FOURTH WEEK OF LENT
19TH MARCH 2023
Saturday 18th March
St. Theresa’s 5.00pm Vera Joyce RIP
St. Columba’s 6.30pm Victor Piggett. BD
Sunday 19th March
St. Theresa’s 9.30am Parishioners’ Ints
St. Columba’s 11.00am The Parish
Monday 20th March-St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
St. Theresa’s Private Intention
St. Columba’s 10.00am Stations of the Cross
10.30am Kathryn Barlow
Tuesday 21st March
St. Theresa’s Priests’ Intentions
St. Columba’s Parishioners’ Intentions
Wednesday 22nd March
St Theresa’s Private Intention
St Columba’s 9.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
10.15am Novena Prayers
10.30am Eve Tabbiner RIP
Thursday 23rd March
St. Theresa’s 9.30am Year 5 Class Mass (in church)
St Columba’s People of Turkey & Syria
Friday 24th March
St. Theresa’s 9.30am Stations of the Cross
St. Theresa’s 10.00am Priests’ Ints.
St Theresa’s 1.00pm Requiem Mass for Kathleen (Kay) Watts
St. Columba’s Matthew Traynor
Saturday 25th March-The Annunciation of the Lord
St. Theresa’s 5.00pm Parishioners Ints
St. Columba’s 6.30pm Aquiles Paras
Sunday 26th March
St. Theresa’s 9.30am Pat McKenzie RIP
St. Columba’s 11.00am Veronica Comerford RIP
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed from St Columba’s at 11am. this Sunday 19th March 2023.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa
STATIONS OF THE CROSS during Lent:
St Theresa’s Friday 9.30a.m.
St Columba’s Monday 10.00a.m.
GOOD FRIDAY STATIONS
We are hoping to re-introduce the Family Stations of the Cross in St. Columba’s at 11am on Good Friday , 7th April. To do this we need some young people to volunteer to read (nothing complicated – just short passages). If anyone is interested would they please speak to me in Hall after Mass or e mail me suecarr78@btinternet.com
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Please remember in your prayers Eileen Thornber and Kathleen (Kay) Watts. May the Lord console their families and friends. Kay’s Requiem Mass is on Friday 24 March at 1pm at St Theresa’s and Eileen’s Requiem Mass is on 20 April at 10.30am at St Columba’s.
ANNVERSARIES:
Maria Magdelena Cumberford, Stewart Harrison, James Philip Torde, Norman Roddy, Judith Mary Whitlow, Bridget Ann Puircell
CONFESSIONS:
There will be Confessions after every weekday Mass until 11.30am. at both churches.
St Columba’s: From 6pm before the 6.30pm Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30pm before 5pm Saturday evening Mass.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS:
Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements.
ST COLUMBA’S PROCESSIONAL CROSS:
The ‘old’ wooden processional cross is currently being repaired and renovated. It is thought that this cross was constructed and donated to the parish by a parishioner some years ago. Do you remember that donation and the identity of the donor? If so, please contact David Savage on savage214@btinternet.com
PRAYING TOGETHER:
We pray for:
- the residents of Newton park Road, Kennedy Close, Sandon Road, Hereford Place, Ludlow Road and Mayfield Road.
- For Doctors, Nurses, Health Visitors and Social Workers in our community.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY
The next Children’s liturgy will take place on Sunday 26th March at St Columbas’ 11am mass in place Sunday 2nd April. We are always delighted to welcome new children AND adults from both Churches in our parish.
OFFERTORY:
St Columba’s: Loose plate: £294.01; Planned Giving: £167; Average Weekly SO – £574.00;
St Theresa’s: Loose plate & Planned giving TBC; Average weekly SO – £161
THANK YOU for all your generous support.
MOTHERS’ DAY
Happy Mothers’ day to all the mothers in the parish. There are copies of a poem available for you to take home .
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
19th Mar – Lena Gregg for Uganda Orphans
26th Mar – Sue McCarthy for SVP
2nd Apr – Chris & Elizabeth for Tombola
19th Apr – Easter Sunday, volunteers
Why not donate a little time to make tea and coffee to refresh the parishioners after 11:00 Mass on Sunday? You can make some money for your favourite charity, too. Call Margaret Curtis 01244 3184234 to book your date(s).
NEW EXTRAORDINARY MINSTERS OF THE EUCHARIST AND READERS- 25 March:
There will be a meeting for new Ministers NEXT Saturday 25th March at St Theresa’s Club at 10am. If you have already registered an interest or would like to become either an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist or a Reader please come along. Please let one of the secretaries know by phone or email if you will be attending.
SVP THEATRE NIGHT
Thanks to everybody who came along to support the SVP holiday home and enjoy a great play.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS:
Parents are reminded about the following meeting:
Monday 20th March: Commentary Mass at 6.30pm 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.
PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM:
We’re looking at the possibility of a pilgrimage to Walsingham but in order for this to go ahead it would depend on numbers. Please register your interest, either by phone or email with either of the secretaries. Thank you.
LOURDES BY JUMBULANCE:
Tony Murphy will be giving a talk at all Masses this weekend 18/19 March.
LIVE SCREENING OF THE KING’S CORONATION, St Columba’s Hall:
King Charles III coronation will be screened live in St Columba’s Hall on 6th May 2023. We plan to welcome parishioners who would like to watch this historic event communally, from late morning onwards on the big day. We will provide tea and coffee followed by sandwiches and cake for lunch. We need to know the approx. number of people wanting to attend, to cater accordingly, so please put you name down on the sheets in either church.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS – A FIRST SCRUTINY
Unfortunately the First Scrutiny for Anil, due at St Columba’s last Sunday, was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. It will now be celebrated this Saturday at the 5pm Vigil Mass at St Theresa’s. The second Scrutiny will be celebrated this Sunday at the 11am Mass at St Columba’s.
At the Easter Vigil, Anil, Lindsay and John together will receive the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist and thereby enter fully into the life of the Church. Please keep them in your prayers.
VOTIVE CANDLE LIGHTERS ST.COLUMBA’S
We are trying out some new re-chargeable electronic lighters to replace the gas candle lighters. They are the slim, red ones with a bendable neck. There is an on/off switch and a small silver button which turns them on. There is an illustration showing this on the wall above the candle stands. They may take a little getting used to so we would be grateful for your patience! Feedback to the parish office or to Pauline Rourke would be welcome.
FOOD BANK
Thank you to the Youth Group for all their work highlighting our donation points. We had a fantastic donation of 42.9kgs this week. Thank you.
YOUTH GROUP NEWS:
We met on 27th Feb and had a busy evening. Our quiet time was a walk around the Stations of the Cross with a pause for reflection at the first station. The display we put up before Christmas in the church porches to highlight the Food Bank needed a revamp to tie in with spring coming – hopefully -so now there are butterflies and daffodils (but still some snowflakes!). And then we made pancakes and the most popular topping was lemon juice and sugar – healthy and not so healthy. An enjoyable evening was had by all. Our next meeting is this Monday, 20th March, 7-8.30pm at St Columba’s church hall. Young people from Year 5 upwards are welcome.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING WALK: Every Monday 10:00a.m. for 10:30a.m. Health And Wellbeing Walk sponsored by St Theresa’s and the URC. For more information ring Brendan Doyle on: 07484353841 or Ann Francis on 01244 959061.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature. Gerard de Nerval
WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER: Scientist estimate there are now 170 trillion pieces of plastic floating in the world’s oceans. For everyone on earth now, that means about 22,000 pieces of plastic per person! And this figure is growing. We can all do our bit to help: by not using plastic where other materials can be used, by reusing plastics if we can, by recycling those that we can’t use or by upcycle them. Did you know that large supermarkets now collect many types of plastic bags, such as those used for salads, apples, and some veg? The bags usually say on them, “Recyclable with bags at large supermarkets”. See what you can do to reduce your plastic use, every bit will help. Check out Tear Fund Rubbish Campaign Petition, which seeks to ensure Government negotiations on the Plastics treaty help solve the issues of plastic and plastic waste.
RESOURCES Those aged 70 to 79 are eligible for the shingles vaccine. Speak to your GP if you need any help.
ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Nuala Keegan, Church Office, 01244 624019, Email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com
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.
Online course on Vatican II: Thank you to those who have been in touch to say how interesting/ informative/ helpful/ even ‘excellent’(!) you have found the first two podcasts. The next two on Divine Revelation are now available on the diocesan website at dioceseofshrewsbury.org. They are not time-bound and may be listened to any time. There are also 3 handouts for downloading or printing: An introduction to the document; A guided reading of the text; A suggested reading list for the whole course. A leaflet outlining the content of the podcasts is available in the parish. Should you have difficulty accessing this material, any questions or reflections, don’t hesitate to call Barbara Davies: 07730 526821.
CONFIRMATIONS 2023:
The Chester Parishes take it in turns to organise Confirmation. Last year it was St Columba’s and St Theresa’s, this year St Werburgh’s, St Clare’s and St Francis. The date is Wednesday 10th May, 7.00 pm, at St Francis.
CHARITY ZUMBATHON:
A charity Zumbathon for ‘Home of Peace’ orphanage in Uganda will take place at St Columba’s Church Hall, Saturday 25th March, 10am-12pm £10 entrance, all ages and dance abilities welcome as we are doing Zumba gold (low intensity) and Zumba fitness. For booking and donations Contact Lina Greig for by email: linamahigduran@hotmail.com or phone 07837512544
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.
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2023
This years overland pilgrimage will depart on Thursday 27 July returning on Friday 4 August. Those pilgrims wishing to fly will depart from Liverpool airport on Friday 28 July returning on Thursday 3 August. More details, brochure and booking forms are available on the pilgrimage website http://www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk . Young pilgrims (aged 16 – 22) who wish to join us in Lourdes and offer their time and energy to assist and serve the sick and elderly pilgrims are asked to contact Sandy Fairley at the Youth Mission Team (youth@dioceseofshrewsbury.org) for more details.
ST CLARE’S HEADTEACHER VACANCY
There is a vacancy for a Headteacher at St. Clare’s Catholic Primary School, Chester. Closing date is 20th March at 10:00am. An application pack is available from the school office at admin@stclares.cheshire.sch.uk. Telephone 01244 445266.
CLERGY WELFARE OFFICER VACANCY
Due to the upcoming retirement of our current RGN/Welfare Officer, the Diocese is looking to appoint a replacement. The Welfare Officer is expected to draw on their nursing skills and experience to effectively assist priests approaching retirement, those in retirement and those on sick leave. They will need to be proactive, caring and demonstrate safe and effective practice through a multidisciplinary approach.
They will require a current NMC pin and understand the Catholic faith. For application form please contact Pauline McCulloch recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org. For further information please see link.
https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Welfare-Officer-job-description-Feb-2023.docx Closing date Friday 24 March.
Chester Ladies Choir with guest musicians will present “Here Comes the Sun” in St Columba’s Church Hall on Saturday 1 April at 7.30pm. The programme of uplifting music to welcome the Spring sunshine includes such lovely pieces as Blue Skies, The Water of Tyne, City of Stars, A Million Dreams and Hail Holy Queen (Sister Act version). Tickets are £12 from www.jumblebee.co.uk or will probably be available on the door. Refreshments will be available to purchase. All proceeds will be for the Hospice of the Good Shepherd
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:
26th March edition will be compiled by Alison Wrigglesworth, Phone: 01244 382457, E mail: a.wrigglesworth@outlook.com. 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 22nd MARCH