Parish Newsletter

Liturgical

Isaiah 35, 1-6; Psalm 145; James 5, 7-10; Matthew 11, 2-11

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Helen Coulson (L.D., Crosby)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Antonio Nardini (Anniversary)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Maureen Thornley (L.D.)
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Finn Abberton (Remembrance)

Monday 16th December: Ferial: Numbers 24, 2-17; Psalm 24; Matthew 21, 23-27
7.30 am: St Werburgh’s: Special Intention (JA)
11.00 am: Crabwall Hall NH, Mollington: Carol Service for Residents and Visitors
1.05 pm: University Chapel: University Mass – All Welcome

Tuesday 17th December: Ferial: Genesis 49, 2-10; Psalm 71; Matthew 1, 1-17
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: John and Vera Clyne
7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Primary School Carol Service

Wednesday 18th December: Ferial: Jeremiah 23, 5-8; Psalm 71; Matthew 1, 18-24
11.00 am: Grosvenor Gardens NH (Crawford’s Walk): Service for Residents and Visitors
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Lucas Flint (1st Anniversary, Boston Mass.)
1.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Funeral Service for Maurice Power, late of Round Hill Meadow
7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Deanery Penitential Service with opportunities for Individual Confessions

Thursday 19th December: Ferial: Judges 13, 2-25; Psalm 70; Luke 1, 5-25
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Mary Howarth (100th Birthday Remembrance)
6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Funeral Service for Jack O’Gorman, late of Thackeray Towers

Friday 20th December: Ferial: Isaiah 7, 10-14; Psalm 23; Luke 1, 26-38
9.20 am: Blacon: Service of Committal for Jack O’Gorman
10.00 am: Primary School: Advent Mass
11.00 am – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Thanksgiving – Neill and Marlene
7.00 pm – 10.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Confessions

Saturday 21st December: Ferial: Song of Songs 2, 8-14; Psalm 32; Luke 1, 39-45
10.00 am – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Confessions
6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Sisters of Namur and Deceased Members of the Moran Family

SUNDAY 22nd DECEMBER: FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT (YEAR A)
Isaiah 7, 10-14; Psalm 23; Romans 1, 1-7; Matthew 1, 18-24

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Sisters of Namur & Deceased Members of the Moran Family
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Molly Massey (10th Anniversary)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Hilda Jones and Pat Maguire (Birthday Remembrances)
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Rachael Andrews

Monday 23rd December: Ferial: Numbers 24, 2-17; Psalm 24; Matthew 21, 23-27
10.00 am: Christ Church, Heald Green, Manchester: Requiem Mass for Peter Lucas
10.00 – 11.30 am: St Werburgh’s: Confessions
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Andrew and Emily Cunniff

Tuesday 24th December: Christmas Eve: Genesis 49, 2-10; Psalm 71; Matthew 1, 1-17

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Day Mass of Christmas Eve: Brian Boardman
6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Children’s Vigil Mass of Christmas: Alex Barnes
8.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Vigil Mass of Christmas: Jones and Garbett Families
11.30 pm: Carols and Midnight Mass of Christmas: Matthew Robinson

Wednesday 25th December: Christmas Day: Jeremiah 23, 5-8; Psalm 71; Matthew 1, 18-24

9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Dawn Mass of Christmas: Donal O’Shea and Mary O’Shea (Anniversaries)
10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Day Mass of Christmas: Finn Abberton and Special Family Intention (A)

Thursday 26th December: Feast of St Stephen: Judges 13, 2-25; Psalm 70; Luke 1, 5-25

10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Annual Altar Servers Mass – All Welcome: Ralph William Wallace (Anniv)

Prayer Intentions

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Tina Johnson, Laura Chadwick, Brian Lee, Elisabeth, Stuart Clark, Keith Hayes, Sheila Winder, James Catterson, Joe and 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 Maurice Power, Peter Lucas, Jack O’Gorman, Susan Roberts and Terence McMahon; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Maria Downey, John McCarthy, Nell Murphy, Mark Entwistle, John & Frances Williams, Terence Hunt, Elizabeth Macaulay, Olive Rowlands, Arthur Townley, Pauline Blanche, Brendan Anderson, David O’Malley, Maureen Middleton, Robert Barlow, Josephine Quinn, Peggy Sheen, Sheila Burns, Marie Gilmovitch, Loreta Roberts, Gilderoy Finney, Violet Carroll, Stephen Kennedy, George Bowyer, Ron Bennett, Dot Williams, Charles Donnelly, Douglas Brown, Violet Martinez, Harry O’Korn, Cesidia Moreton, Margaret Cooper, Christina Williams and John Arcari. May They All Rest in Peace.

Parish events

Christmas Times at St Werburgh’s

Please take a yellow 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.

Christmas Tree - Wednesday 11th December

Many thanks to everyone who turned up on Wednesday for putting up the Christmas Tree!

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!

Christmas Volunteer Rota Gaps

Readers: 9.00 Christmas Day (1)
EM’s: Midnight Mass (1), 10.45 Christmas Day (2)

Catholic High School Parents’ Association

A Carol Service will be held on Wednesday 18th December at 6.30 pm at the High School.

Diocesan ‘Voice’ Magazine

Out today – do please take your free copy from the table at the back of church.

Music Group playing Today, Sunday 15th Dec

Chester Bach Singers Concert Next Saturday

21st December – the shortest day! Here at 7.30 pm. Carols by Candlelight, a mixture of carols and seasonal music, including Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. £12 adults, £5 students and under-18’s, inc refreshments.

Penitential Service on Wednesday 7.00 pm

A short service and then opportunities for individual confessions with a number of Priests available. Confessions also on Friday evening, 7.00 pm – 10.00 pm, and then next Saturday morning, 21st Dec, with both Fr Neill & Fr Paul.

Mental Health Group on Monday

Shared Table Supper, 7.00 pm. Do feel welcome to join this group if you have any involvement in Mental Health issues whatsoever.

Repository Closing Today Sunday 15th December

As usual we will be closed in January and will reopen in February with a sale of “Pre-loved” goods. We send our very best wishes and sincere thanks for all your support during the year. Paula, Bernice & Mrs Peabody

Second Collections Last Weekend and This

Last weekend was SVP Christmas Appeal, today it’s Christmas Flowers. Not too late for the SVP one, if you missed it: Gift Aid envelopes available.

SVP Contact Cards Now Out

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.

Susan Roberts R.I.P.

Many of you will remember Susan, who used to live in Vicar’s Cross and was a great supporter of our Parish – latterly, looked after very faithfully by Pauline Hackett and Betty Thomson. For the last few years she has been in Oak Grange Nursing Home in Mollington, and sadly died there on 1st December. Her Funeral, is to be at St Theresa’s Blacon on Monday 23rd December at 11.15 am.

Boxing Day: Feast of St Stephen

At the 10.00 am Mass we shall be enrolling four new members into the Guild of St. Stephen for service in our Parish; Bethan Duke, Norah Radulescu, Joe Baxter and Ciaran Johns. The warmest of welcomes is extended not only to all our Altar Servers, Parents and Friends but also to the wider Parish Community.

Message from Caritas - Diocese of Shrewsbury

“Thank you for the generous donation of £860.09, a grand total this year of £1,608.24. Much has been achieved in 2019 including a Family Support Worker now permanently based in Shropshire, an Early Years Programme in Wirral and key developments emerging in Crewe and Shrewsbury. Thank you all very much!”

Photo of the Week: Mother Teresa’s Tomb

In the Mother House in Calcutta – she’s now St Teresa of Calcutta, of course. Thanks, Barbara!