Parish Newsletter

Liturgical

Joshua 5, 9-12; Psalm 33; II Corinthians 5, 17-21; Luke 15, 1-32

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Caroline Miller (1^st Anniversary)

Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Noel Evans

Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Mary Taylor (Birthday Remembrance)

Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Bill and Elsie Wilson

 

Monday 1^st April: Ferial: Isaiah 65, 17-21; Psalm 29; John 4, 43-54

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’: Intentions of Ben Campbell (L.A.)

1.05 pm: University Chapel - University Mass. All welcome.

 

Tuesday 2^nd April: Ferial: Ezekiel 47, 1-12; Psalm 45; John 5, 1-16

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of Katherine Murray (Manchester)

2.30 pm: Christleton Churches Together Visit to St Peter’s at the Cross

 

Wednesday 3^rd April: Ferial: Isaiah 49, 8-15; Psalm 144; John 5, 17-30

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Ann Brennan (Anniversary, Ireland)

 

Thursday 4^th April: Ferial: Exodus 32, 7-14; Psalm 105; John 5, 31-47

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Joan Crossley (L.D.)

7.00 pm: St Columba’s Chester: Deanery Penitential Service – All Welcome.

 

Friday 5^th April: Ferial: Wisdom 2, 1-22; Psalm 33; John 7, 1-30

11.15 pm: St Columba’s: Requiem Mass for Magda Cumberford, late of Haslin Crescent, Christleton

7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Lenten Devotions, followed by Exposition till 9.00 pm

 

Saturday 6^th April: Ferial: Jeremiah 11, 18-20; Psalm 7; John 7, 40-52

10.30 am: St Werburgh’s: SVP Reconciliation Service for Elderly & Housebound. All Welcome!

10.45 am – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Confessions

1.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Nuptial Mass for Catherine O’Reilly and Dominic May

6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists:  Mary Frances Cary (Anniversary)

 

SUNDAY 7^th APRIL: FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (YEAR C)

Isaiah 43, 16-21; Psalm 125; Philippians 3, 8-14; John 8, 1-11

 Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Mary Frances Cary (Anniversary)

Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of Ryoichi Iwasaki (Japan)

Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Patricia Twohig (L.D.)

Sunday 12.30pm: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Ida Jean Waters

Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Angela McKay (L.D.)

  

PRAYER INTENTIONS

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Sheila Winder, Heather Lannin, 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 Betty Thomson, Magda Cumberford, Cathy Taylor, Angela McKay, Wendy Moore, Bill Dobbins; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Mary Stockton, Julia Zao, Mary Jordan, Johanna Ryan, May Brierley, Joan Hughes, Joanna Yeardsley, James Roberts, Audrey Steele, Sally Booth, Annie Houghton, Florence Taylor, Frances Shepherd, Peter Hoban, Colin Brown, Bill Collins, Frederick Hutchinson, Edward O’Brien, Margaret O’Connor, Alec Edwards, Ester Dunning, Lily Weatherley, William Walsh, Tony Petranca, Betty Williams, Hilda Kinsey and Ann McGowan-Scanlon. May they all Rest in Peace. 

Parish events

Liturgy Group Meeting Last Tuesday

Many thanks, everyone – a very useful meeting, planning everything for Holy Week and Easter.

 

Calling All Readers: Are You Here for Easter??

There are 7 unfilled slots in the Easter reading schedule. Two at the 10-45 and two at the Evening Mass on Palm Sunday (very near now)

two for the readings on Good Friday, and one for the Easter Vigil. Please could readers try and fill these gaps as soon as possible, especially Palm Sunday. Many thanks to those who have already signed up. And if you are one of our Holy Week Readers…

 

Holy Week Readers Meeting: Wednesday 10^th April

Very important, half-hour meeting at 7.00 pm (inc Rowton), to go through arrangements. These Readings are so special and only come once a year!

 

Flower Second Collection Next Weekend

To help decorate the church for Easter. Thank you!

 

Forthcoming Funerals in April

Sadly, a number of Funerals coming up next month:

• Friday 5^th, 12.00, St Columba’s: Magda Cumberford
• Monday 8^th, 10.00, St Werburgh’s: Cathy Taylor
• Wednesday 10^th, 10.40, Blacon: Angela MacKay
• Thursday 11^th, 12.45, St Werburgh’s: Wendy Moore
• Monday 15^th, 12.00, St Werburgh’s: Betty Thomson
• Wednesday 24^th, 12.00, Blacon: Bill Dobbins

 

Mental Health Group on Monday at 7.00 pm

Holy Week and Easter Times: Flyer Out Today

 

Building Work Next Door and Passageway

Exactly seven weeks to go to Completion Date, 17^th May. Not that we’re counting, of course…

 

SVP Lent Reconciliation Service for Elderly/Housebound

Saturday 6^th April at 10.30 a.m. in St Werburgh's church. Transport will be provided. All welcome.

 

Parish Day Out to Oscott on Wednesday

Excellent day out last week, an easy ride down to Oscott, near Sutton Coldfield, and a very warm welcome from three of our eight Shrewsbury Diocesan Students there, Robert, Patrick and Geoffrey. Mass in the beautiful College Chapel, Lunch in the Ref (many compliments for my Shepherd’s pie and Treacle Sponge – they didn’t take me long…) and a guided tour after lunch. The Seminary is full, and Shrewsbury is the largest Diocese represented. Wow! Many thanks to Gerry, Bernice, Syd and Denise for the usual tip-top organisation on a very memorable Day Out.

 

Stewards for the Easter Vigil; Health and Safety

One immediate concern is the upcoming Easter Vigil, the fire alight in the garden, everyone processing with their lighted Candles into the total darkness of the church… (What could possibly go wrong?) So, we need four Steward / Fire Marshalls, to be on duty for at least the first part of the Service. If you are not otherwise engaged, could four parishioners volunteer for this crucial task, please?

 

Countess of Chester Hospital Mass

The regular ‘First Thursday’ Mass will be celebrated on 4^th April at 12.15 pm. in the Hospital Chapel.

 

Christian Aid Lent Lunches: 12.00–1.30 pm

Held on Mondays 1^st April at the Quaker Meeting House and on 8^th April at St Mary’s Centre Handbridge. Many thanks everyone who supported the St Werburgh’s bash last Monday – my daffodil and coriander soup seemed very popular.

 

Christleton Churches Together Lent Programme

This Lent, we are visiting five of the Chapels of Chester that serve people of all faiths and none. Last Tuesday we were at the Hospital. Tuesday 2^nd we’re at St Peter’s at the Cross. 2.30 pm – all welcome.

 

Easter Ministries Volunteer Rota

At back of church: please sign up as soon as poss!

 

NW Universities Catholic Chaplains Meeting

Excellent meeting on Thursday, reviewing our individual Chaplaincies and discussing matters of common concern, such as Free Speech on Campus and working with other Christian Groups & Societies.

 

Friday Evenings in Lent: 7.00 pm

• Friday 5^th April: Devotions
• Friday 12^th April: Stations

Followed by Exposition until 9.00 pm.

 

Tesco Supporting Val’s Fencing Club

Whether it’s an Indicative Vote or a Meaningful one, next time you’re in Tesco, VOTE FOR VAL!

 

Parish Health and Safety Group Meeting

Next meeting: Thursday 4^th April 10.00 am, looking at Easter Vigil and ‘Working at Height’ (the posh name for Ladder Safety, sorry for breathing, Mrs Baggs…)

 

Opportunities for Confessions Before Easter

• Thursday 4^th, 7.00 pm: St Columba’s: Deanery Penitential Service
• Saturday 6^th, 10.30-12.00: St Werb: Confessions
• Tuesday, 9^th, 7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Deanery Penitential Service
• Monday 15^th, 7.00 pm – 10.00 pm, St Werburgh’s: Confessions
• Tuesday 16^th, 10.00 a, - 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Confessions
• Wednesday 17^th, 7.00 pm – 1.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Confessions

 

Liverpool Renaissance Singers

Sun 31^st March 7.30 pm, here in St Werburgh’s. Entitled: ‘A Lily Grows: Flowers and their Hidden Meaning in Music from the Medieval to the Baroque’. Tickets are £10 (£8 Concessions). Everyone warmly welcome.

 

Photo of the Week: Seville Cathedral

Taken and sent in by Gerry Cummins Junior, as I call him! A magnificent sight. (The Cathedral, not Gerry, for heaven’s sake! Oh, I don’t know though. Seen from the right angle?)