The month of January is dedicated to The Holy Name of Jesus
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
18 JANUARY 2026
| Sat 17 Jan | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Mary & Brian Marks RIP | |
| Sun 18 Jan | Day of Special Prayer for World Peace | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Graham George RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Roy Burns RIP (mc) | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | ||
| Mon 19 Jan | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.30am | Denis O’Donovan | |
| Tue 20 Jan | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Bridget Williams RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| Wed 21 Jan | St Agnes, V, M. Mem. | ||
| St. Theresa’s | Rosa Bella & Family Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | ||
| 10.30am | Jacky & the McLelland Family | ||
| Thu 22 Jan | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Funeral Service for James (Jim) Dowd | |
| St. Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| Fri 23 Jan | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 10.00am | Anthony Keith Baker RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | The Parish | ||
| Sat 24 Jan | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Veronica Marks | |
| Sun 25 Jan | Third Sunday in Ordinary Time | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Ceri Poole RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Celia McLoughlin | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite |
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS – Mass will be streamed at St Columba’s on Sunday 18 January at 11.00 a.m.
RECENTLY DECEASED – Please remember in your prayers, James (Jim) Dowd who died recently, and also his family and friends. The funeral is at St Theresa’s on Thursday 22 January at 9.30 a.m. Please also remember Nuala Wynne-Jones and her loved ones. Her funeral will be at St Columba’s, on 28 January at 12.30pm.
ANNIVERSARIES – Frederick (Fred) Richard Hercules, Diane Blago, Michael Booth, John Francis McNeill, Robert William Hocking, Stanley Edward Taylor, Anthony Keith Baker, Margaret Parry.
FR PETER – Fr Peter has arrived safely and would like to thank you all for your prayers and good wishes.
CONFESSIONS – After each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
Saturdays:
St Columba’s 6.00 – 6.25 p.m.
St Theresa’s 4.30 – 4.55 p.m.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS & FUNERALS – Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY 2026 – For prayer with the Word of God. Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.
PEACE SUNDAY – January 18: Pope Leo’s message – “Peace be with you all: towards an “unarmed and disarming” peace. Please pray for the work of Pax Christi and perhaps consider a donation towards their very important work – paxchristi.org.uk
CHILDREN’S LITURGY – The Children’s Liturgy normally happens at the 11 a.m. service at St Columba’s on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. See the parish website under the Family tab.
PRAYING TOGETHER FOR
- The residents of Shocklach Road, Horrocks Road, Bolesworth Road, Boleyn Close, Tudor Green, Saxon Way & Palatine Close.
- The choirs and music groups.
- Uniting all who play and sing from the three churches
PARISH OFFERTORY
Christmas Time Donations:
Loose Plate: £2386.44; Planned Giving: £894.01. St Columba’s Dona Stations: £293
Last Week’s Collection: Loose Plate: £427.86; Planned Giving: £266; Average weekly SO £718.15; Candles: £36.58. St Columba’s Dona Stations: £73.00
CONTACTLESS CARD DONATIONS AT ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH – I hesitate to tempt fate, but I hope I can say that the card machines at the front and back of church are now fully operational and will now allow you to register for Gift Aid if you haven’t already done so. If you have not registered you will be asked if you want to do so after you make a donation. Click ‘yes’ and follow instructions on screen or click ‘no’. If you have already registered (with the card you are using) that will be automatically recognised, and you will not be asked if you wish to Gift Aid. Pauline Rourke
RETIRING COLLECTION – There will be a retiring collection this weekend (17/18 January) for the Priests’ Retirement Fund.
200 CLUB – Recent winners are:
£100 no 6 G. Templeton
£50 no. 7 M. Turnbull
£25 no 25 S. Parry
Thank you for your continued support.
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL – The next meeting will be on Tuesday 20 January at 7pm in St Theresa’s Centre.
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA – The 2026 tea and coffee rota is on the noticeboard in St Columba’s Hall. We need someone to volunteer every Sunday after 11:00 Mass, so if you would like to raise money for your good cause, please put your name and details on the sheet and let Margaret Curtis know on 01244 318424.
NEEDLES AND PINS – Advanced notice that the Needles & Pins group are meeting at 12:00 on Wed 28 January at The Wheatsheaf, 46 Heath Rd, Upton, CH2 1HX for a festive lunch and there will be no meetings in the Newman room that day. See you at the meal.
YOUTH GROUP – Our first youth group of 2026 will be this Monday, 19 January, starting 7pm in the Newman room and finishing 8.30pm in St. Columba’s church hall. All young parishioners, year 5 or older are warmly invited to join our friendly group. If you are thinking about it why not come along and give it a try?
FIRST FORGIVENESS CELEBRATION – On Saturday 24 January, 24 children from St Columba’s will receive the Sacrament of First Forgiveness in a special service of celebration at 10.00a.m. Please pray for the children and their families at this special time in their faith journeys.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK– The best thing you have to offer the world is yourself. You don’t have to copy anyone else. John Denver
SHREWSBURY YOUTH MISSION TEAM – Vacancies have arisen within the Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team for a Programme Coordinator, Youth Mission Team Member and an Administration Assistant. Further details regarding the three posts can be found on the Diocesan Website: https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/
Interested parties should send their CV to Pauline McCulloch: recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
Closing date Friday 23 January 2026.
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY – This will be marked by two services:
- Churches Together Cheshire Service at Chester Cathedral, this Sunday 18 January at 5 p.m.
- Churches Together Upton Service at Holy Ascension church, Thursday 22 January at 2.30 p.m.
See the noticeboards for further details. You are warmly invited to support these two events.
BETROTHED – Shrewsbury Diocese will be running three sacramental marriage preparation courses in early 2026. Each course runs over two consecutive Saturdays from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on each day. The three venues are:
(1) St Clare’s Church Parish Hall, Downsfield Road, Lache, Chester CH4 8HH, on 7 and 14 February
(2) Vincent de Paul Church Westleigh Parish Hall, Groby Road, Altrincham WA14 2BQ, on 28 February and 7 March
(3) Shrewsbury Cathedral Parish Hall, Town Walls, Shrewsbury SY1 1UE, on 21 and 28 March.
Registration is essential. To register, contact Monika: monika.golembiewska@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
For more information, contact Jane Deegan: jane.deegan@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
PRO-LIFE UPDATE – 2025 was one of the most challenging and busiest years ever for the pro-life movement in the UK, with the biggest battles on abortion and assisted suicide in over 50 years. Thanks to the support of our parish, there has been a strong, coordinated response in Parliament, in the media and among the wider public. The 2025 Right to Life UK Year in Review sets out some of the key areas in which significant progress has been made this year. Please visit http://righttolife.org.uk/2025 to read the Year in Review to find out more about what we have achieved together for life this past year.
MUSEUM OF THE MOON ARTWORK – Chester Cathedral, from Thursday 12 February to Sunday 15th March 2026. The installation is a fusion of lunar imagery, moonlight and surround sound composition. No need to book daytime entry, but a donation is advised.
ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS – To book the Church, Newman Room or Iona Chapel, contact Magdalena Bukowska at the Church Office 01244 624019, email stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Mon-Fri 9a.m. to 2.00p.m.
To check Hall availability, visit the Church Hall calendar on the St Columba’s website, then contact Magdalena during office hours or email: columbashallbookings@gmail.com
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER – Sunday 25 January to be compiled by Eileen Irwin, phone: 01244 371660, email: st.theresas@btinternet.com. Deadline: 9.00a.m. Wednesday 21 January.
Please include a contact number with your notice. Also email a copy to Fr. William at st.theresas@btinternet.com