The Catholic Parish of St Columba and St Theresa, Chester

Serving the Chester Community

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St Columba’s: 

Saturday 6.30pm
Sunday 11.00am
St Theresa’s: 
Saturday 5.00pm
Sunday 9.30am

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You are here: Home / Uncategorised / Newsletter 9 July 2023

Newsletter 9 July 2023

8 July 2023 By amos

FOURTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

9TH JULY 2023

Sat 8 Jul
St. Theresa’s 5.00pm Prescott Family Ints
St. Columba’s 6.30pm John Kirwin RIP
       
Sun 9 Jul
St. Theresa’s 9.30am Parishioners Intentions
St. Columba’s 11.00am The Parish
       
Mon 10 Jul
St. Theresa’s 12.45pm Requiem Mass Bernard Walsh
St. Columba’s 11.00am Rev Russell Cooke RIP
       
Tue 11 Jul St Benedict, Ab
St. Theresa’s Private Intention
St. Columba’s Priests’ Intentions
       
Wed 12 Jul
St. Theresa’s Priests’ Intention
St. Columba’s 9.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
10.15am Novena Prayer
10.30am Private Intention
       
Thu 13 Jul
St. Theresa’s Private Intention
St. Columba’s The Parish
       
Fri 14 Jul
St. Theresa’s 10.00am Linda Barlow RIP
St. Columba’s 6.30pm Brenda Garner RIP
       
Sat 15 Jul St Bonaventure, B, D. Mem
St. Theresa’s 5.00pm Millington & Bradshaw Dec’d
St. Columba’s 6.30pm Parishioners Intentions
       
Sun 16 Jul
St. Theresa’s 9.30am Parishioners Intentions
St. Columba’s 11.00am Private Intention (NK)

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 from St Columba’s at 6.30pam this Saturday 8th July 2023.
www.facebook.com/thecatholicparishofstcolumbaandsttheresa

RECENTLY DECEASED:
Please remember in your prayers Rev. Russell Cooke and Bernard Walsh. Bernard’s Requiem Mass is at St Theresa’s on Monday 10th July at 12.45pm. May the Lord console their Families and Friends.
Fr Cooke’s Funeral Mass will be held at St Winefride’s Church, 5 Burton Road, Little Neston CH64 9RF on Wednesday 26th July at 11.30 a.m.

ANNIVERSARIES:
Mary Teresa Rose, Pauline Rowlands, Vincenzo (Larry) Pellegrini, Mary Teresa Rose.

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.

OFFERTORY:
St Columba’s:
 Loose plate: £274. 97; Planned Giving: £193.00; Average Weekly SO – £574.00; Candles: £41.96p
St Theresa’s:
Loose plate & Planned Giving: £270.87; Average weekly SO – £161
THANK YOU for all your generous support.

PRAYING TOGETHER:
We pray for:

  • Pray for the residents of The Croft, Kirby Close, Ambleside, Hafod Close, Nevin Road, Penmon Close and Treborth Road.
  • For all who are baptised in our Churches and their families and for the support given to them.
  • For all who help or attend creches.

ST COLUMBA’S COFFEE ROTA
9th July – Rippon family for Camps International, Humanitarian Collaboration with Peru
16th July – volunteers please
23rd July – volunteers please
Why not donate a little time to make tea and coffee after 11:00 Mass on Sunday?  You can make some money for your favourite charity, too. Call Margaret Curtis 01244 318424 to book your date(s).

ANNUAL PARISH COACH TRIP – YORK:
There have been some cancellations, so there are a few seats now available on the trip. If you would like to go to York on Thurs 27th July, please call Margaret Curtis on 01244 318424 or Paul Wrigglesworth on 07708 304246. 

SVP COFFEE & CAKE SALE AT ST THERESA’S:
The Saint Vincent de Paul Society will be holding a coffee and cake sale after 9.30a.m. Mass on Sunday 9th July. Look forward to seeing you there.

LOURDES PILGRIMAGE:
There are still a few spaces available. Booking details can be found on the pilgrimage website: www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk

REV. FR. RUSSELL COOKE RIP:
Fr Russell was appointed parish priest of St Columba’s Parish after the demise of Fr John Lennon in September 1997, and served the parish until his retirement in January 2016. One of his first initiatives in the parish was the foundation of a Pastoral Council, the forerunner of the PC that serves our parish today. For much of his time as our priest Fr Russell also served as Dean of the then local Deanery of Chester, Ellesmere Port, Tarporley and Mouldsworth. In 2008 Fr Russell underwent major heart surgery from which he recovered well, but later deteriorating health led to his eventual retirement. Retirement was spent living close to St Winefride’s Church in Neston; those who cared for him there say that he was comfortable and happy, only relatively lately did he suffer an illness which eventually led to his death, peacefully at home, on Friday 30th June. Parishioners from Fr Russell’s time at St Columba’s will remember a gifted preacher, a priest perhaps not always eager to please but honest and true, and judging by the crowd of well-wishers who gathered to say farewell to Fr Russell in St Columba’s Hall on his retirement, a much-loved parish priest. Requiescat in pace, Fr Russell, our thanks and prayers go with you.

STELLA MARIS SEA SUNDAY 2023:
Seafarers and fishers play a vital role in all of our lives, but they often work in difficult, hazardous conditions. In the last year, more crews have been abandoned by their employers than ever before. Many are still being denied the right to leave their ships for even a short break away from the relentless noise and pressure onboard. Many are reporting more stress and poorer mental health. Sea Sunday is Sunday 9th July. It is when the Church prays for all those who live and work at sea. Your support will make a big difference to seafarers and fishers in need. You can donate in church, by visiting www.stellamaris.org.uk/donate, or by texting ‘SEA’ to 70460 to donate £5. This collection is vital to enable Stella Maris (formerly called Apostleship of the Sea) to continue its important work – so please give generously. Thank you.

NEW DAWN IN THE CHURCH:
This takes place from 31 July – 4 August and is a five day Catholic Conference which takes place every year at the Catholic National Shrine & Basilica 9of Our Lady of Walsingham.  For further details please see the leaflets at the back of church.

YOUTH GROUP:
Our next meeting will be on Monday 17th July, at St Columba’s from 7p.m to 8.30p.m. All young parishioners, school year 5 and older are most welcome to join our happy friendly group.

SVP MUSIC NIGHT:
On Friday 14th July at 7.30 pm, an evening of great music by the City Jazz Orchestra and singers from the Catholic High School at the High School in aid of the SVP Holiday Home. Tickets £10 from Sue McCarthy 07515 491251 or any member of the SVP team.

CAR BOOT SALE:
This will take place on 15th July from 9a.m. – 12p.m. at Cheshire County Sports Club, Plas Newton Lane. £5 per car, 1 table only. 01244 318167. 

HIGHLIGHT FROM THE HIGH:
 On Wednesday 28th of June, the CHS celebrated the Holy Reunion Mass with 22 children who have recently received their First Holy Communion, along with their families, teachers, head teachers and catechists. It was a marvellous evening and a great opportunity for the children from different schools, to come together as part of one big Catholic family. The CHS would like to thank Fr. Paul Shaw from St. Werburgh’s Church for celebrating Mass and everyone who made this evening so special for the children.

`VATICAN II PODCAST AND HANDOUT:
We continue our reflections on Vatican II, in Part III On The Church. This time, we ask the question: ‘Why is the Church?’ Why does she exist…? The Council’s answer is that her mission is to call all people of all times to holiness, which is why she must evangelise. What this means for us is given inLumen Gentium Chaps 5 and 6, taken together. Podcast 9 and its handout are now available on the diocesan website at dioceseofshrewsbury.org in the section​ on ‘News and Events’. A leaflet outlining the content of all of the podcasts is available in the parish. If you have difficulty accessing this material or have questions and reflections, please don’t hesitate to contact Barbara via E: barbara.davies@dioceseofshrewsbury.org or T: 07730 526821.​

CARITAS-HOME FOR UKRAINE:
Are you interested in making a difference by hosting a family fleeing the war in Ukraine?  For more information please take a leaflet from the back of church or visit the website: www.sjog-homesforukraine.uk

CYCLING WITHOUT AGE CHESTER:
This is an initiative to get the elderly back on bikes.  Specially adapted trishaws take passengers out for free.  For further information contact chester@cyclingwithoutage.org.uk

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Greatness lies not in being strong, but in the right using of strength.  Henry Ward Beecher

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER:
Reading an article recently about artificial intelligence and ChatGPT, the system that can write anything you ask it, in any style you wish, a Parish priest had asked it to write a sermon and include a joke.  The joke wasn’t repeatable and was taken out and the sermon was “could do better”. After delivering the sermon, he asked his congregation not to thank him for his words and told them why. Moral of the story, it’s a system, it has no common sense, and such systems can perpetuate gender, racial and other kinds of social bias, they have no ethics or moral code, always be aware of what you use and its shortcomings! 

RESOURCES:
Forest fun – free sessions for pre school children and parent with the Countess of Chester Country Park Forest school – Thursdays 12noon – 2pm, meet at the Friendly Bench, booking essential email Neil McMahon n.mcmahon@tcv.org.uk

FREE NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION:
Do you want your newsletter delivered directly to your inbox electronically? If so, subscribe via our web page on  https://sscolumbaandtheresa.co.uk/  Front page bottom right – subscribe button. 

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:
16th July Edition will be compiled by Amy O’Donnell, phone: 07854 290897, E-mail: amyod@hotmail.co.uk
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 12TH JULY 

Filed Under: Uncategorised

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