Parish Newsletter

 

St Werburgh’s Feast-Day and Parish Social

Today, Sunday, we celebrate our Patronal Feast. On Wednesday, we invite the other Chester Parishes to join us for 12.15 pm Mass, and refreshments afterwards. Friday 7th is our Parish Social down in the Club at 7.0 pm. Free tickets, for your buffet and first drink. They’re going fast: 60 gone already, and we’re limited to 100. So, make sure you get yours today!

Candle Fires in Church

There was another small fire in church last Sunday evening, caused by one of the Penny Candles – the tall thin ones – falling on the floor and igniting the carpet. Thanks to CathSoc’s alertness, it was immediately extinguished. This is the second such fire in recent months – the last was 10th November – so we must act. We have decided to do away with the Penny Candles altogether, and just use the tea-light form of Votive Candle. Candle-stands are currently being converted, and soon all the Stands will have the small brass cups on them for the tea-lights. PLEASE: never take the wax tea light out of the tin foil holder, and PLEASE only place one tea-light in any one cup. If you see any cases of this, please blow them out!

Retired Priests’ Fund – Second Collection

Last weekend was the annual collection for the Retired Priests - Not too late to contribute!

Next Countess Hospital Mass

The next regular “First Thursday” Hospital Mass will be Thursday 6th February at 12.15 pm in the Hospital Chapel. This is for patients, outpatients, staff, families and friends, including Bowmere. All warmly welcome.

Altar Servers’ News

We are delighted that 14 of our Servers took part in a Ten Pin Bowling Alley Competition at Cheshire Oaks along with a similar number from St Columba’s on Saturday 1st February.

Lourdes by Across Jumbulance

Chester Across Group is off to Lourdes again from Thursday 7th to Saturday 16th May. Travel is overland by Jumbulance, with seven beds on board. Franciscan Brother John Cavanagh is Chaplain. Cost including a kitty and insurance is £950 but nurses pay half price. For further information visit http://www.across.org.uk or Facebook Liverpool & Chester Across or contact Tony Murphy 07881-656-974 or email tonymurphyefc2002@yahoo.co.uk

Back of Church Wall Boxes Totals for 2020

• CAFOD: £287
• Chester Aid to the Homeless (CATH): £499
• RTU - Reaching the Unreached: £663
• Hospice of the Good Shepherd: £1,599

Many thanks everyone for your great generosity!

CathSoc Tonight – Ghost Walk in Chester

Students, if you have ever screamed, prepare to scream tonight. Leaving Church at 7.00 pm.

Post-Confirmation Pizza Last Tuesday

Thanks everyone for a super evening together.

Walsingham Pilgrimage 27th - 30th April 2020

A few vacancies remain on this year’s parish pilgrimage to Our Lady's Shrine at Walsingham. The cost (assuming a group of 50) will be £203.00 per person including coach travel, accommodation and meals in Walsingham, and gratuities. En-suite accommodation may be available at premium of £45.00. For a booking form please contact either Carol Galvin at St Columba's office (01244 624019) or Eileen Irwin at St Theresa's office (01244 371660). The pilgrimage is open to the parishes of our Deanery and further afield. A non-refundable deposit of £20.00 is required with the booking.

Liturgy Group Meeting on Wednesday 7.00 pm

We’ll be reviewing Advent and Christmas, planning for Lent and also looking at our Sunday Hymn List. Over the three-year cycle, with three hymns at each Sunday morning Mass, we could potentially sing 450 hymns. We actually sing about 150, which is good, but plenty of room for new ones, or old ones we’re not presently including. Any suggestions?

Repository Re-Opens Today!

With our popular sale of pre-loved (second hand??) piety objects. Some wonderful old relics, and that’s just Bernice and Paula!!! (Steady on!)

Anne Teague, R.I.P.

Anne’s family have been overwhelmed by the extraordinary kindness shown by St Werburgh’s since her death and would like to thank you for your many Mass Cards, letter and expressions of condolence.

Year of the Word Diocesan Spring Talks

The same talk is given in three different locations:

Talk 1. Fr Nick Kern on Vatican II’s Dei Verbum

• Sun Feb 16th Sacred Heart and St Peter's, Baguley 19:00-20:30 (registration 18:30)
• Wed Feb 19th St Columba's, Chester 19:00-20:30 (registration 18:30)
• Sat Feb 22nd Shrewsbury Cathedral 11:00-12:30 (registration 10:30)

First Sacraments Parish Group

Next meeting for parents and children is at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 11th February in the parish house. The children will receive their new preparation books.

Spanish Books Looking for a Good Home

15-20 children’s books (up to about age 9) in Spanish. Are there are any Spanish speaking families in the parish who might appreciate these books?

Renewing Our Communities – Thursday Evening

Many thanks to Zosia for coming with me, and for our very extensive debrief in La Fattoria afterwards…

Parish Council – Minor Works List and Day Chapel

Excellent meeting on Wednesday, reviewing, among other items, our Minor Works List, which is almost complete, and our thinking about use of the Day Chapel. Full Reports to Parish coming soon.

Photo of the Week: St Mary’s Bosworth Hall Park

In Leicestershire, a remarkable Victorian Church, built two years before St Werburgh’s. Thanks, John!

And finally:

What do you call a rooster that writes novels? Charles Chickens. (Thanks, Etienne!)