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. 

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT  

15 DECEMBER 2024

Sat 14 Dec
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Maureen & Michael Chester RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		John Black RIP
Sun 15 Dec			Third Sunday of Advent
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Muriel & Jim Halligan RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Jason Lou
Mon 16 Dec
St. Theresa’s			Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s	10.30am		Andrew McRoberts
Tue 17 Dec
St. Theresa’s			Priests’ Intentions
St. Columba’s			Private Intentions
Wed 18 Dec
St. Theresa’s			Private Intentions
St. Columba’s	9.30am		Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
	10.15am		Novena Prayers
	10.30am		Bob Breen RIP
Thu 19 Dec
St. Theresa’s			Mae Dunnes
St. Columba’s			Paula & Pete Graham
Fri 20 Dec
St. Theresa’s	10.00am		Sarah Russell RIP
St. Columba’s	12.45pm		Requiem Mass for Catherine Winifred Bond
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

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 this Sunday 15 December 2024.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa

POPE’S DECEMBER 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 Catherine Winifred (Cath) Bond, Ann Massey and Joseph Blundell, as well as their family and friends. Cath’s Requiem Mass will be at St Columba’s on 20 December at 12.45pm. Joe’s funeral will be at St Theresa’s at 12.45 on Monday 23 of December.

ANNIVERSARIES
Maureen Elizabeth Sheriffs, Fr Vincent O’Toole, Catherine (Kitty) McAlinden, Margaret Rose Allmark, Ruth O’Donnell, Francis Joseph Lally

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 OFFERTORY
Loose Plate: £361.65; Planned Giving £81.50; Average weekly SO £555.00. Candles £40.35
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.
15 Dec     Lina Greig, Hopeful Ugandan Hearts
22 Dec     volunteers please
29 Dec     volunteers please

PRAYING TOGETHER
Pray for:

• Pray for the residents of Woburn Drive, Halton Road, Dorset Place and Cotswold Close, Meynell Place, Marlowe Close, Palgrave Close and Tennyson Walk.
• For the Youth Clubs and Youth workers in our churches.
• For all young people in our community.

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

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. Please note that the Parish Carol service is on Friday 20^th December at 6.30p.m.

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.

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.

CHRISTINGLE CAROL – 11.00A.M. MASS
1. O sing about Christingle, your voices loud employ,
Your praises bring to God our King, for Jesus and His joy.

2. The orange of Christingle, the world reminds us of,
And how our God created us, and on us shed His love.

3. The candle of Christingle, with shining flame so bright,
Reminds us of our loving Lord, who is the world’s true light.

4. The red band of Christingle, which plainly we can see,
Reminds us of how Jesus Christ was killed upon that tree.

5. The four sticks of Christingle, with which the orb we spear,
Remind us how God cares for us, through seasons of the year.

6. The fruits of the Christingle, they have a special worth,
Reminding of the Spirit’s fruits as well as fruits of earth.

7. The whole of the Christingle, it is a joy to see,
It shines to show how God our Father loves both you and me.

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.

YOUTH GROUP
Our youth group will meet on Monday 16th December, starting at 7pm in the Iona chapel and finishing at 8.30pm in St.Columba’s Church hall. All parishioners in school year 5, or older are very welcome to come along and join our happy group, learn a bit about our faith, play games, do activities, and generally have fun. Snacks provided. If you need a lift, or more information, please call Denise Lusk (01244 379742).

NEW PRAYER GROUP – LECTIO DIVINA
There is one more session to go before Christmas and this will be on Dec 19^th in the Iona Chapel at 11 a.m. We shall be using the Magnificat as the basis for our prayer time. The session will last no more than 40 minutes, allowing a little time to introduce the process. If you would like to join us, you would be most welcome.

CHRISTMAS EVENTS AT THE COUNTESS HOSPITAL
Tuesday 17^th December at 12.15 – Carol Service for all. Come and join us for a (fairly) traditional Carol Service in the Spiritual Care Centre. 

Wednesday 18^th December at 6.30 – Carols Singing around the Wards . We are hopefully going to get to every ward and sing a few Christmas carols. Patients and staff have been so blessed by this in the past. We even have Rosie, the Trust support dog, to join us this year!          

Thursday 19^th December at 12.15 – Advent Reflection

HIGHLIGHT FROM THE HIGH
Our school Carol Service will take place on Tuesday 17^th December, 6:30pm in the school hall. All warmly welcomed. The Catholic High School wishes you all a blessed and peaceful Christmas.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
The Parish Carol service is on Friday 20^th December at 6.30p.m. – more details to follow.

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.

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

Thought for the week:
‘It is the beautiful task of Advent to awaken in all of us memories of goodness and thus to open doors of hope.’ – Pope Benedict XVI

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.

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.  This means that our newsletter items will need to be submitted before Christmas to ensure printing over this Christmas period.  Please see deadlines in bold below. Please email or phone items to the identified editor.  

Newsletter for	Editor	Email address/ phone number	Last date of items for  submission to the editor
Sunday 22 Dec	Rebecca Vaughan	rebecca_vghn@yahoo.co.uk  01244 318632	Wed 18 Dec
Wed 25 Dec	Harry Sweeney	harrysweeney45@gmail.com  01244 327462	Thu 19 Dec
Sunday 29 Dec	Amy O’Donnell	amyod@hotmail.co.uk  07854290897	Thu 19 Dec
Sunday 5th Jan	Eileen Irwin	st.theresas@btinternet.com  01244 371660	Wed 1st 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. 

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT   

8 DECEMBER 2024

Sat 7 Dec
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		Frank & Gertrude Buddery
Sun 8 Dec			Second Sunday of Advent
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Edward (Eddie)Mapp RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		John O’Boyle RIP
Mon 9 Dec			The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Solemnity
St. Theresa’s	7.00pm		Chris Steele RIP
St. Columba’s	10.30am		Monica Jenkins RIP
Tue 10 Dec
St. Theresa’s			Stephen Dale RIP
St. Columba’s			Private Intentions
Wed 11 Dec
St. Theresa’s			Priests’ Intentions
St. Columba’s	9.30am		Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
	10.15am		Novena Prayers
	10.30am		Mary Walpole RIP
Thu 12 Dec
St. Theresa’s			Irene Williams RIP
St. Columba’s			Priests’ Intentions
Fri 13 Dec			St Lucy, V, M. Mem.
St. Theresa’s	10.00am		Joseph Russell RIP
St. Columba’s			The Parish
Sat 14 Dec
St. Theresa’s	5.00pm		Maureen & Michael Chester RIP
St. Columba’s	6.30pm		John Black RIP
Sun 15 Dec
St. Theresa’s	9.30am		Muriel & Jim Halligan RIP
St. Columba’s	11.00am		Parishioners’ Intentions

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.

FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Monday 9 December is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day of obligation, Mass at St Columba’s is at 10.30am and at St Theresa’s at 7pm.

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 DESEASED
Please remember in your prayers Evan Rothwell, Catherine Winifred Bond, Ann Massey and Joseph Blundell, as well as their family and friends. Joe’s funeral will be held in St. Theresa’s at 12.45 on Monday 23^rd of December. A memorial service for Evan Rothwell will be held in St. Werburgh’s at 11.00a.m. on Saturday 14^th of December.

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.

ANNIVERSARIES
Christina (Chrissie) Harrison, Irene Patricia Williams

LIVE STREAMING OF MASS
Mass will be streamed at St Theresa’s this Sunday 8^th December 2024.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa

PARISH OFFERTORY
Loose Plate: £555.66; Planned Giving £225.38; Average weekly SO £555.00. Candles £17.63
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.
8 Dec          volunteers please
15 Dec          Lina Greig, Hopeful Ugandan Hearts
22 Dec          volunteers please

PRAYING TOGETHER
Pray for:

• Pray for the residents of Glastonbury Avenue, Tewkesbury Close, Marlowe Avenue, Cairns Crescent, Hobart Way, Auckland Road and Wyndham Road.
• For those who are bereaved and those who provide support.

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

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 will then be available in the porches during Advent.  Do take it home and use it as reference to the many Advent and Christmas Services. Please note that the Parish Carol service is on Friday 20^th December at 6.30p.m.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS
There will be a collection after Mass on 14th & 15th December, at St. Columba’s, to decorate the Church over the Festive Season. Thank you in advance for your continued support.

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.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
The Christmas Party for senior members of the Parish and all volunteers will be held on the Saturday 14th December starting at 2 p.m. in St Columba’s parish hall. If anyone from St Theresa’s would like a lift, please put your name on the list at the back of church.

The Parish Carol service is on Friday 20^th December at 6.30p.m. – more details to follow.

SOUND SYSTEM AT ST THERESA’S
The new sound system is being installed over the next few days.  Apologies for last weekend as only the microphone on the pulpit was working.

THE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL CHRISTMAS FAIR
Will be held onThursday12th December between 4 – 6:15pm.  £1 entrance fee on the evening. Fabulous stalls, Santa’s Grotto, food, music and more! All welcome! 

CHRISTMAS CARDS
Christmas cards are on sale in the Piety Shop. If anyone would like any other religious items, please ring Janet on 01244 329469 as I have a catalogue and can order the item or see Carol after Sunday morning Mass at St Theresa’s.    

CHESTER AID TO THE HOMELESS
To all those in the Parish who donated clothing items to the charity, thank you so very much.  They are all much appreciated.

NEW PRAYER GROUP – LECTIO DIVINA
There will be two more sessions of this quiet prayer group which will take place on Thursday Dec 12th and Thursday Dec 19th, both at 11.a.m in the Iona Chapel. If you have not been before, you are most welcome to join us. For information contact Lyn Coyle on marilyn.coyle44@gmail.com or 07735574397

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.

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.

RED MISSION BOXES, ST COLUMBA’S
If you are a red Missio box holder, please leave your box in the sacristy for counting and pick up your emptied box, with your name on, from the table in the rear porch of St Columba’s.

ROMAN CATHOLIC HOSPITAL MASS
Will be celebrated on Thursday 12th December 2023 at 12.15pm in the Countess of Chester Hospital Chapel. 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 COCH chapel.

CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
The Catholic High School is thrilled to share with you the outcome of the recent inspection for Catholic Schools. We are proud to announce that the overall quality of Catholic Education provided by the school is Good, having achieved an Outstanding Catholic Life and Mission, Good Religious Education, and Outstanding Collective Worship. This can only happen thanks to the dedicated work of Mrs. McKeagney, our headteacher, Mrs. Johnson, Chair of Governors, and all the team members, including the RE department, chaplaincy and the unconditional support from Fr. Paul Shaw. A huge thanks to all the CHS staff members, our students, governors, parents, Parishes and parishioners for contributing to this excellent outcome. To read the full report, please visit our school website: Catholic-Schools-Inspectorate-Report-2024-CHSC.pdf

Thought for the week: In the midst of the seasonal rush, prioritizing quiet moments allows us all to recentre our focus on the spiritual significance and true meaning of Christmas.  “Mark the season of Advent by loving and serving others with God’s own love and concern.” – St. Mother Teresa

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.

NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER
Sunday 15^th December 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 11 December 2024