THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

12 JANUARY 2025

Sat 11 Jan
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Joe Blundell RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		Bob Breen RIP
Sun 12 Jan			The Baptism of the Lord
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Susan Taylor RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Paul and Theresa Connor
Mon 13 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s	10.30am		Anne Daly
Tue 14 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Priests’ Intentions
St. Columba’s			Joan Bullough RIP
Wed 15 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Joanne & Ben Evans & Family
St. Columba’s	9.30am		Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
	10.15am		Novena Prayers
	10.30am		Eddie & Elwell Family
Thu 16 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Bridget William RIP
St. Columba’s			Priests’ Intentions
Fri 17 Jan			St Anthony, Ab. Mem.
St. Theresa’s	10.00am		Anthony Eaton RIP
St. Columba’s			The Parish
Sat 18 Jan
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Cath Bond RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		Tony Wernham RIP
Sun 19 Jan			Day of Special Prayer for World Peace
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 at Columba’s on Sunday 12^th January 2025 at 11.00am
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa

POPE’S JANUARY PRAYER INTENTIONS
 Let us pray for migrants, refugees and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.

RECENTLY DECEASED
Please remember in your prayers, John Tobin who died recently, as well as his family and friends. John’s Requiem Mass will be held on Thursday 23rd January at 10.30am at St Columba’s.

ANNIVERSARIES
Francina Anna J Wright, Catherine (Cath) Bond, David Whitby, Antonio Patino Pan, Christine Appleton, Elizabeth McGovern, Frederick Arnold Basnett

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 11.30a.m.
St Columba’s: From 6p.m. before the 6.30p.m. Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30p.m. before 5p.m. Saturday evening Mass.

PARISH OFFERTORY: 25^th & 29^th December
Loose Plate: £645.57/£946.13; Planned Giving £268.00 /£236.15; Average weekly SO £555.00. Candles £ 0.00. Many thanks for your generous support.

ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
The coffee rota for 2025 is now on the noticeboard in St Columba’s Hall, and you can make £30-£50 for your chosen cause. The rota now has a link to a booking calendar online. Please enter your name, good cause and phone number against your preferred dates or contact Margaret Curtis on 07876 061993. 

FIRST FORGIVENESS PARENTS’ MEETING
Parents are reminded that the meeting to discuss the Sacrament of First Forgiveness is on Monday 13th January at 7pm in St Werburgh’s and St Columba’s School. The Celebration of the Sacrament for the children will be on Saturday 25th January at 10.00am here in St Columba’s Church.

A YEAR OF HOPE
An Introduction to the Jubilee Year with the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development.

2025 is a Jubilee year, but what does that mean? How will the Church be celebrating it? How can I get involved? On Saturday 18 Jan, 10:30am-midday, Catholic talk show host and author Nana Churcher, and CAFOD’s Simon Giarchi will be hosting Fr Jan Nowotnik (Director of Mission for the Bishop’s Conference), Christine Allen (CAFOD’s Director) and Kayode Akintola (CAFOD’s Head of Africa) and more in this lively start to the Jubilee. Hear highlights of how we’re celebrating as a church and how we can be tangible signs of hope and build a better world together throughout this holy year. With a special appearance by Catholic band Ooberfuse.

You can join the celebration online by registering using the following link: cafod.org.uk/jubilee

PRIESTS’ RETIREMENT FUND-19 Jan
There will be a retiring collection on the weekend of 18/19 January in aid of our retired priests.

CAR PARK AT ST COLUMBA’S
On Saturday 11 and 18 January there are events taking place in the Hall and the car park will be used by people attending these events as well as parishioners at Mass.

BOOK MARKS
There are bookmarks for everyone in the parish.  Please take one home with you.

PRAYING TOGETHER
Pray for:

• Pray for the residents of Newton Lane, Appleton Road, Handforth Road, Exeter Place, Burns Way, Masefield Drive, Aragon Green, Brentwood Road. 
• For the Archive Group, Social Committees and fundraising groups.
• For the fellowship and sharing at social gatherings.

SOUND SYSTEMS AT ST THERESA’S
The 200 club paid for the installation costs of the sound system, £300 was made from fund raising and the parish covered  rest of the cost.

DAY OF SPECIAL PRAYER FOR WORLD PEACE
Sunday 19 January is a day of Special prayer for peace.

NEW TO THE PARISH? WELCOME!
We have a New Parish Registration Form to be completed and sent to either parish office to let us know that you are here and enable us to welcome you to the parish. The form can be completed and submitted online or downloaded and printed out. Instructions are on the form, which can also be found in the front porches of both churches. You will find it on the I’m New tab of the website.

THANK-YOU FOR THE KNITTED CRIB
Many thanks for the donation of the knitted crib which was displayed in St. Columba’s front porch. It will shortly be put away to re-appear each year for many years to come.

Thought for the week: Ripples. “Never let them tell you that you cannot make a change, when the ripples of a single stone can make a million waves.” Becky Hemsley.

LOOKING FOR A LOVING HOME
A VERY, VERY LARGE POTTERY PLANT POT – ideal for Conservatory or Patio is looking for a loving home. It can be viewed in St. Columba’s Church kitchen. If interested, please inform Magdalena in Church Office.

LOST AND FOUND
Left after Christmas Eve Children’s Service. A child’s purple jumper and quilted waistcoat. Can be collected from Iona Chapel.

ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Magdalena Bukowska, St. Columba’s Church Office, phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Monday to Friday 9a.m. to 2p.m.
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 Magdalena Bukowska on 01244 624019 for enquires within the office hours stated above or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.

NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER
Sunday 19^th January  edition will be compiled by Muriel Green Phone: 01244 383836   or email: muriel.green1@btinternet.com. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that items are also emailed to Fr William or phoned to the compiler by 9.00a.m. on WEDNESDAY 15 January 2025

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

5 JANUARY 2025

Sat 4 Jan
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		Kevin Campbell RIP
Sun 5 Jan
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Karen Reid’s Intentions
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Evan Rothwell RIP & Family
Mon 6 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Ed & Bernie McCarney & Family
St. Columba’s	10.30am		Judith’s  Intentions
Tue 7 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Priests’ Intentions
St. Columba’s			Parishioners’ Intentions
Wed 8 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Sue, Tony & Family
St. Columba’s	9.30am		Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
	10.15am		Novena Prayers
	10.30am		Frank Jeffes
Thu 9 Jan
St. Theresa’s			Isobel & Shaun Evans
St. Columba’s			Priests’ Intentions
Fri 10 Jan
St. Theresa’s	10.00am		Jessica Baker RIP
St. Columba’s			The Parish
Sat 11 Jan
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Joe Blundell RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		Bob Breen RIP
Sun 12 Jan
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Susan Taylor RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Paul & Theresa Connor

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 at St Theresa’s on Sunday 5 January 2025 at 9.30am
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa

POPE’S JANUARY PRAYER INTENTIONS
 Let us pray for migrants, refugees and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.

RECENTLY DECEASED
Please remember in your prayers, John Tobin who died recently, as well as his family and friends.

ANNIVERSARIES
Jean Barbara Mary Blake, Sheila Hainey, Betty Audrey Gore, Czeslawa Klepala, Elizabeth McGovern

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 11.30a.m.
St Columba’s: From 6p.m. before the 6.30p.m. Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30p.m. before 5p.m. Saturday evening Mass.

PARISH OFFERTORY
Loose Plate: £547.65; Planned Giving £192.50; Average weekly SO £555.00. Candles £24.73
Many thanks for your generous support.

ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
The coffee rota is on the noticeboard in St Columba’s Hall. Please enter your name and good cause against your preferred dates. You could make £30-£50 for your chosen cause.

THANKYOU
Fr William and Fr Peter would like to thank everyone for the gifts and good wishes .

200 CLUB
The new cycle starts TODAY,  5 January. Thank you for your continued support.

ADVENT CAROL SERVICE
The knitted Nativity figures successfully travelled around the parish families and schools and arrived safely in St Theresa’s for the carol service. Thank you to everyone who took part. Photos can be seen on the website. Donations for CAFOD’s appeal for Ukraine amounted to £140.

PRIESTS’ RETIREMENT FUND-19 Jan 2025
There will be a retiring collection on the weekend of 18/19 January in aid of our retired priests.

CAR PARK AT ST COLUMBA’S
On Saturday 11 and 18 January there are events taking place in the Hall and the car park will be used by people attending these events as well as parishioners at Mass.

CARITAS
There is a basket by the crib for donations to CARITAS for their work with children and families of the Diocese.

BOOK MARKS
There are bookmarks for everyone in the parish.  Please take one home with you.

PRAYING TOGETHER
Pray for:

• the residents of Newhall Road, Winston Court, Arradon Court, Breton Close, Wealstone Lane, Well Lane, Bank Close, Newton Hall Drive, Durham Road, Canterbury Road, Lichfield Road and Warwick Road.
• For all those who live and work in Care Homes.

SOUND SYSTEMS AT ST THERESA’S
The 200 club paid for the installation costs of the sound system, £300 was made from fund raising and the parish covered  rest of the cost.

DAY OF SPECIAL PRAYER FOR WORLD PEACE
Sunday 19 January is a day of Special prayer for peace.

CHRISTMAS MEMORY TREE
A time to remember those who will not be able to celebrate Christmas with us this year.   There will be a tree and cards on the side Altar (near back door) at St Columba’s, to write your message and hang on the tree.    The message is the important thing, but anyone who wishes to make a donation, a box will be available for donations in aid of the Parish Third World Projects.

NEW TO THE PARISH? WELCOME!
We have a New Parish Registration Form to be completed and sent to either parish office to let us know that you are here and enable us to welcome you to the parish. The form can be completed and submitted online or downloaded and printed out. Instructions are on the form, which can also be found in the front porches of both churches. You will find it on the I’m New tab of the website.

PRAYER TO THE HOLY FAMILY
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in you we contemplate the splendour of true love; to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth, may families never again experience violence, rejection and division; may all who have been hurt or scandalised find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth, make us once more mindful of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Graciously hear our prayer.

Amen.

ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Magdalena Bukowska, St. Columba’s Church Office, phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Monday to Friday 9a.m. to 2p.m.
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 Magdalena Bukowska on 01244 624019 for enquires within the office hours stated above or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.

NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER
Sunday 12 January  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 also emailed to Fr William or phoned to the compiler by 9.00a.m. on WEDNESDAY 8 January 2025

CHRISTMASTIDE  

29 DECEMBER 2024

Sat 28 Dec
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Michael Gerrard Dunne RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		Evan Rothwell RIP & the Family
Sun 29 Dec			The Holy Family Feast Feast
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Graham George RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Lily & Keith Olive
Mon 30 Dec			Sixth Day of Christmas Octave
St. Columba’s	10.30am		Parishioners’ Intentions
Tue 31 Dec			Seventh Day of Christmas Octave
St. Theresa’s			Beryl Williams RIP
St. Columba’s			Sr Annie Morris
Wed 1 Jan			Mary the Mother of God. Solemnity
St. Theresa’s	10.00am		Margaret Russell’s Intentions
Thu 2 Jan			SS Basil the Great, P, D. Mem.
St. Theresa’s			Fr Prin’s Intentions
St. Columba’s	12.00pm		Priests’ Intentions
Fri 3 Jan			Friday of the Christmas Season
St. Theresa’s	10.00am		Henry Michael Lloyd RIP
St. Columba’s			The Parish
Sat 4 Jan
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		Kevin Campbell RIP
Sun 5 Jan			Epiphany of the Lord. Solemnity
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Karen Reid’s Intentions
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Evan Rothwell and the FamilyIntentions

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 at St Columba’s on Sunday 29^th December.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa

RECENTLY DECEASED
Please remember in your prayers Ann Massey and Joseph Blundell, as well as their family and friends. Ann Massey’s Memorial Service will be at St Werburgh’s at 11.00am on Saturday 4^th January.

ANNIVERSARIES
Ruth O’Donnell, Francis Joseph Lally, Alfred Desmond Fox, Ellie Marsden, Muriel Halligan, Michael Gerrard Dunne.

POPE’S DECMBER PRAYER INTENTIONS
We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthen our faith, helping us to recognise the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.

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 11.30a.m.
St Columba’s: From 6p.m. before the 6.30p.m. Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30p.m. before 5p.m. Saturday evening Mass.

NEW YEAR GREETING AND THANKS
Fr William and Fr Peter would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year.  A big thank you to all those who have helped in any way with the Christmas services. Thank you for all your support throughout the year.

PARISH OFFICES CHRISTMAS CLOSURE
The offices will close on Tuesday 24th December and re-open on Thursday 2nd January 2025. In an emergency, please call 01244 371660.

PARISH OFFERTORY
Loose Plate: £274.30; Planned Giving £116.50; Average weekly SO £555.00. Candles £24.73
Many thanks for your generous support.

ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
The coffee rota is on the noticeboard in St Columba’s Hall. Please enter your name and good cause against your preferred dates. You could make £30-£50 for your chosen cause.
29 Dec    volunteers please

PRAYING TOGETHER
Pray for:

• For the residents of Woodlea Avenue, Cornwall Road, Aldford Road, Fowler Road, Clifton Drive, Blacon Point Road and Dalton Close.
• For All Age Family Worship, Messy Church, Junior Church and Children’s Liturgy.
• For all children who attend our churches each Sunday and their leaders.

UPTON CHURCHES FIFTH SUNDAY SERVICE
The next service will be held at 4.30p.m. TODAY Sunday 29^th December at the United Reformed Church on Heath Road.  The theme will be “EMMANUEL – God with us”.  Take this opportunity to round off your Christmas week in worship with the other Upton churches.

BAPTISMAL CANDLES AND CERTIFICATES
Irene Queenan is going to retire soon from the art of preparing Baptismal Candles and Certificates. If anyone would like to take over this role, please contact the office. 

CARITAS
There is a basket by the crib for donations to CARITAS for their work with children and families of the Diocese.

CHRISTMAS MEMORY TREE
A time to remember those who will not be able to celebrate Christmas with us this year.   There will be a tree and cards on the side Altar (near back door) at St Columba’s, to write your message and hang on the tree.    The message is the important thing, but anyone who wishes to make a donation, a box will be available for donations in aid of the Parish Third World Projects.

ST COLUMBA’S CHRISTMAS TREE
Many thanks and very well done to the youth group who decorated the tree near Our Lady’s altar. You did a great job.

200 CLUB
The new envelopes are available for collection at the back of St Theresa’s Church ready for the new cycle which starts on 5^th January. Thank you for your continued support.

SOUND SYSTEMS AT ST THERESA’S
The work has now been finished and we hope you find it a big improvement. We will be moving the hymn numbers board as soon as we can get a bracket fixed for it to go on.

NEW TO THE PARISH? WELCOME!
We have a New Parish Registration Form to be completed and sent to either parish office to let us know that you are here and enable us to welcome you to the parish. The form can be completed and submitted online or downloaded and printed out. Instructions are on the form, which can also be found in the front porches of both churches. You will find it on the I’m New tab of the website.

SATURDAY 4 JANUARY
There is an event in St Columba’s Parish Hall during the day on Saturday 4^th January. The car park may be busier than usual for Saturday evening Mass. Please bear this in mind and be courteous to our neighbours if having to park on the surrounding roads.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – as we welcome our New Year: “Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities in each new day.”  Michael Josephson.   

QUIZ QUESTIONS – JUST FOR FUN
1     How tall is the record holder for the tallest snowman?
2      What is a baby hedgehog called?
3     How many ghosts visit Scrooge in A Christmas Carol?
4     What is the main fruit used to create a Christingle?  
5     When do the 12 days of Christmas start?
6     Which British Monarch delivered the first ever Christmas message?
Answers at the bottom of the page

PRAYER TO THE HOLY FAMILY
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in you we contemplate the splendour of true love; to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth, may families never again experience violence, rejection and division; may all who have been hurt or scandalised find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth, make us once more mindful of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Graciously hear our prayer.

Amen.

ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Magdalena Bukowska, St. Columba’s Church Office, phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Monday to Friday 9a.m. to 2p.m.
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 Magdalena Bukowska on 01244 624019 for enquires within the office hours stated above or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.

NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER
Sunday 5 January 2025 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 also emailed to Fr William or phoned to the compiler by 9.00a.m. on WEDNESDAY 1^st January 2025.  

Quiz Answers 1. 113ft 2. Hoglet 3. 4 ghosts 4. Orange 5. Christmas day 6. King George V in 1932

THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD

25 DECEMBER 2024

Tue 24 Dec			Christmas Eve
St. Theresa’s	4.30pm		Carols & Readings
	5.00pm		Constance & Rowlands
St. Columba’s	4.30pm		Children’s Nativity Mass, Children’s Intention
	7.00pm		Kevin, Frances & Martin Connolly RIP
Wed 25 Dec			The Nativity of the Lord – Christmas Day
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Parishioners’ Intentions
	11.00am		Ellie & Joseph Marsden RIP
Thu 26 Dec			The Feast of St Stephen
St. Theresa’s			Muriel Hallingan
St. Columba’s	12noon		Paul Murphy
Fri 27 Dec			St John, Ap, Ev. Feast
St. Theresa’s	10.00am		John Lloyd RIP
St. Columba’s			The Parish
Sat 28 Dec
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Michael Gerrard Dunne RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		Evan Rothwell RIP & the Family
Sun 29 Dec			The Feast of the Holy Family
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Graham George RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Lily & Keith Olive

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 at St Theresa’s on  25^th December 2024 and at St Columba’s on 25^th December 2024.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa

CHRISTMAS GREETING
Fr William and Fr Peter would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  A big thank you  to all those who have helped in any way with the Christmas services. Thank you for all your support throughout the year.

POPE’S DECMBER PRAYER INTENTIONS
We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthen our faith, helping us to recognise the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES LEAFLET
Copies are available in the porches during Advent.  Do take it home and use it as reference to the many Advent and Christmas Services.

ANNIVERSARIES
Ellie Marsden, Francis Joseph Lally, Alfred Desmond Fox, Muriel Halligan, Michael Gerrard Dunne.

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 11.30a.m.
St Columba’s: From 6p.m. before the 6.30p.m. Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30p.m. before 5p.m. Saturday evening Mass.

PARISH OFFERTORY
Loose Plate: £TBC; Planned Giving £TBC; Average weekly SO £555.00.
Many thanks for your generous support.

ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
The coffee rota is on the noticeboard in St Columba’s Hall. Please enter your name and good cause against your preferred dates. You could make £30-£50 for your chosen cause.
29 Dec     volunteers please

PRAYING TOGETHER
Pray for:

• Pray for the residents of Woodlea Avenue, Cornwall Road, Aldford Road, Fowler Road, Clifton Drive, Blacon Point Road and Dalton Close.
• For All Age Family Worship, Messy Church, Junior Church and Children’s Liturgy.
• For all children who attend our churches each Sunday and their leaders.

WALK WITH ME – £1
There are copies of this Advent booklet price £1 available at the back of church.

PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD
On behalf of the parish clergy, the Communications Group has designed a Christmas Card for each family in the parish, expressing the warm good wishes of the clergy at this holy time. The back of the card carries a reminder of service times over the Christmas week which it is hoped will be useful should you lose the fuller list prepared by the Liturgy Group. These cards will be given to families over the next two weeks, depending on print date from the printer. Any spares will be left in the porches so that each family will have a card.

UPTON CHURCHES CRIB
This crib is on display during Advent in the rear porch at St Columba’s.  There is an explanation of what we know of its history on display beside it.

UPTON CHURCHES FIFTH SUNDAY SERVICE
The next service will be held at 4.30 p.m. on Sunday 29^th December at the United Reformed Church on Heath Road.  The theme will be “EMMANUEL – God with us”.  Take this opportunity to round off your Christmas week in worship with the other Upton churches.

BAPTISMAL CANDLES AND CERTIFICATES
Irene Queenan is going to retire soon from the art of preparing Baptismal Candles and Certificates. If anyone would like to take over this role, please contact the office.

CARITAS
There is a basket by the crib for donations to CARITAS for their work with children and families of the Diocese.

200 CLUB
The new envelopes are available for collection at the back of St Theresa’s Church ready for the new cycle which starts on 5^th January. Thank you for your continued support.

SOUND SYSTEMS AT ST THERESA’S
The work has now been finished and we hope you find it a big improvement. We will be moving the hymn numbers board as soon as we can get a bracket fixed for it to go on.

CHRISTMAS  MEMORY  TREE
A time to remember those who will not be able to celebrate Christmas with us this year.   There will be a tree and cards on the side Altar (near back door) at St Columba’s, to write your message and hang on the tree. The message is the important thing, but anyone who wishes to make a donation,  a box will be available for donations in aid of the Parish Third World Projects. Many thanks and very well done to the youth group who decorated the tree near Our Lady’s altar. You did a great job.

NEW TO THE PARISH? WELCOME!
We have a New Parish Registration Form to be completed and sent to either parish office to let us know that you are here and enable us to welcome you to the parish. The form can be completed and submitted online or downloaded and printed out. Instructions are on the form, which can also be found in the front porches of both churches. You will find it on the I’m New tab of the website.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“A stable had something in it that was bigger than our world.”  C S Lewis

CHRISTMAS JOKES
Why are Christmas trees bad at sewing?
Answer: They are always dropping the needles!

What hides in the bakery at Christmas?
Answer A Mince -spy!

CHRISTMASS TRIVIA QUIZ
1 Where do advent calendars originate from? 
2 In which Ocean is Christmas Island found?
3 How many gifts in total were given in “The twelve days of Christmas” song? 
4 In Bolivia, what animal is commonly brought to attend mass on Christmas Eve?
5 Boxing day is also known by another name celebrating a saint, who is the saint?
6 How many “La’s” are in the song Deck the halls?

Answers at the bottom of the page.

ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Magdalena Bukowska, St. Columba’s Church Office, Phone: 01244 624019, Email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Monday to Friday 9a.m. to 2p.m.
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 Magdalena Bukowska on 01244 624019 for enquires within the office hours stated above or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.

SUBMISSION OF ITEMS FOR NEWSLETTERS OVER THE CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR PERIOD
Our printers will be taking a well-earned holiday over the Christmas period and have already printed the newsletters for Christmas Day and for Sunday 29 December 2024.  Items for the newsletter of Sunday 5 January 2025 should be sent to Eileen Irwin, phone 01244 371660, email st.theresas@btinternet.com by Wednesday 1 Jan 2025.
As always please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensue that items are also emailed to Fr Williams.  If there are any urgent items during this period, please speak to one of our Priests or Deacon. 

Trivia answers: 1 Germany; 2 The Indian Ocean; 3. 364 gifts. 4 Llamas 5 St Stephen  6. 96!

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT  

22 DECEMBER 2024

Sat 21 Dec
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Ruth O’Donnell RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		Pat Black
Sun 22 Dec
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Frank & Mary Lally
St. Columba’s	11.00am		The Elwell Family esp. Eddie
Mon 23 Dec
St. Theresa’s	12.45pm		Funeral of Joseph Blundell
St. Columba’s	10.30am		Brian Haslam RIP
Tue 24 Dec			Christmas Eve
St. Theresa’s	4.30pm		Carols & Readings
	5.00pm		Constance & Rowlands
St. Columba’s	4.30pm		Children’s Nativity Mass, Children’s Intention
	7.00pm		Kevin, Frances & Martin Connolly RIP
Wed 25 Dec			The Nativity of the Lord – Christmas Day
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Parishioners’ Intentions
	11.00am		Ellie & Joseph Marsden RIP
Thu 26 Dec			The Feast of St Stephen
St. Theresa’s			Muriel Hallingan
St. Columba’s	12noon		Paul Murphy
Fri 27 Dec			St John, Ap, Ev. Feast
St. Theresa’s	10.00am		John Lloyd RIP
St. Columba’s			The Parish
Sat 28 Dec
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Michael Gerrard Dunne RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		Evan Rothwell RIP & the Family
Sun 29 Dec			The Feast of the Holy Family
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Graham George RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Lily & Keith Olive

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 on Sunday 22nd and 25th December 2024 and St Columba’s also on 25th December 2024.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa

POPE’S DECMBER PRAYER INTENTIONS
We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthen our faith, helping us to recognise the Risen Christ in our daily lives, and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.

RECENTLY DECEASED
Please remember in your prayers, Joseph Blundell, as well as their family and friends. Joe’s funeral will be at St Theresa’s at 12.45pm on Monday 23^rd of December.

ANNIVERSARIES
Ruth O’Donnell, Francis Joseph Lally, Alfred Desmond Fox, Ellie Marsden, Muriel Halligan, Michael Gerrard Dunne.

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 11.30a.m.
St Columba’s: From 6p.m. before the 6.30p.m. Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30p.m. before 5p.m. Saturday evening Mass.

CHRISTMAS GREETING
Fr William and Fr Peter would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  A big thank you to all those who have helped in any way with the Christmas services. Thank you for all your support throughout the year.

PARISH OFFICES CHRISTMAS CLOSURE
The offices will close on Tuesday 24th December and re-open on Thursday 2nd January 2025. In an emergency, please call 01244 371660.

PARISH OFFERTORY
Loose Plate: £274.30; Planned Giving £116.50; Average weekly SO £555.00. Candles £24.73
Many thanks for your generous support.

ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
The coffee rota is on the noticeboard in St Columba’s Hall. Please enter your name and good cause against your preferred dates. You could make £30-£50 for your chosen cause.
22 Dec   volunteers please
29 Dec    volunteers please

PRAYING TOGETHER
Pray for:

• For the residents of Woodlea Avenue, Cornwall Road, Aldford Road, Fowler Road, Clifton Drive, Blacon Point Road and Dalton Close.
• For All Age Family Worship, Messy Church, Junior Church and Children’s Liturgy.
• For all children who attend our churches each Sunday and their leaders.

ADVENT JOURNEY OF OUR KNITTED MARY, JOSEPH & DONKEY FIGURES
Our Holy Family have begun their Bethlehem journey to St. Theresa’s crib. Parish families are hosting them nightly, and they will be stopping to visit the schools of St. Werburgh and St. Columba’s and St. Theresa’s on their way.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES LEAFLET
Copies are available in the porches during Advent.  Do take it home and use it as reference to the many Advent and Christmas Services.

CHRISTMAS EVE MASS – ST COLUMBA’S
We are looking for children of all ages to help with the 4.30pm Christmas Eve Mass at St Columba’s.
If you are a budding actor, reader, sheep, shepherd, King or Angel etc. and would like to be part of the service please contact Gillian Blatch gh.settle@gmail.com

UPTON CHURCHES CRIB
This crib is on display during Advent in the rear porch at St Columba’s.  There is an explanation of what we know of its history on display beside it.

UPTON CHURCHES FIFTH SUNDAY SERVICE
The next service will be held at 4.30p.m. on next Sunday 29^th December at the United Reformed Church on Heath Road.  The theme will be “EMMANUEL – God with us”.  Take this opportunity to round off your Christmas week in worship with the other Upton churches.

BAPTISMAL CANDLES AND CERTIFICATES
Irene Queenan is going to retire soon from the art of preparing Baptismal Candles and Certificates. If anyone would like to take over this role, please contact the office.

CARITAS
There is a basket by the crib for donations to CARITAS for their work with children and families of the Diocese.

CHRISTMAS MEMORY TREE
A time to remember those who will not be able to celebrate Christmas with us this year.   There will be a tree and cards on the side Altar (near back door) at St Columba’s, to write your message and hang on the tree.    The message is the important thing, but anyone who wishes to make a donation, a box will be available for donations in aid of the Parish Third World Projects.

ST COLUMBA’S CHRISTMAS TREE
Many thanks and very well done to the youth group who decorated the tree near Our Lady’s altar. You did a great job.

200 CLUB
The new envelopes are available for collection at the back of St Theresa’s Church ready for the new cycle which starts on 5^th January. Thank you for your continued support.

WALK WITH ME – £1
There are copies of this Advent booklet price £1 available at the back of church.

SOUND SYSTEMS AT ST THERESA’S
The work has now been finished and we hope you find it a big improvement. We will be moving the hymn numbers board as soon as we can get a bracket fixed for it to go on.

NEW TO THE PARISH? WELCOME!
We have a New Parish Registration Form to be completed and sent to either parish office to let us know that you are here and enable us to welcome you to the parish. The form can be completed and submitted online or downloaded and printed out. Instructions are on the form, which can also be found in the front porches of both churches. You will find it on the I’m New tab of the website.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS
There will be a collection after Mass this weekend at St. Columba’s to decorate the Church over the Festive Season. For St Theresa’s, please place in an envelope marked ‘flowers’ and leave in the offertory basket. Thank you in advance for your continued support.

PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD
On behalf of the parish clergy, the Communications Group has designed a Christmas Card for each family in the parish, expressing the warm good wishes of the clergy at this holy time. The back of the card carries a reminder of service times over the Christmas week which it is hoped will be useful should you lose the fuller list prepared by the Liturgy Group. These cards will be given to families over the next two weeks, depending on print date from the printer. Any spares will be left in the porches so that each family will have a card.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – “Advent is a time of waiting for our Lord, who will visit us all in our own hearts. The Lord is coming! Let us wait for him!” – Pope Francis

PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING 11 NOVEMBER 2024
The parish’s involvement with the Pope’s invitation to the consultation process of the Synod took place during 2021 and 2022. The parish held a series of meetings with parishioners and invited written contributions in relation to desirable changes, within the church as a whole and in particular to our parish. Over 70 parishioners attended the meetings and over 200 written responses were received.

On behalf of the parish the Pastoral Council used all this information to submit a response to Bishop Mark in April 2022 regarding the parish’s thoughts on changes to the whole church. That matter then left our hands and contributed to the response from the bishop to the Bishops Conference of England and Wales.

The Pastoral Council then used your suggestions about changes to be made to the parish to draw up a Parish Development Plan. This was completed in summer 2022 and is available on the church web site. Putting that plan into practice has formed the focus of much activity in the parish over the last two years.

The Pastoral Council evaluated the implementation of the plan and identified priorities for activity for next year, 2025. These will be available on our website after formal agreement.

The overall conclusion was that a number of priorities for action had been achieved, including a regular children’s liturgy at St Columba’s; a re-vamp of the notice boards and a major revision to our website to make it easier to navigate and be more informative; the involvement of more parishioners in a variety of parish ministries. Further developments in these areas and others will focus our activities next year.

Pauline Rourke, Ann McCarthy, co –chairs Pastoral Council

ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Magdalena Bukowska, St. Columba’s Church Office, phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Monday to Friday 9a.m. to 2p.m.
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 Magdalena Bukowska on 01244 624019 for enquires within the office hours stated above or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.

SUBMISSION OF ITEMS FOR NEWSLETTERS OVER THE CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR PERIOD
Our printers will be taking a well-earned holiday over the Christmas period and have already printed the newsletters for Christmas Day and for Sunday 29 December 2024.  Items for the newsletter of Sunday 5 January 2025 should be sent to Eileen Irwin, phone 01244 371660, email st.theresas@btinternet.com by Wednesday 1 Jan 2025.

As always please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensue that items are also emailed to Fr Williams.  If there are any urgent items during this period, please speak to one of our Priests or Deacon.