FIFTH WEEK OF LENT
26th MARCH 2023
Saturday 25th March – The Annunciation of The Lord
St. Theresa’s 5.00pm Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s 6.30pm Acquiles Paras RIP
Sunday 26th March – 5th Week of Lent
St. Theresa’s 9.30am Pat McKenzie RIP
St. Columba’s 11.00am Veronica Comerford RIP
Monday 27th March
St. Theresa’s Private Intention
St. Columba’s 10.00am Stations of the Cross
10.30am Phillip A Francis
Tuesday 28th March
St. Theresa’s Priests’ Intentions
St. Columba’s Parishioners’ Intentions
Wednesday 29th March
St Theresa’s Private Intention
St Columba’s 9.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
10.15am Novena Prayers
10.30am James Traynor RIP
Thursday 30th March
St. Theresa’s 9.30am Yr. 6 class mass in church
St Columba’s Private Intention
Friday 31st March
St. Theresa’s 9.30am Stations of the Cross
St. Theresa’s 10.00am Sheila Brown RIP
St. Columba’s Ann-Marie Breen-Jones
Saturday 1st April – Vigil of Palm Sunday
St. Theresa’s 5.00pm Kay Watts RIP
St. Columba’s 6.00pm Edwin Edwards (A)
Sunday 2nd April – Palm Sunday The Passion of the Lord
St. Theresa’s 9.30am Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s 11.00am The Parish
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed from St Columba’s at 11am. this Sunday 26th March 2023.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Please remember in your prayers Eileen Thornber and Pauline Ann Roberts. May the Lord console their families and friends. Kay’s Requiem Mass is on Friday 24 March at 1pm at St Theresa’s and Eileen’s Requiem Mass is on 20 April at 10.30am at St Columba’s. Pauline’s Requiem Mass was held on Tuesday 21st March at St Columba’s.
ANNVERSARIES:
Maria Magdelena Cumberford, Stewart Harrison, James Philip Torde, Norman Roddy, Judith Mary Whitlow, Bridget Ann Puircell
CLOCKS GOING FORWARD!
If you are reading this on Sunday, we hope you have remembered to put your clocks forward last night.
CONFESSIONS:
There will be Confessions after every weekday Mass until 11.30am. at both churches.
St Columba’s: From 6pm before the 6.30pm Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30pm before 5pm Saturday evening Mass.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS:
Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements.
GOOD FRIDAY STATIONS
We are hoping to re-introduce the Family Stations of the Cross in St. Columba’s at 11am on Good Friday, 7th April. To do this we need some young people to volunteer to read a short passage. If anyone is interested, would they please speak to me in Hall after Mass or e mail me suecarr78@btinternet.com
| LENTEN AND EASTER SERVICES Palm Sunday 2nd April St. Theresa’s 9.30am Mass begins in the porch St. Columba’s 11.00am Mass begins outside front doors Holy Thursday 6th April St. Theresa’s 5.00pm Evening Mass of the Lord’s St. Columba’s 6.00pm Supper Good Friday 7th April St. Columba’s 11.00am Stations of the Cross St. Theresa’s 11.15am Stations of the Cross St. Columba’s 3.00pm Celebration of the Lord’s Passion St. Theresa’s 3.00pm Celebration of the Lord’s Passion Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday) 8th April St. Columba’s 8.00pm Mass begins outside with the lighting of the fire Celebratory wine in the hall after Mass Easter Sunday 9th April St. Theresa’s 9.30am St. Columba’s 11.00am |
PRAYING TOGETHER:
We pray for:
- The residents of Broadway West, Totland Grove, Derwent Road, Willow Drive, Naomi Close, Dentith Drive and Egerton Road.
- For the Zoo and all who work there.
- For a deeper awareness of our environment.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY:
The Children’s liturgy will take place this Sunday at St Columba’s 11am mass instead of Sunday 2nd April. We are always delighted to welcome new children AND adults from both Churches in our parish.
LOST PROPERTY:
A Sunday Missal was found after mass at St Columba’s last week. It is being kept in the lost property box in the office. Please call in to collect if this belongs to you. Thanks.
OFFERTORY:
St Columba’s: Loose plate: £313.54; Planned Giving: £81.15; Average Weekly SO – £574.00;
St Theresa’s: Loose plate & Planned giving TBC; Average weekly SO – £161
THANK YOU for all your generous support.
EASTER FLOWERS:
There will be a collection after both Masses this weekend at St. Columba’s to pay for flowers to decorate the Church over the Easter celebrations and for the year ahead Thank you in advance for your continued support.
CAFOD:
A total of £490 was raised for our latest appeal. Thank-you very much for your continued generosity.
LENTEN LUNCH – 30 MARCH
Churches Together in Upton is holding a Lenten Lunch (soup and sandwiches) at the United Reformed Church in Mill Lane , 12 noon – 1.00pm on Thursday 30 March. Donations to the Hospice of the Good Shepherd. All parishioners are warmly invited to drop in and show our commitment to closer engagement with our faith community neighbours – Live the Synod!
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA:
26th Mar – Sue McCarthy for SVP
2nd Apr – Chris & Elizabeth for Tombola
9th Apr – Easter Sunday, volunteers
16th Apr – volunteers please
Why not donate a little time to make tea and coffee to refresh the parishioners after 11:00 Mass on Sunday? You can make some money for your favourite charity, too. Call Margaret Curtis 01244 3184234 to book your date(s).
Just a short message to thank the church community for their generosity last Saturday at the cake sale. £240 was raised!! for the children of the ‘Home of Peace.’
PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM:
We’re looking at the possibility of a pilgrimage to Walsingham but in order for this to go ahead it would depend on numbers. Please register your interest, either by phone or email with either of the church secretaries. Thank you.
RED MISSION BOXES:
If you have a Red Mission box for collection, please leave it in the sacristy of either Church.
For St. Columba’s: When counted, I can return your box to your home. Thank you, Margaret Curtis 01244 318424.
For St. Theresa’s: People can leave them in the sacristy for me to collect or call Sean Baker 07920174529.
LIVE SCREENING OF THE CORONATION:
King Charles III coronation will be screened live in St Columba’s Hall on 6th May 2023. We will welcome parishioners who would like to watch this historic event communally, from late morning onwards on the big day. We will provide tea and coffee followed by sandwiches and cake for lunch. We need to know the approx. number, to cater accordingly, so please put you name down on the sheet in the FRONT PORCH of either church.
PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES:
Envelopes for the new financial year starting Sunday 9 April are available to collect from the back porch in St Columba’s and the front porch in St. Theresa’s.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS –
The Third Scrutiny for Anil will be celebrated this Sunday, at the 9.30 am Mass at St Theresa’s. This is the final Scrutiny in Anil’s preparation for his baptism at the Easter Vigil. Anil’s usual future place of worship will be at St Theresa’s church; St Theresa’s parishioners are encouraged to attend his baptism at St Columba’s, in witness and support.
At the Easter Vigil, Anil, Lindsay and John together will receive the sacraments of Confirmation and the Eucharist and thereby enter fully into the life of the Church. Please keep them in your prayers.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING WALK: Every Monday 10:00a.m. for 10:30a.m. Health and Wellbeing Walk sponsored by St Theresa’s and the URC. For more information ring Brendan Doyle on: 07484353841 or Ann Francis on 01244 959061.
Thought for the week: “In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.” —Mark Twain (I thought this was apt given the recent weather we have been having!)
We’re all in this together: Have any of you been watching Wild Isles on a Sunday evening (or via iPlayer) about the British Isles and its wildlife and habitats? There are some stunning shots of this country and its wildlife. It’s clear from the series which highlights not only the wonder but also the fragility and decline of our British wildlife and landscapes, that action is needed now. Three of the world’s largest conservation charities have launched a campaign to engage the public to take urgent action to halt natures loss within the UK. The WWF, The National Trust and RSPB are asking people to “go wild once a week”,. This could be as simple as planting wildflower seeds in a window box or green space, going vegetarian for one day a week, getting involved in local community projects or even writing to the country’s leaders to urge them to take action now. Check out the campaign and ideas to help, on Save our Wild Isles campaign
Resources: The parent plod – a free child and buggy friendly 30 minute gentle walk and talk, Mondays 13.00 starting at the friendly bench Countess of Chester Health Park. Aimed at parents, those who are pregnant, children and babies. Contact gemma.coccp@gmail.com to book a place.
Chester Ladies Choir: with guest musicians will present “Here Comes the Sun” in St Columba’s Church Hall on Saturday 1 April at 7.30pm. The programme of uplifting music to welcome the Spring sunshine includes such lovely pieces as Blue Skies, The Water of Tyne, City of Stars, A Million Dreams and Hail Holy Queen (Sister Act version). Tickets are £12 from www.jumblebee.co.uk or will probably be available on the door. Refreshments will be available to purchase. All proceeds will be for the Hospice of the Good Shepherd
CONFIRMATIONS 2023:
The Chester Parishes take it in turns to organise Confirmation. Last year it was St Columba’s and St Theresa’s, this year St Werburgh’s, St Clare’s and St Francis. The date is Wednesday 10th May, 7.00 pm, at St Francis.
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2023:
This years overland pilgrimage will depart on Thursday 27 July returning on Friday 4 August. Those pilgrims wishing to fly will depart from Liverpool airport on Friday 28 July returning on Thursday 3 August. More details, brochure and booking forms are available on the pilgrimage website http://www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk. Young pilgrims (aged 16 – 22) who wish to join us in Lourdes and offer their time and energy to assist and serve the sick and elderly pilgrims are asked to contact Sandy Fairley at the Youth Mission Team (youth@dioceseofshrewsbury.org) for more details.
“LOVE THE STRANGER”
Cardinal Vincent Nicholls, as President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops, has welcomed this new report concerning migrants and refugees. He comments
“Love the Stranger draws together more than one hundred years of Catholic teaching to guide our response to migration in England and Wales today. While it does not propose detailed solutions to complex problems, it clearly calls for procedures which permit safe and controlled access and a fair hearing to those seeking asylum. Present arrangements in this country are dramatically lacking in both of these requirements.”
The full report can be seen via the Bishops’ Conference website: www.cbcew.org.uk/love-the-stranger
VOTIVE CANDLE LIGHTERS ST.COLUMBA’S
We are trying out some new re-chargeable electronic lighters to replace the gas candle lighters. They are the slim, red ones with a bendable neck. There is an on/off switch and a small silver button which turns them on. There is an illustration showing this on the wall above the candle stands. They may take a little getting used to so we would be grateful for your patience! Feedback to the parish office or to Pauline Rourke would be welcome.
VACANCY:
SVP Membership Support Officer (MSO) The St Vincent de Paul Society would like to recruit a MSO for the Shrewsbury Diocese. A part time role (15 hours per week) working as part of the SVP Membership Team, to support member recruitment and development, provide general support for members and be the link between local Conferences and National Office. The role is home based but requires the ability to travel around the diocese to make recruitment appeals, work with existing groups, attend meetings and meet with interested parties where appropriate. Own transport essential and travel expenses are paid. For further information and details of how to apply, contact Lance Philpott, Head of Membership at lancep@svp.org.uk Closing date for applications is Sunday 16 April 2023.
SAINT JOHN OF GOD HOSPITALLER SERVICES (SJOG):
SJOG Homes for Ukraine provides online training for hosts and guests, transfer from the Polish-Ukrainian border, a welcome box for Ukrainian guests upon arrival, a multilingual team to support the needs of both parties, and thoroughly developed resources for both hosts and guests to help navigate the process. Additionally, we ensure support from local communities to make the experience as seamless and fulfilling as possible.
We will be holding a webinar for UK residents interested in hosting a Ukrainian guest or family under the Homes for Ukraine scheme on Wednesday, March 29, at 7 pm. You can find more details about the event here: https://fb.me/e/N9EtGqhe
Online course on Vatican II: Thank you to those who have been in touch to say how interesting/ informative/ helpful/ even ‘excellent’(!) you have found the first two podcasts. The next two on Divine Revelation are now available on the diocesan website at dioceseofshrewsbury.org. They are not time-bound and may be listened to any time. There are also 3 handouts for downloading or printing: An introduction to the document; A guided reading of the text; A suggested reading list for the whole course. A leaflet outlining the content of the podcasts is available in the parish. Should you have difficulty accessing this material, any questions or reflections, don’t hesitate to call Barbara Davies: 07730 526821.
ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room or the Iona Chapel, please book through Nuala Keegan, Church Office, 01244 624019, Email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com
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:
2nd April edition will be compiled by Eileen Irwin Email: st.theresas@btinternet.com, Phone number: 01244 371660. 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 WEDNESDAY 29th MARCH