The month of March is dedicated to St Joseph
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
22 MARCH 2026
| Saturday 21 March | ||
| St Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Muriel & Jim Halligan RIP |
| St Columba’s | 6.30pm | Patricia Duggan |
| Sunday 22 March –Fifth Sunday of Lent | ||
| St Theresa’s | 9.30am | Margaret Parry RIP |
| St Columba’s | 11.00am | World Peace, God’s guidance & cover over our lives. |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
| Monday 23 March | ||
| St Theresa’s | John Dixon RIP | |
| St Columba’s | 10.00am | Stations of the Cross |
| 10.30am | Mary Ryan | |
| Tuesday 24 March | ||
| St Theresa’s | Parishioners’ Ints | |
| St Columba’s | Matthew Traynor | |
| Wednesday 25 March The Annunciation of the Lord | ||
| St Theresa’s | 10.00am 7.00pm | Wanilda Lourenco da Silva Agostinho Jose da Silva |
| St Columba’s | NO EXPOSITION | |
| NO NOVENA PRAYERS | ||
| 10.30am | Fr Peter Otuonkpaikhien | |
| Thursday 26 March | ||
| St Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | |
| St Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | |
| Friday 27 March | ||
| St Theresa’s | 9.30am | Stations of the Cross |
| 10.00am | Philip A Francis | |
| St Columba’s | The Parish | |
| Saturday 28 March | ||
| St Theresa’s | 9.30am | Malankara Jacobite Syriac Community |
| 5.00pm | Nan & Martin Behan RIP | |
| St Columba’s | 6.30pm | Jo Staunton |
| Sunday 29 March – Palm Sunday | ||
| St Theresa’s | 9.30am | Charles Woods RIP |
| St Columba’s | 11.00am | Cyril & Ethel – Wedding Anniversary |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR MARCH – FOR DISARMAMENT AND PEACE. Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS – Mass will be streamed at St Theresa’s on Sunday 22nd March at 9.30a.m.
CONFESSIONS – After each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
Saturdays:
St Columba’s 6.00 – 6.25p.m.
St Theresa’s 4.30 – 4.55p.m.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS & FUNERALS – Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements.
ANNIVERSARIES – James Philip Conde, Margaret Ellen Finnegan, Judith Mary Whitlow, Bridget Ann Purcell & Veronica Comerford.
RECENTLY DECEASED – Please remember in your prayers Mark Buggy, who died recently, and his family and friends. The Requiem Mass for Mark is on Monday 30th March at 11.45am. at St Theresa’s.
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: £509.45; Planned Giving: £322.136; Average weekly SO £718.15. St Columba’s Dona Stations: £66.00. Candles: £44.98. Thank you for your kind generosity.
EASTER – The Easter Offertory collection is for the parish – anyone wishing to give a personal gift to either Fr William or Fr John please put the donation in an envelope marked personal with their name.
HOLY PLACES COLLECTION – There will be a retiring collection for this on Good Friday.
FR WILLIAM – Thursday is Fr William’s day off so please try not to arrange meetings on a Thursday if you would like Fr William to attend.
NEWSLETTER – As well as sending to the editor, please send any items for the newsletter to St Theresa’s office email: st.theresas@btinternet.com for the attention of Fr William. Thank you.
| RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS – THE SCRUTINIES Fr William will conduct the Third and final Scrutiny with Adam Fitzpatrick at 11 am Mass this Sunday. Please keep Adam and all concerned in your prayers, in these final weeks of his preparation for Baptism. A copy of the Scrutiny is available with Newsletters. |
EASTER VIGIL REHEARSAL – There will be a rehearsal for those assisting, including altar servers, in the Easter Vigil, at St Columba’s on Monday 30th March at 6.30pm.
RECONCILIATION SERVICE – Thanks to those who came along to this last Tuesday.
PRAYING TOGETHER FOR
- The residents of Broadway West, Totland Grove, Derwent Road, Willow Drive, Naomi Close, Dentith drive and Egerton Road.
- For the Zoo and all who work there.
- For a deeper awareness of our environment.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Audrey Hepburn
SUGGESTION BOXES – It was agreed at the parish AGM last year that: “a parishioners’ suggestion box be made available at each church and parishioners encouraged to use them”. These have now been placed in the entrances to each church- apologies for the delay in their installation. There is a pen and paper attached to each which we hope will encourage you to use them. They offer you an easy means of making suggestions for improvements which can help us all as a parish. Ann McCarthy, Pauline Rourke (co-chairs Pastoral Council)
CHURCHES TOGETHER IN UPTON – The next fifth Sunday service will be at Holy Ascension NEXT Sunday 29 March at 4.30p.m. You are invited to join our friends from the other Upton churches in this short service based on “three unusual saints”. An opportunity to test your knowledge of possibly obscure saints. There will be refreshments in the kemp room after the service. A poster on the notice board gives more details.
DIOCESAN MASS FOR MARRIAGE 2026 – Bishop Mark will be celebrating the Mass for Marriage on Saturday 13th June at 12 noon at Saint Columba’s. Mass will be followed by a buffet lunch for invited guests in the Parish Hall. All parishioners celebrating a significant marriage anniversary can apply for an invitation from the Bishop’s Office via their Parish Priest or Parish Administrator by 8th April. Details required are your names, address, telephone number and which anniversary you are celebrating.
St Columba’s Coffee Rota – See the rota on the noticeboard in St Columba’s Hall. We need volunteers every Sunday after 11:00 Mass, so if you would like 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
22 Mar – Lina Greig, Hopeful Ugandan Heart
29 Mar – Elizabeth Wilson, CWL
05 Apr – volunteers please
NEEDLES & PINS – Wed 25th March – 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.
CLOCKS – go forward 1 hour next weekend
CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY DONATION – Donations from the envelopes amounted to £452. Many thanks for your continued generosity. It will help families put food on their table in some of the poorest countries in the world.
VACANCY – Due to retirement, a vacancy has arisen within the Diocese for a Health & Safety officer. Salary £32,000 – £38,000 dependant on experience. Hours: 25 per week, term time only, Please send CV and covering letter to Pauline McCulloch recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date 10 April. Further details can be found on the Diocesan Website Latest Vacancies – Diocese
MISA EN ESPAñOL UNA VEZ AL MES! Fr Patrick from St Clare’s Church will begin celebrating a Monthly Mass in Spanish for our Spanish speaking community in Chester and anyone who wishes to participate”.
First Mass: Saturday 18th April at 4pm.
Location: St Clare’s, Downsfield Rd, Chester. CH4 8HH
This Mass will take place once a month and is a beatiful oppotunity to come together in faith, prayer and community in the Spanish Language. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served after the service. If you want further information please contact Lina Greig: 07837512544.
!TODOS SON BIENVENIDOS, FAMILIA Y AMIGOS! “Porque donde dos o tres se reunen en mi nombre, alli estoy yo en medio de ellos”
MARRIAGE SUPPORT: If you are just in a rut or for more serious issues – Retrouvaille could be the solution. www.retrouvaille.org.uk +44 797 338 0443
NOTE: The Easter newsletter deadline will be brought forward to Tuesday 31 March 9am.
SCHOOL NEWS – both the Catholic High and St Werburgh’s and St Columba’s schools are taking part in the Big Lent Walk this year to raise money for CAFOD
ST COLUMBA’S RED MISSION BOX HOLDERS – There are three Red Mission boxes collections during the year: March, July and November. To have your box emptied, please leave it in the sacristy before the end of March, then pick up your empty, relabelled box from the rear porch.
FISH & CHIP BABIES KNITTING PROJECT – There are photos showing the unpacking of your knitted garments by the recipients in East Africa on display in the front porch of both churches. Thank you and keep knitting!
CONTACTLESS CARD DONATIONS TO CAFOD AT ST COLUMBA’S – For the next three weeks you can donate to the CAFOD appeal by tapping CAFOD on the Dona station at the rear of the church and Second Collection on the station at the front of church.
MASS REQUESTS – If you would like to have a Mass said, especially on a particular day, please allow at least one month before the date when requesting Mass. Requests can be made at the office or using an envelope. Thank you.
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/
LENT GROUP March 24th – This will be our last Lent Group so do join us in the Iona Chapel from 10.30 for 30-40 minutes. We shall read and discuss the raising of Lazarus in the Gospel of John, a foretaste of the Resurrection and a chance to prepare for Holy Week. Anyone is welcome. Thanks to those who have led the group through Lent. Copies of the passage will be available. FFI Lyn 07735574397
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 29 March to be compiled by Muriel Green. Phone: 01244 383836, email: muriel.green1@btinternet.com. Deadline: 9.00a.m. Wednesday 25 March
Please include a contact number with your notice. Also email a copy to Fr. William at st.theresas@btinternet.com