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
26 February 2023
http://www.st-teresas-church.co.uk
Email: st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com
Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity Number 23433
Sunday : First Sunday of Lent
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Gospel Reflection
Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was very hungry, and the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.’ But he replied, Scripture says:
Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of
God.’
The devil then took him to the holy city and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. ‘If you are the Son of God’ he said ‘throw yourself down; for scripture says:
He will put you in his angels’ charge, and they will support you on their hands in
Case you hurt your foot against a stone.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Scripture also says:
You must not put the Lord your God to the test.’
Next, taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. ‘I will give you all these’ he said ‘if you fall at my feet and worship me.’ Then Jesus replied, ‘Be off, Satan! For scripture says: You must worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.’ Then the devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him.
Gospel Reflection : “Jesus was led by the Spirit ………
This Lent the Spirit of God tells us that we should fast, because it will awaken us to our own poverty, and to the many millions of people who do not have enough to eat. The Spirit of God calls us to renew the promises which were made at our Baptism, to live a Christian life of faith, hope and love. The Spirit of God reminds us that we are responsible for everyone, everywhere, until the end of time.
The Spirit of God challenges us to a life of forgiveness, for this is the only way to be set free from the overwhelming power to take revenge. The Spirit of God whispers in our hearts that wealth and appearance, background and prestige, are not important – everyone is worthwhile, lovable, and to be cherished simply because they are alive.
The Spirit of God embraces the sick and the handicapped, because people who are deeply aware of their limitations are often the people who are the most alive. The Spirit of God believes that the great spirit of life is not quenched in death, but is transformed into a new and deeper life.
At the end of Easter-time which comes after Lent, we will be saying ‘Come Holy Spirit’, but we could be rightly saying that this very day, and every day in Lent.
We Remember In Our Prayers Angela Black whose Funeral was last week, Barry Tiplady whose Funeral Mass is at St.Teresa’s next Wednesday, 1st March, at 12 noon, Julia Buschini whose Funeral is at Lytham Park Crematorium on Friday, 10th March, at 11.30 am, Audrey Waller whose Funeral is at Carleton Crematorium on Monday 13th March at 11am, Katherine Birch whose Funeral is at 1.30 pm at St. John Southworth, also on 13th March, and Maureen Milne whose Funeral Mass is at St. Teresa’s at 11.15 am on Thursday 16th March We remember these and their families, and those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they all be in God’s peace.
First Holy Communion : This Sunday, at the 10.30 am Mass, we warmly welcome, along with their parents, the children who are now preparing for their first Holy Communion. First Holy Communion will be celebrated, for both our parishes, at St. Teresa’s on Sunday 14th May.
A Big Thank You and Congratulations to the children and Staff in St. Teresa’s School (Years 3-6) who made the Ash Wednesday morning Mass in church last week so special. Their joyful singing and prayerful participation made it a wonderful way to start Lent, as many of our parishioners said.
The Annual CAFOD Family Fast Day Day is next Friday, 3rd March. This Lent, along with supporting the victims of the tragic earthquake, CAFOD are supporting families with the skills and tools they have asked for to fight the climate crisis. In Bangladesh, for example, 14-year-old Dristy and her mum Rupali are building seed beds and planting palm trees to protect their crops from flooding and cyclones. At each Mass this weekend we are giving out the usual CAFOD envelope, (or you can give online at cafod.org.uk/lent.)
Stations of The Cross This Sunday, and every Sunday in Lent, we have the Stations of the Cross Service, with Benediction, at 3 pm at St. Teresa’s. This is a short Service (about thirty-five minutes) which is very suitable for our Lenten reflection.
“The Church Shop situated, in the church porch at St.Teresa’s has now been reopened for a year. We would therefore like to thank everyone for their kind donations and support during this time. Special thanks to Graham, who very kindly offered his services in painting the large bookcase in the shop, and for providing the paint too, The shop is run by volunteers, and all profits go into parish funds. It is open before and after every weekend Mass, and amongst other things we currently have cards and gifts for St. Patrick’s Day, Easter and First Holy Communion. Please call in to see us, and thank you for your continued support.” This message is from Chris who manages the shop, and our appreciation and thanks go to her for all that she does for us.
There Is A Day of Renewal, led by Fr. Frankie Mulgrew, a parish priest of the Diocese of Salford, and a gifted communicator. The title of the day is “Come to me… – Encountering the God who heals” and is on Saturday 11th March, 10 am to 4 pm, at St. Clare’s Church (Parish Hall), Sharoe Green Lane, Fulwood, Preston PR2 9HH. The day starts with Mass at 10 am. Please bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee are available. For further information contact Christine, Tel. 07745 009694.
The CAFOD Lent Prayer 2023
Plant in us, Lord, seeds of solidarity, so that, rejoicing in your gifts we may cherish your presence in each other and all creation.
Root us, Lord, in compassion and justice. Pour your Spirit down like gentle rain, softening our hearts, washing away division and selfishness.
Cultivate in us, Lord, attentiveness to your call. Give us hope to dream a better world, and strength to play our part to make it a reality.
Grow in us,Lord, your ways of peace and courage, so that in this time of Lent we may bear witness to your love revealed to us in Jesus. Amen.
Daily Reflections for this week
Monday (C.S.Lewis)
The moment you have a self at all, there is the possibility of putting yourself first – wanting to be the centre – wanting to be God, in fact. That was the sin that Satan taught the human race. He put into the heads of our remote ancestors the idea that they could ‘be like gods’ – could set up on their own as if they had created themselves – be their own masters – invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history, the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.
Scripture (1 Kings 8: 57-61)
May Yahweh our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors. May he turn our hearts towards him so that we may follow all his ways and keep the commandments and laws which he gave to our ancestors. May these words of mine be present with Yahweh day and night that he may uphold the cause of his servant as each day requires, so that all the peoples of the earth may come to know that Yahweh is God indeed and that there is no other. May your hearts be wholly with God, following his laws and keeping his commandments.
Tuesday (Carlo Carretto)
The love of God is by nature pure, balanced and holy. Whoever is dominated by it has an ordered view of things and knows the meaning of true freedom. But the love of God must be worked at, cultivated, pruned, fertilised. Above all, such love must be purified: it must be released from the fetters of the senses and from the pursuit of pleasure. In other words, it must be made free to grow in our hearts.
Scripture (Psalm 51:1-4,6,10-11)
Have mercy on me, O God, in your faithful love. In your great tenderness wipe away my offences; wash me thoroughly from my guilt, purify me from my guilt. For I am well aware of my offences, my sin is constantly in mind. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, I have done what you see to be wrong. You delight in sincerity of heart, and in secret you teach me wisdom. God, create in me a clean heart, renew within me a resolute spirit, do not thrust me away from your presence, do not take away from me your spirit of holiness.
Wednesday (Thomas a Kempis)
When our inner inclinations are corrupted, the actions that spring from them are also corrupted. And this is a sign of our lack of inner strength; for from a pure heart alone springs the fruit of a holy life. A person’s achievements are often discussed, but seldom the principles by which they live. We inquire if they are brave, handsome, rich, clever, a good writer, a hard worker: but whether they are humble minded, patient and gentle, devout and spiritual is seldom mentioned. Nature regards the outward characteristics of a person: Grace considers the inner disposition.
Scripture (1 Peter 4:10-11)
Each one of you has received a special grace, so, like good stewards responsible for all these varied graces of God, put it at the service of others. If anyone is a speaker, let it be as the words of God, if anyone serves, let it be as in strength granted by God; so that in everything God may receive the glory, through Jesus Christ, since to him alone belong all the glory and power for ever and ever.
Thursday (Thomas Merton)
No matter how little you may have learned of God in your prayer, compare your acts with that little, order them by that measure. Ultimately, the secret of all this is perfect abandonment to the will of God in the things you cannot control and perfect obedience to Him in everything that depends on your own volition so that in all things you desire only one thing, which is the fulfilment of His will.
Scripture (Romans 12:1-2 )
I urge you then, remembering the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, dedicated and acceptable to God; that is the kind of worship for you, as sensible people. Do not model your behaviour on the contemporary world, but let the renewing of your minds transform you, so that you may discern for yourselves what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and mature.
Friday (Oscar Romero)
Money is good, but selfish persons have made it bad and sinful. Power is good, but abuse by humans has made it something to fear. All has been created by God, but humans have subjected it to sin. And so Christ proclaims that the whole of creation will be redeemed in him, because he will give the meaning of all that God has created. The universe rejoices, money rejoices, power rejoices, all material things rejoice because the day will come when the Supreme Judge will redeem from sin, from slavery, from shame, all that God has created and that humans are using for sin, for affront against their fellows.
Scripture (Deuteronomy 6:10-13)
When Yahweh has brought you into the country which he swore to your ancestors he would give you, with great and prosperous cities you have not built, with houses full of good things you have not provided, with wells you have not dug, with vineyards and olive trees you have not planted, when you have eaten as much as you want, be careful you do not forget Yahweh who has brought you out of Egypt. Yahweh your God is the one you must fear, him alone you must serve, his is the name by which you must swear.
Martin Bennett