Parish News

Following the Announcement By The Prime Minister on 4th January 2021, we can confirm that churches and places of worship, will remain open for private prayer and public worship.

St Oswald’s is open for private prayer Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 12.00 Midday

Public mass will continue on Wednesdays at 9.30am, Saturday at 10.00am, and Sunday at 11.00am.

We look forward to continuing our welcome to all those who wish to come and participate in private and public worship.

Click on the link below to read a statement from Cardinal Vincent Nicholls

https://www.cbcew.org.uk/open-churches-vital-for-resilience-during-lockdown-says-cardinal/

Despite Ashton in Makerfield being placed into Tier 4 for January, Our church will continue to open for private prayer (Monday to Friday 10.00am to 12.00 midday), AND for public worship with mass on Wednesday, 9.30am, Saturday 10.00am, and Sunday at 11.00am.

We look forward to welcoming safely into our church in 2021!

For those who are unable to make it to church, whatever the reason, we will each week post here all that you need to celebrate mass at home with Father John. Mass will continue to be recorded each week and available early Sunday morning to  view in our YouTube channel.

Click below for the Readings and Sunday mass sheet.

Sunday Mass Readings 24 Jan

Sunday Service Sheet 24 Jan

Click on the You Tube button below to view Sunday mass which will be available early Sunday Morning

Regular updates can also be viewed on our Facebook page

Father John writes:

Dear Parents,
Celebration of the Sacrament the Eucharist
As you know, one of the unfortunate consequences of the Coronavirus pandemic was that we were unable
to complete the Sacramental Preparation Programme and hold the celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
Like me, I am sure that you are keen for this to be able to take place as soon as possible, and so am writing
to invite you to attend a meeting in St. Oswald’s Church at 6.30pm on Tuesday 22nd September
(Group 1) or Wednesday 23rd September (Group 2) to discuss what arrangements can be made with
a view to these celebrations being held by the Autumn half-term holidays. This meeting will be for parents
and children together and will take place in Church to ensure adequate distancing.
I recognise that some of you may have concerns about your children taking part at this time, and would
understand if you chose not to. If so, I would simply ask that you let me know so that we know exactly who
is involved. If you so wish, your child will be included in the celebrations next year.
I would also be grateful if you would let me know if you are unable to attend this meeting so that
alternative arrangements can be made, otherwise it will be assumed that you no longer wish to take part.

Facemasks need to be worn by adults, optional for the children.

I look forward to meeting you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Fr John Gorman

St. Oswald’s Cemetery
Those of you with family graves at St. Oswald’s will be only to aware that a great deal of work needs to be
done to bring the cemetery grounds back to an acceptable state. Already this year, a considerable amount
of money has already been spent on felling and pruning dangerous trees, and this is only scratching the
surface. A great deal more is required over a long period of time, as it is impossible to everything at once.
It is, however, unreasonable to expect that the cost of this should be borne entirely by those who contribute
each week at Mass. From the 1st September, therefore, a new set of Cemetery Regulations will be
introduced, including an annual £30 Cemetery Maintenance Fee, in line with that currently
effective at Our Lady’s. Copies of the new regulations can be viewed at the entrance to the Cemetery, and
on the Church Noticeboard

A copy of the regulations can be found by clicking the link below

St. Oswald’s Cemetery[349]

Holy Hand Pilgrimage Mass
This year is the 50th anniversary of the Canonisation of the 40 Martyrs of England & Wales and, although not as we might have originally planned the Pilgrimage Mass to the Holy Hand of St. Edmund Arrowsmith will go ahead at 2.00pm on Sunday 30th August.
This gives us the opportunity to celebrate the Adult Baptisms, Receptions and Confirmations which had to be postponed from the Easter Vigil, so please pray for those who are to celebrate this Sacraments of Initiation, and their families, at this important stage of their lives.

We welcome all those pilgrims and visitors who may wish to attend this mass which will be held in accordance with Archdiocesan social distancing guidelines

St. Oswald’s Church Car Park
Regrettably, after persistent and on-going
anti-social behaviour, it is necessary to install
bollards to the entrance of St. Oswald’s Church
car park, both for the security of the Church and
the well-being of local residents.
Access to the car park will, in future, be from
8.00am-5.00pm each day, at which time the
bollards will be raised.
It should be noted that St. Oswald’s is not a
public car park and is to be used for Church
purposes only

In the last few weeks with our church closed, a number of people have enquired to see if they could still make their normal weekly contribution to the church. There are now three options available to continue to support our church in the absence of the opportunity to give at Sunday Mass.

Option 1 – Standing order

A Standing order mandate can be downloaded by clicking the link below. You can either:

1.Download, print and complete, then send the completed form to your bank to set up, or,

2.Use the church bank account details on the form and set up a payment yourself through your own online banking app.

Option 2 – Via text message from your mobile.

You can now make one off gifts of either £2,£3, £5, or £10 by following the instructions below:

Text  STOSWALD to 70085 to donate £2.

Texts cost £2 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £2 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text STOSWALDNOINFO to 70085.

Text  STOSWALD to 70450 to donate £3.

Texts cost £3 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £3 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text  STOSWALDNOINFO to 70450.

Text  STOSWALD to 70460 to donate £5.

Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £5 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text  STOSWALDNOINFO to 70460.

Text STOSWALD to 70470 to donate £10.

Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS. If you’d like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text  STOSWALDNOINFO to 70470.

Option 3: Direct through a secure website

This third option allows you to give your offering directly through a website set up specifically for our Church by The Archdiocese.

just click the link below which will direct you to it.

https://donate.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk/st-oswald-st-edmund-arrowsmith-ashton-in-makerfield-weekly-donation-copy

We fully understnd the financial difficulties the pandemic has placed on many families and we would certainly not wish you create further financial hardship in supporting our Parish at this time.

However, clearly with all public services currently on hold and churches closed, there is a financial strain in the day to day costs of maintaining and insuring our buildings, and any donation given by any of the above methods would be most gratefully received. If you are in a position to give, please be as generous as you can reasonably afford to be.

Currently with no public services during Lockdown, please find below some additional prayer resource downloads to aid home worship.