St Werburgh's Roman Catholic Parish, Chester
Parish Newsletter
SUNDAY 8th DECEMBER: SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT (YEAR A)
Christmas Times at St Werburgh’s
Please take an A5 flyer today with all the times for Masses, Confessions, Penitential Services and Concerts over the Christmas period – and do please distribute them far and wide.
New Altar Cloths
Next of our Minor Works List now in place: the first of our new Altar Cloths, purple for Advent. You will notice it has a much larger over-hang than the old one. With our two new free-standing candlesticks and therefore no candles on the altar itself, hopefully there will be NO candlewax on the new Altar Cloths!!
Christmas Tree - Wednesday 11th December
Many hands make light work! Everyone welcome to help with putting up the Christmas Tree and decorating the church for Christmas: 9.00 am please, Wednesday 11th December. I shall make the mince pies and coffee…
Advent Holy Hour on Sunday 8th December
3.00 pm today: do come and join us for a quiet hour with the Lord, a wonderful “time out” at this busiest of seasons.
St Werburgh’s Two Great War Books: £10 each
Our two published books, "We Shall Remember Them" (Red) and "A War-Torn Chester Parish" (Blue) will be on sale after most Masses/events, between now and Christmas - the perfect gift for the person who has everything else!
Lourdes Fundraising Calendar
Our Ellesmere Port and Chester Lourdes Group has created a 2020 Calendar which features photos of Lourdes and the group over the years. Also, important dates in the Catholic calendar are marked along with dates relating to Lourdes and the life of St Bernadette. The cost of the Calendar is £5.00. If you would like more information or to order a calendar, please contact Bernadette Letissier on 07885 736149 or email bletissier@hotmail.com
Christmas Volunteer Rota Now Out
Please sign up: we need our usual team of volunteer Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, Welcomers and Collectors for our special Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Catholic High School Parents’ Association
A Carol Service will be held on Wednesday 18th December at 6.30 pm at the Catholic High School, followed by refreshments, a Christmas raffle and musical entertainment by the school City Jazz Orchestra & Singers. Free entrance.
Catholic Newspapers – Worth Buying?
We need your views on whether we should continue with the four newspapers we currently order: Tablet, Catholic Herald, Catholic Times and Universe. We are selling hardly any of the last three, and so returning 80% of them. Any thoughts? After Christmas, we’ll do a little market research here and make a decision.
Music Group playing Sunday 15th December
Practice in Church Mon 9th December 7.00 pm
Last Friday’s “First Friday” Recital
Wow! What a note to go out on for 2019! James and Abbey Gate College gave a fantastic recital, featuring all their Choirs (Infant, Junior and Chapel) and many of their musicians, to a pretty packed church. So much work and effort from them all at this busiest time of year. Well done, one and all! It brings to an end a superb series of “First Friday” Recitals this year, and a huge thanks to James for organising them all and being our Concert Maestro. Watch this space for details of the 2020 series, starting First Friday in May.
Heaven as a Crowded Conversation?
Brian Flack saw this beautiful painting on-line by Giovanni di Paolo, illustrating Dante’s “Paradiso”. An amazing painting, and a copy is now on the Notice Board at the back of church.
Coffee Morning for the Hospice
Many thanks to all who supported and contributed to making the Christmas Coffee Morning in aid of The Hospice such an outstanding success. £730 was raised for this very worthy cause. Special thanks to the willing ‘Werbies’ who unhesitatingly and unstintingly volunteered their help and to the Festival Church for kindly allowing us the use of their coffee lounge.
Wednesday Refreshments After Mass
After 4 great years doing the monthly Wednesday Lunches, Denise and Syd would now like to pass this on to new hands. Anyone willing to volunteer? Cake are donated, and “we” make the sandwiches.
SVP Notices: Christmas 2nd Collection Today
SVP Carol Singing, at Grosvenor Villas NH (formerly Crawford’s Walk) on Thursday 12th December at 11.00 am, and then at Oaklands NH, Littleton, at 2.00 pm the same day.
If you’d like more information on these events, please contact Stephen Perry: 07775 851 204.
SVP Contact Cards Out Today!
If anyone knows of any local individual, couple or family that they feel would benefit from support and befriending by the SVP please enter their details onto one of the cards provided and hand the card either into Fr Paul as you leave the church or place them in the box on the table by the SVP display at the back of church. In addition, if at any time anyone would like to put a name forward there will always be blank cards left at the back of the church and these should be filled out and handed to FP as and when required. Thank you for your support.
Dee Ensemble Concert Thursday 12th Dec 7.30 pm
Conducted by Susan Marrs and accompanied by Fiona Rushforth. Our concert features a variety of songs and readings, including solo items. We are also joined by the folk group, The Waite Collection.
There will be a retiring collection in aid of Claire House Hospice. All welcome!
Photo of the Week: Canon Murphy’s Golden!
1980, celebrating fifty years a Priest. Left to right, it’s Frs. Wilf Kelly, Des Close, Percy Rees, Francis Murphy, George Leonard and Hugh McHugh. (There isn’t space for all their titles!) May they all Rest in Peace, great Labourers in the Lord’s Vineyard.
