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
28 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 : 5th Sunday of Easter
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Reflection
Gospel: John 15:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I am the true vine,
And my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that bears no fruit
He cuts away,
And every branch that does bear fruit he prunes,
To make it bear even more.
You are pruned already,
By means of the word that I have spoken to you
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself,
But must remain part of the vine,
Neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine,
You are the branches.
Whoever remains in me, with me in him,
Bears fruit in plenty;
For cut off from me you can do nothing,
Anyone who does not remain in me
Is like a branch that has been thrown away
- He withers;
These branches are collected and thown on the fire,
And they are burnt.
If you remain in me
And my words remain in you,
You may ask what you will
And you shall get it.
It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit, and then you will be my disciples.’
Gospel Reflection : “I am the vine. You are the branches.”
Sometimes we have a good conversation. After it, and during it, we feel uplifted, alive. Sometimes we have a good laugh, or a good cry. Different people or groups we meet can give us this lift of the spirit. In the Gospel today Jesus speaks about branches that don’t remain part of the vine. They wither, and they are thrown away. He is referring to himself and our relationship with him. Our relationship with Jesus can bring us to life because he is that sort of person. He appeals to the best in us, and the real Jesus brings out the best in us. If the Jesus we experience is one who disapproves of us, keeps us down, contributes to our poor self-esteem, then this is not the real Jesus!
If we want to grow into a good relationship with him, we notice how we feel with him and share that with him. But also, our relationship with him should reach out to others. “Whoever remains in me bears fruit in plenty.” Someone once asked, ‘how do I know that I am praying right?’ The answer is not to get new methods of prayer, though these can help, but ask what is your life like? Are you growing in compassion, justice, faith, good humour, and all those things that go to make up wholeness, which is also holiness?
The invitation is to stay close to Jesus as branches are to the vine. We can do this by living the beautiful words of the Old Testament Prophet, Micah : “Act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6 : 8) That is what following Jesus is – staying close to His way
We Remember In our Prayers Susan Crahan and Sheila Devlin, whose Funerals were last week. We remember them and their families, and those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they be in God’s peace.
We also continue to keep in our prayers the children who are preparing for their First Communion, and their families. The First Communions for both our parishes are being celebrated at the 10 am Mass at St.Teresa’s on Sunday, 12th May.
CAFOD Sudan Crisis Appeal : This weekend at all Masses there is an emergency special collection for the people of Sudan. 25 million Sudanese need immediate emergency help. A huge famine is now looming, and CAFOD is one.of a few aid agencies allowed in the country. Despite this short notification, please be as generous as you can.
At This Time When We Certainly Need Peace, The Rosary, A Prayer For Peace, will be prayed at St.Teresa’s on Monday mornings at 9.10 am, before the 9.30 am Mass, and at St. John Southworth on Wednesday mornings at 9.10 am before the 9.30 am Mass there. All are very welcome to come and join in.The 100 Club Winners for March : Anita Barton £15; Win Ball £10; Graham Jordan £5.
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: 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 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.
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.