Please check the Diocese section for weekly news of events and news from our diocese.
See below the Newsletter for last weekend.

See below the Newsletter, an article from the Diocese regarding a 'synodal' process launched by Pope Francis.
Synod simply means ‘journeying together’. The Holy Father is inviting us to listen deeply to one another; to discern what God is saying to the Church.

Sunday 23rd January – 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) 
MASS TIMES
           Monday                      10.00am      Weekday Mass                                            
           Tuesday                      10.00am      Weekday Mass
           Wednesday                10.00am      Requiem Mass for Sylvia Thorpe
           Thursday                     10.00am      Weekday Mass
           Friday                          10.00am      Weekday Mass & 11.00am  Funeral Service for Sandra Taylor
           Saturday                     10.00am      Weekday Mass &   5.30pm Vigil of Sunday Mass                                                 
           Sunday                        10.30am      4th Sunday in Ordinary time year (C)
 
CONFESSIONS IMMEDIATELY AFTER SATURDAY 10.00AM MASS
 
Readers and Eucharistic Ministers – As Available at each Mass

Masses and Prayer Intentions This Week
     Lately Dead:               Sandra Taylor, Sylvia M Thorpe, Stella Johnson, Philomena Chorlton,
                                           Sheila Dunn.
     Anniversaries:            Eveline Haughton
     Other intentions:      Sayers & Riley Families and Paul White,
                                           Our Lady and St. Peregrines Care & St. Blaise, Anna Loughman (s),
                                           
Bidding Prayers:
 Reader:                    Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free                                                          
​Response:               You are the saviour of the world.
 
Readings – Fr. Wilson’s comments on today’s Bible readings.
 
Nehemiah:  The prophet tells the story of Ezra who, after many years, discovered the Sacred
Scriptures that had been hidden.  The people had forgotten the story of their place in God’s Plan.  He prepared a place from which he could speak God’s word for them all to hear.
 
Corinthians:  The Body of Christ unites us and completes us so that we can achieve great things in His name and for the whole Church.
 
Gospel – Luke:  Many have told stories about Jesus and His mission – St. Luke undertakes an
ordered account telling of the full story of Revelation for us.  After the Nativity and the time of
nurture and maturity Jesus begins His mission in earnest.  “Today this scripture is being fulfilled in your hearing”.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
 
NEXT WEEK IS CARITAS SUNDAY 2022 FOR WHICH WE ARE HAVING A RETIRING
COLLECTION.
COVID – 19:  The pandemic is still with us and we are observing all the reasonable precautions when we gather in church.
 
PRAYERS FOR THE LATELY DEAD and especially for those who have few people to remember them are particularly welcome to their friends and family.  The life and death of each of us has its
impact on all, St. Paul reminds us.
…………………………………..
 
WHEN VISITING OUR LADY’S CHAPEL FOR MEDITATION AND PRAYER, PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE IN YOUR PRAYERS THE PEOPLE MENTIONED IN OUR MEMORIAL BOOK.
 
Memorial Book: The following names are included for JANUARY. Alan Doyle, Alice Barlow, Ann Nichols, Elsie Greenwood, Eveline Haughton, Fr Willie Fallon PP, Frank Walsh, Isabella Barns, James Edward Denham, James Swaine, John Schofield, Joseph Bligh, Joseph Thomas Logan, Joyce Fyvie, Kathleen Normile, Margaret Howarth,
Margaret, McCaugherty, Michelle Jones (B/day), Patrick Walsh, Rose – Ann Coates, Roy Walton, Sheila Etchells, Terry O’Neill, Vincent Ian Routledge, William Darlington.
Mike Nipper, Anthony Riley, Fr. E G Morrissey.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed
through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen.
 
Notices
 
FIRST COMMUNIONS:   We recommence our preparations from Sunday 30th January.
                                                    Children to be in Church for 9-30am
 
ACKNOWLEDGING OUR VOLUNTEERS: 
You will appreciate no church could operate successfully without its volunteers.  St Stephen’s is no
different from any other.  Fortunately, parishioners have always come along whenever there has been a need.  To date we have some 40 parishioners, helping to cover all the various ministries.  These
volunteers help through what we might call a Shared Leadership Team.  There is nobody any more
important than another, or in charge of another, everybody knows what is needed and helps out where and when they can.  In the forthcoming weeks we intend to acknowledge and identify our
volunteers, so that everybody is aware of who is doing what, so that if they wish to help, or need help, they will know who to ask and hopefully our Parish Family will become that little bit stronger.
 
SYNOD:
Pope Francis has called a Universal Synod which is taking place in every Catholic diocese across the world. It is themed “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission”. We want to hear from as many people as possible, those involved in the Church and those who are not. You can take part by completing an online submission using the following web address: -
www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/3D3FXJ2  we have until 1st March 2022 to make our submissions.
 
WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE:  Fr. Christopher Lough will lead an introduction to the beautiful gospel of Luke and its companion volume, “The Acts of the Apostles” on Thursday 27th
January 2022 at 7.00pm to 8.30pm via Zoom.  (See Notice Board for web link details). In preparation for Lent there is a YOUNG ADULTS RETREAT at Theodore House, Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe, 26th – 27th February 2022.  Cost £40, includes Bed, Breakfast, Lunch and Evening Meal.  (See Notice Board).
 
WORLD YOUTH DAY 2023 is set to take place between 1st – 6th August 2023 in Lisbon.  Please
register your interest by searching the Diocesan website.  (See Notice Board).
 
FOOD BANK:  PLEASE CONTINUE TO BE GENEROUS TO THE LOCAL FOOD BANK WHICH HELPS THOSE IN NEED IN OUR AREA.

Introduction
Pope Francis has launched a worldwide ‘synodal’ process. Synod simply means ‘journeying together’. The Holy Father is inviting us to listen deeply to one another; to discern what God is saying to the Church, and to enter into a dialogue about how we can journey together into the future. We will have our own synodal pathway, within our parishes and communities in the Diocese of Salford, united with every diocese across the world. Then, after national and continental gatherings, the Synod of Bishops will gather in Rome in 2023 to reflect on what has been heard.
We invite you to reflect on the following questions in a spirit of prayer and discernment. A prayer to the Holy Spirit, and a piece of scripture taken from the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), can be found on the back page of this booklet.
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? What are the fruits of this collaboration, and what are the obstacles and challenges?
11. Discerning and Deciding
How do we discern together the direction in which the Holy Spirit is leading us? How can we develop this shared responsibility together?
12. 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?
13. Additional Comments
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
Join the Conversation
You can make a response collectively as a parish community or individually via the online form or using the paper form. For more information, please contact us:
Online: Post: Email: Tel:
www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Synod, Cathedral Centre, 3 Ford Street, Salford, M3 6DP synod@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
0161 817 2214
Please send in your response before  Rev. B. Wilson. MA. PP.


Rev. B. Wilson. MA. PP.