Parish Newsletter

Liturgical

II Samuel 7,1-16; Psalm 88; Romans 16, 25-27; Luke 1, 26-38

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Peter Whitby (L.D.)

Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Syd Jones

Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Deceased Members of the Noone and Cummins Families

 

SUNDAY 24^th DECEMBER: CHRISTMAS EVE 

Sunday 4.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Children’s Christmas Vigil Mass (Now Fully Booked): Barbara Dolan

Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Children’s Christmas Vigil Mass: Eugene McElduff (1^st Anniversary)

Sunday 8.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Vigil Mass of Christmas: Jones and Garbett Family

Sunday 11.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Carols and Midnight Mass: Matthew Robinson

 

MONDAY 25^th DECEMBER: CHRISTMAS DAY

Monday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Dawn Mass of Christmas: Brian Boardman

Monday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Day Mass of Christmas: Alex Barnes

 

TUESDAY 26^th DECEMBER: FEAST OF ST STEPHEN

Tuesday 10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Annual Altar Servers’ Mass – All Welcome: Intentions of B&D

 

Wednesday 27^th December: St John: I John 1, 1-4; Psalm 96; John 20, 2-8

10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Requiem Mass for Alan Bonner, late of Tattenhall

 

Thursday 28^th December: The Holy Innocents: I John 1,5 – 2,2; Psalm 123; Matthew 2, 13-18

10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of Joan

 

Friday 29^th December: St Thomas Becket: Colossians 1, 24-29; Psalm 22; Luke 22, 24-30

10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Sioban and John Ryan (Birthday Remembrance and Anniversary)

 

Saturday 30^th December: Sixth Day of Christmas Octave: I John 2, 12-17; Psalm 95; Luke 2, 36-40

10.00 am: HMP Berwyn: Mass for Prisoners, Staff and Visitors

6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Ana and Leo Wedding Anniversary Thanksgiving

 

SUNDAY 31^st DECEMBER 2023: THE HOLY FAMILY (YEAR B)

Ecclesiasticus 3, 2-14; Psalm 127; Colossians 3, 12-21; Luke 2, 22-40

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Ana and Leo Wedding Anniversary Thanksgiving

Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Felicity Hughes (L.D.)

Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Deceased Members of the Tasker Family

Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Malcolm Crowther

Sunday 12.00 Midnight: St Werburgh’s: For God’s Blessings on 2024

 

Prayer Intentions

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Wendy O’Brien, Jimmy McCahy, 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 Felicity Hughes, Brian Haslam, Kevin Smyth, Alan Bonner, Joyce Casey, Maureen Carroll and Joyce Backhouse; and for all those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Johnnie Jones, Edward Davies, Patricia Smith, Joan Barlow, Krystyna Pepper, Patricia Wood, Charlie Esser, Pat Crayton, Doris Vickers, Tony Shepherd, Terry Pealing, Luzia McDonough, Lexy Wilkinson, Winifred Challinor, Mary Hoban, Rita Duckers, John Haresnape. Joseph Doran, John O’Leary, Winifred Shaw, Arthur Biscaine, Brian Clegg, Barbara McKeown, Sheelagh Potter, John Oliphant, Charles Green, James McCleary, Pat Walsh, Vera Howard, Michael Davies, John Ruane, Doreen Nardini and Bridget Jennings, Debra Larkin. 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

The Parish Family – The Family of Prayer

We were all shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Felicity Hughes, Marian Curtis’s daughter, knocked off her bicycle on the way to work last week. We send Marian, Jeremy and Eve our deepest sympathies and warmest love. Very sadly, two more sudden and unexpected deaths this week, Consilia’s brother Kevin, who died in his sleep Tuesday night, and Brian Haslam, on Wednesday, one of our great Rowton contingent. Kevin had always been looked after by their father until he was no longer able to do so, which was when Consilia and Simon moved Kevin up to Chester and did a wonderful job caring for him here. Brian was ninety and was soldiering on amazingly after the death of his beloved wife Cath two years ago. May Kevin, Brian and Felicity rest in the peace of the Risen Lord. Felicity’s Requiem Mass is here on Friday 19^th January at 12.00 noon. A number of other parishioners are also in our prayers at this time, for themselves and their family members, undergoing medical tests or treatments of various kinds. As we always say in this parish, whatever anyone is going through today, we can’t go through it for you, but we can go through it with you. And that can make the world of difference.

The family of prayer.

 

Christmas Times: 4.30 pm Fully Booked

• Christmas Eve: 4.30, 6.00, 8.30 and 11.30 pm. Booking Essential 4.30 pm: and all tickets now gone
• Christmas Day: 9.00 am and 10.45 am.
• Boxing Day: 10.00 am: Altar Servers Mass.

 

Christmas Volunteer Rota

Filling up nicely: thanks! If you can fill those few last slots, we’d bite your arm off.  

A Eucharistic Minister needed for 6.00 pm, please, and Collectors for 10.45 on Christmas Day.

You will get your reward in Heaven. Promise.

 

Christmas Flowers: Second Collection £583-20

Thank you for your very generous response – and the lovely Christmas Tree in the Porch decorated with all your Prayer Stars. Crib now in place! Please don’t forget your Crib Offerings which go to the Diocesan Children’s Society, now part of Caritas.

 

Mass Times Between Christmas and Epiphany

• Boxing Day 10.00 am – Altar Servers Mass for St Stephen’s Day – Everyone Welcome!
• Weekdays thereafter at 10.00 am
• Sunday 31^st December – Holy Family – Normal Sunday Mass Times
• Sunday 31^st December – Midnight Mass to see in the New Year and pray for God’s Blessings on 2024
• Epiphany Holyday - Sunday 7^th January  - Normal Sunday Mass Times

 

Final Children’s Liturgy of this Year

Sunday 17^th December, starting up again on Sunday 7^th January. The team would love to have more volunteers if you were able to help out.

 

Welcome Wednesdays!

A huge success over these last couple of months: starting up again Wednesday 10^th January.

See you all there, 10.00-12.00 noon!

 

Would Make Beautiful Christmas Presents…

We’ve had donated two new Ukuleles, in cases, with Instruction Booklets – they might be a breeding pair, but I can’t be sure – and a lovely Stamp Album mainly featuring Vatican Stamps. On the table at the back of church for your inspection. Sealed bids to FP please, and all proceeds to Caritas.

Closing Date for Bids: Sunday 24^th Dec 12.00 noon

 

Repository: Now Arrived in Blackpool…

Bernice and Paula are happily ensconced in Mrs Peabody’s Guest House on the South Shore, 21^st December onwards, for their usual Turkey and Tinsel Christmas, and sent us this photo yesterday: 

They’re in the party hats nearest to the camera. Enjoy, girls – and go easy on the gravy!

 

Concerts in St Werburgh’s

Some super concerts here in our church in recent weeks – Chester Bach Singers, Dee Ensemble, Cathedral Nave Choir. All due back in 2024, plus Chester Male Voice Choir and a number of others coming for the first time. Choirs and Musicians are always welcome, and we make no charge for their use of our beautiful church. Just give us plenty of notice, as we book up fast!

 

Photo of the Week: Junior Werbie in the Smoke

Not just Santa coming to town, but Sebastian, a proud Junior Werbie, visiting the crib in Westminster Cathedral after the 10.00 am Mass there last Sunday. Their Crib is almost as good as ours, isn’t it? Hurry back to Chester, Sebastian, and make sure you’re tucked up in bed good and early on Christmas Eve…