish Team meeting on Thursday 23rd January at 7.30pm.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting – children’s and parents’ lesson at 3.00pm in Holy Rosary school on Thursday 12th March.
Sacramental Programme: 4th meeting -  children’s and parents’ lesson at 10.00am in the Parish House on Saturday 14th March.
Sacramental Programme : Mass at 10.00am in church on Sunday15th March with the topic of “We Celebrate God’s Gifts”.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St. Raymond of Penyafort: at the age of 47, he became a Dominican and then confessor to the pope and collated the decrees of popes and councils. He also wrote a book on the Sacrament of Penance for the use of priests. He died, aged about 100, in 1275.
St Raymond is recognised as the patron saint of canon lawyers.

THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY is also known as ‘The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles’  There are several times in the scriptures when Christ is manifest or shown to unbelievers.  The first we celebrate is this feast of the Epiphany.  Next week, another manifestation: ‘The Baptism of the Lord’ and there are other times too such as the Wedding at Cana in Galilee..
The Epiphany also marks ‘twelfth night’ the end of the Christmas Season ..... or does it?  Well , it did before Pope Saint Paul VI altered the General Calendar of the Roman Church on February 14th 1969 when the official end to the Christmas Season became  the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
In the Middle Ages, the Christmas Season went on until Candlemas, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (February 2nd).  There would be a few buckets full of pine needles if we still had to keep our Christmas Trees up that long now!

UNCLAIMED CHRISTMAS  DRAW PRIZES

3	£50	Marie Williams	1761
7	Box Roses Chocs	J. Leach	1599
12	Btl Schloer Grape Juice	Cathy J. B.	4509

Unclaimed Prizes will be kept until February 1st 2020 after which they will be recycled.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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THE  HOLY  FAMILY  OF  JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH   (YEAR A) 
WEEK:  DECEMBER 29TH 2019 - JANUARY 4TH 2020

“.......when  Joseph  learnt  that  Archelaus  had  succeeded  his  father  Herod  as  ruler  of  Judaea,  he  was  afraid  to  go  there,  and  being  warned  in  a  dream  he  left  for  the  region  of  Galilee.  There  he  settled  in  a  town  called  Nazareth.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;   Andrea  Spencer;   Sarah  Bell;   Breda  Barret; Roy  Eaton;    Angela  Spencer; Michael O’Connor; Harry & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley Hayes; Ann Frost; Anne Devlin; Mark Wilson; Emma Golden; Rita Wells
LATELY  DEAD:   Mary  McDermott;   Peter  Gartside.     
ANNIVERSARIES:   Markijanas  Sokolovas; Dennis  Buckley; Margaret  Daley;   Margaret  Hywel. May They Rest in Peace. 

COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £1,105.27;    Loose   £1,416.30;    Total:   £2,521.57 (including Christmas)  Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:
Redecoration  Fund: £100.00  (from the Filipino Dance Group) and  £11.77   Gift Aided:  £0.00.                      
CAFOD   £20.00;  £10.00;  £7.10;   Oldham Food Bank  £50.00;  £10.00;   £10.00;   Cornerstone  £27.29;   £20.00;  £10.00.

PARISH  NEWS

• PARISH CHRISTMAS DONATION:  We have had a receipt and letter of thanks from the President of the Council of Administration of the Association of Hope for Young People in Bujumbura-Burundi, Republic of Congo, for our donation of £600 towards the cost of a water purification Plant. We have been asked to pass on these thanks to the members of this parish.
• A traditional House Mass Set for sick communions has been given to the church  to pass on to any interested parishioner. Anyone who would like it please see Colin. First come, first served.
• St. John Ambulance  are holding an Open Day on Saturday 4th January from 10.00am – 4.00pm at Busk Rd., Oldham OL9 6QY  - hoping to get more volunteers.
• A big Thank You to all the people who worked tirelessly to prepare the church for the Christmas season – cleaners, those who donated towards the cost of flowers and those who arranged the floral and holly displays, the various choirs, the ladies in the server and the ones who cleaned up afterwards – your efforts are much appreciated.
• There are a number of free church diaries (with a green cover) on the table in the narthex – there are only a limited number, so please just take one per family.
• The Christmas Draw was again a big success. Our thanks go to the many people who both sold and bought tickets  -  the profit came to £871.00 for church funds.

TWEETS”  FROM  POPE  FRANCIS
“Dear brother, dear sister, if your hands seem empty, if you think your heart is poor in love, this night is for you. The grace of God has appeared to shine forth in your life. Accept it and the light of Christmas will shine forth in you.”
“The nativity scene reminds us how important it is to stop and contemplate. Because only when we recollect ourselves can we embrace what counts in life. Only if we leave the noise of the world outside can we open ourselves to listening to God, who speaks in silence.”

SMILE – A – WHILE

• A family moves into a new neighbourhood, one day the family overslept and their six-year-old daughter missed her school bus. The father, though late for work himself, had to drive her. Since he did not know the way, he said that she would have to direct him to the school. They rode several blocks before she told him to turn the first time, several more before she indicated another turn. This went on for 20 minutes - but when they finally reached the school, it proved to be only a short distance from their home. The father, much annoyed, asked his daughter why she'd led him around in such a circle. The child explained, "That's the way the school bus goes, Daddy. It's the only way I know."
• An Irishman goes into the confessional box after years of being away from the Church. There's a fully equipped bar with Guinness on tap. On the other wall is a dazzling array of the finest cigars and chocolates. Then the priest comes in. "Father, forgive me, for it's been a very long time since I've been to confession, but I must first admit that the confessional box is much more inviting than it used to be." The priest replies: "Get out. You're on my side."

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Sacramental Programme:  3rd meeting – children & parents’ lesson at 3.00pm in Holy Rosary school on Thursday 9th January.
Sacramental Programme: 3rd meeting – children & parent’s lesson at 10.00am in the Parish House on Saturday 11th January.
Sacramental Programme: Mass in church at 10.00am on Sunday 12th January with the topic
“We Are People Who Celebrate God’s Word”.
Parish Team meeting on Thursday 23rd January at 7.30pm.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St. Sylvester I: became Pope in 314 in the reign of the Emperor Constantine and fought against heresies.
Ss. Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen: close friends and of the Eastern church in the 4th century. Basil was Bishop of Caesarea and promoted the monastic life. Gregory was Bishop of Constantinople – he retired to a monastery.
The Most Holy Name of Jesus: the greatest promoters of this devotion were St. Bernardine of Siena and St. John of Capistrano. As the devotion was new, he was accused before the pope but was successfully defended by John.

CHRISTMAS  PRIZE  DRAW

Prizes can be collected from church on receipt of the winning counterfoil. Those not claimed by January 31st will be “re–cycled”.

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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4TH  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT   (YEAR A) 
WEEK:  DECEMBER  22ND   -   DECEMBER 28TH  2019

The  angel  said:  “Joseph,  son  of  David,  do  not  be  afraid  to  take  Mary  home  as  your  wife,  because  she  has  conceived  what  is  in  her  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  She  will  conceive  and  give  birth  to  a  son  and  they  will  call  him  Emmanuel,  a  name  which  means  ‘God-is-with-us.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;   Andrea  Spencer;   Sarah  Bell;   Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton;    Angela  Spencer;      Michael O’Connor;   Harry & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;     Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin;   Mark  Wilson;   Emma  Golden;   Rita  Wells. 
LATELY  DEAD:   Mary  McDermott;   Peter  Gartside;   Joan  Mullaney;   Dale  Kremner-Wood;   Kathleen  McBegarty.     
ANNIVERSARIES:   Henriett  Monteiro;   Destoliano  Carvalho;   Mary  Dillamore;   Wilfred & Raymond  Brooks;   Frances  Michailuk;    Herbert & Nellie  Hilton;   Robert  & Kathleen  Shepherd;   Nick  Kuczeresky;   Julie  White.   Claire  Higham. May They Rest in Peace.                  

IN  THANKSGIVING  FOR:  recovery from sickness within the family.

CHRISTMAS  MASSES  FOR: Anthony  Flatley;   Jeff  Wright;  the Doyle family.

COLLECTION:  Envelopes:   £602.28;    Loose   £365.08;    Total:   £967.36.
Thank you all for your continued generosity.

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:
Redecoration  Fund:   £32.00;  £100.00;  £10.00;  £8.16. Gift Aided:  £0.00.  
CAFOD   £16.39 and  £10.00;   Oldham Food Bank  £10.00;  £10.00;    Sanctuary flowers  £10.00;   Cornerstone  £30.00  and  £10.00.

PARISH  NEWS

• CORNERSTONE: are making a special appeal for bags! Yes, BAGS: Full of used / new hats /gloves / sanitary & hygiene products / hand gel / tissues / wipes etc.  They will hand them on to women and men who are homeless.  If over the next week you can drop them off at the church, we will get them to Cornerstone.  Many thanks.
• PARISH CHRISTMAS DONATION:  We have had a receipt and letter of thanks from the President of the Council of Administration of the Association of Hope for Young People in Bujumbura-Burundi, Republic of Congo, for our donation of £600 towards the cost of a water purification Plant. We have been asked to pass on these thanks to the members of this parish.
• PARISH GIVING:  This week we have sent the following donations, on your behalf, to various charities: CAFOD:  £1326.27; MISSIO:  £509.07;  Cornerstone: £803.61;  Food Bank £1041.00. This is a magnificent effort, you are a very generous lot! Thank you.
• A traditional House Mass Set for sick communions has been given to the church  to pass on to any interested parishioner. Anyone who would like it please see Colin. First come, first served.
• Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Saturday 28th December has been cancelled. The next service of Exposition will be on Saturday 25th January 10.30 until 11.45am.
• The floral displays on the altar during the Christmas season are always amazing but, as you would expect, flowers are rather expensive. So we are always grateful for donations to cover their cost. Also, if you know where we might obtain some cheap (or free) holly, please let us know.
• St. John Ambulance  are holding an Open Day on Saturday 4th January from 10.00am – 4.00pm at Busk Rd., Oldham OL9 6QY  - hoping to get more volunteers.

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TODAY:   the Christmas Draw will take place after the 10.00am Mass. Please make sure that you hand in your completed counterfoils before the start of Mass

LIVE SIMPLY: RECIPES: Our plan to publish easy 'living simply' recipes seems to have been neglected over the weeks, so we have decided to revive it.  Parishioners with favourite recipes of  of their own can forward them to the office for possible inclusion in the newsletter. We begin our series with: Bishop John's Rice and Veg.
Ingredients: Rice (enough), chopped onion, squashed garlic clove, leftover vegetables, veg. stock, olive oil.
Method: Heat onion and garlic in the oil.  After a couple of minutes add the vegetables.  Remove from pan and add the rice, heating it until it absorbs the oil.  Add vegetable stock and bring to the boil.  Put the vegetables back in, then transfer to a casserole dish.  Cook in the oven at 180 degrees, covered, for about 35 minutes, until the rice is cooked through.  When rice is ready, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and black pepper.  Enjoy!

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Parish Team meeting on Thursday 23rd January at 7.30pm.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St. John of Kanty: born in Poland in 1390, after ordination he taught at university and was a good example of learning, erudition, charity and holiness.
St. Stephen: the first Christian martyr, a Jew and was stoned to death.
St. John: the son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of apostle James, he wrote a Gospel and was the longest living apostle and the only one not to die a martyr.
The Holy Innocents: Christian feast in remembrance of the massacre of young children in Bethlehem by King Herod in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus. The slain children were regarded by the early church as the first martyrs,

ITEMS  FROM  THE  PARISH  TEAM  MEETING  HELD  ON  NOVEMBER 28TH  

• Stained Glass Window: The manufacturers of the new window informed John Green that the window will be ready in time for our Jubilee celebrations.
• Annual Mission Appeal: The Bishop has agreed to the Spiritans (Holy Ghost Fathers) to make an appeal in the parishes of the diocese in 2020. The team agreed to ask them to come here, probably in early September.
• Kneelers in Church are badly in need of repair. If anyone is available to help repair them please let Colin know.  All the necessary stuff and equipment will be provided.
• Parish Charitable Donation: It was agreed to revive the practice of donating 1% of parish income to charity.  This year it has been agreed to donate £600 to provide a clean and safe drinking water system through Association Espair Jeunesse to a place in Kabindula, Uganda.

SMILE – A – WHILE

• What does Santa do when his elves misbehave? He gives them the sack!
• What did Santa say to the smoker? Please don't smoke, it's bad for my elf!
• How will Christmas dinner be different after Brexit? No Brussels!
• What's the difference between Santa Clause and a knight? One slays a dragon, the other drags a sleigh!
• Which football team did the baby Jesus support? Manger-ster United!
• What's worse than Rudolph with a runny nose? Frosty the Snowman with a hot flush!
• Theresa May has asked Santa for a home makeover this year. First thing on the list was a new Cabinet!
• Why did Donald Trump continuously decorate the Christmas tree? Because people kept saying “moron” to him!
• Which TV Christmas special is being filmed in Brussels this year? Deal Or No Deal!

A  HAPPY,  HOLY,  AND  PEACEFUL   CHRISTMAS  TO  READERS  OF  THE  NEWSLETTER

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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3RD  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT   (YEAR A) 
WEEK:  DECEMBER  15TH   -   DECEMBER 21ST  2019

“.......the  blind  see  again,  and  the  lame  walk,  lepers  are  cleansed,  and  the  deaf  hear,  and  the  dead  are  raised  to  life  and  the  Good  News  is  proclaimed  to  the  poor;  and  happy  is  the  man  who  does  not  lose  faith  in  me.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;   Andrea  Spencer;   Sarah  Bell;   Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton;    Angela  Spencer;      Michael O’Connor;   Harry & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;   Peter  Gartside;    Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin;   Mark  Wilson;   Emma  Golden. 
LATELY  DEAD:   Mary  McDermott;    Maureen  Teresa  Wroe;   Eileen  Rankin;   Hilda  Coles;   Jaden  Okoye;   Joseph  Sebastian.   
ANNIVERSARIES:   Vincent & Ethel  Concannon;    Patrick & Mary  Glenfield;   Patricia  Locke. May They Rest in Peace.                  

IN  THANKSGIVING  FOR:  the birthdays of   Fred  Dyson  and  Anna  Biczo.

CHRISTMAS  MASSES  FOR:  Dawn Cookson – Martinez 7 baby Robbie;   Sophie  Royale;   Fr.  R. McKee;   Fr.  Derek  Woodhead;   Margaret  Wright;   Michael  Laverty;   Michael & Lorraine;   Cora  Overton;     Steph  Keogh;   Beatrice  Tucker.                                   

COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £557.74;    Loose   £480.09;    Total:   £1,037.83.
Thank you all for your continued generosity

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:
Redecoration  Fund:   £20.00,  £12.86  and  £10.45. Gift Aided:  £0.00.
CAFOD   £10.00  and  £7.39;   Oldham Food Bank  £10.00;   Missio  £51.00,  £6.16 and £5.79;     Cornerstone  £20.00.

PARISH  NEWS

• Appeal for Toys: Caritas Schools Service are short of 95 sacks of toys for children who would otherwise receive nothing on Christmas Day. They would be grateful for any donations of new unwrapped toys by 17th December.  Please contact Schools' Admin Team on 0161 817 2276 for collection/delivery details. 
• The Christmas Draw tickets are  still available at the back of church.  They cost only £1.00 per book of 5 tickets.  This is an opportunity to help church finances, by selling as many as possible to family and friends (over 16 years old!).  Please take some and return the counterfoils with the name of the purchaser filled in on each counterfoil, together with the money to Colin or to the Piety Shop.
• CORNERSTONE: are making a special appeal for bags! Yes, BAGS: Full of used / new hats /gloves / sanitary & hygiene products / hand gel / tissues / wipes etc.  They will hand them on to women and men who are homeless.  If over the next two weeks you can drop them off at the church, we will get them to Cornerstone.  Many thanks.

CHRISTMAS  FAYRE  |PRIZE  RAFFLE
All numbers are white / yellow tickets and of the 15 prizes, there are only five unclaimed. These will be kept in the piety shop until January 1st after which they will be “recycled”.

	3 RINGTON’S  CHRISTMAS  BREAKFAST  SET	139
	6 ROSES  CHOCOLATES	216
	7 CHRISTMAS  PRESERVES	258
	10 FOX’S  BISCUITS	253
	12 SCOTTISH  SHORTBREAD	262

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TODAY:  The Parish Advent Reconciliation Service at 3.00pm.
NEXT  SUNDAY:  the Christmas Draw will take place after the 10.00am Mass. Please make sure that you hand in your completed counterfoils before the start of Mass.

LIVE SIMPLY: RECIPES: Our plan to publish easy 'living simply' recipes seems to have been neglected over the weeks, so we have decided to revive it.  Parishioners with favourite recipes of  of their own can forward them to the office for possible inclusion in the newsletter. We begin our series with: Bishop John's Rice and Veg.
Ingredients: Rice (enough), chopped onion, squashed garlic clove, leftover vegetables, veg. stock, olive oil.
Method: Heat onion and garlic in the oil.  After a couple of minutes add the vegetables.  Remove from pan and add the rice, heating it until it absorbs the oil.  Add vegetable stock and bring to the boil.  Put the vegetables back in, then transfer to a casserole dish.  Cook in the oven at 180 degrees, covered, for about 35 minutes, until the rice is cooked through.  When rice is ready, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and black pepper.  Enjoy!

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Christmas Services:   the First Mass of Christmas will be at 8.00pm on Christmas Eve, preceded by a Carol Service starting at 7.30pm. The Parish Mass of Christmas will be at the usual time of 10.00am.  There will be no evening Mass.
Parish Team meeting on Thursday 23rd January at 7.30pm.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St. Peter Canisius: a Dutch Jesuit, active in Germany during the Counter-Reformation, when he wrote a famous catechism. He died in 1597 and is called the “second apostle of Germany”.

ITEMS  FROM  THE  PARISH  TEAM  MEETING  HELD  ON  NOVEMBER 28TH  

• The Bishops of England and Wales have designated 2020 as ‘the Year of the Word’, under the slogan of ‘The God who Speaks’.  The aim is to encourage more, the reading and understanding of Sacred Scripture.  After considerable discussion on ways that we as a parish could support this, it was decided that for a period of 4 consecutive weeks a series of talks/discussions will be held.  This will not be until after Easter and First Communion times.  Each week a different part of the scriptures will be discussed: The Pentateuch, the Prophets; the Psalms and the New Testament.  Each subject would be covered by a different leader, probably different members of the Deanery clergy.
• The Bishops of England and Wales have designated 2020 as ‘the Year of the Word’, under the slogan of ‘The God who Speaks’. The aim is to encourage more, the reading and understanding of Sacred Scripture.  After considerable discussion on ways that we as a parish could support this, it was decided that for a period of 4 consecutive weeks a series of talks/discussions will be held.  This will not be until after Easter and First Communion times.  Each week a different part of the scriptures will be discussed: The Pentateuch, the Prophets; the Psalms and the New Testament.  Each subject would be covered by a different leader, probably different members of the Deanery clergy.
•  After considerable work and revision following advice from the proof readers, the final content of the Faith of our Fathers 2 magazine is almost ready for print.
• First Mass of Christmas:  VOLUNTEERS are required on Christmas Eve to help distribute service sheets / candles etc. and to clear away after the Mass.  Please see Colin or Marie McGladdery. 
  (to be continued next week)

SMILE – A – WHILE

• At the Christmas Eve service at my church, the priest, quizzing some children about the nativity, asked, “What gifts did the three wise men give the Christ child?”“Gold!” one child yelled. “Frankincense!” shouted another. After a pause, a third asked, “Gift cards?”
• My sister-in-law was teaching Sunday school class. The topic for the day: Easter Sunday and the resurrection of Christ.“What did Jesus do on this day?” she asked. There was no response, so she gave her students a hint: “It starts with the letter R.”One boy blurted, “Recycle!”

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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2ND  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT   (YEAR A) 
WEEK:  DECEMBER  8TH   -   DECEMBER 14th    2019

“I  baptise  you  in  water  for  repentance,  but  the  one  who  follows  me  is  more  powerful  than  I  am,  and  I  am  not  fit  to  carry  his  sandals;  he  will  baptise  you  with  the  Holy  Spirit  and  fire.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;   Andrea  Spencer;   Sarah  Bell;   Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton;    Angela  Spencer;      Michael O’Connor;   Harry & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;   Peter  Gartside;    Ann  Frost;    Anne  Devlin;   Mark  Wilson. 
LATELY  DEAD:   Mary  McDermot;    Nick  Walmsley.   
ANNIVERSARIES:   Elizabeth  Lucas;   Michael  McGrother;   Piotr & Anna  Kopacz; Charlie  Kopacz;   Zofia  Fillingham;   Richard  Charles  Alty.   May They Rest in Peace.                   

COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £554.06;    Loose   £400.25;    Total:   £954.31.
Thank you all for your continued generosity

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:
Redecoration  Fund:   £4.51. Gift Aided:  £0.00.
CAFOD   £44.53  and  £10.00;   Oldham Food Bank  £10.00;   Missio  £3.12;  Retired Priests’ Fund  £20.00.

PARISH  NEWS

• Will parishioners please note that there is no guarantee that any items of interest or names intended for the newsletter e.g. sick, anniversaries, which are received after noon on Friday will be able to be included in that week’s newsletter. This is because of the amount of work that needs to be done including printing and folding etc.
•  The Christmas Draw tickets are available at the back of church.  They still cost only £1.00 per book of 5 tickets.  This is an opportunity to help church finances, by selling as many as possible to family and friends (over 16 years old!).  Please take some and return the counterfoils with the name of the purchaser filled in on each counterfoil, together with the money to Colin or to the Piety Shop.

CHRISTMAS  FAYRE
Many thanks to the organisers, stall holders, volunteers and supporters for an enjoyable afternoon which raised a wonderful profit of £1,240 for church funds. The entertainment was excellent - possibly a few 'Britain's Got Talent' contestants there!

PRIZE  RAFFLE
All numbers are white / yellow tickets and of the 15 prizes, there are only five unclaimed. These will be kept in the piety shop until January 1st after which they will be “recycled”.

3	RINGTON’S  CHRISTMAS  BREAKFAST  SET	139
6	ROSES  CHOCOLATES	216
7	CHRISTMAS  PRESERVES	258
10	FOX’S  BISCUITS	253
12	SCOTTISH  SHORTBREAD	262

CORNERSTONE: are making a special appeal for bags! Yes, BAGS: Full of used / new hats /gloves / sanitary & hygiene products / hand gel / tissues / wipes etc.  They will hand them on to women and men who are homeless.  If over the next two weeks you can drop them off at the church, we will get them to Cornerstone.  Many thanks.

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
NEXT  SUNDAY:  The Parish Advent Reconciliation Service  will be at 3.00pm.

TWEETS”  FROM  POPE  FRANCIS
The Church exists to keep alive in people’s heart the memory that God loves them. It exists to tell everyone, even those furthest away: “God doesn’t forget you, He cares about you”.
Today the Church praises stability. “Trust in the Lord forever, because the Lord is an eternal Rock” (Isa 26:4). Those who trust in the Lord will always be safe, because their foundations are sunk into the Rock.
Let us pray for all the pastors of the Church, that they might guide the flock entrusted to them with the same firmness and tenderness of the Good Shepherd.

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
Christmas Services:   the First Mass of Christmas will be at 8.00pm on Christmas Eve, preceded by a Carol Service starting at 7.30pm. The Parish Mass of Christmas will be at the usual time of 10.00am.  There will be no evening Mass.
Parish Team meeting on Thursday 23rd January at 7.30pm.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St. Damasus I: born in Spain, he became pope in 366 and encouraged devotion to the Roman martyrs, writing verses to adorn their resting places.
St. Lucy: a Sicilian martyr who died in the persecution of Diocletian. An example of innocence and faithfulness, her cult was popular in the early Church.
St. John of the Cross: born in 1542, he was a Carmelite friar who reformed the Order.

SMILE – A – WHILE
A husband is advised by a psychiatrist to assert himself. "You don't have to let your wife henpeck you. Go home and show her you're the boss." The husband takes the doctor's advice. He rushes home, slams the door, shakes his fist in his wife's face, and growls, "From now on, you're taking orders from me. I want my supper right now, and when you get it on the table, go upstairs, and lay out my best clothes. Tonight, I'm going out with the boys, and you are going to stay at home where you belong. And another thing, guess who's going to comb my hair, give me a shave, and tie my necktie?" His wife says calmly, "The undertaker."

ITEMS  FROM  THE  PARISH  TEAM  MEETING  HELD  ON  NOVEMBER 28TH  

• The need for altar servers to clear up in the sacristy after Mass was raised. This was dealt with in more detail in the following item.
• The team continued to discuss the next part of the Hope in the Future programme.  This continued the theme of ministries at Mass.  The ministry of the Server and the ministry of Extra Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Eucharistic Ministers) were discussed.  After considerable debate it was agreed that some of our ministers in both categories may be unsure of exactly what their duties are.  It was agreed that Colin would prepare a leaflet describing the basic essentials for ministers in both cases. This would then be provided to the ministers, after approval by Fr. Phil, at a meeting of ministers in a few weeks time.
• The women of Pitt Street Mosque have indicated that the first meeting between themselves and several of the women from our parish was a great success.  A return visit when they will visit us will be arranged in the near future.  This will probably be on a Saturday when more of our women will be able to attend.
• It was agreed that the International Music Festival had been a great success. It was difficult to decide if the change of time had seen an increase in the attendance, but there were at least as many people there as usual.  It was suggested that the venue and time could be changed by incorporating the Festival into the Summer Fun Day.  It was agreed that the choir leaders should consult together on the suggestion. (to be continued next week)

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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1ST  SUNDAY  OF  ADVENT   (YEAR A) 
WEEK:  DECEMBER  1st   -   DECEMBER  7th    2019

“Come,  let  us  go  up  to  the  mountain  of  the  Lord,  to  the  temple  of  the  God  of  Jacob  that  he  may  teach  us  his  ways so  that  we  might  walk  in  his  paths;  since  the  Law  will  go  out  from  Zion,  and  the  oracle  of  the  Lord  from  Jerusalem.”

YOUR  CHARITABLE  PRAYERS are requested for our parishioners and friends, especially those whose names appear below.
SICK:  Sr. Catherine;   Vivien  Higgins;  Elizabeth  Flanagan;     Dominic  Boardman;   Andrea  Spencer;   Sarah  Bell;   Breda  Barret;    Roy  Eaton;    Angela  Spencer;      Michael O’Connor;   Harry & Margaret  Lawless;   Lesley  Hayes;   Peter  Gartside;   John Green;   Ann  Frost;      Anne  Devlin;    Mary  McDermott;   Mary  Malone;   Roseanne  McDonagh;   Emma  Golden;   Marie  Wilson.   
LATELY  DEAD:   Dennis  Massey;   Paul  Ostapowycz.
ANNIVERSARIES: Peter Hordynski;  Alfonso  Ferrara;   Jan Dabrowski;  Paul  Lees;   Margaret  &  Edgar  Lees;    John  & Elsie  Granelli;   Christopher  Alan  Whitehead;     Romeo  Tee;   Fermina  Moniza;   Juanito   Moniza;   Clementi  Terso;   Elvira  Terso;   Sarah  Russo;   Denis  Guilfoyle;   Maggie  Moores;   Marie  Francoise  Boyi.
May They Rest in Peace.                   

COLLECTION:   Envelopes:   £583.60;    Loose   £363.99;    Total:   £947.59.
Thank you all for your continued generosity

DONATIONS  / COLLECTIONS:  many thanks for the following donations:
Redecoration  Fund:   £8.20. Gift Aided:  £0.00.
CAFOD:   £10.00;   Oldham Food Bank  £10.00;   Altar Flowers  £20.00;   Cornerstone   £100.00 and £243.61  (the latter amount due to donations made during the Music Festival).

PARISH  NEWS

• Will parishioners please note that there is no guarantee that any items of interest or names intended for the newsletter e.g. sick, anniversaries, which are received after noon on Friday will be able to be included in that week’s newsletter. This is because of the amount of work that needs to be done including printing and folding etc.
•  The Christmas Draw tickets are available at the back of church.  They still cost only £1.00 per book of 5 tickets.  This is an opportunity to help church finances, by selling as many as possible to family and friends (over 16 years old!).  Please take some and return the counterfoils with the name of the purchaser filled in on each counterfoil, together with the money to Colin or to the Piety Shop.
• Christmas cards, calendars, candles, diaries, small nativity sets etc. all on sale at the piety shop. If you want something special, please ask the staff to see the Christmas catalogue.

A  PRAYER  FOR  ADVENT
God of patience and constancy, be with us in this time of waiting. Though pressures mount and distractions increase, keep our eyes open to your beauty, our minds open to your wisdom, our ears open to your word. Help us to guide those in our care, as your star led the Magi, so that we might journey to your Son together, inspired by truth and love.    Amen.

TWEETS”  FROM  POPE  FRANCIS
My apostolic journey to Thailand and Japan was a gift for which I am so grateful to the Lord. This visit increased my closeness and affection for these peoples: may God bless them with prosperity and peace in abundance.

“WHAT’S  ON”  THIS  WEEK”
TODAY: Christmas Fayre starting at 12.30pm in the school.
ALSO, it is the start of Advent and the beginning of Liturgical Year A in the churches’ calendar.
SATURDAY:  Filipino Mass at 2.00pm.

CHRISTMAS  FAYRE
CHRISTMAS FAYRE:  Don't forget, the Fayre is TODAY, in the Parish Hall at the school on Lee Street, starting at 12.30pm until 3.30pm.  The hall will be open at 12 noon, but the stall holders WILL NOT be selling items until 12.30pm. Cakes and buns (home made or not) are requested for the cake stall.  Please deliver to school before 12.30pm.
There has been a good response for the tombola, but we are a little short for the bottle stall.  Any donations of bottles please deliver between noon and 12.30pm today.
Thanks to everyone involved for a remarkable effort, to make the Fayre a great success.  I am sure the organizers will as usual have some great entertainment for us too.

FORTHCOMING  EVENTS
Please see the church notice board for further details of the following:
The Parish Reconciliation Service before Christmas will be at 3.00pm on Sunday 15th December.  
Christmas Services:   the First Mass of Christmas will be at 8.00pm on Christmas Eve, preceded by a Carol Service starting at 7.30pm. The Parish Mass of Christmas will be at the usual time of 10.00am.  There will be no evening Mass.

THIS  WEEK’S  FEASTS
St. Francis Xavier: a friend of Ignatius Loyola and one of the first members of the “Company of Jesus”. He preached in India and Japan and died in China in 1552.
St. John Damascene: from Damascus, a monk, philosopher and theologian. He sprang to the defence of Sacred Art in the iconoclast crisis in the 8th century.
St. Nicholas: Bishop of Myra (in Turkey). He died in the 4th century – in Eastern Europe, St. Nicholas distributes presents to children on this day.
St. Ambrose: born about 340, he was a surprising choice to be Bishop of Milan , renowned for his charity and his eloquence. It is said that St. Augustine returned to the faith after hearing him preach. A great writer oh hymns, some of which survive to this day.

SMILE – A – WHILE

• In the foyer of a church, a young boy was looking at a plaque with the names of men and women who had died in various wars.  He asked the priest, “Who are these people?”  The priest said, “Those are members from our church who died in the service.”  The boy asked, “The early service or the second service?”
• My sister-in-law was teaching Sunday school class. The topic for the day: Easter Sunday and the resurrection of Christ. “What did Jesus do on this day?” she asked. There was no response, so she gave her students a hint: “It starts with the letter R.” One boy blurted, “Recycle!”
• Three guys are fishing when an angel appears. The first guy says, “I’ve suffered from back pain for years. Can you help me?” The angel touches the man’s back, and he feels instant relief. The second guy points to his thick glasses and begs for a cure for his poor eyesight. When the angel tosses the lenses into the lake, the man gains 20/20 vision. As the angel turns to the third fellow, he instantly recoils and screams, “Don’t touch me! I’m on disability!”
• On a sunny Sunday afternoon, two young church members were going door to door to invite people to visit their services. When they knocked on one door, it was immediately clear the woman who answered was not happy to see them. She told them in no uncertain terms that she did not want to hear their message, and before they could say anything more, she slammed the door in their faces. To her surprise, however, the door did not close; in fact, it bounced back open. She tried again, really putting her back into it, and slammed it again with the same result - the door bounced back open. Convinced these rude young people were sticking their foot in her door, she reared back to give it a slam that would teach them a lesson. Just then, one of them said quietly: "Ma'am, before you do that again, you really need to move your cat."

“Stay With  Us  Lord  On  Our  Journey”

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40, UNION ST. WEST, OLDHAM, OL8 1DL
All correspondence and enquiries to:
Rev. Philip T. Sumner
Phone: 0161 624 4834
Mobile: 07976 230919
Email: philip_sumner@tiscali.co.uk

Salford Diocesan Based Commisions & Organisations 
website address: http://www.salforddiocese.net/

S.R.C.D.T. Registered Charity No. 250037