St Werburgh's Roman Catholic Parish, Chester

Parish Newsletter

 

SUNDAY 17th MARCH 2024: FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (YEAR B)

Liturgical

Jeremiah 31, 31-34; Psalm 50; Hebrews 5, 7-9; John 12, 20-33

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Ken Jones (Birthday Remembrance)

Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Christine and Matt Lawson Wedding Anniversary Thanksgiving

Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Ann Marie and Brian McMahon 40th Wedding Anniv Thanksgiving

Sunday 3.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Holy Hour for Peace in the Middle East

Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Gilbert Losasso (L.D. Norwich)

 

Monday 18th March: Ferial: Daniel 13, 1-62; Psalm 22; John 8, 1-11

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: 62nd Wedding Anniversary – Olive and GN

1.10 pm: University Chapel – Weekly University Mass. All welcome.

 

Tuesday 19th March: St Joseph: II Samuel 7, 4-16; Psalm 88; Romans 4, 13-22; Matthew 1, 16-24

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Sarah Russell

 

Wednesday 20th March: Ferial: Daniel 3, 14-95; Psalm Daniel 3; John 8, 21-30

10.30 am: High School: SVP Youth Mass

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Gerard Majella O’Sullivan (L.D.)

 

Thursday 21st March: Ferial: Genesis 17, 3-9; Psalm 104; John 8, 51-59

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Brian Haslam

2.00 pm : Blacon: Funeral Service for Margaret Gasson, late of Newhall Court

 

Friday 22nd March: Ferial: Jeremiah 20, 10-13: Psalm 17; John 10, 31-42

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of Siobhan Smith

1.05 pm: High School: Weekly Voluntary Class Mass followed by Confessions

7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Lenten Devotions – Stations of the Cross

 

Saturday 23rd March: Ferial: Ezekiel 37, 21-28; Psalm Jeremiah 31; John 11, 45-56

10.30 am: St Werburgh’s: SVP Reconciliation Service

10.45 am – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Confessions

12.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Alfie Brook

1.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Alice Hadfield

2.30 pm: St Peter’s Waverton: Interment of Ashes for Alan Bonner

6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Niall Long (L.D.)

 

SUNDAY 24th MARCH 2024: PALM SUNDAY (YEAR B)

Isaiah 50, 4-7; Psalm 21; Philippians 2, 6-11; Mark 14, 1-47

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Niall Long (L.D.)

Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Paul John Lawton

Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Gregory Stuart Phillips (Birthday Remembrance)

Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Youth Mass: Rebecca Coriam

  

Prayer Intentions

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Wendy O’Brien, Jimmy McCahy, Kath Stanton, Brian Boardman Jnr, Bill Hackett, Laura Chadwick, Stuart Clark, Ruth O’Kane and Kevin Maguire and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Joe Barlow, Lillian Jervis, Dorothy Holly and Margaret Gasson; and for all those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Barbara McClean, Annie Owens, Essie Lawrie, Daniel Hogan, Frederick Mercer, Linda Wynne, Oscar Dubussy-Durgan, Dolly Huxley, Rita Williams, Patrick Walsh, Thomas Smith, Maria Bannister, Donald Tilston, William Paton, Karen Ash, Arthur Hedges, Mary Partington, Arthur Wright, Ted Finney, James Moore, Sarah Chamberlain, Peter Heaney, Magda Cumberford, Wendy Moore, Bill Dobbins, Bridie Williams, Geraldine Pile and Jean Versey, Anne Roberts. May They All Rest in Peace.

 

Parish Information and Contacts

Live Streaming Link: www.churchservices.tv/stwerburghchester.

SVP: svpchester@gmail.com     Countess of Chester Chaplaincy: 01244 364543.

St Werburgh’s is part of the Diocese of Shrewsbury: Registered Charity No 234025.

Safeguarding: safeguarding@stwerburghchester.co.uk Liz Aiello: 07813743723 and Chris Proudfoot: 07711495070

Parish events

Lenten Friday Evenings Five Down, One to Go

  • 22nd March: In Church Stations – Denise

 

Holy Week and Triduum: 24th – 31st March

Sunday 24th: Palm Sunday: Normal Mass Times

Monday 25th: Penitential Service: 7.00 pm

Wed 27th: Chrism Mass: St Michael’s Woodchurch

Maundy Thursday 28th: Day Mass at 12.15 pm;

  • Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7.30 pm;
  • Watching at Altar of Repose till Midnight

Good Friday 29th: Liturgy of the Passion: 3.00 pm

Holy Saturday 30th:

  • Easter Vigil 8.30 pm;
  • Midnight Mass of Easter at 12.00 midnight

Easter Sunday 31st: Normal Mass Times

 

Chrism Mass at St Michael’s Woodchurch

The church you can see from Junction 3 of the M53 with the distinctive pyramid roof is hosting the annual Chrism Mass this year on Wednesday of Holy Week. We will organise a  minibus for those who’d like to go, so please sign up if interested.

 

Parish Outing to Bodnant Gardens and Llandudno

Many thanks to everyone for a super response on the “expressions of interest” list: now we are working on the best day for everyone.

 

Christleton Churches Together Lent Chapel Visits

Excellent visit to the High School chapel last Tuesday, with our Head teacher, Mrs Cathy McKeagney, making us so welcome and giving us a fascinating insight into the role of a Headteacher these days. Our second visit this is on Thursday 21st March to the Hospital Chapel. All welcome!

 

Eucharistic Ministers Ready for Service Again!

We’d like all of you who indicated you wish to carry on to take your Renewal of Commitment on Maundy Thursday Evening, and then be ready for Administering the Chalice at Sunday Masses after Easter and helping me with Home Communions. We are also going to need quite a few new recruits.

 

Fr Bernard and St Clare’s Parish

We were sorry to hear in the week that Fr Bernard is on sick leave from St Clare’s, and we wish him and the parish well. We’ve been asked to look after St Clare’s meanwhile, so our busy life here has just got a whole lot busier!! I am most grateful to Fr Neill for covering Sunday Masses and the Triduum.

 

Holy Week Liturgy Group – Thursday 21st March

All welcome as we sign off all the Services for Holy Week and the Triduum.

 

Caritas Spring Collection: Sunday 17th March

Please bring your contents asap if not here today.

 

End of Financial Year Gift Aid Notices

  • If you no longer pay income tax, please let FP or Denise Jones know by 5th
  • Change of Address: Please let us know if you have changed your address in the last 2 years.
  • Joining the Gift Aid Scheme: If you pay income tax, joining the Gift Aid scheme increases the value of donations to the Parish by 25% at no extra cost to you. See FP or Denise Jones.
  • New Tax Year Weekly Offertory Envelopes are at the back of church. Please help by collecting yours as soon as possible. Thank you.

 

First Holy Communions Meetings in March

Tuesday 19th March at 6.30 pm here in Church and House: A meeting for parents and children not at our Primary School. The children will need their folders, preparation books and pencil cases.

 

Welcome Wednesdays Keep Storming Ahead…

  • Thanks to Heather who joined us last week for a very interesting and informative talk on Fairtrade.
  • The chocolate tasting was good too!
  • World Down Syndrome Day Thursday 21st March. To mark the occasion,  Pat Baxter will give a short talk and all Welcome Wednesdayers are invited to come in odd socks. (I shall come in odd black ones).
  • The crochet team have made some super colourful blankets, all being donated to Liverpool Woman's and Alder Hey  hospitals.
  • This is the last week for the youngsters Easter cards available at 10.45 and 6.00 pm Masses.
  • Youth Mass next Sunday evening, Palm Sunday - do come and join us !

 

Clothes & Bric-A-Brac Collection at the High School

A large metal container near the school car  park, by the external wall to the Hall. All donations collected by Collection4Clothes+ are sorted and sent to least economically developed countries where they are sold at local affordable prices that benefit their local communities. The royalties made from these sales are donated to the Birmingham Children's Hospital.

 

We’d Like to Trace an Old Parishioner…

And we did, thanks to Sue Carr, a real good’un!

 

Wall Box Totals for Financial Year 2023-2034

  • CAFOD £159.23
  • CATH £175.47
  • RTU £107.14
  • Hospice £1,135.80

 

Key Holders: Up-to-Date List Needed

Can you let FP know if you are a key-holder, please.

 

Parish History Group Next Meeting

Wednesday 20th March 6.00 pm at the Parish House.

 

Holy Week Volunteer Rota Filling Up Fast

Please sign up sooner rather than later! If you wish to be a reader in Holy Week, please note there is a compulsory meeting for all readers on Wednesday 20th March at 7.00 pm. Please do not volunteer to read if you cannot attend. Many thanks.

 

Lenten Holy Hour: Moved to 17th March, 3.00 pm

Apologies to WWW for turning up last Sunday! It’s today, and everyone very welcome indeed.

 

2nd Collection for Easter Flowers: 16/17 March

 

Our Wonderful Parish Library

Do come and take a look at all the books available, before and after Mass every Sunday.

 

Highlight from the High

'Living Stations of the Cross', school hall, Tuesday 26th March 10.00 am. Parishioners invited. Free tickets: shawk@christofidelis.org.uk

 

Photo of the Week: Mahatma Ghandi Memorial

 New Delhi, marking the spot where he was assassinated on 30th January, 1948. Many thanks to Fiona Rushforth for sending it in.