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
14 April 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 of Easter
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Reflection
Gospel: Luke 24:35-48
The disciples told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised Jesus at the breaking of bread.
They were still talking about this when Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’ In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said, ‘Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and feet; yes, it is I indeed. Touch me and see for yourselves; a ghost has no flesh and bones as you can see I have.’ And as he said this he showed them his hands and feet. Their joy was so great that they could not believe it, and they stood dumbfounded; so he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ And they offered him a piece of grilled fish, which he took and ate before their eyes.
Then, he told them, ‘This is what I meant when I said, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms, has to be fulfilled.’ He then opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘So you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this.’
Gospel Reflection : “They Think It’s All Over. It Is Now”
The words of the commentator on the occasion of England winning the World Cup in 1966 are part of our folk-lore and heritage. Many think that the victory remains the pinnacle of footballing achievement in England (although others might be tempted to add “other than the person of Sir Tom Finney”!!!)
On the cross Jesus hallowed the commentator’s phrase with his last words, recorded in St. John’s Gospel, “It is ended”. The disciples concluded that it was all over, with their hopes and ambitions lying in pieces, shattered.
But Jesus returned to them three days later, and said “Peace be with you.” In other words he was saying, “Now it is all over, but in a different way than you expected.” The days of guilt and fear, and of thinking that we have to earn God’s love, are finished. In fact, they should never have started. God loves us before we do anything
It is Jesus who has redeemed us, so that we can make a new start, in peace and love.
As we leave Mass, we are reminded that the Mass is ended, that it is all over. We are encouraged to go to our homes and live and work in peace not pieces, in wholeness not brokenness. A new day has begun and keeps on being available.
We Remember In our Prayers Andrew Heys, whose Funeral was last week, Susan Crahan whose Funeral is at Carleton Crematorium on Wednesday, 24th April at 3.30 pm, and Sheila Devlin, whose Funeral Service is at St. Teresa’s on Friday 26th April at 11 am. We remember them and their families, and those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they be in GOd’s peace.
Preparing for Pentecost With the Apostles ; A series of Meetings has been organised for all the Catholic parishes in our Deanery, leading up to Pentecost at the end of the Easter Season. Each week we will look at the Readings for the following Sunday. We will read, reflect and share on them. Come for all or just one. All are very welcome. These will take place at English Martyrs Church, 154, High Cross Road, Poulton, for just one hour, 7pm – 8pm on the following Wednesdays: April 24, May 1, and May 8. For further information please contact Ursula Walker – 07821 691888.
A Diocesan Pilgrimage To Walsingham, led by Bishop Paul, has been organised for 2-6 September 2024. For more details please see the notice at the back of church, and for more information contact Deacon Charlie Conner on 07895 742732 or email charlie.conner@lrcd.org.uk
The Food Pantry, situated at the back of church at St. Teresa’s, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10,30 am -12 noon, and on Wednesdays 2.30 pm – 4 pm. We are so grateful for all the volunteers who work in the Pantry, and all those who donate contributions.
The Church Shop in the porch at St. Teresa’s is open before and after each weekend Mass, and has cards and gifts for First Holy Communion. Please call in and browse. You will be most welcome.
HELP/ADVICE?? St Teresa’s Parish Council have identified a problem in St. Teresa’s Parish Hall. We would welcome advice or input from a joiner or experienced wood worker. If you feel you can offer advice or help please contact Deacon Bernard or Eamon Brady on Tel 867795. It would be a big help and much appreciated. Thank you
There Is A St.Teresa’s Parish Council Meeting on Monday 22nd April (that is, a week on Monday), 7 pm in the church sacristy.
Thornton-Cleveleys Friends of Trinity Hospice Are Holding A Coffee Morning in St. Teresa’s Parish Hall on Saturday 11th May at 10 am. This of course is for our wonderful Trinity Hospice in Bispham, and our support is always very much appreciated.
Please Note : Our local ‘Your Community Matters’ Magazine is advertising a Table Top Sale on 27th April. This has now been cancelled.
There Is A Table Top Sale on Saturday, 15th June, 11 am – 2 pm, in St. Teresa’s Church Hall. This is a ‘Craftroom Clearout Sale’ – “Sell those stashed supplies you no longer use. Make money to buy more! Bargains galore for Craftaholics!” Please see the notice at the back of church.
Fr. Michael Murphy, the Parish Priest of St. Mary’s, Fleetwood, has been in hospital for many weeks. He is now in Ward 2 in Clifton Hospital. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.
Daily Reflections for this week
Monday (Julian of Norwich)
I saw that God never began to love mankind. For just as we are destined to come to endless joy, and to crown God’s delight in his work, so man in God’s thought has always been known and loved. From him we come, in him we are enfolded, to him we return, and this by the foreseeing purpose of the blessed Trinity since before time was. In this endless love we are led and looked after by God and never shall be lost.
Scripture (Acts 3:13-15)
Peter said to the people: “It is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, who has glorified his servant Jesus, who you handed over and then disowned in the presence of Pilate. It was you who demanded the reprieve of a murderer while you killed the prince of life. God, however, raised him from the dead, and to that fact we are the witnesses. Now I know that neither you nor your leaders had any idea what you were really doing; this was the way God carried out what he had foretold, when he said through all his prophets that his Christ would suffer. Now you must repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.”
Tuesday (Cardinal Basil Hume)
The honest and humble acceptance of our frailty liberates us from pretence, from the effort of seeking to impress others and to justify ourselves. We can be truthful with ourselves and with others. We can welcome into our lives the saving and healing power of Christ. God’s love is manifested in Jesus Christ. It is a love that is merciful, that is, one that understands our weakness.
Scripture (Luke 24: 36, 40-47)
They were still talking about all this when Jesus himself stood among them and said to the “Peace be with you!” In a state of alarm and fright, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said, “ Why are you so agitated, and why are these doubts rising in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, yes it is I indeed.” Then he told them ‘This is what I meant when I said, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets and in the Psalms, was destined to be fulfilled.’ He opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘So it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witness to this.’
Wednesday (Meister Eckhart)
Whoever knows the ways of God should always be mindful of the fact that God, who is faithful and loving, has led us from a sinful life into a godly one, thus making friends of us who were previously enemies. God willingly endures all the harm and shame which all our sins have ever inflicted upon him, as he has already done for many years, in order that we should come to a deep knowledge of his love and in order that our love and our gratitude should increase and our zeal grow more intense, which often happens when we have repented of our sins. And thus our Lord intends to teach us of his great mercy, urging us to great and true humility and devotion. For, when repentance is renewed, then love too is renewed and grows strong.
Scripture (Psalm 32:1-2,5,11)
How blessed are those whose offence is forgiven, whose sin is blotted out. How blessed are those to whom Yahweh imputes no guilt, whose spirit harbours no deceit. I made my sin known to you, did not conceal my guilt. I said ‘I shall confess my guilt to Yahweh.’ And you, for your part, took away my guilt, forgave my sin. Rejoice in Yahweh, exult all you upright, shout for joy, you honest of heart.
Thursday (Teillhard de Chardin)
God cannot ordain that a fallen world in the process of rising again should avoid shocks and diminishments. But God will make it good by making evil itself serve the higher good of His faithful. Like an artist making use of a fault or an impurity in the stone he is sculpting so as to produce more exquisite lines or a more beautiful tone, God, without sparing us the partial deaths, nor the final death, transfigures them by integrating them into a better plan—providing we trust lovingly in Him. Not only our unavoidable ills but our faults, even our most deliberate one, can be embraced in that transformation, provided always we repent of them.
Scripture (1John 2:1-3,5-6)
My, children, I am writing this to prevent you from sinning; but if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the upright. He is the sacrifice to expiate our sins, and not only ours, but also of the whole world. We can be sure that we know God only by keeping his commandments. Anyone who does keep his word, in such a one God’s love truly reaches its perfection. This is the proof that we are in God. Whoever claims to remain in such a person must act as he acted.
Friday (1st Epistle of Clement)
Let us focus on the Father and Creator of the entire cosmos and appreciate the outstanding excellence of his gifts of peace and goodwill. Let us contemplate God with our mind and with the eyes of our soul gaze on his patient purpose. Let us consider the extraordinary absence of anger in his dealings with all his creation.
Scripture (Ezekiel 18:21-23)
If the wicked abandon all the sins they have committed, respect my laws and are law-abiding and upright, they will most certainly live; they will not die. None of the crimes committed will be remembered against them from then on; they will certainly live because of their upright actions. Would I take pleasure in the death of the wicked—declares the Lord Yahweh—and not prefer to see them their wickedness and live?
Martin Bennett