Parish Newsletter

Liturgical

II Chronicles 36, 14-23; Psalm 136; Ephesians 2, 4-10; John 3, 14-21

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Geraldine Pile (3^rd Anniversary)

Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Angela Murray

Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Gelsomino and Erminia DiTrolio; Antonietta Palmieri

Sunday 12.30 pm: Baptism of Orla Marie Jones

Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Rachael Andrews (15^th Anniversary)

 

Monday 11^th March: Ferial: Isaiah 65, 17-21; Psalm 29; John 4, 43-54

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

2.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Requiem Mass for Joe Barlow, late of Shot Tower Close

6.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: First Holy Communion Commentary Mass

 

Tuesday 12^th March: Ferial: Ezekiel 47, 1-12; Psalm 45; John 5, 1-16

8.30 am: St Werburgh’s: Monica Maher (Birthday Remembrance)

 

Wednesday 13^th March: Ferial: Isaiah 49, 8-15; Psalm 144; John 5, 17-30

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Danny Lunt (12^th Anniversary)

7.00 pm: Lyn and Richard Williams’ House Mass

 

Thursday 14^th March: Ferial: Exodus 32, 7-14; Psalm 105; John 5, 31-47

9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Brian Shaw (Anniversary, 1986)

 

Friday 15^th March: Ferial: Wisdom 2, 1-22: Psalm 33; John 7, 1-30

10.00 am: Primary School Reconciliation Services

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: John and Vera Clyne

1.05 pm: High School: Weekly Voluntary Class Mass

3.00 pm: Northop Crematorium: Funeral Service for Lillian Jervis, late of Carrick Road, Curzon Park

7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Lenten Devotions

 

Saturday 16^th March: Ferial: Jeremiah 11, 18-20; Psalm 7; John 7, 40-52

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

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

 

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

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 40^th 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)

 

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, Cynthia Smith, Lillian Jervis and Margaret Gasson; and for all those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Bill Allinson, Daniel Lunt, Carole Macintyre, May Woolrich, Leonard Creighton, Monica Page, Dennis Byrne, Peter Geoghegan, Becky Banks, Katherine Mayers, Edward Fearon, Geoff Rowley, Helen Fallon, Michael Melia, Edith Painter, Peter Dowd, Elizabeth Lydiate, June Mulcrone, Thomas Patterson, Gerard Daly, Anthony Astle, Dot Booth, John Shepherd, James Ferneyhough, Sheila Crowther, Patrick Metcalf, Christine Earle, Peter Shepherd, Tom Boulton, Margaret Maddocks, David Crawford-Williams, Tony Haycock, Peter Roberts and Sheila Holland, Joan Crossley, Eileen Lloyd, Kate Stephen. 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 Four Down, Two to Go

• 15^th March: In Church Stations – SVP and Claire
• 22^nd March: In Church Stations – Denise
• 29^th March: GOOD FRIDAY

 

Our Parish Outings Group Sets Off…

We’re heading out to Bodnant Gardens and Llandudno in June or early July: leaving Chester 9.30; arriving Bodnant 10.45; two hours to look round the gardens; arriving Llandudno 1.00 pm; everyone to get their own lunch and have a great afternoon; leaving at 5.00 pm and back to Chester for 6.15 pm. Should be a lovely day out, the coach costing £15, and entry to the Gardens another £15 (free to NT members). At this stage, we’d like an expression of interest. It doesn’t commit you to coming, but please sign up if you’d fancy it, and then if we get sufficient numbers we’ll go ahead.

 

Christleton Churches Together Lent Chapel Visits

Two visits planned this year: Tuesday 12^th March to the High School Chapel (please meet outside main School Entrance at 2.30 pm) and on Thursday 21^st March to the Hospital Chapel. All welcome!

 

Eucharistic Ministers Ready for Service Again!

Sorry for the delay in reintroducing your Ministry. 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.

 

SVP High School Tea: Wed 13^th March, 2.00 pm

You are invited to the CHS Tea. Please contact Marco Abbiati if you want to attend on bububaba05@icloud.com and Fran if you require transport arranged on fran.waldie@gmail.com.

 

Governor Required for Our Primary School

“We would warmly invite anyone interested in finding out more about the role to contact the school in the first instance to arrange an informal chat.  Telephone Sarah on  01244 478954 or email: admin@lovelearnlaugh.org.uk ”

 

Caritas Spring Collection

Please bring the content of your boxes to 9.00 am or 10.45 am Mass on Sunday 17^th March, in a strong envelope or plastic bag clearly marked with your name and address. New box holders welcome!

 

End of Financial Year Gift Aid Notices

• If you no longer pay income tax, please let FP or Denise Jones know by 5^th 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 2023/24.
• 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. If you’re interested in joining the scheme, contact FP or Denise Jones.
• New Tax Year Weekly Offertory Envelopes are at the back of church, starting Sunday 7^th

If you use envelopes, please help by collecting yours as soon as possible. Thank you.

 

First Holy Communions Meetings in March

• Monday 11^th March at 6.30 pm here at Church:
• A Commentary Mass for all children and their families. This is an important part of the children’s FHC preparation programme.
• Tuesday 19^th 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.

 

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

Pam Woodhead, formerly of 14 Delvine Drive, Upton. An old friend would like to get in touch with Pam.

 

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.

 

SVP Music Night at the High School

Friday 15^th March at 19.15 pm. Tickets are £10, on sale after each Mass on this. More information from Marco bububaba05@icloud.com.

 

Holy Week Volunteer Rota Now Out

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 20^th March at 7.00 pm. Please do not volunteer to read if you cannot attend. Many thanks.

 

NW University Chaplains Meeting Here

All day Thursday, and all Chaplains very welcome.

 

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

For Peace in the Middle East.

 

2^nd Collection for Easter Flowers: 16/17 March

 

Next Library Open Morning:

Monday 11^th March 9.30 to 11.30 am. The current themes are Lent and Easter with a selection of books available but do come and take a look at the 20 or so categories and hundreds of books on offer. The library is also accessible before and after Mass on Sundays.

 

Our Youngsters’ Easter Cards On Sale Again!

 

Highlight from the High

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

 

Diocesan Architect’s Plans for Day Chapel

Excellent meeting on Thursday, plans taking shape!

 

Photo of the Week: Christmas at St Francis

Enjoying Christmas Lunch, and then going down to Florence Grogan NH in Blacon to celebrate Mass with their own Fr Jim Durkin, now resident there.

And I joined them all on Boxing Day!