St Stephen's is part of the Diocese of Salford. Diocesan life is varied and vibrant – there are many faithful priests, religious and parishioners who serve the Diocese of Salford in countless ways. The Diocese is led by Bishop John Arnold.
If you would like any information about the departments and services of the Diocese please see www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk
If you can’t find what you are looking for please email communications@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or phone 0161 817 2222
If you would like any information about the departments and services of the Diocese please see www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk
If you can’t find what you are looking for please email communications@dioceseofsalford.org.uk or phone 0161 817 2222
diocese
Clergy Notices
Vocations Sunday - 25th April
Please find attached below a letter for Vocations Sunday from Fr John Hitchen and Fr David Featherstone. The letter can be found here.
Environmental Survey - Closing Soon
All clergy and parishioners are invited to complete a survey so that the diocese can understand different priorities around the environment. The survey takes around 15-20 minutes to complete. Please complete and share this link with anyone who may be interested. Thank you for your time: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SalfordEnvironment
“The Lord's Day at Church” Resource
The Liturgy Office have prepared Lord's Day at Church single use Mass sheets to be printed out for parish use, for the next two Sundays and the major services of Holy Week, adapted according to the restrictions and guidance from the Bishops' Conference.
There are two formats: Option 1 is with Communion at its usual moment in the Mass/Service, Option 2 is a guide for Communion as people leave the church.
Option 1
Option 2
You can also find these sheets on our website
Clergy Reminders
Altar Servers Refresher Video
Following the successful Altar Servers Retreat held in February, it was highlighted that some servers are nervous about returning. To help ease these worries, a video has been produced to reassure and refresh servers. Please feel free to share this with anyone who may find it useful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUkd7NT12Kc
Recycle for Greater Manchester Community Fund
We have been asked to share the following information with parishes.
The Recycle for Greater Manchester Community fund will soon be open for applications. The fund is a joint Recycle for Greater Manchester (R4GM) and Suez initiative to support Greater Manchester Community and Voluntary sector.
Applications will open on 1st April 2021 – 31st May 2021
The fund is supported through profits from the new ‘Renew’ reuse shops. The Renew Shops will be opening Spring 2021 and will be based at 3 household waste recycling centres:
The fund aims to support projects which prevent, reuse, or recycle household waste, and also reduce contamination, promote sustainable use of waste and resources, and generate wider social benefits for the communities of Greater Manchester. We want to encourage and support innovative projects that are novel and involve a new and untried approach to tackling an issue in the key waste areas. Your project will need to focus on at least one of these areas.
For more information and to apply, please visit: https://recycleforgreatermanchester.com/community-post/community-fund/
Notices for Parishes and Newsletter Inserts
Sunday Prayer Resource – “The Lord's Day at Home”
For those still at home and not attending Mass the Liturgy Office has prepared a service called "The Lord's Day at Home", based on the Sunday Scriptures, that you can pray on your own or with your family. It is particularly aimed at those not able to follow a Mass on the internet.
LDAH - Easter 2B
You can also find these sheets on our website
Lent - Weekly Eco-Thought for Parish Newsletters
The Department for Formation have produced a weekly eco thought for use in your parish newsletters throughout Lent and Easter.
Second Sunday of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles today presents a wonderful vision of the early Church where ‘no one claimed for their use anything that they had; as everything they owned was held in common.’
None of us own the planet. It is given us by God on trust, to be held in common.
Directory for Catechesis
The next installment will be sent soon.
Previous installments can be found here.
Clergy Reminders
Heart Speaks to Heart Sacramental Preparation Resource Launch
Wednesday 14th April 2021, 7pm on Zoom
An evening with the author of Heart Speaks to Heart – The Gift of Reconciliation and Holy Communion resource. Led by Fr Tim Swinglehurst (Episcopal Vicar for Education, Diocese of Leeds) & Team. Find out more about the inspiration behind the programme. This wonderful First Reconciliation & Holy Communion resource comes highly recommended by the Diocese of Salford Sacramental Preparation working party ‘The Wisdom Group’. The resource is designed for Family Catechesis and includes an online PDF, videos and printed workbook.
Email formation@dioceseofsalford.org.uk to register.
Conference: Rerum novarum 130 Years On
Inspired by Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical addressing working conditions, St Mary’s University Twickenham are hosting an international online conference: Rerum Novarum 130 Years On ~ The Future of the World of Work.
Wednesday 5th – Saturday 8th May 2021.
Open to all and free of charge.
To register contact the Rev Dr Ashley Beck:
ashley.beck@stmarys.ac.uk
Vocations Sunday - 25th April
Please find attached below a letter for Vocations Sunday from Fr John Hitchen and Fr David Featherstone. The letter can be found here.
Environmental Survey - Closing Soon
All clergy and parishioners are invited to complete a survey so that the diocese can understand different priorities around the environment. The survey takes around 15-20 minutes to complete. Please complete and share this link with anyone who may be interested. Thank you for your time: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/SalfordEnvironment
“The Lord's Day at Church” Resource
The Liturgy Office have prepared Lord's Day at Church single use Mass sheets to be printed out for parish use, for the next two Sundays and the major services of Holy Week, adapted according to the restrictions and guidance from the Bishops' Conference.
There are two formats: Option 1 is with Communion at its usual moment in the Mass/Service, Option 2 is a guide for Communion as people leave the church.
Option 1
Option 2
You can also find these sheets on our website
Clergy Reminders
Altar Servers Refresher Video
Following the successful Altar Servers Retreat held in February, it was highlighted that some servers are nervous about returning. To help ease these worries, a video has been produced to reassure and refresh servers. Please feel free to share this with anyone who may find it useful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUkd7NT12Kc
Recycle for Greater Manchester Community Fund
We have been asked to share the following information with parishes.
The Recycle for Greater Manchester Community fund will soon be open for applications. The fund is a joint Recycle for Greater Manchester (R4GM) and Suez initiative to support Greater Manchester Community and Voluntary sector.
Applications will open on 1st April 2021 – 31st May 2021
The fund is supported through profits from the new ‘Renew’ reuse shops. The Renew Shops will be opening Spring 2021 and will be based at 3 household waste recycling centres:
The fund aims to support projects which prevent, reuse, or recycle household waste, and also reduce contamination, promote sustainable use of waste and resources, and generate wider social benefits for the communities of Greater Manchester. We want to encourage and support innovative projects that are novel and involve a new and untried approach to tackling an issue in the key waste areas. Your project will need to focus on at least one of these areas.
For more information and to apply, please visit: https://recycleforgreatermanchester.com/community-post/community-fund/
Notices for Parishes and Newsletter Inserts
Sunday Prayer Resource – “The Lord's Day at Home”
For those still at home and not attending Mass the Liturgy Office has prepared a service called "The Lord's Day at Home", based on the Sunday Scriptures, that you can pray on your own or with your family. It is particularly aimed at those not able to follow a Mass on the internet.
LDAH - Easter 2B
You can also find these sheets on our website
Lent - Weekly Eco-Thought for Parish Newsletters
The Department for Formation have produced a weekly eco thought for use in your parish newsletters throughout Lent and Easter.
Second Sunday of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles today presents a wonderful vision of the early Church where ‘no one claimed for their use anything that they had; as everything they owned was held in common.’
None of us own the planet. It is given us by God on trust, to be held in common.
Directory for Catechesis
The next installment will be sent soon.
Previous installments can be found here.
Clergy Reminders
Heart Speaks to Heart Sacramental Preparation Resource Launch
Wednesday 14th April 2021, 7pm on Zoom
An evening with the author of Heart Speaks to Heart – The Gift of Reconciliation and Holy Communion resource. Led by Fr Tim Swinglehurst (Episcopal Vicar for Education, Diocese of Leeds) & Team. Find out more about the inspiration behind the programme. This wonderful First Reconciliation & Holy Communion resource comes highly recommended by the Diocese of Salford Sacramental Preparation working party ‘The Wisdom Group’. The resource is designed for Family Catechesis and includes an online PDF, videos and printed workbook.
Email formation@dioceseofsalford.org.uk to register.
Conference: Rerum novarum 130 Years On
Inspired by Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical addressing working conditions, St Mary’s University Twickenham are hosting an international online conference: Rerum Novarum 130 Years On ~ The Future of the World of Work.
Wednesday 5th – Saturday 8th May 2021.
Open to all and free of charge.
To register contact the Rev Dr Ashley Beck:
ashley.beck@stmarys.ac.uk