St Teresa & St John Southworth Churches, Cleveleys
Fr Chris Cousens—Phone: 853340
Rev Bernard Ward (Deacon) (Tel: 858346)
Enquiries for St John Southworth: Phone: 853340
16 October 2022
http://www.st-teresas-church.co.uk
Email: st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com
Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity Number 23433
| Attendance last Sunday: St T’s: 294 StJS: 58Collection: StT’s £691.06 StJS: £118.60received with thanks received with thanks |
Sunday : The Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Reflections for the coming week
Gospel: Luke 18:1-8
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain town’ he said ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.””
And the Lord said, ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and none speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’
Gospel Reflection : Justice
We perhaps recognise the widow in this Gospel story. We see her in films and television dramas, and in real life – the lone crusader taking on the establishment, fighting for her rights and eventually, through grit and persistence, winning her case. It is a parable about persistence in prayer, but also about persistence in action. Anything done in the cause of justice, and in the name of Jesus, will bear fruit in plenty.
The call of Jesus is meant to spur us on : to know that what we do is one person’s effort to make a more just society, feed some people who need our help, care for the sick and lonely, and look after all those who are the special ones to God, the poor.
Of course the path towards justice is blocked by obstacles of greed, self-interest and lack of care. But, those paths can be replanted with generosity, compassion and care. For the Lord looks on us, and at the needs of his people, and wants there to be faith on earth. If our faith is without care for the needy, it is a watered down faith, and is incomplete.
The judge in the story was meant to be the defender of the widow in his culture. Somehow he had become more concerned with saving his own skin and reputation than with his integrity. Over time the widow wears him down. She does not lose heart – she keeps the faith, and, in this, we must follow her example in helping others, not just in our thoughts and prayers, but in our actions. At the moment there are ways to do just that in both our parishes, and some people have already begun.
We Remember In Our Prayers Peter Griffiths whose Funeral Service is at Carleton Crematorium this Thursday, 20th October, at 2.45 pm, and Adam Bajkowski whose Funeral Mass is at St. Teresa’s this Friday, 21st, October at 10.30 am. We remember them and their families, and all those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they be in God’s peace.
We Welcome Into The Family Of The Church Norah Jayne Griffith Wilkin whose Baptism takes place at St. Teresa’s this Sunday.
The SVP (The St. Vincent de Paul Society at St.Teresa’s) are taking a collection ‘for those in need’ at each Mass this Sunday.
Another Big Thank You For Your Generosity To Others In Need : In the recent CAFOD Family Fast Collection you gave £2,105.62 at St Teresa’s and £166 at St. John Southworth. This money is going to those in Eastern Africa who are in the grips of starvation, and CAFOD is very grateful indeed for your kindness.
Further Information About The ‘Food Pantry’ Based At St.Teresa’s Church. Bernard and Sue write : “As Christians we are inspired by God’s love which is free and unconditional. It is with this love in mind that we will be reaching out to our Cleveleys’ neighbours, essentially providing food and toiletries for those who would otherwise struggle. We have been inspired by food-banks that are already providing necessary support to other communities.”
We wish to say a huge thank you to those who responded to the appeal for volunteers. We hope to have our ‘St. Georges Avenue Pantry’ at St. Teresa’s Church up and running by the end of October. Donations of food etc can be left at the back of the church, items such as dried pasta, pasta sauces, cereals, rice, tinned soups, tinned veg, tinned fruit, tinned meats and tinned fish (mackerel, tuna etc), long-life milk, toilet rolls, and feminine hygiene products.
Lastly we ask you to pray for the success of this venture as we reach out to our wider community. Once again, thank you.”
Meetings About The Catholic Christian Faith. Please remember that there is an Introductory Meeting for those who want to know more, including anyone who might be considering joining the Catholic Church themselves. This meeting is on Wednesday, 26th October, 7pm in St. Teresa’s Church Sacristy Room – come into church and go down the left aisle to the top, where there is a door near the altar. Everyone will be very welcome. If you would like to know more, please contact Fr. Chris 01253 853340.
School Visit : Bishop Paul was very pleased with the warm welcome he received in our St. Teresa’s School last Thursday, and our Headteacher, Staff and pupils really appreciated the friendly encouragement and support he gave to them, and to both our parish communities.
St. Teresa’s 100 Club Winners For September : Astrid Porter £15, Maureen Romer £10, Phil Gooden £5
The Church Shop In The Outer Porch At St. Teresa’s is open before and after each weekend Mass. Please feel free to go in and have a look round. Confirmation cards and gifts are available, as are 2023 diaries, with the order of Mass printed, are now on sale.
Thornton Cleveleys Friends of Trinity Hospice are holding a Coffee Morning in St. Teresa’s Parish Hall on Saturday, 29th October, 10 am – 12 noon. Entrance is £1, which includes coffee and biscuits. There will be various stalls, a raffle and tombola. Hospice Christmas cards will also be on sale.
School Admissions 2023 There is a warm invitation to visit our St. Teresa’s Primary School, on the following days : Saturday, 15th October, 12 – 2 pm; Wednesday, 19th October, 5.30pm – 7 pm; and Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, 2 – 3 pm throughout November. Please phone the school office, 01253 852457, to book a visit.
Daily Reflections for this week
Monday (St. John of the Cross)
Let those people of zeal, who think by their exterior works to
convert the world, consider that they would be much more pleasing unto God if they would spend at least one-half of their time in prayer. Certainly they would do more, and with less trouble, by one single good work than by a thousand: because of the merit of their prayer and the spiritual strength it supplies. To act otherwise is to beat the air, to do little more than nothing, and occasionally even mischief; for it is quite certain that good works cannot be done but in the power of God
.
Scripture (John 15:4-5)
Jesus said, ‘Remain in me as I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, unless it remains part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.
Tuesday (St. John Henry Newman)
I know, O Lord, you will do your part towards me, as I, through your grace, desire to do my part towards you. I know well that you can never forsake those who seek you, nor disappoint those who trust in you. Yet I know too, the more I pray for your protection, the more surely and fully shall I have it. And therefore now I cry out to you and entreat you, first that you would keep me from myself, and from following any will but yours. Pity my weakness and lead me heavenwards.
Scripture (Luke 18:2-5,6-8)
Jesus told them a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge who had neither fear of God nor respect for anyone. In the same town was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” At last he said to himself, ‘I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.’” And the Lord said,’ You notice what the unjust judge said? Now will God not see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’
Wednesday (Metropolitan Anthony)
God’s silence to our prayer can last only a short time or it can seem to go on for ever. Christ was silent to the prayers of the Canaanite woman and this led her to gather up all her faith and hope and human love to offer to God so that he might extend the conditions of his Kingdom beyond the chosen people. The silence of Christ provoked her to respond, to grow in her capacity. And God may do the same to us with shorter or longer silences to summon our strength or faithfulness and lead us to a deeper relationship with him than would have been possible had it been easy. But sometimes the silence seems frighteningly final to us.
Scripture (John 11:6-7, 38-43)
When Jesus heard that Lazarus was ill he stayed where he was for two more days before saying to the disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judaea. Lazarus is dead.’ At the tomb, Jesus said, ‘Take the stone away.’ Martha said to him, ‘Lord, by now he will smell; this is the fourth day since he died. ‘Jesus replied,’ Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?’ So they took the stone away. Then Jesus lifted up his eyes and said: ‘Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer. I myself knew that you hear me always, but I speak for the sake of all those who are standing around me, so that they may believe it was you who sent me.’ When he had said this, he cried in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out.
Thursday (St. Teresa of Avila)
I am not asking you to make many reflections, to produce grand and subtle considerations with your intellect: I only ask you to look at Him. He has borne many offences and much unworthiness in you, yet these have not sufficed to make him turn away: is it much to ask that you should sometimes shift your gaze from earthly things to fix it on him? You will find that he suits himself to whatever mood you are in. He longs so keenly for our glance that he will neglect no means to win it.
Scripture (Psalm 130:1-2, 5-7)
From the depths I call to you, Yahweh: Lord hear my cry. Listen attentively to the sound of my pleading! I rely, my whole being relies, Yahweh, on your promise. My soul relies on the Lord, more than a watchman on the coming of dawn; more than a watchman on the dawn let Israel hope in Yahweh. For with Yahweh is faithful love, with him generous redemption; it is he who will redeem Israel from all their sins.
Friday (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
All that we rightly expect from God and pray for is to be found in Jesus Christ. The God of Jesus Christ has nothing to do with all that we, in our human way, think he can and ought to do. We must persevere in quiet meditation on the life, sayings, deeds, sufferings and death of Jesus in order to learn what God promises and what he fulfils. One thing is certain: we must live close to the presence of God, for that is newness of life; and then nothing is impossible for all things are possible with God. All through we are sustained in a wondrous fellowship.
Scripture (Romans 8:35, 37-39)
Can anything cut us off from the love of Christ – can hardships or distress or persecution, or lack of food and clothing, or threats or violence? No; we come through all these things triumphantly victorious, by the power of him who loved us. For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nothing already in existence and nothing still to come, nor any power, nor the heights nor the depths, nor any created thing whatever, will be able to come between us and the love of God, known to us in Christ Jesus our Lord
Martin Bennett