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
5 March 2023
http://www.st-teresas-church.co.uk
Email: st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com
Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity Number 23433
Sunday : Second Sunday of Lent
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Gospel Reflection
Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11
Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up the high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured; his face shone like the sun and his clothes as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here, if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him’. When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.
As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order. ‘Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’
Gospel Reflection : And they saw his glory
They saw his glory and were surprised. We see his glory all around us, and sometimes do not notice it, and when we do notice it, we are surprised. Christ in the surprise of a Spring flower; Christ in the discovery of new love; Christ in the offering and welcoming of reconciliation; Christ in the tireless efforts of men and women of peace.
And they saw his glory in the efforts to free those who are imprisoned unjustly by those who feed their own greed of power and control; in the hours of listening in a marriage; in the time spent watching in love over a sick child; in caring for the sick, the lonely, the old; in all those times we go out of our own cares, big or small, to enter the cares of others.
And they saw his glory, and in so many moments we too see his glory. May we this week open our eyes fully to see.
We Remember In Our Prayers Barry Tiplady whose Funeral Mass was last week, 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 : Again 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.
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 and to Anne, Isobel and Pat who also kindly volunteer om the shop.
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 Food Pantry, situated in the kitchen across from the entrance as you come into St. Teresa’s Church, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday, between 10 30 am and 12 noon, and on Wednesdays, 2.30 pm – 4 pm. This free facility may be of help to many of us in these hard times.
‘Warm Space’ In St.Teresa’s Hall on Wednesdays, 2pm – 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.
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 (Malcolm Muggeridge.)
It was while she was teaching at the convent school that the second great break came in Mother Teresa’s life. She had occasion to go into the very poorest streets in Calcutta and suddenly realised that she belonged there, not in the convent with its pleasant garden, eager pupils, congenial colleagues and rewarding work. Again, the only impediment to her new vocation was the happiness and happy relationships it required her to
relinquish.
Scripture (John 12:23-36)
Now the hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. In all truth I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and my servant will be with me wherever I am, and my father will honour him.
Tuesday (A Carthusian)
The Christian submits to the will of a Person who rules and orders everything according to the plan of his love for humanity. Often the Christian is unable to understand the meaning of incidents in the drama in which they are engaged. They must have confidence in the Father, abandon themselves to his will and believe in a redemptive outcome. Our life is a paschal life with the blood of the resurrection flowing through our veins. For us, everything is hidden under a veil of faith. Let us live like people who see the invisible, who are animated by the Spirit of God. Let us put our confidence in God and go forward towards the meeting with the unexpected that come to us from God.
Scripture (1Cor.1:20-25)
It was God’s own pleasure to save believers through the folly of the gospel. While the Jews demand miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom, we are preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews, an obstacle they cannot overcome, to the gentiles, foolishness, but to those who have been called, a Christ who is both the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Wednesday (Dietrich Bonhoeffer.)
It is more prudent to be a pessimist. It is an insurance against disappointment, and no-one can say “I told you so”. The essence of optimism is that it takes no account of the present, but it is a source of inspiration, of vitality and hope where others have resigned. The optimism which is will for the future should never be despised, even if it is proved wrong one hundred times. It is the health and vitality which a sick man should never impugn.
Scripture (Romans 8:24-27)
In hope, we already have salvation; in hope, not visibly present, or we should not be hoping – nobody goes on hoping for something which they can already see. But having this hope for what we cannot yet see, we are able to wait with persevering confidence. And as well as this, the Spirit too comes to help us in our weakness; for, when do not know how to pray properly, then the Spirit personally makes our petitions, for us in groans that we cannot put into words.
Thursday (St. John of the Cross)
Greatly embarrassed is the soul, on the road of divine union, when it leans at all on its own understanding, sense, imagination, judgment, will or any habits of its own, not knowing how to free and detach itself therefrom. For the soul courageously resolved on passing, interiorly and exteriorly beyond the limits of its own nature, enters without limits into the supernatural. Therefore, rising above all that may be known and understood, temporally and spiritually, the soul must desire to reach that which in this life cannot be known, and which the heart cannot conceive.
Scripture (Matthew 17:4-9)
Peter spoke to Jesus, ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you want me to, I will make three shelters here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with a shadow, and suddenly from the cloud came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them, saying, ‘Stand up, do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus. As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about this vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’
Friday (Henri Nouwen)
According to the dictionary, displacement means ‘to move or to shift from the ordinary or proper place’. This becomes a telling definition when we realise the extent to which we are preoccupied with adapting ourselves to the prevalent norms and values of our milieu. In voluntary displacement, we begin to experience our true condition, which is that we, like everyone else, are pilgrims on the way, sinners in need of grace. Through voluntary displacement we counteract the tendency to become settled in false comfort. The Greek word for church, ekklesia, indicates that, as a Christian community we are called out of our familiar places to unknown territories.
Scripture (Genesis 12:1-4)
The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your kindred and your father’s house for a country which I will show you; and I shall make you a great nation, I shall bless you and make your name famous; you are to be a blessing! So Abram went as the Lord told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran.
Martin Bennett