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
1st January 2023
http://www.st-teresas-church.co.uk
Email: st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com
Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity Number 23433
Sunday : Mary the Holy Mother of God
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Gospel Reflection
Gospel: Luke 2:16-21
The shepherds hurried away to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds went back to glorifying and praising God for all the had heard and seen; it was exactly as they had been told. When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception.
Gospel Reflection : Mary’s Great Example To Us
Some people have a quiet and calming influence on us. They have the knack of putting worry into perspective, and of giving us a good sense of ourselves. They are often silent carers, around at the time when we need them.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was one of these. All through the Gospel narrative she says little – only to help others. Like at the time of the wedding feast in Cana, when she calmly came to the rescue of the couple whose celebration wine for the guests had run out. She told Jesus, whose caring powers sorted it out abundantly! She was in that secret, upper room with the apostles during those days after Jesus’ crucifixion, when they were so afraid that they could be arrested themselves. She was a quiet, strengthening presence for people who were totally at a loss.
To be a good listener we need to have time for people. Mary seemed to have that for her cousin Elizabeth, when she went off to help her straight after being told that she, Mary, was to give birth to the promised Messiah. We need to be interested in people, and concerned for them. We need to know when to speak and when to listen, as Mary showed at Cana.
One of the greatest gifts we can give to another is to listen, with compassion. In our busy world of social media, the sympathy of real listening can be often missed.
We Remember In Our Prayers Joe Guiney whose Funeral was last week, Scarlett Clegg whose Funeral is at St. Teresa’s on Tuesday, 3rd January at 1.45 pm, Margaret Gladwin, whose Funeral is at St. Teresa’s on Wednesday, 4th January at 11.30 pm, Dennis Greer whose Funeral Service is at Lytham Park Crematorium on Monday, 9th January at 2.45 pm and Michael Taylor whose funeral arrangements have yet to be finalised. We remember them and their families, and all those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they all be in God’s peace.
A Very Big Thank You : Fr. Chris C. Deacon Bernard, and Fr. Chris W. thank you most sincerely for all the cards, gifts and offerings you have so generously given them this Christmas, and for the supportive attendance at our church services. For the first time the attendance was nearly as good as it was before Covid. In particular, St. Teresa’s church was full at the 6.30pm Christmas Eve Mass, with about 330 people, which is as it used to be.
Thank You Too on behalf of everyone, to all those who prepared our two churches for Christmas, through cleaning, and arranging the flowers, the Crib and the Christmas tree, and those who did all the background sacristy work. It was all very much appreciated.
We Also Really Appreciate the generosity of the Dream Team Singers, supported by the Harmony and Health Singers, who gave us a Christmas Concert on the Sunday before Christmas Day. All the performances they do are specifically for different charities, and they chose to donate all the money received at the St. Teresa’s Concert, £191 (£166 in the raffle and £25.10 in a retiring collection) towards necessary maintenance on St. Teresa’s church building. That was particularly generous as all the raffle prizes, including beautiful hampers, and all the interval drinks and snacks, were given by the Singers themselves, and we are very grateful.
This Friday, 6th January Is The Feast of the Epiphany, Which Is A Holy Day Of Obligation The Masses at both are churches are as follows :
St. Teresa’s : Thursday, 5th January, 6.30 pm (Vigil Mass), and Friday 6th, 9.30 am
St. John Southworth : Friday, 6th January, 6.30 pm.
St. Georges Avenue Food Pantry @ St.Teresa’s Are you, or someone you know, struggling to meet the cost of living? Members of our Community are committed to helping anyone who finds themselves at this point of need. We, at St. Teresa’s, have created a small ‘Food Pantry’ in the church kitchen, which is capable of providing basic foods, for individuals, couples or families. Please do contact us in advance on this dedicated mobile number 07841 610655 to talk about how best we might be able to help you, OR visit us at the back of church between 10.30 am and 12 noon Monday. Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, or Wednesday, 2.30 pm – 4 pm. A volunteer will be able to put together a bag(bags) of food to help see you through the week. Alternatively, we would be happy to deliver a free food parcel to peoples’ doorstep on a weekly basis. The types of food we give out depend partly on what our church members donate. We have plenty of pasta and pasta sauces, cereals, rice, biscuits, tinned goods, i.e. soup, veg, fruit, long-life milk, and a small selection of toiletries, and even pet food.
‘Warm Space’ In St. Teresa’s Hall on Wednesdays 2. pm – 4 pm. All are very welcome to call in, and spend some time with others in a safe, warm environment, where you can enjoy a hot drink and a snack.
A PRAYER FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON
Come, Lord Jesus. I open my mind and heart to you, and long for you to be born anew in me. Help me to experience your presence within me, and to allow you to touch others through me.
Come, Lord Jesus. Come and stay with my family and friends, and all who are close to me. Be near especially to those who are burdened by sickness or sadness. Set them free by your love and care.
Come, Lord Jesus. Bring peace to our world, especially in the war-torn areas, Ukraine and all places where hostility blocks your light from shining into all people’s hearts.
Come, Lord Jesus! Please do not delay!
Daily Reflections for this week
Monday (Thomas a Kempis)
‘I will hear what the Lord God speaks within me.’ Blessed is the soul that hears the Lord speaking within it, and receives comfort from His Word. Blessed are the ears that hear the still, small voice of God, and disregard the whispers of the world. Blessed are the ears that listen to Truth teaching inwardly, and not to the voices of the world. Blessed are the eyes that are closed to outward things, but are open to inward things. Blessed are those who enter deeply into inner things, and daily prepare themselves to receive the secrets of heaven.
Scripture (Luke 2:10-12,18-19)
The angel said “Do not be afraid. Look, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” So the shepherds hurried away and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds said to them. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Tuesday (Dorothy Day)
The thrill of joy that stirred my heart when I came across spiritual truth and beauty never abated, never left me as I grew older. Natural goodness, natural beauty, brings joy and a lifting of the spirit, but it is not enough, it is not the same. The special emotions I am speaking of came only at hearing the word of God. It was as though each time I heard our Lord spoken of, a warm feeling of joy filled me. It was hearing of someone you love and who loves you.
Scripture (Numbers 6:22-27)
The Lord spoke to Moses and said, “This is how you are to bless the children of Israel. You shall say to them:
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace. This is how you are to call down my name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”
Wednesday (A Carthusian)
In his infinitely wise love, God has foreseen that a world in which peace and anxiety, joy and sorrow, good and evil intermingle, will better procure his glory, which is his ultimate end. This plan is good, because it is his plan; and placing all our faith in its goodness, we partake in some measure in him who is its source and witness. Then we see things from a quite different angle. I say that we see: not that we understand. It is not necessary to understand. To understand is an act of the mind. To believe is an act which draws us into the activity of him in whom we believe is Infinite Wisdom, to believe is to participate in that Wisdom, and is therefore infinitely wise. That is why, for us, prayer and faith are such a stronghold against everything.
Scripture (1John: 1-4)
Something which has existed since the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have watched and touched with our own hands, the Word of life—this is our theme. That life was made visible; we saw it and are giving our testimony, declaring to you the eternal life that was present to the Father and has been revealed to us. We are declaring to you what we have seen and heard, so that you too may share our life. Our life is shared with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Thursday (Thomas Merton)
The real mystery of Christian love is this power that the Person of the Word, in coming to us, has given us. The power of a direct and simple contact with Him. Hence, in love, we can, so to speak, experience in our own hearts, the intimate, personal secret of the Beloved. And Christ has granted us His friendship so that He may in this manner enter our hearts and dwell in them as a personal presence, not as an object, not as a “what” but as a “who.” Such is the mystery of the Word dwelling in us by virtue of His incarnation.
Scripture ((Ephesians 1:3-9)
Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ. Thus he chose us in Christ before the world was made to be holy and faultless before him in love, marking us out for himself beforehand, to be adopted children, through Jesus Christ. Such is the richness of grace he has showered on us in all wisdom and insight. He has let us know the mystery of his purpose.
Friday (Fr. Richard Rohr)
Mary symbolizes the people of God, the Church, the symbol of humanity in need of God. She summed up the meaning of their Christianity in her person, in her “yes”. She is the symbol of God’s final victory in humanity. In her Assumption we know that all of our humanity is free, redeemable and of immeasurable dignity. It happened in her in an accelerated and perfect fashion so we could look at her and say, yes. She is one of us and she is what we will be. We now know that the resurrection Jesus has promised will also be given to us in spirit and in body. This is what Marian celebrations are all about.
Scripture (Romans 16:25-27)
And now to him who can make you strong in accordance with the gospel that I preach and the proclamation of Jesus Christ in accordance with the mystery which for endless ages was kept secret but now, as the prophets wrote, is revealed, as the eternal God commanded, to be made known to all the nations so that they may obey in faith: to him, the only wise God, give glory through Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Amen.
Martin Bennett