Welcome to the Church of
St Mary of the Assumption
Burnley
Address: St Mary's Presbytery, 3 Todmorden Rd, Burnley, BB10 4AU
Tel no. 01282 422 007
Church entrance on Yorkshire Street, just around the corner from Todmorden Road.
St Mary's Parish Safeguarding Representatives:
Carole Biddulph 07944 407 765
Diane Orrel 07497 519 153
(please note, these numbers are only for Safeguarding issues)
If for some reason you're unable to get through, in an emergency contact police or Social Services
On this Page:
Masses | Other Notices | Knights of St Columba | Christmas Masses
Christmas Celebrations | Reasons to Be Cheerful |Live Streaming
Prayers and Reflections | Foodbank | CAFOD Updates
Other Pages in this section:
Introduction | Mass & Confession Times | Where to Find Us | Virtual Tour of St Mary's
Sister Churches - Links | A Walk Around St Mary's | St Mary's Groups
St Mary's Photo Album | St Mary's History
Our Local Primary School (opens in a separate window)
MASSES AND OTHER SERVICES: MONDAY 20 th JANUARY 2025 TO SUNDAY 26 th JANUARY 2025
There will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament starting 30 minutes before each weekday Mass, Monday to Friday (Except before Funerals)
Please note the changes this week.
Monday St Sebastian
9.30 am St. Mary’s
Tuesday St Agnes
9.30am St John’s NB: One Mass only today
Wednesday St Vincent
9.30am Christ the King NB: One Mass only today
Thursday Weekday
9.30am St Mary’s NB: One Mass only today
Friday St Francis de Sales
9.15 am Mass at St John’s School
12.00 noon St. Mary’s preceded by Exposition and Reconciliation 11.30 to 11.55am
Saturday Conversion of St Paul
9.30am St Mary’s, followed by Reconciliation with Exposition: 10.30 to 11.30am
Vigil Masses:
6.00pm St John’s preceded at 5.15pm until 5.55pm with Reconciliation and Exposition
6.30pm St Mary’s
Sunday Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Christ the King: 9.15am and 5.00pm
St Mary’s: 10.00am (This Mass will be live-streamed on the parish website*).
St John’s: 10.45am
(*A recording of the Mass will be available later from Sunday afternoon)
Stay with us Lord on our journey
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The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth. St Teresa of Kolkata |
“The Mass is the most perfect form of Prayer”—Pope Paul VI
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New Year Message On behalf of Fr David, Fr Job and Theo we wish all our parishioners and your loved ones a peaceful and healthy New Year. We thank you for all your gifts, cards, love and support throughout the year. |
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A Prayer for the New Year May God make our New Year a happy one, by strengthening us to bear it as it comes; by making us patient to travel any path; by taking fear from our heart; by keeping our face bright, even in the shadows; by showing us when people need us most, and by making us willing to be there to help. We pray for God's love, peace, hope, and joy to us for the year ahead. Amen. |
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DEACON THEO If anyone would like to invite Deacon Theo to carry out a blessing of their home please arrange a convenient time by getting in touch with him on 01282 422007 or by emailing him on |
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PARISH MASS OF THANKSGIVING We are very grateful to all who have a role or a ministry in the parish for whose generosity we gave thanks to the Lord at the Parish Mass on Thanksgiving at St Mary’s on Saturday 18th January. |
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CARITAS SUNDAY—NEXT WEEKEND 25/26TH JANUARY Next weekend, 25/26th January, celebrates the work of Caritas Salford, the principal domestic charity in our diocese. Last year the parish of the Good Samaritan raised the wonderful total of £1010.44 to help support those experiencing poverty, homelessness, and disadvantage. Copies of the newsletter ' Love in Action', outlining just some of the difference your generous contributions helped make possible in the past year, will be available at the back of our three churches. To support the Caritas Sunday Appeal again this year, there will be a retiring collection after all the masses next weekend. Please visit the website: caritassalford.org.uk/YourSupportMatters for more information, and where you can make further contributions, either as a one-off donation, or to set up a direction debit. Thank you for all your support. |
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PARISH SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMME 2025 Following the Information meeting which took place on Thursday 16th January, the families of the. children eligible to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion are now having their “one to one appointments” with the catechists and priests of the parish. . If you have any questions please contact Fr David |
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"Beautiful Christmas Gifts" Whilst all gifts are appreciated but some come in multiples, or perhaps the wrong colour, or maybe they are just too small.....! There is a box at the back of St John’s where such gifts can be donated and then will be used for future Parish fund raising. All gifts are welcome and "Thanks".
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OLD MOBILE PHONES WANTED—FINAL CALL Father Emmanuel, who was a priest at St John’s a few years ago, is asking for mobile phones (even if not in working condition) for a charity in Nigeria. There will be a box in three churches where they can be left. The collection will end on Sunday 26th—next Sunday! |
CHURCH STEWARDS
Huge thanks to our stewards who make attendance at church possible as we continue to work at remaining safe whilst in church. Please call Fr David if you would like to join this invaluable team.
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POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER INTENTION JANUARY 2025 For the Right to an Education For the right to an education. Let us pray for migrants, refugees and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected. Lord make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me bring love. Where there is offence, let me bring pardon, Where there is discord let me bring union. Where there is error let me bring truth, Where is doubt, let me bring hope. Where there is darkness let me bring your light. Where there is sadness, let me bring joy
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DIOCESAN SYNOD NEWS - PARISH MEETINGS Sincere thanks to those who came to the last of the four themed sessions. We are now in the process of sending to the Diocesan Synod office our suggestions for each of the four themed sessions. |
| Father, I am choosing to rest in you and to allow your peace to calm me in my difficulties, and to strengthen me with the courage to face the challenges with your Spirit by my side. |
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KSC QUIZ NIGHT KSC QUIZ NIGHT AT ST MARY’S PARISH ROOMS The weekly KSC quiz resumes this Monday, 20 th January, at 8pm. Returning and new quizzers are most welcome. £2 entry including tea/coffee and biscuits.
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FRANK KEAN RIP Helena, Brenda, Martyn, the family of Frank Kean RIP have been in touch to express their thanks to everyone involved in giving their beloved Frank a wonderful send off, with his funeral Mass at St Mary’s. They are very grateful to the Knights of St Columba, the choir, organist, stewards, readers, sacristan, priest and everyone who supported them with their presence and involvement |
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175TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST MARY’S OPENING On 2nd August 1849 St Mary’s was opened by Bishop Brown, and a week of celebrations followed. We celebrate this septaquintaquinquecentennial anniversary(!!). We pray for the continued work within The Good Samaritan parish and all parishes to which it is ‘Mother Church’. |
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SVP PARISH NEWS The SVP, Good Samaritan Conference, are overwhelmed with the response from the art sale in St Mary’s Parish Rooms on July 13th. The total sales amounted to over £1.000 and are a welcome boost to our funds. As always we will use the money wisely for the work that we do in and around the parish. A big thank you to all who helped to make it a memorable day, from the cake bakers to the tea makers and the washer uppers but most of all to the very talented artist, for donating their amazing art work and to their family for their support in helping him put the exhibition together. You are all stars. God bless. |
CAFOD NEWS DECEMBER 2024
CAFOD has produced a series of prayers for Advent.
Please join in with CAFOD's prayers of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace as we journey through Advent. The theme for the first Sunday of Advent is Hope: Come, Lord, bringer of hope. We stay awake, watch and wait, for we do not know the hour or the day of your arrival. Create in us a desire for a world transformed to reflect your glory. Lead us in your ways, as together we make a change, to dispel the darkness of poverty
TUESDAY CLUB AT ST MARY’S
The Tuesday club meets every Tuesday from 1pm to 3.30pm in the Parish Rooms at St Mary’s. We have games of Bingo, refreshments and a good “catch up” with friends. All are welcome from across the parish. For more information please contact Marie tel 07427770970.
MONDAY MORNING MASS AT ST. MARY’S
Tea and toast will be served in the parish rooms after 9.30am Mass on Mondays.
This will be organised by the Legion of Mary who will commence their weekly meeting at 10.30am in the Newman Room. All are welcome.
SOCIAL GROUP AT ST. MARY’S
PARISH BONUS BALLGAME—WINNERS!
Thanks to all who have supported the bonus Ball game and it will continue each week.
The winning Bonus ball number for Wednesday 15 th January was number 20
Congratulations to last week’s winners who are as follows:
St John’s ~ Charlie St Mary’s ~ Theresa Christ the King ~Patricia
Please claim your prize from the appropriate sacristy.
BURSARIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO “ HELP YOU TO HELP OTHERS”
The Catenian Association offers financial support to young Catholics (aged 16—24) who are involved in development projects which help less fortunate people, (including Diocesan and HCPT Pilgrimages). For more information go to catenianbursary.com
ST JOHN THE BAPTIST MEMORIAL CORNER
Take a look at the two very interesting volumes of information regarding all those named on the war memorial at Saint John’s. They can be found in the memorial corner.
They have been compiled by one of our parishioners Linda. Her extensive work has involved studying a number of Internet sites, such as ancestry.com, the Commonwealth War Graves, British newspaper collection at findmypast and many more.
We thank Linda for her, thoroughly detailed research.
COST OF LIVING SUPPORT
This is a grocery targeted for those people who are having difficulties with the cost of living crisis. You pay a registration fee of £5 for the year, and can then shop weekly (or more often if need be) for £4 per visit — the usual ‘shop’ is equal to about £20/£30 in any other supermarket.
The two shops are 1) in the shopping centre square above New Look, and 2) Valley St near the cemetery. They’re open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm. Just drop in, see and buy!
The people of the parish have given donations and goods, through and in addition to the excellent work of Blessed Trinity College, who have raised over £14,000 since they started.
You are asked to continue to put food into the collection point in many supermarkets, as well as using the Blessed Trinity site for financial donations at https://tinyurl.com/ BlessedTrinityJustGiving. St John’s will continue to accept money gifts, in an envelope clearly marked dropped into the presbytery letterbox.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PARISH BY STANDING ORDER
You can make your contributions to the parish online by Standing Order; Please contact your bank and inform them that payment should now be made as follows:
Name: The Salford Diocesan Trust : The Good Samaritan Parish
Sort Code: 205558
Account number: 50404640.
Many thanks.
KNIGHTS OF ST. COLUMBA CONTINUE THEIR WORK
Although the KSC 100 Club has closed the work of the Knights goes on. They are a group of laymen dedicated to support the missions of the Catholic Church, while also putting a strong emphasis on Faith, Family and Fraternity. The KSC have raise tens of thousands of pounds for Pro-Life charities, Hospices and support our own communities, such as raising money to help social events and the youth in their spiritual growth. We welcome new members who will join in our work. Any further question please email Tom Wilkinson:
THANKS FROM THE KSC AND THE CATENIANS
On behalf of Burnley Knights of St. Columba and Catenians, I'd like to thank everyone who helped in any way with the Right to Life Walk on Sunday 27th May. Thanks especially to Father David for leading the walkers and to Tricia and Maureen for the catering. Thanks too, to everyone who walked so enthusiastically. The total raised is £2,011.50, a great effort by all.
We hope to see many more participate next year, please put May 26th in your diary!
“I used to have an open mind, but my brain kept falling out!”
Here’s one of the Quotes sent from a parishioner on the website. There are many more—and Quips!
Have a laugh! Enjoy the wisdom! Send us one of your own favourites!
We’re all deeply into our new way of life and most of us we need to look for the silver linings. Till things go back to normal, let’s try to cheer each other up. Parishioner Tony Waters, who many of you may know from St Mary’s, has contacted us with a brilliant idea. In the current climate, why not have a series of items on reasons to be cheerful?…we reckon that anything that lightens up some of the doom & gloom has got to be good! We’ll publish them on the website, and in the Newsletter when space allows.
Email us with your suggestions to
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- So much unseasonal sunshine
- People smiling because you are deliberately avoiding them
- The fresh green of the springtime trees
- Young families out together for their walk
- Unexpected meetings and chats
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Join the fun—share the joy! Tell us your Reasons to be Cheerful! 😃
Video Recording Of Sunday Mass For The Parish
Like last week, we will be again uploading onto the parish web site a video recording of this Sunday’s Mass from St Mary’s
This should be available from late morning/early afternoon on Sunday. Thanks to all those who have helped to make this possible:
Video Recording: http://goodsamaritanparish.org.uk/index.php/view mass
Other Live-streamed Masses
The National Shrine in Walsingham; www.walsingham.org.uk
The Good Shepherd parish in Colne; www.goodshepherdpendle.org.uk.
You can also find the Readings for Mass each day on www.universalis.com
It is also possible that these streams will offer the Triduum services. The latter will coincide with our parish worship (if you see this Newsletter before the weekend is over).
FR DAVID’S REFLECTION
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer Intentions in Ordinary Time
● A deeper understanding between Christians and Jews
● Those who suffer persecution oppression and denial of human rights
● Europe
● Seafarers
MESSAGE FROM POPE FRANCIS ABOUT RECONCILIATION
These words from the Holy Father should help us while the Sacrament is not currently available:
“Do what the catechism says. It’s very clear. If you don’t find a priest to go to confession, speak to God. He’s your Father. Tell Him the truth: ‘Lord. I did this and this and this. Pardon me.’ Ask His forgiveness with all your heart with an act of contrition, and promise Him, ‘afterwards I will go to confession.’ “You will return to God’s grace immediately. You yourself can draw near, as the Catechism teaches us to God’s forgiveness, without having a priest at hand.”
“The greatest miracle accomplished by Jesus for Simon and the other disappointed and tired fishermen, is not so much the nets filled with fish, but to have helped them to not fall victim to disappointment and discouragement in the face of setbacks. He opened the way for them to become heralds and witnesses of His word and of the Kingdom of God”.
COMMUNITY GROCERY
This is a grocery targeted for those people who are having difficulties in the cost of living crisis. You pay a registration fee of £5 for the year, and can then shop weekly (or more often if need be) for £4 per visit — the usual ‘shop’ is equal to about £20/ £30 in any other supermarket. The two shops are 1) in the shopping centre square above New Look, and 2) Valley St near the cemetery. They’re open Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm. Just drop in, see and buy!
The people of the parish have given donations and goods, through and in addition to the excellent work of Blessed Trinity College, who have raised over £14,000 since they started.
You are asked to continue to put food into the collection point in many supermarkets, as well as using the Blessed Trinity site for financial donations at https://tinyurl.com/BlessedTrinityJustGiving.
St John’s will continue to accept money gifts, in an envelope clearly marked dropped into the presbytery letterbox. Thank you all.
CAFOD NEWS
Campaigns Update – Pope Francis has announced he will be attending the global UN climate conference COP28 in Dubai this month. He’s called for political leaders at the COP28 talks to prevent the climate crisis from causing even greater tragedies for communities that have contributed least to causing it. We can support his message by asking our MP to act on the Pope’s call. To take part just follow the link: https://action.cafod.org.uk/page/137965/action/1
CAFOD’s World Gifts – Christmas is fast approaching, but don’t worry CAFOD have the best unusual presents for your friends and family that can make a real difference to people living in poverty. World Gifts are CAFOD range of gifts that help those families in most need across the world. For each gift you buy this Christmas, you will receive a beautiful gift card to pass on to your loved one. For the latest selection visit the CAFOD website or pick up a brochure at the back of our three parish churches: https://worldgifts.cafod.org.uk/
The present church building dates back to 1849, but its history dates back far beyond, to the days when the Catholic Church was persecuted in England, to secret masses at Towneley Hall and the time of priest holes.
There eventually came a time towards the end of the 18th Century when Catholics were tolerated and in the early 19th century a chapel was built at Burnley Wood, which became the direct predecessor of today's St Mary of the Assumption church.
During the 19th and into the 20th Centuries the parish grew, and nowadays St Mary's is a lively and outgoing parish with lots going on - see our Parish Groups page.
Saturday Vigil 6:30pm
Sunday Mass10:00
For other Masses, please see the Latest Newsletter
Mon - Weds - Fri: 12:00 - 12:30
Saturday Morning: 10:00 - 11:30am
St Mary of the Assumption, Burnley.
Entrance on Yorkshire Street, just around the corner from Todmorden Road.
Take a virtual tour of St Mary's church by clicking here.
With thanks to the former St Mary's Gem Church website (now defunct)
A Walk Around St Mary's (opens in separate page)
Church History in Outline, including former Parish Priests (opens in separate page)
A Short History of St Mary's, Burnley -
a comprehensive booklet by Margaret Durkin, BA, to mark the church's first centenary in 1949
(opens in separate page)
NEW! Added 26th Aug 2019 -
Silent Film of Canon Morrissey's Funeral, 1903
A Mitchell and Kenyon Film - when the page opens, click on the "Watch for Free" button - fascinating!
Parish War Dead (opens in separate page)
Links to our sister Churches in the Burnley Catholic Community:
Magnifying glass original (amended here) by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay. With thanks.