St Werburgh's Roman Catholic Parish, Chester
Parish Newsletter
SUNDAY 21st JUNE: TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)
Ready for Reopening! - Wednesday 24th June
All systems go for the reopening of church, starting Wednesday Evening next at 6.00 pm, followed by Sunday Morning at 11.00 am. If all goes well, and there’s a demand for it, we will then have more sessions, culminating in the great day - not there yet! - when we are open for Mass and all the Sacraments. Meanwhile...
Here are the Guidelines for Reopening. We’ve tried to keep them to a minimum, and not make them appear too bossy. But we do have to work to Government and Diocesan instructions, and that we’ve been keen to do from the outset.
- Please queue along the pavement towards the hotel, at 2 metres (six feet) distance from others
- You may not bring any bags, other than a handbag, nor umbrellas into the church. They must be left in the porch
- On entry to the church please use hand gel provided
- You are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering during your visit
- Move as quickly as you can to a chair, as directed by a steward
- Sit (or kneel if you wish) for the time you are in church
- Do not move the chair from its marked spot, to maintain correct distancing
- Please avoid unnecessarily touching anything other than your chair
- Unfortunately, none of the rest of the church is accessible
- Please depart the church as quickly as you can when the bell rings to signal the slot is over, again as directed by a steward, and keeping six feet apart
- Use hand gel again as you leave the church
- If you want to chat, at a safe distance, to anyone else, please do so outside the church
Our Twelve Volunteer Stewards
We appealed for a dozen good’uns, and in less than twenty-four hours, a dozen super good’uns had put their names forward. A thousand thanks: we just can’t re-open church without you! Marian McCarthy is i/c Volunteer training and Rota, and our Training Session was next Wednesday, in church, 6.00-7.30 pm. The twelve good men and true: Marian, David Quayle, Simon and Consilia Black, Tricia Poulton, Liz Aiello. Bernie Walsh, Pam Mullen, Mikhael Ahmad, Steve Tierney, Georgina Elliott and Diana Scipanova. We owe you twelve a lot! Always room to welcome more Stewards if anyone else would like to join us.
Newsletter "Outsides” from Redemptorists
We are now out of these, and none available until Lockdown is over. Printed Newsletters will therefore be just "insides”, either side of an A4 sheet.
Bishop Mark’s Message This Week: 21st June
THE RE-OPENING OF THE CHURCHES
I know that it has required much energy and generosity to enable the re-opening of churches across the Diocese. I am very happy to report that at the end of this week 46 churches will have re-opened. Many messages of appreciation have been received and reports of the happy and emotional moments when the closed doors of our churches finally re-opened. Most important of all, a steady stream of people have been able to pray before the Blessed Sacrament.
FUNERAL SERVICES IN CHURCH
I always want you to be fully aware of national guidance made available to us. Most recently I wanted you to have sight of the guidance provided for funeral services held in church. I am also aware of the significant practical issues involved and would want you to know there is no expectation that you should make this provision. I would very much leave this as a local, pastoral decision as to whether it is possible or appropriate to celebrate these TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME services in church.
Hour Outside Church Sunday Morning
10.00-11.00 am, for Catholic papers, Newsletters or just to say "Hello!” Why not come along?
Message from SPUC
Did you know that there are 40-50 million abortions every year worldwide? This Sunday is a Special Day of Prayer for Life. Please help us support life and join SPUC who also supply help to women suffering from the trauma of abortion through ARCH (Abortion Recovery and Care Helpline). For more details of SPUC meetings (every other month) and how you can support financially for £2 per month by joining the ‘Little Feet Club’ draw contact Kevin 681816.
Mass Intentions During Lockdown
Still honoured and delighted to say your Mass Intentions: but there is only one Mass each day except Sunday (two) and that does mean that some pre-booked Intentions may not be on the exact day you requested if it was a Sunday. I’ll try to say your Mass on the nearest available day.
"Online giving to the Parish”
An online donation page has been added to the Parish website. It’s the third box down on the Home Page. (Box One, Official Statements, Box Two, Blog.)
Keeping in Touch during this Period
Newsletters and Information Sheets will be available two ways, as usual: hard copies, in the Newsletter Box on the Front Door of the Church; and on the website, as you’ve always done. Log on to: www.stwerburghchester.co.uk. On the home page, you will see three links: one takes you to all the official statements; the second is the childish Parish Priest’s Daily Blog; the third is online giving.
Photo of the Week: St Boniface Church, Japan
Last week we were in Vietnam, today in Koiwa, Japan. Always good to greet our friends in the Far East. (How are things in Grimsby?)
