SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

11^TH FEBRUARY 2024

World Day of Prayer for the Sick
Day of Special Prayer for the Unemployed

Sat 10 Feb
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Tony McHugh RIP
			Enrolment Mass for First Holy Comunion candidates
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		The Parish
Sun 11 Feb
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Margaret Parry RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Peter Duffy (SH)
Mon 12 Feb
St. Theresa’s			Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s	10.30am		Sean McCabe
Tue 13 Feb
St. Theresa’s			Priests’ Intentions
St. Columba’s			Priests’ Intentions
Wed 14 Feb`			ASH WEDNESDAY
St. Theresa’s			Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s			NO DEVOTIONS TODAY
	10.30am		Private Intentions
	7.00pm		Frederick Hercules RIP
Thu 15 Feb			Thursday after Ash Wednesday
St. Theresa’s			Eileen Mary Thornber RIP
St. Columba’s			Diane Blago RIP
Fri 16 Feb			Friday after Ash Wednesday
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Stations of the Cross
	10.00am		David Kluth’s Intentions
St. Columba’s			The Parish
Sat 17 Feb			Saturday after Ash Wednesday
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Brian Haslam RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		Brian Haslam RIP
Sun 18 Feb
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Muriel Haligan RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Felicity Hughes RIP

Please note if there is no time next to Mass it means there is no Mass for parishioners to attend that day but the Priests will say Mass privately.

LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed from St Columba’s at 11a.m. this Sunday 11^th February 2024
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa

HEARING LOOP SYSTEM
Please note that both Churches operate a hearing loop system if you need it. 

Pope’s Prayer Intentions For February – for the terminally ill  – Let us pray that the sick who are in the final stages of life, and their families, receive the necessary medical and human care and accompaniment.

ANNIVERSARIES:
Eileen Mary Thornber, Charles Edward Davis, George Thomas Noden, Michael S. Sanderson-Miller, Martin Leigh, Lynda Taylor, David Joseph Whitby.

WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS:
Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements. 

CONFESSIONS:
There will be Confessions after each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
St Columba’s: From 6pm before the 6.30pm Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30pm before 5pm Saturday evening Mass.

OFFERTORY:
St Columba’s: Loose plate £TBC; Planned Giving £102.50 Average Weekly SO – £574.00;  Candles £34.50
St Theresa’s: Loose plate £264.11; Planned Giving TBC; Average weekly SO – £161.00.
THANK YOU for all your generous support.

LENTEN MESSAGE
As we begin our Lenten Season with the sign of Ashes, we are called to redouble our efforts to prayer, alms giving and fasting and all works of corporal acts of mercy.  Fr William and Fr Desmond wish everyone a happy Lenten season.

ENROLMENT MASS FOR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
Today we welcome the children from St Theresa’s Primary school who will be enrolled at the  9.30am Mass.  Please remember them in your prayers.

ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
The 2024 coffee rota is on the noticeboard at St Columba’s Hall, so please enter your name and good cause against your preferred dates. You could make £30-£50 for your chosen cause.
11th Feb – volunteers please 
18th Feb – Margaret Curtis, fish & chip babies
25^th Feb – Volunteers please

What are Fish & Chip Babies?
This charity initiative provides knitted hats and jumpers for newborn infants in Africa, particularly Swaziland, who would otherwise go home wrapped in newspaper. Any money raised at the coffee morning on 18th Feb will go to posting the parish’s knitted garments to the shipment hub in Northamptonshire. A huge thank you to all the knitters… keep going!
I am a parishioner at St Columba’s Church Hall. 

RED BOXES – ST THERESA’S
Please leave your box in the sacristy to be counted.

UGANDA ORPHANAGES
This Sunday 11th February there is a cake sale after 11am in aid of two Orphanages in Uganda.  Home of Peace in Jinja and Christ Heart in Kampala. We desperately need funds to send around 60 children to school.

Highlight from the High: The students at the CHS are rehearsing for the ‘Living Stations of the Cross’ performance which will take place in the school hall on Tuesday 26^th March at 10am. Parishioners are invited to come and watch the play. Tickets free of charge. Limited places! To book your seat, please email shawk@christofidelis.org.uk

PRAYING TOGETHER
We pray for:

• the residents of Shepherds Lane, Thornton Drive, The Beeches, Windermere Avenue, Milton Road, Crabwell Place, Byron Close & Thomas Close.
• For the growth Action Planning in our Churches, Commitment for Life, Vision4Life and Fresh Expressions

PARISH YOUTH GROUP:
The next youth group is on Monday 12th February, starting at 7pm, at St. Columba’s. All young parishioners, school year 5 or older, are warmly welcome to join our happy friendly group. 

LENT AND EASTER:

ASH WEDNESDAY – 14^th February
Ash Wednesday is a Day of Fasting and Abstinence.  There will be Mass at 9.30am at St Theresa’s and Mass at 10.30am and 7pm at St Columba’s.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
During Lent there will be Stations of the Cross every week.  Monday at 10am at St Columba’s and Friday at 9.30am at St Theresa’s.

SERVICE TIMES
Leaflets are available with the service and Mass times for Lent and Easter. Please do take one with you.

PASTORAL COUNCIL
Your Pastoral Council met on 22nd January in St Theresa’s. The main item of discussion focused on the next phase of  “volunteer recruitment” which will now be introduced to the parish on the weekend of 24th/25th February. Also discussed was the compilation of a welcoming pack for new parishioners. A date for your diaries – the Pastoral Council AGM, 4th March in St Theresa’s.

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION: 
The next Chester Parishes Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation will be on Friday 8th November 2024 at St. Columba’s. Anyone currently at high school may be Confirmed,  
no upper age limit. More information will follow in this newsletter in a few weeks. 

LOURDES BY JUMBULANCE 2024:
Wirral and Chester Across Groups are taking sick and disabled pilgrims to Lourdes on Thursday 30^th May – Saturday 9^th June and Thursday 15^th – 24^th August. A Jumbulance has beds on board, spacious seating, an accessible toilet and kitchen. We stay in a four star hotel with excellent facilities to care for them and recruit a team of nurses and helpers to do so. We all do a DBS. Everyone must be COVID vaccinated. The cost is £1,095. Half price for nurses and young people under 25 in FTE. We do fund raising to help support those who cannot afford the full amount. Travel Insurance for the sick is available at just £65. www.across.org.uk/?s=AJ. For further information, contact Tony Murphy on 07881-656-974 or tonymurphy2002@yahoo.co.uk.

PROPOSED WALSINGHAM PILGRIMAGE 8th -11th APRIL
Fr William has given his blessing to organising a pilgrimage to Our Lady’s National Shrine. The cost (assuming 30 on pilgrimage) would be approximately £400 per person including coach travel, accommodation in en-suite single or double/twin rooms, with breakfast and evening meal, in Elmham House, Walsingham. To register your interest in joining the pilgrimage, please add your name and contact details to one of the lists in the church porches, or contact one of our parish secretaries.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES:
Brochures and booking forms are now available on the pilgrimage website www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk or by ringing 07773 324264, or if you are aged 16 – 22 please email youth@dioceseofshrewsbury.org for an application form to join the youth section of our pilgrimage. This year our pilgrimage dates are: by air is from Friday 26 July to Thursday 1 August, by coach Thursday 25 July to Friday 2 August and for our young people Wednesday 24 July to Friday 2 August. If you are a first time pilgrim or a returning pilgrim we look forward to you joining us in Lourdes this year.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK –  Saint Teresa of Avila described the extraordinary gift of prayer as “Nothing else than a close sharing between friends”

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER: As we approach Lent,  we consider its start, “Shrove Tuesday”. “This comes from the word “shrive,” which means to confess one’s sins and receive absolution from a priest. It’s a day for Christians to prepare their hearts and souls for the penitential season of Lent. The tradition of making pancakes on this day is believed to have originated in medieval England as a way to use up ingredients like eggs, milk, and sugar before Lenten fasting began”. (awarenessdays.com)  How do you take your pancakes?  Wishing you all a good beginning to your Lenten observances.  

RESOURCES : If you are struggling with low mood, anxiety, long term conditions, stress or depression , West & Central Cheshire Talking Therapies run by the NHS can help you. You can self refer, contact details 0151 488 8348 or www.talkingtherapies.cwp.nhs.uk   Don’t struggle in silence.  There are people waiting to hear from you. And to help you. 

CAFOD:
“The Church relies on people getting involved. Our parish, our community, our world needs you. Could your New Year’s resolution be getting more involved in the life of our church? Could you give a bit of time to help our parish flourish?  CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, is looking for people to give just a little time and join them in their mission. Could you help in our parish, to build a better world. They also need people to visit our local schools: Training & support provided. See cafod.org.uk/Volunteer for more information or contact shrewsbury@cafod.org.uk  Or could you take part in The Big Lent Walk? cafod.org.uk/walk “

DIOCESAN CHOIR FESTIVAL – ‘SING A NEW SONG’:
You are invited to come along and sing as part of a diocesan choir. Learn music throughout the day and lead the singing for Mass at 5pm. We will learn Schutz: Praise to you Lord Jesus, Schubert: Mass in G and more, on Saturday 24^th February, 10.30a.m.-4.30p.m. with Mass beginning at 5p.m. At St Anthony’s, Dunkery Road, Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe, M22 0WR. Refreshments and registration from 10.30am, rehearsals begin at 11am. Tea and coffee will be provided, please being a packed lunch. The cost is £5 per person, payable on the day. Book by completing the form at HTTP://TINYURL.COM/DIOCESANCHOIRFESTIVAL The deadline for bookings is Friday 16^th February. For more information contact reception@dioceseofshrewsbury.org.

ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Carol Galvin, St. Columba’s Church Office, phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm
Hall availability can be checked by looking at St Columba’s Church website – section for Church Hall gives a calendar of events in the Hall. Then contact Sue Carr on 07553 114531 or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.

NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:
11^th February edition will be compiled by Alison Wrigglesworth, phone: 07708 304246; or email: a.wrigglesworth@outlook.com. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that items are emailed or phoned to the compiler by 9.00a.m. on WEDNESDAY  14^th  FEBRUARY 2024

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

4^TH FEBRUARY 2024

Sat 3 Feb
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Alexander James McKeegan RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		The Parish
Sun 4 Feb
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		David Kluth’s Intentions
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Cath Carter (SH)
Mon 5 Feb			St Agatha, V M. Mem.
St. Theresa’s			Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s	10.30am		Margery Whatmough
Tue 6 Feb			St Paul Miki & Comp. Mem.
St. Theresa’s			Peter Coulishaw RIP
St. Columba’s			Patricia Duggan
Wed 7 Feb`
St. Theresa’s			Dee Davey’s Intentions
St. Columba’s	9.30am		Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
	10.15am		Novena Prayers
	10.30am		Brian Haslam RIP
Thu 8 Feb
St. Theresa’s			Priests’ Intentions
St. Columba’s			Diane Blago RIP
Fri 9 Feb
St. Theresa’s	10.00am		Henry Lloyds’ Intentions
St. Columba’s			Frederick Hercules RIP
Sat 10 Feb			St Scholastica, V. Mem
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Tony McHugh RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		The Parish
Sun 11 Feb			Enrolment for First Holy Communion candidates
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Margaret Parry RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Peter Duffy (SH)

Please note if there is no time next to Mass it means there is no Mass for parishioners to attend that day but the Priests will say Mass privately.

LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed from St Columba’s at 11a.m. this Sunday 4^th February 2024
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa

PRIESTS RETIREMENT FUND COLLECTION:
Priests Retirement Fund collection will take place THIS WEEKEND – 3^rd/4^th February.

HEARING LOOP SYSTEM
Please note that both Churches operate a hearing loop system if you need it. 

Pope’s Prayer Intentions For February – for the terminally ill  – Let us pray that the sick who are in the final stages of life, and their families, receive the necessary medical and human care and accompaniment.

RECENTLY DECEASED:
Please remember in your prayers Diane Blago and Frederick Hercules, who died recently. May the Lord console their families and friends. Diane’s Funeral Service will be held on Friday 9^th February at Blacon Crematorium Chapel at 11.20 am

ANNIVERSARIES:
Alexander James McKeegan, Gina Franceloso Brace, Mavis Lillian Shaw, Josephine Margaret Watts, Teresa Gibson, Terry Keogh, Margaret Strong, Michael S. Sanderson-Miller

WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS:
Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements. 

CONFESSIONS:
There will be Confessions after each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
St Columba’s: From 6pm before the 6.30pm Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30pm before 5pm Saturday evening Mass.

OFFERTORY:
St Columba’s: Loose plate £343.80; Planned Giving £102.50 Average Weekly SO – £574.00;  Candles £34.50
St Theresa’s: Loose plate £295.20; Planned Giving TBC; Average weekly SO – £161.00.
THANK YOU for all your generous support.

ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
The 2024 coffee rota is on the noticeboard at St Columba’s Hall, so please enter your name and good cause against your preferred dates. You could make £30-£50 for your chosen cause.
4th Feb – Sue McCarthy, SVP
11th Feb – volunteers please 
18th Feb – Margaret Curtis, fish & chip babies

What are Fish & Chip Babies?
This charity initiative provides knitted hats and jumpers for newborn infants in Africa, particularly Swaziland, who would otherwise go home wrapped in newspaper. Any money raised at the coffee morning on 18th Feb will go to posting the parish’s knitted garments to the shipment hub in Northamptonshire. A huge thank you to all the knitters… keep going!

PRAYING TOGETHER
We pray for:

• the residents of Gayton Close, Denhall Close, Moorhouse Close, Owen Close, Shelley Road, Chaucer Close, Browning Close and Alderley Place.
• the Scouts, Venture Scouts, Cub Scouts and Beavers. For the Ranger Guides, Guides, Brownies, Rainbows, Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade.

ENROLMENT MASS FOR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
The children from St Theresa’s Primary school will be enrolled at the  9.30am Mass on Sunday 11^th February.  Please remember them in your prayers.

PARISH YOUTH GROUP:
The next youth group is on Monday 12th February, starting 7pm, at St. Columba’s. All young parishioners, school year 5 or older, are warmly welcome to join our happy friendly group. 

LENT AND EASTER:
ASH WEDNESDAY – 14^th February
Ash Wednesday is a Day of Fasting and Abstinence.  There will be Mass at 9.30am at St Theresa’s and Mass at 10.30am and 7pm at St Columba’s.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
During Lent there will be Stations of the Cross every week.  Monday at 10am at St Columba’s and Friday at 9.30am at St Theresa’s.

SERVICE TIMES
Leaflets are available with the service and Mass times for Lent and Easter. Please do take one with you.

PASTORAL COUNCIL
Your Pastoral Council met on 22nd January in St Theresa’s. The main item of discussion focused on the next phase of  “volunteer recruitment” which will now be introduced to the parish on the weekend of 24th/25th February. Also discussed was the compilation of a welcoming pack for new parishioners. A date for your diaries – the Pastoral Council AGM, 4th March in St Theresa’s.

ST COLUMBA’S CAR PARK
The re-surfacing is finished. The area nearest to the hall has been completely re-surfaced but the area nearer the church was in better condition so has had potholes and uneven surfaces top dressed. As some have observed, the car park might have looked even better if it had all been re-surfaced but it would have been a lot more expensive. The new parking spaces are a little wider than the original ones to account for the larger cars which are common nowadays.

Would parishioners please note the new No Parking signs alongside the church and refrain from parking there. We have been advised that there should be a 5 metre space available behind parked cars to enable them to get out safely and if cars are parked in the No Parking space that is not possible. Thanks for your assistance.  Pauline Rourke

FOUNDATION GOVERNOR VACANCY:
St Werburgh’s & St Columba’s Primary School is currently recruiting a Catholic Church Foundation Governor to join our Governing Body. The vacancy must be filled by community member affiliated with the Catholic Church, who are not related to any children within our school. The role would suit someone with an interest in serving our community and supporting the needs of our school children and who has a financial background. If you are interested in finding out more about the role, please contact the school in the first instance to arrange an informal chat. Telephone Sarah on 01244 478954 or email admin@lovelearnlaugh.org.uk. Details of this vacancy can be found on the notice board at the back and front porch of the Church. 

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION: 
The next Chester Parishes Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation will be on Friday 8th November 2024 at St. Columba’s. Anyone currently at high school may be Confirmed,  
no upper age limit. More information will follow in this newsletter in a few weeks. 

LOURDES BY JUMBULANCE 2024:
Wirral and Chester Across Groups are taking sick and disabled pilgrims to Lourdes on Thursday 30^th May – Saturday 9^th June and Thursday 15^th – 24^th August. A Jumbulance has seven beds on board, spacious seating, an accessible toilet and kitchen. We stay in a four star hotel with excellent facilities to care for them and recruit a team of nurses and helpers to do so. The experience for younger helpers is good for the CV, especially those considering a career in health or social care. We all do a DBS. Everyone must be COVID vaccinated. The cost is £1,095. Half price for nurses and young people under 25 in FTE. We do fund raising to help support those who cannot afford the full amount. Travel Insurance for the sick is available at just £65. Visit our website and read Bev’s story. www.across.org.uk/?s=AJ. For further information, contact Tony Murphy on 07881-656-974 or tonymurphy2002@yahoo.co.uk.

PROPOSED WALSINGHAM PILGRIMAGE 8th -11th APRIL
Fr William has given his blessing to organising a pilgrimage to Our Lady’s National Shrine. The cost (assuming 30 on pilgrimage) would be approximately £400 per person including coach travel, accommodation in en-suite single or double/twin rooms, with breakfast and evening meal, in Elmham House, Walsingham. To register your interest in joining the pilgrimage, please add your name and contact details to one of the lists in the church porches, or contact one of our parish secretaries.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES:
Brochures and booking forms are now available on the pilgrimage website www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk or by ringing 07773 324264, or if you are aged 16 – 22 please email youth@dioceseofshrewsbury.org for an application form to join the youth section of our pilgrimage. This year our pilgrimage dates are: by air is from Friday 26 July to Thursday 1 August, by coach Thursday 25 July to Friday 2 August and for our young people Wednesday 24 July to Friday 2 August. If you are a first time pilgrim or a returning pilgrim we look forward to you joining us in Lourdes this year.

CAFOD:
“The Church relies on people getting involved. Our parish, our community, our world needs you. Could your New Year’s resolution be getting more involved in the life of our church? Could you give a bit of time to help our parish flourish?  CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, is looking for people to give just a little time and join them in their mission. Could you help in our parish, to build a better world. They also need people to visit our local schools: Training & support provided. See cafod.org.uk/Volunteer for more information or contact shrewsbury@cafod.org.uk  Or could you take part in The Big Lent Walk? cafod.org.uk/walk “

APPEAL FOR KNITTERS:
St Theresa’s Catholic Primary School Council would like to sell knitted Easter chicks, which will be filled with a chocolate egg. We are appealing for knitters who would be able to produce the little chicks.  We can supply the wool and a knitting pattern if you can provide the talent!  Please contact Anne Ellis aellis@st-theresas.cheshire.sch.uk if you would be willing to help.

DIOCESAN CHOIR FESTIVAL – ‘SING A NEW SONG’:You are invited to come along and sing as part of a diocesan choir. Learn music throughout the day and lead the singing for Mass at 5pm. We will learn Schutz: Praise to you Lord Jesus, Schubert: Mass in G and more, on Saturday 24^th February, 10.30a.m.-4.30p.m. with Mass beginning at 5p.m. At St Anthony’s, Dunkery Road, Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe, M22 0WR. Refreshments and registration from 10.30am, rehearsals begin at 11am. Tea and coffee will be provided, please being a packed lunch. The cost is £5 per person, payable on the day. Book by completing the form at HTTP://TINYURL.COM/DIOCESANCHOIRFESTIVAL The deadline for bookings is Friday 16^th February. For more information contact reception@dioceseofshrewsbury.org.

“RETROUVAILLE”- A LIFELINE FOR MARRIED COUPLES:
The primary goal of Retrouvaille is to provide help for couples who live in the disappointment and pain of marriage problems. They offer A Virtual programme commencing with a weekend on Thursday 8^th to Sunday 11^th Feb 2024. For more information access www.retrouvaille.org.uk or see the church notice board.

Thought for the week: “Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself.”  St Francis de Sales 

We’re all in this together: So what storm name will it be next, and what weather will be thrown at us.  We seem to have had it all over the last few weeks.  It reflects life, storms and then calms; some storms come together, like the buses (as they say), and others are widely spaced apart. But life has its ups and downs. There are many references to storms and calms in the Bible, an example is Psalm 107:29-30 “He calmed the storm and its waves quieted down. So they rejoiced that the waves became quiet, and he led them to their desired haven.”  If we are able to put our faith in God, he will see us through whatever storm we are experiencing.  Keep safe and have a lovely week. 

Resources: Residents are urged to check that they and their families are up-to-date with their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines.  Young children are offered the vaccine by their GP as part of the UK national vaccination programme. They are offered two doses of the vaccine – the first following their first birthday and the second before they start school, when they are around three years and four months old. To check if you or your family are up-to-date with their vaccines, contact your GP.

ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Carol Galvin, St. Columba’s Church Office, phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm

Hall availability can be checked by looking at St Columba’s Church website – section for Church Hall gives a calendar of events in the Hall. Then contact Sue Carr on 07553 114531 or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.

NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:
11^th February edition will be compiled by Eileen Irwin, phone: 01244 371660; or email: st.theresas@btinternet.com. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that items are emailed or phoned to the compiler by 9.00a.m. on WEDNESDAY  7^TH FEBRUARY 2024

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

28TH JANUARY 2024

Sat 20 Jan
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Alison Carbert RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		The Parish
Sun 21 Jan
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Kathleen Maguire RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Carole & Dave Roberts
Mon 22 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Special Intention
St. Columba’s	10.30am		Richard John Murphy RIP
Tue 23 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s			Priests’ Intentions
Wed 24 Jan			St John Boscoe, P, R
St. Theresa’s			Katherine Gannon RIP
St. Columba’s	9.30am		Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
	10.15am		Novena Prayers
	10.30am		Sr Anne Morris
Thu 25 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s			Private Intention
Fri 26 Jan			The Presentation of The Lord
St. Theresa’s	10.00am		Sean, Sarah & Rebecca’s Intentions
St. Columba’s			Private Intentions
Sat 27 Jan
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Alexander James McKeegan RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		The Parish
Sun 14 Jan
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Davis Klutch Intentions
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Cath Carter (SH)

Please note if there is no time next to Mass it means there is no Mass for parishioners to attend that day but the Priests will say Mass privately.

LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed from St Theresa’s at 9.30a.m. this Sunday 28^th January 2024
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa

Pope’s Prayer Intentions for January  – For the gift of diversity in the church – Let us pray that the Spirit help us to recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian community, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions in the heart of the Catholic Church.

WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS:
Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements. 

CONFESSIONS:
There will be Confessions after each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
St Columba’s: From 6pm before the 6.30pm Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30pm before 5pm Saturday evening Mass.

RECENTLY DECEASED:
Please remember in your prayers Brian Haslam, Muriel Halligan, Terence Smith and Stephen Phillips, who died recently. May the Lord console their families and friends.
Frederick Hercules funeral service is on Wednesday 31 January at 3.20pm at Chester crematorium.

ANNIVERSARIES:
Michael Booth, John Francis McNeill, Elizabeth (Betty) Allingham, Josephine Margaret Watts, Teresa Gibson, Terry Keogh, Margaret Parry, Rev. Francis Gabriel Bligh, Veronica Mary Joyce, Alexander James Keegan,.

OFFERTORY:
St Columba’s: Loose plate £311.66; Planned Giving £160 Average Weekly SO – £574.00, candles £31.45; 
St Theresa’s: Loose plate ££240.50; Planned Giving TBC; Average weekly SO – £161.00.
THANK YOU for all your generous support.

ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
The 2024 coffee rota is on the noticeboard at St Columba’s Hall, so please enter your name and good cause against your preferred dates. You could make £30-£50 for your chosen cause.
28^th Jan – Sue Carr, parish 
4th Feb – Sue McCarthy, SVP
11th Feb – volunteers please 
18th Feb – Margaret Curtis, fish & chip babies

PRAYING TOGETHER
We pray for:

• Pray for the residents of Whitton Drive, Sutton Drive, Bidston Close, Greenfield Lane, Cleves Close, Roman Drive, Cavalier Drive and Hadrian Drive.
• For Sunshine Tots, iPraise & Play and for all the leaders.
• For young families.

ST COLUMBA’S CAR PARK
The re-surfacing is finished. The area nearest to the hall has been completely re-surfaced but the area nearer the church was in better condition so has had potholes and uneven surfaces top dressed. As some have observed, the car park might have looked even better if it had all been re-surfaced but it would have been a lot more expensive. The new parking spaces are a little wider than the original ones to account for the larger cars which are common nowadays.

Would parishioners please note the new No Parking signs alongside the church and refrain from parking there. We have been advised that there should be a 5 metre space available behind parked cars to enable them to get out safely and if cars are parked in the No Parking space that is not possible. Thanks for your assistance.       Pauline Rourke

SPECIAL YEAR OF PRAYER:
2024 has been named by Pope Francis as a special year of prayer and as part of our response to that, following 11a.m. Mass (and tea and coffee) on Sunday 28^th January, we invite you back into church at 1pm for a short period of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration will be introduced and led in a child accessible way but we would love for you all to be present. If you are new to this way of praying with the Lord it will provide a good introduction and if you are a regular attendee at adoration it would be wonderful if you could help us share this way of praying with our younger members of the parish. We look forward to joining together with you in prayer on that day.

RETREAT DAY ON PRAYER:
The year 2025 is the next Jubilee Year in the Church. Pope Francis has asked the Church to prepare well. In order to help us do so, (beginning from advent 2023), Pope Francis has called 2023/2024 “A Year of Prayer.” In response, the Shrewsbury Diocese Team for Evangelisation and Mission will be running a Retreat Day on Prayer for parishes in the Chester area in February 2024: Date:  Saturday the 3^{rd of} February 2024 Time: 10.00am-3.00pm. Place: St Columbas Parish Hall Plas Newton Lane Chester CH2 1SA. See posters in our porches and website. All are welcome. Please bring a packed lunch.

FIRST FORGIVENESS CELEBRATION:
On Saturday 27^th January, 13 children from St Columba’s and St Theresa’s parish will receive the Sacrament of First Forgiveness in a special service of celebration at 10.00a.m. Please pray for the children and their families at this special time in their faith journeys.

MASS IS TO BE CELEBRATED ON 1^ST FEBRUARY 2024 AT 12.15 PM:
Mass will be celebrated in the Countess of Chester Hospital and this month Fr Bernard Forshaw is joining us. This Mass is for all the staff, patients, patient families, volunteers and parishioners of our area. If you are able to attend, we would love to welcome you to Holy Mass once a month in the GOCH chapel.May God bless you all, and your families. Deacon Antony Nuttall.

FOUNDATION GOVERNOR VACANCY:
St Werburgh’s & St Columba’s Primary School is currently recruiting a Catholic Church Foundation Governor to join our Governing Body. The vacancy must be filled by community member affiliated with the Catholic Church, who are not related to any children within our school. The role would suit someone with an interest in serving our community and supporting the needs of our school children and who has a financial background. The role of a School Governing Body is:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos, and direction of the school.
• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

If you are interested in finding out more about the role, please contact the school in the first instance to arrange an informal chat. Telephone Sarah on 01244 478954 or email admin@lovelearnlaugh.org.uk. Please note that for the protection of children, all governor appointments are subject to an identity check. Information of this vacancy can be found on the notice board at the back and front porch of the Church. 

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION: 
The next Chester Parishes Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation will be on Friday 8th November 2024 at St. Columba’s. Anyone currently at high school may be Confirmed, no upper age limit. More information will follow in this newsletter in a few weeks. 

LOURDES BY JUMBULANCE 2024:
Wirral and Chester Across Groups are taking sick and disabled pilgrims to Lourdes on Thursday 30^th May – Saturday 9^th June and Thursday 15^th – 24^th August. A Jumbulance has seven beds on board, spacious seating, an accessible toilet and kitchen. We stay in a four star hotel with excellent facilities to care for them and recruit a team of nurses and helpers to do so. The experience for younger helpers is good for the CV, especially those considering a career in health or social care. We all do a DBS. Everyone must be COVID vaccinated. The cost is £1,095. Half price for nurses and young people under 25 in FTE. We do fund raising to help support those who cannot afford the full amount. Travel Insurance for the sick is available at just £65. Visit our website and read Bev’s story. www.across.org.uk/?s=AJ. For further information, contact Tony Murphy on 07881-656-974 or tonymurphy2002@yahoo.co.uk.

PRIESTS RETIREMENT FUND COLLECTION:
Priests Retirement Fund collection will take place on the week-end of 3^rd/4^th February.

DIOCESAN CHOIR FESTIVAL – ‘SING A NEW SONG’:
You are invited to come along and sing as part of a diocesan choir. Learn music throughout the day and lead the singing for Mass at 5pm. We will learn Schutz: Praise to you Lord Jesus, Schubert: Mass in G and more, on Saturday 24^th February, 10.30a.m.-4.30p.m. with Mass beginning at 5p.m. At St Anthony’s, Dunkery Road, Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe, M22 0WR. Refreshments and registration from 10.30am, rehearsals begin at 11am. Tea and coffee will be provided, please being a packed lunch. The cost is £5 per person, payable on the day. Book by completing the form at HTTP://TINYURL.COM/DIOCESANCHOIRFESTIVAL The deadline for bookings is Friday 16^th February. For more information contact reception@dioceseofshrewsbury.org.

 ‘THANK YOU’ FROM DEACON LAWRENCE:
 To Fr William and well-wishers, for the kind thoughts and greetings received marking my recent ’significant’ birthday; all very much appreciated. With love and prayers, Lawrence and Eileen.

CAFOD:
“The Church relies on people getting involved. Our parish, our community, our world needs you. Could your New Year’s resolution be getting more involved in the life of our church? Could you give a bit of time to help our parish flourish?  CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, is looking for people to give just a little time and join them in their mission. Could you help in our parish, to build a better world. They also need people to visit our local schools: Training & support provided. See cafod.org.uk/Volunteer for more information or contact shrewsbury@cafod.org.uk  Or could you take part in The Big Lent Walk? cafod.org.uk/walk “

ADVENT JOURNEY 2023:
 Thank you again to all those who offered accommodation to Mary, Joseph and the donkey during Advent. A map of the route taken plus some short stories on their travels can be seen at thefront of St Theresa’s and in the back porch at St Columba’s.

APPEAL FOR KNITTERS:
 St Theresa’s Catholic Primary School Council would like to sell knitted Easter chicks, which will be filled with a chocolate egg. We are appealing for knitters who would be able to produce the little chicks.  We can supply the wool and a knitting pattern if you can provide the talent!  Please contact Anne Ellis aellis@st-theresas.cheshire.sch.uk if you would be willing to help.

“RETROUVAILLE”- A LIFELINE FOR MARRIED COUPLES:
The primary goal of Retrouvaille is to provide help for couples who live in the disappointment and pain of marriage problems. They offer A Virtual programme commencing with a weekend on Thursday 8^th to Sunday 11^th Feb 2024. For more information access www.retrouvaille.org.uk or see the church notice board.

Thought for the week: Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. Anthony J D’Angelo  

We’re all in this together: So what storm name will it be next, and what weather will be thrown at us.  We seem to have had it all over the last few weeks.  It reflects life, storms and then calms; some storms come together, like the buses (as they say), and others are widely spaced apart. But life has its ups and downs. There are many references to storms and calms in the Bible, an example is Psalm 107:29-30 “He calmed the storm and its waves quieted down. So they rejoiced that the waves became quiet, and he led them to their desired haven.”  If we are able to put our faith in God, he will see us through whatever storm we are experiencing.  Keep safe and have a lovely week. 

Resources: This winter’s NHS flu vaccination programme ends on 31 January, if you haven’t had it yet and are eligible contact you GP.   Residents are also urged to check that they and their families are up-to-date with their measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines.  Young children are offered the vaccine by their GP as part of the UK national vaccination programme. They are offered two doses of the vaccine – the first following their first birthday and the second before they start school, when they are around three years and four months old. To check if you or your family are up-to-date with their vaccines, contact your GP.

Please note that both Churches operate a hearing loop system if you need it. 

PROPOSED WALSINGHAM PILGRIMAGE 8th -11th APRIL
Fr William has given his blessing to organising a pilgrimage to Our Lady’s National Shrine.  The cost (assuming 30 on pilgrimage) would be approximately £400  per person including coach travel, accommodation in ensuite single or double/twin rooms, with breakfast and evening meal, in Elmham House, Walsingham. To register your interest in joining the pilgrimage, please add your name and contact details to one of the lists in the church porches or contact one of our parish secretaries. Thanks.

ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Carol Galvin, St. Columba’s Church Office, phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm
Hall availability can be checked by looking at St Columba’s Church website – section for Church Hall gives a calendar of events in the Hall. Then contact Sue Carr on 07553 114531 or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.

NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:
4^th February edition will be compiled by Amy O’Donnell, phone: 07854 290897 or email: amyod@hotmail.co.uk. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that items are emailed or phoned to the compiler by 9.00a.m. on WEDNESDAY  31^ST JANUARY 2024

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

21 JANUARY 2024

Sat 20 Jan
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Collins’ Family Intentions
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		Cath Carter RIP
Sun 21 Jan
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Anthony Comerford RIP
Mon 22 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Priests’ Intentions
St. Columba’s	10.30am		Priests’ Intentions
Tue 23 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Anthony Baker RIP
St. Columba’s			The Parish
Wed 24 Jan			St Francis de Sales, B, D. Mem
St. Theresa’s	12noon		Requiem Mass for Muriel Halligan RIP
St. Columba’s	9.30am		Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
	10.15am		Novena Prayers
	10.30am		Cath Carter RIP
Thu 25 Jan			The Conversion of St Paul, Ap
St. Theresa’s			Special Intention
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Requiem Mass for Stephen Michael Phillips
Fri 26 Jan			Ss Timothy & Titus, B. Mem
St. Theresa’s	10.00am		Catherine McHugh RIP
St. Columba’s			Private Intention
Sat 27 Jan
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Alison Corbert RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		The Parish
Sun 14 Jan
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Kathleen Maguire RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Carole & Dave Roberts

Please note if there is no time next to Mass it means there is no Mass for parishioners to attend that day but the Priests will say Mass privately.

LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed from St Theresa’s at 9.30a.m. this Sunday 21^st January 2024
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa

Pope’s Prayer Intentions for January  – For the gift of diversity in the church – Let us pray that the Spirit help us to recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian community, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions in the heart of the Catholic Church.

RECENTLY DECEASED:
Please remember in your prayers Brian Haslam, Muriel Halligan, Terence Smith and Stephen Phillips, who died recently. May the Lord console their families and friends.
The Requiem Mass for Muriel Halligan is at St Theresa’s on  Wednesday 24^th January at 12 noon.
Stephen’s Requiem Mass will be held at St Columba’s on Thursday 25^th January at 11.00am.

ANNIVERSARIES:
Anthony Keith Baker, Margaret Parry, Michael Booth, John Francis McNeill, Rev. Francis Gabriel Bligh, Veronica Mary Joyce.

WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS:
Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements. 

CONFESSIONS:
There will be Confessions after each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
St Columba’s: From 6pm before the 6.30pm Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30pm before 5pm Saturday evening Mass.

OFFERTORY:
St Columba’s: Loose plate £472.07; Planned Giving £210.10; Average Weekly SO – £574.00;  Candles £36.13
St Theresa’s: Loose plate TBC; Planned Giving TBC; Average weekly SO – £161.00.
THANK YOU for all your generous support.

ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
The 2024 coffee rota is now on the noticeboard at St Columba’s Hall, so please enter your name and good cause against your preferred dates. You could make £30-£50 for your chosen cause. Call Margaret Curtis 01244 318424 to book your date(s).
21^st Jan – volunteers please
28^th Jan – volunteers please
4^th Feb – Sue McCarthy, SVP

PRAYING TOGETHER
We pray for:

• The residents of Dunham Way, Chirk Close, Tintern Avenue, Boleyn Close, Tudor Green, Saxon Way and Palatine Close.
• The prayer groups and ecumenical prayer groups.
• Those who have nobody to pray for them.

ALTAR SERVERS – GUILD OF ST STEPHEN ENROLMENT MASS:
St Stephen is the patron saint of altar servers. The altar servers of our parish are enrolled into the Guild of St Stephen and receive a bronze medal. The enrolment mass will be this Sunday 21^st January (today) 11.00a.m. at St Columbas’s. The enrolment ceremony will only take a few minutes and will begin after the homily. 

ST COLUMBA’S CAR PARK:
The resurfacing began on Monday 8^th January and, weather permitting, will be completed by Friday 26th January.  This week the car park alongside the church, accessed from Plas Newton Lane, is closed and access to the church is from the rear entrance. For the week beginning 15^th January the whole car park will be closed and pedestrian access to the church will be from the front entrance. Whether the whole car park will be closed this weekend will depend on progress in the first week so please be prepared to park on the road if necessary. Pauline Rourke

SPECIAL YEAR OF PRAYER:
2024 has been named by Pope Francis as a special year of prayer and as part of our response to that, following 11a.m. Mass (and tea and coffee) on Sunday 28^th January, we invite you back into church at 1pm for a short period of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration will be introduced and led in a child accessible way but we would love for you all to be present. If you are new to this way of praying with the Lord it will provide a good introduction and if you are a regular attendee at adoration it would be wonderful if you could help us share this way of praying with our younger members of the parish. We look forward to joining together with you in prayer on that day.

RETREAT DAY ON PRAYER:
The year 2025 is the next Jubilee Year in the Church. Pope Francis has asked the Church to prepare well. In order to help us do so, (beginning from advent 2023), Pope Francis has called 2023/2024 “A Year of Prayer.” In response, the Shrewsbury Diocese Team for Evangelisation and Mission will be running a Retreat Day on Prayer for parishes in the Chester area in February 2024: Date:  Saturday the 3^{rd of} February 2024 Time: 10.00am-3.00pm. Place: St Columbas Parish Hall Plas Newton Lane Chester CH2 1SA. See posters in our porches and website. All are welcome. Please bring a packed lunch.

FIRST FORGIVENESS CELEBRATION:
On Saturday 27^th January, 13 children from St Columba’s and St Theresa’s parish will receive the Sacrament of First Forgiveness in a special service of celebration at 10.00a.m. Please pray for the children and their families at this special time in their faith journeys.

FOUNDATION GOVERNOR VACANCY:
St Werburgh’s & St Columba’s Primary School is currently recruiting a Catholic Church Foundation Governor to join our Governing Body. The vacancy must be filled by community member affiliated with the Catholic Church, who are not related to any children within our school. The role would suit someone with an interest in serving our community and supporting the needs of our school children and who has a financial background. The role of a School Governing Body is:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos, and direction of the school.
• Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.

If you are interested in finding out more about the role, please contact the school in the first instance to arrange an informal chat. Telephone Sarah on 01244 478954 or email admin@lovelearnlaugh.org.uk. Please note that for the protection of children, all governor appointments are subject to an identity check. Information of this vacancy can be found on the notice board at the back and front porch of the Church. 

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: “The earth has music for those who listen.” William Shakespear

NEEDLES AND PINS – WEDNESDAY 24^TH JANUARY: 
Everyone is welcome to come along to this friendly needlecraft group in the Newman Room between 2p.m – 4p.m. every fourth Wednesday of the month. We’d love to see some new faces!

ADVENT JOURNEY 2023:
Thank you again to all those who offered accommodation to Mary, Joseph and the donkey during Advent. A map of the route taken plus some short stories on their travels can be seen at the front of St Theresa’s and in the back porch at St Columba’s 

LOURDES BY JUMBULANCE 2024:
Wirral and Chester Across Groups are taking sick and disabled pilgrims to Lourdes on Thursday 30^th May – Saturday 9^th June and Thursday 15^th – 24^th August. A Jumbulance has seven beds on board, spacious seating, an accessible toilet and kitchen. We stay in a four star hotel with excellent facilities to care for them and recruit a team of nurses and helpers to do so. The experience for younger helpers is good for the CV, especially those considering a career in health or social care. We all do a DBS. Everyone must be COVID vaccinated. The cost is £1,095. Half price for nurses and young people under 25 in FTE. We do fund raising to help support those who cannot afford the full amount. Travel Insurance for the sick is available at just £65. Visit our website and read Bev’s story. www.across.org.uk/?s=AJ. For further information, contact Tony Murphy on 07881-656-974 or tonymurphy2002@yahoo.co.uk.

DIOCESAN CHOIR FESTIVAL – ‘SING A NEW SONG’:
You are invited to come along and sing as part of a diocesan choir. Learn music throughout the day and lead the singing for Mass at 5pm. We will learn Schutz: Praise to you Lord Jesus, Schubert: Mass in G and more, on Saturday 24^th February, 10.30a.m.-4.30p.m. with Mass beginning at 5p.m. At St Anthony’s, Dunkery Road, Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe, M22 0WR. Refreshments and registration from 10.30am, rehearsals begin at 11am. Tea and coffee will be provided, please being a packed lunch. The cost is £5 per person, payable on the day. Book by completing the form at HTTP://TINYURL.COM/DIOCESANCHOIRFESTIVAL The deadline for bookings is Friday 16^th February. For more information contact reception@dioceseofshrewsbury.org.

LOURDES HOSPITALITY NEXT MEETING: 
A meeting of the Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality will take place at St Columba’s Church (meeting room) on Saturday 20^th January at 2pm. All members of the Hospitality are welcome to attend.

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER:
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally observed from Thursday 18^th to Thursday 25^th January.  The Theme for the week is “You shall love the Lord your God … and your neighbour as yourself” (Lk 10:27).  Churches and organisations within Burkina Faso have collaborated in drafting the prayers and reflections for this week. Burkina Faso is currently experiencing a serious security crisis & Christian churches have been expressly targeted by armed attacks. They have invited us to join them in reflection as they consider what it truly means to love thy neighbour in the midst of a security crisis.  “Communities in the British-Irish context may be less vulnerable to acts of mass violence than in Burkina Faso, but there are still many living with the memory and/or the threat of serious violence, centred on issues of identity and belonging. There are also groups within communities, including people from ethnic minority backgrounds and people seeking asylum, who feel particularly vulnerable to violence or being displaced by the threat of violence” .(CTBI) the Christians of Burkina Faso commit themselves to walking the path of love of God and love of neighbour. They are confident that God’s love will overcome the violence that currently afflicts their country. May we help them with our prayers and reflections.    ctbi.org.uk and https://www.cbcew.org.uk/ for further information. 

RESOURCES:
The Cheshire Libraries are holding a Health and Wellbeing week 22^nd– 28^th January.  As part of this week, a number of wellbeing walks will be taking place, book a place by contacting healthranger@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk or phone 07872464989.  Walks include from Upton Library Monday 22^nd, 10a.m. 40 mins; Storyhouse Monday 22^nd, 2pm, 30 min; Saturday 27th, 10a.m, 40mins; Blacon Library, Tuesday 23^rd at 10a.m, 45 mins.  Plenty of others, check out the website on http://cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/walks  

CAFOD:
“The Church relies on people getting involved. Our parish, our community, our world needs you. Could your New Year’s resolution be getting more involved in the life of our church? Could you give a bit of time to help our parish flourish?  CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, is looking for people to give just a little time and join them in their mission. Could you help in our parish, to build a better world. They also need people to visit our local schools: Training & support provided. See cafod.org.uk/Volunteer for more information or contact shrewsbury@cafod.org.uk  Or could you take part in The Big Lent Walk? cafod.org.uk/walk “

APPEAL FOR KNITTERS: St Theresa’s Catholic Primary School Council would like to sell knitted Easter chicks, which will be filled with a chocolate egg. We are appealing for knitters who would be able to produce the little chicks.  We can supply the wool and a knitting pattern if you can provide the talent!  Please contact Anne Ellis aellis@st-theresas.cheshire.sch.uk if you would be willing to help.

ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Carol Galvin, St. Columba’s Church Office, phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm
Hall availability can be checked by looking at St Columba’s Church website – section for Church Hall gives a calendar of events in the Hall. Then contact Sue Carr on 07553 114531 or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.

NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:
28^th January edition will be compiled by Harry Sweeney, phone: 01244 327462 or email: harrysweeney45@gmail.com. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that items are emailed or phoned to the compiler by 9.00a.m. on WEDNESDAY  24^TH JANUARY 2024

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

14TH JANUARY 2024

Sat 13 Jan
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		The Parish
Sun 14 Jan
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Graham George RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Joan Bullough
Mon 15 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Priests’ Intentions
St. Columba’s	10.30am		Anne Daly
Tue 16 Jan
St. Theresa’s			John Williams Intentions
St. Columba’s			Hilda Welford RIP
Wed 17 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Private Intention
St. Columba’s	9.30am		Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
	10.15am		Novena Prayers
	10.30am		Antonio Patino Pan
Thu 18 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Special Intention
St. Columba’s			Priests’ Intentions
Fri 19 Jan
St. Theresa’s	10.00am		Sarah Russell RIP
St. Columba’s			Paula and Pete Graham
Sat 20 Jan
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Collins’ Family Intentions
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		Cath Carter RIP
Sun 21 Jan			Cath Carter RIP
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Anthony Comerford RIP

Please note if there is no time next to Mass it means there is no Mass for parishioners to attend that day but the Priests will say Mass privately.

LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed from St Columba’s at 11.00a.m. this Sunday 14^th January 2024
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa

Pope’s Prayer Intentions for January  – For the gift of diversity in the church-Let us pray that the Spirit help us to recognize the gift of different charisms within the Christian community, and to discover the richness of different ritual traditions in the heart of the Catholic Church.

RECENTLY DECEASED:
Please remember in your prayers Brian Haslam, Muriel Halligan, Terence Smith and Stephen Phillips, who died recently.  May the Lord console their families and friends.

The Requiem Mass for Muriel Halligan is at St Theresa’s on  Wednesday 24th January at 12 noon.

Brian Haslam’s Requiem Mass is at St Werburghs Church on Monday 15th January at 2.00 p.m. followed by Blacon Cemetery at 3.20 p.m. and then Refreshments at the Grosvenor Arms Aldford at 4.00 p.m. 

Stephen’s Requiem Mass will be held at St Columba’s on Thursday 25^th January at 11.00am.

ANNIVERSARIES:
Catherine (Cath) Bond, David Whitby, Antonio Patino Pan, Christine Appleton, Frederick Arnold Basnett, Stanley Edward Taylor.

WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS:
Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements. 

CONFESSIONS:
There will be Confessions after each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
St Columba’s: From 6pm before the 6.30pm Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30pm before 5pm Saturday evening Mass.

OFFERTORY:
St Columba’s: Loose plate TBC; Planned Giving TBC Average Weekly SO – £574.00, Loose Plate:  £151.19, Planned Giving: £104. 50
St Theresa’s: Loose plate £299.44; Planned Giving TBC; Average weekly SO – £161.00.
THANK YOU for all your generous support.

ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
The 2024 coffee rota is now on the noticeboard at St Columba’s Hall, so please enter your name and good cause against your preferred dates. You could make £30-£50 for your chosen cause. Call Margaret Curtis 01244 318424 to book your date(s).
14^th Jan – Margaret & Elizabeth for CWL
21^st Jan – volunteers please
28^th Jan – volunteers please

PAX CHRISTI:
This Sunday, 14th January, is designated as Peace Sunday and the theme chosen by Pope Francis is ‘Artificial Intelligence and Peace’. You can read a full copy of his message for the World Day of Peace on the Pax Christi website paxchristi.org.uk

PRAYING TOGETHER
We pray for:

• the residents of Shocklach Road, Horrocks Road, Bolesworth Road,Exeter Place, Burns Way, Masefield Drive, Aragon Green, Brentwood Road.
• For the choirs and music groups.
• For uniting all who play and sing from the three churches.

FIRST FORGIVENESS PARENTS’ MEETING:
Parents are reminded that the meeting to discuss the Sacrament of First Forgiveness is on Monday 15th January at 7pm in St Werburgh’s and St Columba’s School. The Celebration of the Sacrament for the children will be on Saturday 27th January at 10.00am here in St Columba’s Church.

YOUTH GROUP:
The next meeting of the Parish Youth Group is Monday 15th January at 7:00-8:30pm in St Columba’s Hall. Join us for fun and learning.  All young people from year 5 and upwards are welcome to join our friendly group. 🙂

ALTAR SERVERS – GUILD OF ST STEPHEN ENROLMENT MASSES:
St Stephen is the patron saint of altar servers. The altar servers of our parish are enrolled into the Guild of St Stephen and receive a bronze medal. The enrolment masses will be:
• Sunday 14th January 9:30am at St. Theresa’s – Grace Hankin celebrating 10 years of service
• Sunday 21st January 11:00am at St Columba’s
The enrolment ceremony will only take a few minutes and will begin after the homily. 

ST COLUMBA’S CAR PARK:
The resurfacing began on Monday 8 January and, weather permitting, will be completed by Friday 26th January.  This week the car park alongside the church, accessed from Plas Newton Lane, is closed and access to the church is from the rear entrance. For the week beginning 15 January the whole car park will be closed and pedestrian access to the church will be from the front entrance. Whether the whole car park will be closed this weekend will depend on progress in the first week so please be prepared to park on the road if necessary. Pauline Rourke

LOURDES HOSPITALITY NEXT MEETING: 
A meeting of the Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality will take place at St Columba’s Church (meeting room ), Plas Newton Lane , Chester CH2 1PL on Saturday 20th January at 2pm . All members of the Hospitality are welcome to attend.

We’re all in this together _ Peace Sunday 2024 is this Sunday, 14 January and the theme chosen by Pope Francis is ‘Artificial Intelligence and Peace’.  “The Bishops of England and Wales invite us to make today a day of prayer for world peace, using the theme proposed by Pope Francis.   It might seem a strangely technical, rather abstract title, of limited interest except to experts. But new technologies are developing so quickly that we need to think about their consequences for our freedom, peace and security. Who is gaining power through AI – and who is being disempowered? We also need to think of the risk of Artificial Intelligence, which will only have as much soul and ethical vision as those who programme it, calling the shots on the battlefield, deciding who lives and who dies – and possibly one day even triggering wars automatically. ” (Pax Christi)  We need to understand better this new world and what it means.  The blurring of the boundaries between truth and falsehood, what is right and what is wrong. We need to be informed to understand better and act accordingly.  

Resources  https://www.cbcew.org.uk/peace-sunday-2024/  Pax Christi have put together resources relating to Peace Sunday they can be found on the Catholic Bishops web site.  

Thought for the week “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.” Albert Einstein. 

APPEAL FOR KNITTERS:
St Theresa’s Catholic Primary School Council would like to sell knitted Easter chicks, which will be filled with a chocolate egg. We are appealing for knitters who would be able to produce the little chicks.  We can supply the wool and a knitting pattern if you can provide the talent!  Please contact Anne Ellis aellis@st-theresas.cheshire.sch.uk if you would be willing to help.

THANK YOU FROM THE FOOD BANK
West Cheshire Food Bank would like to thank everyone who kindly and generously donated to the food bank last year both at our Churches and all donation sites across the city. Donations at Church amounted to 518kg during the year (just over half a ton!!). 
Thank you for your continued support.

CAFOD:
“The Church relies on people getting involved. Our parish, our community, our world needs you. Could your New Year’s resolution be getting more involved in the life of our church? Could you give a bit of time to help our parish flourish?   

CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, is looking for people to give just a little time and join them in their mission. Could you help in our parish, to build a better world. They also need people to visit our local schools: Training & support provided. See cafod.org.uk/Volunteer for more information or contact shrewsbury@cafod.org.uk  Or could you take part in The Big Lent Walk? cafod.org.uk/walk “

ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Carol Galvin, St. Columba’s Church Office, phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm

Hall availability can be checked by looking at St Columba’s Church website – section for Church Hall gives a calendar of events in the Hall. Then contact Sue Carr on 07553 114531 or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.

NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:
14^th January edition will be compiled by Rebecca Vaughan, phone:01244 318632 or   Email: rebecca_vghn@yahoo.co.uk. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that items are emailed or phoned to the compiler by 9.00a.m. on WEDNESDAY  17th JANUARY 2024