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
Recording Mass Attendance - Link to Document
You will have received an email on 3.9.20 which asked you to record the number of people attending Mass in your church this week via a word document.
If you had trouble accessing this document from the email you can find the link once again by clicking here.
Please refer to the email from 3.9.20 for instructions on how to fill this in and return to Joanne Pell at the Cathedral Centre by Wednesday 16 September. Thank you.
World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees
The World Day for Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) will be celebrated on 27th September 2020. Pope Francis has written a letter to mark this important day which can be found by clicking here.
Further information and resources for use in parishes can be found from the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, which you can access by clicking here.
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.
There are two formats: Option 1 is with Communion at its usual moment in the Mass, Option 2 is a guide for Communion as people leave the church.
This week's Lord's Day at Church documents can be found by clicking the links below.
Lord's Day at Church - 24A - Option 1
Lord's Day at Church - 24A - Option 2
Request for Figurine for Cemetery Cross
The Cemetery at St Peter's Stonyhurst are looking for a figurine for their cemetery cross which needs replacing because many years in the elements have caused damage.
The Cross dimensions are approximately 13' x 5' (which they will make themselves) and the required figurine would be approx. 46" across and 52 " length.
A photo for reference of the size can be found by clicking here.
If you can help, please contact Niall McFarlane (shireburn.house@zen.co.uk) or Stephen Clarke (s.clarke@hurstgreenplastics.com).
Clergy Reminders
Directory for Catechesis
A note from Fr Paul Daly, Episcopal Vicar for Formation:
Earlier this year the Holy See published the new Directory for Catechesis. In many parts it is not an easy read. But it does provide us with the opportunity to look at our catechetical endeavours in the light of changing times, demonstrated, of course, by the lockdown and the journey to a new and undetermined normal.
Over the year I will be summarising the Directory, with some suggested pointers for reflection. A summary is, by its nature, subjective. I will try to include the sections that I feel have most to say to ourselves and our parishes and communities at this time.
Please feel free to share with parish catechists, sacramental programme coordinators, parish leadership team members; in fact anyone who wants them! I hope you find them of benefit.
We will upload the reflections on a weekly basis to our website.
The first four installments can be found here as a Word document.
Survey for Vocations of Older Persons
We have been asked to share the following survey, run by the National Office for Vocations in conjunction with other Catholic organisations.
With more people remaining healthy longer in our times, and the ageing population in many countries around the world, the Church is eager to keep in mind the contribution older people can make.
The letter contains two links which will invite the recipient to fill in an online questionnaire regarding the vocation of the older person. There is one link for people over 60 years of age, and another link for parishes meaning parish priests, or anybody working in the parish.
This survey link will remain open until the end of September 2020 and the information it provides will be used to produce an anonymised report which it is hoped will enable the National Office for Vocations to understand better what is being done in the Church in England & Wales, and what more could be done, to promote a culture of vocation which endures and develops throughout life.
The letter can be found here
Notices for Parishes and Newsletter Inserts
Prayer Resource - 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.
This week's Lord's Day at Home prayer sheet can be found by clicking here.
Online Laudato Si Weekend Retreat
Living Laudato Si’: Your Parish and Your Planet - 16th - 19th October 2020
A long weekend of talks and discussions on zoom, and practical activities, on living the message of Laudato Si’ in and through your parish. Led by Boarbank Hall.Sessions will be on Friday night, Saturday morning and night, Sunday afternoon and night and Monday night (leaving people free during the day on Monday).
Voluntary donations gratefully accepted, but there will be no fee for the weekend.
To attend, please email Sr Margaret Atkins on margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk.
For more information click here
God who Speaks - Series of Online Talks
The God who speaks: Following the success of the zoom presentation, The God who speaks through Creation, by Sr, Margaret Atkins, CRSA, the Department for Formation is delighted to announce four further talks:
Wednesday 23rd September The God who speaks at Mass by Father Eamon Mulcahy, CSSp, Spiritan missionary, theology lecturer, priest in East Manchester and from Levenshulme.
Wednesday 7th October The God who speaks in Letters by Father James Crampsey, SJ, Jesuit priest at the Holy Name Church, Scripture Scholar, and member of the Chaplaincy Team at the Manchester Universities
Wednesday 28th October The God who speaks to us today: Contemporary Challenges through a Biblical Lens, by Father Joe Evans, priest of the Opus Dei prelature, Scripture specialist, and based at Greygarth Hall, Manchester.
Wednesday 25th November The God who speaks in the Gospel of John, by Fr. Michael Winstanley, SDB, Salesian priest and Scripture Scholar, based at the Salesian community in Bolton.
Each evening begins at 7pm and will include time for questions.
To book a place please email formation@dioceseofsalford.org.uk indicating which evening (or all four) you wish to participate in.
In 2021 we hope to arranged the remaining four evenings either via zoom or, if circumstances allow, in the originally scheduled venue, the Hidden Gem.
Reminders
Caritas September Beacon
Caritas Salford, our diocesan social action agency, are working hard to end poverty and promote justice. The link to their Beacon newsletter about their current activities is below.
During the pandemic they have been circulating it online rather than on paper. In order to help it reach as wide an audience as possible, Caritas would be very grateful if you could please include the link in your own parish newsletter or &/or on your parish social media platforms.
https://www.caritassalford.org.uk/newsletter/
Virtual Pilgrimage to Walsingham - 27th September
On 27th September there will be a virtual Pilgrimage of Reparation and Prayer for the Sanctity of Life to Walsingham.
It can be accessed via YouTube on Walsingham Catholic TV (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0aJG5juz0) or at the Basilica live stream https://www.walsingham.org.uk/live-stream/
Devotions will be streamed throughout the day, beginning with the Mass at 12.00. Full details are available on the website, including the programme for the day: https://www.prolifepilgrimage.org/
Hope in the Future Prayer Cycle: September - November 2020
The Hope in the Future prayer cycle for September - November 2020 can be found in a word document format by clicking here. Please join us in praying for those around our diocese.
Recording Mass Attendance - Link to Document
You will have received an email on 3.9.20 which asked you to record the number of people attending Mass in your church this week via a word document.
If you had trouble accessing this document from the email you can find the link once again by clicking here.
Please refer to the email from 3.9.20 for instructions on how to fill this in and return to Joanne Pell at the Cathedral Centre by Wednesday 16 September. Thank you.
World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees
The World Day for Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) will be celebrated on 27th September 2020. Pope Francis has written a letter to mark this important day which can be found by clicking here.
Further information and resources for use in parishes can be found from the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, which you can access by clicking here.
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.
There are two formats: Option 1 is with Communion at its usual moment in the Mass, Option 2 is a guide for Communion as people leave the church.
This week's Lord's Day at Church documents can be found by clicking the links below.
Lord's Day at Church - 24A - Option 1
Lord's Day at Church - 24A - Option 2
Request for Figurine for Cemetery Cross
The Cemetery at St Peter's Stonyhurst are looking for a figurine for their cemetery cross which needs replacing because many years in the elements have caused damage.
The Cross dimensions are approximately 13' x 5' (which they will make themselves) and the required figurine would be approx. 46" across and 52 " length.
A photo for reference of the size can be found by clicking here.
If you can help, please contact Niall McFarlane (shireburn.house@zen.co.uk) or Stephen Clarke (s.clarke@hurstgreenplastics.com).
Clergy Reminders
Directory for Catechesis
A note from Fr Paul Daly, Episcopal Vicar for Formation:
Earlier this year the Holy See published the new Directory for Catechesis. In many parts it is not an easy read. But it does provide us with the opportunity to look at our catechetical endeavours in the light of changing times, demonstrated, of course, by the lockdown and the journey to a new and undetermined normal.
Over the year I will be summarising the Directory, with some suggested pointers for reflection. A summary is, by its nature, subjective. I will try to include the sections that I feel have most to say to ourselves and our parishes and communities at this time.
Please feel free to share with parish catechists, sacramental programme coordinators, parish leadership team members; in fact anyone who wants them! I hope you find them of benefit.
We will upload the reflections on a weekly basis to our website.
The first four installments can be found here as a Word document.
Survey for Vocations of Older Persons
We have been asked to share the following survey, run by the National Office for Vocations in conjunction with other Catholic organisations.
With more people remaining healthy longer in our times, and the ageing population in many countries around the world, the Church is eager to keep in mind the contribution older people can make.
The letter contains two links which will invite the recipient to fill in an online questionnaire regarding the vocation of the older person. There is one link for people over 60 years of age, and another link for parishes meaning parish priests, or anybody working in the parish.
This survey link will remain open until the end of September 2020 and the information it provides will be used to produce an anonymised report which it is hoped will enable the National Office for Vocations to understand better what is being done in the Church in England & Wales, and what more could be done, to promote a culture of vocation which endures and develops throughout life.
The letter can be found here
Notices for Parishes and Newsletter Inserts
Prayer Resource - 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.
This week's Lord's Day at Home prayer sheet can be found by clicking here.
Online Laudato Si Weekend Retreat
Living Laudato Si’: Your Parish and Your Planet - 16th - 19th October 2020
A long weekend of talks and discussions on zoom, and practical activities, on living the message of Laudato Si’ in and through your parish. Led by Boarbank Hall.Sessions will be on Friday night, Saturday morning and night, Sunday afternoon and night and Monday night (leaving people free during the day on Monday).
Voluntary donations gratefully accepted, but there will be no fee for the weekend.
To attend, please email Sr Margaret Atkins on margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk.
For more information click here
God who Speaks - Series of Online Talks
The God who speaks: Following the success of the zoom presentation, The God who speaks through Creation, by Sr, Margaret Atkins, CRSA, the Department for Formation is delighted to announce four further talks:
Wednesday 23rd September The God who speaks at Mass by Father Eamon Mulcahy, CSSp, Spiritan missionary, theology lecturer, priest in East Manchester and from Levenshulme.
Wednesday 7th October The God who speaks in Letters by Father James Crampsey, SJ, Jesuit priest at the Holy Name Church, Scripture Scholar, and member of the Chaplaincy Team at the Manchester Universities
Wednesday 28th October The God who speaks to us today: Contemporary Challenges through a Biblical Lens, by Father Joe Evans, priest of the Opus Dei prelature, Scripture specialist, and based at Greygarth Hall, Manchester.
Wednesday 25th November The God who speaks in the Gospel of John, by Fr. Michael Winstanley, SDB, Salesian priest and Scripture Scholar, based at the Salesian community in Bolton.
Each evening begins at 7pm and will include time for questions.
To book a place please email formation@dioceseofsalford.org.uk indicating which evening (or all four) you wish to participate in.
In 2021 we hope to arranged the remaining four evenings either via zoom or, if circumstances allow, in the originally scheduled venue, the Hidden Gem.
Reminders
Caritas September Beacon
Caritas Salford, our diocesan social action agency, are working hard to end poverty and promote justice. The link to their Beacon newsletter about their current activities is below.
During the pandemic they have been circulating it online rather than on paper. In order to help it reach as wide an audience as possible, Caritas would be very grateful if you could please include the link in your own parish newsletter or &/or on your parish social media platforms.
https://www.caritassalford.org.uk/newsletter/
Virtual Pilgrimage to Walsingham - 27th September
On 27th September there will be a virtual Pilgrimage of Reparation and Prayer for the Sanctity of Life to Walsingham.
It can be accessed via YouTube on Walsingham Catholic TV (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0aJG5juz0) or at the Basilica live stream https://www.walsingham.org.uk/live-stream/
Devotions will be streamed throughout the day, beginning with the Mass at 12.00. Full details are available on the website, including the programme for the day: https://www.prolifepilgrimage.org/
Hope in the Future Prayer Cycle: September - November 2020
The Hope in the Future prayer cycle for September - November 2020 can be found in a word document format by clicking here. Please join us in praying for those around our diocese.