The month of March is dedicated to St Joseph
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
23 MARCH 2025
| Sat 22 Mar | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Bernard Owens RIP | |
| Sun 23 Mar | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Muriel & Jim Halligan | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Edwin Edwards (Anniv.) | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | ||
| Mon 24 Mar` | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Tony & Robin Walsh | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.00am | Stations of the Cross | |
| 10.30am | Matthew Traynor | ||
| Tue 25 Mar | The Annunciation of the Lord | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 10.00am | Priests’ Intentions | |
| 12.00pm | Funeral for Ilona Hollinger | ||
| St. Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| Wed 26 Mar | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Private Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | ||
| 10.30am | Ilona Hollinger | ||
| Thu 27 Mar | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Special Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | Phillip A. Francis | ||
| Fri 28 Mar | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Stations of the Cross | |
| 10.00am | Jo Griffiths’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | The Parish | ||
| Sat 29 Mar | Clocks go forward one hour | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Malankara Jackobite Syriac Orthodox Community Mass | |
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Michael Owens RIP | |
| Sun 30 Mar | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Deacon Charles Woods RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Veronica Comerford 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.
RECENTLY DECEASED
Please remember in your prayers Colette Johnson, Ilona Hollinger & Michael Craven. Ilona Hollinger’s funeral is at St Theresa’s on Tuesday 25 March at 12 noon. The Requiem Mass for Michael Craven will be held at St Columba’s on 31 March at 12 p.m.
ANNIVERSARIES
Stewart Harrison, Judith Mary Whitlow, Bridget Ann Purcell, Veronica Comerford, Charles Woods, Sarah Ann Gordyk.
POPE’S MARCH PRAYER INTENTIONS
For families in crisis. Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences.
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.
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed at St Columba’s on Sunday 23 March 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
PARISH OFFERTORY
Loose Plate: £758.31; Planned Giving £416; Average weekly SO £555.00. Candles: £20.73.
| CHURCH NEWS: Jubilee News: Pilgrims of Hope Pope Francis has urged us throughout this Jubilee Year to be pilgrims of hope. As Catholics, we stand with other Christian churches in showing forth the hope that the Risen Christ brings to humanity. “Let us never grow tired of bearing witness, before all peoples, to the only-begotten Son of God, the source of all our hope.” |
THANK YOU
Thank you to all those who attended the recent Retreat and Reconciliation Service.
PRAYING TOGETHER
- Pray for the residents of Newton Park Road, Kennedy Close, Sandon Road, Hereford Worcester Place, Ludlow Road and Mayfield Road.
- For our local Doctors Surgeries. For Doctors, Nurses, Health Visitors and Social Workers in our community.
SOCIETY OF AFRICAN MISSIONS (SMA) APPEAL 29/30 March 2025
Next weekend we welcome Fr Henry of the SMA who will give an appeal at all Masses on 29 and 30 March.
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
The coffee rota is on the noticeboard in St Columba’s Hall. Just write your name, charity and phone number on the calendar. But 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 Mar – Jane Nash, for the Parish
30 Mar – volunteers please
6 Apr – volunteers please
GOOD FRIDAY FAMILY STATIONS OF THE CROSS, ST COLUMBA’S
Young parishioners are invited to read and/or hold up pictures at the at 11a.m. on Good Friday morning. There are 14 stations, so at least 14 volunteers would be nice. Please see Gillian Blatch, or Denise Lusk after Mass to volunteer, or email Gillian (gh.settle@gmail.com), ideally before Tuesday 1 April, to allow for time to give out readings and have a practice.
CAFOD BIG LENT WALK IN THE JUBILEE YEAR
CAFOD invites Catholics to join their Big Lent Walk as Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year, walking over 200km over 40 days during Lent. https://walk.cafod.org.uk/
The Catholic High School is taking part in this challenging event, with walks organised in various ways, including a treadmill in school. They aim to raise £800 – thank you in advance for your generosity: https://schools.walk.cafod.org.uk/fundraising/chsc
JUBILEE PRAYER
There are copies of the Jubilee prayer available for you take a copy.
LENT & EASTER SERVICE TIMES
Copies of this year’s programme are available at the back of church. Please take one home with you.
FRIENDSHIP THURSDAY
Coming on 3 April from 2-4 pm (note new time); A speaker from “Woodwork to Wellness”, an organisation that uses practical activities to encourage independence and healing in men and women. It promises to be a fascinating presentation for men and women. More news next week.
RECRUITMENTS
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
A vacancy has arisen for a Parish Secretary at the parishes of St Vincent’s, Knutsford and St Winefride, Lymm (Based at St Vincent’s). Hours: 12 per week. Rate of pay: £13 per hour. More details can be found via the Diocesan website https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/ CV’s with a covering letter should be sent to Pauline McCulloch at recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date: Monday 31 March 2025.
WAY OF THE CROSS – CHURCHES TOGETHER IN UPTON
Through Churches Together in Upton, we work towards unity with our fellow Christians in Holy Ascension Anglican Church and the United Reformed Church, both our near neighbours.
Please come and join us for a shared Lenten Way of the Cross at 4.30pm on Sunday 30 March at St Columba’s. Let us show our shared belief in the Crucified and Risen Christ as we travel “With Christ to Calvary” and make this a special Lenten prayer time. It will last about 30 minutes and refreshments will follow
NEEDLES & PINS – Wed 26 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.
CHESTER FAIRTRADING SPRING FAIR
On Saturday 29 March at Wesley Church Centre, St John Street, from 11am – 3pm.
NEWSLETTER – We Need YOU!
Ever wanted to help with the parish newsletter? Now’s your chance! We’re looking for volunteer editors to join the team. Why volunteer?
- More hands = Less work for everyone!
- Get the inside scoop on all the parish news.
- No editing experience needed, just a willingness to pitch in!
Sign up today and help us make the newsletter shine! Contact Anne on 01244 340243.
EASTER FLOWER COLLECTION – ST COLUMBA’S
There will be a collection after all Masses at St. Columba’s on the 29/30 March to cover the cost of the Easter flowers. You have always been very generous in the past. Thank you
FIRST AIDER
Are there any trained First Aiders out there?
The Pastoral Council would like to have a trained First Aider on hand for occasional parish events. Perhaps you have already received training for work? We would love to hear from you if you can volunteer to help out on a rota basis. Please contact either of the church offices with your details and we will be in touch. Thank you.
ST COLUMBA’S RED MISSION BOX HOLDERS
There will be 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, relabeled box from the rear porch.
FISH & CHIP BABIES KNITTED CLOTHING PROJECT
So that the knitted garments can be shipped to Africa efficiently, there is a growing need for strong cardboard boxes. If you have any 15″x15″x15″ (or there abouts) boxes, can you leave please leave them in the rear porch at St Columba’s. Thank you.
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.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“Good actions are the invisible hinges on the doors of heaven” Victor Hugo
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.
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. Choose the Our Parish tab, click on Parish Development Plan
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.
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER
Sunday 30 March edition will be compiled by Eileen Irwin, phone: 01244 371660, or email: st.theresas@btinternet.com. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that notices are also emailed to Fr William or phoned to the compiler by 9.00 a.m. on WEDNESDAY 26 March 2025