The month of December is dedicated to The Immaculate Conception
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
7 December 2025
| Sat 6 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Parishioners’ Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | Thomas Smith RIP | |
| Sun 7 Dec | Second Sunday of Avent | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Eddie Mapp RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Milton, Luciana & Catarina | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite | ||
| Mon 8 Dec | The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Feast | ||
| St. Theresa’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| St. Columba’s | 10.30am | Brian Haslam & Wife Catherine | |
| Tue 9 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Stephen Dale RIP | ||
| St. Columba’s | Parishioners’ Intentions | ||
| Wed 10 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | Milton, Luciana, Catarina | ||
| St. Columba’s | 9.30am | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament | |
| 10.15am | Novena Prayers | ||
| 10.30am | Roy Burns | ||
| Thu 11 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 11.30am | Requiem Mass for Janie Casey | |
| St. Columba’s | Priests’ Intentions | ||
| Fri 12 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 10.00am | Peter Lloyd RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | The Parish | ||
| Sat 13 Dec | |||
| St. Theresa’s | 5.00pm | Maureen & Michael Cheston RIP | |
| St. Columba’s | 6.30pm | John Black Birthday Anniversary | |
| Sun 14 Dec | Third Sunday of Advent | ||
| St. Theresa’s | 9.30am | Collette Smith’s Intentions | |
| St. Columba’s | 11.00am | Ian & Joan Bullough RIP | |
| 2.00pm | Kerala Catholic Community Mass in Syro-Malabar Rite |
LIVE STREAMING OF MASS – Mass will be streamed at St Theresa’s on Sunday 7 December at 9.30a.m.
CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES – A leaflet containing all mass times is available in the porches of each church. It is also on the website under Our Parish/ Mass times.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception – Monday 8th December – Mass at 10.30am at St Columba’s: all welcome!
RECENTLY DECEASED – Please remember in your prayers, Janie (Jenny) Casey who died recently, and also her family and friends. Her Requiem Mass is at St Theresa’s on Thursday 11 December at 11.30am.
ANNIVERSARIES – Peter Anthony Burton, Christian Mapp, Mary Taylor, Edwin Albert (Eddie) Mapp, Colagera Anna (Lina) Safina, Terence Smith, Margaret Hocking, Mary Rhoden, Barbara Cross, Christina (Chrissie) Harrison, Irene Patricia Williams, Fr Vincent O’Toole.
CONFESSIONS – After each weekday mass until 11.30a.m. At the weekend: St Columba’s: from 6.00-6.25p.m. on Saturday. St Theresa’s: from 4.30-4.55p.m. on Saturday.
WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS – Please contact one of the Parish Offices to make your arrangements.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTIONS for December – for Christians in areas of conflict. Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation, and hope.
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.
LARGE PRINT NEWSLETTER – A limited number of large print newsletters are now available at the back of both our Churches.
PARISH OFFERTORY – Loose Plate: £508.36; Planned Giving: £278.90; Average weekly SO £718.15; Candles: £35.28.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – “Peace does not mean an absence of conflicts; differences will always be there. Peace means solving these differences through peaceful means; through dialogue, education, knowledge; and through humane ways.” — The 14th Dalai Lama, Tibet
PRAYING FOR –
- the residents of Glastonbury Avenue, Tewkesbury Close, Marlowe Avenue, Cotes Place, Bridgeman Road, Stubbs Place, & South Way.
- those who are bereaved and those who provide support.
HEATING AT ST COLUMBA’S CHURCH – Most of the heaters have now been fixed. A friendly reminder, however: please do not turn off any radiators or interfere with the heating system in any way. Thank you.
ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA – We would like to thank all parishioners who have volunteered their time to help with tea and coffee after the 11:00am Mass.
07 Dec – Sue Carr, parish
14 Dec – volunteers please
21 Dec – volunteers please
ALTAR SERVERS – we need you! An appeal for altar servers at both St Columba’s and St Theresa’s churches please. At the moment, we have no active altar servers at St Theresa’s. If you or your children are interested in altar serving at either church, please contact Richard Curtis (07787782255 / rich.curtis89@yahoo.co.uk). Training can be flexible around your availability, often focusing in 15-30 minutes sessions after mass for convenience.
CATHOLIC WOMEN’S LEAGUE CIO end of year Christmas meeting in the Newman Room on Monday 8 December at 2pm. Small bites, entertainment & raffle. Feel free to bring Christmas related stories & poems.
ADVENT PRAYER GROUP continues this Tuesday, 9 Dec 9. Come to the Iona Chapel for 11 am to 11.30 to look at next Sunday’s readings. We’re friendly and informal. Further info: Lyn Coyle marilyn.coyle44@gmail.com.
SENIOR PARISHIONERS & VOLUNTEERS CHRISTMAS PARTY – This year the Christmas party for senior parishioners (50+) and parish volunteers will be held on Saturday 13 December, starting at 2 pm, in St Columba’s Church Hall. As usual this will include free food and drinks.
PARISH YOUTH CLUB – the final meeting of 2025! The next youth group meeting is on Monday 15 December from 7 to 8.30pm. Please note we will start in the Newman Room – entrance at the back of Saint Columba’s Church. Young parishioners from Year 5 upwards are invited to come along. ALL are welcome.
CHRISTMAS CARDS AND DIARIES are now available on the Piety Stall. If there is a requirement for items not currently stocked, please contact Janet on 01244 329469, as it may be possible to order. For St Theresa’s, contact Carol Ingram.
ST WERBURGH’S AND ST COLUMBA’S SCHOOL NEWS – Wednesday 17 December, 7pm, Carol Service in St Werburgh’s Church.
THE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL CHRISTMAS FAIR & CAROL SERVICE – Tuesday 16 December, 4pm to 6pm in the school Hall. Entry fee £1 all welcome! Santa’s Grotto, stalls, amazing food and music. Please come & support this event! After the Christmas Fair, there will be a Carol Service in the Lyceum (6th Form building) at 6:30pm. Enjoy mince pies and a glass of wine at the interval before a final blast of Christmas songs and dance!
COMMUNITY CAROL SERVICE – There is a Community Carol Service at Holy Trinity Church, Blacon, on Monday 8 December at 6pm. All welcome.
SOUP WITH SOUL – continues at the Town House, Chester M-F 12pm-3pm. They have added to the menu for Christmas: soup, sausage roll, Christmas cracker & shortbread, house wine, beer, mince pies. Take your pick! Creating a positive future for those experiencing homelessness and hardship.
THANK YOU FROM HOPEFUL UGANDAN HEARTS – Thank you all for your continuous support with the activities of Hopeful Ugandan Hearts, this year and previous years. Thanks to your generosity we were able to raise £1,177.44 from the Sunday Cake sales and £2,160 from the Zumbathons which we held at your hall. These funds provided the children of “Home of Peace” in Jinja and “Christ’s Heart Children’s Orphanage” in Kampala with food, medical care and education. Kind regards, Lina, Monica, Stephanie and Dorita (Hopeful Ugandan Hearts)
CHURCHES TOGETHER ADVENT SERVICE – Many thanks to welcomers, helpers with refreshments, Mark our musician, Fr William and those who attended the Service, held in a cosy Iona Chapel. It was very enjoyable and a good start to Advent with our fellow Christians.
COMMEMORATING MRS OATES’ SERVICE AS HEADTEACHER – All are warmly invited to a celebration of Mrs Oates’ dedicated service to St Werburgh’s and St Columba’s School on Thursday 18 December at St Columba’s Church. A special thanksgiving service will begin at 6.30pm, followed by a Cheese and Wine Reception in the church hall from 7.00–8.00pm. Children are welcome at both events. Please complete the RSVP form to help us plan refreshments: https://forms.office.com/e/9bNg70BFcR Spread the word! We look forward to celebrating together!
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 14 December to be compiled by Eileen Irwin Phone: 01244 371660, email: st.theresas@btinternet.com. Deadline: 9.00a.m. Wednesday 10 December. Please include a contact number with your notice. Also email a copy to Fr. William at st.theresas@btinternet.com.
FOOD BANK DONATIONS – Urgently Needed – The Food Bank is asking for tinned meat, fish, veg, fruit, tomatoes, spaghetti, puddings, curry sauce, Smash, pasta & sauce, UHT/powdered milk, long-life juice, custard, jams, spreads, and coffee. See westcheshirefoodbank.org.uk for up-to-date needs. Thank you for your support!
ST COLUMBA’S RED MISSION BOX HOLDERS – Could those parishioners at St Columba’s with a MIssio Box, please leave it in the sacresty for Margaret to collect. You can collect your next Red Box from the back of the church, after your donation has been counted.
SHREWSBURY LOURDES HOSPITALITY – There will be midday Mass at St Mary’s, Crewe on 8 December to celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Refreshments will be available after Mass, everyone is welcome.
CAFOD Christmas Fun Run Saturday 27 December in Bollington – An opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors over the Christmas period, whilst also supporting communities around the world to lift themselves out of poverty. Adult, child and family entrance fees available; runners and walkers welcome. We are also really in need of volunteers to help out on the day. If you can spare a few hours, please contact events@cafod.org.uk for more information. Register or find out more info on our website: cafod.org.uk/Bollington
STAY SAFE FROM SCAMS – Scammers may know your details, don’t assume they’re genuine. Always think twice. Never share your PIN or passwords. Ignore emails or calls about computer viruses. Delete suspicious emails and mark them as spam. Be safe, if unsure, contact companies using official numbers. Dial 159 to safely reach your bank. Report scams to Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040 or online. Free guide and tips: Age UK Scam Advice the Booklet is available at the back of both churches – please return after reading.
PARISH WEBSITE – Items for website must be about parish-based events and should be sent to Lyn Coyle, who is the parish liaison with the website manager. marilyn.coyle44@gmail.com