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
29 September 2024
http://www.st-teresas-church.co.uk
Email: st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com
Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity Number 23433
Sunday : 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Reflection
Gospel – Mark 938; 45; 47-48
John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.
‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.
‘Bur anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of those little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out, it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out.’
Scripture Reflection : Remembered In The Mind Of God
What we give to others is received into the hands and heart of God, and is never forgotten. The good we try to do and say – all is remembered by God : –
Help to a fellow student in school or college, a word of encouragement to an older person, listening when someone needs our time, – all remembered in the mind of God.
Hours of being a loving parent or child, love and care in your family, time given to a friend in need, the ordinary kindness of every day, – all remembered in the mind of God.
Creating jobs, giving employment, talking and working for peace, getting involved in the neighbourhood and parish, doing even little things to ensure that “our common home” will survive and truly be a “home” for everyone, and for all God’s wonderful creation – all remembered in the mind of God.
The ways we help others to make sense of faith, and trust enough to pray, in the bad times as well as the good – all remembered in the mind of God.
We Remember In Our Prayers Maria Cirillo whose Funeral Mass is at St.Teresa’s on Wednesday 2nd October at 11 am, Eileen Cox whose Funeral Mass is at St. John Southworth on Thursday 17th October at 11 am, and Roy Francis Hopkinson whose Funeral Mass is at St. Teresa’s on Friday 18th October at 12.30 pm. We remember them and their families, and those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they all be in God’s peace.
We Remember In Our Prayers Maria Cirillo whose Funeral Mass is at St.Teresa’s on Wednesday 2nd October at 11 am, Eileen Cox whose Funeral Mass is at St. John Southworth on Thursday 17th October at 11 am, and Roy Francis Hopkinson whose Funeral Mass is at St. Teresa’s on Friday 18th October at 12.30 pm. We remember them and their families, and those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they all be in God’s peace.
We Welcome Into The Family of The Church Evelyn Iris Brogan, whose Baptism is at St.Teresa’s this Sunday.
A Big Thank You to those who organised the Social at St. Teresa’s on Friday, and made it an enjoyable evening for those who attended.
Our St.Teresa’s Primary School Is Holding A ‘Family Fun Day’, with Stalls, Fun and Games This Sunday, 29th September, 11 am – 2 pm. All are very welcome.
This Weekend, 28th/29th, The Christmas Fayre Raffle Tickets Will Be On Sale After Each Mass, Including At St. John Southworth. The Christmas Fayre is on Sunday 1st December in St. Teresa’s Parish Hall, and is always a great event for everyone.
Next Friday, 4th October, Is The Annual CAFOD Harvest Fast Day. This weekend we will be distributing the Harvest Fast envelopes, which you can kindly return next weekend. Sue Ward, our parish CAFOD rep, will be briefly speaking about this year’s theme.
This Week, Tuesday 1st October Is The Feast Of St. Teresa. The 9.30 am Mass at St. Teresa’s that day will be celebrated with our Primary School children, who are also celebrating Harvest Time. Everyone will be most welcome.
There Is a Table Top Sale on Sunday 13th October In St. Teresa’s Parish Hall, 11am – 2 pm. The 10 am Mass attendees that day will be able to have a browse and refreshments as the doors will be open to them after Mass10.45 am. Table Hire is available for only £10. For more information contact Sue on 07889 532158. All proceeds will be for the Food Pantry at St. Teresa’s.
A Concert In Aid of Victoria Hospital Blue Skies Charity : St. Kentigern’s Singers, led by Tony Evans and Angela Schools, Anne Nolan, and A Capella 4, invite you to a Concert at St. Kentigern’s Church, Blackpool, on Sunday 6th October at 2.30 pm. Admission is free, and there will be complimentary refreshments in the Parish Centre afterwards. There will be an opportunity to make a donation to the Blackpool Victoria Blue Skies Charity.
Interested In The Catholic Faith? Have you ever asked yourself if you would like to know more about the Catholic Church so that you can at least consider becoming a full member of our Church? On Wednesday, 30th October, 7pm- 8pm we are beginning a series of meetings in St. Teresa’s church sacristy to help you ( without any pressure!), and where you will be made very welcome. If you are interested at all, please contact Fr. Chris (07979 531146). It would be helpful to know in advance the numbers, alongside those who have already shown interest.
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.
Daily Reflections for this week
Monday (Carlo Carretto)
That evening I had seen an old man trembling with cold. I thought of the night and I knew that I, too, would shiver. The little charity that was in me made me think that I had best give him my spare blanket. When I left the village, the blankets were still on the jeep. To have resisted love, not to have been capable of accepting the demand of this love is so serious that it creates an obstacle between me and God. What is the good of defending the truth, of fighting over dogma, of saying the Divine Office well, of sharing the Eucharist, if one is not impelled by love?
Scripture (Matthew 21:28-32)
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders, “A man said to his first son, ‘Go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not go,’ but later thought better of it and went. The man then went and said the same thing to his second son who answered, ‘Certainly, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did the father’s will?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said, “I tell you solemnly, tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the Kingdom of God before you.”
Tuesday (Cardinal Newman)
While we think of Christ, let us not forget to be up and doing. Let us beware of indulging a mere barren faith and love, which dreams instead of working and is fastidious when it should be hardy. This is only spiritual childhood in another form; for the Holy Spirit is the author of active good works, and leads to the observance of all lowly deeds of ordinary obedience as the most pleasing sacrifice to God.
Scripture (Micah 6:6-8)
With what shall I enter Yahweh’s presence and bow down before God All-high? Shall I enter with burnt offerings, with calves one year old? Shall I offer my eldest son for my wrong doing? “You have already been told what is right and what Yahweh wants of you. Only this; to do what is right, to love loyalty and to walk humbly with your God.”
Wednesday (Charles Peguy)
God speaks:
A salvation that was not free, that did not come from a free person, could not in any way be attractive to me. How do you expect me to be interested in that kind of thing? Does one care to be loved by slaves? In my creation which is endued with life, I wanted something better, I wanted something more. When you once have known what it is to be loved freely, submission no longer has any taste. All the prostrations, all the submission in the world are not equal in value to the beautiful straight soaring up of one single invocation from a love that is free.
Scripture (1John 3:18-24)
Children, our love must be not just words or mere talk, but something active and genuine. This will be the proof that we belong to the truth and it will convince us in his presence even if our own feelings condemn us, that God is greater than our feelings and knows all things. My dear friends, if our own
feelings do not condemn us, we can be fearless before God
because we keep his commandments and do what is acceptable to him. Whoever keeps his commandments remains in God and God in him.
Thursday (Brother Lawrence)
We must, during all our labour and in all else we do, even in our reading and writing, holy though both may be – I say more, even during our formal devotions, and spoken prayers – pause for some short moment, to worship God in the depth of our heart. Since you know that God is present before you whatever you are doing, that he is at the depth and centre of your soul, why not then pause from time to time at least from that which occupies you outwardly, even from your spoken prayers, to worship him inwardly. All these acts of worship must arise from faith, and the belief that in truth God is in our hearts; that we must worship him, love him and serve him in spirit and in truth.
Scripture (Luke 18:10-14)
A Pharisee and a tax-collector went up to the Temple to pray. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, “ I thank you Lord that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like everyone else, especially like this tax-collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get.” The tax-collector stood some distance away , not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This man, I tell you went home again, justified; the other did not.
Friday (Caryll Houselander)
In life there are many secret resurrections. In our sin, we are the tombs in which Christ lies dead, but at the first movement of sorrow for sin he rises from the dead in us, the life of the world is renewed by our sorrow. It is not just the poor sinner licking his wounds and limping on, crippled by the past; it is Christ risen, alive, whole. There is no place he will not come: prisons, hospitals, schools, camps, cathedrals and little tin churches; he comes to them all.
Scripture (Galatians 2:16, 19-20)
We have learned that someone is reckoned as upright not by practising the Law but by faith in Jesus Christ; and we, too, came to believe in Christ Jesus so as to be reckoned as upright by faith in Christ, not by practising the Law: since no human can be found upright by keeping the Law. I have been crucified with Christ and yet I am alive; yet it is no longer I , but Christ living in me. The life that I am now living, subject to the limitations of human nature, I am living in faith, faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
Martin Bennett