Epiphany
We gathered for Mass to celebrate the Epiphany. Father Gavin blessed some chalk and explained how to bless our doors using the blessed chalk. We came back to school and used the chalk to bless our classroom doors. Thanks be to God.
Pilgrims of Hope - Schoenstatt Shrine
To celebrate Saint Oswald's Feast Day our parish family went on a day of pilgrimage to one of the Jubilee Pilgrims of Hope designated Churches - the Schoenstatt Shrine in Kearsley. Parishioners, staff and governors travelled over to the shrine to celebrate the Feast Day and the year of the Jubilee together as a family.
We had a special talk and service in the shrine; prayed in the beautiful grounds; and then came together, after cake and coffee, to pray the Rosary. All who attended were given a shrine bag to take home so they could recreate the shrine in their own homes; an extra blessed shrine bag was given to us so that we could also create a shrine in school. It was a very special day.
Pilgrims of Hope - Trip to Durham SSAO and St Joseph's
Our Parish family headed out over the bank holiday weekend on a pilgrimage to Ushaw College, Holy Island and Durham Cathedral. Parishioners, staff and governors were invited to spend a few days together - to stay at Ushaw College and visit Holy Island and Durham Cathedral. It was a weekend of reflection, prayer and laughter - a perfect way to continue on our Pilgrims of Hope journey.
Prayer of Saint Aidan:
Leave me alone with God as much as may be.
As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore,
Make me an island, set apart,
Alone with you, God holy to you.
Then with the turning of the tide
Prepare me to carry your presence to the busy world beyond,
The world that rushes in on me
Till the waters come again and fold me back to you.
Travelling Nativity
Father Gavin had a travelling Nativity made for our schools. Children in Year 3, who are about to begin their sacramental programme, were randomly chosen to be able to take the travelling nativity home - we made a display in church of the photos of the nativity at the children's houses so the parishioners could see where it had travelled to. The Nativity spent the first ten days with the SSAO families and then travelled over to St Joseph's to continue its journey.
Year 3: Mass
Year 3 helped Father Gavin lead Mass on the 9th November. They wrote a beautiful welcome message related to the importance of remembrance day. We began with the last post and had a 2 minutes silence. The children shared the readings and helped Father with the homily. After communion they sang beautifully for our church family. It was a truly beautiful Mass. Well done Year 3.
Year 4: Mass - Let us grow in faith, even when it feels as small as a mustard seed...
Year 4 did an AMAZING job leading Mass with Father Gavin on the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time. They explained how the readings were going to reaffirm our understanding of faith, trust and humble service. During his homily, Father Gavin asked the children to reflect and debate about the order of: belong, believe and behave. In the end the order was agreed: belong - first I belong to my family and my church family; believe - they help me know what to believe by taking me to church so I can listen to the Word of God and have time building a strong relationship with God; behave - my belonging and believing helps guide me to behave in a way that shows I am a child of God. The children read and sang beautifully; the church was full and many people came over to say well done and comment on how fantastic the children were, so proud.
God helps us have a special place at the heart of our community.
Bishop John's Blessings
Bishop John came to our parish to bless the Celtic cross and the gardens; Casey's, volunteers from the Diocese and The Stewards of Creation Team, have helped to create a truly beautiful outdoor space for our parishioners and community to enjoy. As you enter out church you are now greeted with a blooming array of bright, vibrant colorful flowers and plants.
The choir were invited to the blessing and as part of the service they sang after the Bishop had done his blessing; we were also privileged enough to have Cllr Brian Hobin, Deputy Mayor of Oldham attend the blessing too.
Mass with Father Gavin led by Year 5
Year 5 led a beautiful Mass with Father Gavin today. The scriptures were rooted in peace and the children collectively worked to create some bidding prayers to share with the parishioners, with this theme entwined within the prayers. They chose hymns that continued to spread the message of peace and came together to sing: 'Lord I Need You' after communion. Our Year 5s also welcomed the parishioners and were responsible for the offertory and the collection.
Father Gavin wowed the children in his homily, with his amazing 'miracle' using water, which he stained with sins (that the children shared), and then he used his cross to show how Jesus washes our sins away and makes us new, when we love Him and live by His word.
Our parish family left Mass with hearts full of peace and a thoughtful reminder that we are called to be peacemakers and do all we do, with Jesus' love in our heart and minds.
‘Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream." Isaiah
"And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God." Galatians
Sunday Mass led by Year 4
"We are called to serve"
Father Gavin invited Year 4 to plan and lead Sunday Mass with him.
The children, who were able to attend, chose the role they would like during the Mass and participated and assisted Father throughout the whole service by: meeting and greeting; sharing the readings; helping with symbolise in the homily; sharing the bidding prayers they had wrote together, taking the collection baskets round, taking the offertory and singing their hearts out.
After communion they blew the parishioners away with our signature song : Lord I need you.
The Mass was beautiful and the parishioners loved having the children lead the Mass and commented on their amazing singing and how heartfelt their readings and prayers were.
Parish Newsletters 2026-27
Please select from the newsletters below.
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26th Sunday OT Newsletter | [pdf 1000KB] |
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25th Sunday OT Newsletter | [pdf 934KB] |
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24th Sunday OT Newsletter | [pdf 432KB] |
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23rd Sunday OT Newsletter | [pdf 1MB] |
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