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 6 August 2023 http://www.st-teresas-church.co.uk Email: st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity Number 23433
Sunday : The Transfiguration of the Lord
Contents: Gospel Notices Reflections for the coming week
Gospel: Matthew: 7:1-9 Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became 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 : “At Last, A Bit Of Peace And Quiet”
How often have you thought, or even said, those words, only to find something happens to disturb the rest you longed for, and usually needed? As we hear in today’s Gospel, it happened to Jesus too. And he too had to take on another responsibility, and let others dictate how he spent his time – which really wasn’t what he had planned, nor probably wanted. We are not to send people away either. We are to feed them, whatever that means at the time. And Jesus shows us how that can be done – through prayer, trust and the support of each other. Even when our hearts are about to sink, what we do or say can make another’s heart rise. All the world can be fed, can be made to feel whole and satisfied. But God doesn’t let down food, or love, in baskets from above. He uses each one of us now.
We Remember In Our Prayers :
Joe Harvey, whose Funeral is at Carleton Crematorium on Friday 11th August at 10 am. We remember him and his family, and all those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they be in God’s peace.
We Welcome Into The Family of The Church
George Huw McCann whose Baptism is at St. Teresa’s this Sunday.
We Congratulate and Pray for Every Blessing
for Sharron and Clive Jones who celebrate their 40th Wedding Anniversary this weekend.
It Is With Sadness That We Report The Death Last Thursday Of Mother Elvira Petrozzi, The Foundress of the World-Wide Cenaculo Community
For fifteen years the Community had a presence in our Diocese, at Dodding Green near Kendal.. During those years countless young men, many overcoming addictions to drugs or alcohol, resided in the House. Their journey was from darkness to light, following the way of life (prayer, work and friendship) laid down by Mother Elvira, who visited the House on two occasions. Many young men and women, and their families, owe their lives to this inspirational woman, who drew them to know the love of Jesus through Eucharistic devotion and the prayers of Our Lady. We were so impressed when two young men from the community at Dodding Green came to us one Sunday and spoke to us at each Mass about their personal experiences. Their honesty and openness, and their faith, was truly life-enhancing, and faith-affirming, for us all. At that time two parishioners here, Carolyn and Peter Gara, knew the community well because they had been supporting them with one of their basic needs – food. For a long time they encouraged others to do the same, and they regularly drove up to Dodding Green to take what had been collected. Some of us know how much the Community appreciated what was done for them, and how they saw Carolyn and Peter and other parishioners here as a real life-line. Sadly, there is now no Cenaculo Community at Dodding Green. The regulations after Brexit made it very difficult for this international organisation, and then the great restrictions due to Covid came along too. They moved to other Communities within their world-wide mission, but should still remain within our love and prayers.
Cleator Pilgrimage
The annual Diocesan Service at St. Mary’s Priory, Cleator, Cumbria, CA23 3AB, is on Sunday, 10th September, with Mass and the Blessing of the Sick at 3 pm. The principal celebrant and preacher is Bishop Paul Swarbrick. For further details please contact St. Mary’s Priory, Cleator : Tel 01946 810324 email : stmandstj@gmail.com
There Is Going To Be A Table-Top Sale In St. Teresa’s Church Hall
on Saturday, 26th August, 10.30 am – 1. 30 pm. There will be a variety of stalls and refreshments. Limited table-hire is still available for only £10. (6ftx4ft). For more information please contact Sue on 07889 532158. All proceeds will go to support our Food Pantry.
The Food Pantry at St. Teresa’s Church
is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10.30 am – 12 noon, and on Wednesday, 2.30 pm – 4 pm.
The ‘Hub in the Hall’ Meeting,
which normally takes place in the Church Hall on Wednesday afternoons, will be closed during the month of August, and will reopen on Wednesday, 6th September.
A Prayer For All Saints
For the people of God who are sent to support us, for the people of God who are sent to disturb us, for the people of God who are sent to inspire us, for the people of God who are sent to trouble us, for the people of God who are sent to enthuse us, for the people of God who are sent to still us, thanks be to God. Amen.
Daily Reflections for this week Monday (A New Catechism)
The coming of the Kingdom of God is God’s grace decreed and given. But grace demands that we should give ourselves up to it. Those who thus become as little children, who allow themselves to be given grace and who surrender themselves in turn, receive the joy that comes from God. The joy is the joy of those who know much has been given them. The Kingdom of God is sublime and divine, yet it never loses touch with the everyday world, with the here and now, with us The Kingdom which was first manifested in simplicity and love in the countryside of Galilee is to reach its fulfilment in a great love among all that exists.
Scripture
(Matthew 14:14-20)As Jesus stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick. When evening came, the disciples said, ‘This is a lonely place, send the people away so they can buy themselves some food. ‘ Jesus replied, ‘There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.’ All they had was five loaves and two fish, which they brought to Jesus. He took the five loaves and two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves, he handed them to the disciples, who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and there were twelve baskets of scraps left over.
Tuesday (C.S.Lewis) The central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. God became man. Every other miracle prepares for this, or exhibits this, or results from this. Every particular Christian miracle manifests at a particular place and moment the character and significance of the Incarnation. There is no question in Christianity of arbitrary interferences just scattered about. It relates not a series of disconnected raids on nature but the various steps of a strategically coherent invasion – an invasion which intends complete conquest and ‘occupation’.
Scripture (John 1:1-5,14)In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came into being, not one thing came into being except through him. What has come into being through him was life, life that was the light of men; and light shines in darkness, and darkness could not overpower it. The Word became flesh, he lived among us and we saw his glory, the glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Wednesday (Carlo Carretto) Jesus is the ‘Holy One of God’. But the Holy One of God realised his sanctity, not in an extraordinary life, but one impregnated with ordinary things: work, family and social life, obscure human activities, simple things shared by all people. The perfection of God is cast in a material which people almost despise, which they don’t consider worth searching for because of its simplicity, its lack of interest, because it is common to all people.
Scripture (Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-16)The Lord says this: Look, I myself shall take care of my flock and look after it. As a shepherd looks after his flock when he is with his scattered sheep, so shall I look after my sheep. I myself shall pasture my sheep, I myself shall give them rest—declares the Lord. I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the injured and make the sick strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy. I shall be a true shepherd to them.
Thursday (Julian of Norwich) The love of God for us is so wonderful that it surpasses all knowledge. No created being can know the greatness, the sweetness, the tenderness of the love that our master has for us. By his grace and help, therefore, let us in spirit stand and gaze, eternally marvelling at the supreme, single-minded, surpassing, incalculable love that God, who is goodness, has for us. When we possess him in fullness and joy, we shall have no further wants. Meanwhile his will is that we go on knowing and loving until we are perfected in heaven.
Scripture (Isaiah 55:1-3)Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty: though you have no money, come! Buy and eat: come, buy wine and milk without money, free! Why spend money on what cannot nourish and your wages on what fails to satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and you will have good things to eat and rich food to enjoy. Pay attention, come to me; listen, and you will live. I shall make an everlasting covenant with you in fulfilment of the favours I promised to David.
Friday (Pope Paul VI) We cannot form an adequate concept of humans unless we include God. He is mysterious, transcendent and ineffable, the eternal principle of the universe. But he watches over us, knows us and observes us, penetrates and preserves us unceasingly. He is our Father.
Scripture (Psalm 145:13-19)Your kingship is a kingship for ever, your reign lasts from age to age. The Lord is trustworthy in all his words, and upright in all his deeds. The Lord supports all who stumble, lifts up those who are bowed down. All look to you in hope and you feed them with the food of the season. And, with generous hand, you satisfy the desires of every living creature. Upright in all that he does, the Lord acts only in faithful love. He is close to all who call upon him, all who call on him from the heart. He fulfils the desires of all who fear him, he hears their cry and he saves them.
MartinBennett