OUR PARISH AND SCHOOL LINKS
Our Parish
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception was founded in the mid 1850's and is part of the R.C. Diocese of Salford. The Church was blessed and opened in 1858, the year of the apparitions of Our Lady at Lourdes. The Church was re-ordered in the 1990's and several new stained-glass windows were installed, some made in Blackrod, and are an interesting feature of the Church.
Holy Family Parish, New Springs, was funded from Our Lady's in 1898 and in 2009 celebrated the Golden Jubilee of its Church. The community of Blackrod, Bolton, had a chapel-of-ease from 1960 to 2009 when St. Andrews Church Hall was closed.
All three areas - Haigh & Aspull, Blackrod and New Springs are now served from Our Lady's.
Our Parish Priest
Rev Kevin Foulkes
48 Haigh Road
Aspull
Wigan
WN2 1YA
01942 516732
Mass Times
Saturday 6pm Our Lady's
Sunday 9:30am Our Lady's
Sunday 11:15am Holy Family
Monday 9:15am Our Lady's
Tuesday 9:15am Holy Family
Wednesday 9:15am Our Lady's
Thursday 9:15am Holy Family
Friday 9:15am Our Lady's
Saturday 11am Our Lady's
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday 11:30-12 noon Our Lady's
As announced Holy Family.
Take a look at how we share our faith at home.
Prayer bags
The GIFT team has been busy creating special prayer bags for our school community. These bags are filled with items to help families pray together at home, bringing faith into our everyday lives.
By taking time to pray with our families, we grow closer to God and to each other. As Jesus said,
'For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.' (Matthew 18:20)
Let’s remember to make space for prayer in our homes and hearts!
Moderation
We were delighted to be joined by staff from Our Lady's Primary School for a joint moderation session of our RE and English books. This collaborative opportunity allowed us to quality assure assessments, ensure consistency in standards, and share best practice across both schools. Through thoughtful discussion and reflection, we strengthened our professional understanding and commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. Inspired by Proverbs 27:17,
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another,”
the session highlighted the value of working together in faith and unity for the benefit of all our pupils.
Jubilee 2025
The Holy Father has proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee Year, a sacred time of renewal, reflection, and grace celebrated every 25 years. With the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” this Jubilee invites all Catholics to embark on a journey of faith and transformation.
Declared by Pope Francis, this Holy Year is a time of spiritual renewal, reconciliation, and unity, encouraging Catholics to journey together. Catholic schools are invited to take part in this global event by engaging in service, reflection, and community celebrations, helping students grow in faith and live out the message of hope in their daily lives.
Join us as we step forward together—united as Pilgrims of Hope.
“Let us help each other discover this encounter with Christ who gives us life, and let us set out on a journey as pilgrims of hope to celebrate that life.” - Pope Francis
Crowning of Our Lady
The children celebrated the crowning of Our Lady through a beautiful act of collective worship. Together, they led a reverent prayer parade in honour of Mary, carrying flowers and offering prayers of love and devotion. At the heart of the celebration, they crowned a statue of Mary with flowers, symbolising her queenship and purity.
Inspired by Luke 1:28,
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you,”
the children reflected on Mary’s role in God's plan.
To share their joy and compassion with others, they later donated the flowers to a local care home, spreading the spirit of love and kindness beyond the school community.
Pope Francis Prayer Book
The GIFT Team began a special book of prayers in memory of the late Pope Francis, inviting children and staff to contribute their thoughts, prayers, and reflections in thanksgiving for his life and service. This heartfelt tribute allowed the school community to come together in faith, showing love and respect for a shepherd who inspired many. As they prayed for his eternal rest, they were guided by the words of 2 Timothy 4:7,
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
The book stands as a lasting reminder of Pope Francis’s dedication to peace, humility, and compassion.
Easter Mass
The children in Year 4/5 supported Father Kevin in leading the Easter Mass with great reverence and enthusiasm. They took part in readings, prayers, and hymns, helping to guide the congregation through the joyful celebration of the Resurrection. Meanwhile, the children in Year 2 confidently role-played the Last Supper, bringing the Gospel to life through their thoughtful performance. As they shared bread and wine in the reenactment, they reflected on Jesus’ words from Luke 22:19,
“Do this in remembrance of me.”
Their involvement deepened everyone’s understanding of the Easter story and the love Jesus showed through His sacrifice.
World Book Day
Our Caritas Ambassadors worked closely with our Laudato Si team to arrange for a book swap using pre-loved books from our school community for World Book Day.
"When we feel empty inside, we might think that buying lots of things will make us happy. But real happiness comes from love, sharing, and caring for others—not from having more stuff."
Pope Francis
The big litter pick
The Laudato Si team supported the school by organising a big litter pick around the school grounds and in the local community. Their efforts helped raise important awareness about litter and recycling, encouraging our younger pupils to make cleaner, greener choices every day. By working together to care for our environment, they showed how small actions can make a big difference. As the Bible reminds us,
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1)
Let’s continue to protect and cherish our world!
Stations of the Cross
The children took part in a reflective prayer trail for the Stations of the Cross, journeying through each moment of Jesus’ final hours with quiet reverence. At each station, they paused to pray, reflect, and consider the meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice, deepening their understanding of His love and courage. As they walked the path, they were reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:24,
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
The prayer trail offered a powerful opportunity for the children to grow in faith and walk spiritually with Jesus.
Stay and Pray
We really value our close relationships with our parishioners. Our amazing GIFT team regulaly hold Stay and Pray sessions for them. Pictured, is a lovely heart warming Mary, Mother of Jesus, themed Stay and Pray session. The children gifted daffodils and we all stayed for a chat with a biscuit afterwards.
'I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure.'
Psalm 119:162
Ash Wednesday
Father Kevin led a solemn and meaningful Ash Wednesday Mass in the school hall, marking the beginning of Lent. The children participated reverently, listening to the Gospel and joining in prayer and reflection. Each child received an ash cross on their forehead, a symbol of repentance and a reminder to turn their hearts back to God. As the ashes were placed, Father Kevin said,
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19),
reminding the children of the importance of humility, prayer, and renewal during the Lenten season.
The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
The GIFT team held a beautiful Celebration of the Word for the Blessed Sacrament, creating a sacred space for the school and wider school community to come together in prayer and reflection. The service was filled with reverence, silence, and heartfelt participation, drawing everyone closer to the presence of Christ. As they gathered before the Blessed Sacrament, the words of John 6:35 guided their worship:
“I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
It was a powerful moment of unity and spiritual nourishment for all.
Care home singing
Pupils from our school choir visited a local care home to share the joy and spirit of Christmas through song and kindness. Their voices lifted hearts and brought comfort to residents, reminding all of the true meaning of the season. As Scripture tells us,
“Let your light shine before others” (Matthew 5:16),
and our pupils did just that—spreading light, hope, and love through their music and presence.
Nativity
The children in Key Stage 1 at the Catholic school performed a heartwarming Nativity play, bringing the story of Jesus’ birth to life with joy and reverence. Dressed as Mary, Joseph, angels, shepherds, and wise men, the children retold the sacred story with songs, smiles, and simple yet powerful words. The performance beautifully reflected the spirit of Christmas, reminding all present of the true meaning of the season. As it is written in Luke 2:11,
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
The play served as a touching reminder of God's gift to the world through His Son.
Rememberance Day
Our Peacemakers played a thoughtful and respectful role in supporting Remembrance Day. They helped by selling poppies, creating a beautiful Remembrance Tree filled with names and memories of family members from our school community who bravely served in the war. To help everyone understand the importance of this day, they also led a special assembly to raise awareness and encourage reflection. Through their actions, they reminded us all of the importance of peace, gratitude, and remembrance. As we reflect, we remember the words:
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
(John 15:13)
World Mental Health Day
For World Mental Health Day, our Peacemakers organised a thoughtful ‘Tea and Talk’ session to help raise awareness about the importance of looking after our mental health. Classes were encouraged to wear yellow as a symbol of hope and positivity, and enjoyed some quiet time together, sharing cakes and having kind, supportive conversations. It was a lovely way to remind everyone that it's okay to talk and that we all need to care for our minds as well as our hearts. As the Bible reminds us,
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
(1 Peter 5:7)
