Parish Newsletter

Liturgical

Baruch 5, 1-9; Psalm 125; Philippians 1, 4-11; Luke 3, 1-6

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Denis Horan (15th Anniversary)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Alex Barnes
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Thanksgiving
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Rachael Andrews

Monday 10th December: Ferial: Isaiah 35, 1-10; Psalm 84; Luke 5, 17-26
11.00 am: Grosvenor Manor NH (Heath Lane): Service for Residents – All Welcome!
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of J.A.
1.05 pm: University Chapel: University Mass for Students and Staff – All Welcome!

Tuesday 11th December: Ferial: Isaiah 40, 1-11; Psalm 95; Matthew 18, 12-14
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Michael Read (L.D.)

Wednesday 12th December: Ferial: Isaiah 25, 6-10; Psalm 22; Matthew 15, 29-37
10.40 am: Blacon: Funeral Service for Fred Best, late of Grosvenor Park Road
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Richard Mills (L.D., Canada)
2.00 pm: Birch Heath NH, Christleton: Carol Service for Residents – All Welcome!

Thursday 13th December: St Lucy: Isaiah 41, 13-20; Psalm 144; Matthew 11, 11-15
11.00 am: Grosvenor Gardens NH (Crawford’s Walk): Carol Service for Residents: All Welcome!
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Emiliana Manfredi-Lewis
2.00 pm: Oaklands NH, Littleton: Carol Service for Residents: All Welcome!

Friday 14th December: St John of the Cross: Isaiah 48, 17-19; Psalm 1; Matthew 11, 16-19
11.00 am – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Finn Abberton (1st Anniversary)

Saturday 15th December: Ferial: Ecclesiasticus 48, 1-11; Psalm 79; Matthew 17, 10-13
10.30 am – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Confessions
6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Intentions of University of Chester CathSoc

 

SUNDAY 16th DECEMBER: THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR C) – GAUDETE SUNDAY
Zephaniah 3, 14-18; Psalm Isaiah 12; Philippians 4, 4-7; Luke 3, 10-18

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Intentions of University of Chester CathSoc
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Silver Wedding Thanksgiving – Peter and Bernice Meredith
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of Norah Fennessey (Co Cork)
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of the Gammell Family

 
Prayer Intentions

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Lorraine McKeown, James Catterson, Ruth O’Kane, Henri Diacono, James Donovan, Garth Stocking and Kevin Maguire; and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Mandy Burke, Neville Gooch, Sheila Tatler and Fred Best; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Margaret Aspinall, Geoff Crank, Betty Kinsey, Margaret Brotherston, Joan Finney, Peter Wyn Jones, Fred Fazey, Elizabeth Clark, Tom McLoughlin, Patrick McDonough, Margaret Ilott, Patrick Walsh, George Baxter, Bill Gough, Irene Kite, William Barron, Antonio Nardini and Edith Dodd. May They All Rest in Peace.

Parish events

 

New Parish Council Members

Thanks for all your votes in the recent Parish Council Elections. 178 valid voting slips were returned, and 58 different parishioners nominated. The two with most nominations were Judith Done and Anne Proctor, and I’m delighted to tell you that they have both accepted our invitation to join the Parish Council. A couple of good’uns, I can tell you! And 154 votes for the existing PC Members to remain, which is a real vote of confidence in the work they do. Many thanks, everyone!

Forthcoming Musical Concerts

Friday 14th Dec at 7.00 pm: Belle Voci, a lovely pair of singers who are establishing a real reputation for themselves. Tickets are £12 and may be purchased on the door.
Saturday 22nd Dec at 7.30 pm: Chester Bach Singers with a super Concert of Christmas Music.

Hospice Coffee Morning at Festival Church

A HUGE thank you to everyone who helped and supported the Christmas coffee morning in aid of The Hospice at the Festival Church on Friday 30th November. As a result of your generosity we raised £709-76p for this very worthy cause. Our grateful thanks go to the Festival Church for kindly allowing us to hold this event at their beautiful Church.

Christmas Cards on Sacristy Window-Sill

A super way of distributing cards to fellow parishioners – so, two requests: do please have a look to see if any there are for YOU, and do please put FULL names on, as there are an awful lot of ‘Caths’ and ‘Johns’ in the Parish!!

Christmas Service Times Cards

Out today, on table at back of church, so do please distribute as far and wide as possible.

DBS Checks Update: December 2018

Liz Aiello, our Parish Safeguarding Rep, has been doing an amazing job in updating the DBS checks on all our key volunteers. First Holy Communion Catechists now complete, SVP almost there, and well underway with Altar Servers and Children’s Liturgy. This is incredible progress in just a few months, and we are all hugely grateful. All other volunteers who work with Children and/or Vulnerable Adults will be seen after Christmas.

Christmas Volunteer Rota Out Now

Please sign up: we need the usual team of volunteer Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, Welcomers and Collectors for our special Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Nursing Homes Carol Services: Thurs 13th Dec

Organised by the SVP, we are in Grosvenor Gardens (Crawford’s Walk) at 11.00 am and Oaklands (Littleton) at 2.00 pm. Everyone warmly welcome. For more information, contact Steve Perry on 07775-781-214.

Message from John in our Parish Club

Our folk circle is holding their Christmas Big Sing at the Parish Centre on Friday December 21st
at 8.00 pm. Everyone welcome.

Catholic Enquiry Course

Next Meeting – No 7 – Wednesday 12th, 7.30 pm, when we come on to the Seven Sacraments.

Decorating our Christmas Tree in Church

9.30 am Wednesday 12th December. Tea, coffee, mince pies, a fun morning, so do please all feel warmly invited to turn up. It’s a fun morning.

CathSoc Christmas Meal – Sunday 9th December

Next Meeting: Sunday 13th January 2019!

Children’s Christmas Eve Vigil Mass – 6.00 pm

Not too early, mums and dads, to start getting those costumes ready!

Music Group Playing Sunday 16th Dec at 10.45

Practice in Church Monday 10th at 7.00 pm.

SVP 2nd Collection for Christmas This Sunday

8th / 9th December. Your donations enable the SVP to support families in need and the homeless at Christmas and help fund our Christmas lunch party for the elderly and housebound. Thank you.

Catholic High School Parents Association

Carol Service – Tuesday 18th December at 6.30 pm at the Catholic High School, followed by refreshments, a Christmas raffle and musical entertainment by the School Jazz Band.
Free entrance. Everybody is welcome.

SVP Christmas Tea at the Catholic High School

Wednesday 12th December 2.30 pm. Transport will be provided. For further information contact Stephen Perry on 07775 781204.

Last “First Friday” Recital

Andrew Wyatt and his Cathedral Nave Choir entertained us royally on Friday, a first-rate programme of Christmas Music. Thanks, Andrew! Next ‘First Friday’ Recital – Friday 3rd May 2019!!

St Werburgh’s Great War Books on Sale Now

£10 sb, £20 hb. Ideal Christmas Presents.

The Repository Christmas Closing

After morning Masses on Sunday 16th December. Our parish Notelets are still available at the special price of £2.00 per packet for those last-minute gifts! We will reopen on Sunday 3rd February 2019 with a SALE of donated and previously loved items. Thanks for your valued support during the year. Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year. Paula & Bernice

Mary and Joseph in Christleton

Mary and Joseph and travelling through Christleton during Advent and will be at the Methodist Church on Wednesday 12th December from 3.00 till 5.00 pm. You are warmly invited to join them and enjoy our display of numerous Nativity Sets with light refreshments.

Disabled Access on Sundays at 10.45 am

Please do NOT block the entrance!

Photo of the Week: Austrian Wayside Crucifix

Familiar sight in many parts of Europe, this one was spotted at Achensee, Austrian Tyrol, and snapped by Bury Convent. Thanks, AM!!