Parish Newsletter

Annual Mission Appeal Today

This weekend, we welcome one of our friends from the Spiritans (the Holy Ghost Fathers) who will be preaching the Annual Mission Appeal on behalf of all the Missionary Orders. There are plenty of Gift Aid envelopes if you can GA your donation, and plenty of leaflets about the work of the Spiritans worldwide.

Diocesan Schools Support Worker (RE/ Governance)

Salary circa £40,000 pro rata. The Diocese of Shrewsbury is looking to appoint to a part-time (3 days a week), temporary position (until the end of the Summer term 2019), a Schools Support Officer who will support the Director of Schools. Full details on the Diocesan Website.

CathSoc Sunday Nights – 14th and 21st October

• Sunday Night, 14th October: Debate Night – “This House Believes we would be a better world if we stopped killing animals.”
• Sunday Night 21st October – Trip to Liverpool.

All CathSoc events begin 7.00 pm in Church.

Open mornings at St. Werburgh’s and St. Columba’s Catholic Primary School

For parents with children due to start school in September 2019:
Tuesday 16th October 9.30 am – 10.30 am
No appointment necessary, just turn up.

November Month of the Holy Souls

Not too early to send those names in for our November Holy Souls Book. Other key dates:

• Tues 13th Nov: Mass for Recently Bereaved
• Sunday 18th Nov: Blessings at Blacon
• Sunday 25th Nov: Blessings at Overleigh
• Friday 30th Nov: Mass of the Holy Souls

Music Group: 10.45 am Mass 21st October

Next Meeting of the Readers Group

Tuesday October 16th, 7.00 pm for about an hour in the Presbytery. Everyone who is interested in the Sunday readings for the next month is extremely welcome, whether readers or not.
A totally open forum. Do come along!
NB Please note, it’s on Tuesday not Monday!

St Werburgh’s Two Great War Books

Both the Red Book (the lives of all those who were killed in the Great War) and the Blue Book (essays about our life together a hundred years ago) will be on sale next month at Mass - £10 soft-back, £20 hardback. Ideal Christmas Presents for friends and family.

CAFOD Family Fast Day Envelopes – Got Yours?

Saturday 27th October: 2.00 pm: Memorial Mass for Br James Kimpton (Reaching the Unreached)

Br James died a year ago, and there’s to be a Mass at St Werburgh’s to celebrate his memory and his life-time’s work with the poorest in India, “Reaching the Unreached”. Many parishioners from all over Chester and district supported this Charity – he was a local boy - and everyone would be very welcome to St Werburgh’s on that date for a Memorial Mass, Refreshments and update on the ongoing work of this great Charity.

Children’s Society / Caritas Boxes

Could all box holders bring their collections, in secure plastic bags with their name on, to Mass on Sunday 21st October? Many thanks!

Repository – Christmas Cards

Get in early for Christmas! Our religious Christmas cards to proclaim the true meaning of Christmas, will be on sale in a couple of weeks’ time. Do please come and support us.

Parish Christmas Panto Outing: 27th December

Just six places left – book today!

Great War Memorial

Now fully in place, behind the red curtain. Restrain your curiosity to have a peek: Tuesday 6th November is the Solemn Blessing and Dedication, so do please all get that key date in your Diary, when we welcome Bishop Mark and so many Civic and Military Dignitaries.

Mass for Diocesan Schools’ Commissioners Here

Wednesday 10th October: it was great to welcome our own Bishop Mark and Archbishop Malcolm from Liverpool for a beautiful Mass, with many other Priests and Diocesan Education Commissioners from all 22 English and Welsh Dioceses.

Deanery Conference Last Wednesday

Talking about some of the ways we might bring all the Chester parishes closer together…
Watch this space for developments.

First Friday Recitals

Our next musical wizziters, Friday 2nd November, will be Luke Moulsher and Cat Jones, very much “back by popular demand”!

Photo of the Week: The Church’s East Window

The stained-glass sections in the East Window (over the porch) were moved here from St Laurence’s Birkenhead when it closed in the 1980’s. The new Organ Screen slightly obscures the lower half of the window: this photo, from Ray Harper’s collection, shows the windows before the screen was built!

October Mass Count – List in Sacristy

Please, counters: when you’ve made your count, enter the figure on the list in the Sacristy.

Catholic Enquiry Course

Seven wonderful “Enquirers” now signed up: 

Session Three: Wednesday 17th October 7.30 pm, starting to look at the Christian Creeds.

Wave of Light Service Monday 15th October

6.45 pm, here in Church, for all those who have been touched by Miscarriage, Still-Birth or Infant Bereavement. If you’ve lost a baby, however long ago, you would be so welcome on that evening.

Parish Safeguarding DBS Checks

We really have swung into action, with Liz Aiello, our Parish Co-ordinator, supported by Syd Jones as Secretarial and IT back-up. FHC Catechists, Children’s Liturgy Helpers, Altar Servers and SVP. I am very pleased this is happening and know you will give Liz and Syd your full co-operation.