The month of September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows
TWENTY SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
28 September 2025
| Sat 27 Sep | |||
| St. Theresa’s< | 5.00pm | Kathleen & Jack Lawlor & Kathleen & Elsie Maguire | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Cristiano Alesina da Silva RIP | |
| Sun 28 Sep | Day of Special Prayer for the Harvest | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Jessica Baker RIP & Maureen’s and Gerry’s 60th Wedding Anniversary | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Janet Wells RIP | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | ||
| Mon 29 Sep | Ss Michael, Gabriel & Raphael. Mem. | ||
| St. Theresa’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.30am | Mary Ible RIP (CM) | |
| Tue 30 Sep | St Jerome, P, D. Mem. | ||
| St. Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| Wed 1 Oct | St Theresa of the Child Jesus, V, R. Mem. | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Feast of St Theresa Parishioners’ Intentions |
|
| St. Columba’s | No devotions or Mass | ||
| Thu 2 Oct | Guardian Angels. Mem. | ||
| St. Theresa’s | Private Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| Fri 3 Oct | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 10.00am | Sarah Russell RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | The Parish | ||
| Sat 4 Oct | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Community Mass | |
| 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | John Paddy Campbell RIP | |
| Sun 5 Oct | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Mary Dorothy Groom RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Kenneth & Mary Kilcoyne | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite |
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS
Mass will be streamed at St Theresa’s on Sunday 28 September at 9.30 a.m.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY
The Children’s Liturgy normally happens at the 11a.m. at St Columba’s on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. See the parish website under the Family tab.
ANNIVERSARIES
Jessica Baker, Stephen Blundell, Keith Alexander Evans, Howard Jefferson Sherman, John Anthony Taylor, Eric John Hocking, Barbara Fry, Martin Connolly, Elizabeth Rogerson, Elsie Maguire
POPE’S OCTOBER PRAYER INTENTIONS
FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS Let us pray that believers in different religious traditions might work together to defend and promote peace, justice, and human fraternity.
CONFESSIONS
There will be Confessions after each weekday Mass until 11.30a.m.
St Columba’s: From 6p.m. before the 6.30p.m. Saturday evening Mass.
St Theresa’s: From 4.30p.m. before 5p.m. Saturday evening Mass.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS
Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements.
FR WILLIAM
Anyone wishing to talk to Fr William should contact one of the parish offices and make an appointment. Fr William is not available on Thursdays.
PRAYING TOGETHER
- Pray for the residents of Church Lane, Nield Court and Grangeside, Harthill Road, The Parade, Tomlin’s Terrace, and Carlisle Road.
- For the church organists and music leaders, for the ministry of music in our worship.
PARISH OFFERTORY
Loose Plate: £705.67; Planned Giving: £461.73; Average weekly SO £718.15; Candles £33.28.
ST THERESA’S FEAST DAY – 1 OCTOBER
As there will be Mass at St Theresa’s at 9.30am on Wednesday 1 October, followed by tea, coffee and cake in St. Theresa’s Club. There will not be Devotions and Mass at St Columba’s that day. All welcome to the Parish celebration.
ST THERESA’S FEAST DAY FLOWERS
If you would like to contribute towards the flowers for St Theresa’s Feast Day (1 October) please put your donation in an envelope marked “St Theresa’s Flowers” and place it in the offertory basket. Many thanks.
FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION CLASSES
These classes are for children who come to church but do not attend one of our RC Primary Schools. They are held in the Newman Room at St Columba’s on Wednesday evenings in term time from 5pm to 6pm. If you have a child in Year 3 or above who would like to enrol to join these classes to prepare for First Forgiveness and First Holy Communion this school year, or if you would like any further information, please contact Pauline Payne by email: pauline.payne4@btinternet.com or ring 01244 350323
FAITH EXPLORATION AND SHARING
For any parishioner not yet in full communion with the Church but interested in exploring a way to that, beginning in September the parish will be running the Sycamore course explaining the Catholic faith. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Deacon Lawrence for more details. If you know someone you think might be interested, why not offer some words of encouragement.
BIBLE TIMELINE COURSE
a free online course starts Wed 1 October at 7pm for 8 evenings. Infor and registration: comeandsee.org
WELCOME TO OUR PARISH
If you are NEW TO THE PARISH, please complete a Parish Registration Form and send (or bring) it to either parish office to let us know that you are here and enable us to welcome you. Forms can be found in the front porches of both churches and on the website https://sscolumbaandtheresa.co.uk/i-am-new/. Thank you.
FISH AND CHIP BABIES, KNITTING PROJECT
If you have any double-knitting wool to spare, we now need more for the babies in NE Africa. Please arrange to hand it to Margaret Curtis 01244 318424, thank you.
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
Write your name, charity and phone number on the calendar or leave a message with Margaret Curtis on 01244 318424 with your name and date(s).
28 Sept – MacMillan Coffee Morning- Cakes will be on sale after the 6:30pm Mass on Sat 27 Sept after the 11am Mass on Sun 28 Sept for this annual fundraiser.
05 Oct – volunteers please
12 Oct- volunteers please
CHURCHES TOGETHER IN UPTON
The AGM was held recently. Lyn Coyle was elected Minutes Secretary and David Savage Chairman for the next twelve months.
CTU QUIZ
This popular quiz organised by CTU is on Friday 10 October in our Church Hall at 7.00 p.m. Teams of no more than eight. Bring your own drinks and glasses. Table nibbles provided and raffle prizes welcomed. Profits go to the Hospice of the Good Shepherd. See notice boards.
CHESTER BIBLE FESTIVAL & ST COLUMBA’S
We are holding an Open Afternoon called “Catholics and the Bible” in our church from 1-4 pm on Saturday 18 October. Please come and support. Will you also help by lending a Bible of your own for a display of personal Bibles, along with a few words saying what this means to you. Please contact Lyn Coyle if you can help. marilyn.coyle44@gmail.com / 07735574397.
FRIENDSHIP THURSDAY – CHANGE OF TIME- LATER START
Friendship Thursday on 2 October is from 3.00-4.30pm in the Church Hall. No guest speaker this time so bring your knitting, come and play Scrabble, Cards or Dominoes or just spend the time chatting over coffee and cake. Open to anyone, just turn up! Suggested donation of £2.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time” Ruth Bader Ginsburg
UPCYCLED FASHION SHOW
Upton by Chester High School, St James Ave.
Wednesday 1 October, 6–7:30pm; Tickets £5 adults,£2.50 children.
Celebrate creativity & sustainability with learners modelling upcycled fashion designed by them and Chifundo UK. Tickets on the door or from school reception. All proceeds to Chifundo UK & the Design & Technology Dept.
CHILDREN’S CHOIR OF ST COLUMBA’S RECRUITMENT
The Little Choir is looking for children, year 3 and above. No previous experience necessary. We practise on Tuesday at 6.45p.m. for one hour. Mass and practice are in St Columba’s Church (entrance at the back door). For further information please contact Giovanna or the director of the choir Mark, at the end of 11.00a.m. Mass.
INSTRUMENT REQUEST FOR THE LITTLE CHOIR
The choir would like to develop its percussion session. If you have any drums that you no longer use and would like to donate, please contact Giovanna and/or Mark after the 11:00 mass on the left of the altar. Thanks for your help.
CAFOD Family Fast Day (3 Oct) Appeal this Harvest
Please donate to our Family Fast Day parish collection to share God’s abundant gifts with our global neighbours. Your generosity offers “signs of hope” in this Jubilee Year, Use the CAFOD envelope in church, available from this weekend, donate online at cafod.org.uk/envelope or call 0303 303 3030.
You can also text CAFOD to 70560 to donate £10.
SAINT CLARE’S PARISH invite you to hear Christine Allen, the head of CAFOD, speak at our 9.30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, 5th October, the Sunday after Family Fast Day. Everybody is very welcome.
FOOD BANK DONATIONS – MORE NEEDED
The food bank has launched a Harvest Appeal and is looking particularly for donation of the following items:
– Tinned meat/fish/veg/fruit/spaghetti/puddings/tomatoes,
– Curry sauce, smash, pasta and sauce
– Milk (UHT or powdered); Fruit juice (long life)
– Custard, jams and spreads, coffee
A look at the Foodbank website: (westcheshirefoodbank.org.uk) indicates where there is a need for particular items. Thank you so much.
CHS
The Catholic High school have a couple of vacancies in the school kitchen. Please see the school website www. christofidelis.org.uk/vacancies for more details or contact Mr Kilcoyne School Business Manager on 01244 952788 for an informal discussion.
Pilgrimage of the Jubilee Icon of ‘The Visitation’ (depiction by Margaret Rope) visits The Catholic High School: You are welcome to venerate this icon and to join the Celebration of the Word taking place in the school Hall on Thursday 2 October at 2pm. Please book your place by email to Ana at gasparinia@christofidelis.org.uk
VACANCY – ST. CLARE’S
A vacancy has arisen for a Parish Secretary at St Clare’s Parish, Downsfield Road, Chester. CH4 8HH. 4 hours per week @ £14 per hour. For further details, please see the Diocesan website https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/ CV and covering letter should be sent to Pauline McCulloch recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date Friday 17 October 2025.
RNLI FUNDRAISER
To raise money for the RNLI, the Chester Branch is holding a Fish and Chip Supper, with The Port Sunlight Shanty Band, between 7pm-10.30pm on Friday 17 October, at St Mary’s Creative Space, Chester. Tickets are £20 from Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
Please email chesterrnli@btinternet.com if you’d like to know more, or need advice with purchasing the tickets. Thank you, Frances Hughes.
PARISH WEBSITE
If anyone has an item that they would like to have on the website, please contact Lyn Coyle, who is the parish liaison with the website manager. These items must be about parish-based events or information. marilyn.coyle44@gmail.com
MARRIAGE HELP
Retrouvaille helps couples find hope and healing for their marriage. Next date: 17-19 October. www.retrouvaille.org.uk Tel: 0788 7296983
FAMILY AND GROUP STAYS AT CASTLERIGG MANOR THIS OCTOBER HALF TERM
Castlerigg Manor is a Retreat Centre in the Lake District, and they are opening their doors during October Half Term (Oct 27-31). A good option for anyone looking for a budget get-away in a beautiful part of the country. Book at https://castleriggmanor.com/stay-with-us/ or contact director@castleriggmanor.co.uk
ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH & HALL BOOKINGS
To arrange meetings etc. in either the Church, Newman Room, or the Iona Chapel, please book through Magdalena Bukowska, St. Columba’s Church Office, phone: 01244 624019, email: stcolumbaschurch2016@outlook.com. Office hours Monday to Friday 9a.m. to 2.00p.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 Magdalena Bukowska on 01244 624019 for enquires within the office hours stated above or email columbashallbookings@gmail.com to arrange booking.
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER
Sunday 5 October edition will be compiled by Muriel Green. Phone 01244 383836, or email: muriel.green1@btinternet.com by 9.00 a.m. on WEDNESDAY 1 October 2025. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that notices are also emailed to Fr William at st.theresas@btinternet.com.