THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD
25TH DECEMBER 2023
| Sun 24 Dec | Christmas Eve | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 4.30pm | Carols & Readings | |
| 5.00pm | Christmas Vigil Mass, Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 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 Cath 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.
Mary Mother of God – Monday 1st January 2024
10.30am Mass – St Columba’s
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed St Columba’s on Monday 25th December at 11.00am.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS:
Fr William and Fr Desmond wish everyone a Happy and Holy Christmas and thank you all for your support throughout the year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Thank you for all your generous support this year. Your donations are vital to the running and upkeep of our churches, and they really do make a difference.
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA:
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.
NEWSLETTER:
Our printers close over the Christmas/New Year season. The next deadline for any new submissions will be Wednesday 3rd January for the newsletter on Sunday 7th January 2024.
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 diaries and calendars. If you need anything else, I have a catalogue, please telephone me on 01244 329469. Many thanks.
Thought for the week: “What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present , hope for the future. It is a wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal and that every path may lead to peace”. Agnes M Pahro.
We’re all in this together: What things make Christmas for you? the carols, Midnight mass, the stable scene, a beautifully decorated tree, excited kids, the smell of good cooking? We all carry with us memories of Christmas past and we make new memories every year. Keep close what is dear to you, revel in the delights and memories and enjoy the love that we hope it will bring you. Ebenezer Scrooge said in a Christmas Carol “I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.” Bottle that feeling and use it well. Happy Christmas one and all!
CHRISTMAS FACTS (MAY BE USEFUL FOR ANY CHRISTMAS QUIZZES YOU FIND YOURSELF IN!):
Electric tree lights were invented by Edward Johnson in the US in 1882.
- The first Christmas crackers – a traditional festival favourite – were made around 1845-1850 by a London sweet maker called Tom Smith
- Jingle Bells was the first song broadcast from space when Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra sang it on December 16, 1965
- The word Noel derives from the French expression “Les bonnes nouvelles” or “the good news”.
- Nearly 60 million Christmas trees are grown each year in Europe!
- In 1999, residents of the state of Maine in America built the world’s biggest ever snowman. He stood at 113ft tall.
- The largest Christmas cracker – 45.72m long and 3.04m in diameter – was pulled in Australia in 1991.
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.