FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
24TH DECEMBER 2023
| Sat 23 Dec | 4th Sunday of Advent | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Frank & Mary Lally RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | The Parish | |
| Sun 24 Dec | Christmas Eve | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Geoff Parry | |
| 4.30pm | Carols & Readings | ||
| 5.00pm | Christmas Vigil Mass, Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Edward Elwell & Family | |
| 4.30pm | Childrens’ Nativity followed by Mass, Kevin, Francis & Martin Connolly | ||
| Mon 25 Dec | Nativity of The Lord | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Paul Murphy | |
| Tue 26 Dec | St Stephen | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 12 noon | Altar Servers Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | NO MASS | Priests’ Intentions | |
| Wed 27 Dec | St John, Ap, Ev | ||
| St. Theresa’s | Michael Gerrard Dunne RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayer | ||
| 10.30am | Ellie Marsden Anniversary | ||
| Thu 28 Dec | The Holy Innocents. Mem | ||
| St. Theresa’s | Ronnie Evans RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.00am | Requiem Mass for Cathy Carter | |
| Fri 29 Dec | St Thomas Becket, B, M | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 10.00am | John Murphy RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | Mavis Skinner | ||
| Sat 30 Dec | 6th Day of Xmas Octave | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Constance and Joseph Rowland | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Gerry Galvin | |
| Sun 31 Dec | The Holy Family | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Keith Evans RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Mary & Mike Kiernan |
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.
Christmas Mass Times – St Theresa’s
Christmas Eve – Sunday 24th December
4.30pm Carols followed by Vigil Mass 5.00pm
Christmas Day – Monday 25th December
9.30am Christmas Day Mass
Christmas Mass Times – St Columba’s
Christmas Eve – Sunday 24th December
4.30 p.m. Children’s Nativity Mass
Christmas Day – Monday 25th December
11.00 a.m. Christmas Day Mass (streamed)
Feast of St Stephen – Tuesday 26th December
12 noon ST THERESA’S ONLY!
The Holy Family – Sunday 31st December
9.30 am. – St Theresa’s
11.00 am. – St Columba’s
Mary Mother of God – Monday 1st January 2024
10.30am. – St Columba’s
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed from St Theresa’s at 9.30a.m. this Sunday 24th December and at 11.00 a.m. Mass at St Columba’s on Monday 25th December.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER:
For people with disabilities Let us pray that people with disabilities may be at the centre of attention in society, and that institutions may offer inclusion programmes that value their active participation.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS:
Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements.
CONFESSIONS:
There will be Confessions after each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
St Columba’s: From 6pm before the 6.30pm Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30pm before 5pm Saturday evening Mass.
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Please remember in your prayers Cath Carter, Joyce Backhouse and Desmond Dunne who died recently. May the Lord console their Family and friends.
Cath’s Requiem will be held at 10.00am on Thursday 28th December at St Columba’s.
ANNIVERSARIES:
Ruth O’Donnell, Francis Joseph Lally, Alfred Desmond Fox, Ellie Marsden, Jeremiah (Jerry) Ring, Michael Gerrard Dunne, Mary Beatrice Dee, Dylan Edward David Brown, Mary Beatrice Dee.
PARISH OFFICES CHRISTMAS CLOSURE:
The offices will close on Friday 22nd December and re-open on Tuesday 2nd January 2024. In an emergency please call 01244 371660.
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS:
Fr William and Fr Desmond wish everyone a Happy and Holy Christmas and thank you all for your support throughout the year.
PRAYER FOR REFUGEES FROM FR WILLIAM:
Dear brothers & sisters in Christ as we celebrate Christmas we pray for refugees and places were there is civil unrest. May Christ’s coming bring justice and peace in our world and give wisdom to leaders to govern their citizens with love.
PRAYING TOGETHER
We pray for:
- Pray for the residents of Dorset Road, Shipbrook Road, Mannings Lane South, Peckforton Way, Hereford Worcester Place, Ludlow Road and Mayfield Road.
- For the work of Churches Together in Upton and Churches Together in Chester.
- For the Churches in Upton: Holy Ascension, United Reformed, St Columba’s and the Baptist Church.
OFFERTORY:
St Columba’s: Loose plate £335. 81; Planned Giving £157. 50; Average Weekly SO – £574.00; Candles £323.31
St Theresa’s: Loose plate & Planned Giving £; Average weekly SO – £161.00.
THANK YOU for all your generous support.
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA:
24th Dec – Christmas Eve
31st Jan – New Year’s Eve
Please consider donating a little time to make tea and coffee after 11:00 Mass on Sunday at St Columba’s. You can make £30-£50 for your chosen cause, too. Call Margaret Curtis 01244 318424 to book your date(s) – we need volunteers for 2024.
ST THERESA’S – CHRISTMAS FLOWERS:
If anyone would like to donate towards the Christmas flowers at St Theresa’s, please put your donation in an envelope marked “FLOWERS” and place in the Offertory basket. Many thanks.
NORA “NOREEN” OWEN (NEE MANNION):
Nora, who was a parishioner of St Columba’s for many years before she moved to Hampshire, passed away peacefully on 2nd December 2023, aged 96 at Abbotts Barton Nursing Home, Winchester, with her close family at her bedside. The funeral service will be held at St Peter’s Church, Jewry Street, Winchester on Friday 22nd December at 10.00 am, to be followed by a burial at Baunoge, Letterfrack, County Galway, Ireland on Friday, 12th January. Family flowers only. Donations, if desired to, Winchester Hospice Fundraising Charity can be made at www.steelsfunerals.co.uk.
ST COLUMBA’S CAR PARK:
The contractors have informed us that the re-surfacing of the car park is due to commence in the week beginning 8th January. I will provide further information as it becomes available.
CHRISTMAS MEMORY TREE:
A time to remember those who will not be able to celebrate Christmas this year. There will be a tree and cards on the side Altar (near the back door) at St. Columba’s to write your message and hang it on the tree. The message is the important thing, but if anyone wishes to donate, there will be a basket for donations in aid of the Parish Third World Project.
LOURDES HOSPITALITY UPDATE:
Further to the recent AGM, the officers have been meeting monthly to discuss the issues raised and future plans. A face-to-face meeting for all members will be held on Saturday 20th January 2024 (venue and time to be confirmed). In the meantime, if you have any questions for us, please send an email to: secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk
PIETY STALL:
The Piety stall is now selling Christmas Cards, diaries and calendars. If you need anything else, I have a catalogue, please telephone me on 01244 329469. Many thanks.
CAFOD WORLD GIFTS are a range of virtual charity gifts that will delight the people you give them to and help transform the lives of families experiencing poverty. Catalogues available in the church porches along with Advent prayer cards.
Thought for the week: How great is it to live under a sky that is repainted every day by the greatest artist? (unknown)
We’re all in this together: We light our fourth Advent candle this week, the purple candle, representing love. With all four candles lit on our Advent wreath, we will have a full circle of light. The Lord brings the light of love to his people by sending His only Son to earth for our salvation. Let us be that light for others. Remember “You don’t have to give things at Christmas but, if you give yourself, if you give everything you have, if you give the gift of love to each other, then that is the heart of Christmas.” Fr Hanley.
ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Carol Galvin, St. Columba’s Church Office, phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Monday to Friday 9.00am to 1.00pm
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 Sue Carr on 07553 114531 or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.