THE EPIPHANY.
SUNDAY 3rd JANUARY 2010:
MASS TIMES: INTENTIONS:
Saturday Vigil Mass 7:15 p.m. Ada Laura Savage & Gavin
Webster.
Sunday: 9:15 a.m. Patrick McCarthy.
11:00 a.m. The Parish.
Monday 9:15 a.m. Christopher Bryan.
Tuesday 9:15 a.m. REQUIEM: Molly Massey.
Wednesday 9:15 a.m. Rose and Dick Mitchell.
Thursday 9:15 a.m. Mary Mitchell.
Friday 9:00 a.m. REQUIEM for Tessa Adams.
Saturday 9:15 p.m. Fr. Kevin Brennan. RIP
Saturday Vigil Mass 7.15 p.m. Dot Mercer.
Sunday 9:15 a.m. Bridget Bennett.
11:00 a.m. The Parish.
LATELY DEAD:
Please remember Fr. Lawrence Watson who was a retired Priest of our diocese. He was for a number of years at Christ The King, Bromborough. His body will be received at Christ The King on Sunday evening at 7.00 p.m. His Requiem will be on Monday 4th January at 11.00 a.m.
Please remember Molly Massey whose Requiem is on Tuesday morning at 9.15 a.m. We give our prayers and support to Ann.
Another fine and loyal parishioner is Tessa Adams who died at Macclesfield Hospital last week. Tessa’s funeral Mass is on Friday morning at St Columba’s at 9.00 a.m.
MORNING PRAYER:
9.00 a.m. in the Sacristy Office, on weekdays except Wednesday.
CONFESSIONS:
Confessions are heard every Saturday after morning Mass and before the Vigil Mass on Saturday evening from 6:45 p.m. to 7:10 p.m
BAPTISMS:
By arrangement with Fr. Cooke. After speaking to Fr. Cooke, it is important that families contact our Baptism Co-ordinator, Ann Siddall, 01244 371787, who will arrange for members of our Baptism Team to discuss Baptism and the practical details.
THANK YOU:
Fr. Cooke would like to thank parishioners for their generous Christmas offering and many cards, it is much appreciated.
OFFERTORY (w/e 26/27th Dec.):
Loose Plate: £543.18
Planned Giving: £392.28
Average Weekly Standing Orders: £562.00
Thank you very much for your generous offerings.
BAPTISM CELEBRATION MASS:
Our Baptism Celebration Mass will be held on Sunday, 10th January 2010 at 11.00 a.m. We celebrate with the families who have had a child/children baptised at St. Columba's during 2009, and welcome them again into the family of God, and our Parish community. All are most welcome, especially all those families involved in a baptism in 2009.
THE SICK:
Please keep in your prayers all the sick and housebound of the Parish and those who care for them. If you know of anyone who can no longer come to Mass and would like to receive Holy Communion inform Fr. Cooke or a Eucharistic Minister.
ANNIVERSARIES:
Please remember in your prayers: Kevin Connolly, Patrick Joseph Regan, Eileen Josephine Donoughue, Harold Sweeney, Lawrence Stevens, John Hughes, Margaret Johnson, Frances Joseph Burk, Christopher Garner, Ester Rose Parker, Susan Sweeney, Agnes Morris, Martin McKenna (Jnr), Mary Upton, Robert Henry (Harry) Barton, Les Christian, John Lloyd Hughes, Hilary Makinson, Alf Humphreys, Mary McCowne, Colin Blyth, John Ibell, Gerard McGlown, Helen Cadden, Desmond Sutton, Michael Nicholson, Arthur Healey, Ivy Brithwaite, John Woods.
A.P.F. RED MISSION BOXES:
Thank you for leaving your red Missionary Boxes to be emptied and counted. The boxes are now ready to collect from the Sacristy. Thank you very much for your kind donations.
Please note that John Bond is no longer the A.P.F. Secretary/ Treasurer for St. Columba’s. Margaret Curtis (01244 318424) has very kindly agreed to take over this role. Many thanks to John for all the work he has done in the parish over many years on behalf of A.P.F.
UPTON CHURCHES PRAYER DIARY:
Next week we pray for:
Pray for the residents of Woodlea Avenue, Cornwall Road and Aldford Road.
For Sunday School, Junior Church, Ascenders, Seekers and Children’s Liturgy.
For all children who attend our churches each Sunday and their leaders.
St. columba's guild of st. stephen For Altar servers:
Bishop Brian recently gave permission for a branch (Guild) of the Archconfraternity of St. Stephen to be establshed in the parish. The branch is now affiliated to the Archconfraternity at Westminster Cathedral and this will be certified by Archbishop Vincent Nichols in due course.
Members of our parish group were enrolled in the Guild at a short ceremony during the midday Mass on the Feast of St. Stephen.
Our Altar Servers are an essential and valued element of parish liturgy, the aims of The Guild are to nurture their skill and knowledge of serving and foster relations with other Servers' groups.
NEWS FROM fR. jOHN KIRWAN:
We have received copies of the Christmas 2009/ New Year 2010 newsletter from Fr. John Kirwan, originally from Chester but based for many years as a Mill Hill father in D.R. Congo. In many ways Fr. John’s letter reflects the pleas in the Pope’s Message for the World Peace Day. Basankusu Diocese in the Congo is entirely within the equatorial rain forest, and Fr. John points to the danger that some conservation measures, imposed from above, are displacing some clans from ancestral forest areas so is a source of potential trouble.
Fr. John is involved both with work at the provincial seminary and with support of the diocesan bishop. As usual, he is a little diffident in appealing for financial support, but their needs are increasing. St. Columba’s parish does offer regular support through the Third World Group. Fr. John’s letter is on the notice board in the front Porch, with a number of additional copies available. Local contacts are Kevin and Tess Kirwan, 0151 630 4003, email kevintessYOUKNOWTHESYMBOLtiscali.co.uk
PARISH BUILDINGS COMMITTEE:
Following discussions with the parish Pastoral Council and Diocese the remit of the Buildings Committee has been agreed. At the meeting on 11th December a number of key tasks were identified. These include developing a list of suitable maintenance contractors, monitoring energy consumption and addressing fire safety.
If you have any comments on the church and hall they would be welcome.
The committee is at present very small – so it offers a very warm welcome to any parishioners with any relevant expertise. We would especially welcome anyone with any expertise in the field of Health and Safety. Please contact Pauline Rourke – pauline.rourkeYOUKNOWTHESYMBOLbtinternet.com for further information.
The next meeting will take place on Monday 25th January at 7.30 p.m. in the Church Office.
SVP COLLECTION:
the collection will take place this weekend 2nd/3rd January. We thank you for your continued support.
CATHOLIC SINGLES:
catholic singles ia an organisation which helps single, widowed, separated and divorced Catholics of all ages (over 18) meet, either one to one or through social events. All members receive a monthly bulletin, called Catholic Networking. For more information please tel. 0161 941 3498, visit the website or email infoYOUKNOWTHESYMBOLcatholicsingles.org.uk
CHESTER HOMELESS:
Thank you so much for the donations for the Homeless. I have managed to get them all delivered. A very big thank you to you all. The warm clothing and boots and the new garments were much appreciated. Also a big thank you to the ladies at Newton House who knit all those blankets and hats! Christmas is coming and meals and warm surroundings will be available to all who need it. Your continued support makes this possible. Thank you also for the cash donations which have been delivered to the Centre. All warm clothing, non-perishable goods, etc are always on the wish list. For any queries please ring Maggie on 01244 341509 after 7 p.m.
ACTION FOR CHILDREN:
Thank you for all of your support and donations of clothes over the past year. They have all been very appreciated by the families that we work with and have made a great difference to their lives.
Family Support Team, Blacon Children’s Centre.
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:
This will be compiled by Alison Wrigglesworth Tel: 01244 382457
Email: alison.wrigglesworthYOUKNOWTHESYMBOLo2.co.uk
Items for inclusion can also be left in the blue folder in the Sacristy. Please ensure that all items are in place by 9.00 a.m. on Thursday. Please include a phone number in case of queries. Current and past issues of the Newsletter can also be seen on the parish website, www.stcolumbachester.org.uk.
Please, please, please take your newsletter home and use it for reference and prayer during the week.