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
30 October 2022
http://www.st-teresas-church.co.uk
Email: st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com
Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity Number 23433
Sunday : Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Reflections for the coming week
Gospel: Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance; he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd; so he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house,’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’
Gospel Reflection : Do Grown-Ups Rush To Climb Trees? – Well no, not usually, unless the ‘young child in them’ helps them remove all inhibitions.
Maybe Zacchaeus had never really grown up, or was it an act of frustration? Perhaps he was a lonely person, despite all his riches. Perhaps he already felt uneasy about his life-style, but hadn’t the courage to change without some strong, outside incentive and support.
Whatever his reasons, Jesus responds to him with love. He senses Zacchaeus’ longing to be wanted, and his need to be useful. So, he gives Zacchaeus a very practical job to do – to welcome him, Jesus, to his home and feed him – and there is no stopping him. Zacchaeus does.
Strengthened in Jesus’ spirit of love, and used to renew the face of our world, we can all set other Zacchaeus’s free among the people around us – if we welcome them and show them we value them; if we look at them, instead of through them or past them. Being cherished and valued inspires us all to become more loving and giving. Only, some have to climb trees, do unsophisticated, even silly, things, to find that out!
We Welcome Into The Family Of The Church Rosie Mae Dawber whose Baptism is at St. Teresa’s this Sunday.
This Weekend there is another annual special collection at all Masses, for the Fund which supports the Sick and Retired Priests of our own Diocese.
All Saints : This Tuesday, 1st November, we celebrate the Feast of All Saints, which is a Holy Day of Obligation. The times of Masses for both our churches are as follows :
St. Teresa’s : Monday 31st October (Vigil Mass), 6.30 pm, and Tuesday 1st November, 9.30 am
St. John Southworth : Tuesday 1st November, 6.30 pm
Please Remember that the Confirmation Mass With Bishop Paul, for the 13 people from both our parishes, is at St Teresa’s on Friday, 11th November at 6-30 pm (not 7 pm as previously announced). This is an occasion which is supported not just by the candidate’s families but by parishioners from both our parishes too. So, please come along if you can.
Journey of Faith Meetings – A Big Thank You to the eight ‘fellow seekers’ who attended the introductory meeting last Wednesday for those who want to know more about the Catholic Christian Faith. You are still welcome to join the group for the next meeting, next Wednesday, 2nd November, 7 pm in the St. Teresa’s church sacristy. But, please phone Fr. Chris first. Tel 01253 853340
St Georges Avenue Food Pantry @ St. Teresa’s Sue and Bernard write: “Are you, or someone you know, struggling to meet the cost of living? Our church members are committed to helping anyone who finds themselves at a point of need. At St. Teresa’s we have created a small ‘Food Pantry’ in the church kitchen, off the porch at the back of the inside of the church. This is capable of providing basic foods for individuals, couples and families. Please do contact us on this dedicated mobile number 07841 610655 to talk about how best we might help you, OR visit us in the church building between 10.30 am and 12 noon, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, or 2.30 pm – 4 pm on Wednesdays. A volunteer will be able to put together a bag, or bags, of food to help see you through the week. The types of food we give out depend partly on what our church members donate. Usually we have plenty of pasta, pasta sauces, cereals, rice, tinned goods, that is soup, veg, fruit and meat, and a small selection of toiletries.
We ask God’s blessing on this venture, and we look forward to helping the people of our Cleveleys community. Thank you.”
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 look round. Christmas cards are available, as are Confirmation cards and gifts, and 2023 diaries, with the order of Mass printed.
An Evening of Music, Dance and Drama has been arranged, as a tribute to the late Tom Gradwell. Tom founded the Teresian Players, and produced and directed plays, and over 30 annual Pantomimes. He also did so much besides for St. Teresa’s parish community, like organising social occasions, founding, with Gerard Brimelow, the Anchorsholme Singers, and for several years being the Hall Manager of St. Teresa’s Parish Hall. This ‘tribute’ will take place in St. Teresa’s Parish Hall on Saturday, 26th November. Please feel free to bring your own refreshments. For tickets and further information please phone : 01253 829207 or 07866 156333
Daily Reflections for this week
Monday (Martin Luther King)
Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains as a barrier to the relationship. When we discover that there is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us, we are less prone to hate our enemies. When we look beneath the surface we see within our enemy-neighbour a measure of goodness and see that the viciousness and evil of his acts are not representative of all that he is. In spite of all his hate, pride, ignorance and misunderstanding, we know that God’s image is ineffably etched on his being.
Scripture (Wisdom 11:23-24)
You are merciful to all, because you are almighty, you overlook people’s sins so that they can repent. Yes, you love everything that exists, and nothing you have made disgusts you, since, if you hated something, you would not have made it. You spare all, since all is yours, Lord, lover of life! For your imperishable spirit is in everything! And thus, gradually, you correct those who offend; you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you, Lord.
Tuesday (Julian of Norwich)
Some of us believe that God is all powerful and may do everything; and that he is all wise and can do everything; but as for believing that he is all love and will do everything, there we hold back. In my view nothing hinders God’s lovers more than the failure to understand this. As God forgives our sins when we repent, even so he wills that we should forgive our sin, and so give up our senseless worrying and faithless fear. If we fall we are to get up quickly; for the worst pain a soul can have is to let sin take it away from God.
Scripture (Jonah 3:8-4:3)
The king of Nineveh had it proclaimed: ‘Let everyone renounce their evil ways and violent behaviour. Who knows? Perhaps God will change his mind and relent so that we shall not perish.’ God saw their efforts to renounce their evil ways and he relented about the disaster he had threatened to bring on them. This made Jonah very indignant; he fell into a rage. He prayed to Yahweh and said, ‘Please, Lord, isn’t this what I said would happen? That was why I first tried to flee to Tarshish, since I knew you were a compassionate God, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, who relents about inflicting disaster.’
Wednesday (St. Athanasius)
The Word of God came to our realm. He saw that the race of rational creatures was perishing and that death reigned over them. He saw that creatures made by him were fading away. He also saw the exceeding wickedness of people and how they were gradually increasing it to an intolerable pitch against themselves. Lest the creature should perish and his Father’s handiwork in men be wasted, he took to himself a body and that was no different to ours. He did this so that, whereas people had turned to corruption, he might turn them back to incorruption.
Scripture (Psalm 103: 8-13)
The Lord is tenderness and pity, slow to anger and rich in faithful love; his anger does not last forever, nor his resentment remain for all time; he does not treat us as our sins deserve, nor repay us as befits our offences. As the height of heaven above earth, so strong is his faithful love for those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far does he put our faults from us. As tenderly as a father treats his children, so the Lord treats those who fear him.
Thursday (Martin Luther)
Pass beyond the suffering of Christ and contemplate his friendly heart, and how his heart beats with such love towards you that it impels him to bear with pain your conscience and your sin. Go further! Rise beyond the heart of Christ to the heart of God and you will then see that the heart of Christ would not have shown you such love had not God, in his eternal love, wanted this, for the love of Christ stems from his obedience to God.
Scripture (Luke 19: 5-10)
When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house,’ they said. But Zacchaeus said to the Lord, ‘Look sir, I am gong to give half my moey to the poor, and if I
have cheated anybody I will pay them back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house; for the Son of Man came to seek out and save what was lost.’
Friday (A Carthusian)
Worrying after committing a fault is a second fault, and adds to the first. It is even graver. This is the reason. A fault is an act against a virtue or a commandment. Anxiety is contrary to the greatest of all commandments, as well as against the queen of all the virtues. It is a sin against charity and against faith in the love of God. A person who is anxious does not really believe in that love. For belief in that love has the promise of eternal life.
Scripture (Eph. 2:4-5,7)
God, being rich in faithful love, through the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our sins, brought us to life with Christ – it is through grace that you have been saved. This was to show for all ages to come, through his goodness towards us in Christ Jesus, how extraordinarily rich he is in grace.
PS The Gospel put into action. This is on the web page of St. Anne and St. Bernard in Liverpool: ‘Whatever you wish to leave behind you: alcoholism, paedophilia, child abuse, prostitution, drug pushing, drug addiction, gambling, murder, adultery, wife/husband battering, pornography, abortion, coercing into abortion, thieving, burglary, vandalism, violence… You are always very welcome’. Zacchaeus is always welcomed down from the tree!
Martin Bennett