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
23 October 2022
http://www.st-teresas-church.co.uk
Email: st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com
Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity Number 23433
| Attendance last Sunday: St T’s: 294 StJS: 58Collection: StT’s £691.06 StJS: £118.60received with thanks received with thanks |
Sunday : Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Reflections for the coming week
Gospel: Luke 18:9-14
Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else. “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, ‘I thank you, God that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not 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 at rights with God; the other did not. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’
Gospel Reflection : Output Or Input?
One of the serious drawbacks of living by rules is that it is possible to keep each rule, and imagine we have therefore become perfect.
In reality of course, perfection goes beyond keeping rules. It results from love freely given, not just plans carefully carried out.
The Pharisee in today’s Gospel has got it wrong. While he concentrates so much on what he has done rather than what he needs, on output instead of input, he keeps God out of his life. What room is there for God to be with him, or do anything for him, when he thinks he is perfect?
Jesus is not suggesting that we need to be more sinful and less religious before God can love us. It is said that the monk Rasputin, at the court of Tsar Nicholas in Russia, used that excuse for a rather colourful life more than a hundred years ago. Jesus is simply pointing out that we must know our weaknesses and inadequacies before we can really appreciate His love and forgiveness – especially as he still loves us anyway.
In fact, if we never approach God in honest humility and need, our output will always be very much underpowered.
We Remember In Our Prayers Peter Griffiths and Adam Bajkowski whose funerals were last week. We remember them and their families, and all those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they be in God’s peace.
We Welcome Into The Family Of The Church Lola Ashleigh Felton whose Baptism takes place at St. Teresa’s this Sunday.
This Sunday Is The Annual World Mission Sunday : On this day the Pope asks Catholics all over the world to join together at Mass to pray for and to care for the whole family of the Church. A big part of our Church (about 40%) still needs our help to survive and grow to self-sufficiency. Through ‘Missio’, the Catholic organisation which supports the Missions. our donations today will help the work of missionaries and the young churches as they build schools, provide healthcare and share faith, often in difficult and dangerous circumstances, so that people can know God’s love and live a life of dignity. The money collected today will go in its entirety to support mission projects worldwide.
The St.Vincent de Paul Society at St. Teresa’s, are very grateful for your donations last Sunday, totalling £157.02 in their special collection, plus a generous individual donation. This money is for those in need locally.
An Evening of Music, Dance and Drama has been arranged, as a tribute to the late Tom Gradwell. Tom founded the Teresian Players, and produced and directed plays, and over 30 annual Pantomimes. He also did so much besides for St. Teresa’s parish community, like organising social occasions, founding, with Gerard Brimelow, the Anchorsholme Singers, and for several years being the Hall Manager of St. Teresa’s Parish Hall. This ‘tribute’ will take place in St. Teresa’s Parish Hall on Saturday, 26th November. Please feel free to bring your own refreshments. For tickets and further information please phone : 01253 829207 or 07866 156333
This Wednesday Begins Meetings About The Catholic Christian Faith Please remember that there is an Introductory Meeting for those who want to know more, including anyone who might be considering joining the Catholic Church themselves. This meeting is on Wednesday, 26th October, 7pm in St. Teresa’s Church Sacristy Room – come into church and go down the left aisle to the top, where there is a door near the altar. Everyone will be very welcome. If you would like to know more, please contact Fr. Chris 01253 853340.
The Church Shop In The Outer Porch At St. Teresa’s is open before and after each weekend Mass. Please feel free to go in and have a look round. Confirmation cards and gifts are available, as are 2023 diaries, with the order of Mass printed, are now on sale.
Thornton Cleveleys Friends of Trinity Hospice are holding a Coffee Morning in St. Teresa’s Parish Hall on Saturday, 29th October, 10 am – 12 noon. Entrance is £1, which includes coffee and biscuits. There will be various stalls, a raffle and tombola. Hospice Christmas cards will also be on sale.