The month of February is dedicated to the Holy Family
SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
16 FEBRUARY 2025
| Sat 15 Feb | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Maureen & Michael Cheston | |
| 9.30am | Syriac Orthodox Mass | ||
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Patricia Duggan RIP | |
| Sun 16 Feb | Day of Special Prayer for Racial Justice | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Jenny Casey’s Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Tom Laydon | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | ||
| Mon 17 Feb | St Scholastica, V. Mem. | ||
| St. Theresa’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.30am | Eddie, Adam & Elwell Family | |
| Tue 18 Feb | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Anne McCarthy RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| Wed 19 Feb | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | ||
| 10.30am | Mary Jeffes | ||
| Thu 20 Feb | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Anne Wilding RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| Fri 21 Feb | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 10.00am | Margaret & Joseph Russell’s Wedding Anniversary | |
| St. Columba’s | The Parish | ||
| Sat 22 Feb | Chair of St Peter, Ap | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Joe Blundell RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Eileen Hordley (Birthday Thanksgiving) | |
| Sun 23 Feb | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Jenny Casey’s Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Richard Murphy, Altar Servers’ Enrolment | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite |
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
ANNIVERSARIES
Eileen Thornber, Charles Edward Davis, George Thomas Noden, Elizabeth Mary Freeman.
POPE’S FEBRUARY PRAYER INTENTIONS
For February-For vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.
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.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS
Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements.
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS
Mass will be streamed at St Columba’s on Sunday 16 February at 11.00a.m. Cover is needed at both churches for occasions when Tim is unavailable. The only requirement is you need to have an Iphone. If you would be willing to help with this please contact one of the church offices. Thank you.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa
| CHURCH NEWS JUBILEE YEAR MESSAGE Jubilee Year: Working to translate hope into peace Pope Francis explains that this requires helping all those facing difficulties in life “to look to the future with hope,” which in turn involves supporting “initiatives and paths” that can help the poor and excluded to regain confidence “in themselves and society.” “The poor and the sick, the young and the elderly, migrants and displaced people, even those deprived of their freedom, must be at the centre of our considerations,” he insisted, “so that no one is excluded and everyone’s human dignity is respected.” Christ said, “What you did to the least of these my brethren, that you did to me,”. This invites Christians to recognize the image of God in every man and woman, who are called to be “brothers and sisters” in the human family, and children of God. Possible focus for our prayer: What do I do to help the least of my brethren? Taken from the Vatican website, reported by Christopher Wells |
PARISH OFFERTORY
Loose Plate: £514.31; Planned Giving £227.82; Average weekly SO £555.00. Candles: £28.00.
PRAYING TOGETHER
Pray for:
- the residents of Shepherds Lane, Thornton Drive, The Beeches, Windermere Avenue, Barnes Close, Morgan Close, & Blake Close.
- For the Growth Action Planning in our churches, Commitment for Life, Vision4Life and Fresh Expressions
JUBILEE PRAYER
There are copies of the Jubilee prayer available for you take a copy
SPUC
There will be a retiring collection at St Columba’s this weekend of 15th/16th February for the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. St Theresa’s has previously held theirs.
LIFT NEEDED
Are you able to offer Fr Peter a lift from St Columba’s back to St Theresa’s after the 6.30pm Saturday evening Mass and the 11am Sunday morning Mass. This is only every other weekend until Fr Peter passes his British driving test. Please contact St Columba’s office if you are willing to help.
WELCOME TO OUR PARISH
If you are NEW TO THE PARISH, please complete a Parish Registration Form and send (or bring) it to either parish office to let us know that you are here and enable us to welcome you. 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 and on the website www.sscolumbaandtheresa.co.uk under the I’m New tab. Thank you.
Coffee and tea (and sometimes cakes) are served in the Hall after the 11 am mass at St Columba’s and the 9.30 mass at St Theresa’s and after the 10.30 mass at St Columba’s on Monday and Wednesday. You will be most welcome to join us.
Lyn Coyle, Communications Group
MRS GRIFFITHS LEAVING MASS – 13 FEBRUARY
Thanks to everyone who came along to this last week, We wish her a long and happy retirement.
PARISH RETREAT
There will be a Parish retreat on Saturday 15th March from 10a.m – 1p.m. in St Columba’s Hall. All invited. This will be on: “Understanding the biblical roots of a Jubilee year and what it means for this current Jubilee of 2025”.
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS
As part of our Parish Development Plan the Pastoral Council would like to offer transport to Mass for any parishioners who may require this. Before doing so we need to gather a small team of volunteer drivers who would be willing to undertake this service. Perhaps this could be a personal commitment in recognition of the Jubilee Year? It is not expected that driving duty would occur very frequently so if you think you could help please contact one of the Parish offices with your details. Thanks to all.
Nuala Keegan, on behalf of the Pastoral Council.
CHESTER & ELLESMERE PORT KERALA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
Every Sunday at 2.00p.m., the Chester & Ellesmere Port Kerala Catholic Community now have a Mass in St Columba’s in the Syro – Malabar Rite. All are welcome.
MALANKARA JACOBITE SYRIAC ORTHODOX COMMUNITY CHESTER
Every other Saturday morning this group have a Mass at 9.30am at St Theresa’s.
SPECIAL ANNIVERSARIES
If anyone has a special wedding anniversary this year, 25th, 40th, 50th or 60th please inform one of the church offices in order to receive your invitation from the Diocese to a special Mass later this year.
FRIENDSHIP THURSDAY: NEW FRIENDSHIP GROUP
It became clear to the Communications group that many people would welcome further opportunities to get out of the house and meet others. This would also be helpful to those new to the parish. The new Friendship Thursday group hopes to meet some of this need. It will begin once a month, beginning on Thursday, March 6th in St Columba’s Hall, from 1.30-3.30. There will be refreshments, a chance to chat and get to know others, opportunities to play Dominoes, Scrabble or Cards for those who want to. There will also be a free book swap where you bring one/take one and we hope to have guest speakers to talk about their interest or skill. Any adult is welcome and if you feel nervous about coming alone, bring a friend! It will be relaxed, friendly and welcoming. Come and give it a try!
For information ring Lyn 07735574397
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK, Where there is love, there is joy. Mother Teresa
THANK YOU – to everyone who has donated clothing and bedding to Chester Aid to the Homeless, a massive thank you, the donations have been much appreciated. Our stores are currently full and we are unable to take any additional donations at the moment.
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.
JOB VACANCY
A vacancy has arisen for a Parish Secretary at St Clare’s Parish, Downsfield Road, Chester. CH4 8HH. 4 hours per week @ £14 per hour. For further details, please see the Diocesan Website https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/ CV and covering letter should be sent to Pauline McCulloch recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date Friday 28 February 2025
AN IMPORTANT THANK YOU TO PATRICK GALVIN
In April last year, Patrick Galvin responded to our request for wool for Fish & Chip Babies by donating seven huge boxes of his late wife, Pauline’s wool. This included crochet and knitting patterns, many needles, buttons and all her other equipment. We can now say all the wool has been distributed to our knitters, and hundreds of recipients all over the world have benefited from the various garments made. Thank you so much, Patrick. A Mass will be said for Pauline.
LIVERPOOL ANGLICAN CATHEDRAL EXHIBITION: THREADS THROUGH THE BIBLE
The cathedral has a magnificent exhibition on display currently, Threads through the Bible. It’s a silk wall hanging exhibit by textile artist Jacqui Parkinson, which took 10 years to make. There are three extraordinary displays:
• Threads through Creation
• Threads through the Cross
• Threads through Revelation
Totalling 44 beautiful silk panels, it really is well worth a visit, available 16th January – 2nd March
| NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER: Sunday 23 February edition will be compiled by Alison Wrigglesworth, phone: 07708 304246 or email: a.wrigglesworth@outlook.com. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that are also emailed to Fr William or phoned to the compiler by 9.00 a.m. on WEDNESDAY 26 February 2025 |