Parish Newsletter

New Sung Mass Common Begins Today

We sing seven Mass Commons on a two-weekly basis and are delighted that James and the Choir have been working on a new, eighth one. It’s Dan Schutte’s ‘Mass of Christ the Saviour’, composed in 2013 for the new translation of the Mass. We’ll introduce it today, starting with the Gloria!

Liturgy Group on Tuesday

Meeting Tuesday 7.00 pm – All Welcome, as we start planning Lent and Easter!

January’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Sunday evening, 27th 7.00 pm, there is a special Service for Church Unity at Christleton Methodists where our Music Group will be leading the worship. Everyone warmly invited to come along! (Sunday Evening Mass here – can you be brave if I cut the Sermon a little short? Please?)

Mental Health Group

Meeting Monday, 7.00 pm. Asafe space for anyone experiencing Mental Health issues or looking after someone else wo does, to come along and share how it’s all going.

West Side Story at Manchester Royal Exchange

Something’s coming… Tonight, tonight? Don’t worry: I shall stop this well before ‘I feel pretty’!

Caritas Visit to St Werburgh’s Today

Delighted to welcome to St Werburgh’s Mary Kilcoyne, the Diocesan Chief Executive of Caritas, the successor to the old Children’s Society and much else in the life of the Diocese. She’ll tell us about new developments and ask if anyone would like to become a Box Holder.

2nd Collection next week: Retired Priests Fund

Next weekend (3rd/4th Feb) we have one of our 8 special collections. Gift aid envelopes available at the back of church today. If you can gift aid please do, as it makes such a difference.

Repository Re-Opening on Sunday 3rd February

We will have a second-hand (pre-loved??) table from Sunday 3rd February if people would like to donate items.

The regular ‘First Thursday’ Hospital Mass

7th February at 12.15 pm in the Countess of Chester Hospital Chapel. This is for patients/outpatients, staff, families and friends, and the wellbeing of our hospitals, including the Bowmere. All are welcome.

Sales of Great War Books

Ann Marie and Team have done a stock check, and we thought you would like to see the results:

1. Red Book – “We Shall Remember Them”
Soft-back: 304/400 sold; Hardback: 96/100 sold.
2. Blue Book – “A War-Torn Chester Parish”
Soft-back: 302/444 sold; Hard-back: 51/77 sold.

These are fantastic sales figures in such a short period of time, and tribute yet again to the amazing work of our Great War Study Group. Incidentally, not one penny of Parish Money was involved. It was all financed by other means.

Catholic Enquiry Course

Session 9 (of 12) on Wednesday at 7.00 pm, looking at Conscience, what a Catholic must believe, where the red lines are, and where the legitimate areas of discussion and debate.

Health and Safety

Many thanks to all of you who expressed an interest in joining a H&S Group in the parish. The Diocesan Adviser is coming on Thursday, after which we’ll have a good idea how we need to move forward as a Parish.

Caritas Shrewsbury currently has 2 vacancies

Family Support Workers (Wythenshawe and Shropshire). Details at www.caritasshrewsbury.org.uk (‘Job Vacancies’) Tel: 0151 652 1281.

More Book Cases for Parish Library

Thanks, Pat and Vincent, for nabbing a good one at Byrne’s Auctions. Harper has a spare one if anyone could collect from Malpas.

Parish Day out to Oscott: Wednesday 27th March

We are delighted that we’ve been given permission to visit the Seminary at Oscott where many students for our Diocese are now training. Coach from Chester, then we shall have the privilege of Holy Mass being celebrated in the College Chapel. A light lunch will follow, and we will then a tour of the College by some of our own Diocesan Seminarians. Bookings open Sunday 3rd February – no bookings taken over the phone.

Mission Secretary reporting to Episcopal Vicar Curial Offices, Birkenhead.

£18,000–£20,000 (term time only). 35 hours per week. http://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/about-us/curia/vacancies Closing Date: 1st February.

CD of the Great War Plaque Evening – 6th Nov

40 Photos of them available on a CD for £5.

Home & Hospital EMS – DBS

Next Group: if you take Holy Communion out or in the Hospital, please let me know asap. I need an up-to-date list to pass to Liz.

St Werburgh’s Parish Social Friday 8th February

Our very enjoyable annual Parish Social, down in the Club, 7.30 pm, free buffet, first drink free (the other ten you have to pay for), usual irritating FP Quiz, children especially welcome.
What’s not to like? Free Tickets available today!!

SVP Music Night Friday 8th Feb 7.30 pm

An evening of swing music in St Columba's Church Hall in aid of the SVP Holiday Home. Tickets £10 each will be on sale at the back of church on the weekend of 19/20 January or from Stephen Perry, 07775781204 or email svpchester@gmail.com

Crib Collection Caritas (old Children’s Society)

We raised £319: last year, it was £238!

Photo of the Week: Mass of the Holy Souls

The candles all alight on the Altar and the new beautiful Red Poppy Altar Frontal. Thanks, everyone, for making November so memorable.