Parish Newsletter

 

St Werburgh’s Feast-Day and Parish Social

Many thanks to all for joining our Feast Day Celebrations last week: looking back to 1960 at Masses last weekend, welcoming Priests and Parishioners from the other Chester Parishes on Wednesday lunchtime, and our Parish Social down at the Club on Friday. Thanks to John and his team for a super buffet, and to you all for coming along. Denise and Syd smashed the Picture Quiz, and the ‘High Chairs’, Martin, Jane, Aidan, Cath, Mark and Mike – won the Main Quiz with 47½ out of 56! (Even if they can’t spell ‘altar’). The usual ’eated debate about who wrote the slogan ‘Naughty But Nice’. Some people are just really bad losers…

Candle Fires in Church: New Candle-Stands

You’ll notice that the Candle Stands in church have all been converted from prongs to cups and that all the old Penny Candles – the long thin ones – have been removed. The new brass cups are for the tea-lights only: PLEASE, do not take the wax out of the tin foil container, as it makes a horrible mess, and do not place more than one tea-light in any one brass cup. Thanks! And huge thanks to John Curtis for doing the converting.
Remember: IF IN DOUBT, BLOW IT OUT!

Retired Priests’ Fund – Second Collection

Last chance for making your contribution today.

Next Meeting of the Readers' Group

Monday February 17th at 7-00 pm for about an hour in the Parish House. As Lent approaches we will be looking at the Sunday readings for the first three weeks of Lent. It's a special time and the meeting is open to all - do come along.

Cleaning of Blessed Sacrament Altar Banner

Have you noticed the banner hanging at the back of the Blessed Sacrament Altar? It’s been taken for cleaning, and certainly come up in very fresh new colours. Thanks, Gerry! Anyone fancy joining a Banner Group in the Parish to make new ones for hanging from the pillars, to add to the beautiful ones we already have?

Stations of the Cross During Lent

We will be having Stations for each of the six Friday Evenings during Lent: anyone like to volunteer to lead one of them?

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 FHC Preparation Books.

Churches Together in Christleton Lent 2020

Once again, we’re visiting a series of local Houses of Prayer, Tuesday afternoons in Lent:

• 3rd March: Foxhill Conference Centre, Frodsham
• 10th March: Quiet Garden, Frodsham (20 max)
• 17th March: Sisters of Jesus Way West Kirby (20)
• 24th March: Gladstone’s Library, Hawarden
• 31st March: Franciscans at Pantasaph.

Please note there are limited numbers at two venues. If you are definitely planning to attend please email Judith on judith@edwards5.co.uk who will compile a list.

Our Mission Together Minor Works List

One-third of what we raised in the 2017-8 Diocesan Appeal was for Parish Funds, two-thirds going for Diocesan Projects. As a Parish, we decided to go for a number of Minor Works items, things we would like to do but which would stretch the normal yearly budget. With your help, we drew up a list of some twenty projects, fifteen of which have now been completed: new white Chasubles; renovation of Communion Patens; new Lecterns for Presidential Chair and War Memorial Chapel; new Lighting in Church Porch; Wooden Frame for the Great War Memorial; new Free-standing Altar Candlesticks; new Sanctuary Lamp holder; refurbishment of Sacristy and Mass Bells; Handrails for Parish House Front Door; repair of Crib Figures; repair of Kneelers and Benches in church. We are part way through renewing our Altar Cloths – new Purple one in place for last Advent – and are almost there with the re-upholstering of all the Dining Room Chairs – one to go! Total Cost: about £13,000. Now we are moving on to buying a Defibrillator for Church and re-binding the three Mass Lectionaries, which are falling apart. Next week, we want your views on the Day Chapel, and how it should best be used.

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!

CathSoc Tonight – Shared Table Supper

A gentler evening than last week’s Ghost Walk. Just leave goodies in the kitchen before Evening Mass.

Music Group Playing Next Sunday 16th Feb

Practice in Church Monday 10th at 7,00 pm

Walsingham Pilgrimage 27th - 30th April 2020

The cost (assuming a group of 50) will be £203.00 per person. For a booking form please contact either Carol Galvin at St Columba's office (624019) or Eileen Irwin at St Theresa's office (371660).

Renewing our Sunday Morning Hymns Play-List

Over the three-year cycle, three hymns at each Sunday Mass, we potentially sing 450 hymns. We actually sing about 150, so plenty of room for new ones, or old ones we’re not presently including. Liturgy Group last Wednesday set up a small group to work on this. Any suggestions? (I was actually thinking of suggestions for new ones, not a list of 50 you’d happily do without, Dr P. Why do these Consultations Exercises always bring out the twitter and bisted in many of you??)

Repository Re-Opens Today!

A couple of old relics still left from last week…

Year of the Word Diocesan Spring Talks

Talk One: Fr Nick Kern on Vatican II’s Dei Verbum
Wed Feb 19th St Columba's, Chester 19:00-20:30.

Spanish Books Looking for a Good Home

And a good home duly found! Thanks, everyone.

Photo of the Week: Post Confirmation Pizza

Harry, Cherrelle and Isabelle tucking in down at Frankie and Benny’s last week, a lovely way of rounding off our Confirmation Programme for 2019.