SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR 17th January 2010
MASS TIMES: INTENTIONS:
Saturday Vigil: 7.15 p.m. Tessa Adams.
Sunday: 9.15 a.m. The Parish.
11:00 a.m. Joan Mary Connolly.
Monday: 9:15 a.m. Mary Anne Bunge.
Tuesday: 9.15 a.m. Denis & Patrick O’Donovan.
Wednesday: 9.15 a.m. David Beckett .
Thursday: 9.15 a.m. Mary Heffernan.
Friday: 9.15 a.m. Mr. & Mrs. Keane.
Saturday: 9.15 a.m. Roman Boryslawski.
Vigil Mass 7.15 p.m. Hugh Middleton.
Sunday: 9.15 a.m. Cornelius Lally.
11.00 a.m. Bob MacDonald & Siobhan McKenna.
PEACE SUNDAY:
Each year, the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (this Sunday) is marked as Peace Sunday, a day of special prayer for world peace. It offers an opportunity to reflect on the Pope’s World Peace Day message. This year Pope Benedict has chosen the theme “If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation”. The Pope’s message is an urgent appeal to humankind to protect the environment, warning that its abuse could become just as much a threat to peace as wars, acts of terrorism or human rights violations.
MORNING PRAYER:
9.00 a.m. in the Sacristy Office, on weekdays excepting Wednesday.
CONFESSIONS:
Confessions are heard every Saturday after morning Mass, and before the Vigil Mass on Saturday evenings, 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:
We remember Angela Finan , Mary Anne Corner , Eliza Dean, John Rooney , Joan Mary Connolly, Kenneth Liversage, Helen Wilson ,Jack Cunniff, John Abbott, Veronica Martell, Edith Watkins, Ann Mahoney, Reg Wells, Norah Byrne, Annie O’Loughlin, Margaret Holding, Eileen Coombes, Jason Monet, Elsie Rowlands, William Woods, Mgr. George Roger Leonard, Joan Connolly, Nora Margaret Connolly, Bridget O’Malley, William Hope, Mary (Molly) Tallon, Monica Tweedle, Olivia Trotter, Tony Comerford, James Kilcoyne, Florence Donnolly, Dorothy Tallon, Reginald Walpole, Anne Cunniff, Ivy Katherine Vickery, Mary McCallum, Michael Gritten, William Carter, Edward Halligan, John Mahoney, Robert Stephen Macdonald, Vicky Smith, Susan Pollock, Charles Dutton, Christine Elizabeth Colgan.
COFFEE AFTER MASS:
Tea and coffee are served in the Hall after the Sunday morning Masses. All are welcome.
BEREAVEMENT GROUP:
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 380300.
OFFERTORY: (10th Jan 2010)
Loose Plate: £402.02
Planned Giving: £516.01
Average Weekly SOs: £562.00
Crib Offerings: £110.87
COADJUTOR BISHOP FOR SHREWSBURY DIOCESE:
Before too long Bishop Brian will have reached the normal retirement age for bishops. The Holy See has recently announced that Mgr Mark Davies, currently Vicar General of the Diocese of Salford, is to be ordained as coadjutor bishop of Shrewsbury. A coadjutor bishop is a bishop who has the right of succession. So when Bishop Brian retires, Mgr Davies will take over as Bishop of Shrewsbury. He will be ordained on 22nd February at St. Anthony’s Wythenshawe, and will then be assisting Bishop Brian until his retirement.
UPTON CHURCHES PRAYER DIARY:
This week we pray for:
The residents of Newhall Road, Winston Court & Wealstone Lane.
For Greenacres, Orchard Manor, Wealstone & Crabwall .
For all those who live and work in these homes.
UPTON CHURCHES FRIENDSHIP LUNCH:
This will be held in the Hall on this Wednesday 20th January from 12 noon to 1.00 p.m. We will be serving beef stew followed by apple pie with custard. Donation of £5 requested. You are invited to come along and enjoy your lunch in the company of our local fellow Christians. Proceeds will be donated to Christian Aid and CAFOD.
PASTORAL COUNCIL:
St Columba’s Pastoral Council meeting last week was postponed due to the weather. 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.
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.rourkeYOUKNOWTHESYMBOLbtinternet.com for further information.
The next meeting will take place on Monday 25th January at 7.30 p.m. in the Church Office.
SPUC WHITE FLOWER APPEAL 30/31 JANUARY:
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children will hold the Annual White Flower Appeal at St. Columba’s on 30/31 January. In common with the Catholic Church , SPUC defends human life from conception to natural death. Their work covers many issues. It works to protect the unborn from abortion, and defends the disabled, elderly and incapacitated from euthanasia and assisted suicide. SPUC also provides trained speakers for schools, and offers pro-life support for teachers, parents and medical professionals. PLEASE give generously to this worthy cause.
THANK YOU.
ANNUAL CATHEDRAL LECTURE:
“The Ten Commandments as a foundation for a 21st century ethic”.
The Ten Commandments form a bedrock for Christian behaviour, and have done so for many centuries. But times, and society, have changed. Can a set of rules formulated in ancient Israel still have anything to say to our twenty first century world? A lecture by the Rev Canon Professor Loveday Alexander, Emeritus Professor of Biblical Studies at Sheffield University and Canon-Theologian at Chester Cathedral. Saturday 30th January at 2.00 p.m.in the Chapter House at Chester Cathedral.
TRANSITION CHESTER:
See the notice boards for details of a varied weekend of activities on the theme “A Sustainable Chester”, Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th January. “Three days of debates, workshops, films, fun and activities” at various venues including the University, Wesley Church, and Hoole Community Centre. Programme details can also be found on www.wesleychester.co.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 winter opening hours of 10 a.m. to 3.30 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 find out about becoming a volunteer steward, please contact David Savage on 01244 380626.
CATHOLIC SINGLES:
Catholic singles is an organization which helps single, widowed, separated and divorced Catholics of all ages (over 18) meet other single Catholics, either one to one or through social events. All members receive a monthly bulletin, called Catholic Networking. For more information please Tel ; 01619413498, visit the website www.catholicsingles.org.uk or email infoYOUKNOWTHESYMBOLcatholicsingles.org.uk
NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:
This will be compiled by Carol Galvin 01244 381243. Email carol.gerrygalvinYOUKNOWTHESYMBOLgooglemail.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.