The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Pity
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
20 SEPTEMBER 2026
Sat 19 Sep
St. Theresa’s
9.30am Malankara Jacobite Syriac Community
5.00pm Mae Dunne
St. Columba’s
6.30pm Margaret Patino Pan RIP (EH)
Sun 20 Sep
– Home Mission Sunday
St. Theresa’s
9.30am Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s
11.00am Margaret Patino Pan RIP (MW)
2.00pm Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite
Mon 21 Sep
– St Matthew, Ap, Ev. Feast
St. Theresa’s
William Cannon RIP
St. Columba’s
10.30am Mark Traynor
Tue 22 Sep
St. Theresa’s
6.30pm Priests’ Intentions
St. Columba’s
No Mass at St Columba’s. Parishioners’ Intentions
Wed 23 Sep
– St Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), P. Mem.
St. Theresa’s
Special Intention
St. Columba’s
9.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
10.15am Novena Prayers
10.30am Niall Sullivan RIP (CM)
Thu 24 Sep
– Our Lady of Walsingham. Feast
St. Theresa’s
Private Intentions
St. Columba’s
Priests’ Intentions
Fri 25 Sep
St. Theresa’s
10.00am Nigel Clayton RIP
St. Columba’s
The Parish
Sat 26 Sep
St. Theresa’s
5.00pm Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s
6.30pm Fr Jonathan Lennon RIP Anniv.
Sun 27 Sep
– 26th Sunday in Ord. Time. Special Day of Prayer for the Harvest
St. Theresa’s
9.30am Jessica Baker RIP
St. Columba’s
11.00am Margaret Patino Pan RIP (CWL)
2.00pm Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS – Mass will be streamed at St Columba’s on Sunday 20 September at 11.00a.m.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR SEPTEMBER –For the care of water. Let us prayfor a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.
CONFESSIONS – After each weekday Mass until 11.30a.m. On 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.
ANNIVERSARIES – Angels Christine Woodworth.
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: £579.69; Planned Giving: £222.15; Average weekly SO £734.72. St Columba’s Dona Stations: £132; Candles £TBC. Thank you for your generosity.
RETIRING COLLECTION – This weekend (19/20 September) there will be a retiring collection for Home Missions.
MASS COUNT – Will take place in both churches over this weekend 19/20 and weekend of 26/27 September.
MASS – Please note that the Mass on Tuesday, 22 September, will be celebrated at St Theresa’s, as the Pastoral Council meeting will take place there immediately afterwards.
FEAST OF ST THERESA – Thursday 1st October is the Feast of St Theresa and there will be Mass at 9.30am in St Theresa’s church. Our Primary school will be joining us for this Mass. All welcome.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – “It’s the first day of autumn! A time of hot chocolatey mornings, and toasty marshmallow evenings, and, best of all, leaping into leaves!” — Winnie the Pooh
PRAYING TOGETHER FOR –
The residents of Lawn Drive, Earls Oak, Windmill Rise, Hatton Road, Pulford Road, Leaside Road, Fernhill Road and For Dorin Park School.
All who are physically or mentally disabled, their teachers and families.
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 20 Sept – volunteers please 27 Sept – MacMillan Coffee Morning 04 Oct – Lena Greig, Hopeful Ugandan Hearts
MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING – It’s nearly time for our annual MacMillan fund raiser, on 27 Sept. We would welcome any donated cakes which can be sold after the Saturday Mass at 6:30pm 26 Sep in the Newman Room and after the Sunday Mass, 11:00am 27 Sep, in St Columba’s Hall. Thank you
YOUTH GROUP – The next youth group is this Monday, 21 September, starting at 7pm in the Newman room and finishing at 8.30pm in St Columba’s Church hall. All young parishioners school year 5 or older are very welcome and encouraged to join our group.
SAVE THE DATE, 16 OCTOBER – There will be a family fun evening in St Theresa’s club starting at 7:00pm. Watch this space for more details.
NEEDLES & PINS – WED 23 SEPT – 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.
FRIENDSHIP THURSDAY IS BACK! – Beginning again this Thursday, 17 Sept from 2-4 pm in the Church Hall. We will meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month until July 2027. There are sometimes guest speakers or interesting activities, but the main purpose is to meet other people for coffee, chat and friendship. It’s very informal and friendly; anyone is welcome, so do come along. This week there will be a raffle, cakes, and a free book table with a new selection of books. We ask for £2 towards running costs please. For information see posters in the church porches or contact Lyn Coyle: 37745574397 or marilyn.coyle44@gmail,com
CHANGES TO BAPTISM ARRANGEMENTS – Parents are asked to note that, in future,Baptisms will be carried out in groups on a Sunday designated by Fr William. Individual Baptisms will no longer be offered. The next Baptism Sunday will be on 29 November at 12.30 pm, preceded by a meeting with parents on 24 November at 4.30 pm in the Newman Room. Baptism forms will be available in the front and back porches. Please submit the form to the Parish Office by 19 November. The following Baptism Sunday will be on 27 December at 12.30 pm. Parents’ Meeting: 21 December. Deadline for submission of the forms: 16 December.
FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION CLASSES – These classes are for children who come to either St Columba’s or St Theresa’s churches 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 23 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
COME AND VISIT OUR SCHOOL – St Werburgh’s and St Columba’s Catholic Primary School. Families considering a school place for September 2027 are warmly invited to visit us and discover what makes our school such a welcoming and special place to learn. Open-day dates:
FASHION SHOW FOR CHARITY – Wednesday 30 September, 2–4.30 p.m., £5, includes Bren Brews drink and cake; Hoole URC Church Hall, Hoole Road, in aid of Chifundo, women’s Malawi charity. Tickets call/email 01244 381 490, satflynn7@gmail.com
FAITH EXPLORATION AND SHARING (OCIA) – For anyone not yet in full communion with the Church but interested in exploring a way toward that, beginning at the end of September the parish will be running the Sycamore course explaining the Catholic faith. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact the Parish Office for more details. If you know someone you think might be interested why not offer some words of encouragement.
SVP APPEAL – We are currently supporting a lady and her one-year-old boy who have recently moved from homelessness to a new home. She needs furnishings for the house, particularly curtains and curtain poles. She also needs some furniture to store clothes etc. for her child’s bedroom. Does anyone have a child’s chest of drawers or wardrobe, in good condition, to donate? Please contact Sue McCarthy, Mark Traynor or any SVP member. 07515491251. Thank you.
CAFOD PETITION SIGNING – CANCEL THE DEBT – Our petition signatures have been collected alongside many other parishes and CAFOD will communicate the results with the government at the end of the year as they take over the presidency of the G20. As the UK is hosting the G20 it gives us a special opportunity to push for urgent action.
PARISH WEBSITE AGAIN – We apologise for some ongoing issues with the website. Our two volunteers are spending many hours trying to make changes and publish items each week, despite constant “error” messages and we are most grateful to them. We are awaiting software updates to be processed by the website company to carry out maintenance to the website. It is a matter of urgency to achieve this. Please bear with us and thank you for your patience. Lyn Coyle.
DIOCESAN VACANCIES have arisen within the Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team (SYMT), based in Stockport & the Curial office based in Birkenhead. Further details for all vacancies can be found on the Diocesan website: https://dioceseofshrewsbury.org/careers. Closing date: 18 September.
THE DIMENSIONS OF LOVE – FR TOM’S PILGRIMAGE – To mark ten years of priestly ministry, Fr Tom Cunnah will undertake a nine-day, 130-mile thanksgiving pilgrimage across the Diocese of Shrewsbury, from West Kirby to Ludlow and Shining Tor, beginning on 3 September. Along the way, he will be praying for vocations and raising awareness and funds for the work of Caritas supporting families in need. Parishioners can follow his journey on Caritas social media.
FEMALE NANNY WANTED – A family based in Chester are looking for a female after-school nanny to help with childcare for their 3 school-aged children twice a week with some overnight stays too. If you would like to have a chat, please contact 07507190242.
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 2p.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 27 September to be complied by Eileen Irwin, phone: 01244 371660, email: st.theresas@btinternet.com. Deadline: Wednesday 23 September 9.00am. Please include a contact number with your notice and also email a copy to Fr William at st.theresas@btinternet.com