I ST TERESA’S  CHARLBURY COMBE, DUNS TEW, ENSTONE, GAGINGWELL, GLYMPTON, MIDDLE BARTON, RADFORD, RAMSDEN, STEEPLE ASTON and STONESFIELD

SUNDAY 17 JANUARY 2020 2ND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME Sunday Readings: Year B Divine Office week II Please pray for the sick and the housebound of the parish: Paula Biggs

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year B

Dear Parishioners,

I hope that like myself a sense of hope and optimism is being experienced by many as the programme for the Covid vaccinations unfolds more and more. We know there is still a long Weekday Mass in St. way to go and that for a good number of individuals or families darker days are still a real Teresa’s Monday - Friday. possibility. A renewed call therefore for our fervent prayers to be continued with humble

trust and hope.

Sunday Mass is suspended The readings today again reinforce this message of perseverance and faith. The young boy at St.Teresa’s during the Samuel hears a call as he sleeps and believes it is a summons from Eli, his master. The latter current lock-down initially thinks it is a simple dream that the boy is having until Samuel comes to him a third time. Now Eli realises that this is the Lord’s doing and invites Samuel to be ready with a reply: ‘Speak, lord, your servant is listening’. Samuel obeys and when the call comes he is invested to become one of the great prophets of Israel’s history. It is a reminder to us that somewhere in our prayer there needs to be an element of quiet listening which is able to bring a firm affirmation to our faith. NEXT WEEK Something of that openness and trust is depicted in the Gospel where John the Baptist Monday 18 January points out the passing figure of Jesus and declares ‘Look, there is the lamb of Weekday of Ordinary Time God.’ Andrew and another disciple hear and take the message to heart and become two of Mass 9.30am the first followers of Jesus. They do a great deal of listening and are convinced that Jesus is Tuesday 19 January the long-awaited Messiah and this tio such an extent that Andrew cannot wait to let him St Wulfstan, bishop brother Simon Peter know the good news. The ones taught become the teachers! Mass 9.30am As we journey onward during this pandemic time let us take time in our prayer to remember Wednesday 20 January all who suffer and are in need but also add a few moments more to exercise a ‘listening St Fabian, St Sebastian heart’ and hear the Lord reaffirming our very selves. Mass 7pm Keep safe and God bless, Thursday 21 January Father Tony St Agnes, martyr Year of Mark. ‘Mark’s main interest is in the person of Jesus himself. He follows Jesus Mass 9.30am through his public ministry in Galilee, outside Galilee and finally Jerusalem itself Friday 22 January immediately before the passion. The crisis is reached when the fundamental question is St. Vincent, deacon, martyr posed to the disciples: ‘Who do you say I am?’ Peter’s confession is, therefore, at the heart Mass 9.30am of Mark’s Gospel. In the year of Mark, the Lectionary observes faithfully the structure and Saturday 23 January message of the Gospel itself. One important peculiarity is that the Lectionary includes a Weekday in Ordinary Time major insert from the Gospel of John (Sundays 17 to 21: John 6 – the sermon on the ‘Bread No Mass today of Life’). This fits well into this part of Mark’s Gospel, which is concerned with Jesus’ Sunday 24 January revelation of himself, and is known as ‘the Bread section’. Genral Instruction to the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Lectionary. Time Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity. This commences tomorrow, 18th January, until No Mass today Monday, 25th January (Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul). The cause of Christian Unity is very much at the heart of all would be genuine followers of Jesus who prayed: ‘Father, may For Confession at they be one as we are one’. Events around the Archdiocese. Links to various events and St.Teresa’s, please contact prayer sources can be found on the diocesan website at [email protected] Fr.Clive

ACN: Suze is sending £321 to Aid for the Church in Need for all the Xmas cards and other festive goods bought by the parish. Thank you for your terrific support.

SAFEGUARDING: If you ever have any concerns regarding safeguarding please contact our Safeguarding Rep Sharnalee Foster on 01608 678731.

PARISH PRIEST: FR.TONY JOYCE, HOLY TRINITY RECTORY, LONDON RD, CHIPPING NORTON 01608 642703 [email protected] Parish Website: www.stteresaschurch-charlbury.com Saint Teresa of Lisieux is part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham Trust: Registered Charity number 234216