4TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
29th JANUARY 2023
Saturday 28th January
St. Theresa’s 5.00pm Katherine Gannon RIP
St. Columba’s 6.30pm The Parish
Sunday 29th January
St. Theresa’s 9.30am Kathleen Maguire RIP
St. Columba’s 11.00am Ellie Marsden RIP
Monday 30th January
St. Theresa’s Parishioners’ Intentions
St Theresa’s 12.30pm Funeral service – Betty Gore
St. Columba’s 10.30am Margaret Allmark RIP
Tuesday 31st January – St John Bosco, P, R. Mem
St. Theresa’s Alison Carbet RIP
St. Columba’s Priests’ Intentions
Wednesday 1st February – The Presentation of The Lord
St Theresa’s Special Intention
St Columba’s 9.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
10.15am Novena Prayers
10.30am Fr James
Thursday 2nd February
St. Theresa’s Priests’ Intentions
St Columba’s Private Intention
Friday 3rd February – St Werburgh, Mem
St. Theresa’s 10.00am Henry Michael Lloyd RIP
St. Columba’s 10.30am Requiem Mass – Sheila Hainey Saturday 4th February
St. Theresa’s 5.00pm Parishioners’ Intentions
St. Columba’s 6.30pm The Parish
Sunday 5th February
St. Theresa’s 9.30am Margaret Parry RIP
First Holy Communion enrolment mass
St. Columba’s 11.00am Sheila Wright RIP
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS:
Mass will be streamed from St Columba’s at 11.00am this Sunday 29th January 2023.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa
RECENTLY DECEASED:
Please remember in your prayers Margaret Allmark, Sheila Wright, Sheila Hainey, Betty Gore and Chelsie Carline who have died recently. May The Lord console their families and friends.
Betty Gore’s funeral is on Monday 30th January at 12.30pm at St Theresa’s.
Sheila Hainey’s funeral is on Friday 3rd February at 10.30 a.m. at St. Columba’s
ANNIVERSARIES:
Lieselotte Dodds, Josephine Johnston, Louisa Maud Rogers, Elizabeth (Betty) Allingham, Terry Keogh, Alexander James Keegan
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.
PRAYING TOGETHER:
We Pray for:
- the residents of Whitton Drive, Sutton Drive, Bidston Close, Greenfield Lane, Owen Close, Shelley Road, Chaucer Close, Browning Close and Alderley Place.
- Sunshine Tots, iPraise & Play and for all the leaders.
- Young families.
OFFERTORY:
St Columba’s: Loose plate: £221.28 Planned Giving: £107.00,Average weekly SOs – £574.00.
St Theresa’s: £296.00.
Columba’s Coffe Rota
29th Jan – Sue Mcarthy, SVP
5th Feb – Chris & Elizabeth for the Tombola
12th Feb – Sue Carr for the Third World Fund
Why not donate a little time to make tea and coffee to refresh the parishoners after 11:00 Mass on Sunday – and make some money for your favourite charity? Call Margaret Curtis 01244 3184234 to book your date(s).
FIRST FORGIVENESS CELEBRATION:
On Saturday 28th January, 18 children from St Columba’s and St Theresa’s parish received the Sacrament of First Forgiveness in a special service of celebration at 10.00a.m. Please pray for the children and their families at this special time in their faith journeys.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION ENROLMENT:
The children from St Theresa’s Primary School making their First Holy Communion will be enrolled at the 9.30am Mass on Sunday 5th February 2023. Please pray for them and their families.
DIOCESAN DAY FOR CHESTER CATECHISTS:
Saturday 4th February at St Columba’s Hall. The Diocesan Office for Catechesis, based down at St Clare’s, is laying on a day for all the catechists in all the Chester Parishes – Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Children’s Liturgy, Marriage Prep, RCIA, Bereavement, every type of catechetical activity we provide in our individual parishes. The aim of the day is two-fold: for us to get to know each other and explore any ways in which we might share or collaborate; and, secondly, for the Diocesan Team to tell us what they have on offer by way of support and resources. Should be a great day! Bring a packed lunch. Names to Fr Paul at St Werburgh’s, please, when each group in each parish has had a chance to consult its members. Flyers with more details at the back of church.
UPTON CHURCHES TOGETHER FIFTH SUNDAY SERVICE:
The next Fifth Sunday Service, on the Theme of “Two Gardens (+1)”, will be held at Holy Ascension Church TODAY 29th January at 4.30 p.m. You are invited to join us there. More details are on the Noticeboard.
SONGS OF PRAISE AT CHESTER CATHEDRAL:
Come and join the congregation for the recording of hymns and songs including ones for Easter amongst many others at 1.30pm – 4.30pm on Saturday 4th February 2023.
All tickets to our recordings are free of charge. To apply for tickets, please contact SOPcongregations@afantimedia.tv with name, contact number and the number of tickets you’d like.
Please be sure to include ‘Songs of Praise Chester’ in your subject header
ST COLUMBA’S CHOIR:
St Augustine used to say: ‘when you sing you pray twice’.
In 2022 some children started to take part in the parish choir. They sang regularly at mass, they took part at a Parish event and made recordings for the Parish website. Thanks to all the children and the parents that took time and effort to celebrate with their voice and talent the Glory of God.
In 2023 we would like to invite even more young people and children to participate in the choir. If you like singing, if you want to support the choir, learn something new, find new friends and pray twice you just need to sit on the front left side of the church. You do not need to know the music or be able to sing. Please come to mass a bit earlier around 10:30 so we can warm up the voice and sometimes we will ask to stay a bit longer after mass to practise.
If you or your parents/guardians want any clarification please do not hesitate to contact Giovanna 07728 948946 or the director of the choir Mark, 07752 317772 or approach them after mass.
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. The Classes will be on Wednesday evenings at St Werburgh’s, 7.00 pm. Flyers at the back of church give full details. Minimum age is Year 8 in the High Schools – no maximum! Launch Meeting is Monday 20th February, and first class is Wednesday 1st March. Contact Fr Paul at St Werburgh’s if you need more information – but the flyer should answer most questions.
FR JAMES
Fr James has arrived safely and is enjoying spending time with his family. The final amount collected for him was £1245.00.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:
Be thankful for yesterday. Be grateful for today. Be hopeful for tomorrow. Roger Lee
WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER:
Reading an article this week, it is said that the older you get, the more serious you become – on average, adults laugh 15 times a day while a toddler laughs 400 times a day! That’s quite a difference. I know, as adults, we generally have more to concern us, work, family, bills, etc. but, maybe in all of that “life”, we have lost our happy place. How do we get the laughter back and be a bit more toddler like? I did once have a colleague who told us a joke a day; it would certainly break the ice on the day ahead. Maybe, it’s to see the days in multi colour with all its fascinating facets and take more of those opportunities that arise to smile, giggle and laugh. Why should the toddlers have all the fun! Have a good week.
RESOURCES:
Gaia at Chester Cathedral Tuesday 7 February – Sunday 5 March Gaia is open normal Cathedral hours. Measuring six metres in diameter, Gaia features high resolution NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface. The artwork provides the opportunity to see our planet on this scale, floating in three-dimensions. Booking not required. Free entry. Donations welcome.
RETIRED PRIESTS’ FUND – SPECIAL COLLECTION 4th & 5th February (St Columba’s Only):
Next weekend, at St Columba’s, the annual Collection for the Retired Priests’ Fund is being held. With your help, we can build up the Fund to help meet the future needs of our sick and retired priests. If you wish to Gift Aid your donation, please make your donation Online. To donate Online please go to www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/retired-priests-fund
An electronic version of a leaflet about the Fund is available at www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/retired-priests-fund and this also explains how you can donate to the Fund by Standing Order or Cheque (please make payable to Retired Priests’ Fund) and how to Gift Aid donations made using these methods.
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:
22nd January edition will be compiled by Eileen Irwin, Phone: 01244 371660, Email: st.theresas@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 WEDNESDAY 25TH JANUARY
Website: www.sscolumbaandtheresa.co.uk