The month of March is dedicated to St Joseph
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
30 MARCH 2025
| Sat 29 Mar | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Syriac Orthodox Community Mass | |
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Michael Owens RIP | |
| Sun 30 Mar | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Charles Woods RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Veronica Comerford RIP | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | ||
| Mon 31 Mar | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Altar Servers’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.00am | Stations of the Cross | |
| 10.30am | Private Intention (A&LP) | ||
| 12.00pm | Michael Craven Requiem Mass | ||
| Tue 1 Apr | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 10.00am | Mae Dunne’s -108th Birthday | |
| St. Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| Wed 2 Apr | |||
| St. Theresa’s | George Rogers RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | ||
| 10.30am | Mary Ibel – 102nd Birthday | ||
| Thu 3 Apr | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Tony & Robin Walsh | ||
| St. Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| Fri 4 Apr | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Stations of the Cross | |
| 10.00am | Nan & Martin Behan RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | The Parish | ||
| Sat 5 Apr | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Joe Blundell RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Patricia Feenan | |
| Sun 6 Apr | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | John Timpson RIP | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite |
Please note if there is no time next to Mass it means there is no Mass for parishioners to attend that day, but the Priests will say Mass privately.
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS
Mass will be streamed at St Theresa’s on Sunday 30 March at 9.30a.m.
Cover is needed at both churches for occasions when Tim is unavailable. The only requirement is you need to have an Iphone. If you would be willing to help with this please contact one of the church offices. Thank you.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa
RECENTLY DECEASED
Please remember in your prayers Michael Craven and Eileen Harland.
The Requiem Mass for Michael Craven will be held at St Columba’s on 31 March at 12 pm.
Eileen’s Requiem Mass will be held at St Columba’s on 7 April at 1.30pm.
ANNIVERSARIES
Charles Woods, Sarah Ann Gordyk, Patrick Gerard McCullagh, Sandra Mary Erskine, John (Jack) George Cross, David Carty, Harry Forshaw.
POPE’S MARCH PRAYER INTENTIONS
For families in crisis. Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences.
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.
PARISH OFFERTORY
Loose Plate: £438.46; Planned Giving £250.00; Average weekly SO £555.00. Candles: £20.73.
SOCIETY OF AFRICAN MISSIONS (SMA) APPEAL 29/30 March 2025
This weekend we welcome Fr Henry Somah of the SMA who will give an appeal at all Masses on 29-30 March.
| CHURCH NEWS Even from his hospital bed, Pope Francis is planning the next three years in the life of the Church. Following the work of the Synod, His Holiness has issued directives that every Diocese, Parish and individual Catholic listen to the Gospel and put into action the reform that is needed in the Church. He urges “all members of the people of God to become “active subjects” in the life of the Church” as it strives to become an organisation where each person has a voice and each community becomes a listening community, praying and discerning the will of the Holy Spirit. Watch for more of this as it becomes available.Communications Group |
LITTLE CHOIR
The little choir will practise in the Iona Chapel, Tuesday 1 April at 18:45. ( use the Church back door).
All children from year 3 and above are welcome to joint.
Newsletter
We Need YOU! Ever wanted to help with the parish newsletter? Now’s your chance! We’re looking for volunteer editors to join the team. Why volunteer?
- More hands = Less work for everyone!
- Get the inside scoop on all the parish news.
- No editing experience needed, just a willingness to pitch in!
Sign up today and help us make the newsletter shine! Contact Anne on 01244 340243.
Thought for the week
“Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak.” St Anthony of Padua
CAFOD Family Fast Day Collection – a reminder – be a pilgrim of hope with CAFOD this Jubilee Year. You’ll be supporting communities experiencing the impacts of war, poverty and climate change to find solutions and hope. You can donate using a CAFOD envelope in church, donate online at cafod.org.uk/envelope or call us on 0303 303 3030. You can also text CAFODLENT to 70085 to donate £10.
PRAYING TOGETHER
- Pray for the residents of Broadway West, Totland Grove, Derwent Road, Willow Drive, Naomi Close, Dentith Drive & Egerton Road.
- For the zoo and all who work there.
- For a deeper awareness of our environment.
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
The coffee rota is on the noticeboard in St Columba’s Hall. Just write your name, charity and phone number on the calendar. But if you can’t access the hall, leave a message on Margaret Curtis’s answerphone on 01244 318424 with your name and date(s) and she will add you to the rota.
30 Mar – Sue McCarthy -SVP
6 April – volunteers please
13 April – volunteers please
GOOD FRIDAY FAMILY STATIONS OF THE CROSS, ST COLUMBA’S
Young parishioners are invited to read and/or hold up pictures at the at 11am on Good Friday morning. There are 14 stations, so at least 14 volunteers would be nice. Please see Gillian Blatch, or Denise Lusk after Mass to volunteer, or email Gillian (gh.settle@gmail.com), ideally before Tuesday 1 April, to allow for time to give out readings and have a practice.
LENT & EASTER SERVICE TIMES
Copies of this year’s programme are available at the back of church. Please take one home with you.
ADORATION
On Sunday 6 April, as we continue our journey through the Season of Lent, we invite you back into St Columba’s church at 12.30pm (following 11am Mass and tea and coffee) for a short period of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. All are welcome and we would love for the children of the parish, especially those who are preparing to make their First Holy Communion, to be part of this time of prayer.”
BRAZILIAN COMMUNITY
Hi all, we are part of the Brazilian community in Chester and would like to invite you to pray the rosary with us. We meet on line on Thursdays at 20:00. The rosary is prayed in Portuguese, so if you’d like to join us you are more than welcome. Please send us an email and we can send you the link for the meeting. Luciana ( email: lucianaalsina@yahoo.com)
MOTHERING SUNDAY
A Happy Mothers’ Day to all our mothers. There are copies of a poem available if you wish to take one.
FRIENDSHIP THURSDAY
Our next meeting is on 3 April from 2-4 pm (note new time). For part of the time, we will have a speaker from “Woodwork to Wellness”, an organisation based in Saltney that uses practical activities to encourage learning new skills, friendship and well-being in men and women. Graham Stephens, the founder of the organisation will give an interactive presentation, including his work with ex-servicemen, youngsters in Manchester gangs and ordinary men and women who look for company and activity. It promises to be a fascinating afternoon. We look forward to seeing you.
EASTER FLOWER COLLECTION
There will be a collection after all Masses at St. Columba’s on the 29/30 March to cover the cost of the Easter flowers. For St Theresa’s please put your donation in an envelope marked FLOWERS and leave in the offertory basket. You have always been very generous in the past. Thank you
FISH & CHIP BABIES KNITTED CLOTHING PROJECT
So that the knitted garments can be shipped to Africa efficiently, there is a growing need for strong cardboard boxes. If you have any 15″x15″x15″ (or there abouts) boxes, can you leave please leave them in the rear porch at St Columba’s. Thank you.
WAY OF THE CROSS THIS WEEKEND
Through Churches Together in Upton, we work with our fellow Christians towards understanding and respect for our differences and sharing those things that we can. Please come and join us for a Lenten Way of the Cross at 4.30pm on Sunday 30 March at St Columba’s. Let us show our shared belief in the Crucified and Risen Christ as we travel “With Christ to Calvary” and make this a special Lenten prayer time. It will last about 30 minutes and refreshments will follow.
JUBILEE PRAYER
There are copies of the Jubilee prayer available for you take a copy
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 2p.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.
PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES 2025/2026
The planned giving envelopes for the next financial year are now available at the back of the church. You will notice that your number has been changed ie. 101 to 1 etc. You need not worry about this and please use the envelopes in the normal way. An error has occurred in the production of the envelopes. There are also a number of blank boxes of envelopes and should you wish to use one please do. However if you do I would be grateful if you could contact me on 07790 758008 or email at k1bfb@hotmail.com to enable me to enter your details onto the planned giving system. Thank you: Kevin Keegan
Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality
There will be an informal meeting on Wed 9 April at 7pm, in St Columba’s, Plas Newton Lane, Chester CH2 1SA to reflect on the role and purpose of the Hospitality, with a view to developing a more unified vision. All members are welcome. Please email secretary @teamshrewsbury.co.uk if you would like to attend.
Lourdes by Jumbulance
Wirral and Chester Across Groups are again travelling to Lourdes by Jumbulance in 2025. The dates are Thu 15 to Sat 14 May and Thu 14 to Sat 23 August. The Jumbulance is literally a Jumbo-Ambulance, with seven beds on board, an accessible toilet and kitchen. The journey overland takes about 21 hours. There are vacancies for a Doctor (in May), a nurse on each Group and helpers. There are vacancies for sick and disabled pilgrims. In the past we have taken people with MND, MS, COPD, various cancers, heart disease, etc and we have the facilities to care on the Jumbulance and in the Hotel.
The cost is £1,360 which includes Travel Insurance. Nurses and those under 25 in FTE are asked to pay £660. For further information, please contact Tony Murphy on 07881-656-974 or email tonymurphyefc2002@yahoo.co.uk or visit You searched for AJ – Across Charity | Take a journey, make a difference
ST COLUMBA’S RED MISSION BOX HOLDERS
There will be 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, relabeled box from the rear porch.
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 www.sscolumbaandtheresa.co.uk under the I’m New tab. Thank you.
FIRST AIDER
Are there any trained First Aiders out there? The Pastoral Council would like to have a trained First Aider on hand for occasional parish events. Perhaps you have already received training for work? We would love to hear from you if you can volunteer to help out on a rota basis. Please contact either of the church offices with your details and we will be in touch. Thank you.
CAFOD BIG LENT WALK IN THE JUBILEE YEAR
CAFOD invites Catholics to join their Big Lent Walk as Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year, walking over 200km over 40 days during Lent. https://walk.cafod.org.uk/. The Catholic High School is taking part in this challenging event, with walks organised in various ways, including a treadmill in school. They aim to raise £800 – thank you in advance for your generosity: https://schools.walk.cafod.org.uk/fundraising/chsc
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER
Sunday 30 March edition will be compiled by Muriel Green, phone: 01244 383836 or email: st.theresas@btinternet.com. Please include a phone number in case of queries, and please ensure that notices are also emailed to Fr William or phoned to the compiler by 9.00 a.m. on WEDNESDAY 2 April 2025
