Please check the Diocese section for weekly news of events and news from our diocese.
See below the Order of Mass for last weekend and a Pastoral letter received from the Bishop

Sunday 25th July 2021 – 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)  
 
MASS OFFERINGS
Lately Dead: Tony Quirke
                                          
Anniversaries: Christine Brumble, Josephine Carr, John Denny
 
Others: Sayers, Riley Families & Paul White, Prayers Answered,
Marshall/Carson Marriage, Mary Anne O’Neil (B/day memories),
Joseph Aspinall (B/day memories),
Special Intention.

MASS TIMES
Monday
10:00
Weekday Mass 
 
Tuesday
10:00
Weekday Mass

Wednesday
10:00
Weekday Mass

Thursday
10:00
Weekday Mass

Friday
10:00
Weekday Mass

Saturday
10:00
Weekday Mass

Saturday
17:30
Vigil Sunday Mass

Sunday
10:30
Sunday Mass

 
+  The Introductory Rites 
 
The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.  We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.  Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.  For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.
 
Liturgy of the Word:
 
First Reading:  A reading from the second book of the Kings
A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing Elisha, the man of God, bread from the first-fruits, twenty barley loaves and fresh grain in the ear.  ‘Give it to the people to eat,’ Elisha said.  But his servant replied, ‘How can I serve this to a hundred men?’  ‘Give it to the people to eat’ he insisted ‘for the Lord says this, “They will eat and have some left over.”’  He served them; they ate and had some over, as the Lord had said.
The word of the Lord      
Response:  Thanks be to God
 
Responsorial Psalm:
R)   You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.
 
Second Reading: A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians
I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation.  Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience.  Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together.  There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called.  There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, through all and within all.
The word of the Lord
 
Response: Thanks be to God
 
Gospel Acclamation:
Alleluia, Alleluia!  Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life: you have the message of eternal life.  Alleluia!
 
Gospel:
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee – or of Tiberias – and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick.  Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples.  It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover.  Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’  He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do.  Philip answered, ’Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’  One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ‘There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?’  Jesus said to them, ‘Make the people sit down.’  There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down.  Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted.  When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, ‘Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.’  So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loves.  The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, ‘This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.’  Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.
 
The Gospel of the Lord.
 
Response: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
 
The Nicene Creed:
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no end.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.  I believe in one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.  I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. 
 
Bidding Prayers: Reader:      We pray for the whole world,
Response: Give us this day our daily bread.
 
Liturgy of the Eucharist
 
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of His holy church.
 
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest. 
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Kneel.
 
Mystery of Faith:
Save us Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
 
The Communion Rite
The Lord’s Prayer – Breaking of Bread
 
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.  Kneel.
 
Invitation to Communion
 
Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
 
The Concluding Rites and Communion
 
Fr. Wilson’s comments on Sunday Mass Readings:
 
Kings:   The Lord promised, ‘They shall eat and have bread left over’ – God’s generosity expressed through His people and overwhelms their need.
 
Ephesians:  Paul, a prisoner for God’s sake and His witness, ‘You were called to one God, one Faith, one Hope, one Baptism’.  Do all you can to maintain unity.
 
Gospel John:  Jesus feeds the 5,000 with a few loaves and fishes.  Nothing is wasted – the 12 baskets of leftover food is collected.  Jesus sees that the people have failed to understand – they want Him to be an earthly ruler.
 
HOLIDAYS ARE HERE!  WE DO AS JESUS DID – WE GO TO PRAY, REST, AND RESTORE OUR SPIRITS, IN SOME QUIET PLACE.  THAT IS MY PLAN!  FR. JOHN, WHO IS KNOWN TO YOU ALL WILL BE HERE DURING MY HOLIDAYS AND WILL BE AVAILABLE TO HELP AND PRAY WITH YOU.  I KNOW YOU WILL MAKE HIM VERY WELCOME.
 
PLEASE CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER IN OBSERVING THE PANDEMIC PRECAUTIONS AS WELL AS YOU CAN, EVEN THOUGH THE OFFICIAL RULES ARE REDUCED.
 
KEEP SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT SUMMER.
 
Memorial Book: The following names are included for JULY:
Ann Brennan (B/day), Barbara Logan, Bernard Mulheir, Bill Dawson, Florence Darlington, John Cooper, John Denny, Josie Carr, Josie Dempsey, Mary Elizabeth Smith, Mary Lomas, Robert Craig, Rose Anne Hughes, Sheila Rosenfield, Ted Tierney, Teresa Hindley, Thomas Logan, Raymond, Vincent Routledge, Violet Mills, William Ormrod, Halina Rigby
 
May their souls and the souls of all faithful departed
through the mercy of God rest in peace, Amen.

Notices
CHURCH CLEANING:
Stewards – It is now sufficient to only clean touched areas after each Mass.
WE NEED HELP!!!
At present the Church will now only be able to be cleaned on a fortnightly basis.  Any teams of 3 or 4 volunteers able to assist on a once-a-month basis would be most welcome, (it doesn’t take long).  See Frank Etchells or any member of the two ‘Thursday Cleaning Teams’ for details.
 
Front & Rear Gardens:  Anybody wishing to join our little team of 3 would be most welcome. Jobs for all abilities, come and go as you please. See Ged, Linda or Frank for information.
 
Weekly Offerings   Please consider using a bank Standing Order, they are a very convenient method of transferring money especially now that we are often using contactless payments, which means that cash is not always available. Standing Order forms with our bank details are available at the back of church for handing in to your bank. You can use monthly or weekly debits as it suits. THANK YOU.

​

CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE OF ENGLAND AND WALES
​Pastoral Letter for Pentecost 2021 It was the decision of the Bishops of England, Wales and Scotland to unite in promoting a Pastoral Letter for Pentecost Sunday which reads as follows: Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, The Solemnity of Pentecost reminds us that everything which exists, every person and the whole of creation, is a gift of “God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.” God our loving Father creates and continues to give life to the world through His Word, Jesus Christ, in the power of His Holy Spirit. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church, which we celebrate at Pentecost, is not something separate from Creation. God’s revelation of himself in Creation is inseparable from the revelation of his love for us in Christ and in his desire to live in us through his Holy Spirit. ‘God’s Spirit is always and everywhere “the Lord, the Giver of Life”, and the voice of Pentecost is echoed in the voice of creation being transformed into the glorious liberty of God’s children.’ In this liberty, as God’s children, we call on the Spirit to ‘renew the face of the Earth’, and as his children, we are called, in turn, to use this liberty for the good of creation and for the good of all that brings life. Our world, God’s creation, is a precious gift to us. It is our common home entrusted to each generation. But how have we used that glorious liberty? How do we honour this precious gift? Are we really demonstrating love, care and respect for our common home? As we celebrate Pentecost this year, we are acutely aware of the damage that continues to be inflicted on the Earth, and the repercussions for the well-being of our brothers and sisters, both here in our own countries and, more especially, in the poorest countries of our world. Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have both taught us that everything is interconnected and interdependent. The way we live our everyday lives has an impact on everyone and on the earth. The urgency of the situation, and the enormity of the challenges we face, have spurred us to speak out together this Pentecost Sunday, as bishops of England, Wales and Scotland, about the role that the Catholic Church and our faith must play in our shared care for God’s gift to us. For all too long we have either been ignorant of, or ignored, the systematic exploitation of our planet and the unsustainable consumption of its resources. While accepting the crucial need and demand for energy for the benefit of the poorest of our brothers and sisters, the provision of our energy must, nonetheless, be by means which radically reduce the use of carbon-based fuels.In our political thinking, there must be a new global understanding of our world, where nations recognise our common responsibility for the dignity of all people and their rights to sustainable livelihoods, in authentic freedom. Pope Francis speaks of a global politics that looks beyond our own needs to the needs of all, most especially the poor and the marginalised. But we cannot leave the healing of our common home and the wellbeing and care of our brothers and sisters merely to a response from industry and governments. Our own local concern and action is necessary and has far-reaching consequences. We all have a part to play, each and every one of us, in the routines, choices and decisions of our everyday lives and our aspirations for the future. The actions of parishes, families, schools, and individuals will have a significant impact on our efforts to restore our common home. There are now many resources, freely available, to advise us on our choice of food, saving of water and electricity, suggestions about travel, waste, and re-use. These are measures that everyone can employ, in some degree, with minimal inconvenience and change. They are effective ways in which we can each reaffirm our personal vocation to be stewards of creation. This Pentecost comes at a time of remarkable challenge and opportunity. We are gradually emerging from the tragedies and restrictions of the pandemic. We have the ability to make changes. Our countries are also hosting two most important meetings this year, the G7 in June and COP26 in November. These meetings will gather together men and women who have the power to make defining choices and policies which will help us build back better, provide for our brothers and sisters, and take care of our common home. In all our human endeavours, we need the presence of the Holy Spirit, “the Lord, the Giver of Life”, whose gift to the Church and the world we celebrate again at Pentecost. Let us keep this Feast with that enduring hope that we can begin to repair the damage we have done and provide a healthy home for future generations. Our hope will be strengthened by our prayer. May our constant request be that the Holy Spirit guide us, strengthen our resolve and ‘renew the face of the earth’. I am sure that we will all understand the importance of what the Bishops have addressed to us. Stay with us, Lord, on our journey. Yours devotedly, +John Arnold Bishop of Salford

Dear all,
Please find a message from the Bishop below.

Dear Fathers,
One thing that I regularly recognise is that time is passing so quickly. The weeks come and go in a breath. I think that lockdown would have been so much more difficult if time was dragging but there seems to be no question of sitting about getting bored.  
  
I suppose we could have predicted the amount of coverage about the Royals this week. How sad. Without any judgement on what may or may not actually have happened or been said, I am saddened by the media coverage, the language used and that there should have been an opinion poll even before any response from the Royal Household about a statement made by an unnamed person in unknown circumstances. All I would say is that I do not think that an interview with Oprah was the right thing to do. Family quarrels, disputes and disagreements are best settled within the family. I am very sad to think that there was apparently such unhappiness over a period of time but the Royal family is unique in the role it plays and that must be reflected in some ways by unique events that occur. There needs to be a respectful dialogue around mental health whatever the status of the individual. My hope is that it can be resolved without too much more media spotlight but I doubt that will happen.


Not far removed from that. I mentioned that I had signed up for the Mental Health First Aid course, again online in four sessions. I think the biggest surprise so far has been to know just how many people are affected at some stage in their lives with some form of mental illness. There has been a lot of information about the contributory causes of stress and depression and the different ways in which a person may manifest mental illness. I suspect that, in our priestly ministry, we have all seen many forms of stress and depression in the communities we have served.


The conflict in Myanmar seems to escalate with police officers fleeing to India rather than impose the military orders, and wholesale arrests in cordoned off neighbourhoods. The military do not even seem to be justifying their actions nor claiming compliance with any sense of the rule of law. And that country is just one among many in particularly distressing times, in addition to the impact of the pandemic. At least the papal visit to Iraq seems to be bearing fruit and the courage and determination of Pope Francis has been applauded by so many political and Faith leaders.


This week has been a week of zoom interviews for CAFOD and elsewhere. There is no doubt that Zoom is a wonderful invention and a technological leap forward but it has its demands and limitations. It is not easy to create the atmosphere of an interview when everyone is on screen. However, we managed several hours of conversation and hopefully we got to know something of the candidates, their abilities and their suitability.


The continuing workshop webinar on “Let us Dream” was a success on Wednesday evening and the various working groups seem to benefit from the time spent in conversation. It is a large gathering. Unfortunately, Austen Ivereigh could not be present this week but we still managed a good reporting on the discussions of the various groups and a useful question and answer session.




Private notes: I hope that your plans for Holy Week are taking shape. If you have doubts or questions about what may be allowed and possible, please ask. I am sure that we can manage a worthy celebration of the Triduum, even for those who will live-stream liturgies or use home resources. You may like to advertise the Cathedral liturgies, which are all live-streamed:
Palm Sunday – Sunday, 28th March at 11am
Chrism Mass – Wednesday, 31st March at 11am
Mass of The Lord’s Supper – Thursday, 1st April at 7.30pm
Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion – Friday, 2nd April at 3.00pm
Easter Vigil – Saturday 3rd April at 8.30pm


The Year of St Joseph. Although there was little publicity at the time of the announcement, largely due to all the news concerning the pandemic, Pope Francis has dedicated this year to St. Joseph, a patron of our Diocese. Resources for parishes, schools and families will be published next week for your use and distribution. Please mark the Feast of St Joseph on 19th March in whatever way you are able within the parish.


Holidays. As we begin to emerge from lockdown, you will probably be thinking about holidays. Certainly, we will need holidays after all the stresses and strains of the last year but they will need to be managed in the sense that not everyone can be away at the same time. Can I ask you please to be sure to confirm a supply priest’s availability before your confirm travel arrangements? Please also confirm your plans with your dean?


We continue our journey through Lent and ask the Lord to stay with us.


Thank you for all you are achieving in this difficult time


+John




+John Arnold
Bishop of Salford
Wardley Hall |Worsley |M28 2ND
0161 794 2825
E: john.arnold@dioceseofsalford.org.uk

Dear Father
We are looking at ways that we can help parishes deal with some of the impact of the pandemic and ways to help parishes function more effectively with any longer-term impacts.
One of our immediate priorities was to make online donations easier for those who wish to continue to support our parishes and their work. We have done this by putting a ‘donate’ button on the Diocesan Website, anybody will be able to donate to their own parish or a number of the other funds we have.
You can access the diocesan website via this link:
https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/
The donate button is found in the right-hand corner of the main page when on a desktop and it directs you this this page.
https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/supporting-your-parish-financially/
On a mobile device the donate button is listed in the main menu. We are currently working on improving the access and making the button more prominent when on a mobile device.
Visitors to the donations page will find two options:

1. Setting up a standing order
2. Make a donation

Setting up a standing order
This button takes you to a page on the website where parishioners can access a standing order form for each parish. This page is currently being populated and will be ready next week.
To help with this work please send a copy of your current standing order form to communications@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
Make a donation
This button is already live and accepting donations.
Visitors to this page with see five options.
 
Four picture options for specific diocesan funds and the ability to search for a specific parish and make a donation to that parish.
 
Details of transactions for every parish will be recorded and on a monthly basis the relevant funds from online donations will be transferred into parish accounts.
Each online transaction will have a small fee attached and there is also an opportunity to gift aid every donation.
You will notice when searching for your own parish that the address listed on the forms is the Cathedral Centre. This is for administrative purposes to meet the requirements of the financial services authority.
How can you share in your parish?  
The best way to promote is to do so by sharing this link https://www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/supporting-your-parish-financially/
You can send this directly to any parishioner who has asked how they can continue to give their offertory donation, add the link to your website or mention (if you feel appropriate) during your live streams.  
When promoting the donation function, we must remain mindful of the changing financial position many of our parishioners find themselves in during this time. You may make the decision that circumstances in your parish mean you do not want to actively promote this option.
If you would like to discuss the options for having a button integrated into your parish website please email communications@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
If you would like to discuss anything to do with your parish finances please email finance@dioceseofsalford.org.uk
If you have any further questions please let me know.

​Fathers,
Despite the current low risk to the public from coronavirus, Bishops’ Conference have issued guidelines to enable Catholic churches and organisations to find the relevant information in one place. The complete document – which will be amended in the future if necessary – is attached but please note the following key messages:
 

• At the time of writing there is no need to take special measures on suspending the Chalice or Sign of Peace. Should that become necessary, more detailed pastoral care guidance will be issued.

 

• Ask anyone with cold or flu symptoms to refrain from taking communion from the Chalice and receive the host on the hand only. (We should be doing this anyway, every ‘flu season.)

 

• Ensuring ministers of the Eucharist wash their hands before distributing communion or sanitise them is a good practice to encourage always.

 

• The best way of protecting us from spread is for everyone to use universal good hygiene, which will effectively disrupt spread of the virus. We should be doing this all the time for ‘flu:

§ Catch it - sneeze into a tissue
§ Bin it - bin the tissue
§ Kill it - wash your hands with soap and water
§ Do not touch your face unless you’ve washed your hands
§ Ensure good regular cleaning of surfaces lots of people touch regularly

• There is a government campaign on hygiene and posters can be downloaded and placed in parishes. It would be sensible to place these in churches and premises and alert people to this in newsletters and bulletins. The link can be found in the further materials section in the document.

 

• Pastoral care remains important

 
o Chaplains and others working in institutions where people with coronavirus are being cared for should seek and follow hygiene guidance from that institution
 
o Those who have been asked to self-isolate in the community as a precaution by medical staff will understandably be anxious but equally it is important not to breach this isolation. “In person care” should be kept to a minimum and advice taken from NHS 111 or call NHS Direct Wales on 0845 4647 on any precautions needed.