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
21 January 2024
http://www.st-teresas-church.co.uk
Email: st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com
Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity Number 23433
Sunday : 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Reflections for the coming week
Gospel : Mark 1:14-20
After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said, ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’
As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him.
Going on a little further, he saw James, son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.
Gospel Reflection : Virtual Reality
Last Sunday the Scriptures mentioned listening. This week we read about casting nets and catching people. The vocation of every one of us is to lead people to be caught in the arms of God’s love. One way to do this is to cast our nets of awareness for the people around us.
So this week be aware of someone, elderly or ill, worried or afraid, or someone who at the moment feels cut off from the world. Listen to someone who feels cut off from their God, because God seems to have let them down. We could even turn off the television and listen to each other – our needs, our opinions, our dreams. Or are we afraid that without the television we might miss something in the real world?!
We Remember In Our Prayers Peggy McLoughlin whose Funeral was last week We remember her and her family, and those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they all be in God’s peace.
The Annual Service for the Week of Prayer For Christian Unity takes place this Sunday, 21st January, 6.30 pm at Cleveleys Baptist Church, our neighbours on St. George’s Avenue. For many years this has been organised by Churches-Together-In-Cleveleys, our closely-united group of churches, and this time it is the turn of Cleveleys Baptist Church to be our hosts. We will all be made very welcome.
Mass Times. A Big Thank You for the way the Masses at St, Teresa’s were attended last weekend, when our new Mass times started. The expected increased numbers at the now reduced numbers of Masses gave a very positive atmosphere and feeling to each celebration, without any noticeable negative objection. Thank you so much for your cooperation, Long may it continue. The Sunday Mass times in Cleveleys are now :
At St.Teresa’s : Saturday 6.30 pm (Vigil Mass); Sunday 10, am. (The weekday Masses remain the same – 9.30 am, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.)
At St. John Southworth : Sunday 5pm, ( The weekday Mass is on Wednesdays at 9.30 am)
The Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession will be available, from next Saturday 27th January, each Saturday from 6-6.20 pm at St. Teresa’s, that is, before the 6.30 pm Mass, or by appointment.
First Holy Communion for St. Teresa’s and St. John Southworth parishes will be celebrated this year on Sunday 12th May, at the 10 am Mass at St. Teresa’s. We will soon be starting our 2024 Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation, for Baptised children in Year 4 and above. Some of these children may be in another school besides St. Teresa’s, and they are welcome to join the programme too.
Our first meeting will take place after the 10 am Sunday Mass on 25th February 2024. The meeting will take place in the Parish Hall immediately after the end of Mass. Each meeting in the preparation programme will be after the end of the 10 am Mass
In order for the preparation to convey the full meaning of the Sacrament of the Eucharist, it is necessary for the child and parent or guardian to attend the 10 am Mass each Sunday. Parents and guardians
will be expected to work alongside their child, and our catechists, to support their children in their preparation. You are the first and best teachers for your children, and it is through your encouragement, love and care that they will grow in their understanding of God’s love and care.
Please could you let us know if you intend your child to take part in our Preparation Programme this year by contacting Fr. Chris through st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com or 01253 853340. If you have to leave a message please remember to leave your own phone contact number. We look forward to welcoming you and your child at our first meeting on 25th February.
A New ‘Fit For Purpose’ Kitchen Is Needed For Our Parish Hall. To start off our fundraising we are holding a ‘Table Top Sale’ on Saturday, 24th February, 10 am – 1 pm in the Parish Hall. Table Hire is Available for only £10 per table. For further information please contact Sue on 07889 532158.
The S.V.P.(St. Teresa’s St. Vincent de Paul Society) have their special collection at each Mass this weekend, 20th/21st January, for those in need locally.
The ‘Hub in the Hall’ Meetings take place in St. Teresa’s Church Hall each Wednesday, 2 pm – 4 pm. All are very welcome.
The Food Pantry At St. Teresa’s Church is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10.30 am – 12 noon, and on Wednesdays, 2.30 pm – 4 pm.
The New Lancaster Diocesan Directory Is Now On Sale- in the church shop at St. Teresa’s, and in the church porch at St. John Southworth.
Daily Reflections for this week
Monday (Thomas Merton)
If I am to know the will of God, I must have the right attitude. It is all very well to declare that I exist to save my soul and give glory to God by doing so. And it is all very well to say that in order to do this I obey certain commandments and keep certain counsels. Yet knowing all moral theology and canon law, I might still go through life conforming myself to certain indications of God’s will without ever fully giving myself to God. For that, in the last analysis, is the real meaning of His will. He does not need our sacrifices. He asks for our selves.
Scripture (Ephesians 5:8-11, 16-17)
You were darkness once, but now you are light in the Lord; behave as children of the light, for the effects of light are seen in complete goodness and uprightness and truth. Try to discover what the Lord wants of you. Make the best of the present time, for it is a wicked age. This is why you must not be thoughtless but must recognise what is the will of the Lord.
Tuesday (Gandhi)
As long as you derive inner help and comfort from anything, you should keep it. If you were to give it up in a mood of self-sacrifice or out of a stern sense of duty, you would continue to want it back, and that unsatisfied want would make trouble for you. Only give up a thing when you want some other condition so much that the thing no longer has any attraction for you, or when it seems to interfere with that which is more greatly desired.
Scripture (Mark 1:16-20)
As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Simon’s brother Andrew casting a net into the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And at once they left their nets and followed him. Going on a little further, he saw James and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. At once he called them and, leaving their father in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.
Wednesday (Henri Nouwen)
As children of the darkness that rules through fear, self-interest, greed and power, our great motivators are survival and self-preservation. But as children of the light, who know that perfect love casts out all fear, it becomes possible to give away all that we have for others. As children of the light we prepare to become people who witness with their whole lives to the unlimited love of God. Giving all thus becomes gaining all. Jesus expresses this clearly when he says “Anyone who loses his life for my sake….will save it.”
Scripture ( Mt 6:24)
‘No one can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or be attached to the first and despise the second. You cannot be the slave of both God and money.’
Thursday (William James)
Morality pure and simple accepts the Law so far as to acknowledge and obey it, but it may obey with the heaviest and coldest heart. But for religion, in its strong and fully developed manifestations, the service of the highest is never felt as a yoke. Dull submission is left far behind, and a mood of welcome, which may fill any place on the scale between cheerful serenity and enthusiastic gladness, has taken its place.
Scripture (Ps. 16:7-11)
I bless the Lord who is my counsellor, even at night my heart instructs me. I keep Yahweh before me always, for with him at my right hand, nothing can shake me. So my heart rejoices, my soul delights, my body will rest secure. You will teach me the path of life, unbounded joy in your presence. At your right hand, delight forever.
Friday (Meister Eckhart)
The most powerful form of prayer is that which flows from a free mind. A free mind can achieve all things, but what is a free mind? It is one which is untroubled and unfettered by anything, which has not bound its best part to any particular manner of being or devotion and which does not seek its own interest in anything but is always immersed in God’s most precious will, having gone out of what is its own.
Scripture (Colossians 3:10,16-17)
You have stripped off your old behaviour with your old self, and you have out on a new self which will progress towards new knowledge the more it is renewed in the image of its Creator. Let the word of Christ, in all its richness, find a home in you. Teach each other and advise each other, in all wisdom, and whatever you say or do, let it be in the name of the Lord Jesus, in thanksgiving to God the Father through him.
Martin Bennett