THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT – 1 DECEMBER 2024
| Sat 30 Nov | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Bill Mansley RIP | |
| Sun 1 Dec | 1st Sunday of Advent, Blessing of the New Lectionaries | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Jefferey Samuel Parry RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Alvis Deans RIP | |
| Mon 2 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Special Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.30am | Clifford Peaker | |
| Tue 3 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | Holy Souls | ||
| Wed 4 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Holy Souls | ||
| St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | ||
| 10.30am | Avondale Williams RIP | ||
| Thu 5 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Olga Jones Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | Holy Souls | ||
| Fri 6 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 10.00am | John Murphy RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | Holy Souls | ||
| Sat 7 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Frank & Gertrude Buddery | |
| Sun 8 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Edward (Eddie) Mapp 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.
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS
Mass will be streamed at St Columba’s this Sunday 1st 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.
ANNIVERSARIES
Ann White, Hilary Watmough, Fr Edward McCann CSSp, Jefferey Samuel Parry, Paolo Florio.
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: £533.30; Planned Giving £176.91; Average weekly SO £555.00. Candles £34.55 Badminton £200. Piety Stall £148.68.
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.
01 Dec Richard Curtis – Altar Servers
08 Dec volunteers please
15 Dec Lina Greig, Hopeful Ugandan Hearts
PRAYING TOGETHER
Pray for:
- the residents of Gatesheath Drive, Alpraham Crescent, St James Avenue, Maitland Way, Canberra Way, Roebourne Rise & Melbourne Road.
- For those who prepare couples for marriage.
- For those couples married in our churches this year and those who are about to be married.
BLESSING OF THE NEW LECTIONARIES
The new lectionaries will be Blessed at all Masses THIS weekend, 1st December 2024.
CORRECTION THE ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS LEAFLET
The Upton Churches Fifth Sunday Service on Sunday 29th December will be at Upton United Reformed Church and not at Holy Ascension.
SEASON OF ADVENT
On Sunday 1st December, as we start our journey through the Season of Advent , we invite you back into St Columba’s church at 12.30pm (following 11am Mass and tea and coffee) for a short period of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. All are welcome and we would love for the children of the parish, especially those who are preparing to make their First Holy Communion, to be part of this time of prayer.
WALK WITH ME – £1
There are copies of this Advent booklet price £1 available at the back of church.
ADVENT JOURNEY – HOSTING OUR KNITTED MARY, JOSEPH & DONKEY FIGURES
To continue our Advent tradition, we’re asking households, particularly those with young children, to host our knitted Mary, Joseph and donkey for one or more nights to symbolise the journey to Bethlehem. The knitted family will arrive at St Theresa’s crib, during the Carol Service.
If you can host these small figures, they really are no trouble,
CHRISTMAS SERVICES LEAFLET
A Christmas Services Leaflet will be available with your Newsletter this week. 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.
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
Thank you to everyone who made the Autumn Fayre a big success. The money raised from this will go towards the Christmas Party and the Carol Service. The Christmas Party for senior members of the Paris and all volunteers will be held on the Saturday 14th December starting at 2 p.m. In St Columba’s parish hall. The Carol service will be held in St Theresa’s Church on Friday 20th of December, more details to come.
YOUTH SUNDAY
A very big thank you to all our young parishioners who took part in Youth Sunday last Sunday at St Theresa’s and at St.Columba’s. It was lovely to see you welcoming, collecting, serving, forming the offertory procession and reading. Your contributions are very much appreciated. You all did really well. Thank you
And, many congratulations to the young parishioners who enrolled in the first Sacraments program at St.Columba’s on Youth Sunday.
Please continue to pray for our young people, the future of our church.
CAKE ETC SALE
This Sunday, 1st December, after Mass in St. Columba’s hall, there will be cakes and more on sale to raise funds for our Youth Group. We need craft, baking, and activity resources etc for future activities. Please come and support our youth group to raise money towards activities in 2025. Thank you.
ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL
Thank you to all who sent the cards to our MP.
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.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
CHESTER AID TO THE HOMELESS
With winter coming, the charity are in desperate need of the following items of clothing: Men’s Shorts; men’s joggers; men’s underwear; men’s socks. They are also looking for some men’s clothing in XXL including a few coats! Any items can be left by the foodbank boxes in our church porches or contact Alex Mosquera on 01244 506 877 who will organise collection. Thank you.
NEW PRAYER GROUP – LECTIO DIVINA
The plan is to have four sessions on Thursdays Dec 5th, Dec 12th and Dec 19th in the Iona Chapel at 11 a.m. Each session will last no more than 40 minutes. For further information please contact Lyn Coyle at marilyn.coyle44@gmail.com
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.
HELP AT HOME
A parishioner requires 1 hours help on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays from 9.30a.m. to 10.30a.m. No cleaning. Just a few light duties. Please ring 01244 370310 for more information. Thank you.
SOUND SYSTEM AT ST THERESA’S
As the trial received many positive comments, it has been decided to go ahead with a new sound system.
ADVENT RETREAT (AGE 15 TO YOUNG ADULTS) AT CASTLERIGG MANOR
Bookings will close for the Advent Retreat at Castlerigg on December 11th at Midday. The open retreats at Castlerigg give teens and young adults a great way to make friends, deepen their faith, and have some fun and they usually prove very popular. The weekend costs £65 but anyone who might struggle with this is invited to get in touch. Further details – director@castleriggmanor.co.uk. Sign up at castleriggmanor.com >> what’s coming up.
CHESTER URSULINE CONVENT CLASS OF 1975
The girls who left the Ursuline Convent in 1975 (aged 16, the last but one year before the Convent closed) are marking 50 years since leaving school with a “Grand Re-union” on 25 April 2025. We have successfully contacted quite a number but some are proving difficult to find. Can you possibly help? Please contact Pat Riddell (nee Axon) patriddell31@aol.com.
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.
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 1st December 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 4 December 2024.