THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

SUNDAY 10TH JANUARY 2010

MASS TIMES: INTENTIONS:

Saturday Vigil Mass 7.15 p.m. Dot Mercer

Sunday 9:15 a.m. Bridget Bennett

11.00 a.m. The Parish

Monday 9.15 a.m. Mary Daniels

Tuesday 9.15 a.m. Kitty Floyd

Wednesday 9.15 a.m. Francis Wilkinson

Thursday 9.15 a.m. Thanksgiving (J.B.)

Friday 9.15 a.m. Richard & Eileen Balfe

Saturday 9.15 p.m. Pat McGloin

Saturday Vigil Mass 7.15 p.m. Tessa Adams

Sunday 9.15 a.m. The Parish

11.00 a.m. Joan Mary Connolly

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.

ANNIVERSARIES:

Please remember in your prayers: Desmond Sutton, Michael Nicholson, Arthur Healey, Ivy Brithwaite, John Woods, John Bullen, Margaret Judge, Belle McRoberts, Frank Fell, Joseph Bowes, Jimmy Roy Ward, Joan Mary Cotter, Ivy Whitmee, Norah :Byrne, Catherine Lawson, Cyril Watkin, James Fairclough, Roy Sutton, Theresa Borg, Victoria Phillips, Reginald Benwell, Patrick Connelly, Margaret Josephine Hope, Anne Brough, Catherine (Kitty) Floyd, Edwardus Cartwright, Margaret Latham, Elizabeth Croghan, Alphonse Kaleta, Dr. Marcel Cretois, Edmund Tyrrell, John McGuiness, Bernard Joseph Adams, Mary Regan, William Walker, Joan Ann Roberts, Samuel Grourke, Victoria Nisperos Scott, Dora Bowen, William John (Jack) Barlow, Dorothy Boulton, Rowena Thompson, Angela Finan, Mary Anne Corner, Eliza Dean, John Rooney, Joan Mary Connolly, Kenneth Liversage, Helen Wilson.

OFFERTORY (w/e 2/3rd Jan):

Loose Plate: £477.11

Planned Giving: £568.67

Average Weekly Standing Orders: £562.00

Hire of the Hall £294.00

Thank you very much for your generous offerings.

BEREAVEMENT GROUP:

Has bereavement affected you?

Do you feel the need to talk in confidence?

The Parish bereavement group provides support and care to the bereaved and their families. All members have been fully trained and would like to invite people to contact the group by ringing Ruth on 01244-380300

PASTORAL COUNCIL:

St Columba’s Pastoral Council has its next meeting tomorrow, Monday 11th January. This is the group which considers all pastoral matters in the parish, and this means everything except finance. Should you have matters to raise then please contact a member of the council whose names are displayed on the notice board.

FIRST FORGIVENESS:

Parents are reminded that the meeting to discuss the Sacraments of First Forgiveness and the Parish Celebration (Saturday 30th January) is on Thursday 14th January at 7.00 p.m. in St. Werburgh’s and St. Columba’s Primary School.

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION CLASSES:

The instruction classes for children attending non-Catholic schools start again this week, in the Hall at 5 p.m. on Wednesday 13th January.

FEAST - THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD:

This weekend’s feast is the ‘Baptism of the Lord’. We welcome at the 11 a.m. Mass those families who have had children baptised in the last year. We pray and support these families by encouragement and prayer as their children’s’ faith grows.

Thank-you to all in our baptism team who help in preparing our families to take responsibility for their children’s spiritual growth.

UPTON CHURCHES PRAYER DIARY:

Next week we pray for:

Pray for the residents of Dorset Road, Shipbrook Road, Mannings Lane South and Peckforton Way.

For the work of Churches Together in Upton and Churches Together in Chester.

For our Churches: Holy Ascension, United Reformed, St. Columba’s and the Baptist Church.

MESSAGE FROM Fr. KONTEH:

The Reverend Fr. Konteh sends his greetings, good wishes and thanks from Sierra Leon. He appreciates the contribution of St. Columba’s parishioners towards their Catholic Mission.

GIFT AID TAX REFUND FOR 2008-9:

The amount of tax refunded to the parish through the Gift Aid scheme for 2008-9 was £11,674.95. Many thanks to all of you who continue to donate generously by this method. However, the parish will see a reduction in this refund from April 2011 when transitional relief paid to reimburse the loss of Gift Aid resulting from the 2% reduction in the basic rate of income tax in April 2008 ends. Given that all the political parties are currently talking of reducing public expenditure after the General Election, it seems very unlikely that transitional relief payments will be extended beyond April 2011.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY,

18th – 25th JANUARY:

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is traditionally held each year between 18th January (Feast of St. Peter’s Chair in Rome) and 25th January (Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul). Locally, the Week of Prayer is being marked, both by Churches Together in Upton and by Churches Together in Cheshire.

Upton Churches: This year the services are at Upton United Reformed Church, Heath Road. Each evening except Sunday 24th there will be a short prayer service from 6.30 – 7 p.m. On Sunday 24th the main Joint Service will be held, starting at 6.30 p.m.

Churches Together in Cheshire: This year the main Joint Service “You Are Witnesses” is being held at Chester Cathedral, at 3.30 p.m. on Sunday 24th January, the preacher being Revd. Jonathan Edwards, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. The choir of St. Nicholas Catholic High School Hartford will be singing at this Service.

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.rourkeTHEEMAILSYMBOLGOESHEREbtinternet.com for further information.

The next meeting will take place on Monday 25th January at 7.30 p.m. in the Church Office.

CATHOLIC SINGLES:

Catholic singles is 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 infoTHEEMAILSYMBOLGOESHEREcatholicsingles.org.uk

ST. PETERS CENTRE AT THE CROSS:

The church building is available for use by Christian organisations for a wide range of events such as services, exhibitions, meetings and concerts.

The Centre is open, with refreshments available during its normal opening hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Saturday (except for Friday afternoon when lack of volunteers forces it to close).

If you would like to discuss using the Centre for any appropriate activity, or if you would like to become a volunteer steward, please contact David Savage on 01244 380626.

NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:

This will be compiled by David Savage.

Telephone: 01244-380626

E-mail: savage214THEEMAILSYMBOLGOESHEREbtinternet.com

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.