The month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Third SUNDAY OF EASTER
4 MAY 2025
| Sat 3 May | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Community Mass | |
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Mary Lally RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| Sun 4 May | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Elwell Family esp. Eddie & Adam | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | ||
| Mon 5 May | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.30am | Private Intentions | |
| Tue 6 May | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Private Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| Wed 7 May | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Special Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.30am | Frank Stone Jr Anniversary | |
| Thu 8 May | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Gerard McCarthy RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| Fri 9 May | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 10.00am | Anthony Baker RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | The Parish | ||
| Sat 10 May | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | William Baker RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | John Black RIP | |
| Sun 11 May | Fourth Sunday of Easter | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| 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 4 May 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.
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DEATH OF POPE FRANCIS
1936 – 2025
Eternal rest, grant upon him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace.
Amen
ANNIVERSARIES
Michael Thornber, Brian Peter Kelly, Michael Patrick Murray, Thomas William Groom, Mary Lally, John Bond.
POPE’S MAY PRAYER INTENTIONS
For working conditions. Let us pray through work, each person might find fulfilment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized.
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: £1392.40; Planned Giving 452.55; Average weekly SO £718.15. Candles: 48.49.
PRAYING TOGETHER
Pray for:
- the residents of Arley Close, Lincoln Drive, Grasmere Road, Woodside Road, Oakfield Road, Highfield Road, and Foxcote Close.
- For the elderly and housebound
- For all who prepare the food and for those who come and enjoy the fellowship enjoyed at church meals
FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS – St Columba’s
Today we have our first family celebrations of First Holy Communions so the central benches will be reserved for the children and their families. We welcome you all and pray for and congratulate these children.
PLANNED GIVING ENVELOPES 2025/2026
If you would like to Gift Aid your donation please contact St Columba’s – Kevin Keegan on 07790 758008 or email klbfb@hotmail.com. St Theresa’s Steve Parry on 07798 676633 or email steveparry98@yahoo.com
YOUTH GROUP PILGRIMAGE
Well done to the Youth group members and leaders who, accompanied by Fr William, made a Jubilee Pilgrimage of hope from St. Theresa’s peace garden to the Iona chapel last Saturday. We had a lovely walk, nice conversation and prayed along the way. Many thanks to Sophia, Giovanna, Sue and Sue who baked lovely cakes and cookies to keep us going. Next youth group meeting will be on Monday 12th May, 7pm, starting in the Iona chapel, finishing 8.30pm.
Thank you to the mebers of the youth group who volunteered to be welcomers and altar serbers at the Requiem Mass for the Pope last Wednesday.
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.
04 May – volunteers please
11 May – volunteers please
18 May – volunteers please
FRIENDSHIP THURSDAY 8 MAY
The next meeting will be from 2-4pm on Thursday, 8 May in St Columba’s Hall. We have an entertainer for part of the time, who I’m sure we will all enjoy. As usual, we ask for a donation of £2 towards running costs. Looking forward to seeing you there and any friend you may like to invite, remembering that this group is not just for churchgoers but for anyone who would enjoy some company.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace. “We will never be disillusioned or lose our way if we are guided by God” Pope Francis.
REACHING THE UNREACHED
Fr Antony, the Director of RTU, is visiting the UK in May to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Brother James Kimpton, the RTU’s founder who grew up in Chester. He will be at the 10.45am Mass at St Werburgh’s, Chester on Sunday 18 May and will give a talk. You are invited to attend that Mass to hear and meet Fr Antony.
RED BOX 2024: THANK YOU!
In 2024, St Columba’s Church raised £908.07 through our Red Boxes and donations to Missio and the Mill Hill Missionaries. Thank you! Our missionary community here at St Columba’s Church is part of a worldwide network of people supporting missionaries overseas through prayer and financial assistance. Your support of Missionary Priests, like Fr Glenn MHM working with a rural community in Tompong, Cambodia, enables people to come together to celebrate the Eucharist and to work together to improve the lives of the whole community. Visit missio.org.uk to find out more.
OPEN CHURCH AT HOLY ASCENSION
The three churches of Churches Together in Upton (CTU) are each holding an Open Afternoon when anyone is welcome to visit. It’s an informal opportunity to see the church buildings, each of which is interesting in its own way and a chance to chat with our fellow Christians over a cup of tea, coffee and cake. On Saturday 17 May, you are invited to drop in to the Holy Ascension Church on Heath Road at any time between 2 and 4.30pm. More details next week.
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.
SUPPORTING THE VOCATION TO MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE
Calling all those interested in supporting the vocation of marriage and family to join Jane Deegan Director of Marriage and Family Life Vocation for a retreat day to find out more about this important work and the various different ways you can help.
When: 7 June 2025 9.30am-4.00pm Where: Parish Hall, Holy Angels Church, Wicker Lane, Hale Barnes WA15 0HG
To Register and for More Information please contact:
Monika at monika.golembiewska@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Mobile: 07549226794 or
Jane at jane.deegan@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Mobile: 07517 906435.
TERMINALLY ILL ADULTS (END OF LIFE) BILL
Following the recent Pastoral letter relating to this Bill, to find out more and write to your MP visit www.livesworthliving.org.uk, and or pick up a leaflet from the back of church. Postcards can also be found at the back of church addressed to SPUC relating to a request to the PM to commit to long term reform of hospice and palliative care. Should you wish to contact your MP Samantha Dixon, her address is, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA, her email address is Samantha.dixon.mp@parliament.uk . Her constituency office address is The Bluecoat, Upper Northgate St, Chester CH1 4EE. The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting can also be contacted at the above House of Commons address and email wes.streeting.mp@parliament.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 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.
YOUTH 2000 SUMMER FESTIVAL 2025
Taking place in the grounds of Ampleforth College from Friday 22nd – Monday 25th August, the Youth 2000 Summer Festival provides young adults (aged 16-35) from across the UK the opportunity to come together and explore faith, build relationships and find hope. This four-day festival includes great speakers, social time, break-out sessions, Daily Mass, 24/7 Adoration and much more! Register your place at: youth2000.org/events/summerfestival2025.
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 8p.m. 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 lucianaalsina@yahoo.com
ZUMBA MASTERCLASS IN AID OF “HOPEFUL UGANDAN HEARTS
On Saturday 17th May from 11am-1pm. £10 Adults and £5 Children 6+. Pay at the door.
We are raising funds to support two Orphanages in Uganda. Children need to remain in school and we are helping to pay for school fees, food and rent. Come and join me Zumba with Lina for two hours of Zumba fitness and FUN!!! As always, we’ll have a Raffle, expect great prizes. Any enquiries contact Lina Greig 07837512544.
POPE FRANCIS
The Pope’s Requiem Mass in St Peter’s Square was presided over by Cardinal Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, who will oversee the Conclave to elect a new Pope. In his homily, he highlighted the following gifts of Pope Francis, seen in his ministry and for which we shall remember him with love and gratitude
- His deep love of the Church which he wanted to be open to everyone
- He was the good shepherd close to his people until the very end
- He had an open heart towards everyone, especially the marginalised such as migrants and refugees.
- He sought to shed light on the problems of our times with the wisdom of the Gospel, encouraging Christians to live out their faith amid these challenges.
- His relentless emphasis on mercy and hope
- His call for human fraternity and his desire for global solidarity and peace.
- His care of the environment and our shared responsibility for it
Taken from Vatican News website
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER
Sunday 11 May edition will be compiled by Muriel Green Phone: 01244 383836 or email: muriel.green1@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 7 May 2025