SIXTH SUNDAY OF LENT
24th MARCH 2024
| Sat 23 Mar | Palm Sunday Vigil | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Edwin Edwards | |
| Sun 24 Mar | Palm Sunday | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Nina Wormald RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Matthew Traynor | |
| Mon 25 Mar | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Private Intention(CS) | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.00am | Stations of the Cross | |
| 10.30am | Adam & Martina Elwell | ||
| Tue 26 Mar | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | Edward Elwell | ||
| Wed 27 Mar | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Nan & Martin Behan RIP | ||
| 6.00pm | First Forgiveness | ||
| St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | ||
| 10.30am | Phillip Francis | ||
| Thu 28 Mar | HOLY THURSDAY Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper | ||
| St. Theresa’s | NO MASS | ||
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Beatrice Talgan | |
| Fri 29 Mar | GOOD FRIDAY Celebration of the Lord’s Passion | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 11.15am | Stations of the Cross | |
| 3.00pm | Celebration of the Lord’s Passion | ||
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Stations of the Cross led by The Youth Group | |
| St. Columba’s | 3.00pm | Celebration of the Lord’s Passion | |
| Sat 30 Mar | HOLY SATURDAY Easter Vigil First Mass of Easter | ||
| St. Theresa’s | NO EVENING MASS | ||
| St. Columba’s | 7.00pm | The Parish | |
| Sun 31 Mar | EASTER SUNDAY | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Graham Elwell |
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.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS – For March – For new martyrs – Let us pray that those who risk their lives for the Gospel in various parts of the world might imbue the Church with their courage and missionary drive.
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed from St Theresa’s at 5.00p.m. this Saturday 23rd March 2024
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa
HOLY THURSDAY
As this Mass is at St Columba’s at 6.30pm on 28th March, anyone needing a lift from Blacon to St Columba’s please put your name on the list at the back of church.
SERVICE TIMES:
Leaflets are available with the service and Mass times for Lent and Easter. Please do take one with you.
EASTER MESSAGE
Fr William and Fr Desmond would like to wish everyone a happy & Holy Easter and to thank everyone who helped in any way with the preparation of the Lent & Easter services.
CLOCKS CHANGE
The clocks go forward one hour at 2am on 31st March 2024
ANNIVERSARIES:
Judith Mary Whitlow, Bridget Ann Purcell, Veronica Comerford, Charles Woods, Sarah Ann Gordyk & Stewart Harrison.
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 11.30a.m.
St Columba’s: From 6pm before the 6.30p.m. Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30p.m. before 5p.m. Saturday evening Mass.
BAPTISM
We welcome into God’s family, Kobie Onochie Chukwuemeka Akubue, Noela Nancy Juma and Brielle Winfrey Juma who were baptised here recently. May God bless them and their families.
OFFERTORY:
Loose plate10th March £487.20 ; Planned giving £205.86;
Average weekly SO £785.00; Candles £25.78
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA:
The coffee rota is on the notice board in St Columba’s Hall. Please enter your name and good cause against your preferred dates. You could make £30-£50 for your chosen cause.
24th Mar – volunteers please (Palm Sunday)
31st March – volunteers please (Easter Sunday)
7th April – volunteers please
RED MISSION BOXES, ST COLUMBA’S:
If you have a Red Mission box for collection, please leave it in the sacristy. When counted I can return your box to your home. Thank you, Margaret Curtis 01244 318424.
RED MISSION BOXES, ST THERESAS’S
Please leave your box in the sacristy to be counted. Thank you.
PRAYING TOGETHER
We pray for:
- The residents of Broadway West, Totland Grove, Derwent Road, Hereford Place, Worcester Place, Ludlow Road & Mayfield Road.
- For the zoo and all who work there.
- For a deeper awareness of our environment
CHUCHES TOGETHER IN UPTON:
The next Fifth Sunday Service on the theme of “Jesus’ Life in Words and Music” will be held at 4.30 p.m. on Easter Sunday at the United Reformed Church on Heath Road (next to the Wheatsheaf). All welcome.
KNITTED CHICKS
A heartfelt thank you to all those who knitted chicks for St Theresa’s Primary School, Blacon. 180 chicks were made and they will be sold in aid of CAFOD.
EASTER FLOWERS:
If you would like to donate towards the flowers at St Theresa’s please put an envelope marked “FLOWERS” and place it in the Offertory basket.
DIOCESAN MARRIAGE MASS:
The Annual Diocesan Marriage Mass will take place here at St Columba’s Church on Saturday 8th June 2024. If you have a special anniversary this year, please get in touch with the Diocese of Shrewsbury, Curial Offices, 2 Park Road South, Prenton, CH43 4UX or telephone 0151-652-9855. Many thanks.”
RECEPTIONS AND CONFIRMATIONS AT EASTER:
Luciana da Silva and Tommy Williams are preparing in the parish to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Connor Rowlands is preparing also, to receive the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist with Luciana and Tommy at the Vigil. In these final days of their preparation especially, please keep Luciana, Tommy, and Connor in your prayers, that God will guide them, and grant them the grace to enter fully and joyfully into the life of the Church. Thank you.
RIGHT TO LIFE (UK):
Ask your MP to support the abortion time limit reduction amendment
Support an amendment to reduce our abortion time limit from 24 weeks to 22 weeks. Research indicates that a significant number of babies born at 22 or 23 weeks can now survive outside the womb, leaving a contradiction in our abortion law. Take action: Collect a postcard today from the back of the church and post it to your MP urgently in support of this amendment! – Our MP is Samantha Dixon.
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY 2024 – ST THERESA’S 7TH APRIL
Programme:
2.00pm Sacrament of Reconciliation
2.15pm Recitation of the Chaplet
2.30pm Blessing and veneration of the Divine Mercy picture and Benediction
2.45pm Mass
The service on Divine Mercy Sunday is an opportunity to receive Our Lord’s promises of specific, extraordinary graces on the Sunday after Easter. “The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion (on this day) will obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment” (St Faustina). There is a novena which is said in the 9 days before Divine Mercy Sunday (https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/novena/). You are invited to attend this service and receive the extraordinary graces from Our Lord.
HIGHLIGHT FROM THE HIGH:
The students at the CHS are rehearsing for the ‘Living Stations of the Cross’ performance which will take place in the school hall on Tuesday 26th March at 10am. Parishioners are invited to come and watch the play. Tickets free of charge. Limited places! To book your seat, please email shawk@christofidelis.org.uk
SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
The next Chester Parishes Sacrament of Confirmation will be on 8th November 2024. Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation will be led by St. Columba and St. Theresa’s Confirmation team. Anyone who is currently at high school may be Confirmed, with no upper age limit. If you wish to be Confirmed please email stcolumbatheresaconfirmation@hotmail.co.uk to register and receive further information. Please say if you are over 18, as adults will be prepared separately.
THE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL is looking for exam invigilators to support the exams from as soon as possible. If anyone is interested please visit the school website Vacancies – The Chester Catholic High School (christofidelis.org.uk) or email Mr Kilcoyne School Business Manager kilcoynea@christofidelis.org.uk for more details.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Sunday April 14th Afternoon tea at St Columbas to raise money towards a new sound system at St Theresa’s
Sunday 9th Jun Annual BBQ to celebrate the feast of St Columba
Keep your eye on the newsletter and notice board for further information and any other dates of activities.
NEEDLES AND PINS – WED 27TH 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.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: “We look forward to the time when the power of love will replace the love of power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace” William Gladstone.
RESOURCES: Situated about half way between both of our churches, the Countess of Chester Health Park, will host, from the 7th April “Cheshire’s Wonderful Wildlife” a poster art trail of 12 colourful posters on a circular 1/2 mile walk on accessible paths. Free to all.
REQUEST FOR UNWANTED KNITTING WOOL:
If anyone has wool they don’t need, please consider donating it to the makers of hats and jumpers for the Fish & Chip babies, please contact Margaret Curtis (318424) to arrange a handover. ALSO, if any knitters needs more wool, please contact me, too.
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 8.30a.m. to 12.30p.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 Sue Carr on 07553 114531 or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:
31st March edition will be compiled by Muriel Green, phone: 01244 383836; or email: muriel.green1@btinternet.com. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that items are emailed or phoned to the compiler by 9.00A.M. on TUESDAY 26th MARCH 2024