Fr Jim is leaving!

This weekend is my last weekend as Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s, St. Malachy’s and SJMDP.  

I will be moving to Mosley on Friday this week, after the last of the First Holy Communions, for the children of St Edmunds School.

What can I say? Other than thank you to you all.  It has been a pleasure serving you for the past 5 years, (and 7yrs for the deaf community). 

I have met some wonderful people along my journey here, and feel that I have made some friends for life.  

I ask that you continue to pray for me as I move parishes, as I will keep you all in my daily prayers.  

There are so many people I would like to thank individually, but I am terrified I might forget someone; so, you know who you are, 

all those lovely people who have helped me in so many ways, not only physically in the jobs that you do 

but also in the many experiences I have had along the way, memories I will take with me and treasure. 

‘They’ told me before I came here, that the people of Collyhurst were unique,

and that has been proved to be true, with some of the biggest funerals I have ever seen,

showing the support people here have for one another, and the many things that you have accomplished together as a community. 

I wish each and everyone of you the best of luck for the future and may God continue to bless you all.

Fr Peter is now home from hospital, and he also would like me to add his thanks 

for the many kindnesses shown to him in his retirement among us; especially in his recent illness 

with all the love and prayers he has received since his stroke.  

He continues to make good progress, and I pray that he will make a full recovery in the coming months. 

Another Error on the Newsletter

Please note that the Station Mass on Wednesday is at St Margaret Mary's New Moston!

Change in Mass times for St Patrick’s day

Please note as well as the 12 noon funeral on the 17th, I have also added a 9:15am mass, as the school were very keen to come to mass that day of course to celebrate St Patrick.  Please spread the word, as this news was not on the newsletter at the weekend.

Thanks!

A beautiful prayer written by the year six pupils of St Edmund's primary school.

Year 6’s Prayer for Lent.

Dear Our Loving Father,

We pray that you shield Ukraine and all of its innocent citizens.

We pray for those on the front line, risking their lives to keep their country safe.

We pray for the leaders of the world, may they receive compassion, love and support.

We hope that people can safely evacuate with all members of their family.

We hope that you can offer guidance to those doing wrong, including the Russian leader, in hope that peace will be restored.

We hope that your children are able to fulfil a life of happiness, love and peace as you intended them to.

Together, we pray for those who have become Holy Soul’s during this conflict.

Together, we stand united as peace and love defeat conflict and hate.

Together, peace will be restored.

Amen.

SYNOD - TONIGHT - Come if you can!

Meeting this Tursday (10th Feb) at 7pm, for anyone who would like to know more about what a Synod is, 

and what it is the Holy Father is asking of we mebers of the Church - 

please come if you can! (St Bridget's room) , please use the side door.

SYNOD

If you would like to find out more about the SYNOD, you can click this link

Synod-Reflection-Questions.pdf (dioceseofsalford.org.uk)

or go to the diocesan web site.

The questions being asked are as follows

Reflection Questions 

1. Your experience during the Covid-19 Pandemic What has been your experience of your parish/community during the Pandemic? 

2. Listening How can we best listen to each other, in the Church and in the wider world? 

3. Speaking Out How we do we communicate with each other in our groups, parishes, diocese? Do we have the freedom to speak openly in a loving way? 

4. Celebrating In what ways does prayer and the celebration of Mass enable us to encounter Jesus more deeply and empower us in our daily lives?

 5. Listening to the Holy Spirit What do you sense the Holy Spirit asking of the Church?

 6. The Journeying Companions Who walks with us on our journey of faith? What persons or groups are marginalised?

7. Sharing in the Mission How can we best share the Good News of Jesus with others? What difference are we currently making? 

8. Dialogue in Church and Society In what ways do our parishes/communities speak to each other and the wider society? How could we do this better?

 9. With the other Christian Denominations and other faiths How are we as a community listening to, and enriched by, other Christian denominations and other faiths? 

10. Authority and Participation In what ways do we take collective responsibility (priest and lay faithful collaboration) for our community? 

11. What are the fruits of this collaboration, and what are the obstacles and challenges? 

12  Discerning and Deciding How do we discern together the direction in which the Holy Spirit is leading us? 

13 How can we develop this shared responsibility together? Growing and Journeying Together What support do we need to help us grow as a Church journeying together, listening to each other and the Spirt? Additional Comments Is there anything else you would like to share with us? 

Guidance for Churches – December 2021

General Information

Following  the  statement  by  the  Prime  Minister  on  Wednesday  9thDecember,  there  has  been  a Government directive that further restrictions to mitigate against viral transmission, especially in

the light of the new Omicron variant, will be imposed.  

 Summarising the Government directives:

•  From Friday 10th December, face coverings will be required by law in most indoor settings.

•  From Monday 13th  December office workers who can work from home should do so.

•  From Wednesday 15th  December, certain venues and events will be required by law to check

that all visitors aged 18 years or over are fully vaccinated, have proof of a negative test in the last 48 hours, or have an exemption.

The requirements for NHS Covid passes will not apply to places of worship and the acts of worship

associated with them.  However, any social gatherings linked to events in churches will need to

comply with new requirements but only when 500 or more people are involved. 

Face Coverings

HM Government has made  the wearing of face covering mandatory in Places  of Worship from

Friday 10th December 2021 (see here).  However, there will be exemptions for those leading worship,

public  proclamation  of  scriptural  readings  or  prayers,  and  those  who  are  unable  to  wear  face

coverings and are exempt (the guidance for this can be found on the same page as above).

Singing

HM Government guidance states that “There is a reasonable excuse for someone to remove a face covering

when it is reasonably necessary for them to sing, for example, if they are singing as part of a choir, or during

a  service,  rehearsal  or  for  a  performance.”  The  current  Church  guidance  states  that congregational singing should take place with face coverings in place and choirs and soloists may 

sing without such coverings.  As the Church moves towards Christmas celebrations which often involves carol services and other  singing events, 

it is strongly recommended that  congregational singing within church buildings continues with the applied face coverings.

Practical Guidance for Churches

With respect to the current situation with the Omicron variant it is important to ensure the following

points are followed in our churches:

•  That people displaying any symptoms of covid-19 should stay at home and not travel to

church or participate in person. 

•  That hand sanitiser is available to those attending the Church.

•  Face coverings must be worn by those attending public acts of worship unless there is a

genuine  exemption  or  the  person  is  leading  worship  or  participating  in  a  role  that

requires the mask to be removed for a period of time.

•  That there is good ventilation and air throughput in the building; in this case, because of

climatic conditions, it would be important to remind people to wrap up well in church!

•  There is now very strong evidence to support that the main mode of this variant’s viral

transmission is through aerosols, and that the risk from surface and touch transmission

is  very  small  indeed.    As  such,  the  strict  regimes  of  church  cleaning  that  were

recommended at the beginning of  the opening of churches for  public worship are no

longer necessary.  General church cleaning is sufficient.

•  That a positive message encouraging people to get vaccinated and have the booster jab

when able is delivered whenever possible (bearing in mind that the 40+ age group can

apply for the booster vaccination, and that the period between 2nd dose and booster is

reduced to 12 weeks).

•  That people who are engaged in a form of pastoral ministry which involves ministry to

the housebound, sick and vulnerable, should take regular lateral flow tests to ensure they

are safe to do so.  These are free from the NHS.

Clarification on the Sunday Obligation

The Bishops’ Statement Honouring Sunday reflected the pastoral situation of public worship in the

light of the pandemic situation at this time.  The Bishops have asked for all Catholics to reflect on

their personal circumstances with respect to their attendance at public worship.  Questions have

been  raised  regarding  the  status  of  the  Sunday  Obligation.  The  Code  of  Canon  Law  states  that

“Sunday… is the primordial holy day of obligation” (Can. 1246§1) and “the faithful are obliged to

participate in the Mass.” (Can. 1247)

At the beginning of the pandemic, from Friday 20thMarch 2020, the Bishops of England and Wales

recognised that the participation of the faithful in the Sunday Eucharistic Celebration was prevented

due to grave cause because of the inception of the covid-19 pandemic and stated that the Sunday

obligation could not be fulfilled due to the inherent danger of the faithful gathering in churches for

the Eucharistic celebration.  On Monday 23^rd March 2020, HM Government mandated the closure of

places of worship along with other locations. 

 The Bishops, now having reflected on the current situation in England and Wales, recognise that the

causes and effects of the pandemic are still present to such a degree that the absolute duty for all to

freely attend the Sunday Eucharistic Celebration cannot yet be fulfilled.  

 As such, they have asked that all Catholics now reflect on the centrality of the Eucharist to their own

life of faith and take into consideration their personal circumstances and the reasons as to whether

they can now attend the Sunday Eucharistic Celebration or otherwise.  Should a person feel that

grave cause honestly persists in their personal circumstances, there is no sin associated with their

non-attendance at Mass, and they are encouraged to devote themselves to prayer at home.  This may achieved either through personal prayer or by participating with a live-streamed celebration of

Mass from a Church.

Rev. Canon Christopher Thomas 

oOo

Weekday - Live Streaming

I am currently working on installing new equipment in St. Bridget's room where we celebrate weekday mass during the winter months.

Please be patient, it should not take too long.  I will let you know when you can join us again for weekday mass.

Meditation on the Most Holy Rosary, a radio show made for heavens Road FM.  Click the link below to lister.

Meditation on the Holy Rosary. (made with Spreaker) - YouTube

CHRISTMASS MASS TIMES

Two weeks to go!

A number of people have been asking about planning family get togethers and need to know the Christmas times of Mass. They will be as follows

Friday 24th - 6:15pm Carols by candle light followed at 7pm by Mass

Christmas day Mass at St. Malachy’s 9am

Christmas Day Mass for hearing and deaf at 10:30am

Sunday (St Stephen’s day) One Mass only at 10:30am at St Patrick’s, combined with St Malachy’s and hearing and deaf communities.

With the retiring collection for the GLO last week some people have asked for their banking details so that they can place donations directly to the GLO.

 The bank details for the Orphanage are as follows

Royal bank of Scotland  

Sort code 16-00-06

Account number  17612380

Name on the account Good Life Orphanage & SMB school

If you do not have access to transferring money, you can push any donations through my door at number 6 Nobby Stiles Drive.

Thanks to you all.

oOo

Shalom world media

I would like to bring to your attention the work of Shalom Media.  A world wide catholic organisation which brings Mass, talks and presentations into your home via the internet.

Please check them out here  https://www.shalommedia.org/watchlive/  They have masses from around the UK and indeed from around the world, many of them are live to view.

JOB VACANCIES - after this year you may be looking for a new career: 

Communication and Marketing Officer (Cathedral). An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Diocese of Salford as a Communications and Marketing Officer to work with the Communications Manager and Cathedral Dean. This role will be key in supporting the Cathedral to tell its story, past, present & future in a busy, dynamic environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering a variety of multimedia communications to assist the Cathedral team in raising awareness of the Cathedral among external audiences while encouraging greater engagement with the Cathedral Community. As a member of the Diocesan Communications Office, the incumbent will also play a part in supporting the team’s work around the diocese.

Cathedral Campus Estate & Facilities Manager. The Diocese of Salford are seeking to recruit a suitability qualified individual to provide leadership and oversee all facilities management aspects of the Cathedral Campus to develop and sustain excellence in all areas. The Cathedral, Cathedral House and Cathedral Centre are of great significance to the Church in Salford and this role will be responsible for delivering the highest standards of safety, hygiene, hospitality and service across this diverse setting through effective facilities management. Closing date for both applications: 12 noon on Friday 16th July 2021. For more information visit: http:// www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies/ PA/Senior Administrator – C OO Off ice.  The Diocese of Salford is seeking to recruit a suitability experienced individual to provide office management and oversight of the administration of the COO Office. This role will have responsibility for providing robust administrative and secretarial support to the COO and her team across all areas but particularly in relation to the IT, telephony, and Data Protection. 

Personal Assistant to the Vicars General and the Secretary to the Trustees. The Diocese of Salford is seeking to recruit a suitability experienced individual to provide high quality administrative support to the Vicars General and the Secretary to the Trustees to enable them to fulfil their specific roles and wider responsibilities for the governance of the diocese. The role will require regular interaction with a wide and diverse range of individuals and the incumbent must understand that they are an ambassador for the Diocese in all their encounters. Receptionist The Cathedral Centre is the office base for diocesan curial staff and houses the Cathedral Bookshop, Café, and conference rooms. A large number and wide variety of visitors, contractors and personnel come to the Cathedral Centre and the wider estate as a whole. The Cathedral House is adjacent to the Centre and houses some of our retired clergy. Closing date for applications: 12 noon on Monday 26th July 2021. If you have any queries, questions can be sent to hr@dioceseofsalford.org.uk

A Story to make you think.

Have lunch with God

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato crisps and a 6 pack of Pepsi and started his journey. 

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his Pepsi when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so we offered him some crisps. He gratefully accepted them and smiled at him.

His smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a Pepsi. Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling but they never said a word.

As twilight approached, the boy realised how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. He gave him the biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, what did you do today that is made you so happy?

He replied, I had lunch with God. But before his mother could respond, he added, you know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen! 

Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face, and he asked, dad, what did you do today that has made you so happy?

He replied I ate potato crisps in the park with God. However, before his son responded, he added you know, he's much younger than I expected…..

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or for a lifetime!

Embrace all the equality!  Have lunch with God........ bring potato crisps. 

For your information - News about clergy moves.

The following clergy moves were announced in the relevant parishes this weekend:

• Fr Simon Stamp is appointed parish priest of Our Lady and St John, Chorlton in succession to Fr Paddy McMahon (who is retiring)
• Fr Francis Wadsworth is appointed parish priest of St Anne and St Joseph, Accrington
• Fr Simon Firth is appointed parish priest of St Margaret Clitherow, Rochdale

These changes will take effect in September, though the exact date is not yet determined.

I am also pleased to announce that we have a new Vocations Team for the diocese. Fr Mark Paver will take over the role of Vocations Director from Fr John Hitchen and Fr Michael Deas will take over the role of Vocations Promoter from Fr David Featherstone. I am grateful to John and David for the work they have done on vocations over many years and I am grateful to Mark and Michael for agreeing to take this on. Let us all keep this important work in our prayers.

Catholic Media Ltd ceases trading

Catholic Media Ltd has announced that it is to stop trading and close with immediate effect, ending the publication of The Universe and The Catholic Times. 

These newspapers have been published in this country since 1860!

So if you are wondering where your Universe Newspaper is, - the answer is "No more I am Afraid"

I suppose like many other companies the pandemic has been cruel, and they have been unable to sustain their revenue. 

oOo

The month of May is the month of The Holy Rosary TONIGHT (26th May)

Would you like to join me for the Rosary every Wednesday at 6pm  via zoom?

The zoom links you need are as follows

James Clarke is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: James Clarke's Personal Meeting Room

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5027205627?pwd=WVRBRENYMUR3Sm5iNGdZMllvRS81QT09

Meeting ID: 502 720 5627

Passcode: 681311

Right to life

Right To Life News was launched so that we can reach a far wider audience of people with the latest pro-life news that will keep people informed and help change even more hearts and minds on life issues. Our website is already the most viewed pro-life website in Europe and the fourth most viewed pro-life website in the world - and this digital news platform has been built to enable us to reach even more people. 

As part of our efforts to spread pro-life news, we are now asking organisations to partner with us by including a link to our news service on their websites using the banner or one of the logos provided and the following link: http://www.righttolife.org.uk/news

We have observed and grown concerned with some media outlets’ move to position themselves as journalists ‘campaigning’ for abortion access; the most recent example being the changes to the Guardian’s guidelines on how they report on abortion, a move that follows long-term bias from the BBC in their language guidelines. If this trend continues, it will become increasingly difficult for the mainstream public to be informed on the pro-life side of debates on issues such as abortion.

By partnering with Right To Life News, you can ensure that you and your congregation have access to reliable pro-life news - not limited by what editors in major newspapers choose to publish. 

Pentecost Novena Care for Creation

This Novena of readings and prayer are drawn fromthe Bible and recent Papal teaching on the care of creation and the environment.  You are invited to pray these nine days reflecting on the account of creation given in the book of 

Genesis.  This Novena can be used on its own or to complement and focus the prayers and reflections of the ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ global prayer movement to the Care of Creation theme.

https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/the-god-who-speaks/focus/pentecost/pentecost-novena-on-the-care-of-creation/

The Lalley Centre

The Lalley Centre is looking for volunteers to help out in their gardening plot, where they grow fruit and vegetables to be used in the community.  

If you fancy joining them please get in touch with one of the brothers at St Malachy's.

oOo

We had a reporter with us on Palm Sunday from "The Mill"  a Manchester based Paper - this is her article about the re-opening of St Patrick's.

By Dani Cole

It’s Palm Sunday, the start of Holy Week. St Patrick’s Church in Collyhurst is having its first in-person Mass since the beginning of the pandemic. It’s only a few minutes away from the Northern Quarter — you’ll get there after a brisk walk up Oldham Road, past Wing Yip Superstore and a timber merchant’s yard with snarls of razor-wire looped along its fence.

The clocks went forward last night, and even though I am one of this morning’s early risers, I am running late. Mass starts at 9.30 and it’s 9.21. It’s bird-bath weather. Big puddles have opened up along the curbs. An oil-slick blooms iridescently on the wet pavement. I turn off Oldham Road and hurry along Livesey Street. St Patrick’s isn’t difficult to see from a distance. It’s an imposing Grade II listed red brick building, with white stone and a grey slate roof. The large set of wooden doors in the middle have been flung open in welcome.

A silver car pulls up beside me and a Nigerian woman jumps out and ushers her children towards the church doors. They must have been caught out by the clocks, too. It occurs to me as I step through the threshold that my bright red wellingtons are not Sunday best. But I soon realise that all of the parishioners are casually dressed. A man stands at the entrance with a basket crammed with palm crosses. The atmosphere is quietly joyous.

St Patrick’s Church on Livesey Street. Photo: Dani Cole/The Mill.

Inside the church, most people keep their coats on. There is the muted shuffling of damp wool and rain-wet Puffa jackets as people stand and sit. A few bravely shrug their outer layers off, only to put them back on: the almost-forgotten yet familiar chill of church pews has found them, and crept into their clothes.

After the Blessing of the Palms, the congregation settles — but a church is never truly silent; throats are cleared, a phone chimes in a cavernous pause. A girl climbs into her father’s lap, a more comfortable seat than a worn-down pew. And of course, the prayers.

Today’s homily is about Jesus and the unbroken colt that was ridden into Bethlehem. Father Jim Clarke, who under his red cassock is dressed in a grey jumper and a pair of dark trousers, asks us in a clear, sonorous voice: why did Jesus choose to ride an animal that hadn’t been tamed? A man in front of me has bowed his head so deeply I think he’s fallen asleep.

Father Jim Clarke. Photo: Dani Cole/The Mill.

The inside of St Patrick’s Church.

Afterwards, I catch a few people on their way out — Covid restrictions mean people can’t stay and talk to each other, and the church needs to be sanitised for Deaf Mass which starts at 11.30. Esther, 47, who lives in Miles Platting, has been coming to St Patrick’s with her family since 2015. “I’m really happy,” she says when I ask her how it feels to be back. “It’s like a second home. There’s nothing like being in church.”

I approach a lively trio: this is Arthur, 83, Veronica, 82, (‘Roni’ to her friends) and John, 82. They’re in good spirits and all laugh when I ask how old they all are. They tell me that they’re St Patrick’s veterans. Veronica, who’s from Salford and worked as a shorthand typist has been coming here for 50 years.

John was a postman and has been a parishioner for 20 years. Arthur was a joiner for the Manchester Corporation for 30 years and lives in next-door Miles Platting. “It’s changed a lot, and not for the good,” he says. “It’s lost all of the community now.”

He says that while the same people have been coming to St Patrick’s over the years, there’s been a shift. “I think the churches are going down,” he tells me. “Oh yes, I do too,” Veronica agrees. John nods his head.

“It’s nothing like it used to be,” Arthur says. “I don’t know if it’s because people are giving up religion, they’re not getting the young ones in.” John tells me his wife goes to St Malachy’s Church, which is about a mile away. It’s also part of St Patrick’s parish. Even though the pandemic meant the three weren’t able to come into church, they didn’t miss Mass — Arthur says he watched some American services on the telly.

From left to right: Friends Arthur, 83 Veronica, 82 and John, 82 after the first in-church Mass at St Patrick’s Church since closing its doors during the pandemic. Photo: Dani Cole/The Mill.

Members of the congregation attending Deaf Mass.

There’s a bit of time between Masses, so I talk to Father Jim before he has to conduct Deaf Mass. “To be able to open up for Holy Week this year is lovely,” he says. “I’m delighted they’re all back — it’s fantastic.”

He describes last March as “very weird”, and says it took time to adjust leading Mass to an empty church. Each service was live-streamed, though this was something St Patrick’s had already been doing pre-pandemic. Father Jim is fluent in British Sign Language, and the church serves members of the deaf community across the Salford Diocese. It’s a long way to travel for some of the parishioners, so live-streaming ensures services are accessible.

Part of his seminary studies included pastoral work, and he put his name down to volunteer at a deaf centre. He naively thought it would be in a back room of a pub. “I’ll never forget the first night I went,” he says. “There were about 200, 300 people signing away.” He remembers thinking: “I’ve got to learn this!”

He’s from Rochdale (“next door!”) and has been a priest for just over 25 years. He did nine years of seminary, rather than the usual six, so “there’s a lot of rubbish knocking around in my head,” he jokes.

Today’s turnout was strong: he estimates about 80 people came to Mass. There is a diverse community at the church. “We’ve got people from all over the place,” he says, “it’s fairly cosmopolitan.” Amongst his parishioners, he can count Tibetan, Polish, Nigerian and Vietnamese members.  

Father Jim Clarke wearing a face visor for communion. Photo: Dani Cole/The Mill.

“There’s been an enormous pressure trying to keep on top of the place,” he says. There’s an old joke his parishioners sometimes crack: You only work one day a week Father! “I wish!” he says. “If every day was as easy as Sunday, I’d be laughing.”

He says that seminary doesn’t prepare priests for earth-bound matters such as fixing things in the church, plumbing, sorting out leaky roofs, and grappling with modern technology. Then there is also the issue of funding. “I’m running this place on a shoestring because there are so few people coming to church.” They’re down about £60,000 since last March.

Many parishioners no longer darken the church’s doors unless there’s a funeral, wedding or baptism. “All of a sudden they’re here champing on your bit – that’s the way it is, really.”

The church’s heyday was in the 1950s, where Father Jim says there were 15,000 parishioners and the benches were packed all the way to the back of the church. There would be six Masses a day. As redevelopment in Collyhurst saw houses flattened and tower blocks rise up, many people moved away. These days there are about 2,000 parishioners.

The inside of St Patrick’s Church. Photo: Dani Cole/The Mill.

Father Jim Clarke delivering Deaf Mass. He is fluent in British Sign Language (BSL). Photo: Dani Cole/The Mill.

I stay for Deaf Mass. There are fewer people here — but it feels intimate. There are four readers, two who read aloud and two who sign for the congregation. Father Jim alternates between signing and having someone sign for him.

Outside I talk to Stuart, 60. He’s travelled from Oldham and cares for his wife Lindsley full-time. He used to work as an engineer and also did IT. “Whatever task gets put in front of me, I know what to do.” Stuart is partially deaf, having lost some of his hearing when he was three years old after contracting German Measles. He learned to sign when he went to deaf college in 1976.

He describes the return to church as “peaceful and joyful.” He converted to Catholicism two years ago — Lindsley was baptised in the faith, but he says that she never forced him to do anything he didn’t want to. He would come to St Patrick’s with her and grew closer to God. “It was eye-opening,” he says. “It was like a wake-up call.”

Stuart, 60. He converted to Catholicism two years ago. He is partially deaf, having lost some hearing when he was three years old after contracting German Measles. Photo: Dani Cole/The Mill

oOo

Was wonderful to see you all this morning!

Lent soups for the GLO

Just counted the money that has come in for the Good Life Orphanage, from those who had Friday soup sessions at home through Lent.  £550 has come in this morning, with quite a few saying they too have money.  I will keep you informed  of the total.  I have just spoken with Mary, she and Kevin are thrilled that you have done this even through Lockdown, and she passes  on her sincere thanks to you all.

Also please note that the envelopes for the coming year are now available at the back of church.  please Check the names on the top , as a few numbers have changed.

Today (24.3.21) I received a communiqué from the Bishop.  As part of his letter he reminded me/us of the issues surrounding the opening  of our churches, these instructions are listed below.  Please adhere to them.

CHURCHES – LITURGIES – SERVICES

·         Churches may open.

·         Given the risks of the pandemic that currently persist, Catholics may judge they are unable to attend Sunday Mass at this time.  These risks constitute a valid reason to stay away, without sin.  As restrictions ease and parishioners feel able to return to Sunday Mass with reduced risk, we should encourage them to do so and welcome them warmly.

·         While open, there must be stewards present.

·         Hand sanitiser must be provided for those entering the church.

·         Masks must be worn where applicable.

·         Social distancing is to be observed (2-metre rule) (Family bubbles may sit closer together).

·         Church Covid capacity still to be observed, which may require politely turning people away.

·         Sanitising of benches required after every liturgy.

Re-opening of our churches

St Patrick's will open for the services on Palm Sunday

Holy Week will be as follows:-

Palm Sunday - Mass at 9:30am

Palm Sunday - Deaf Mass at 11:30am

Tuesday and Wednesday Mass at 9:30am LIVE STREAMED ONLY

Thursday - Mass of the Lords supper 6:30pm - No Waiting after Mass

Friday - No Stations - please use the online stations at 11am

Friday - Passion of The Lord 3pm

Saturday - Easter Vigil 6:30pm

ALL THE ABOVE WILL TAKE PLACE AT ST PATRICK'S

Easter Day

Mass at St Malachy' s at 9:30am

Mass at St Patricks at 11:am (hearing and deaf communities combined).

oOo

The latest organ recital from Stephan Mann - Meditation

Played on our very own church organ.

Stations of the Cross - this Friday, or at any time

The Stations of The Cross, are now ready to be used, the slide presentation uses our own Stations from St Patrick's, with a voice over of the script, and in sign language, go to the top of this page and click on The Stations of The Cross. These Stations can be used at any time during Lent, and as they are a "new" version, I hope you enjoy them and they help you to reflect on that last journey of Jesus to Calvary.

Short Organ Recital

This is our organist Stephen Mann, playing Agnus Dei by Bizet - He is able to make our organ sound so beautiful.

The organ in Church needs about £10,000 spending on it, if it is to remain in a playable state. If you know of any funding projects that might help, or if you want to set up a funding page, please give Fr Jim a ring. Thanks.

Heaven’s Road Catholic Online Radio www.heavensroadfm.com  (including appearances by yours truly)

Is an online radio broadcasting features like prayers, interviews and music to appeal to a Catholic audience – they also have many podcasts and broadcast over 40 daily live Masses from 15 churches in England and Ireland from their website www.heavensroadfm.com.

www.heavensroadfm.com – just to remind you. An excellent Catholic radio broadcasting 24/7. Has traditional prayers, including Rosary, Angelus and prayers for the sick, plus lots of feature programmes and music. Also has many links on the website to podcasts etc, and about 40 live Masses a day from webcams in UK and Ireland. If anyone has a spare shilling to give away, the Radio is reliant upon donations - a very worthwhile cause. Donate here

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Bishop John's Pastoral letter is now available on the "Pastoral letter" button at the top of this page.

you can read it at your leisure or listen to the Bishop himself reading it.

oOo

Something to think about during LENT.

Beggarman's  lunch 2021

I hear that a number of people are working out how to raise money for the Good Life Orphanage, as we do during Lent each year.  This is a wonderful gesture, and I thank you all in anticipation.  The bank details for the Orphanage are as follows

Royal bank of Scotland  

Sort code 16-00-06

Account number  17612380

Name on the account Good Life Orphanage & SMB school

If you do not have access to transferring money, you can push any donations through my door at number 6 Nobby Stiles Drive.

Thanks to you all.

Masses during Lent

A number of people have been asking about Masses for Easter.  At the moment I cannot answer those questions.  We will be closed for Ash Wednesday, but please God we might be able to open for Holy Week, I will let you know nearer the time.  Thanks for your patience, but I feel our priority is to to keep people safe.

A few new pictures on the Gallery page, why not take a look?

oOo

A little something to think about.

NO STREAMED MASS THIS WEDNESDAY (2O:01:2021) - SORRY

Pastoral letter from Bishop John 17th Jan 2021

There is a pastoral letter for the Bishop this weekend.  You can re-read his letter on the pastoral letter button at the to of this k page, or there is a link so you can listen to the Bishop himself reading the letter.

Our Churches are now closed - as from today 11th January 2021

Due to this new strain of Covid-19 spreading as fast as it is, I have taken the difficult decision to close our churches again, until it is deemed safe to open again.  I will let you know as soon as that happens, here on the web site, as well as on the parish Whatts App group, and hopefully by word of mouth.

Mass will be streamed every day as usual, please do come and join me if you can.  God Bless us all.

Happy New Year to you all!

New Years Day

Please note there will be Mass at 9:30am at St Patrick's and will be live streamed only, the church will not be open.

Act now and ask your MP to oppose introducing assisted suicide.

This is a real slippery slope if we allow this to happen in our country - keep life sacred!

The assisted suicide lobby have launched a large campaign to put pressure on the Government to reconsider the legalisation of assisted suicide.

It is vital that it is clear to the Government that the public want them to continue to hold strong against this pressure from assisted suicide campaigners and reject their demands.

Right To Life UK have set up and easy to use tool which will enable you to email your MP asking them to make it clear to the Government that it should not give into demands from the assisted suicide lobby to reconsider the legalisation of assisted suicide. It only takes 30 seconds to email your MP by visiting the link below:

https://righttolife.org.uk/StopAssistedSuicide

2020/2021

The Year of St Joseph

Pope Francis has deemed that this year will be a year dedicated to St Joseph, from 6th Decemvir 2020 to 6th December 2021.

See below

Dear St Joseph, foster father of Jesus and husband of Mary Pray for us.

Third Sunday of Advent.

Both St Malachy’s and St Patrick’s are back to usual Mass times this weekend.

THE YEAR OF SAINT JOSEPH  (6th December 2020 - 6th December 2021)

Pope Francis has written an Apostolic Letter about Saint Joseph, to mark the opening of a Year of Saint Joseph, which runs from 8 December 2020 to 8 December 2021. The title of the Letter is Patris Corde, which means "With a Father’s Love". This recognises that all 4 Gospels refer to Jesus as "the son of Joseph", even though Joseph was not his biological father. For centuries, Joseph’s name was hardly mentioned, because the very fact that he thought of sending Mary away seemed wrong. Everything changed 150 years ago, Blessed Pius IX named Joseph Patron of the Catholic Church. Some of you will have seen Pope Francis’ Meditation in the Time of Pandemic, when he was the only person in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, when he recognised the contribution being made "by ordinary people, people often overlooked. People who do not appear in newspaper and magazine headlines, or on the latest television show, yet in these very days are surely shaping the decisive events of our history. Doctors, nurses, storekeepers and supermarket workers, cleaning personnel, caregivers, transport workers, men and women working to provide essential services and public safety, volunteers, priests, men and women religious, and so very many others". What he praised in them is not only generosity, but a willingness to work patiently spreading "not panic, but shared responsibility" and, in many cases, praying and encouraging others to pray. "Each of us can discover in Joseph - the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence - an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble". Catholics have traditionally held Joseph in great affection. St. Teresa of Ávila often prayed to him and encouraged others to do the same. Prayers are offered to him every Wednesday and the month of March is dedicated to him. Pope Francis is convinced that "in Joseph, Jesus saw the tender love of God". That is because Joseph doubted his own ability to do the things God asked him to do. "The evil one makes us see and condemn our frailty, whereas the Spirit brings it to light with tender love. Tenderness is the best way to touch the frailty within us. Pointing fingers and judging others are frequently signs of an inability to accept our own weaknesses, our own frailty". Joseph was able to accept his own weaknesses and Pope Francis is sure this moulded the atmosphere in the life of the Holy Family. "Joseph teaches us that faith in God includes believing he can work even through our fears, our frailties and our weaknesses. He also teaches us that we must never be afraid to let the Lord steer our course. At times, we want to be in complete control, yet God always sees the bigger picture". Joseph is a fine example, because he "accepted Mary unconditionally. He trusted in the angel’s words". His life teaches us to accept rather than to explain: he was not resigned to the inevitable, but a very proactive person. His example can teach us to "set aside all anger and disappointment, and to embrace the way things are, even when they do not turn out as we wish. Not with mere resignation but with hope and courage". Joseph’s approach can allow miracles to happen in our lives, and "encourages us to accept and welcome others as they are, without exception, and to show special concern for the weak, for God chooses what is weak (cf. 1 Corinthians 1, 27)". Pope Francis is sure God used Joseph to achieve His purpose, and he is convinced God can use us, too. Pope Francis offers us an interesting challenge: he suggests we should ask "whether we ourselves are protecting Jesus and Mary, for they are also mysteriously entrusted to our own responsibility, care and safekeeping"; Jesus entered the world "in a state of great vulnerability" and Joseph had to defend, protect and care for Him; we are called to do the same. The child Jesus is often the "poor, needy, suffering or dying person, every stranger, every prisoner, every infirm person" we come across. The child Jesus grew up and taught us, "As you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me" (Matthew 25, 40). If we respond positively to this challenge, we are continuing Joseph’s mission. The Holy Father is convinced that "being a father entails introducing children to life and reality", not being over-protective but "making them capable of deciding for themselves"; the alternative is a selfish caricature of love which "imprisons, constricts and makes for misery". The positive alternative? "When fathers refuse to live the lives of their children for them, new and unexpected vistas open up. Every child is the bearer of a unique mystery that can only be brought to light with the help of a father who respects that child’s freedom". A father is a real father "when he becomes like Joseph, who always knew that his child was not his own but had merely been entrusted to his care". Genuine fatherhood has nothing to do with possession; a real father is a shadow on earth of our heavenly Father, "a shadow that follows his Son". Pope Francis concludes his Apostolic Letter with a prayer to Saint Joseph:

 Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

To you God entrusted his only Son; 

In you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man.

 Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life.

 Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.

                                                              With thanks to Fr Peter Fleetwood for the above.

SUNDAY Mass in  Sign Language.

Sunday Mass is now being recorded.

You will be able to watch Mass if you missed it, by going to the live streaming button at 6the top of the page and looking down to the second box.

It will remain in place for one week.  

began studies with the Society of the Divine Word, firstly in Wales and then at Dunamon Castle in Co Roscommon.  John was accepted as an Ecclesiastical student for the Diocese of Salford in 1959 and studied at St Joseph’s College, Upholland. Fr John McKeown was ordained to the Priesthood at St Catherine’s, Didsbury on 4th June 1966.

Fr McKeown served the Diocese of Salford in the following appointments:

1966-1967:  St. Joseph’s, Salford as Assistant Priest

1967-1971:  Wardley Hall, Assistant Financial Secretary and Assistant Priest at St Joseph’s

1969-1971:  Ss. Peter and Paul, Pendleton as Priest and continuing at Wardley Hall

1971-1982:  Chaplain, Xaverian College and St. Edward’s, Rusholme as Assistant Priest

1982-1984:  Our Lady’s, Langley, Middleton as Assistant Priest

1984-1986:  St. Malachy’s, Collyhurst as Parish Priest

1986-1989:  St. Patrick and St. Malachy as Parish Priest

1989-2016:  St. Mary’s, Failsworth as Parish Priest

Fr John retired in 2016 and resided at Cathedral House.

Bishop John will celebrate a Requiem Mass at the Cathedral on Monday 28th September at 10:00am.

In line with current government guidelines, the number of attendees is limited and capacity has already been reached. The Mass will be live streamed and you will be able to access it from this link: https://www.churchservices.tv/salfordcathedral.

Fr John will be laid to rest in the family grave at Southern Cemetery.

From what I have heard, it may be possible to visit Fr John's body before the Requiem.  Please get in touch with Michael Kennedy at Greater Manchester Funeral Services 0n 0161 681 1864

Donations, and money info

I would like to thank the those people who have given a donation to the church over the past week, it is much appreciated.

Since the lockdown began in mid march, we are down in the collections by almost  £19,000, which as you can imagine is very difficult when you have a plant as large as ours.

Live streaming is resumed from Friday 28th August

Things return to normal, with lived streamed mass everyday, at 9:30am.  

The engineer finally came yesterday and got things fixed.  So, please join us for Mass if you can.

Please note - No mass on Monday, Fr 

Jim's day off.

Meeting for volunteers for opening of churches.

There will be a short meeting for those people who have volunteered to help with the opening of churches, THIS TUESDAY evening (28th July) at 7.00pm, in St Patrick's, should last only 20 minutes.

       Opening of St Malachy's and St Patrick's Churches

St Malachy's Church will re-open for Weekend Mass on Saturday 1st August at the usual time of 6:30pm.

St Patrick's will re-open for weekend masses on Sunday 2nd August, at the usual times of 9:30am, hearing mass, and 11:30am Deaf mass.

There will be no weekday masses yet, as I do not have enough volunteers to cover them.

When attending these Masses (there is still no obligation to attend masses yet!) please follow the instructions of the volunteer stewards.

May I ask you please to wear a mask, there are some here at church if you need one.  There is also sanitizing  hand gel, please use it on the way into church, there are also gloves, if you feel you would like to wear them.

Also, keep an eye on the weather, we have to keep two sets of doors open, to create a draft in the church, it you thinks its a bit cool bring an extra layer with you.

All Masses and services from St Patrick's will continue to be live streamed on the parish web site, and this is now a permenent fixture.

The message below arrived yesterday and is a much longer letter from the Cardinal and his three Arch Bishops.  Please take the time to read it.  I have left the original correspondence from Bishop John below.

A Message from the Metropolitan Archbishops  

of the Catholic Church in England  

Dear Brothers and sisters in Christ,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 On Tuesday we heard the announcement that, from the 4^th July this year, places of

worship will be able to reopen for prayer and services. We welcome this news with

great joy. Since the lockdown began, members of all faiths have faced restrictions on

how they have been able to celebrate important religious festivals.  Our own

experience of Easter was unlike any other we have known. Now, in our churches,

and with our people, we can look forward again to celebrating the central mysteries

of our faith in the Holy Eucharist.  

The recent reopening of our churches for individual private prayer was an important

milestone on our journey towards resuming communal worship. Our churches that

have opened have put in place all the measures needed to ensure the risks of virus

transmission are minimised.  This includes effective hand sanitisation, social

distancing, and cleaning.  We remain committed to making sure these systems of

hygiene and infection control meet Government and public health standards.  

We want to thank everyone within the Catholic community for sustaining the life of

faith in such creative ways, not least in the family home. We thank our priests for

celebrating Mass faithfully for their people, and for the innovative ways in which

they  have enabled participation through  live-streaming  and  other  means.  We are

grateful for the pastoral care shown by our clergy to those for whom this time of

lockdown has been especially difficult, and, in particular, towards those who have

been bereaved. We recognise too the chaplaincy services that have played a vital role

in supporting those most in need. Gaining from the experience of all that we have

been through, and bringing those lessons into the future, we must now look forward.  

With the easing of  restrictions on worship with congregations, we tread carefully

along the path that lies ahead. Our lives have been changed by the experience of the

pandemic and  it is clear that we cannot  simply return to  how things were  before

lockdown.  We  remain  centred  on  the  Lord  Jesus  and  His  command  at  the  Last

Supper  to  “do  this  in  memory  of  me.”  We  must  now  rebuild  what  it  means  to  be Eucharistic communities, holding fast to all that we hold dear, while at the same time exploring creative ways to meet changed circumstances.  

It  is  important  to  reaffirm  that,  at  present,  the  obligation  to  attend  Sunday  Mass

remains suspended. A significant number of churches may remain closed as they are

unable to meet the requirements for opening for individual prayer. Fulfilling these

requirements  is  a  precondition  for  any  church  opening  after  the  4^th July  for  the

celebration of Mass with a congregation.  

Please be aware that there will be a limit on the number of people who can attend

Mass  in  our  churches.  This  will  determined  locally  in  accordance  with  social

distancing requirements. We therefore need to reflect carefully on how and when we

might  be  able  to  attend  Mass.  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.’  

We ask every Catholic to think carefully about how and when they will return to

Mass. Our priests may need to consider whether it is possible to celebrate additional

Masses at the weekends. Given there is no Sunday obligation, we ask you to consider

the  possibility  of  attending  Mass  on  a  weekday.  This  will  ease  the  pressure  of

numbers  for  Sunday  celebrations  and  allow  a  gradual  return  to  the  Eucharist  for

more people.  

Moving forward, there will still be many people who cannot attend Mass in person.

We  therefore  ask  parishes,  wherever  possible,  to  continue  live-streaming  Sunday

Mass, both for those who remain shielding and vulnerable, and also for those unable

to leave home because of advanced age or illness.  

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.

“As I have loved you,” said the Lord Jesus, “so you must love each other.” (Jn 13:34) The

lockdown  has  brought  forth  remarkable  acts  of  charity,  of  loving  kindness,  from

Catholics across our communities as they have cared for the needy and vulnerable.

We have seen love in action through charitable works, and through the service of

many front-line keyworkers who are members of our Church. Now we can begin to

return  to  the  source  of  that  charity,  Christ  himself,  present  for  us  sacramentally,

body, blood, soul and divinity, in Holy Communion.  As we prepare to gather again

to worship, let us, respectful of each other, come together in thanksgiving to God for

the immense gift of the Holy Eucharist.

Yours devotedly in Christ

✠ Vincent Cardinal Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster

✠ Malcolm McMahon OP, Archbishop of Liverpool

✠ Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham

✠ John Wilson, Archbishop of Southwark

This letter is addressed to the Catholic Community in England; the opening of the Catholic Churches in Wales

is devolved to the Welsh Assembly who are still evaluating their position on opening Places of Worship. 

oOo

Please read the following carefully.  I will let you have more information as soon as it becomes available.

A MESSAGE FROM BISHOP JOHN ARNOLD OF SALFORD

We welcome the news that we can once again start to gather for public worship. I know that this will be news received with great joy by my fellow brothers and parishioners.
We await the guidelines from the Bishops Conference to see what this will mean practically for us. There will still be a need to continue with some restrictions and our worship may feel a little different. It may also be that not all our churches can open and that there is a reduction in the number of services.
We will issue more information to parishes as we receive it and will provide support to assist parishes as we approach the 4th July.
These are unprecedented times and we must recognise that this is the next step in the journey we are on together back to normality, however that may look.
+John (Bishop of Salford).

Statement from Cardinal Vincent Nichols 
on the resumption of collective acts of worship

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales writes:
I welcome the statement by the Prime Minister earlier today, that places of worship are now able to resume collective acts of worship from 4 July. This is welcome news for members of all religions in England. I thank all who have worked hard to bring this about, not least my fellow religious leaders.
As Catholics we now look forward to being able to celebrate Mass together again from 4 July. We have waited with patience and longing for this moment, understanding the importance of protecting the health of people in our society. Now we are full of anticipation that we will be able again to take part together in the Eucharist, which lies at the centre of our faith.
It is important that we continue to abide by the guidance, given by the Government, on appropriate social distancing and the other measures to avoid all unnecessary risk. Our own detailed guidance will be distributed around dioceses and parishes so everyone can be confident that they may come to Mass securely and understand the part they are to play in protecting each other from any remaining risk of infection.
The past few months have been a time of fashioning new patterns of prayer, new ways of exploring and enriching our faith and vigorous ways of reaching out to those in need. We can build on these, forgetting nothing of the graces we have been given. Yet now, with the experience of opening our churches for individual prayer already gained, this return to the more normal patterns of worship will be of great importance to all Catholics.
This time of our ‘Eucharistic fast’ has made our hearts grow in longing for that moment when we can come together and receive again the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. That moment is now very near and for that we thank God.
+Vincent (Archbishop of Westminster)

Churches and Times They are Open (Only for Private Prayer)

This list will be continually updated as more churches open.

Salford Cathedral

St Anne’s Crumpsall will be opening this Monday, please phone them for times of opening.

Monday – Saturday – 1.30pm – 4.30pm

Holy Cross, Eccles
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – 3pm – 6pm

St Cuthbert, Withington

Monday-Saturday: 10.00am -12.00noon

St Joseph’s, Longsight
Monday 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Wednesday 11am – 12 Noon & 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Friday 4.30pm – 6.30pm

St Mary’s, Burnley
Monday – Saturday 10.30am – 12.30pm

St Mary’s, Bamber Bridge
Monday to Saturday – 10am-12nn and 5pm-7pm

St Osmund, Bolton
Monday – 9.30am – 11.30am
Tuesday – Saturday – 2pm – 4pm

St Peter’s, Middleton
Monday    –   1pm-3pm
Tuesday    –  10am-12noon
Wednesday  –  1pm-3pm
Thursday  –   10am-12noon
Friday   –      1pm-3pm

St William of York, Bolton
Monday – 9.30am – 11.30am
Wednesday – 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Saturday – 10.30am – 12.30pm

Bishop John's Pastoral letter

Today's pastoral letter can be found on the button above "Pastoral Letter", where there is a sound link, so you can listen to the letter again given by the Bishop, or the script, if you would like to read it at your leisure. 

Opening of Churches

Work is progressing with plans to re-open our churches, but it will be slow and in stages.  Some churches have been chosen to open before others, so that we can try to put into place the very strict rules that have been given to us by the government.  I will be saying more about this tomorrow, at Sunday Mass.  But it is enough here to say that the churches will open firstly for allotted times of private prayer, and later for Mass, we have no dates yet as to when this might happen.  Some churches are expected to open on 4th July (maybe even earlier, but we will have to wait for guidance from the bishop.)  Things have indeed changed as of  this morning.  The new date for those first churches to open fort private prayer is now 15th June.

oOo

WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THIS?

I hope and pray that you are all keeping well in these difficult days.  Stay safe.

The Church, like everyone else is now looking towards a strategy of what will happen at the end of this lock down.  Our Church leaders have made it clear that  they will be guided by what the Government has to say, and will adhere to all the government guidelines when that time arrives.

WATCH THIS SPACE

A Call for financial Help

As with every part of industry, the church is also missing your weekly contributions.  After the next three weeks of lockdown, St Patrick's and St Malachy's will be down about £12,000.

I am hoping people are putting their weekly donation in their envelopes and will appear once the churches are re-opened  - I can only hope! 

Welcome

It is wonderful to see so many people taking the chance to pop onto the web site over the past week.  Now that we seem to have worked out the sound issues, I hope that you are able to enjoy the live streamed mass wherever you are.  It is great to know that so many are watching. (Last Sunday there were 175 people online and on Tuesday this week there were 95 people).

Just a reminder that on Sunday this week thee are 2 masses, one at 9:30am and one at 11:30am which will be in sign language, we  would be delighted if you are able to join us for either of these two Masses.

Sound & live streaming

Some people are having problems with the sound when Mass is being live streamed, you need to go to the bottom right of the picture with your mouse and turn on the volume.  It cannot be seen until you put the mouse over the point on the bottom right of the picture.  Hope this helps.

This coming Sunday, there will be 2 masses live streamed.  The usual 9:30am Mass and then an 11:30am Mass in sign language.

Prayer for a Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen

Salford Diocese pilgrimage to Lourdes 2020

This years pilgrimage has been cancelled.

Morning prayer

I have ceased with morning prayer via video, as not a single person had joined in over the past week.  It was worth a try!

The Lords Day at Home

the PDF file below is a liturgy which has been put together by the Bishops.  They hope it will help you with celebrating your faith at home.

Including the prayer for a spiritual communion, that I will be using everyday at Mass.

Something new

Morning prayer of the church

Due to these odd times, I thought it might be a nice idea to start the day with  the morning prayer of the church.  This prayer is said by millions of priests, nuns, brothers and lay people round the world.

If you would like to join in, on Monday morning you will find a video of me praying the morning prayer of the church, and if we could say it together at 8:30am this will unify our prayers.

You can find the prayers on line, try universalis and see all the prayers there.

oOo

The Two Popes

I don't usually recommend films, but this is something a little different.  The Two Popes (available only on Netflix) is the extraordinary story of our current Pope Francis and Benedict, Pope emeritus.  It a very touching insight into the lives of two ordinary men, called to do something very extraordinary.  If you are able to track it down, I would recommend it to your viewing.

oOo

In conjunction with the Diocese of Salford

One day longer than the Diocese

31st July — 7th August inclusive

There is a meeting for anyone interested in finding out more.

Meeting Tuesday 21st January at St Patrick’s Church at 7pm

oOo

Deanery Candle for Lourdes - 

NEXT SUNDAY is the last chance to get your prayer slips in.
There is only one week left before we head off to Lourdes for this years pilgrimage.  As always, if you would like to have someone prayed for specifically, would you please add their name to the slip below, cut the slip off the newsletter, and give it to Fr. Jim next week.  We will be having a large candle, and all the names of the  people will be added to it as it is left burning opposite the Grotto in Lourdes. We ask a donation of £1 towards the cost of the candle, or whatever you would like to give. Thank you.

Sign Class

We have now finished our classes, I hope thaty you have enjoyed them and that you have learned a little of what it is  to communicate with someone who is deaf.  Thanks to all who joined in the class.

oOo

Learning sign language.

On one of the buttons at the top of this page (intro to BSL) you will find a 10 week course on learning sign language, (we have just finished week 5).  Each week there is a video, along with instructions and vocabulary.  If you follow this course and are prepared to practice; by the end,  you will be able to hold a conversation with a deaf person.  Why not join in?

....When the Missionaries of Charity Brothers opened a house in a remote part of Ethiopia in 2018, the first person they took in was an 8 year old child. He arrived very ill and severely malnourished. He died soon after. His name, translated from the local language, was: “I HAVE FOUND MY BROTHER”. Brothers Marc and Ruben and our friend Cal in Manchester have composed this song for all those for whom we have become brothers, and whom we love as the brothers and sisters that God gave us through our mission. The song is about three true stories of extraordinary people. The first one is Steven, a 12 year old child in Kolkata who even terminally ill with AIDS could not stop dancing. The second is our Harry here in Manchester , whose dementia has erased every memory from his mind... but a song that we sing together every time we visit him. The last one is one of our boys in the young offenders prison in Lima, Peru. He was completely broken by his being in a gang, but our circus group brought him back to the joy of living. To them and countless others, all our love and admiration.

Organ recital

Funeral arrangements for the Late Anne Dunne

The Funeral for the Late Anne Dunne will be on Tuesday 29th January at 10.00am in Church followed by internment at Moston Cemetery at 11:30am.

People have asked! So. here is Early Notice of Station Masses for Lent!!
March 13th, St Anne’s higher Openshaw,  March 20th St Anne’s Crumpsall, March 27th St Margaret Mary New Moston, April 3rd Christ The King Newton Heath, April 10th Parish of the Holy Spirit.  All Masses start at 7:30pm  April 17th Penitential Service St Clare’s Blackley @ 7pm

Lourdes 2019

It will soon be time to sign up for the Pilgrimage to Lourdes for September this year.  Please watch the newsletter for when the information about dates and costings become available.  But now is the time to think about whether you would like to come or not.  If it has been a while, or if you have never been to Lourdes before, why not think about coming along and joining in this wonderful experience of a pilgrimage crossed with a happy holiday!

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We have returned!!

                                    Salford Diocese 86th Lourdes pilgrimage - 2018
                                                                                                                 St Chads Deanery group

To see more, please go to the "Parish Pilgrimage" button at the top of this page!

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Pope Francis explains the Hail Mary phrase by phrase. 

And he remembers a mother who had an amazing gift of counsel. Here's the advice she gave her son:  We all recite the Hail Mary, but how many of us know its true meaning? What is the prayer really saying?  In the book, "Mary, Mother of All" ("María, Mamma di tutti"), Pope Francis himself teaches us the meaning of the words of this essential prayer.

Hail Mary, Full of Grace - The Angel Gabriel calls Mary "full of grace" (Lk 1:28); in her, the pope explains, "there is no room for sin, because God has chosen her from all eternity to be the mother of Jesus, and has preserved her from original sin." "The Word became flesh in her womb. We, too, are asked to listen to God, who speaks to us, and to accept His will. The Lord always speaks to us

."The Lord is with you - What happened in a unique way in the Virgin Mary, Francis says, "happens on a spiritual level in us as well when we welcome the Word of God with a good and sincere heart, and put it into practice. It happens as if God were to become flesh in us; He comes to live in us, because He makes His home in those who love Him and obey His Word. It's not easy to understand this, but, yes, it's easy to feel it in your heart." "Do we think that the incarnation of Jesus is only a past event, that it doesn't affect us personally? Believing in Jesus means offering Him our body, with the same humility and courage as Mary."

Blessed are you among women - How did Mary live her faith? "She lived it," the pope answers, "in the simplicity of the many daily occupations and worries of every mom, such as providing food and clothing, and taking care of the house... Precisely this normal existence of the Virgin was the ground on which a singular rapport and profound dialogue between her and God, between her and her Son, developed."

Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Mary is receptive, but not passive, Francis explains. - "Just as she receives the power of the Holy Spirit at a physical level, but then gives flesh and blood to the Son of God who takes form in Her, so also on a spiritual level, she receives grace and responds to it with faith. For this reason, Saint Augustine says that the Virgin 'conceived in her heart before in her womb.' She conceived faith first, and then the Lord."

Holy Mary, Mother of God - The Mother of the Redeemer, the pope continues, "precedes us and constantly confirms us in the faith, in our vocation, and in our mission. With her example of humility and readiness to obey God's will, she helps us to translate our faith into a joyful proclamation of the Gospel, without borders.”

Pray for us sinners - In order to explain the meaning of this passage of the prayer, Francis relates an anecdote:  "I remember how once, at the Shrine of Luján, I was in the confessional, in front of which there was a long line. There was also a young man who was very modern, with earrings, tattoos, all those things... And he had come to tell me what was going on with him. It was a big problem, very difficult. And he said to me, 'I told my mom all of this, and my mom said: Go to the Blessed Virgin and she will tell you what to do.' Now, that's a woman who had the gift of counsel. She didn't know how to solve her son's problem, but she pointed out the right path: go to the Blessed Virgin, and she will tell you. This is the gift of counsel. That humble, simple woman gave her son the best advice. In fact, the young man said to me, 'I looked at the Blessed Virgin and I felt that I should do this, this, and this...' I didn't need to talk; his mom and the young man himself had already said everything. This is the gift of counsel. You moms, who have this gift: ask that it be given to your children. The gift of counseling your children is a gift of God."

Now, and at the hour of our death - Let us entrust ourselves to Mary, Pope Francis says, "so that she, as the Mother of our first-born brother, Jesus, can teach us to have the same maternal spirit towards our brothers, with a sincere ability to accept, to forgive, to strengthen, and to infuse confidence and hope. And this is what a mom does." Mary's path towards Heaven began "with that 'yes' she spoke in Nazareth, in reply to the heavenly Messenger who announced to her God's will for her. In reality, that's exactly how it is: every 'yes' to God is a step toward Heaven, toward eternal life."

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Early Notice regarding the Easter Service Times 2018

Easter Services 2018 – All services will be at St Patrick’s Church (except Sunday)

Holy Thursday – Mass of the Lord’s Supper  7:00pm

Good Friday – Stations of the Cross 11:00am

Good Friday – Service of the Lord’s Passion 3:00pm

Easter Saturday – Vigil Mass of the Resurrection  6:30pm

Easter Sunday – Mass of Easter 9:30am ST MALACHY’S

Easter Sunday – Mass of Easter 11:00am ST PATRICK’S with SJMDP

Please Note – Funeral details - This week

St Patrick's Old Boys Association

The Old Boy's will be joining us for Mass next Sunday (19th November), where we remember all those past students of St Patrick's who have been taken home by the Lord.  

We welcome the Association, and pray for all their members, living and deceased.

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You are invited to a series of talks for Advent!

JOURNEYING WITH ADVENT FAMILIES

What can a penniless foreign widow, an elderly barren woman and a young Virgin mother tell us today about welcoming Jesus, God-with-us? 

Join us at Wardley Hall for our Advent series:

Dates:

1st December: Ruth, Naomi and Boaz: Promise Foretold

8th December: Zechariah, Elizabeth and John the Baptist:       Promise Foreshadowed

15th December: Mary, Joseph and Jesus: Promised Fulfilled

Time: 10:30 – 12:30 (Tea and coffee provided)

Format: Prayer and Lectio Divina; reflection on Scripture passages and their relevance for today; discussion.

Presenters: Sister Joan Kerley, FMSJ and Maria Kidd 

Contact: 1. Marie Sartini, Bishop’s PA, Wardley Hall, Worsley M28 2ND; 0161 794 2825 E: Marie.sartini@dioceseofsalford.org.uk   

2. Sister Joan Kerley, FMSJ; 0161 9717842; E: joankfmsj@gmail.com 

Cathy Fitzpatrick's report on the opening of "Hope in The Future"

Given to St Patrick's Parish Sunday 8:10:17

Wednesday 4^th October – Call to the Cathedral for the launch of the programme “Hope in The Future”.

On Wednesday night I, along with Father Jim and parishioners from St Patrick’s and St Malachy’s churches went to the cathedral for the launch of the Bishop’s new Programme, “Hope in The Future”.

Each church was presented with a display of St. Damion’s Cross – St Damiano.

This is the cross that St Francis used in his daily prayer.   While he was at prayer one day, he received the message from God to rebuild my Church.  Realising sometime after, the message was much bigger than simply building churches, it was about the building up of faith, witness and people, and to bring new energy and spirit into the universal Church.  This was the birth of the Franciscan spirit, and Francis spent the last twenty years of his life spreading the message of simplicity, prayer, poverty, kindness, fraternity and community. throughout the world.

No wonder our present pontiff chose the name “Francis".

It is this same spirit we wish to nurture in our own Diocese of Salford, so that we can rebuild our churches, not with bricks and mortar, but with faith, prayer and charity.

The “Hope in the future” programme is a challenge to build on the good work already being accomplished in all our parishes.  The programme is very much, building upon what we already have, serving the particular needs of the local community, reaching out to parishioners who do not regularly attend church, and caring for our own local community.

“Hope in the future” is inspired by the teachings of Pope Francis in developing a missionary parish.

To achieve this, I am asking for volunteers to help form a parish team – this is an invitation to set out on a journey with the Lord, as a missionary disciple, as Fr. Jim and our other diocesan priests cannot do this on their own.

If you think –

You have a deep interest in the parish, and have a commitment of the church

Have an understanding to grow in the understanding of the mission

Have time and the willingness to make an effective contribution

Have ability to listen, with respect for others opinions

Have a love for people, with the ability to inspire others who are not members of the team

And are able to work as part of a team

We would like you to volunteer.

See Either Cathy Fitzpatrick or Fr Jim.

The first steps, once we have a team in place, is to meet together, may be a few times before Christmas, and each meeting will be no more than an hour in length.

Members of the Parish Team, must see their roll as partners with the Parish Priest, working closely together for the good of the whole parish.

The parish team will keep everyone informed through the newsletter.

                                                                                                                                        oOo

• Sessions are a mix of input, conversation and reflection.
• The atmosphere aims to be relaxing, reflective and conversational.
• We are all on a journey.  When we journey together we support each other and learn from each other.
• Anyone who is Open to LISTENING, to LEARNING, and to SHARING will enjoy and benefit from these sessions.
• If you wish to attend some or all of the Conversations please ring or text Theresa Davis at 07 415 713 274.