SUNDAY 17th May 2026: Seventh Sunday of Easter Acts 1:12-14; Psalm 27; 1 Peter 4:13-16; Jn 17:1-11
Saturday 6:00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Peter Whitby (BR)
Sunday 9:00 am: Brian Boardman (10th Anniv.)
Sunday 10:45 am: Mary Barton (2nd Anniv.)
Sunday 6:00 pm: For the people of the Parish
Monday 18th May – Ferial (St John I Pp, M): Acts 19:1-8; Psalm 67; John 16:29-33
7:30 am Joseph O’Leary (RIP)
11 am Eucharistic Adoration, followed by Mass at 12:15 pm. Bernard Tighe (RD)
Tuesday 19th May – Ferial (St Milburga): Acts 20:17-27; Psalm 67; John 17:1-11
12:15 pm: Angela Doherty (BR)
Wednesday 20th May – Ferial (St Bernadine Of Siena): Acts 20:28-38; Psalm 67; John 17:11-19
12:15 pm: Margaret Testo (RD)
Thursday 21st May – THE DEDICATION OF THE CATHEDRAL: Acts 7:44-50; Psalm 95; John 2:13-22
11 am Eucharistic Adoration, followed by Mass at 12:15 pm: For the intentions of the Bishop and our Diocesan family.
Friday 22nd May – Ferial (St Rita of Cascia): Acts 25:13-21; Psalm 102; John 21:15-19
11 am Eucharistic Adoration, followed by Mass at 12:15 pm: Siobhán Smith (2nd Anniversary)
Saturday 23rd May – Ferial: Acts 28:16-20,30-31; Psalm 10; John 21:20-25
Mass 9:00 am: Rose Rozario (14th Anniv.) followed by adoration and confessions
*** PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE NO MASS AT ROWTON THIS SATURDAY *** Instead, here in church, at 6:00 pm., we will celebrate the Vigil of Pentecost with Baptism and reception into full communion with the Catholic Church. The Mass will be offered for the candidates and catechumens and for the people of the Parish. Please do join us if you can to offer support and welcome.
SUNDAY 24th May 2026: PENTECOST SUNDAY Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104; Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; John 20:19-23
Day of Special Prayer for the Church
Sunday 9:00 am: Katie Curtis (Anniv.) and her sister Felicity Curtis (RIP)
Sunday 10:45 am: Daphne Taylor (9th Anniv.)
Sunday 6:00 pm: David Woodbury (Anniv.)
Prayer Intentions
Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Helen and Peter Jones, Rita Spencer, Duncan Mason, Michael Melia, José Luis Velasco, Jimmy McCahy, Kath Stanton, Brian Boardman Jnr, Bill Hackett, Stuart Clark, Kevin Maguire, Ruth O’Kane, Phillip Peers and Adele Vance, and for all the sick of the Parish. We also remember our beloved dead, particularly those who have died recently, including Teresa Bainbridge, Mary Bannon, Prof. Paul Black, Ian Bruce, Margaret Chantler, Pam Corkerton, Antonia Daniel-Passmore, Ena Donovan, Keith Gornall, Jamie Lee Granger, Wendy Griffith, Derek Hannaby, Harry Huxley, Jeni Jamieson, Sam Marsden, Luis Fernando Matiz Pulido (Bogotá), Michael Melia, Christine Nuttall, William Noon, Joseph O’Leary, Victor Piggott, Elizabeth Kathryn Skupski, Margaret Testo, Bernard Tighe, Elizabeth Tobin, Deacon Ben Tomnay, Margaret Tudor, Richard Wright and those whose anniversaries occur about this time, including Teresa Holt, Paddy White, Daisy Chesworth, Rodney Carrigan, Christopher Rose, Martha Pattison, Elsie Wilson, Dianne Roberts, Samuel Wingrove, John Carter, Charles Donachie, Carmela Calouri, Mick Fields, Jean Asher, Vicky Boultbee, Kathleen Melia, Siobhan Smith, Jane Kluth, Mgr Canon Christopher Lightbound, Rev John Brady (Deacon), Rev Gerald T Courell, Rev James (Jim) Farrell, Rev Francis Yates, Rev Benedict Fenlon, Rev Brian McCarthy (Deacon), Rev John Wright and Rev Jack McLeish
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen. Alleluia! ~
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Countess of Chester Chaplaincy: 01244 364543.
Diocese of Shrewsbury: Charity No 234025.
Safeguarding safeguarding@stwerburghchester.co.uk Liz Aiello 07813-743-723 & Chris Proudfoot 07711-495-070
Newsletter items- admin@stwerburghchester.co.uk
Come, Holy Spirit! This is our fervent prayer during this Novena in preparation for the Solemnity of Pentecost, which is the last word of the great celebration of Easter, as the wonderful gift of God’s love and the fruit of Christ’s sacrifice fills the whole world and shapes the Church to become the bearer of his message. The Spirit is, at the same time, the first word of evangelisation, which is the primary mission of the Church in the world.
In a particular way, as a parish community, here at St Werburgh’s, we make this prayer with and on behalf of those who will join us through the grace of baptism and the other sacraments of Christian initiation; this will certainly be a moment of great joy for us all.
The same prayer should be on our lips and rise from our hearts at the beginning of each day and before the various activities we undertake to help us live a truly spiritual life. We call on the same Spirit to enlighten the young people taking exams and finishing papers and projects, and we ask the Holy Spirit to bring healing and wholeness into lives where there is brokenness and pain and his glorious light where there is darkness and confusion.
This coming Friday, at the Catholic High School the leavers from years 11 and 13 will gather to give thanks to God for their time at the school. Do please pray for them as they set out in new directions…
In these days, like the Apostles in the Upper Room, we wait with our Lady. Let us stay close to Mary, the well-beloved Spouse of the Holy Spirit who can show us how to live as faithful missionary disciples of her Son. May God bless us and may the Spirit unite us to make of our life a hymn of praise and a sign to others of God’s love. Fr David +
Parish Database To support Parish Governance and Health & Safety (H&S), we plan to create a database of Parish volunteers, which will include name, role, and contact details. It will also track any H&S training, etc, delivered by the Parish. Please can leaders of parish groups submit a list of volunteers in such groups to the Parish office (admin@stwerbughchester.co.uk). If individuals do not want their information stored in this way, please let us know.
A big thank you to everyone who kindly donated £1,382.50 for the work of the Holy Family Sisters, after Sr Mary Lucy’s appeal and £846.82 for the Holy Places on Good Friday and in the days that followed.
Welcome Wednesday we are immensely grateful to Cllr Sherin Akhtar, the Lord Mayor of Chester for her genuine, very moving and superb talk, which many enjoyed last week. This coming Wednesday, 20th May at 10:30 am all are welcome to join for chat, tea/coffee and dominoes.
A day of Reflection on Saturday 23rd May at Shrewsbury Cathedral Chapter House. The day will include reflections from Father Sean Henry and Dr Kieran Moriarty for members and friends of Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality. Please confirm your attendance to secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk
Pentecost at the Cross Sunday 24th May 5 pm – A gathering for all Christians in the area to express our desire for unity as we worship and pray for the City of Chester and our region. For more information email parishadmin@chesterstpeters.org.uk
On Tuesday 26th May, we welcome the visit of the relics of St Gerard Majella (see poster in the porch), in this 300th anniversary year of his birth. The church will remain open in the afternoon, after the 12:15 Mass, for private prayer, with adoration and confessions available. The visit will conclude with Mass at 7pm, with Fr Royston Price, C.Ss.R., please spread the word and bring a friend. St Gerard is often invoked by expectant mothers.
Road Closures Please be aware of the Chester Triathalon on Sunday 7th June. Parishioners may need to allow extra time for any journey or arrange alternative methods of transport. Grosvenor Park Rd and Union St will be closed between 6 am and 1 pm. https://bit.ly/ChesterTriathlonRoadClosures
Parish Outing to the World of Wedgwood – 17th June. Last chance to join us by signing the sheet at the back of Church and putting £35 in an envelope marked with your name and ‘World of Wedgwood’ to be handed into the presbytery by 27th May. So far, we’ve had a great response and look forward to a great day out!
Heart to Heart women's retreat, 19 - 22 June 2026 - A three-day retreat for women (whether single, married or religious), based on principles of Ignatian spirituality. Guided by Fr Bernard Murphy, CFR and Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, the retreat will seek to draw participants closer to the Lord through a greater attentiveness to His will. https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/heart-to-heart-retreat/
Wheelchair access to the church. Please remember, when parking in front of the Church, to allow access to the wheelchair ramp. Recently, cars have blocked access to the ramp which has prevented wheelchair/mobility scooter users from entering and leaving the building.
The Church Repository has some new gift items available, including cards for First Holy Communion, Confirmation and Welcome to the Church.
Welcomers for Sunday Mass – the Rota for May is now at the back of the church. We are grateful to our regular welcomers but could use a little more help. If you feel you could do this once a month, please contact Pat Floate, or email admin@stwerburghchester.co.uk
The Mother and the Magdalene The Chester Theological Society is organising a lecture on ‘The Marys in Jesus films’ given by Dr Siohhan Jolley, Lecturer in Christian Studies at the University of Manchester. Wednesday 27th May 7:30 pm at Hollybank, Chester University, Liverpool Rd. Cost is £5 and includes glass of wine/soft drink.
Photo of the week: Thank you to Yana Laszcziw for sending in this photo of the Basilica of Sacré Cœur in Paris is situated at the summit of Montmartre. It was built between 1875 and 1914, and was formally consecrated in 1919 after World War I.

