The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows
TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
21 September 2025
| Sat 20 Sep | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Winifred McGlown | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Cristiano Alesina da Silva RIP | |
| Sun 21 Sep | Evangelii Gaudium Sunday | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Janet Wells RIP | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | ||
| Mon 22 Sep | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.30am | Mary Ible RIP (CM) | |
| Tue 23 Sep | St Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) Mem | ||
| St. Theresa’s | Special Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| Wed 24 Sep | Our Lady of Walsingham | ||
| St. Theresa’s | Private Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | ||
| 10.30am | Tony Walsh RIP (CM) | ||
| Thu 25 Sep | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Ann O’Connell RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| Fri 26 Sep | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 10.00am | Keith Evans RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | The Parish | ||
| Sat 27 Sep | St Vincent De Paul Mem | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Kathleen & Jack Lawlor & Kathleen & Elsie Maguire RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | John Paddy Campbell RIP | |
| Sun 28 Sep | Evangelii Gaudium | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Gerry & Maureen’s 60th Wedding anniversary | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Kenneth & Mary Kilcoyne | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite |
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS
Mass will be streamed at St Theresa’s on Sunday 21 September at 9.30 a.m.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY
The Children’s Liturgy normally happens at the 11a.m. at St Columba’s on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. For further details, see the parish website under the Family tab.
ANNIVERSARIES
Angela Christine Woodworth
POPE’S SEPTEMBER PRAYER INTENTIONS
FOR OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF CREATION Let us pray that, inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.
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.
FR WILLIAM
Anyone wishing to talk to Fr William should contact one of the parish offices and make an appointment. Fr William is not available on Thursdays.
PRAYING TOGETHER
Please pray for
- the residents of Lawn Drive, Earls Oak, Windmill Rise, Hatton Road, Pulford Road, Leaside Road, Fernhill Road and For Dorin Park School.
- For all who are physically or mentally disabled, their teachers and families
PARISH OFFERTORY
Loose Plate: £515.77; Planned Giving: £310.88; Average weekly SO £718.15; Candles £33.28.
ST THERESA’S FEAST DAY – 1 OCTOBER
As there will be Mass at St Theresa’s at 9.30am on Wednesday 1 October, there will not be Devotions and Mass at St Columba’s that day. All welcome to the Parish celebration.
ST THERESA’S FEAST DAY FLOWERS
If you would like to contribute towards the flowers for St Theresa’s Feast Day (1 October) please put your donation in an envelope marked “St Theresa’s Flowers” and place it in the offertory basket. Many thanks.
MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING
Donations of cakes would be very much appreciated – cakes will be on sale after the 6:30pm Mass on Sat 27 Sept after the 11am Mass on Sun 28 Sept for this annual fundraiser.
YEAR OF THE JUBILEE 2025 MASS
Many thanks to those who came along to this last week and to all who organised it and participated in any way.
FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION CLASSES
These classes are for children who come to either church but do not attend one of the RC Primary Schools. They are held in the Newman Room at St Columba’s on Wednesday evenings in term time from 5pm to 6pm. The classes will begin on Wednesday 24 Sept. If you have a child in Year 3 or above who would like to enrol to join these classes to prepare for First Forgiveness and First Holy Communion this school year, or if you would like any further information, please contact Pauline Payne by email: pauline.payne4@btinternet.com or ring 01244 350323
FAITH EXPLORATION AND SHARING
For any parishioner not yet in full communion with the Church but interested in exploring a way to that, beginning in September the parish will be running the Sycamore course explaining the Catholic faith. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Deacon Lawrence for more details. If you know someone you think might be interested, why not offer some words of encouragement.
FOOD BANK DONATIONS – MORE NEEDED
The warehouse is usually fairly full but recently the crates have been half empty. The volunteers confirmed that they are having to buy in supplies out of their limited resources. A look at the Foodbank website (westcheshirefoodbank.org.uk) indicates where there is a need for particular items. Thank you so much.
BIBLE TIMELINE COURSE
A free online course starts Wed 1 October at 7pm for 8 evenings. Infor and registration: comeandsee.org
Marriage & Family Life Ministry Retreat Day
11 October 2025 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Parish Room, Shrewsbury Cathedral, SY1 1UE.
Contact Monika: monika.golembiewska@dioceseofshrewsbury.org | 07549 226794 or
Jane: jane.deegan@dioceseofshrewsbury.org | 07517 906435
DIOCESAN JUBILEE EVENTS
Jubilee for Catechists with Bishop Mark Davies, the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph and Natalie Orefice, Diocesan Director of Evangelisation and Catechesis. On Saturday 15 November at St Joseph’s Eucharistic Shrine, Tatton St, Stockport SK1 1EJ. Book a free place here: https://bit.ly/Jubilee-for-Catechists
ST. WERBURGH’S 150th ANNIVERSARY
This will be celebrated in December this year. Details of events in the coming week are on the notice board in both churches.
ROSARY RETREAT DAY AND JUBILEE PILGRIMAGE AT SAINT JOSEPH’S, STOCKPORT ON SATURDAY 25 OCTOBER
Bishop Mark Davies will lead this Jubilee Pilgrimage at the Eucharistic Shrine of Saint Joseph’s, Stockport on Saturday 25 October. The Rosary Retreat will begin at 9.30 am and Holy Mass will be celebrated at 11am. The day will conclude with a Eucharistic Procession and Solemn Benediction at 3.30 pm. Please bring a packed lunch.
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. Forms can be found in the front porches of both churches and on the website: www.sscolumbaandtheresa.co.uk under the “I’m New”
PARISH WEBSITE
If anyone has an item that they would like to have on the website, please contact Lyn Coyle, who is the parish liaison with the website manager. These items must be about parish-based events or information. marilyn.coyle44@gmail.com
PARISH YOUTUBE CHANNEL
The Pastoral Council would like to offer Mass live streamed on our YouTube channel. To do this, at no cost to us, we need a minimum of 50 subscribers. We would be very grateful if parishioners could subscribe to the channel which can be found on YouTube as: St Columba and Theresa RC Church Chester. Even if you are unlikely to use the service, please do subscribe to benefit others.
FISH AND CHIP BABIES, KNITTING PROJECT
If you have any double-knitting wool to spare, we now need more for the babies in NE Africa. Please arrange to hand it to Margaret Curtis 01244 318424, thank you.
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
Write your name, charity and phone number on the calendar or leave a message with Margaret Curtis on 01244 318424 with your name and date(s).
21 Sept – volunteers please
28 Sept – MacMillan Coffee Morning
05 Oct – volunteers please
NEEDLES & PINS – Wed 24 September
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.
MARRIAGE HELP
Retrouvaille helps couples find hope and healing for their marriage. Next date: 17-19 October. www.retrouvaille.org.uk Tel: 0788 7296983
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:
QUIZ
The CTU quiz will be on Friday 10 October in our Church Hall at 7.00 p.m. Teams of no more than eight. Please bring your own drinks and glasses. Table nibbles will be provided and there will be a raffle. Profits in aid of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd
LOOKING FOR OLD LAPTOPS
Do you have an old laptop that you no longer use? They are much in need for asylum seekers and refugees who cannot afford to buy one.. The charity has an IT expert who will ensure that each laptop donated is entirely free of personal information before it is passed on. Any help you can give is immensely valuable. FFI and to donate, contact Lyn Coyle marilyn.coyle44@gmail.com. Please include a telephone number.
FAMILY AND GROUP STAYS AT CASTLERIGG MANOR THIS OCTOBER HALF TERM
Castlerigg Manor is a Retreat Centre in the Lake District, and they are opening their doors during October Half Term (Oct 27-31). A good option for anyone looking for a budget get-away in a beautiful part of the country. Book at https://castleriggmanor.com/stay-with-us/ or contact director@castleriggmanor.co.uk
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – Evangelii Gaudium Sunday – Sept 21
This Sunday we celebrate the Church’s mission at home. As baptised Catholics, we are called to grow in faith and share the Gospel in daily life. In this Jubilee of Hope, we are pilgrims of hope, sent out at the end of every Mass (“Ite, missa est”) to live and witness our faith in the world.
CHILDREN’S CHOIR OF ST COLUMBA’S RECRUITMENT
The Little Choir is looking for young children from year 3 and above. You do not need to know the music or be able to sing. We also support young guitarists and percussionists to play for the choir and the Mass service. We practise on Tuesday at 6.45p.m. for one hour (starting on the 16 of September. Mass and practice are in St Columba’s Church (entrance at the back door). For further information please contact Giovanna or the director of the choir Mark, at the end of 11.00a.m. Mass.
INSTRUMENT REQUEST FOR ST COLUMBA’S LITTLE CHOIR
The Little Choir would like to develop the percussion section. If you have any snare, bongo, djembe, cajon, or generic drums that you do not use and would like to donate to the choir, please contact Giovanna and/or Mark after the 11:00 Mass on the left of the altar. Thanks for your help.
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 Thursday 9a.m. to 2.00p.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.
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER
Sunday 28 September edition will be compiled by Alison Wrigglesworth Phone: 07759 042262 or email: st.theresas@btinternet.com by 9.00 a.m. on WEDNESDAY 24 September 2025. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that notices are also emailed to Fr William at st.theresas@btinternet.com.