Parish Newsletter

Liturgical

Proverbs 8, 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5, 1-5; John 16, 12-15

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Peter Brennan (40th Anniversary)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Ken Jones (25th Anniversary)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Sheila Packer (L.D., Dorset)
Sunday 12.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Rosa Elizabeth Catton
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Anniversary Thanksgiving

Monday 17th June: Ferial: II Corinthians 6, 1-10; Psalm 97; Matthew 5, 38-42
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: John O’Brien (L.D., Dublin)
12.40 pm: High School: Year 7 Assembly on Confirmation
1.15 pm: University Chapel: University Mass – All Welcome

Tuesday 18th June: Ferial: II Corinthians 8, 1-9; Psalm 145; Matthew 5, 43-48
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Pat and Gerry Cummings (Wedding Anniversary Remembrance)

Wednesday 19th June: Ferial: II Corinthians 9, 6-11; Psalm 111; Matthew 6, 1-18
11.00 am: Grosvenor Gardens NH (Crawford’s Walk): Service for Residents
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Brian Boardman
1.40 pm: High School: Year 9 Assembly on Confirmation

Thursday 20th June: Ferial: II Corinthians 11, 1-11; Psalm 110; Matthew 6, 7-15
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Special Intention (P&J)
1.40 pm: High School: Year 10 Assembly on Confirmation

Friday 21st June: St Aloysius Gonzaga: II Corinthians 11, 18-30; Psalm 33; Matthew 6, 19-23
11.00 am – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Robert Bardsey (L.D.)
12.40 pm: Blacon: Funeral Service for Sylvia Wright Jones, late of Rowlands Heights
1.40 pm: High School: Year 12 Assembly on Confirmation

Saturday 22nd June: SS John Fisher & Thomas More: II Maccabees 6, 18-31; Ps 30; Matthew 24, 4-13
10.30 am – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Confessions
12.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Orla Gabriella O’Marah
6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Intentions of Ben Campbell (L.A.)

SUNDAY 23rd JUNE: CORPUS CHRISTI – THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (YEAR C)
Genesis 14, 18-20; Psalm 109; I Corinthians 11, 23-26; Luke 9, 11-17

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Intentions of Ben Campbell (L.A.)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Charlie Lancaster (4th Anniversary)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: FHC Thanksgiving Mass: Intentions of our FHC Children
Sunday 12.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Gabriella Molly Cain
Sunday 1.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Harrison Vincent Briggs
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Rachael Andrews

Prayer Intentions

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Stuart Clark, Keith Hayes, Sheila Winder, Heather Lannin, James Catterson, Ruth O’Kane, Henri Diacono, James Donovan, Garth Stocking and Kevin Maguire; and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Marian’s daughter Kate, Jean Asher, Vicky Boultbee and Sylvia Jones; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Ernest Earlam, Frederick Hutfield, Liz McGovern, Jim Kinsella, Michael Garvey, Ethel Burridge, Francine Howat, John Maguire, Elizabeth Bastow, Joan Feeney, Bill Wilson, Charlie Lancaster, Arnold Foy, Mary Massey, Peter Newbrook, Margaret Sproston and Elizabeth Jones. May they all Rest in Peace. 

Parish events

Canal Walk and Supper on Tuesday

A few places left for this Heritage Walk, along the Canal to Cow Bridge Lane, and then exploring the ancient section along the Roman Walls and down to the Canal Basin and Boatyard. Finishing with Psalm Singing (!!) in Telford’s Warehouse. Please sign up if you’d like to join us – Tuesday 18th June, leaving from Church at 6.00 pm. No charge at all!

Catholic Enquiry Course Graduates

Last Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, Chloe Blencow and Marco Stigling were Baptised and Confirmed, Jan Howatt and Dan Johns (already previously Baptised) Confirmed. All four then made their First Holy Communion. Many thanks to everyone who made it such a joyous day. Please keep them and their families in your prayers.

Appeal for Hospital Lay Volunteers

There are currently 18 Catholic Lay Volunteers, serving at one or more of three weekly sessions. Two sessions are on Sunday and Thursday mornings at the Countess in Chester, the other one at the Countess’s Ellesmere Port site on Friday afternoons. The work involves assisting the RC Chaplain in ministering to patients with Holy Communion and general pastoral support. Sessions are for about 1½ hours. Volunteers are formally appointed by the Countess Hospital Trust and training arranged by the RC chaplaincy. There is an urgent need for additional volunteers, particularly for the Sunday sessions. If you can help with this essential work, or want more details, please contact the RC Chaplain Fr Jude Nwachukwu 07440-314-905, or Deacon Lawrence 07960-517-463.

Slightly Later Uni Mass on Monday

Can we start Uni Mass at 1.15 pm on Monday, to allow me to get into the High School for their Year Seven Assembly at 12.40 pm?

Music Group

Playing at the FHC Celebration Mass Sunday 23rd June at 10.45 am.

National Uni Chaplains Conference

Good two days over in Leeds last week, getting together with the Catholic Chaplains of the other 120 Unis in England and Wales. But some worrying figures in the week from the Higher Education Policy Institute, one of the biggest annual reports into the views of those currently studying in the UK's universities. Their 2019 survey showed continuing concerns about students' well-being - with just 18% saying they were happy, 17% saying their life was "worthwhile" and only 16% having low levels of anxiety, with all these student figures being considerably worse than for the rest of their age group. Cause for concern?

Next Meeting of the Readers Group

Monday June 17th at 7-00 pm for about an hour - in the Presbytery. We will read and reflect on the readings for the next 4 Sundays. All readers and non-readers very welcome indeed to this open group. It does make a big difference to look at the readings like this beforehand. Do come along!

Parish First Holy Communion Celebration Mass

Takes place on Sunday 23rd June at 10.45. Please can families arrive at church no later than 10.20 am. The children will sit together as a group. They will once again wear their First Holy Communion outfits. Please could any children with readings practise them. At the end of the Mass children will receive First Holy Communion Certificates.

Confirmation Launch Meeting x 2!

Our announced Launch Meeting date – Tuesday 9th July – clashes with Awards Evenings at both the High School and Upton High School. So, we will have TWO Launch Meetings, Tuesday 9th and Tuesday 16th, 7.00 pm both nights, so that parents and candidates can come to one of them.

CAFOD Strawberry Tea – Sunday 23rd June

Tickets costing just £3.50 are now on sale. 2.30- 4.30 pm, at 49 St Chad's Road, Chester CH1 5LF.
If the last two years are anything to go by, we can promise you a very enjoyable afternoon, delicious strawberry cream tea, in lovely surroundings and beautiful sunshine. Contact Sue on 679270 for more details or to reserve a ticket.

Chester Heritage Festival 21st - 29th June

We are participating in three events this year:

• Wednesday 26th June, 12.15 pm Anne Marie Curtis will speak and answer questions in the Visitor Information Centre at the Town Hall on the role of Belgians, Australians, and Americans in Chester during the First World War.
• Thursday 27th June, 12.15 pm, Gerry Tighe will speak and answer questions in the Visitor Information Centre at the Town Hall about the social and economic face of Chester 100 years ago.
• Friday 28th June the Church will be open from 2.00 -3.30 pm to receive a group of people who are visiting St. Paul’s, St Werburgh’s and St. John’s Churches. Gerry and Anne Marie will greet them and give our visitors some idea of life in our Parish and an introduction to our beautiful Church. Parishioners are welcome to support these events.

“Thy Kingdom Come” – Ascension to Pentecost

Many thanks to everyone who made it to the Cross, outside St Peter’s, at 5.00 pm on Pentecost Sunday last week. A joyous gathering of all the churches.

Holyday of Obligation: SS Peter and Paul

29th June this year is a Saturday, so the Holyday of Obligation transfers to the Sunday, 30th, always the case when Holydays fall on Saturdays or Mondays.

Fr Neill’s Personal Homilies

Over the next two weekends, Fr Neill will use the Homily to tell us all a little more about himself, and his Faith Journey to the happy day of his Ordination. 9.00 am & 10.45 today, 16th June, and the two Evening Masses next weekend, 22/23 June.

Photo of the Week: May 2018

Last week, we saw Notre Dame a year ago, before the devastating fire; today, our own church, before the building work began and when the wall was down, the unique view of the north side of the church that we will never see again. Thanks, Anwen!