Parish Newsletter
SUNDAY 26th MARCH 2023: FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT (YEAR A)
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
Ezekiel 37, 12-14; Psalm 129; Romans 8, 8-11; John 11, 1-45
Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Caroline Miller (5th Anniversary, Michigan)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Gerald Barcroft (11th Anniversary)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Minnie Taylor (30th Anniversary)
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Kevin and Dolores Coriam (Anniversaries)
Monday 27th March: Ferial: Daniel 13, 1-62; Psalm 22; John 8, 1-11
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Requiem Mass for Joan Duff, late of Richards Croft
7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Confirmation Class Four for Adults
Tuesday 28th March: Ferial: Numbers 21, 4-9; Psalm 101; John 8, 21-30
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Requiem Mass for Lee Jennings
7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Meeting for Holy Week Readers
Wednesday 29th March: Ferial: Daniel 3, 14-285; Psalm Daniel 3; John 8, 31-42
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Dilys Ball (11th Anniversary)
7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Confirmation Class Five for Youngsters
Thursday 30th March: Ferial: Genesis 17, 3-9; Psalm 104; John 8, 51-59
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Kathleen Smyth (L.D.)
Friday 31st March: Ferial: Jeremiah 20, 10-13; Psalm 17; John 10, 31-42
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Betty Park (L.D.)
1.45 pm: Catholic High School: Mass for Staff Inset Day
7.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Stations of the Cross
Saturday 1st April: 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
1.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Wedding Service for Nicholas Hazel and Aoife Doyle
6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Tess and Paul Connor
SUNDAY 2nd APRIL 2023: PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD (YEAR A)
Isaiah 50, 4-7; Psalm 21; Philippians 2, 6-11; Matthew 26, 14-27
Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Tess and Paul Connor
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Catherine Wenrle (L.D. Bushey, Herts)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Mary Taylor (Birthday Remembrance)
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Kathleen and Raymond Wilbraham
Prayer intentions
Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Kath Stanton, Brian Boardman Jnr, James Convey, Bill Hackett, Laura Chadwick, Stuart Clark, Keith Hayes, Ruth O’Kane, and Kevin Maguire and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Lee Jennings and Joan Duff; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Angela Pavia, Mary Smith, Michael Bird, Maureen Newton, Michael Feeney, Edna Smith, Susan Lofthouse, Cath Thompson, Margaret Keenan, Catherine Bottomley, Joe Stockton, Norah Williams, Alan Baines, Eleanor Clay, Phyllis Kerrison, George Wilson, Alice Hignett, Sylvia Pritchard, Patricia Davies, Urcina Hernandez, Pope John Paul II, David Ollerhead, Paddy Elliott and Maureen Farrell. May they all Rest in Peace. May They All Rest in Peace.
Parish Information and Contacts
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 Reps: Liz Aiello (email: elizabeth.aiello20@btinternet.com, tel: 07813743723) and
Chris Proudfoot (email: chrisproudfoot.stwerbughs@btinternet.com, tel; 07711495070)
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
Holy Week and Easter Volunteer Rota
Filling up well, but we still need wolunteers from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday inclusive for the following roles: Readers, Communion Stewards / Welcomers, Offertory Collectors, Procession of the Oils, and Washing of the Feet. Please sign up today if you can possibly do so. Many thanks!
Holy Week / Easter Readers Meeting
Tuesday 28th March, 7.00 pm in the House, to go through the arrangements for all the Readings, and specially the Palm Sunday and Good Friday Passions. Please do your very best to attend if you have volunteered for one of these roles.
Should We Keep Communion Stewards?
Total Votes Cast: 205 (63% of those present)
Mass Attendance at both morning Masses: 324
9.00 am: 102 votes – 33 (32%) for, 69 (68%) against
10.45: 103 votes – 43 (42%) for, 60 (58%) against
Total: 205 votes, 76 (37%) for, 129 (63%) against
So, roughly two thirds think we should drop Stewards, and one third want to keep them. Monday Morning’s Taskforce Meeting discussed this at some length, and decided the best way forward was to keep Stewards for High Days and Holydays but to incorporate their role otherwise with that of Fire Marshalls going forward. This is purely precautionary, but a necessary precaution, in the event of needing to evacuate the church speedily. Please see the separate notice below, and do please send your name in if you’d be willing to take on this new role.
Gift Aid: Some Important Notices
- If you no longer pay income tax, please let Fr Paul or Denise Jones know by 5th April, otherwise it will be assumed that you have paid sufficient income tax for the Parish to claim Gift Aid on your donations for the tax year 2022/23. Thank you.
- Change of Address Please let us know if you have changed your home address in the last 2 years.
- Offertory Envelopes 2023/24: If you have not yet collected your box, please take it as soon as possible. Thank you.
- the Gift Aid Scheme: If you pay income tax, joining the Gift Aid scheme increases the value of your donations to the Parish by 25% at no extra cost to you. If you are interested in joining the scheme, please contact Fr Paul or Denise Jones.
Fire Marshals Needed
We need three Fire Marshals on duty at Sunday Mass, a role that our communion stewards previously fulfilled, one for each of the exits. The duty is simply about getting people out of the church safely in the event of a fire alarm sounding. If you could volunteer for this role please let FP or Marian McC know, by Easter Monday, 10th April. Training sessions will be organised.
Calling All Eucharistic Ministers
Would as many as possible come to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday Evening (7.30 pm) for the renewal of vows? We appreciate that this reintroduction may well be the moment for some to decide to stand down, and this is fully in the spirit of our ongoing Parish Renewal Programme. Meanwhile, come on Maundy Thursday!
Easter Day by Days and Sacred Heart Messengers
Now on the table at the back of Church, £1 each.
SVP Lenten Reconciliation Service
Saturday 1st April, 10.30 am at St. Werburgh's, followed by tea and coffee. Everyone is welcome. Please get in touch with Fran if you need a lift on fran.waldie@gmail.com
Christian Aid Lent Lunches: 12.00-1.30 pm
Thursday 30th March: St Mary’s Handbridge This is the final one this year, so do come along if you can. Many thanks to everyone who supported. (Apologies for the mistake last week!) Our own St Werburgh’s day raised a fantastic £521. You can see how they loved my nettle and daffodil consommé. When it’s gone, it’s gone…
SVP Membership Support Officer (MSO)
The SVP would like to recruit a MSO for the Shrewsbury Diocese. A part time role (15 hours per week) working as part of the SVP Membership Team, to support member recruitment and development, provide general support for members and be the link between local Conferences and National Office. For further information and details of how to apply, contact Lance Philpott, Head of Membership at lancep@svp.org.uk Closing date for applications is Sunday 16th April 2023.
Repository Pre-Loved (aka Second-Hand!) Sale
Pre-loved Goods total: March 2023 £159.21, Wow!
Monday 20th March: Commentary Mass
Plenty of opportunity last Monday to involve the children and their families in some lively question-and-answer stuff. (Sound of groaning from parishioners). Even our wonderful Catechists on occasions…. FP: So, what liturgical colour today? We’re in the middle of Lent. Yesterday was Laetare Sunday. Anybody? Mrs Robertshaw? Mrs Robertshaw: Green? (It’s the children you feel sorry for, isn’t it?)
Easter Flowers Second Collection This Weekend
Lent Friday Evenings: 7.30 pm
Enormous thanks to Lyn for presenting such a lovely Zoom Lenten Meditation on Friday. It brought together 24 parishioners – from Tarporley, Ashton Hayes, Great Barrow and Pulford, as well as central Chester itself. So powerful. Final Friday Evening is 31st March, an in-person Stations of the Cross here in Church led by our own wonderful Denise.
Lent Chapel Visits
Final one this Lent: Hawarden and Gladstone country, on Thursday, 2.30.
Photo of the Week: Dr P Gallivanting (again!)
Église Saint-Bernard de Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in the Haute-Savoie region of France. As the name suggests, this is up in the Alps, not far from the Swiss border. (Dr P gets about a bit, doesn’t he?)