St Werburgh's Roman Catholic Parish, Chester
Parish Newsletter
SUNDAY 23rd DECEMBER: FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR C)
Diocesan ‘Voice’ – Article on Great War Plaque
The new edition of the free Diocesan Magazine is now out, with an article and photo from our recent Great War Memorial Blessing on 6th Nov.
No Contractor Parking from Now On
There will be A Boards at each end of the driveway: if you need to come in before the Sacristans, please replace them afterwards. Sacristans: please take them down and store them in the porch. Many thanks, everyone!
Parenting Teens Course at the High School
The popular parenting course for those with teenage children is running again. The 6-week course starts at 7.00 pm on 9th January at the Catholic High School. If you'd like to join other parents who want to broaden their skills, develop their relationship with their teenagers and negotiate the new freedoms and responsibilities our young people need, please come along. For more information or to book a place, please contact Claire on 07743-704-383. Flyers in the porch and hall have more information.
Stewards for Christmas Masses
With the considerably greater numbers we will be welcoming for all five Christmas Masses, we are very conscious of the Safety angle, should we need to evacuate in an emergency. We have four exits: two at the back, one by the organ and the House Door. In the event of needing them, we’re looking for Stewards for each one, making sure it is open, passage ways clear, and people know where to go.
Gaps on Christmas Volunteer Rota
- Children’s’ Vigil 3 EMs, 3 welcome, 5 collectors
- 8.30 Vigil: 4 EMs, 1 welcome, 3 collectors
- Midnight Mass: 1 EM, 3 welcome
- 9.00 am Christmas Day: 2 EMs, 4 welcome, 6 collectors
- 10.45 Christmas Day: 2 readers, 2 EMs, 2 welcome, 4 collectors
- St Stephens Day: 3 EMs
Alice Bergin Books
The printers of our Year Books and Ordos, Gemini Print, have some surplus stock they are donating to Parishes – books of photos and poems by Alice Bergin. Please take one – they’re free!
Crib Up till Sunday 13th January
The Baptism of the Lord is the official end of Christmastide, so our beautiful Crib will be up till then, Please, don’t forget the Crib Collection for Caritas, the old Diocesan Children’s Society.
2019 Yearbooks Now Arrived - £4 each
Featuring in the photos a picture of Bishop Mark blessing our new Great War Memorial.
Panto Tickets: 27th Dec, 7.00 pm Theatr Clwyd
Almost all distributed. Remember: 7.00 pm start!
Day by Day & Sacred Heart Messengers
January Mags now on sale - £1 each.
New Baptismal Register
Picked up from the Printers and Binders (Deanprint of Stockport) in the week, and on display today. I hope you agree with me that they have done an excellent job in matching the old one, the only change being Latin into English. “O tempora, O Mores”, as they say in German
December 26th: Boxing Day Altar Servers Mass
We are delighted to be enrolling Stephanie Pilliner and Matthew Cartmill into our branch of the Guild of St. Stephen and making a number of Awards to other Altar Servers. We do hope that many Parishioners will attend what is always a very enjoyable and special Mass – 10.00 am.
University Masses Start Again Mon 7th January
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
On table at back of church, so do please distribute as far and wide as possible. Thanks!
Parish Health and Safety Reps
We’re looking at this vital part of our Parish life in the New Year. Anyone like to be involved?
Children’s Christmas Eve Vigil Mass – 6.00 pm
Not too early, mums and dads, to start getting those costumes ready! Come Monday, you won’t be able to buy a Tea Towel in Chester for love or money… Shepherds, Angels, Mary’s, Joseph’s, Oxen, Asses, Stars, Wise Men, Wise Women, whatever you want to come as, just COME!!
New Year’s Eve Midnight Mass
Monday 31st Dec: Exposition from 10.00 pm.
Photo of the Week: Christmas Night
A wonderfully atmospheric shot of our church at Christmas.
Latest Dickens Output – the South Seas
One big advantage of taking my Dickens work back into the Uni world is that they set challenges I would not set myself. This term’s task has been an essay on “Dickens and the South Seas”. I’d have said it was a non-starter – and how wrong I would have been. Australia becomes hugely emblematic for Dickens, where to send convicts but also ‘fallen women’ (Urania Cottage), and where some come back. A symbol of Exile, Redemption and Damnation. This essay looks at the significance of the South Pacific in Dickens’ life, and then in two of the novels, David Copperfield and Great Expectations. Copies at back of church, and your feedback always hugely appreciated.
And Talking of the South Seas…
Welcome back, Ann Marie and Brian!!