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
13 November 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-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Reflections for the coming week
Gospel: Luke 23:35-43
The people stayed there before the cross watching Jesus. As for the leaders, they jeered at him. ‘He saved others,’ they said ‘let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen one.’ The soldiers mocked him too, and when they approached to offer him vinegar they said, ‘If you are the king of the jews, save yourself.’ Above him there was an inscription: ‘This is the King of the Jews.’
One of the criminals hanging there abused him. ‘Are you not the Christ?’ he said. ‘Save yourself and us as well.’ But the other spoke up and rebuked him. ‘Have you no fear of God at all?’ he said: ‘You got the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong. Jesus,’ he said ‘remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ ‘Indeed, I promise you,’ he replied ‘today you will be with me in paradise.’
Gospel Reflection : In These Darker Nights Are You Switched On?
In many cities of the world you can visit the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is there so that we rightly remember the millions of ordinary people who died, courageously but tragically, in war.
In our churches and all places of worship, perhaps we could have a suitable plaque to the Unknown Saint – somewhere to remember the millions of ordinary people whose lives have influenced us by their sometimes courageous goodness. For we have all been influenced by people like that, sometimes from an early age.
Whoever they are, they have been a lamp, a light for us. The power of this lamp is love. It is in the Eucharist, our celebration of love, that the lamp is renewed, our light brightened – as water generates electricity, as love generates new life.
Take time, on this day of Remembrance, to be thankful. Take time to refresh your spirit. Take time for prayer and wonder. Take time to be surprised by God in the November sunrise, in the evening’s winter peace, in the beautiful red poppy which still grows where war once raged, and in your own light, which also burns for others.
We Remember In Our Prayers Teresa Steele whose Funeral was last week, Dorothy Hegginbotham, whose Funeral Service is at Carleton Crematorium on Tuesday, 22nd November at 2.45 pm, Kenneth (Ken) Evans whose Funeral is at Carleton Crematorium on Thursday, 24th November at 11 am, Raymond (Ray) Nelson whose Funeral is at Carleton Crematorium on Wednesday, 30th, November at 11.45 am, and Gerry Diamond and Mavis McQuillen who have sadly died, but whose Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.
We remember them and their families, and those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they all be in God’s peace.
A Big Thank You to all those who added to the great atmosphere of the Confirmation Mass with Bishop Paul on Friday night. A special ‘thank you’ to Clare who led the whole Confirmation Programme and organised the Mass too, along with her team of parish Catechists – Anne, Bernadette and Rachel. Parents, families, and Parishioners from both parishes who were able to attend were very much appreciated too, including for their singing. The Bishop commented that he really enjoyed the occasion, and it showed! He was the last to leave the Parish Hall after the Mass!! We thank him too of course, for his warmth of approach, and his kindness to us all.
Another Thank You – On A Bigger Scale! This weekend we are receiving the 1000th weekly Parish Bulletin which Maureen Lewtas has put together for us over 1003 consecutive weekends. Only the extreme perfectionist would not excuse her the 3 weekends she missed – one when she was in hospital, and two when she was on holiday – although I think then she tried to get back in time! Maureen, huge thanks from us all. You are a star, and some of us might simply wonder at your achievement!!
100 Club Winners for October
Maureen Thompson £15; Pauline Barton £10; Irene Connor £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 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 lateTom 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
Our National Youth Sunday Celebration 2022 Is On Sunday 20th November : To our young people – teenagers to 25 year olds – “Come together with other young people from Blackpool, Bispham, Cleveleys, Fleetwood, Thornton and Poulton, to celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, on Sunday, 20th November, 5 pm at English Martyrs Church, Poulton. Mass begins at 5 pm and gives an opportunity to give thanks for the wonderful world we live in, and to remember those who need our prayers and help. By coming together we can find fresh strength to commit ourselves to use the energy, gifts and talents we have, in new ways. English Martyrs Church is 154, High Cross Road, Poulton, FY6 8DA (opposite the Carter and Miller Steakhouse)”
Prayer for the Current COP 27 Climate Summit :
God of blessings, the universe sings of your glory. Deepen our gratitude for all you have made, and awaken in us a renewed commitment to care for the earth and each other. Inspire world leaders at the Summit to listen to those most affected by climate change, and with courage to act urgently and wisely, so that our common home may be healed and restored, and all people, and generations to come, may delight in it. Amen
Daily Reflections for this week
Monday (Franz Jaegerstaetter: farmer executed for refusing to fight in Hitler’s army).
Does one then no longer want to see Christians who are still able to take a stand in the midst of darkness in deliberate clarity, calmness and confidence – who in the midst of tension, gloom, selfishness and hatefulness, stand fast in perfect peace and cheerfulness – who do not merely watch to see what friends will do, but instead only ask themselves “What does our faith teach us about all this?”
Scripture (John 15:18-21)
If the world hates you, you must realise that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because my choice of you has drawn you out of the world, that is why the world hates you. Remember the words I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too; if they kept my word, they will keep yours as well. But it will be on my account that they do all this to you, because they do not know the one who sent me.
Tuesday (Related by Fr. Tom Cullinan, OSB)
A priest visited Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the opposition in Burma, who was under house arrest. Before he was allowed in, he had to allow himself to be searched and to surrender his passport to the soldiers who were guarding the house. It was clear that they could, and readily would, act with the impunity of a people who have complete power. Inside, he asked Aung San Suu Kyi how she managed to keep going under such constant intimidation, confessing that he had found the experience deeply worrying, not to mention frightening. Aung San Suu Kyi replied “I don’t know how anyone who is a Christian can ever be afraid of anything.”
Scripture (Ecclesiasticus 2:1-6)
If you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal. Be sincere of heart, be steadfast, and do not be alarmed when disaster comes. Whatever happens to you, accept it, and in the uncertainties of your humble state, be patient, since gold is tested in the fire and chosen in the furnace of humiliation. Trust Him and He will uphold you, follow a straight path and hope in Him.
Wednesday (Thomas a Kempis)
Stand firm in all circumstances. Do not judge by outward appearances or reports as people do, but in each instance enter like Moses into the Tabernacle, to ask guidance of the Lord. For Moses always had recourse to prayer to support him amidst the dangers and wickedness of men. Similarly you must take refuge in the depths of your heart, and pray most earnestly for God’s help.
Scripture (Psalm 37:1-6,18-19)
Do not get heated about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. Quick as the grass they wither, fading like the green fields. Put your trust in the Lord and do right, make your home in the land and live secure. Make the Lord your joy and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit your destiny to God, be confident in him, and he will act, making your uprightness clear as daylight, and the justice of your cause as the noon. The lives of the just are in the Lord’s care, their birthright will endure for ever; they will not be put to shame when bad times come.
Thursday (Fr. Richard Rohr.)
Rising and dying are closely related. Despair, I suspect, is another kind of dying and another kind of pain. It is not so much the loss of persons as the loss of ideals, visions and plans. We are forced to let go of images. Spiritual growth is the willing surrender of images in favour of True Images. It seems that many people, religious people in particular, would sooner relate to images than to the reality where both despair and God lie hidden. Until we walk with this despair we will never uncover the real hope on the other side of human achievement.
Scripture (Luke 21:12-15,17-19)
You will be seized and persecuted; you will be handed over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and brought before kings and governors for the sake of my name – and that will be your opportunity to bear witness. Make up your minds not to prepare your defence, because I myself will give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict. You will be hated universally on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your perseverance will win you your lives.
Friday (St. John Henry Newman)
If, then, faith be the essence of a Christian life, and if it be what I have now described, it follows that our duty lies in risking upon Christ’s word what we have for what have not, and doing so in a noble generous way ,not indeed rashly or lightly, still without knowing either what we give up, nor again what we shall gain ; uncertain about our reward, uncertain about our extent of sacrifice in all respects leaning, waiting upon Him, trusting Him to fulfil His promise, trusting in Him to enable us to fulfil our own vows, and so in all respects proceeding without carefulness or anxiety about the future.
Scripture (Hebrews 10:32-39)
Remember the great challenge of the sufferings that you had to meet after you received the light by being publicly exposed to humiliations and violence. You accepted with joy being stripped of your belongings, knowing that you owned something that was better and lasting. Do not lose your fearlessness now, then, since the reward is so great. You will need perseverance if you are to do God’s will and gain what He has promised.
Martin Bennett