The month of February is dedicated to the Holy Family
SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
23 FEBRUARY 2025
| Sat 22 Feb | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Joe Blundell RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Eileen Hordley (Birthday Thanksgiving) | |
| Sun 23 Feb | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Richard Murphy RIP | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | ||
| Mon 24 Feb | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Emma & Dean Sweeney & Family | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.30am | Anne & Ursula Youell | |
| Tue 25 Feb | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Anna & Ryan McMahon & Family | ||
| St. Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| Wed 26 Feb | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Constance & Joseph Rowlands | ||
| St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | ||
| 10.30am | Christine Kadash RIP | ||
| Thu 27 Feb | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Nicola & Jonny Lally & Family | ||
| St. Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| Fri 28 Feb | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 10.00am | Peggy McHugh RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | The Parish | ||
| Sat 1 Mar | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Syriac Orthodox Community | |
| 5.00pm | May & George Littler RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Anne McManus | |
| Sun 2 Mar | Day of Special Prayer For the Unemployed | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Ronald Williams RIP | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite |
Please note if there is no time next to Mass it means there is no Mass for parishioners to attend that day, but the Priests will say Mass privately.
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS
Mass will be streamed at St Columba’s on Sunday 23rd February at 11.00a.m. Cover is needed at both churches for occasions when Tim is unavailable. The only requirement is you need to have an Iphone. If you would be willing to help with this please contact one of the church offices. Thank you.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa
RECENTLY DESEASED
Please remember in your prayers Bernadette Shaw, as well as her family and friends.
ANNIVERSARIES
John Stead, Jayne Lesley McElwaine, Janet Irene McMahon and Pauline Ann Roberts.
POPE’S FEBRUARY PRAYER INTENTIONS
For February – For vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.
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.
| CHURCH NEWS JUBILEE YEAR MESSAGE Jubilee Year: Working to translate hope into peace Pope Francis explains that this requires helping all those facing difficulties in life “to look to the future with hope,” which in turn involves supporting “initiatives and paths” that can help the poor and excluded to regain confidence “in themselves and society.” “The poor and the sick, the young and the elderly, migrants and displaced people, even those deprived of their freedom, must be at the centre of our considerations,” he insisted, “so that no one is excluded and everyone’s human dignity is respected.” Christ said, “What you did to the least of these my brethren, that you did to me,”. This invites Christians to recognize the image of God in every man and woman, who are called to be “brothers and sisters” in the human family, and children of God. Possible focus for our prayer: What do I do to help the least of my brethren? Taken from the Vatican website, reported by Christopher Wells |
RECONCILIATION SERVICE – 18 March
There will be a Reconciliation Service on Tuesday 18 March at 7pm at St Columba’s. If anyone requires a lift from St Theresa’s to St Columba’s, please put your name on the list at the back of church.
PARISH OFFERTORY
Loose Plate: £483.30; Planned Giving £211.70; Average weekly SO £555.00. Candles: £37.38.
SPUC collection: £166.26
EMPOWERING VULNERABLE CHILDREN (EVC) UGANDA
There will be a talk on this and a retiring collection NEXT weekend of 1ST & 2ND March.
PRAYING TOGETHER
Pray for:
- Pray for the residents of Rosewood Avenue, Whitby Avenue, Egerton Drive, Donne Place, Kipling Road, Wordsworth Mews and Wordsworth Square.
- For those on the brass and flower rotas and those who distribute flowers.
- For those who clean our churches and halls.
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
The coffee rota for 2025 is on the noticeboard in St Columba’s Hall. Just write your details on the calendar. If you can’t access the hall, leave a message on Margaret Curtis’s answerphone on 01244 318424 with your name and date(s) and she will add you to the rota.
23 Feb – Barbara & Di, CWL
2 Mar – volunteers please
9 Mar – volunteers please
NEEDLES & PINS – Wed 26 FEBRUARY
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.
LIFT NEEDED
Are you able to offer Fr Peter a lift from St Columba’s back to St Theresa’s after the 6.30pm Saturday evening Mass and the 11am Sunday morning Mass. This is only every other weekend until Fr Peter passes his British driving test. Please contact St Columba’s office if you are willing to help.
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 tab. Thank you.
PARISH RETREAT
There will be a Parish retreat on Saturday 15 March from 10a.m – 1p.m. in St Columba’s Hall. All invited. This will be on: “Understanding the biblical roots of a Jubilee year and what it means for this current Jubilee of 2025”. If anyone needs a lift from St Theresa’s to St Columba’s please put your name on the list at the back of church.
FRIENDSHIP THURSDAY: NEW FRIENDSHIP GROUP
The Communications group realised that many people, including those new to the parish, would welcome further opportunities to get out of the house and meet others. The new Friendship Thursday group hopes to meet some of this need. Initaily it will be mounthly, beginning on Thursday, March 6th in St Columba’s Hall, from 1.30-3.30p.m.. There will be refreshments, a chance to chat and get to know others, opportunities to play Dominoes, Scrabble or Cards, also a free book swap where you bring one/take one and we hope to have guest speakers to talk about their interest or skill. Any adult is welcome and if you feel nervous about coming alone, bring a friend! It will be relaxed, friendly and welcoming. Come and give it a try! For information ring Lyn 07735574397
LOURDES 2025 PILGRIMAGE
Bookings for our 2025 Jubilee Pilgrimage to Lourdes are now open. The brochure and booking forms are available to download from the Pilgrimage website www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk .
CLEANATHON
Sunday 2 March some parishioners are planning to clean the chairs in St. Columba’s Hall after 11.00a.m. Mass. If you have any portable/steam/cleaning equipment, please bring it along. Also happy to have extra help.
PDP – Parish Development Plan 2022-2025.
“You said. We did”
In 2022 the Pastoral Council led a whole-parish consultation on developments in the church and in our parish community. Several themes emerged about inclusivity, children and families, social action, faith outreach and improving communications – with our schools, our parishioners and the wider community.
Everyone’s views were carefully considered and consolidated into our Parish Development Plan in June 2022. The Pastoral Council reviewed progress in November 2024 and thanks to the energy and commitment of many people we are able to highlight the following achievements:
· Children’s Liturgy re-established
· Youth Group established
· Young people’s music group established
· Active participation in Churches Together
· Increased support to SVP, Foodbank and home visiting
· Parish welcomers team established
· Major overhaul to parish website
· Full programme of parish social activities – cream teas, BBQs, coach trips, Autumn fair, Christmas lunches and socials
And more! For more details of these and priorities for 2025 please see our parish website. Why not find out how you can participate? Contact any member of the Pastoral Council by emailing either of the church offices: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com OR st.theresas@btinternet.com
Pauline Rourke and Ann McCarthy, Co-Chairs, Pastoral Council.
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS
As part of our PDP the Pastoral Council would like to offer transport to Mass for any parishioners who may require this. Before doing so we need to gather a small team of willing volunteer drivers. Perhaps this could be a personal commitment in recognition of the Jubilee Year? It is not expected that driving duty would occur very frequently so if you think you could help please contact one of the Parish offices with your details. Thanks to all.
CHESTER & ELLESMERE PORT KERALA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
Every Sunday at 2.00p.m., the Chester & Ellesmere Port Kerala Catholic Community now have a Mass in St Columba’s in the Syro – Malabar Rite. All are welcome.
MALANKARA JACOBITE SYRIAC ORTHODOX COMMUNITY CHESTER
Every other Saturday morning this group have a Mass at 9.30am at St Theresa’s.
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 Friday 9a.m. to 2p.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.
JUBILEE PRAYER
There are copies of the Jubilee prayer available for you take a copy.
SPECIAL ANNIVERSARIES
If anyone has a special wedding anniversary this year, 25th, 40th, 50th or 60th please inform one of the church offices in order to receive your invitation from the Diocese to a special Mass later this year.
NATIONAL NOVENA TO ST JOSEPH 10-18TH MAR 2025
The National Novena to St Joseph will take place from 10th-18th March 2025 at St Joseph’s Church in Maidenhead. Every year, the Mill Hill Missionaries prepare for the Feast of St Joseph, their Society Patron, with a special Novena of Masses and prayers to ask for God’s blessing on their Society’s missionary outreach, and for the intentions of all those who support their work. Masses are at 10.00am every day of the Novena except Sunday, when it is at 11.00am. and are available to follow on Zoom, via the Mill Hill website: www.millhillmissionaries.com/novena. You are welcome to send in your petitions and/or to request a Novena prayer booklet (£1). By writing to the Novena Director at 6 Colby Gardens, Maidenhead, SL6 7GZ, or email novenamhm@gmail.com
Community Film @Hoole URC.
Next film 7 March, Ordinary Angels (2024, 12A). Doors open at 1.40 pm, showing 2pm. All welcome. Small fee, drinks at the interval.
Thought for the week
“It isn’t enough to talk about peace; one must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it; one must work at it.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
JOB VACANCY
A vacancy has arisen for a Parish Secretary at St Clare’s Parish, Downsfield Road, Chester. CH4 8HH. 4 hours per week @ £14 per hour. For further details, please see the Diocesan Website https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/ CV and covering letter should be sent to Pauline McCulloch recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date Friday 28 February 2025
RECRUITMENT
A recruitment process for the Deputy Director of Schools is now underway, further details of which can be found via the link below: Deputy Director of Schools Advert. If you would like further information or candidate pack and application form please contact Liam Dowds, our Emmaus Advising Consultant, on 01737 652 043 or email him at ldowds@emmausleadership.me
| NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER: Sunday 2 March edition will be compiled byMuriel Green, phone: 01244 383836 or email: muriel.green1@btinternet.com. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that are also emailed to Fr William or phoned to the compiler by 9.00 a.m. on WEDNESDAY 26 February 2025 |