5 February 2012

Liturgical

Job 7, 1-4; Psalm 146; I Corinthians 9, 16-23; Mark 1, 29-39

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Eugene McGuigan (L.D.)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh's: Vincent Lea (Anniversary 1997)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh's: Tom Cashman (3rd Anniversary)
Sunday 12.30 pm: St Werburgh's: Baptism of Joshua Henry Michael Hague (NB Baptism, not Mass)
Sunday 1.00 pm: St Werburgh's: Baptism of Elissa Cheryl Palumbo (NB Baptism, not Mass)
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh's: Tom Jennings (1st Anniversary)

Monday 6th February: St Paul Miki and Companions: I Kings 8, 1-13; Psalm 131; Mark 6, 53-56
12.15 pm: St Werburgh's: Intentions of Yasmin
1.05 pm: University Chapel: University Mass - all welcome!

Tuesday 7th February: Ferial: I Kings 8, 22-30; Psalm 83; Mark 7, 1-13.
1.00 pm: St Werburgh's: Requiem Mass for Sylvia Shaw, late of Butterbur Close, Huntington

Wednesday 8th February: Ferial: I Kings 10, 1-10; Psalm 36; Mark 7, 14-23
12.15 pm: St Werburgh's: Intentions of the Gresty Family

Thursday 9th February: Ferial: I Kings 11, 4-13; Psalm 105; Mark 7, 24-30
10.30 am: St Werburgh's: Requiem Mass for Pat Fitzgerald, late of Arkell Court, Vicar's Cross

Friday 10th February: Saint Scholastica: I Kings 11,29 - 12,19; Psalm 80; Mark 7, 31-37
11.00 - 12.00 noon: St Werburgh's: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
12.15 pm: St Werburgh's: Ursula Ratchford

Saturday 11th February: Our Lady of Lourdes: I Kings 12, 26 - 13,34; Psalm 105; Mark 8, 1-10
10.30 - 12.00 noon: St Werburgh's: Confessions
12.30 pm: St Werburgh's: Baptism of Joseph Alan Allison
6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: The Old Nuisance

SUNDAY 12th FEBRUARY 2012: SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)
Leviticus 13, 1-46; Psalm 31; I Corinthians 10,31 - 11,1; Mark 1, 40-45

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: The Old Nuisance
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh's: Eileen Mary Scanlan (Birthday Remembrance)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh's: Scott and Margaret Brotherston
Sunday 12.30 pm: St Werburgh's: Baptism of Isabel Diana Hughes (NB Baptism, not Mass)
Sunday 2.00 pm: St Werburgh's: Baptism of Rhys Keenan (NB Baptism, not Mass)
Sunday 2.30 pm: St Werburgh's: Baptism of Ava Grace Lewtey (NB Baptism, not Mass)
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh's: Kathleen and Bridget Hoystead

PRAYER INTENTIONS

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Sandra Barrett, Gwyneth Gill, Christine Davies, Bill Borthwick, Ray Astbury, Pat Concannon, Michael Morton, Sylvia Francis, Kath Rich, Bert Davies, Josie Long; and for all the sick and housebound of the Parish. And for those who have died recently, especially Maurice Shanley, Mary Rowlands, Sylvia Shaw and Pat Fitzgerald and those whose anniversaries occur at this time: Vincent Lea, Joan Williams, Emily Cunniff. Patrick Langan, Thomas Lloyd, Joseph Melia, Barbara Sanby, Patrick Cawley, Anne Harding, Mary Knight, Nessie Hughes, Gary Leslie, Fred Tilston, Stanley Moore, Patricia Hollins, Christopher Mulchrone, Joyce Cureton. Patricia Thomas, Margaret Smith, Mary Hughes and Walter Donnelly. May they all Rest in Peace.

Parish events

New tax year weekly offertory envelopes

The 2012/13 envelopes are available at the back of church. If you use envelopes, please collect yours.

Feast of St Werburgh today

Once again, a dip into the archives - can you guess the year of the extract today?

St Werburgh's Night parish social - Friday February 10th at the club

Our very popular annual Parish Social down at the club to mark St Werburgh's Feast Day will be on Friday Feb 10th, starting at 7.00 pm. Free tickets available this weekend, entitling you all to the free buffet and one free drink! See you all there! We'll have a grand raffle for the Michael Hayward appeal. Any gifts of prizes, please?

Postponed choir practice

On Monday evening at 6.00 pm, I have been invited to the Dale Barracks for a special Eve of Deployment Service, to ask for God's Blessing on everyone at this critical time. This is part of a new strengthening of our links with the Barracks and Regiments, always part of St Werburgh's Parish. I thought this was an important invitation, so can we please postpone Choir Practice for a while?

Catholic Enquiry Course

Good second meeting on Monday 30th January. We meet next on Monday February 13th, 7.00 pm in the house, and certainly not too late to join us.

Michael Hayward "Whatever!" appeal

The Onslow String Quartet Concert here in Church Friday was a wonderful evening of music, classical and popular - and raised a magnificent £583.97 for the Appeal, which takes our total up to £6,702.50!

Prayers for our diocese

Week 92, and on to RAF Shawbury, near Whitchurch, where Mass is said every week.

Rebecca Coriam

Mike and Anne have been campaigning tirelessly since Rebecca's disappearance from a cruise liner off the coast of Mexico in March last year, both for news of her and for the wider issues raised by her case. Open Meeting on Thursday 23rd Feb at 8.00 pm in the Parish House for all those interested in becoming involved.

Next Parish day out: Tuesday 22nd May

To Newport (Shropshire) and Hawkstone Hall. Mass will be celebrated in this historic Church next door to the first place of residence for the Bishops of Shrewsbury (Salters Hall). After Lunch we travel through the Shropshire countryside to Hawkstone Hall for a Tour and Tea. A glorious 18th century Palladian Mansion which since 1926 has been cared for by the Redemptorists, it also houses the unique Library established by Bishop Moriarty. Keep the above day free if you'd like to join us!

Wednesday coffee after Mass

Join us after Mass on Wednesday 13th February for our popular snack and a chat.

Annual Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes

Tuesday 24th July to Wednesday 1st August 2012 overland and Wednesday 25th July to Tuesday 31st July 2012 by air. Please send £100 deposit to the Pilgrimage Office, St Peters, 16 Green Lane, Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 4EA. A brochure and booking form will be sent as soon as they become available. If those who have paid deposits decide not to proceed after our prices are finalised their deposit will be fully refunded.

Virtual Way of the Cross on our website

During the 14 weeks leading up to Easter, the parish website will display pages for each of the Stations of the Cross in our Church. Each week, you may add your own contributions to the commentary. Week 6: Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. Follow the link from the home page to add your thoughts and reflections to this week's Station of the Cross. Those already completed can all be visited in the section of the website entitled The Catholic Faith.

Liturgy Group meeting next Wednesday

7.00 pm. A warm welcome is extended to any Parishioner who has an interest in the way we prepare for and celebrate the Liturgy in St Werburgh's to come along and share your talents. Do come. Your parish needs you!

Retired priests' fund special collection

Thanks for your support. Any more contributions?

Agape meal - Shrove Tuesday

Chester City Centre Churches will be holding an AGAPE Service at 7.00 pm on Shrove Tuesday 21st February at The Salvation Army, St Anne's Street, Newtown. In the ancient church, an AGAPE Service was a gathering of the faithful with prayers and hymns, at the heart of which was a communal meal. Chester City Centre Churches invite you to this AGAPE Service, following which we will enjoy a shared meal, to which you are kindly asked to bring a plate of food for sharing. Please let us know if you'd like to come.

At our club this week

Irish Dancing 6.30pm every Monday. Folk session every Monday at 2pm. This week's live football includes: Sunday 5th Feb - Chelsea v Man Utd 4pm; Monday 6th Feb - Liverpool v Spurs 8pm; Wed 8th Feb - Hearts v Celtic 8pm; Sat 11th Feb - Man Utd v Liverpool 12.45pm. Next Local Produce Fair will be held on Thursday 23rd Feb 4pm to 6pm and then the last Thursday of each month at the same time. Friday night is our parish social: got your free ticket yet?

A dip into history

The letter reproduced below, from Chester Town Hall to Edmund Kirby, architect of St Werburgh's Church, relates to the establishment of access to the planned Church buildings, and is part of the lengthy arguments that led to the Church being orientated in the opposite direction from most churches. In St Werburgh's, the liturgical 'East' end (housing the altar, and traditionally facing towards the Holy Land) is actually situated at the geographical western extremity of the building. But in what year was this letter written?