Welcome to our Parish

                                                                                                         TO

ST. MARY &

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS’,

STELLA.

Landline & answering machine: 0191 4142749;

Mobile Number: 07971 354750

Priest in Charge: Rev. Fr. J. G. Rose                                                           www.stellachurch.co.uk Facebook: Stella Church

Palm Sunday.   24th March, 2024.

Saturday 23rd March                    Vigil Mass.     5.00 p.m.Peter Carroll.
Sunday 24th March                    Palm Sunday.10.00 a.m.Veronica Wall & Hazel Craig.
Monday 25th                          9.15 a.m.Jack & Eunice Armstrong.
Tuesday 26th                               9.00 a.m.The November Book.
Wednesday 27th                      6.00 p.m.Our Lady’s Intentions.
Thursday 28th                         Holy Thursday.6.30 p.m.Charlie, Alice & Peter Shaw.
Friday 29th                                
Good Friday.
10.00 a.m.
3.00 p.m.
Stations of the Cross.
Service of the Lord’s Passion.
Saturday 30th March        Easter Vigil Mass.             5.00 p.m.Walter Stokoe.
Sunday 31st March               Easter Sunday.10.00 a.m.Tony Saxelby.

Confessions:- Daily after Mass & Saturday; Exposition & Stations: Today (Saturday), 4.15 – 4.45 p.m.

Please pray for: the sick – Mark Armstrong; Joyce Madine; Doreen Hodgson; Jessica Rich; Annie O’Connor; Natasha Rose; D. C.; Matthew Stewart; Margaret March; Bocis Buiuc; Avril & Paul Kimmitt & Pat Brewster.

Recently deceased: Robert McDarby (Requiem here last Tuesday).

Offertory Procession:- This week:- Sat.:  Carys French & Family;        Sun.: Luis Deacon & Family;

                                       Next week:- Sat.: Lucha Hamilton & Family;    Sun.: Kristian Hutchinson & Family. 

200 Club Winner. This week’s winner: C. Brennan no. 161. Congratulations Christine!

First Holy Communion Programme 2023/24.

Please keep our children and their families in your prayers as they continue their preparations for receiving Jesus in Holy Communion in June:- Anya Armstrong; Izzy Batsford; Ava Baxter; Isaac Beadling;  Clara Cantrill; Leon Chmiel; Emily Coleman; Molly Coyne; Finlay Curry; Logan Dalziel; Luis Deacon; Pippa Dobson; Thea Exley; Emmie Fitzgerald; James Foster; Carys French; Lucha Hamilton; Kristian Hutchinson; Euan Kimmitt; Bert Lamb; Anna Langford; Emily Langley; Lewie Miller; Henry Phipps; Amber Preece; Thomas Rafferty; Isaac Rawlinson; Isaac Rosa; Aila Shaw; Katie Smith; Isobel Snowball; Phoebe Stephenson; Agnes Thew; Ilianna Thompson; Lucas Wheeler; Ella Williams; Ella Wilson.  

Parish Gardening Team.

The ladies of the church gardening team are looking for volunteers to join them. They not only look after the church grounds, but also help with the preparations for Easter and Christmas, the July Garden Party and tidying up before weddings and funerals.

Dare I say it, but their average age is 70! You don’t require any gardening knowledge as they usually work in teams of two, with jobs being discussed and allocated as appropriate. During the fine weather, they meet on Monday and Wednesdays, from 10.00 a.m. until about midday. If you’re able to offer a little time, contact Fr. Rose or a member of the existing team:- Helen Storey, Liz Crozier, Katie Dix, Lynn Fox and Alice Phillipson.  

Church Parking.

Many of you will have noticed that the car park at the old Board Inn has been closed. The new owners are in the midst of major renovations, hence the closure for health and safety reasons. As it is, we have plenty of weekend parking here at Stella:- there’s ‘two wheel up-two wheel down’ parking on the north side of Stella Road, our own front car park, plus the car park and yard at our primary school, clearly sign-posted on the back lane. If you are using the school car park, do think of others and ensure that the entrance to the school is left clear and likewise the opening in the barriers onto the yard… …others will be unable to make use of the facility if you are inconsiderate!

Looking towards Easter?!

It’s not just the children who are already looking towards Easter, with the next set of holidays, Easter bunnies and chocolate eggs, the Church is too! This weekend, the sheet for Holy Week volunteer readers etc has appeared on the table at the back of church!  

Wedding Bells! The wedding bells were once again ringing here at Stella. Last weekend we were celebrating the marriage of Danielle Plummer and Kevin Gilfillan – Congratulations! Please do keep Danielle and Kevin in your prayers. We wish them every joy and blessing on their wedding days and in their married lives together.

Parish Offertory Collection Envelopes. The new boxes of Offertory Envelopes for the 2024/25 Financial Year have arrived and are now available from the back of church. The large boxes are for those who make their offertory donations weekly via the envelope system and include the monthly second collection envelopes. Those who make their offertory donations by direct debit or standing order have small boxes – these contain the yellow monthly second collection envelopes only. Please take your boxes home with you as soon as possible.

If anyone would like to join our Parish Gift Aid Scheme via direct debit or the boxes of envelopes, forms are available on the table at the back of church… …or have a word with Terry Docherty or Fr. Rose. Direct Debit is often easier for people… …and it’s easier for us too in accounting terms too!


More Chuckles… …?!

The temporary Sunday School teacher was struggling to open a combination lock on the supply cabinet. She had been told the combination, but couldn’t quite remember it. She went to the pastor’s study and asked for help. The pastor came into the room and began to turn the dial. After the first two numbers he paused and stared blankly for a moment. Finally, he looked serenely heavenward and his lips moved silently. Then he looked back at the lock, and quickly turned to the final number, and opened the lock. The teacher was amazed. “I’m in awe at your faith, pastor,” she said. “It’s really nothing,” he answered. “The number is on a piece of tape on the ceiling.”

A man walking along a California beach was deep in prayer. Suddenly the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, the Lord said, “Because you have TRIED to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish.”
The man said, “Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over anytime I want.” The Lord said, “Your request is very materialistic. Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking. The supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific! The concrete and steel it would take! It will nearly exhaust several natural resources. I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time and think of something that would honour and glorify me.”
The man thought about it for a long time. Finally, he said, “Lord, I wish that I could understand my wife. I want to know how she feels inside, what she’s thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says ‘nothing’s wrong,’ and how I can make a woman truly happy.”
The Lord replied, “You want two lanes or four on that bridge?”