The month of April is dedicated to The Holy Spirit
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
19 APRIL 2026
| Saturday 18 April | ||
| St Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Rod, Josie, David & Gillian’s Intentions |
| St Columba’s | 6.30pm | Victor Silveira Yamagata RIP |
| Sunday 19 April – Third Sunday of Easter | ||
| St Theresa’s | 9.30am | Parishioners’ Intentions |
| St Columba’s | 11.00am | Anne Lucas RIP |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
| 4.30pm | Holy Hour | |
| Monday 20 April | ||
| St Theresa’s | Mae Dunne’s Intentions | |
| St Columba’s | 10.30am | Mary Ryan |
| Tuesday 21 April | ||
| St Theresa’s | Adrian Burns RIP | |
| St Columba’s | Telma Silveira Yamagata RIP | |
| Wednesday 22 April | ||
| St Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | |
| St Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | |
| 10.30am | Carol Francis | |
| 1.00pm | Funeral Service for Jeanette Knight | |
| Thursday 23 April – St George, M. Solemn. | ||
| St Theresa’s | Special Intentions | |
| St Columba’s | Philip G Francis | |
| Friday 24 April | ||
| St Theresa’s | 10.00am | Mary Sculley RIP |
| St Columba’s | The Parish | |
| Saturday 25 April | ||
| St Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Angela Stanley’s Intentions |
| St Columba’s | 6.30pm | Jo Staunton (MS) |
| Sunday 26 April – 4th Sunday of Easter | ||
| St Theresa’s | 9.30am | Parishioners’ Intentions |
| St Columba’s | 11.00am | Manoel Lourenco Filho RIP |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS – Mass will be streamed at St Theresa’s on Sunday 19 April at 9.30 a.m.
RECENTLY DECEASED – Please remember in your prayers Jeanette Knight, who died recently, and her family and friends. Funeral service for Jeanette is on Wednesday 22 April at 1.00pm at St Columba’s.
ANNIVERSARIES – James Rogerson, Sheila Ann Gilfoyle, William (Jimmy) Hinde, Gerald O’Hanlon.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR APRIL – FOR PRIESTS IN CRISIS. Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.
CONFESSIONS – After each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
Saturdays:
St Columba’s 6.00p.m. – 6.25p.m.
St Theresa’s 4.30p.m. – 4.55p.m.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS & FUNERALS – Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY – The Children’s Liturgy normally happens at the 11a.m. service at St Columba’s on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. See the parish website under the Family tab.
PARISH OFFERTORY – Loose Plate: £955.29; Planned Giving: £353.21; Average weekly SO £718.15. (St Columba’s) Dona Stations: £85; Candles: £69.50. Holy Places Collection: £108.59. Thank you for your kind generosity.
FR WILLIAM – Please remember that Thursday is Fr William’s day off.
RETREAT – Fr William will be away on annual retreat from Sunday 26 April to Friday 1st May.
HOLY HOUR for the Dignity of Human Life – Sunday 19 April 4.30 p.m. – Pope Leo has asked all Bishops and parishes to join him in a Holy Hour for the Dignity of Human Life at 4.30 pm on April 19. Please join us at St Columba’s and be part of this world-wide prayer before the Blessed Sacrament for respect for life, bearing in mind the number of abortions, the Assisted Dying Bill and the many wars taking place across the world.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – “Building peace is more often about creating space, developing relationships, persevering in spite of overwhelming pessimism, and being flexible enough to respond to emerging opportunities, meager as they may be.” — John Paul Lederach
PRAYING TOGETHER FOR –
- The residents of Ethelda Drive, Dorfold Way, Sussex Road, Onslow Road, Springwood Close, Overwood Lane and Melverley Drive.
- All who serve through the Anglican Diocese of Chester, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shrewsbury and the United Reformed Church Mersey Synod.
- Our churches that they may be filled with the Holy Spirit.
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING – SATURDAY 9 MAY 2026, ST COLUMBA’S HALL, 2.30 – 4.30 pm. ALL PARISHIONERS ARE INVITED
Join us to hear about the Pastoral Council’s work over the past year and to share your ideas for the year ahead. Reports will be presented on parish activities with time for questions. If you wish to raise a specific matter, please send it in writing to either parish secretary by Thursday 30 April.
The winners of the Art Competition (theme Ecology and Creation) will be announced and entries will be on display.
The meeting will be followed by Afternoon Tea organised by the Social Committee.
New Members welcome! If you would be interested in joining the Pastoral Council please give your name and contact details to one of the parish secretaries.
Free Raffle Tickets for all attendees (Pastoral Council members not eligible).
Ann McCarthy, Pauline Rourke (co-chairs Pastoral Council)
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA – We need volunteers every Sunday after 11:00 Mass. To raise money for your good cause, please put your details on the sheet and let Margaret Curtis know on 01244 318424 or marg.curtis@outlook.com
19 Apr – volunteers please
26 Apr – Catholic Women’s League
3 May – volunteers please
LEPRA – Today 475 people will be diagnosed with leprosy, more than 25 of those will be children. Leprosy is a disease that affects the nerve endings and feet and can affect the blink reflex. For further information go to lepra.org.uk. There will be a retiring collection at all Masses over the weekend of 18th/19th April.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS – St Columba’s – On Sunday 3 May and Sunday 10 May, 11/12 children will be making their First Holy Communions at the 11.00am Mass. The children’s families will be joining them for the celebrations so church is likely to be quite full on both occasions. We look forward to welcoming everyone.
GIFT AID ENVELOPES 2026/2027 – The gift aid envelopes for the new tax year are now available for collection and can be found at the back of the church. There are a small number of un-named boxes also available. If you would like to start using the envelopes, please take a box and contact Kevin Keegan either by email or text message with details of your name and address, the box number and indicate if you are a taxpayer or not. Email: k1bfb@hotmail.com Text: 07790758008
SUGGESTION BOXES – Parishioners’ suggestion boxes have been placed in the entrances to both churches. There is a pen and paper attached to each, which we hope will encourage you to use them. They offer an easy means of making suggestions for improvements which can help us all as a parish. Ann McCarthy, Pauline Rourke (co-chairs Pastoral Council)
MISA EN ESPAñOL UNA VEZ AL MES – Monthly mass in Spanish atSt Clare’s Church, Downsfield Rd. Chester CH4 8HH. First Mass: Saturday 18 April at 4.00p.m. For information, contact Lina Greig: 07837512544.
NEEDLES & PINS – Wed 22 April – Everyone is invited to this friendly and welcoming needlecraft group in the Newman Room, between 2:00-4:00pm every fourth Wednesday of the month. Hope to see you.
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: The Parish “We’ve Got Talent” event – an evening of entertainment by our very own parishioners – Friday 15 May at 7pm in St Columba’s church hall. Not to be missed. Tickets £3.00 (or donation) will be on sale from 24 April. Proceeds to parish funds. There will be a list for anyone needing a lift from St Theresa’s nearer the time.
DE-FIB TRAINING AND CPR – Thank you to all who attended the defibrillator training at the two churches. If you missed it, don’t worry: just check out the British Heart Foundation website (bhf.org.uk) where you can learn CPR in 15 minutes, for free, with RevivR and see how to use a defibrillator. The more people who have this knowledge the better it will be for all of us if we ever have a cardiac arrest.
CHESTER PARISHES CONFIRMATION – Bishop Mark Davies will celebrate the next Chester Catholic Parishes Sacrament of Confirmation on 11 November 2026 at St. Columba’s Church. This year the preparation programme for parishioners from all Chester Catholic Parishes will be led by St. Columba and St. Theresa’s Confirmation preparation team. Anyone currently at high school or older may prepare to be Confirmed. For youth candidates, to register, parents please email stcolumbatheresaconfirmation@hotmail.co.uk. Please include your child’s current school year. Adult candidates, please speak to Fr William first and then email the above email address to join the separate adult preparation group. There will be an information meeting about Confirmation preparation in mid-June, details to be announced nearer the time.
CALLED TO LOVE – A retreat for singles, dating and engaged young adults who want to think more deeply about relationships and the call to marriage. A relaxed weekend on 2nd – 3rd May 2026 at the Christian Heritage Centre, Stonyhurst, Clitheroe BB7 9PZ. This year’s retreat will have as its theme masculinity and femininity. For registration visit https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/called-to-love
A THANK YOU TO ST COLUMBA’S RED MISSION BOX HOLDERS – St Columba’s parishioners have been thanked by Missio for your kind donations totalling £841.93 in 2025. Please see the poster in the front porch.
DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 2026 – The Pilgrimage Team are very pleased to announce that bookings are now open for our 2026, 75th Anniversary Pilgrimage to Lourdes. By coach 30 July to 7 August and by air 31 July to 6 August. Brochures can be found on the pilgrimage website along with a link to the new online booking system: www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk
SHREWSBURY LOURDES HOSPITALITY – will be holding our first 2026 Hospitality Members Focus Group on Tuesday 21 April, at 7pm. This will be open to any Hospitality members, even if you haven’t attended previous Focus Groups. We will be encouraged to review the commitments made last year to improve our way of working with each other. We are also delighted that Fr Sean Henry, Chaplain to the Hospitality, will join us. This will take place at St Columba’s, Plas Newton Lane, Chester CH2 1PL. Please confirm your attendance by emailing secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk.
VACANCIES – Two vacancies within the Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team for a Programme Coordinator and Youth Mission Team Member. Further details regarding both posts can be found on the Diocesan website:
https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/ Interested parties should send their CV and covering letter to Pauline McCulloch: recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org.
Closing date Friday 29 April 2026.
CATHOLIC FAMILY HOLIDAYS IN THE LAKE DISTRICT – Castlerigg Manor in Keswick (heart of the Lake District) is offering budget-friendly holidays for Catholic families during May, August, and early September. Breakfast and evening meal are included and there will be Mass on site. Guests have full use of the site including the grounds, games room, chapel, and lounges, and Castlerigg is just a short walk from Keswick and Lake Derwentwater. Ideal for individuals, couples, families, or groups of friends. Head to www.castleriggmanor.com >> stay with us or contact director@castleriggmanor.co.uk / Tel: 017687 72711
YOUTH MINISTRY GAP YEAR OPPORTUNITY – Do you know anyone aged 18-25 who is looking for a new challenge? The Diocese of Lancaster has a Youth Ministry team based in Keswick in the Lake District. They run retreats at Castlerigg Manor and also work in Churches and schools around the area. The ‘Youth Ministry Internship’ scheme comes with high quality training, experience, and recognised qualifications and gives young people the chance to join a welcoming community and a vibrant team doing some amazing work.
Interested? Contact director@castleriggmanor.co.uk orwww.castleriggmanor.com >> join the team
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 26 April to be compiled by Magdalena Bukowska, Phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Deadline: 9.00a.m. Wednesday 22 April.
Please include a contact number with your notice. Also email a copy to Fr. William at st.theresas@btinternet.com