Parish Newsletter

St Werburgh’s Church is Open!!!

Sadly, but absolutely rightly, we are not able to have public worship such as Mass at this time. This is to prevent people gathering together, the main way this horrible virus is spread. But our Church is open every day, generally twice a day, as follows:

• Sundays: 8.00 am – 12.00 noon and 6.00-7.00 pm
• Weekdays: 11.00 am–1.00 pm and 6.00-7.00 pm
• Saturdays: 10.00 am – 12.00 noon

Keeping in Touch during this Period

Come unto church, take an Information Sheet and a Newsletter, but please take them away with you afterwards. If you’ve handled them, we don’t want them left for someone else to pick up. Then log on to our St Werburgh’s website: www.stwerburghchester.co.uk. On the home page, you will see two links: one takes you to all the official statements that have come out from Bishop Mark, the Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales, and our own Information Sheet; the other takes you to the incredibly irritating Parish Priest’s Daily Blog. You have been warned…

On-Line Catholic Resources at our Cathedral

We are hoping to compile a complete list of on-line resources for this time next week. Meanwhile, our own Cathedral in Shrewsbury has many excellent ways of keeping in touch with the church, including live streaming of Mass. The website which takes you straight through is: www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org

Welsh Railways Trip: Five Places Left!

Wednesday 6^th May: 43 of the 48 places have been booked. At the moment it is still going ahead, but if we need to postpone, we will let you know via this Newsletter immediately. No cheques or cash have been banked.

Churches Together in Christleton

So sorry to lose our wonderful Lent Programme, visiting five local Houses of Prayer on Tuesday afternoons during Lent. Huge thanks to our wonderful Secretary, Judith, for organising everything this year. We will live to fight another day!

Our Mission Together Day Chapel

Open for your inspection throughout this period. Go in by the door next to the organ or through the Sacristy – and there is a Questionnaire we’d like you to take away and complete to give us your views on its future use.

CathSoc Students

Almost all home again now: a very worrying time, with Finals, Dissertations, Assignments, you name it, due in, and everything up in the air. They’ve never experienced anything like this, of course, unlike the Parish Council, most of whom were on Fire Watch on Chester Town Hall Roof during the blitz. So, do please keep these worried youngsters in your prayers at this difficult time in their young lives.

Catholic High School Parents & Friends

Swing Band Dance Night, Friday 27^th March: Sadly, now cancelled, owing to the health emergency.

Parish Council Meeting on Wednesday

Finance Committee on Tuesday

Thanks, team, for turning out for these key meetings, with Parish Finances the tightest they’ve been in recent years. There’ll be a significant hit on Collections during this health emergency: if you could continue to use your envelopes, and either place them in the Money Box in church (now at the bottom of the aisle) or keep them till this is over, we’d be incredibly grateful. Any other donations or collection money: in the black box, please!

Three Important Gift Aid Notices

1. Tax Status – IMPORTANT - If you no longer pay income tax, please let Fr Paul or Denise Jones know by 5^th April, or it will be assumed that you have paid sufficient income tax for the Parish to claim Gift Aid on your donations for tax year 2019/20. Thank you.
2. Change of Address. Please let us know if you have changed your home address in the last 12 months.
3. Offertory Envelopes 2020/21 – REMINDER -

If you have not yet collected your box, please take it as soon as possible. Thank you.

Joining the Gift Aid Scheme

If you pay income tax, joining the Gift Aid scheme increases the value of your donations to the Parish by 25% at no extra cost to you. Interested in joining the scheme? Please contact Fr Paul or Denise Jones.

Holy Week Ministers Rota – Calling Volunteers!

Please sign up for these vital ministries, just in case it’s all over by Easter… Remember “It’ll all be over by Christmas” from 1914? No, I don’t either. 

First Holy Communion Masses in May

Still going ahead at present but watch this space!

CAFOD Lent Fast Day Envelopes: Back of Church

Famine and hunger in the Third World never stop, every year, every continent. The work of CAFOD doesn’t stop either: if you can do your Fast Day this year, they will be immensely grateful.

Stations of the Cross During Lent: Fridays, 7.30

20^th March: Pat. 27^th: Denise. 3^rd April: Christine.

Keep them ready for Lent 2021, folks!

Angelus Prayer Cards Free at Back of Church

Photo of the Week: Standing Room Only!

The tiny Church of St Andrea (St Andrew) at Rabac, Croatia, where it’s literally “standing room only”. Thanks, Helen and Cyril, for sending it in!

 

PLEASE!! Take your Newsletter and Information Sheet home with you. Please do not leave them in church for someone else to pick up: that’s exactly how this horrible virus spreads! And don’t forget to wash hands as often as possible. Thanks, everyone!