The month of January is dedicated to The Holy Name of Jesus
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
25 JANUARY 2026
| Sat 24 Jan | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Veronica Marks | |
| Sun 25 Jan | Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Day of Special Prayer for World Peace | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Ceri Poole RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Celia Mcloughin | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | ||
| Mon 26 Jan | SS Timothy & Titus, B | ||
| St. Theresa’s | Mae Dunne’s Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.30am | Anne Else RIP | |
| Tue 27 Jan | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Janie Casey RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| Wed 28 Jan | St Thomas Aquinas | ||
| St. Theresa’s | Alison Carbert RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | ||
| 10.30am | Frank Jeffes | ||
| 12.30pm | Requiem Mass for Nuala Wynne-Jones | ||
| Thu 29 Jan | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| Fri 30 Jan | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 10.00am | Peter Hughes RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 12.30pm | Funeral service for Catherine Earlam | |
| Sat 31 Jan | St John Bosco, P | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Katherine Gannon RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Pat Black | |
| Sun 1 Feb | Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Kathleen Maguire RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Daniel & Poppy Nagy on the occasion of their wedding | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite |
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS – Mass will be streamed at St Columba’s on Sunday 25 January at 11.00 a.m.
WELCOME – We welcome Fr John Baalaboore CSSp who will be helping out in our parish for a short while
RECENTLY DECEASED – Please remember in your prayers, Mary Joan Hayden, Nuala Wynne-Jones, Dorothea Carroll & Catherine Earlam who died recently, and also their families and friends.
The funeral of Nuala Wynne-Jones is at St Columba’s, on 28 January at 12.30pm.
The funeral of Catherine Earlam is at St Columba’s on 30 January at 12.30pm.
The funeral of Dorothea Carroll is on 12 February at St Columba’s at 12 noon.
The funeral of Mary Joan Hayden to be arranged.
ANNIVERSARIES – Anthony Keith Baker, Margaret Parry, Michael Booth, John Francis McNeill, Rev. Francis Gabriel Bligh, Veronica May Joyce, Iris Taylor.
CONFESSIONS – After each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
Saturdays:
St Columba’s 6.00 – 6.25 p.m.
St Theresa’s 4.30 – 4.55 p.m.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS & FUNERALS – Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY – The Children’s Liturgy normally happens at the 11 a.m. service at St Columba’s on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. See the parish website under the Family tab.
FIRST FORGIVENESS CELEBRATION – this Saturday, 24 children received the sacrament of First Forgiveness at a special service of celebration. Please pray for the children and their families at this special time in their faith journeys.
BAPTISM, RECEPTION AND CONFIRMATION – Members of the parish ‘RCIA’ group are preparing to receive Sacraments at Easter; Adam Fitzpatrick (Baptism and Confirmation, in his home parish in Airdrie), Charlotte Jackson (Reception and Confirmation), Milton Vidotto and Daniel Nagy (Confirmation) There are several related events in the coming weeks, beginning with a time of Reflection with Bishop Mark on 7 February in St Columba’s Hall. This is for Catechumens and Candidates from across the Diocese. Please watch out for further Newsletter announcements on these matters and keep all concerned in your prayers.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – Observe good faith and justice towards all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. George Washington
PARISH OFFERTORY – Loose Plate: 463052 Planned Giving: £298.64; Average weekly SO £718.15; Candles: £31.58 St Columba’s Dona Stations:£152.00
CONTACTLESS CARD DONATIONS AT ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH – I hesitate to tempt fate, but I hope I can say that the card machines at the front and back of church are now fully operational and will now allow you to register for Gift Aid if you haven’t already done so. If you have not registered you will be asked if you want to do so after you make a donation. Click ‘yes’ and follow instructions on screen or click ‘no’. If you have already registered (with the card you are using) that will be automatically recognised, and you will not be asked if you wish to Gift Aid. Pauline Rourke
PRAYING TOGETHER FOR
- The residents of Dunham Way, Chirk Close, Tintern Avenue, Cleves Close, Roman Drive, Cavalier Drive & Hadrian Drive.
- The prayer groups and ecumenical prayer groups.
- Those who have nobody to pray for them.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY 2026 – For prayer with the Word of God. Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.
PRAY WITH THE POPE is a new initiative for 2026 from Pope Leo. He invites the faithful to share in a common moment of quiet prayer each day with him. There is a prayer intention for each month which is printed in the newsletter, as above – The Pope’s Prayer Intentions.
Pope Leo wants us to build a community of prayer throughout the Church. Next Sunday, the third Sunday in ordinary time, was designated by Pope Francis as Sunday of the Word of God. It would be a good time for us to dedicate ourselves to daily prayer that is based on the Word of God as it applies to our own lives.
To join with the Pope, copy these links into your browser and click www.popesprayer.va where you will find the video of Pope Leo praying. You can find the gospel of each day in the weekday missal or by typing in any of the following links and clicking on them.
- Gospel Today Catholic – Reflecting on Today’s Catholic Gospel Reading
- Universalis: Readings at Mass (Universalis is an app you can download to your phone or tablet)
- Daily Mass Readings – Alive Publishing
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA – The 2026 tea and coffee rota is on the noticeboard in St Columba’s Hall. We need someone to volunteer every Sunday after 11:00 Mass, so if you would like to raise money for your good cause, please put your name and details on the sheet and let Margaret Curtis know on 01244 318424 or marg.curtis@outlook.com
25 Jan – Chris & Elizabeth, Parish
01 Feb – Nora Richardson, HCPT Wrexham
08 Feb – volunteers please
Some details about HCPT –(see coffee rota St Columba’s 1 Feb) The Hosanna House and Children’s Pilgrimage Trust is a charity that brings children with disabilities or special needs on pilgrimage to Lourdes each year. Founded on the values of friendship, dignity, and service; this Easter, HCPT Group 155 from Wrexham will be travelling with four children, on HCPT’s 70th anniversary. As always, the pilgrimage is about the whole team coming together in love with pilgrims and helpers alike. Thanks for your support.
FRIENDSHIP THURSDAY 4 February 4 – I hope we’ll see lots of friends at this meeting from 2-4 pm in the Church Hall. We have a guest speaker, a late Christmas raffle and good conversation over coffee and biscuits. Please tell others about this. Contact Lyn for further details 07735574397
SPUC WHITE FLOWER APPEAL – The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) will be holding an appeal at all Masses next weekend on 31 Jan/1 Feb. SPUC exists to restore a respect for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death.
NEEDLES AND PINS ON WED 28 JANUARY – Advanced notice that the Needles & Pins group are meeting at 12:00 at The Wheatsheaf, 46 Heath Rd, Upton, CH2 1HX for a festive lunch and there will be no meetings in the Newman room that day. See you at the meal.
CHESTER CATHEDRAL ORGAN RECITAL – every Thursday 1.10pm. Each week features a different organist and repertoire of music. Organ Recitals are free with a retiring collection and no ticket is required. The suggested donation for the recital is £5
MUSEUM OF THE MOON ARTWORK – Chester Cathedral, from Thursday 12 February to Sunday 15 March 2026. The installation is a fusion of lunar imagery, moonlight and surround sound composition. No need to book daytime entry, but a donation is advised.
MUSICAL EVENING – SOIRÉE! – in aid of Chester Parkinson’s UK. Friday 27 March, 7pm at St Columba’s Church hall. £15 pp includes fish and chip supper from the award winning Weston Grove Chippy. Bring your own alcohol! Tea, coffee, soft drinks available and a RAFFLE! Tickets from Pat Riddell 07941839161 or patriddell31@aol.com
BETROTHED – Shrewsbury Diocese will be running three sacramental marriage preparation courses in early 2026. Each course runs over two consecutive Saturdays from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on each day. The three venues are:
(1) St Clare’s Church Parish Hall, Downsfield Road, Lache, Chester CH4 8HH, on 7 and 14 February
(2) Vincent de Paul Church Westleigh Parish Hall, Groby Road, Altrincham WA14 2BQ, on 28 February and 7 March
(3) Shrewsbury Cathedral Parish Hall, Town Walls, Shrewsbury SY1 1UE, on 21 and 28 March.
Registration is essential. To register, contact Monika: monika.golembiewska@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
For more information, contact Jane Deegan: jane.deegan@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS – To book the Church, Newman Room or Iona Chapel, contact Magdalena Bukowska at the Church Office 01244 624019, email stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Mon-Fri 9a.m. to 2.00p.m.
To check Hall availability, visit the Church Hall calendar on the St Columba’s website, then contact Magdalena during office hours or email: columbashallbookings@gmail.com
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER – Sunday 1 February to be compiled by Alison Wrigglesworth, phone: 07759 042262, email:a.wrigglesworth@outlook.com. Deadline: 9.00a.m. Wednesday 28 January.
Please include a contact number with your notice and email a copy to Fr. William at st.theresas@btinternet.com