FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
10TH MARCH 2024
Sat 9 Mar | |||
St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | The Parish | |
Sun 10 Mar | |||
St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Caroline Connolly | |
St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Stephen Phillips RIP | |
Mon 11 Mar | |||
St. Theresa’s | Private Intentions | ||
St. Columba’s | 10.00am | Stations of the Cross | |
10.30am | Cathryn McAlinden RIP | ||
Tue 12 Mar | |||
St. Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
St. Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
Wed 13 Mar | |||
St. Theresa’s | Special Intentions | ||
St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
10.15am | Novena Prayers | ||
10.30am | Private Intentions | ||
Thu 14 Mar | |||
St. Theresa’s | Kazia Krawiec | ||
St. Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
Fri 15 Mar | |||
St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Stations of the Cross | |
10.00am | Felicity Hughes RIP | ||
St. Columba’s | Diane Blago RIP | ||
Sat 16 Mar | |||
St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | The Parish | |
Sun 17 Mar | |||
St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Jessica Baker RIP | |
St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Cath Carter RIP |
Please note if there is no time next to Mass it means there is no Mass for parishioners to attend that day but the Priests will say Mass privately.
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed from St Columba’s at 6.30p.m. this Saturday 9th March 2024
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS – For March – For new martyrs – Let us pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world might imbue the Church with their courage and missionary drive.
ANNIVERSARIES:
Mary Evelyn Formston, Mavis Gibson, Charles Buckley, John James Tully, Doreen Brenda Grainger, Jean Alice Hickman.
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 6pm before the 6.30p.m. Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30p.m. before 5p.m. Saturday evening Mass.
OFFERTORY:
Loose plate £851.31 ; Planned giving £608. 14; Average weekly SO £785.00; Candles £37. 10p. These figures include two weeks collection. THANK YOU for all your generous support.
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA:
The coffee rota is on the notice board 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.
10th Mar – Sue McCarthy for The Food Bank
17th Mar – volunteers please
24th Mar – volunteers please (Palm Sunday)
RED MISSION BOXES, ST COLUMBA’S:
If you have a Red Mission box for collection, please leave it in the sacristy. When counted I can return your box to your home. Thank you, Margaret Curtis 01244 318424.
PRAYING TOGETHER
We pray for:
- Pray for the residents of Kelvin Grove, Western Approach, Thirlmere Road, Meynell Place, Marlowe Close, Palgrave Close and Tennyson Walk.
- For a greater compassion for those who feel marginalised in our society.
- For a deeper unity between the churches.
LENT AND EASTER
STATIONS OF THE CROSS:
During Lent there will be Stations of the Cross every week. Monday at 10a.m. at St Columba’s in the Iona Chapel and Friday at 9.30a.m. at St Theresa’s.
Stations of the Cross in the COCH Spiritual Care Centre:
The stations of the cross will be prayed on Thursdays during Lent in the Hospital chapel at 12.15p.m. All welcome.
SERVICE TIMES:
Leaflets are available with the service and Mass times for Lent and Easter. Please do take one with you.
CHRISTIAN AID LENT LUNCHES:
See posters in church porches for dates and venues.
CAFOD LENT FAST DAY:
Please return envelopes in the collection baskets. Thank you.
PASTORAL COUNCIL – VOLUNTEERING IN THE LIFE OF YOUR PARISH:
Following on from last week’s talk about how to get involved in volunteering, you will now have had chance to read through the information in more detail. Thank you to those who have already come forward and we would still like to hear from more parishioners. If you missed the talk last week, the forms on volunteering roles and how to get involved are available in the church porches. Please place any completed forms in the white boxes in church porches. Thank you
“DIOCESAN MARRIAGE MASS:
The Annual Diocesan Marriage Mass will take place here at St Columba’s Church on Saturday 8th June 2024. If you have a special anniversary this year, please get in touch with the Diocese of Shrewsbury, Curial Offices, 2 Park Road South, Prenton, CH43 4UX or telephone 0151-652-9855. Many thanks.”
FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS:
Monday 11TH MARCH: Commentary Mass at 6.30p.m. in St Columba’s Church.
This is for all the children and parents. It is an important part of the children’s preparation, so all our First Holy Communion children should be there accompanied by a member or members of their family.
RECEPTIONS AND CONFIRMATIONS AT EASTER:
Luciana da Silva and Tommy Williams are preparing in the parish to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Connor Rowlands is preparing also, to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist with Luciana and Tommy at the Vigil. In these final days of their preparation especially, please keep Luciana, Tommy, and Connor in your prayers, that God will guide them, and grant them the grace to enter fully and joyfully into the life of the Church. Thank you.
RIGHT TO LIFE (UK):
Ask your MP to support the abortion time limit reduction amendment
Support an amendment to reduce our abortion time limit from 24 weeks to 22 weeks. Research indicates that a significant number of babies born at 22 or 23 weeks can now survive outside the womb, leaving a contradiction in our abortion law. Take action: Collect a postcard today from the back of the church and post it to your MP urgently in support of this amendment! – Our MP is Samantha Dixon.
ST PIO PRAYER GROUP:
The next meeting will be on Thursday, 14 March, at Flat 5, Abbots Court, Eversley Park, Chester CH2 2DY starting at 2pm. Everyone is welcome.
MOTHERING SUNDAY:
Fr William wishes all Mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day.
LEAKS IN ST.COLUMBA’S CHURCH:
A cherry picker was used to examine the church roof this week to try to find the source of the leaks. Some remedial action was taken but we need to monitor the situation to see if the action was effective. If you notice wet carpet or water running down a wall it would be very helpful if you could let me know directly or via the church office. The two areas of leaking are: – on the wall behind the altar especially on the right hand side: – down the wooden column on the opposite wall (where the varnish is peeling off) to the left as you come in to church. Sadly, don’t bother reporting any water leak you may see in the front porch, to the right as you enter church, as years of investigation have proved that it is impossible to find the source and we just have to live with it! Pauline Rourke
PASTORAL COUNCIL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:
There was a record attendance at this meeting at St Theresa’s Centre last Monday. Individual reports were presented on each area of the Council’s activities, eleven in total, with opportunities for parishioners to ask questions and comment on each area. The reports (which will be available on the website and can be obtained from the parish offices) showed what a large number of parishioners are generously involved in a wide range of worthwhile activitiesand responsibilities. Ann McCarthy, Pauline Rourke
Thank you to all who attended the Parish AGM. It was a huge success. Fr William Damah CSSP
ST WERBURGH’S & ST COLUMBA’S PRIMARY SCHOOL – FOUNDATION GOVERNOR VACANCY:
We are currently recruiting a Catholic Church Foundation Governor to join our Governing Body. The role would suit someone with an interest in serving our community and supporting the needs of our school children. The role of a School Governing Body is:
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos, and direction of the school
- Holding the headteacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils.
- Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent.
At this time we would particularly welcome applications from interested parties who have a financial background.
We are a busy, energetic governing body and would warmly invite anyone interested in finding out more about the role to contact the school in the first instance to arrange an informal chat. Telephone Sarah on 01244 478954 or email: admin@lovelearnlaugh.org.uk
SVP MUSIC NIGHT AT THE HIGH SCHOOL:
The SVP are holding a music night at the Catholic High School on Friday 15th March at 19.15 pm. Tickets are £10, on sale from any members of the SVP or contact Sue McCarthy 07515 491251
PARISH YOUTH CLUB:
The next youth group meeting is Monday March 18th from 7 to 8.30pm.Please note we will meet in Saint Columba’s Church Hall.Young parishioners from Year 5 upwards are invited to come along. ALL are welcome.
THE NATIONAL NOVENA TO ST JOSEPH:
The National Novena to St Joseph will take place from 10th-18th March 2024 at St Joseph’s Church in Maidenhead.
The Mill Hill Missionaries prepare for the Feast of St Joseph, their Society Patron, with a special Novena of Masses and prayers to ask for God’s blessing on their Society’s missionary outreach, and for the intentions of all those who support their work. Masses are at 10.00am every day of the Novena except Sunday, when it is at 11.00am. Masses will be available to follow on Zoom, via the Mill Hill website: www.millhillmissionaries.com/novena. Also on Zoom will be Evening Prayer together with the Novena Prayer at 6.00pm every day during the Novena.
A special Novena Prayer Booklet has been prepared, and is available on request for a suggested donation.
You are welcome to send in your petitions and/or to request a Novena prayer booklet. Please write to the Novena Director at 6 Colby Gardens, Maidenhead, SL6 7GZ, or email novenamhm@gmail.com
HIGHLIGHT FROM THE HIGH:
The students at the CHS are rehearsing for the ‘Living Stations of the Cross’ performance which will take place in the school hall on Tuesday 26th March at 10am. Parishioners are invited to come and watch the play. Tickets free of charge. Limited places! To book your seat, please email shawk@christofidelis.org.uk
SVP YOUTH MASS:
The Chester Catholic High school is kindly hosting an SVPYouth Mass for all catholic schools in the Chester and Ellesmere Port area on Wednesday 20th March at 10.30am. Local parishioners are very welcome to join us in this special celebration but at this is a school day all guests will need to register their wish to attend in advance. Please contact stephen.perry12@btopenworld.com or GaspariniA@christofidelis.org.uk by Friday 23rd February 2024.
PRAY AND FAST FOR THE END OF ABORTION:
“On Saturday 23rd March, the Vigil of Palm Sunday, please pray and fast for the end of abortion in this Country. Through God’s grace we have seen thousands of Mothers in our counselling centre continue their pregnancies in very difficult circumstances. Please help us to help save lives with your prayers, fasting and support. www.GoodCounselNetwork.com”
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER:
Thank you to all who attended the simple and meaningful service on Friday and to Rob Green for the music.The refreshments after the service were appreciated, thank you to all who helped in any way
REQUEST FOR UNWANTED KNITTING WOOL:
If anyone has wool they don’t need, please consider donating it to the makers of hats and jumpers for the Fish & Chip babies, please contact Margaret Curtis (318424) to arrange a handover. ALSO, if any knitters needs more wool, please contact me, too.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions. Dalai Lama
ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Carol Galvin, St. Columba’s Church Office, phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Monday to Friday 8.30a.m. to 12.30p.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 Sue Carr on 07553 114531 or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:
17th March edition will be compiled by Amy O’Donnell, phone: 07854 290897; or email: amyod@hotmail.co.uk. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that items are emailed or phoned to the compiler by 9.00A.M. on WEDNESDAY 13TH MARCH 2024