| The month of December is dedicated to The Immaculate Conception | ||
|---|---|---|
| THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – 14 December 2025 | ||
| Saturday 13 December | ||
| St Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Maureen & Michael Cheston RIP |
| St Columba’s | 6.30pm | John Black Birthday Anniv |
| Sunday 14 December – Third Sunday of Advent | ||
| St Theresa’s | 9.30am | Collette Smith’s Ints |
| St Columba’s | 11.00am | Ian & Joan Bullough RIP |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
| Monday 15 December | ||
| St Theresa’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St Columba’s | 10.30am | Parishioners’ Intentions |
| Tuesday 16 December | ||
| St Theresa’s | 7.00pm | Penitential Service |
| St Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| Wednesday 17 December | ||
| St Theresa’s | Milton, Luciana, Catarina | |
| St Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | |
| 10.30am | Milton, Luciana & Catarina | |
| Thursday 18 December | ||
| St Theresa’s | 1.30pm | School Mass Children & Staff at St Theresa’s |
| St Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | |
| Friday 19 December | ||
| St Theresa’s | 10.00am | |
| 6.30pm | Sarah Russell RIP Parish Carol Service |
|
| St Columba’s | The Parish | |
| Saturday 20 December | ||
| St Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Maureen & Michael Cheston RIP |
| St Columba’s | 6.30pm | Bob Breen RIP |
| Sunday 21 December – Fourth Sunday of Advent | ||
| St Theresa’s | 9.30am | Frank Lally & Ruth O’Donnell RIP |
| St Columba’s | 11.00am | Parishioners’ Intentions |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES – A leaflet containing all Mass times is available in the porches of each church. It is also on the website under Our Parish > Mass times.
PENITENTIAL SERVICE – This is being held at St Theresa’s on Tuesday 16 December at 7pm. All welcome.
CONFESSIONS – After each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
Saturdays: St Columba’s 6.00 – 6.25pm, St Theresa’s 4.30 – 4.55pm
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS & FUNERALS – Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS for December – for Christians in areas of conflict. Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation, and hope.
RECENTLY DECEASED – Please remember in your prayers, Michael Hayden & Roger John Warburton, who died recently, and also their familes and friends.
ANNIVERSARIES – Joe Blundell, Fr Vincent O’Toole, Catherine (Kitty) McAlinden, Margaret Rose Allmark, Ruth O’Donnell & Francis Joseph Lally.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY – The Children’s Liturgy normally happens at the 11am service at St Columba’s on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. See the parish website under the Family tab.
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS – Mass will be streamed at St Columba’s on Sunday 14 December at 11.00am.
PARISH OFFERTORY – Loose Plate: £424.74; Planned Giving: £457.61; Average weekly SO £718.15; Candles: £30.61.
CHRISTMAS OFFERINGS – The offertory collection at the Christmas Masses is for the parish. Anyone wishing to give to either Fr William or Fr Peter personally should put their offering in an envelope marked “personal” with their name on and put in the Offertory basket.Thank you.
CARITAS – Many thanks for the amount of £185.80 which was collected recently.
PARISH CAROL SERVICE on 19 December – all are warmly invited to join our Carol Service in St Theresa’s at 6.30pm when the knitted Nativity figures, which have been travelling round parish families, will be placed on the altar. Refreshments to follow.
PRAYERS – please pray for
- the residents of Woburn Drive, Halton Road, Dorset Place and Cotswold Close, Hillside Road, Belvedere Drive, Furne, Road, & Morton Road
- the Youth Clubs and Youth workers in our churches
- all young people in our community
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
CHRISTMAS MEMORY TREE – A time to remember those who will not be with us this year. There will be a tree and cards on side Altar at St. Columba’s (near the back door) to write your memories and hang on the tree. The memory is the important thing, but if anyone wishes to make a donation, there will be a basket with donations going to the Parish Third World Group.
ADVENT PRAYER GROUP – continues this Tue 16 Dec. Come to the Iona Chapel for 11-11.30am to look at next Sundays readings. We’re friendly and informal. Further info Lyn Coyle marilyn.coyle44@gmail.com
CAROL SINGING AROUND COUNTESS OF CHESTER HOSPITAL WARDS. Wed 17 December at 6.30 pm. Please join us in bringing joy and comfort to patients, families, and staff during this special season. It is a wonderful opportunity to bless so many in the hospital with the spirit of Christmas. Meeting Point – Spiritual Care Centre F1. For more information: Chaplaincy (01244) 364543 coch.chaplaincy@nhs.net
UPTON CHURCHES CRIB – The CTU Crib has been erected in the rear porch at St Columba’s together with, for the first time, its backdrop. The figures will follow in due course.
PRO-LIFE UPDATE – 2025 has been one of the most challenging and busiest years ever for the pro-life movement in the UK, with the biggest battles on abortion and assisted suicide in over 50 years. Thanks to the support of our parish, there has been a strong, coordinated response in Parliament, in the media and among the wider public. The 2025 Right To Life UK Year in Review sets out some of the key areas in which significant progress has been made this year. Please visit http://righttolife.org.uk/2025 to read the Year in Review to find out more about what we have achieved together for life this year.
FLOWER COLLECTION – There will be a collection at St. Columba’s this weekend 13/14 Dec towards the cost of flowers to decorate the Church over the Christmas period. The new card machine is available if needed. For St Theresa’s please put your donation in an envelope marked “FLOWERS” and place it in the offertory basket. You have always been very generous in the past and we ask for your continued support.
HEATING AT ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH – Most of the heaters have now been fixed. A friendly reminder, however: please do not turn off any radiators or interfere with the heating system in any way. Thank you.
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA – We would like to thank all who volunteered their time to help with tea and coffee after the 11:00am Mass.
14 Dec – Chris & Elizabeth Nichols for tombola
21 Dec – volunteers please
SENIOR PARISHIONERS & VOLUNTEERS CHRISTMAS PARTY – Thanks to those who went along to this – I’m sure you enjoyed it. A special thanks to those who organised the event and who heped in any way.
PARISH YOUTH CLUB – the final meeting of 2025! The next youth group meeting is on Mon 15 Dec, 7 – 8.30pm. Please note we will start in the Newman Room – entrance at the back of Saint Columba’s Church. Young parishioners from Year 5 upwards are invited to come along. ALL are welcome.
ST WERBURGH’S AND ST COLUMBA’S SCHOOL NEWS – Wed 17 Dec, 7pm – Carol Service in St Werburgh’s Church.
THE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL CHRISTMAS FAIR & CAROL SERVICE – Tuesday 16 December 4-6pm, in the school Hall. Entry fee £1 all welcome! Santa’s Grotto, stalls, amazing food and music. Please come & support this event! After the Christmas Fair, there will be a Carol Service in the Lyceum (6th Form building) at 6:30pm. Enjoy mince pies and a glass of wine at the interval before a final blast of Christmas songs and dance!
PARISH OFFICE CLOSURES
St Columba’s office will be closed from Tue 23 Dec to Thur 1 Jan and will re-open on Fri 2 Jan. Carol Galvin will be in the office for emergencies from 9am – 12noon during this time.
St Theresa’s office will be closed from Thur 24 Dec to Fri 2 Jan. The office answer machine is available for messages to be left.
COMMEMORATING MRS OATES’ SERVICE AS HEADTEACHER – All are warmly invited to a celebration of Mrs Oates’ dedicated service to St Werburgh’s and St Columba’s School on Thur 18 Dec at St Columba’s Church. A special thanksgiving service will begin at 6.30pm, followed by a Cheese and Wine Reception in the church hall from 7.00–8.00pm. Children are welcome at both events. Please complete the RSVP form to help us plan refreshments: Spread the word! We look forward to celebrating with you https://forms.office.com/e/9bNg70BFcR
FOOD BANK DONATIONS – Urgently Needed – The Food Bank is asking for tinned meat, fish, veg, fruit, tomatoes, spaghetti, puddings, curry sauce, Smash, pasta & sauce, UHT/powdered milk, long-life juice, custard, jams, spreads, and coffee. See westcheshirefoodbank.org.uk for up-to-date needs. Thank you for your support!
ALTAR SERVERS – we need you! An appeal for altar servers at both St Columba’s and St Theresa’s churches please. At the moment, we have no active altar servers at St Theresa’s. If you or your children are interested in altar serving at either church, please contact Richard Curtis (07787782255 / rich.curtis89@yahoo.co.uk). Training can be flexible around your availability, often focusing in 15-30 minutes sessions after Mass for convenience.
SOUP WITH SOUL – continues at the Town House, Chester Mon-Fri 12noon-3pm. They have added to the menu for Christmas: soup, sausage roll, Christmas cracker & shortbread, house wine, beer, mince pies. Take your pick! Creating a positive future for those experiencing homelessness and hardship.
CAFOD Christmas Fun Run Saturday 27 December in Bollington – An opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors over the Christmas period, whilst also supporting communities around the world to lift themselves out of poverty. Adult, child and family entrance fees available; runners and walkers welcome. We are also really in need of volunteers to help out on the day. If you can spare a few hours, please contact events@cafod.org.uk for more information. Use the QR code to register or find out more info on our website: cafod.org.uk/Bollington
PARISH WEBSITE – Items for the website must be about parish-based events and should be sent to Lyn Coyle, who is the parish liaison with the website manager: marilyn.coyle44@gmail.com
STAY SAFE FROM SCAMS – Scammers may know your details, don’t assume they’re genuine. Always think twice. Never share your PIN or passwords. Ignore emails or calls about computer viruses. Delete suspicious emails and mark them as spam. Be safe. If unsure, contact companies using official numbers. Dial 159 to safely reach your bank. Report scams to Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040 or online. Free guide and tips: Age UK Scam Advice the Booklet is available at the back of both churches – please return after reading.
ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To book the Church, Newman Room or Iona Chapel, contact Magdalena Bukowska at the Church Office 01244 624019, email stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Mon-Fri 9a.m. to 2.00p.m.
To check Hall availability, visit the Church Hall calendar on the St Columba’s website, then contact Magdalena during office hours or email: columbashallbookings@gmail.com.
WARNING – NEWSLETTER DEADLINE CHANGES – CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR. Please note that, due to the printers’ holiday closures, the next four newsletter deadlines are earlier than usual. Send you notices to the editors as normal (including a contact number) and copy in Fr William at st.theresas@btinternet.com. If you have an urgent item that falls outside these deadline dates but needs announcing over the Christmas or New Year, please ring St Theresa’s number with the details. Thank you for your help in keeping everything running smoothly.
| Newsletter date | Deadline for input 9 am on | Editor | Contact details |
| Sun 21 Dec | Mon 15 Dec | Alison Wigglesworth | a.wrigglesworth@outlook.com 07759042262 |
| Thu 25 Dec | Tue 16 Dec | Muriel Green | muriel.green1@btinternet.com 01244 383836 |
| Sun 28 Dec | Tue 16 Dec | Rebecca Vaughan | rebecca_vghn@yahoo.co.uk 01244 318632 |
| Sun 4 Jan 26 | Tue 16 Dec | Amy O’Donnell | amyod@hotmail.co.uk 07854290897 |