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
12 January 2025
http://www.st-teresas-church.co.uk
Email: st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com
Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity Number 23433
Sunday : The Baptism of the Lord
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Reflection
Gospel – Luke 3 : 15-16, 21-22)
A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, ‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone more is powerful than I am and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’
Now when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’
Gospel Reflection : God Speaks To Each Of Us As He Speaks To Jesus – We Are All God’s “Beloved”
Today we remember that Jesus’ Baptism by John was a special moment – the real coming of God’s spirit upon him, the Spirit who had come to Mary at the moment of Jesus’ conception, and would come to Jesus at his last moment on the Cross. The Holy Spirit brings him new energy. This Feast of the Baptism of the Lord reminds us that something new is happening, and that Jesus is the ‘Beloved Son’, for all time.
The Spirit came upon Jesus, but not just for himself. He would send the Spirit later to us, in particular that we might be people of forgiveness, and of perseverance in doing good. So today is very much about energy and strength. Jesus found a new spirit in himself after his trusting prayer, and after hearing words he would never forget. They give energy to the heart and soul, helping us to be active in our love for others, especially for those who need encouragement too.
When we are honest, we all know that we can get stuck. We need new infusions of the Spirit to give us renewed energy. Can we be the type of people who others think it is good to meet? Today we are asked to be open to the spirit of God, open to new life, new love, really being fully the kind of people we can be.
We Remember In Our Prayers Pamela Clair Cowling, whose Funeral Mass is at St. Teresa’s on Tuesday 28th January at 11 am, and Janet Murray whose Funeral Service is at Carleton Crematorium on Thursday 30th January at 1.15 pm. We pray for them and their families, and those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they all be in God’s peace.
Defibrillator Training : Please note that all places for this training on 25th January are now full. So thank you, and see you at the Parish Hall at the time you have booked, either 10 am, or 11 am or 1200 noon, on Saturday 25th January.
The SVP (St Vincent de Paul Society at St. Teresa’s) have their regular collection for those in need locally at the Masses next weekend, 18th/19th January.
First Holy Communion We will be starting our First Holy Communion preparation for children in Year 4 and above on Sunday 2 February. The preparation meetings take place after 10 am Sunday Morning Mass, with parents or guardians supporting our parish catechists in the children’s preparation. The First Holy Communion will be on Sunday 27th April. Please let Fr. Chris know if you wish your child to take part in this year’s programme.
Diocesan Directories – the Church Shop, situated in the outer porch at St Teresa’s, has this year’s Diocesan Directories for sale priced £6. There are also diaries, calendars and boxed Christmas cards on sale at reduced prices. The shop is open before and after each weekend Mass. Please call in and browse. You will be most welcome.
Diocesan Centenary
Deanery Parish Masses
2024-2025
To celebrate the centenary of our Diocese a group from the Deanery Pastoral
Council suggested we celebrate Mass around the Deanery and concentrate on
the Sacraments.
As you can see these will be on Friday evenings separated by about two months. Please note these dates so that we can come together in our different communities – it also allows us to visit some churches we may not have been to before. Please make yourself available in your own parish, too.
Masses will begin at:7.00pm
Friday 22nd November 2024
The Holy Family, Blackpool
“Sacraments of Baptism & Confirmation”
Friday 31st January 2025
St Wulstan’s, Fleetwood
“Sacrament of Marriage”
Friday 28th March 2025
St John the Evangelist, Poulton
“Sacrament of Reconciliation”
Friday, 27th June 2025
St John Vianney, Blackpool
“Sacrament of the Eucharist”
Friday 12th September 2025
St Teresa’s, Cleveleys
“Sacraments of Vocation”
Friday 7th November 2025
St Kentigern’s, Blackpool
“Sacrament of the Sick”
Please note the date of the Mass at St. Wulstan’s has been changed since it was first advertised. During the Mass there will be the opportunity for couples to renew their marriage vows. Following the Mass there will be refreshments in the Parish Hall
Daily Reflections for this week
Monday (Fr. Richard Rohr)
The incarnation of Jesus demonstrates that God meets us where we are. It assures us that we do not have to leave the world or relinquish our humanity in order to know God. We may want the spiritual without the fleshly; we may want the cosmic without the concrete. But if the Word is ever to be loved and shared, we must risk embodiment, which is always concrete and ordinary. There God is both perfectly hidden and perfectly
revealed.
Scripture (Matthew 3:13-17)
Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him. “It is I who need baptism from you,” he said “and yet you come to me!” But Jesus replied, “Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands.” At this, John gave into him. As soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven, “This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.”
Tuesday (Martin Buber, “Tales of the Hasidim)
A helper is needed. A helper for both body and soul, for both earthly and heavenly matters…..who can teach you to conduct your affairs so that your soul remains free, and he can teach you to strengthen your soul, to keep you steadfast beneath the blows of destiny. He has to mix with the people and, in order to raise them to the rung of what perfection they are capable of, he has to descend from his own rung.
Scripture (John 3:11-13,16)
Jesus said “In truth I tell you, we speak about only what we know and witness only to what we have seen and yet you people reject our evidence. If you do not believe me when I speak of earthly things, how will you believe me when I speak of heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of man; for this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
Wednesday (A New Catechism)
We must be careful not to start from our human ideas of God, as though apart from Jesus we knew God fully. Jesus is not for those who (think they) know who God is, but for those who seek to know who God is. All we can do is fix our eyes on the man Jesus. Only by thus paying attention to him can we begin to realise something of the God who reveals himself in him. God is much greater than all the ideas we have of “greatness.”
In Jesus’ truly human knowledge, something of his likeness to God radiates. In Jesus, God has become accessible to us.
Scripture (Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7)
Thus says the Lord: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom my soul delights. I have endowed him with my spirit that he may bring true justice to the nations. He does not cry out or shout aloud, or make his voice heard in the streets. He does not break the crushed reed, nor quench the quavering flame. Faithfully he brings true justice; he will neither waver nor be crushed until true justice is established on earth. I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right; I have taken you by the hand and formed you; I have appointed you as a covenant of the people and light of the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison, and those who live in darkness from the dungeon.
Thursday (St. Teresa of Avila)
God is greatly pleased when He beholds a soul in its humility making His Son a mediator between itself and Him. I know this by experience. I have understood that the whole foundation of prayer must be laid in humility, and that the more a soul humbles itself in prayer, the more God lifts it up. I do not remember that He showed me any of His marvellous mercies at any other time than when I was as one brought to nothing. Moreover, His Majesty contrived to make me understand matters that helped me to know myself, but which I could never have even imagined of myself.
Scripture (Ephesians 1:17-20)
May the God of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, how rich is the glory of the heritage he offers among his holy people, and how extraordinarily great is the power that he has exercised for us believers; this accords with the strength of his power at work in Christ.
Friday (Bede Griffiths)
We do not overcome darkness by fighting it but simply by bringing it into the light. All the weaknesses we find in ourselves, and all the things that upset us, we tend to try to push aside and get rid of. But we cannot do this. We have to accept that ‘this is me’ and allow grace to come and heal it all.
Scripture (Luke 1:76-79)
And you, little child, you shall be called Prophet of the Most High, for you will go before God to prepare a way for him, to give his people knowledge of salvation through forgiveness of their sins, because of the faithful love of our God in which the rising of the Sun has come down from on high to visit us, to give light to those who live in darkness and to guide our feet in the way of peace.
Martin Bennett