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)
“The Mass is the most perfect form of Prayer”—Pope Paul VI
Please click here for this week's Masses
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BEREAVEMENT MASS There will be a Mass, celebrated at St Mary’s church, at 7.00pm on Thursday 12th November at which the names of all who have died and have had their funeral in or through the Parish of The Good Samaritan in the last 12 months will be prayed for individually . A candle will be lit for each of the faithful departed by a member of the family (or a friend) who will be invited personally to come to the Mass. Light refreshments for all present will follow in the parish rooms. |
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WELL DONE! – YOUR POWER CHANGED THINGS ON ASSISTED SUICIDE The Newsletter, supported by Fr Theo’s excellent homily, asked you to write to your MP to vote against this legislation. You did and it worked! When the legislation started last year, Oliver Ryan voted in favour of its progress. He voted against on this last occasion and the bill has been defeated. Our letters contributed to him reviewing all the details of the legislation which ultimately led to his change of heart. Well Done Everybody! |
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VOLUNTEERING CAN BE REWARDING AND SAVE THIS VITAL SERVICE As Catholics we need to have access to Holy Mass, and so to feel part of a caring community. Our ability to do this through the streaming of Sunday Mass is at risk, as our current volunteers move on. The person to save the service could be you. So, we’re calling all age-groups: Students, Working-Age People, or Retirees. Everyone can learn to do this vital task even if you’re not very ‘computer savvy’. We can train you quickly and we’ll constantly help you to get and develop the skills which you would need. You would learn to set up and operate the kit to broadcast the Mass at 10.00am on Sundays. It may sound ‘too hard’ but those who do it now learnt in a few sessions and were competent. The team and written guidance then supported them along the way. So, yes, you could do it. As one of our team will be leaving to train for the priesthood and another is getting married and moving away we’re getting to the stage where we may not be able to continue the weekly broadcasts, so please think hard, and yes, it could be you. Please speak with Fr David or call Mike on 07563 998 334 to chat with no commitment. Try it once or twice with no commitment. Even with no IT skills, yes, it could be you. Please don’t let our friends who need you down, because yes, it could be you.
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PARISH STROLL Thanks to all who came along to the Parish Stroll last Sunday. A good number walked and talked in the sunshine with a little cloud floating by and the first drop of rain arrived just as the tea was brewing! A series of Parish 'strolls' and 'walks' will take place in the future sunshine with suggested dates available in the New Year |
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Free Firewood for collection from St Mary's Following some tree work on an unsafe tree at St Mary's , there is some firewood/logs suitable for a log burner available for collection. Please contact Andrew ( 07745491050) or Gunther (0777615530) for details and to arrange collection. |
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CAFOD NEWS – SEPTEMBER 2026 James ran for CAFOD – James successfully completed the Great North Run (GNR) last Sunday in a time of just under 2 hours. A big thank you goes to James for running the GNR half marathon for CAFOD and to everyone who sponsored his efforts. James and the CAFOD group will let you know a final sponsorship total in the coming weeks. CAFOD Harvest Family Fast Day - CAFOD's Harvest Family Fast Day is Friday 2 October. Our CAFOD group will give a short talk at all the Masses over next weekend, 26/27 September. Please donate to our parish collection. Put your faith into action and share the Lord’s love by supporting our global neighbours experiencing shortages of food and safe water. Your gift can support children like Tayla in Zimbabwe, who is featured in the Fast Day appeal, to stay in school by helping communities and schools provide nourishing meals, improve access to water and grow food in school gardens. Use the CAFOD envelope in church, donate online at cafod.org.uk/envelope or call 0303 303 3030.
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DID YOU KNOW? Did you know that Ferrero Rocher is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary? Michele Ferrero, who built the company, declared "The success of Ferrero we owe to Our Lady of Lourdes. Without her we can do little." He placed Virgin Mary statues in every single one of his production acilities worldwide and led annual pilgrims to the Shrine at Lourdes. ENJOY |
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GIFT AID ENVELOPES These are now available at the back of each church. At St Mary’s the Gift Aid boxes are labelled with your name. At Christ the King church please take a box of envelopes and look for the form inside the box, please complete form and return to the sacristy or please give to Mick Frazer or Tim McCarthy. Those who would like to start to gift aid, please also take a box , complete form inside and return to the appropriate sacristy. |
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HOLY COMMUNION AT HOME If you, or someone you know cannot get to Mass but would like to receive Holy Communion in their home, please ask their permission, then talk with Fr David to arrange things. |
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Pope Leo’s Intention for October For mental health ministry. Let us pray that the mental health ministry be established throughout the Church, helping to overcome the stigma and discrimination of persons with mental illnesses |
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ST MARY’S MEMORIAL CORNER Historic Photos: Peek into our community past with the new photo display at the back of church. Our record of our men who died in WWI has been transferred into a folder which is set out there. Lately Dead Memorial: There is a stand with Orders of Service of people who have recently had their Funeral at St Mary’s to enable your remembrance and to ask for your prayers. Older ones are filed aside. A Brief history and Short Guided Walk around the Church: The leaflet has been updated and is now available at the back of church, for your interest. |
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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THE GOOD SAMARITAN WHATSAPP GROUP Continues to go strong with many varied items shared and is an extra layer of communication. across the Parish. Recent items include prayer intentions and a link to a petition to keep the hospital shuttle bus. If you'd like to connect please contact Margaret P 07751 025178. And we ask our Whatsappers to share with any none-Whatsappers in a more traditional manner - over a cup of tea!! 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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FOREIGN CURRENCIES, PENNIES, MEDALS AND GOLD If you have any of these items please bring them to church and place them at a box at the back of each church. The parish has received over £500 from what has already been raised.. Thank you. |
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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’. |
CAFOD NEWS
VENEZUELA EARTHQUAKE APPEAL: UPDATE AND THANKS
Our CAFOD Group would like to thank parishioners for their generous donations to CAFOD's appeal. Cash donations of £290 have been passed to CAFOD and many parishioners will have donated online to the appeal.
Thank you for your continued generosity in these difficult times.
You can donate in the following ways:
1) via the CAFOD website at: https://cafod.org.uk/give/donate-to-emergencies/venezuelaearthquake-appeal OR
2) via phone by calling 0303 303 3030 (9.30am–5.30pm, M–F) OR
3) Make a cash donation in an envelope marked “CAFOD Venezuela Earthquake Appeal” and placing it the offertory collection.
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
Our next gathering for cards, a quiz, darts, table tennis, a cuppa and a chat will at Thursday from 1.30pm. to 3.30pm . Please join us for cards, table tennis, darts, a quiz, a cuppa and a biscuit and most importantly a chat. All are welcome.
PARISH BONUS BALLGAME—WINNERS!
PARISH BONUS BALL GAME— IMPORTANT UPDATE
Thanks to all who support the Bonus Ball game in each of the three churches, which will continue each week. Since changes to the National Lottery, we will use the first of the two draws as our source for our Bonus Ball.
So in the light of the above information, the winning Bonus ball number for Wednesday was number 39
Congratulations to last week’s winners who are as follows:
St John’s: ~ Veronica St Mary’s: ~ Donna Christ the King: ~ Rollover
Please collect your prizes from the appropriate presbytery
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.
KSC EVENTS AT NELSON KSC CLUB
There are some great events on the horizon, and everyone is warmly invited to come along and support the work of the Knights of St. Columba.
Inter-Parish Quiz Night Friday 24th July starting at 8.00pm.Current champions: Parish of the Good Samaritan. There will be FREE pie and peas for all participants.
British Heart Foundation Charity Afternoon on Sunday 26th July. Entertainment by vocalist Mike Lester. £3 admission. Have enjoyable afternoon while helping to raise funds for a very worthy cause.
“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
In today’s Gospel, Jesus, in addressing to the chief priests and elders his parable about the king’s banquet, was stating that the Chosen People are not responding to his teaching to build the kingdom and so it is offered to everyone who is prepared to listen and respond to it.
We have all been invited to this great banquet, but we must respond to such an invitation, and it requires a response through the way we live our daily lives. However, our lives are busy and preoccupied, so we can find lots of reasons for not making God a priority.
It is quite understandable when there are more immediate demands on our time. It is easy to push God back, convincing ourselves that we don’t need to worry about God and eternity and heaven until later.
The people in Gospel all had reasonable excuses not to come to the banquet, all good worthwhile things. However there does come a time when we do need to make the Lord number one priority and that should start now, not tomorrow.
We get a foretaste of the heavenly Banquet in the Mass; the finest food is the body of Jesus; the finest wine is the blood of Christ .
He is present to us, and this is a promise of eternal life. Holy Communion is the real presence of Jesus, so what greater gift can we possibly be invited to receive. We do need to respond however we can think of lots of good reasons why we don’t make the Lord and Sunday Mass a priority.
It’s only an hour out of our weekly lives, to give honour and thanks to God for all the blessings in the week. So, we give thanks for the love of God that extends to all.
May we respond each day by making nourishing our faith and our relationship with Our Lord a major priority in our lives, this we do through faithfulness to the Gospel, prayer and receiving the Lord in the Eucharist at Sunday Mass .
“Let us be glad and rejoice at his salvation”.
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.
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.