Parish Newsletter
SUNDAY 14th FEBRUARY: SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)
Liturgical
- + 2024
-
+ 2023
- 31st December
- 24th December
- 17th December
- 10th December
- 3rd December
- 26th November
- 19th November
- 12th November
- 5th November
- 29th October
- 22nd October
- 15th October
- 8th October
- 1st October
- 24th September
- 17th September
- 10th September
- 3rd September
- 27th August
- 20th August
- 13th August
- 6th August
- 30th July
- 23rd July
- 16th July
- 9th July
- 2nd July
- 25th June
- 18th June
- 11th June
- 4th June
- 28th May
- 21st May
- 14th May
- 7th May
- 30th April
- 23rd April
- 16th April
- 9th April
- 2nd April
- 26th March
- 19th March
- 12th March
- 5th March
- 26th February
- 19th February
- 12th February
- 5th February
- 29th January
- 22nd January
- 15th January
- 8th January
- 1st January
-
+ 2022
- 25th December
- 18th December
- 11th December
- 4th December
- 27th November
- 20th November
- 13th November
- 6th November
- 30th October
- 23rd October
- 16th October
- 9th October
- 2nd October
- 25th September
- 18th September
- 11th September
- 4th September
- 28th August
- 21st August
- 14th August
- 7th August
- 31st July
- 24th July
- 17th July
- 10th July
- 3rd July
- 26th June
- 19th June
- 12th June
- 5th June
- 29th May
- 22nd May
- 15th May
- 8th May
- 1st May
- 24th April
- 17th April
- 10th April
- 3rd April
- 27th March
- 20th March
- 13th March
- 6th March
- 27th February
- 20th February
- 13th February
- 6th February
- 30th January
- 23rd January
- 16th January
- 9th January
- 2nd January
-
- 2021
- 26th December
- 19th December
- 12th December
- 5th December
- 28th November
- 21st November
- 14th November
- 7th November
- 31st October
- 24th October
- 17th October
- 10th October
- 3rd October
- 26th September
- 19th September
- 12th September
- 5th September
- 29th August
- 22nd August
- 15th August
- 8th August
- 1st August
- 25th July
- 18th July
- 11th July
- 4th July
- 27th June
- 20th June
- 13th June
- 6th June
- 30th May
- 23rd May
- 16th May
- 9th May
- 2nd May
- 25th April
- 18th April
- 11th April
- 4th April
- 28th March
- 21st March
- 14th March
- 7th March
- 28th February
- 21st February
- 14th February
- 7th February
- 31st January
- 24th January
- 17th January
- 10th January
- 3rd January
-
+ 2020
- 27th December
- 20th December
- 13th December
- 6th December
- 29th November
- 22nd November
- 15th November
- 8th November
- 1st November
- 25th October
- 18th October
- 11th October
- 4th October
- 27th September
- 20th September
- 13th September
- 6th September
- 30th August
- 23rd August
- 16th August
- 9th August
- 2nd August
- 26th July
- 19th July
- 12th July
- 5th July
- 28th June
- 21st June
- 14th June
- 7th June
- 31st May
- 24th May
- 17th May
- 10th May
- 3rd May
- 26th April
- 19th April
- 12th April
- 5th April
- 29th March
- 22nd March
- 15th March
- 8th March
- 1st March
- 23rd February
- 16th February
- 9th February
- 2nd February
- 26th January
- 19th January
- 12th January
- 5th January
-
+ 2019
- 29th December
- 22nd December
- 15th December
- 8th December
- 1st December
- 24th November
- 17th November
- 10th November
- 3rd November
- 27th October
- 20th October
- 13th October
- 6th October
- 29th September
- 22nd September
- 15th September
- 8th September
- 1st September
- 25th August
- 18th August
- 11th August
- 4th August
- 28th July
- 21st July
- 14th July
- 7th July
- 30th June
- 23rd June
- 16th June
- 9th June
- 2nd June
- 19th May
- 19th May
- 12th May
- 5th May
- 28th April
- 21st April
- 14th April
- 7th April
- 31st March
- 24th March
- 17th March
- 10th March
- 3rd March
- 24th February
- 17th February
- 10th February
- 3rd February
- 27th January
- 20th January
- 13th January
- 6th January
-
+ 2018
- 30th December
- 23rd December
- 16th December
- 9th December
- 2nd December
- 25th November
- 18th November
- 11th November
- 4th November
- 28th October
- 21st October
- 14th October
- 7th October
- 30th September
- 23rd September
- 16th September
- 9th September
- 2nd September
- 26th August
- 19th August
- 5th August
- 29th July
- 22nd July
- 15th July
- 8th July
- 1st July
- 24th June
- 17th June
- 10th June
- 3rd June
- 27th May
- 20th May
- 13th May
- 6th May
- 29th April
- 22nd April
- 15th April
- 8th April
- 1st April
- 25th March
- 18th March
- 11th March
- 4th March
- 25th February
- 18th February
- 11th February
- 4th February
- 28th January
- 21st January
- 14th January
- 7th January
- + 2017
Leviticus 13, 1-46; Psalm 31; I Corinthians 10,31 - 11,1; Mark 1, 40-45
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Alex Barnes
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Mary Barrett (100th Birthday Remembrance)
11.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of the Flack Family
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Mariana Belei (20th Anniversary)
Monday 15th February: Ferial: Genesis 4, 1-25; Psalm 49; Mark 8, 11-13
10.00 am: Requiem Mass for Connie Santos, late of Shotton
Tuesday 16th February: Ferial: Genesis 6,5 - 7,5; Psalm 28; Mark 8, 14-21
10.00 am: Overleigh: Burial of Ashes for the late Annie Lancaster
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Maria Prez (3rd Anniversary)
Wednesday 17th February: ASH WEDNESDAY
Joel 2, 12-18; Psalm 50; II Corinthians 5,20 – 6,2; Matthew 6, 1-18
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Pauline Harper (91st Birthday Remembrance)
11.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Rose’s Mother
Thursday 18th February: Thursday after Ash Wednesday: Deut 30, 15-20; Psalm 1; Luke 9, 22-25
10.40 am: Blacon: Funeral Service for Margaret Nixon, late of Foxes Walk, Huntington
1.00 am: Blacon: Graveside Service for Jacqueline Carlen, late of Kingswood
2.40 pm: Blacon: Funeral Service for Miguel Ortega, late of St Alban’s
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Patricia Twohig (Birthday Remembrance)
Friday 19th February: Friday after Ash Wednesday: Isaiah 58, 1-9; Psalm 50; Matthew 9, 14-15
10.00 am: All Saints, Saughall: Graveside Service for George Mayled, late of Crabwall Hall NH
12.30 pm: St John’s New Ferry: Requiem Mass for Betty Finan, late of Headingley, Leeds
Saturday 20th February: Saturday after Ash Wednesday: Isaiah 58, 9-14; Psalm 85; Luke 5, 27-32
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: James, Edith and Helen Murphy
SUNDAY 21st FEBRUARY: FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (YEAR B)
Genesis 9, 8-15; Psalm 24; I Peter 3, 18-22; Mark 1, 12-15
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Philip McCabe (3rd Anniversary)
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Jean Hewson (Birthday Remembrance)
11.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Paul McCormick (L.D., Italy)
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Anne Moore (1st Anniversary)
Prayer intentions
Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: James Convey, Pauline and Bill Hackett, Laura Chadwick, Elisabeth, Stuart Clark, Keith Hayes, Sheila Winder, Joe and Ruth O’Kane, Garth Stocking and Kevin Maguire; and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Frank Vitelli, Luke Ellis, Miguel Ortega, Betty Finan, Connie Santos, Margaret Nixon, George Mayled, Paul Power and Jacqueline Carlen; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Josephine Owens, Margaret Connolly, Bernard Flaherty, John Axon, Mary Barr, Kathleen Vickers, Winifred Swaine, Garry Nelson, Mary Lambert, Harry Keyzor, Peter Melia, Eric Muldoon, Dorothy Welch, Fred McClelland, Joe Dunne, Kathleen Ward, Bob Ward, Bernie Clark, Irene Whitehouse and Winifred Morris. May They All Rest in Peace.
Parish events
- + 2024
-
+ 2023
- 31st December
- 24th December
- 17th December
- 10th December
- 3rd December
- 26th November
- 19th November
- 12th November
- 5th November
- 29th October
- 22nd October
- 15th October
- 8th October
- 1st October
- 24th September
- 17th September
- 10th September
- 3rd September
- 27th August
- 20th August
- 13th August
- 6th August
- 30th July
- 23rd July
- 16th July
- 9th July
- 2nd July
- 25th June
- 18th June
- 11th June
- 4th June
- 28th May
- 21st May
- 14th May
- 7th May
- 30th April
- 23rd April
- 16th April
- 9th April
- 2nd April
- 26th March
- 19th March
- 12th March
- 5th March
- 26th February
- 19th February
- 12th February
- 5th February
- 29th January
- 22nd January
- 15th January
- 8th January
- 1st January
-
+ 2022
- 25th December
- 18th December
- 11th December
- 4th December
- 27th November
- 20th November
- 13th November
- 6th November
- 30th October
- 23rd October
- 16th October
- 9th October
- 2nd October
- 25th September
- 18th September
- 11th September
- 4th September
- 28th August
- 21st August
- 14th August
- 7th August
- 31st July
- 24th July
- 17th July
- 10th July
- 3rd July
- 26th June
- 19th June
- 12th June
- 5th June
- 29th May
- 22nd May
- 15th May
- 8th May
- 1st May
- 24th April
- 17th April
- 10th April
- 3rd April
- 27th March
- 20th March
- 13th March
- 6th March
- 27th February
- 20th February
- 13th February
- 6th February
- 30th January
- 23rd January
- 16th January
- 9th January
- 2nd January
-
- 2021
- 26th December
- 19th December
- 12th December
- 5th December
- 28th November
- 21st November
- 14th November
- 7th November
- 31st October
- 24th October
- 17th October
- 10th October
- 3rd October
- 26th September
- 19th September
- 12th September
- 5th September
- 29th August
- 22nd August
- 15th August
- 8th August
- 1st August
- 25th July
- 18th July
- 11th July
- 4th July
- 27th June
- 20th June
- 13th June
- 6th June
- 30th May
- 23rd May
- 16th May
- 9th May
- 2nd May
- 25th April
- 18th April
- 11th April
- 4th April
- 28th March
- 21st March
- 14th March
- 7th March
- 28th February
- 21st February
- 14th February
- 7th February
- 31st January
- 24th January
- 17th January
- 10th January
- 3rd January
-
+ 2020
- 27th December
- 20th December
- 13th December
- 6th December
- 29th November
- 22nd November
- 15th November
- 8th November
- 1st November
- 25th October
- 18th October
- 11th October
- 4th October
- 27th September
- 20th September
- 13th September
- 6th September
- 30th August
- 23rd August
- 16th August
- 9th August
- 2nd August
- 26th July
- 19th July
- 12th July
- 5th July
- 28th June
- 21st June
- 14th June
- 7th June
- 31st May
- 24th May
- 17th May
- 10th May
- 3rd May
- 26th April
- 19th April
- 12th April
- 5th April
- 29th March
- 22nd March
- 15th March
- 8th March
- 1st March
- 23rd February
- 16th February
- 9th February
- 2nd February
- 26th January
- 19th January
- 12th January
- 5th January
-
+ 2019
- 29th December
- 22nd December
- 15th December
- 8th December
- 1st December
- 24th November
- 17th November
- 10th November
- 3rd November
- 27th October
- 20th October
- 13th October
- 6th October
- 29th September
- 22nd September
- 15th September
- 8th September
- 1st September
- 25th August
- 18th August
- 11th August
- 4th August
- 28th July
- 21st July
- 14th July
- 7th July
- 30th June
- 23rd June
- 16th June
- 9th June
- 2nd June
- 19th May
- 19th May
- 12th May
- 5th May
- 28th April
- 21st April
- 14th April
- 7th April
- 31st March
- 24th March
- 17th March
- 10th March
- 3rd March
- 24th February
- 17th February
- 10th February
- 3rd February
- 27th January
- 20th January
- 13th January
- 6th January
-
+ 2018
- 30th December
- 23rd December
- 16th December
- 9th December
- 2nd December
- 25th November
- 18th November
- 11th November
- 4th November
- 28th October
- 21st October
- 14th October
- 7th October
- 30th September
- 23rd September
- 16th September
- 9th September
- 2nd September
- 26th August
- 19th August
- 5th August
- 29th July
- 22nd July
- 15th July
- 8th July
- 1st July
- 24th June
- 17th June
- 10th June
- 3rd June
- 27th May
- 20th May
- 13th May
- 6th May
- 29th April
- 22nd April
- 15th April
- 8th April
- 1st April
- 25th March
- 18th March
- 11th March
- 4th March
- 25th February
- 18th February
- 11th February
- 4th February
- 28th January
- 21st January
- 14th January
- 7th January
- + 2017
Covid-19: Progress Report This Week
Numbers at Mass last week were up again at 188, the four previous weeks being 183, 152, 184 and 179. We continue to monitor the situation week by week, under direction from Bishop Mark. Four of the ten Diocesan Parishes temporarily closed (out of 110), either because they are in Covid-19 hot-spots or because the Parish Priest himself has tested positive, are now preparing to re-open, which is more good news. Still a critical need for everyone to take maximum care, both here in Church and in every other part of our lives. Meanwhile, good to hear that so many of you had had your first jabs. Some of you have been kind enough to enquire when I will receive mine: absurdly, I received a letter this week telling me I was next in the queue as a "rising 70". How ridiculous! I’ve sent it straight back and got them to change it to "Rising 60". How very dare they!
Infection Figures for Last Week
Friday night, 12th February, Bishop Mark sent us the latest Infection Figures for the eleven Local Authorities of the Diocese. As you can see, they are all pointing in the same welcome direction:
- Halton: 220 per 100,000 (378; 522; 897; 1,148)
- Wirral: 184 (252; 384; 763; 976)
- Telford and Wrekin: 245 (305; 373; 588; 550)
- Warrington: 208 (312; 369; 577; 780)
- Shropshire: 178 (211; 244; 500; 420)
- Manchester: 215 (291; 339; 488; 492)
- Cheshire West: 161 (250; 314; 464; 528)
- Tameside: 187 (238; 309; 418; 407)
- Stockport: 202 (251; 274; 416; 503)
- Trafford: 155 (211; 263; 406; 495)
- Cheshire East: 150 (197; 212; 368; 388)
Still a long way to go, but at least the figures are coming down and not going up?
Ash Wednesday
Delighted to be able to offer two Masses for the start of Lent, at 10.00 and 11.00 am. Huge thanks to the team of Stewards who have wolunteered to be on duty for those two hours, without whom we would not be able to offer anything. Our Covid-19 Taskforce has concluded there is no way we can safely impose Ashes in our church in the traditional way, and have come up with a very imaginative alternative. When you enter church, you will be given something that looks like a Prayer Card, with an Ash Cross on it. FP will have put these crosses on a few days earlier. At the moment of Blessing, please all hold up your cards, and they will be blessed together. The Mass and Holy Communion will proceed as they normally do in these Covid-19 times, and your Ashes Card is yours to take home with you and keep for the whole of Lent, for the whole of the Year ahead if you wish. If you are not able to come to Mass on Wednesday and would like one of these cards, please send us a SAE and we’ll pop one in the post for you with pleasure.
If I can touch you, we are too close!
Magazines, Year Books, Ordos...
Day by Day (£1) magazines and Sacred Heart Messengers (£1.50) in the porch as you leave, plus Diocesan Year Books and Ordos (£5 each). Just take the mags and pop the money in next week!
Arriving for Mass at the Last Minute
I know it’s the mark of a true Catholic to arrive for Mass thirty seconds before the Bell rings, but in these Covid-19 times, that’s one particular habit our Door Stewards would love you to give up for Lent!! They tell me it was particularly bad at the 11.00 am and 12.00 noon Mass. They have to keep you socially distanced, six feet apart, take down your Track and Trace details, make sure you’ve hand-sanitised and then show you to your seat. Can’t be done in thirty seconds, folks! Especially if there are lots of you on that particular kick. PLEASE break the habit of a lifetime and arrive five minutes before Mass starts?
Gift Aid Envelope Users: IMPORTANT
As we are unable to put the 2021/22 Gift Aid envelopes out in church for you to collect, we plan to deliver them to your home. It is therefore essential that we have your correct address. If you have moved in the last few years or are unsure if we hold your current address, please let Denise our Gift Aid Organiser know as soon as possible. Denise can be contacted at: Email: sydanddenny@btinternet.com; Phone: 01244 345676. Thank you for your ongoing support for St Werburgh’s during these difficult times which is very much appreciated.
Bishop Mark Writes, Friday 12th February...
In these last days before Lent, there is always a sense of anticipation, perhaps heightened this year by the expectation of parish life beginning to emerge from the severest of lockdown restrictions. At present, we cannot foresee the chronology or the changes to the pastoral landscape in the months ahead. However, we can make use of the Lenten Season to seek that interior renewal which will best prepare us for the challenges and opportunities to come. May Saint Joseph accompany us on this Lenten journey,
+ Mark Bishop of Shrewsbury
Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals?
Baptisms: permitted, but "Rule of Six" - maximum of six people allowed to attend.
Weddings: only in exceptional circumstances such as grave illness, and, again, "Rule of Six".
Funerals: permitted, with a maximum of thirty people attending.
Want to Get on Zoom?
Like many of you, I was a reluctant convert to Zoom, but it’s been an absolute lifesaver, bringing people together in all sorts of ways. I’m grateful to Marco and the SVP for sorting me out and getting Zoom installed. Would any of you like a hand to get it installed? If you have a laptop or tablet (or smartphone), then the microphone and camera are ready-installed. If, like me, you only have a desktop, the kit costs about £25. We can order it for you. Interested? Just let me know, and we can help.
This Week’s Photo of the Week: Saint Peter?
Archive Photo from 1994, the Lord Mayor of Chester, Councillor Margaret Byatt visiting St Werburgh’s. Anyone remember the occasion? And is it just me, or is there the ghost of a halo over the head of our previous Parish Priest?? Saint Peter???