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
1 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 : 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Reflection
Gospel – Mark 7:1-8. 14-16, 21-23
The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, and they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. For the Pharisees, and the Jews in general, follow the tradition of the elders and never eat without washing their arms as far as the elbow, and on returning from the market place they never eat without first sprinkling themselves. There are also many other observances which have been handed down to them concerning the washing of cups and pots and bronze dishes. So these Pharisees and scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not respect the tradition of the elders but eat their food with unclean hands?’ He answered, ‘It was of you hypocrites that Isaiah so rightly prosphesied in this passage of scripture:
‘This people honours me only with lip service,
While their hearts are far from me.
The worship they offer me is worthless,
The doctrines they teach are only human regulations.
You put aside the commandment of God to cling to human traditions.’
He called the people to him again and said, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that goes into a man from outside can make him unclean, it is the things that come out of a man that make him unclean. For it is from within, from men’s hearts, that evil intentions emerge, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within and make a man unclean
Scripture Reflection : Changes A-Foot – Help At Hand
Coming as we are to the end of the summer holidays and the beginning of the school year, it is comforting to think of something, someone, who does not change. This Sunday the reading from St. James reminds us : “with Him (God) there is no such thing as alteration, no shadow of a change”, referring to the fact that God’s love and care is always with us, including through others.
Of course the trek to the shops for new school clothes has probably shown how much the children have grown, and changes are afoot in more ways than one. Some Nursery children are moving up to Reception Class, and last year’s St. Teresa’s top year pupils now move on to Cardinal Allen or some other High School.
And then the journey to College or University marks the end of daily life as parents and their newly emancipated sons and daughters have known it. Perhaps grandchildren, nieces and nephews, once eager for an afternoon in the park, are now too busy with their own friends to call.
We Remember In Our Prayers Betty Wilson whose Funeral Mass is at St. Teresa’s next Wednesday, 4th September, at 2 pm, Marguerite Julia Foulds whose Funeral Service is at St. Teresa’s on Wednesday 11th September at 12.30 pm, and Maureen Ann Sheppard whose Funeral Service is at St. Teresa’s on Monday, 16th September at 12 noon. We remember them and their families, and those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they all be in God’s peace.
This Wednesday, 4th September, Jo Devine’s Keep Fit and Dance Group Resumes Again 1.15 – 2 .15 pm In The Parish Hall. A warm welcome awaits.
A Date For Your Diary – St. Teresa’s Parish Christmas Fair Is Coming! – Sunday 1st December. More details to follow shortly.
There is a Craftroom Clearout Tabletop Sale In St Teresa’s Parish Hall On Saturday 14th September 11 am – 2 pm To The Public – Sellers Only at 10 am. Why not sell those stashed supplies that you no longer use. A 6 ft table is £15. Please email nanstabletopevents@hotmail.com to book.
The SVP Are Now Organising The Traditional ‘Christmas Shoe Box’ Appeal For The Salvation Army. Knitting Volunteers Are Needed For This, to Supply 20 Ladies and 20 Mens Double Ply Wool Hats (Beanie Style), and Scarves If Possible. These will go in the Shoe Boxes with other things for Christmas. The Shoe Boxes are supplied. Please contact Linda (07966 477479) or Carolyn (01253 933696).
The Roman Synod on Synodality, 2020- 2024
The Second Session of the Synod is fast approaching. It starts in early October.
If you would like to know what is going to be discussed, and discover together what it means for us, please come along to some presentation and reflection sessions to be held in English Martyrs Church Hall, High Cross, Poulton on Wednesday evenings in September at 7.00 pm. The actual dates will be Wednesday, 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th September.
We will be looking at tbe “Working Document” which is the basis for discussion at the Synod. You don’t need to have read the Document yourself as the presentation will cover the key themes which we can explore together. The sessions will be led by Elaine Brownwood, and are open to anyone in the Deanery who wishes to attend. We are very grateful to Sister Philomena and Sister Anne for organising all this.
Come And Sing With ‘REFRESH’ This Sunday, 1st September, 4 p.m at St. Andrew’s Church, Cleveleys.Would you like to sing, socialise and be part of a brand new choir, learning a Christian musical to perform at the Winter Gardens next March, with Roger Jones of Christian Music Ministries.All abilities are welcome. To know more or register your interest email www.refreshment.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.
Confirmation : This year, for both our parishes, Bishop Paul is coming to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at St. Teresa’s church, on Monday, 18th November, at 7 pm.
Young people, Year 8 or above at school. or any older people who may have missed out in the past, are invited to take part in the preparation programme, and receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please give the names of any young person (or older) to Fr. Chris (Tel. 01253 853340)
The dates of the Preparation Programme are as follows :
Thursday 10th October
Thursday 17th October
Thursday 31st October
Thursday 7th November
All 6 30 pm – 7.45 pm
Saturday, 9th November, 10 am – 2 pm
Sunday, 17th November Practice after the 10 am Mass
Monday 18th November Confirmation Mass at 7 pm
Daily Reflections for this week
Monday (Meister Eckhart)
We must learn to break through things and to grasp God in them, allowing him to take form in us powerfully and essentially. It is the same as when someone wants to learn to write; if they wish to learn this skill, then they must practise hard and often, however difficult it may seem, even to the point of impossibility. If they do that they will master the art of writing, although of course they will at first have to concentrate on every letter and commit it to memory. But then, when they have acquired this skill, they will no longer have any need for the image or the concentration, but will write freely and spontaneously. Thus we should be permeated with the sense of a divine presence and be in-formed with the form of our beloved God and be so established in him that we see his presence effortlessly.
Scripture (Mt. 22:34-40)
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they got together and, to put him to the test, one of them put a further question ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said to him ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second resembles it; you must love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two
commandments hang the whole of the Law, and the prophets too.’
Tuesday (The Desert Fathers)
A brother came to Theodore of Pherme and began to talk about matters of which he had no experience. Theodore said to him, “You’ve not yet found a ship to sail in, nor put your luggage aboard, nor put out to sea, and you’re already acting as if you were in the city which you mean to reach. If you make some attempt to do the things you are discussing, then you can talk about them with understanding.”
Scripture (Ps. 14)
Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain? Those who walk without fault, who act with justice and speak the truth from the heart. Those who do no wrong to their brother and sister, who cast no slur on their neighbour, who hold the godless in disdain but honour those who fear the Lord. Those who keep their pledge come what may; who take no interest on a loan and accept no bribes against the innocent. Such a person will stand firm for ever.
Wednesday (St. Augustine)
What the law of works enjoins by threat, the law of faith secures by faith. By the law of works, God says to us ‘Do what I command’; by the law of faith we say to God ‘Give me what you command.’ This is why the law commands—to advise us what faith ought to do, so that the person to whom the command is given, if they are as yet unable to perform it, may know what to ask for. In the Old Testament the finger of God was written on tablets of stone; in the New Testament it was on our hearts.
Scripture (Dt. 4:1-2,6-8)
You must add nothing to what I command you, and take nothing from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God just as I lay them down for you. Keep them, put them into practice, and other people will admire your wisdom and prudence. Once they know what all these laws are, they will exclaim, “No other people is as wise and as prudent as this great nation!” And indeed, what great nation has its gods as near as Yahweh our God is to us whenever we call to him?
Thursday (Anthony de Mello)
The local priest was often seen talking to an extremely attractive woman of bad repute—and in public places too—to the great scandal of his congregation. Eventually he was summoned by his bishop for a dressing-down. When the bishop had finally finished, the priest said, “Your Excellency, I have always held that it is better to talk to a beautiful woman with one’s thoughts set on God than to pray to God with one’s thoughts fixed on a beautiful woman.”
Scripture (Mark 7:5-8, 15)
The Pharisees and the Scribes asked Jesus ‘Why do your disciples not respect the traditions of the elders but eat their food with unclean hands?’ He answered, ‘How rightly Isaiah prophesied about you hypocrites in the passage of scripture: ‘This people honours me only with lip service while their hearts are far from me. Their reverence of me is worthless; the lessons they teach are nothing but human commandments.’ You put aside the commandments of God to observe human traditions. Nothing that goes into someone from the outside can make that person unclean; it is the things that come out of a someone that make the person unclean.’
Friday (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
How exactly does the righteousness of the Pharisees differ from that of the disciples? Certainly the Pharisees never imagined that the law must be taught but not obeyed. No, it was rather their ambition to be doers of the law. Their idea of righteousness was a direct, literal and practical fulfilment of the commandment, their ideal was to model their behaviour exactly on the demands of the law. This is where the righteousness of the disciples exceeds that of the Pharisees; it is grounded solely upon the call to fellowship with him alone who fulfils the law. It is the real and active faith in the righteousness of Christ. Jesus Christ and he alone fulfils the law, because he alone lives in perfect communion with God.
Scripture (Galatians 3:21,23-26)
Is the Law contrary to God’s promises? Out of the question! If the Law that was given had been capable of giving life, than certainly saving justice would have come from the Law. Before faith came, we were kept under guard by the Law, locked up to wait for the faith which would eventually be
revealed to us. So the Law was serving as a slave to look after us, to lead us to Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But now that faith has come we are no longer under a slave looking after us; for all of you are the children of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus.
Martin Bennett