Parish Bulletin Holy Family – 29th December 2024

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 December 2024

http://www.st-teresas-church.co.uk

Email: st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com

Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity Number 23433

Sunday :         Feast of The Holy Family

Contents:       Gospel

Notices

Reflection

Gospel Luke 2:41-52

Every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover.  When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual.  When they were on their way home after the feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They assumed he was with the caravan, and it was only after a day’s journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances.  When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere.

Three days later they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies. They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, ‘My child, why have you done this to us?  See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’ ‘Why were you looking for me?’ he replied.   ‘Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’  But they did not understand what he meant.

He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority.  His mother stored up all these things in her heart.  And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and men.

Gospel Reflection  :  Family, Don’t Hold Back

“One day Lord we will finally believe that you came, and still come, for all people – not just the ones we think are nice and respectable, but for all people, far away, next door, down our street and across the world; for people of all creeds and none, of every colour and language, in every time, before your birth and since, and to come.

Every year we must learn anew that we can’t keep you, or what you stand for,  to ourselves. You are an infinite supply. Your love, your promise, your hope, your life forever, are enough for all. We can give you and your gifts away in abundance, and still receive the same. We lose nothing in sharing you.

Each year, beginning again this week, we are never alone, but always with you – someone born into a troubled family, for our troubled families.”

Welcome Lord Jesus!

We Remember In Our Prayers  Kev Smith whose Funeral was last week. We remember him and his family, and those whose anniversaries are at this time of year. May they all be in God’s peace.

Used Stamps  With the increased amount of mail coming through our doors at this time of year, please remember that at St. Teresas we collect used stamps for the Missions. Please place them in the tin in the porch as you come into church.

The Defibrillator, which is attached to the side of St. Teresa’s Parish Hall, has recently been renewed, but now needs people who can use it.  St John Ambulance are kindly coming to give a 45 minute training session with us on Saturday, 25th January 2025. This will cover CPR and the use of the defibrillator. The training will include the opportunity to practice with a training defibrillator and a Rusucci manikin. There are three sessions to choose from – 10 am or 11 am or 12 noon on Saturday 25th January. Places are limited to twelve people per session. Please sign up on the sheets at the back of church. Thank you.

Thank You: Fr. Chris C., Fr.Chris W, and Deacon Bernard, thank you most sincerely for all the cards, gifts and offerings you have so generously given them this Christmas.

Thank You Too  on behalf of everyone, to all who prepared our churches for Christmas, through cleaning and arranging the flowers, the Crib and the tree, and to those who made our Christmas Masses very special with the music, the serving, and attendance . It was all very much appreciated.

The Crib Offerings, as usual, will go to help the work of the Caring Services in our Diocese

Next Weekend, 4th/5th January, there will be the annual collection to support the pro-life work of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children  (SPUC). There will be separate baskets at the back of church for this next weekend.

Daily Reflections for this week

Monday (William Law)

Devotion signifies a life given or devoted to God. The devout person, therefore, is the one who lives no longer to their own will, but to the sole will of God, who considers God in everything, who serves God in everything. If self-denial be a part of salvation, all that would be saved must make it  a part of their ordinary life. The common life of a Christian is to be a constant course of humility in all its kinds. If poverty of spirit is necessary, it must be the spirit and temper of every day of our lives. If we are to follow Christ, it must be in our common way of spending every day.

Scripture (1 Cor. 9:16-17,19-23)

Preaching the gospel gives me nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion and I should be in trouble if I failed to do it. If I did it on my own initiative I would deserve a reward; but if I do it under compulsion I am simply accepting a task entrusted to me. What reward do I have, then? That in my preaching I offer the gospel free of charge to avoid using the rights which the gospel allows me. So though I was not a slave to any human being, I put myself in slavery to all people to win as many as I could. I accommodated myself to people in all kinds of different situations, so that by all possible means I might bring some to salvation.

Tuesday (A New Catechism)

From the very first words that Jesus speaks, the gospel describes him as a man completely taken up with the will of the Father. The inward unity between the Father and his only begotten Son who is God from God, now becomes manifest in a human life. To sum up Jesus’ personal “spirituality” in one word, one could say simply: the will of God. His “vocation” at the Jordan is a vocation to service. His preaching is God’s reign. His deepest prayer is: Thy will be done. It all comes to the same thing—perfect obedience. Man’s greatest glory, his own will, was identified by Jesus with the will of Another.

Scripture (1Jn. 2:3-6)

We can be sure that we know Jesus only by keeping his commandments. Anyone who says, ‘I know him’, and does not keep his commandments, is a liar, refusing to admit the truth. But when anyone does obey what he has said, God’s love comes to perfection in them. We can be sure that we are in God only when the one who claims to be living in him is living the same kind of life that Christ lived.

Wednesday (Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia)

Love is marked by humility; if we are to understand, forgive and serve others from the heart, our pride has to be healed and our humility must increase. Jesus told his disciples that in a world where power prevails, each tries to dominate the other, but “it shall not be so among you” (Mt 20:26). The inner logic of Christian love is not about importance and power; rather, “whoever would be first among you must be your slave” (Mt 20:27). In family life, the logic of domination and competition about who is the most intelligent or powerful destroys love.

Scripture (Phil.2:3-9)

Nothing is to be done out of jealousy or vanity; instead, out of humility of mind everyone should give preference to others, everyone pursuing not selfish interests but those of others. Make your own the mind of Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped. But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are; and being in every way like a human being, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross.

Thursday (Jean Vanier)

To enter into covenant is to discover that there are bonds between us and our God, that we are made to be his children and to live in his light. It is also to enter the heart of God and discover that we are made for our brothers and sisters and especially for the poorest who are without hope. Sometimes people don’t want to recognise ‘their people’ because that seems to bring terrible demands. It means becoming responsible for suffering and anguished people, responsible for recognising their cry and going beyond themselves for them. We have to grow in wisdom, in love and in humility to be better able to serve our people.

Scripture (Colossians 3:12-16)

As the chosen of God, then, the holy people whom he loves, you are to be clothed in heartfelt compassion, in generosity and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other; forgive each other. Over all these clothes, put on love, the perfect bond. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you wree called together in one body. Let the Word of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other in all wisdom.

Friday (Henri Nouwen)

The Spirit within you will bear fruit of simplicity and goodness, modesty and joy, sobriety and gentleness. He will give you interior freedom and bring your love to perfection. He will make you into a new person. God’s Spirit will bring you to simplicity in an undivided dedication to Him and to your fellow creatures. He gives you no programme but the chance of turning yourself towards love hour by hour. Every day look at the way you are living in the light of God’s Word. Let it warm you when you are cold, encourage you when you are disappointed. You must not be only a hearer of the Word—you must bring it to fulfilment.

Scripture (Psalm 119:124-130)

Show your faithful love to your servant, teach me your judgements. Your servant am I; give me understanding and I shall know your instructions. Yes, I love your commandments more than gold, purest gold. Yes, I rule my life by your precepts, I hate all deceptive paths. Wonderful are your instructions, so I observe them. As your word unfolds it gives light, and even the simple understand.

Martin Bennett