The month of March is dedicated to St Joseph
PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD
29 MARCH 2026
| Saturday 28 March | ||
| St Theresa’s | 9.30am | Malankara Jocobite Syriac Community |
| 5.00pm | Nan & Martin Behan RIP | |
| St Columba’s | 6.30pm | |
| Sunday 29 March – Palm Sunday of the Passion of Our Lord | ||
| St Theresa’s | 9.30am | Charles Woods RIP |
| St Columba’s | 11.00am | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
| Monday 30 March – Monday of Holy Week | ||
| St Theresa’s | 11.45am | Requiem Mass for Mark Buggy |
| St Columba’s | 10.30am | |
| Tuesday 31 March – Tuesday of Holy Week | ||
| St Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | |
| St Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| Wednesday 1 April – Wednesday of Holy Week | ||
| St Theresa’s | Mae Dunne’s Intention | |
| St Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | |
| 10.30am | ||
| Thursday 2 April – The Lord’s Supper | ||
| St Theresa’s | 6.30pm | Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper George Rogers RIP |
| St Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | |
| 7.30pm | Kerala Catholic Community Service in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
| Friday 3 April – GOOD FRIDAY – The Lord’s Passion | ||
| St Theresa’s | 11.00am | Stations of the Cross |
| 3.00pm | Celebration of the Lord’s Passion | |
| St Columba’s | 11.00am | Family Stations of the Cross |
| 3.00pm | Celebration of the Lord’s Passion | |
| 6.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Service in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
| Saturday 4 April – Easter Vigil Mass | ||
| St Theresa’s | No evening Mass at st theresa’s | |
| St Columba’s | 8.00pm | Easter Vigil Mass |
| 11.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Vigil Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
| Sunday 5 April – EASTER SUNDAY | ||
| St Theresa’s | 9.30am | Parishioners’ Intentions |
| St Columba’s | 11.00am | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | |
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS – Mass will be streamed at St Columba’s on Sunday 29 March at 11a.m.
ANNIVERSARIES – Veronica Comerford, Charles Woods, Sarah Ann Gordyk, Patrick Gerard McCullagh.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR MARCH – FOR DISARMAMENT AND PEACE. Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.
CONFESSIONS – After each weekday Mass until 11.30am.
Saturdays:
St Columba’s 6.00 – 6.25p.m.
St Theresa’s 4.30 – 4.55p.m.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS & FUNERALS – Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements.
RECENTLY DECEASED – Please remember in your prayers Mark Buggy, who died recently, and his family and friends. The Requiem Mass for Mark is on Monday 30thMarch at 11.45am. at St Theresa’s.
CHILDREN’S LITURGY – The Children’s Liturgy normally happens at the 11a.m. service at St Columba’s on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month. See the parish website under the Family tab.
PARISH OFFERTORY – (St Theresa) Loose Plate: £220.25; Planned Giving: £119.50; Average weekly SO £718.15. Thank you for your kind generosity.
CAFOD FAST DAY – More money has come in. The new total is £481. Many thanks for your donations.
EASTER OFFERTORY COLLECTION – This is for the parish. Anyone wishing to give a personal gift to either Fr William or Fr John, please put the donation in an envelope marked personal with their name.
HOLY PLACES COLLECTION – There will be a retiring collection for this on Good Friday.
FR WILLIAM – Thursday is Fr William’s day off so please try not to arrange meetings on a Thursday if you would like Fr William to attend.
NEWSLETTER – As well as sending to the editor, please send any items for the newsletter to St Theresa’s office email: st.theresas@btinternet.com for the attention of Fr William. Thank you.
ST COLUMBA’s FAMILY STATIONS SERVICE – GOOD FRIDAY 11am
If anyone would like to read or participate in this Service, there will be a short rehearsal after 11am Mass this Sunday in the Newman Room. For further details please ring Sue Carr 07946 038995. Thank you.
EASTER VIGIL – This is taking place at St Columba’s on Saturday 4 April at 8pm. Please note that there will NOT be a 5pm Mass at St Theresa’s that evening or a 6.30pm at St Columba’s. Please come over to the Hall after the Vigil Mass and share cheese and wine, as one Parish.
EASTER VIGIL REHEARSAL – There will be a rehearsal for those assisting in the Easter Vigil, including altar servers, at St Columba’s on Monday 30 March at 6.30pm.
EASTER FLOWER COLLECTION – There will be a collection after all Masses this week end at St. Columba’s. to cover the cost of flowers to decorate the Church for the Easter celebration and the year ahead. Your generous support is always very much appreciated. The Dona stations have also been programmed to accept donations for flowers. Thank you in anticipation.
PRAYING TOGETHER FOR
- The residents of Broadway West, Totland Grove, Derwent Road, Willow Drive, Naomi Close, Dentith Drive and Egerton Road.
- The Zoo and all who work there.
- A deeper awareness of our environment.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – “Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful of your life.” Mark Twain.
CHURCHES TOGETHER IN UPTON – The next fifth Sunday service will be at Holy Ascension this Sunday 29 March at 4.30p.m. You are invited to join our friends from the other Upton churches in this short service based on “three unusual saints”. An opportunity to test your knowledge of possibly obscure saints. There will be refreshments in the Kempe room after the service. A poster on the notice board gives more details.
DIOCESAN MASS FOR MARRIAGE 2026 – Bishop Mark will be celebrating the Mass for Marriage on Saturday 13 June at 12 noon at Saint Columba’s. Mass will be followed by a buffet lunch for invited guests in the Parish Hall. All parishioners celebrating a significant marriage anniversary can apply for an invitation from the Bishop’s Office via their Parish Priest or Parish Administrator by 8 April. Details required are your names, address, telephone number and which anniversary you are celebrating.
CHESTER PARISHES CONFIRMATION – Bishop Mark Davies will celebrate the next Chester Catholic Parishes Sacrament of Confirmation on 11 November ’26 at St. Columba’s Church. This year the preparation program for parishioners from all Chester Catholic Parishes will be led by St. Columba and St. Theresa’s Confirmation preparation team. Anyone currently at high school, or older may prepare to be Confirmed. For youth candidates, to register, parents please email stcolumbatheresaconfirmation@hotmail.co.uk. Please include your child’s current school year. Adult candidates, please speak to Fr William first and then email the above email address to join the separate adult preparation group. There will be an information meeting about Confirmation preparation in mid June, details to be announced nearer the time.
SHREWSBURY LOURDES HOSPITALITY – will be holding our first 2026 Hospitality Members Focus Group on Tuesday 21 April, at 7pm. This will be open to any Hospitality members, even if you haven’t attended previous Focus Groups. We will be encouraged to review the commitments made last year to improve our way of working with each other. We are also delighted that Fr Sean Henry, Chaplain to the Hospitality, will join us. This will take place at St Columba’s, Plas Newton Lane, Chester CH2 1PL. Please confirm your attendance by emailing secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA – See the rota on the noticeboard in St Columba’s Hall. We need volunteers every Sunday after 11:00 Mass, so if you would like to raise money for your good cause, please put your details on the sheet and let Margaret Curtis know on 01244 318424 or marg.curtis@outlook.com
29 March Elizabeth Wilson, CWL
05 April Easter Sunday, volunteers please
12 April volunteers please
DE-FIB TRAINING – This is taking place in St Theresa’s Church on Wednesday 8 April at 11am. If you would like to attend please give your name to one of the parish offices.
PARISH YOUTH GROUP – In late November our Parish Youth Group held a cake sale after 11am Mass at St Columba’s. They chose to raise money for Claire House Children’s Hospice and managed to raise £202, thanks to your cake eating and generosity! On Monday 16 March, at our youth group meeting, we had a talk from a volunteer from Claire House so we could learn more about what they do and how they support families. It was very informative and we all learnt a lot about a very worthy cause.
VOCATION OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY – There will be a Diocesan Marriage & Family Life Ministry (MFL) Retreat with presentations on the Mission of Marriage, a Reflection on the Book of Tobit and Holy Mass at Midday, on 18 April 2026 from 9.30pm to 4.00pm, St. John Vianney Parish Hall, St Wilfrid’s Church, Witton Street Northwich Cheshire, CW9 5NP. Please Register with Monika Golembiewskaon 07549 226794 or email: monika.golembiewska@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
SUGGESTION BOXES – It was agreed at the parish AGM last year that: “a parishioners’ suggestion box be made available at each church and parishioners encouraged to use them”. These have now been placed in the entrances to each church- apologies for the delay in their installation. There is a pen and paper attached to each which we hope will encourage you to use them. They offer you an easy means of making suggestions for improvements which can help us all as a parish. Ann McCarthy, Pauline Rourke (co-chairs Pastoral Council)
ST COLUMBA’S RED MISSION BOX HOLDERS – There are three Red Mission boxes collections during the year: March, July and November. To have your box emptied, please leave it in the sacristy before the end of March, then pick up your empty, relabelled box from the rear porch.
FISH & CHIP BABIES KNITTING PROJECT – There are photos showing the unpacking of your knitted garments by the recipients in East Africa on display in the front porch of both churches. Thank you and keep knitting!
MISA EN ESPAñOL UNA VEZ AL MES! – Fr Patrick from St Clare’s Church will begin celebrating a Monthly Mass in Spanish for our Spanish speaking community in Chester and anyone who wishes to participate”.
First Mass: Saturday 18 April at 4pm.
Location: St Clare’s, Downsfield Rd, Chester. CH4 8HH
This Mass will take place once a month and is a beautiful opportunity to come together in faith, prayer and community in the Spanish Language. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served after the service. If you want further information please contact Lina Greig: 07837512544.
!TODOS SON BIENVENIDOS, FAMILIA Y AMIGOS! “Porque donde dos o tres se reunen en mi nombre, alli estoy yo en medio de ellos”
CALLED TO LOVE – A retreat for singles, dating and engaged young adults who want to think more deeply about relationships and the call to marriage. A relaxed weekend on 2 – 3 May 2026 at the Christian Heritage Centre, Stonyhurst, Clitheroe BB7 9PZ. This year’s retreat will have as its theme masculinity and femininity. For registration visit: https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/called-to-love/
VACANCY – Due to retirement, a vacancy has arisen within the Diocese for a Health & Safety officer. Salary £32,000 – £38,000 dependant on experience. Hours: 25 per week, term time only, Please send CV and covering letter to Pauline McCulloch recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date 10 April. Further details can be found on the Diocesan Website Latest Vacancies – Diocese
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 5 April to be compiled by Rebecca Vaughan, phone: 01244 318632, email: rebecca_vghn@yahoo.co.uk. Deadline: 9.00a.m. Tuesday 31 March
Please include a contact number with your notice. Also email a copy to Fr. William at st.theresas@btinternet.com