• Newsletter: Twenty First Sunday of Ordinary Time
  • Newsletter: Twenty First Sunday of Ordinary Time

Newsletter: Twenty First Sunday of Ordinary Time

23rd August 2026

Newsletter: Twenty First Sunday of Ordinary Time

23rd August 2026

16.30 No Confessions
17.30 VIGIL MASS

9.00 MASS
10.30 MASS (& Coffee)
12.00 Baptisms

10.00 Mass
10.30 Coffee Morning

10.00  Mass

10.00 Mass

10.00  Mass

16.30 No Confessions
17.30 VIGIL MASS

09.00 MASS
10.30 MASS (& Coffee)
12.00 Baptisms

MARY UPTON RIP

Mary sadly died on the 15th August 2026 aged 91. Mary was a former headteacher here at St. Mary’s and is remembered by many. Fr. Brady is a personal friend of Mary’s family through her daughter Andrea Letcher, the former headteacher of St. Monica’s, Prestwich. Fr. Brady will be presiding at Marys requiem on 2nd September at St. Thomas More, Alkrington.


UCM

The next UCM meeting will be Wednesday 26th August at 7.30pm.


THANK YOU

A sincere thank you from Fr. Franklin MSP for the generous donation of £461.10. Your kindness and support are greatly appreciated and will make a real difference. Thank you for your generosity.


SUMMER RAFFLE

Help alleviate poverty by buying raffle tickets that are on sale after every weekend Mass. £1 per ticket. Please see an SVP Rep for your ticket. The raffle will be drawn on 24th September 2026. SVP members, volunteers and staff provide friendship, practical help and daily support to people in need in your community. Every ticket you buy makes a difference, supporting the SVP’s work locally and nationwide. See poster on noticeboard.


SAFEGUARDING REMINDER

For the safety and wellbeing of all our children, we kindly ask that parents and carers accompany their child if they need to leave Mass for any reason (for example, to use the toilet). Please remember that the Church doors remain open during Mass, and therefore children should not leave the building unaccompanied. Thank you.


ST. MARY’S RC CEMETERY BANK HOLIDAY MASS

The annual Mass will take place on Monday 31st August at 11am at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Wardley. It will be held outside the Chapel and there will be limited seating.


A TALK ON THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FRANCISCAN PRAYER

Sr. Joan Kerley FSJ will be giving an online talk on the Characteristics of Franciscan Prayer on Thursday 17th September from 7pm. Please visit the diocesan website to register your place >


PARISH ADMINISTRATOR ROLE

The parish of Our Lady & St. Alphonsus, Moss Side are looking for a Parish Administrator to provide a broad range of support to the parish. To find out more about the role and how to apply, please visit the diocesan website – click here >


OFFICE HOURS

Office Closed

SERVICES TO SUPPORT LOCAL PEOPLE

Caritas Salford runs a wide range of community and outreach services to the people in our diocesan communities who are experiencing poverty, homelessness, isolation and discrimination. If you, or someone you know, might benefit from the support, you can find details on their website >


HELP END CHILD POVERTY IN OUR PARISHES

Child poverty is increasing in our area, with latest statistics from the government showing almost one in three children are growing up in poverty. Our diocesan charity Caritas Salford supports local families facing crisis and is asking us to join them in taking action to help. There are lots of different ways we can get involved. Visit > to find out more.


CATHOLIC HOLIDAYS IN THE LAKE DISTRICT THIS SUMMER

During August and September, Castlerigg Manor in Keswick is opening its doors to families, groups of friends, or private individuals who are looking for an affordable stay in the Lake District. Breakfast and evening meal are provided, and Mass is celebrated on site. For more information check out >or contact direct 01768 772711.


QUIET RETREATS FOR ADULTS THIS OCTOBER

During October half term, Castlerigg Manor is running a quiet retreat for individual adults who want to spend a few days of peace, relaxation and prayer in the Lake District. Each day there will be a talk, Mass and evening prayer, and then a lot of time to explore the Area, pray or just simply relax. Book at > or Contact >


CONFIRMATION

Confirmation will take place at St. Bernadette’s, Whitefield on Sunday 4th October at 2pm. Please see Fr. Brady for more information.


QUOTE OF THE WEEK

‘You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it’
Matthew 16:18

STAY WITH US, LORD, ON OUR JOURNEY

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL

At last Peter recognizes that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ.

At last he realizes that in Jesus he can see the action of God made visible.

The disciples followed Jesus as soon as he called, but for a long time they were puzzled about what to make of him, of his wonderful teaching and his godlike personality.

Now comes a shaft of light and understanding.

We too often take some time to appreciate the true worth of someone we know well: a little gesture can sometimes reveal just how generous and thoughtful they are.

Peter suddenly grasps that here is the Son of God, acting among them, a daunting or even terrifying thought.

Jesus replies to Peter’s recognition with his own generosity, giving him a new name, ‘Rock’, for this is what ‘Peter’ means.

If you name something, you make it your own, take it to yourself. This is just what Jesus does with Simon who becomes his own Peter, his own ‘Rock’.

That is the importance of the naming of a child at Baptism: Jesus takes us to himself and we become his.

The early Christians called themselves ‘Those over whom the name of Jesus has been called’.

We may have been named Mary or John, but the name of Jesus has been called over us and we have become his.

BAPTISMS Please see Fr. Brady after Mass if you would like to have your child baptised, where all enquiries will be dealt with in person. Fr Brady much prefers this rather than an email. Thank you. A baptismal certificate for one of the parents must be provided as evidence of baptism in a Roman Catholic Church. Fr. Brady is available after weekend Mass on Saturday at 5.30pm, Sunday at 9.00am or 10.30am, all of which fulfil the Sunday obligation. All Catholics are OBLIGED to celebrate Mass EVERY Sunday.

BAPTISM CERTIFICATE COPIES REQUESTS For those requesting copies of baptism certificate the office can be contacted initially and the certificate can be collected at any of the weekend Masses. This is also to encourage people to come to Mass.

SICK AND HOUSEBOUND If you know of anybody who would like Fr Brady to visit, could you please give him their name and address with postcode and a contact telephone number. Thank you.

MASS INTENTIONS, OUR LADY’S LAMP AND THE SANCTUARY LAMP  The practice of requesting a Mass to be offered for loved ones, living or deceased, is a beautiful and wonderful part of our Catholic Tradition. Continuing this long-standing practice, you can remember someone who has died recently or many years ago. The Mass can also make beautiful gifts for any special occasion: birthdays, anniversaries, in thanksgiving for a prayer answered etc. You can offer an intention for anybody who is struggling with a serious illness or other difficulties of life. There are Mass Intention Envelopes provided on the table in the Atrium. (Please ensure that you have the express consent of the sick or housebound person as the bulletin is posted on the parish website, therefore making that information available to the public at large. Please provide a contact number with Mass Intentions so that any discrepancies can be resolved. Our Lady’s Lamp and Sanctuary Lamp are £5.00 and burn for seven days. Please place any intentions in an envelope with your donation and give to Father Brady or place in the Mass offering Box in the Atrium. All newsletter items must be sent in by Thursday morning.

MASSES AND PRAYERS RECEIVED THIS WEEK

Lately Dead
Ray Frost, Patricia Sitzia, John James Quarrell, Jackie Linacre, Mary Upton.


Birthday Memories
Mary Baptiste.


Anniversary
Margaret Rogers, Thomas Nally.


Sick
Andy Watson, Francis Loughran, Noel Moore, Paul Moore, Clive Dovey, Margaret Harkins, Sharon Doyle.


Other
Holy Souls (throughout August), In Thanksgiving for 60 Years of Marriage of Frank & Sheila Hudson.

This week, the Sanctuary Lamp burns for:

The Wedding Anniversary of Judith & John Nuttall.

This week, Our Lady’s Lamp burns for:

Amanda Sherman, William Sherman, Antonio Vacca, For the Health of Eloisa Rojas, Carlos Bogarin, Bernadette Semple.

The Vatican

Please click on the red ‘Play’ button to watch Vatican Media Live.

Lourdes TV

Please click on the red ‘Play’ button to watch Lourdes TV.