Bishop's Reflections



+Michael Campbell OSA
Bishop of Lancaster

Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon's mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.
That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.
In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, 'Everybody is looking for you.' He answered, 'Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.' And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.

First Communion Enrolment
We welcome the First Communion children and their families, for their formal enrolment on the First Communion programme at the 10.30 am Mass.

A PILGRIMAGE HOLIDAY TO ROME AND ASSISI
is being organised by the Parish of St Mary's Fleetwood, for 14 May - 21 May 2012. For full details and a booking form, please contact Deacon Bill Wright, Tel 01253 779301.
We remember in our Prayers
Beryl Foley whose Funeral took place last week. We remember her and her family, and all those whose anniversaries occur about this time. May they rest in peace.

Church Shop
Please visit the shop for gifts and cards. You are welcome to come and browse.

A COMMUNITY SINGING GROUP:
is starting on Tuesday, 21 February, 7.30 pm in St Teresa's Parish Hall. Everyone is welcome to join in the pleasure of singing - no qualifications required! For further information, please phone Tom Gradwell Tel 860976.

FIRST COMMUNION
The introductory meeting for parents and First Communion children is on Tuesday, 24 January, 6 pm in the church sacristy. The preparation meetings begin on Sunday, 29 January after the 10.30 am Mass. First Communion will be celebrated on Sunday, 20 May, at the 10.30 am Mass. If there is anyone, Year 3 and older, who does not attend St Teresa's School, and has not yet informed us that they want to make their First Holy Communion this year, please contact Fr Chris or Deacon Bernard as soon as you can.

God Our Father, in your great love,
you gave us Jesus Christ to be our Bread of Life.
Bless these children who are preparing to receive Jesus in the Eucharist.
Bless their families who are helping and guiding them.
And bless this parish community, that we may be an example to these children
of what receiving the Eucharist really means - a commitment to
living the Good News of God's love in word and deed.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, your greatest gift to us. Amen.

ST TERESA'S SCHOOL:
Congratulations to all our school staff and pupils. The Primary League Tables, measuring the performance of Year 6 children in the Key Stage 2 SATs exams, show that St Teresa's scored 96 per cent at Level 4+ in Maths, and 91 per cent at Level 4+ in English. (Government targets for Primary Schools decree at least 60 per cent of pupils must meet the required standard - Level 4 - in Maths and English. The results mean that St Teresa's was joint second place in Blackpool's top 10 schools for Maths, and fourth place for English. All concerned can be very proud of their results. Well done.

Deanery Mass
There is no Deanery Mass in the month of January. The next one is on Wednesday, 1 February, 7 pm at St Wulstan's, Fleetwood.

Cenacolo Community
at Dodding Green, near Kendal, exists to care for young men and women who are looking to change their lives from drug and alcohol addiction. Please keep up your generosity of food and other items, which the young people totally depend on. They are not, in fact, allowed to go to shops or ask for any items themselves. Food and items are taken up to Dodding Green from St Teresa's on a three-week cycle. Your contributions can be left at the back of church - there is a blue container there in the inside porch. Please - just a little item of food will help this cause to be successful. The Community is so grateful to St Teresa's, and we are always remembered in their prayers.
THE CENACOLO PRAYER MEETING takes place each Tuesday evening 7-8 pm in our church, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. This ‘Holy Hour’ is a gathering of people asking the Holy Spirit to come and enlighten and heal (especially those suffering from addiction.Alongside those who regularly donate food, there is here the opportunity of giving spiritually, as we join with other 'Cenacolo Prayer Groups', not only in Great Britain but around the world. If you happen to know of others outside the Parish who are interested in supporting us or maybe would like to find out more about the community, then please bring them along.

WALSINGHAM PILGRIMAGE 2012
Monday, 11 June - Friday, 15 June Join us on our visit to the Shrine of Our Lady, with two excursions included during the week. For information and booking please phone Ann Murphy Tel 863675.

MONTHLY HOSPITAL MASS:
Mass is celebrated in the chapel at Blackpool Victoria Hospital each month, 4 pm on Thursdays. All are very welcome. Please see the notice in the church porch for the following dates.

ST TERESA'S CHURCH BUILDING REPAIRS
CHURCH RE-WIRING AND RE-LIGHTING The tenders for this work in our church have now gone to the Diocesan Trustees for final approval. So let us hope (and pray!) that it will not be long now before we can begin this project, which also includes the creation of disabled toilet facilities (at the back of church, through where the shop is now).

LOURDES PILGRIMAGE - YOUTH SECTION, JULY 2012:
Our Diocesan Youth Chaplain writes: "The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes may seem a long way off but the closing date for applications for young people is 27 January 2012. Each year we take about one hundred young people (Year 11 and above - ages 16-23) to Lourdes and the experience is a life-changing one for them." A poster with the details of this event is in the church porch. Further details and booking forms can be found on the website www.castleriggmanor.co.uk. Please note - the deadline for applications is 27 January 2012. Financial support for this pilgrimage is possible, especially through organising parish events to raise the necessary funds. Please see Fr Chris or Bernard.

A BRASS BAND CONCERT
performed by the Blackpool Brass Band, has now been organised. This will take place on Friday, 10 February, at 7.30 pm in church. Tickets are only £4, and these are available at the back of church after this weekend's Masses. All proceeds will go to the Renovation Fund.




                                 

PARISH HALL - AVAILABLE FOR HIRE
The hall is available for hire. For details of charges and availability please phone 855656.

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? Please contact Fr Chris or Deacon Bernard.

Please note this page is usually updated each Sunday, therefore some events will have already taken place.

© St .Teresa's Church

St .Teresa's Avenue, Cleveleys, Lancashire Tel: (01253) 853340   Fax No. (01253) 853340