Parish Newsletter
SUNDAY 11th OCTOBER: TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)
Liturgical
- + 2024
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+ 2023
- 31st December
- 24th December
- 17th December
- 10th December
- 3rd December
- 26th November
- 19th November
- 12th November
- 5th November
- 29th October
- 22nd October
- 15th October
- 8th October
- 1st October
- 24th September
- 17th September
- 10th September
- 3rd September
- 27th August
- 20th August
- 13th August
- 6th August
- 30th July
- 23rd July
- 16th July
- 9th July
- 2nd July
- 25th June
- 18th June
- 11th June
- 4th June
- 28th May
- 21st May
- 14th May
- 7th May
- 30th April
- 23rd April
- 16th April
- 9th April
- 2nd April
- 26th March
- 19th March
- 12th March
- 5th March
- 26th February
- 19th February
- 12th February
- 5th February
- 29th January
- 22nd January
- 15th January
- 8th January
- 1st January
-
+ 2022
- 25th December
- 18th December
- 11th December
- 4th December
- 27th November
- 20th November
- 13th November
- 6th November
- 30th October
- 23rd October
- 16th October
- 9th October
- 2nd October
- 25th September
- 18th September
- 11th September
- 4th September
- 28th August
- 21st August
- 14th August
- 7th August
- 31st July
- 24th July
- 17th July
- 10th July
- 3rd July
- 26th June
- 19th June
- 12th June
- 5th June
- 29th May
- 22nd May
- 15th May
- 8th May
- 1st May
- 24th April
- 17th April
- 10th April
- 3rd April
- 27th March
- 20th March
- 13th March
- 6th March
- 27th February
- 20th February
- 13th February
- 6th February
- 30th January
- 23rd January
- 16th January
- 9th January
- 2nd January
-
+ 2021
- 26th December
- 19th December
- 12th December
- 5th December
- 28th November
- 21st November
- 14th November
- 7th November
- 31st October
- 24th October
- 17th October
- 10th October
- 3rd October
- 26th September
- 19th September
- 12th September
- 5th September
- 29th August
- 22nd August
- 15th August
- 8th August
- 1st August
- 25th July
- 18th July
- 11th July
- 4th July
- 27th June
- 20th June
- 13th June
- 6th June
- 30th May
- 23rd May
- 16th May
- 9th May
- 2nd May
- 25th April
- 18th April
- 11th April
- 4th April
- 28th March
- 21st March
- 14th March
- 7th March
- 28th February
- 21st February
- 14th February
- 7th February
- 31st January
- 24th January
- 17th January
- 10th January
- 3rd January
-
- 2020
- 27th December
- 20th December
- 13th December
- 6th December
- 29th November
- 22nd November
- 15th November
- 8th November
- 1st November
- 25th October
- 18th October
- 11th October
- 4th October
- 27th September
- 20th September
- 13th September
- 6th September
- 30th August
- 23rd August
- 16th August
- 9th August
- 2nd August
- 26th July
- 19th July
- 12th July
- 5th July
- 28th June
- 21st June
- 14th June
- 7th June
- 31st May
- 24th May
- 17th May
- 10th May
- 3rd May
- 26th April
- 19th April
- 12th April
- 5th April
- 29th March
- 22nd March
- 15th March
- 8th March
- 1st March
- 23rd February
- 16th February
- 9th February
- 2nd February
- 26th January
- 19th January
- 12th January
- 5th January
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+ 2019
- 29th December
- 22nd December
- 15th December
- 8th December
- 1st December
- 24th November
- 17th November
- 10th November
- 3rd November
- 27th October
- 20th October
- 13th October
- 6th October
- 29th September
- 22nd September
- 15th September
- 8th September
- 1st September
- 25th August
- 18th August
- 11th August
- 4th August
- 28th July
- 21st July
- 14th July
- 7th July
- 30th June
- 23rd June
- 16th June
- 9th June
- 2nd June
- 19th May
- 19th May
- 12th May
- 5th May
- 28th April
- 21st April
- 14th April
- 7th April
- 31st March
- 24th March
- 17th March
- 10th March
- 3rd March
- 24th February
- 17th February
- 10th February
- 3rd February
- 27th January
- 20th January
- 13th January
- 6th January
-
+ 2018
- 30th December
- 23rd December
- 16th December
- 9th December
- 2nd December
- 25th November
- 18th November
- 11th November
- 4th November
- 28th October
- 21st October
- 14th October
- 7th October
- 30th September
- 23rd September
- 16th September
- 9th September
- 2nd September
- 26th August
- 19th August
- 5th August
- 29th July
- 22nd July
- 15th July
- 8th July
- 1st July
- 24th June
- 17th June
- 10th June
- 3rd June
- 27th May
- 20th May
- 13th May
- 6th May
- 29th April
- 22nd April
- 15th April
- 8th April
- 1st April
- 25th March
- 18th March
- 11th March
- 4th March
- 25th February
- 18th February
- 11th February
- 4th February
- 28th January
- 21st January
- 14th January
- 7th January
- + 2017
Isaiah 25, 6-10; Psalm 22; Philippians 4, 12-20; Matthew 22, 1-14
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: People of the Parish
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Thanksgiving - the Scipanova Family
11.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Joan and David Huxley 15th Wedding Anniversary
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Thanksgiving for Sapna’s Safe Delivery
Monday 12th October: Ferial: Galatians 4,22 - 5,1; Psalm 112; Luke 11, 29-32
1.45 pm: St Werburgh’s: Funeral Service for John Caley, late of Oldfield Drive, Vicars Cross
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: John Caley (L.D.)
Tuesday 13th October: Ferial: Galatians 5, 1-6; Psalm 118; Luke 11, 37-41
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Jack Borrows (91st Birthday Intentions)
Wednesday 14th October: Ferial: Galatians 5, 18-25; Psalm 1; Luke 11, 42-46
2.00 pm: Blacon: Funeral Service for John Vernon, late of Victoria Pathway, Handbridge
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: James Cunniffe (Thanksgiving)
Thursday 15th October: St Teresa of Avila: Ephesians 1, 1-10; Psalm 97; Luke 11, 47-54
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Wedding Service for Victoria Vitelli and Nathan Collins
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Kris Scipanovs (Birthday Intentions)
Friday 16th October: Ferial: Ephesians 1, 11-14; Psalm 32; Luke 12, 1-7
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Frances Raczka (L.D., Birmingham)
Saturday 17th October: St Ignatius of Antioch: Ephesians 1, 15-23; Psalm 8; Luke 12, 8-12
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Thanksgiving (M.P.)
SUNDAY 18th OCTOBER: TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)
Isaiah 45, 1-6; Psalm 95; I Thessalonians 1, 1-5; Matthew 22, 15-21
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Mae Kay
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Anna Roberts (L.D.)
11.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Charlett Temple (L.D.)
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Stella Farrell (1st Anniversary)
Prayer intentions
Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: John McMahon, Nathalie Gresty, Pauline Hackett, Laura Chadwick, Elisabeth, Stuart Clark, Keith Hayes, Sheila Winder, Joe and Ruth O’Kane, Garth Stocking and Kevin Maguire; and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Fr Mike Dyson, John Caley, John Vernon and Charles Snow; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Catherine Reade, Beatrice Barlow, Michael Mee, Richard Wright, Joseph Poole, Agnes Hutchinson, Valerie Cummings, Anne Stevenson, William Michael, Barry Champion, Angela Collins, Sheila Gapper, Felix McCarroll, Mary Spence, Charles Gaughran, Ted Lloyd, Thomas McCann, Michael Keeley, Carol Jones, Michael Homfray-Davis, Ellen Daly, Peter Curtis, Norman Blackwell, Paul Healy, Colin Reddy, Mary Abley, David Barratt, Betty Pendlebury and Michael Bretherton. May They All Rest in the Peace and Light of the Risen Lord Jesus.
Parish events
- + 2024
-
+ 2023
- 31st December
- 24th December
- 17th December
- 10th December
- 3rd December
- 26th November
- 19th November
- 12th November
- 5th November
- 29th October
- 22nd October
- 15th October
- 8th October
- 1st October
- 24th September
- 17th September
- 10th September
- 3rd September
- 27th August
- 20th August
- 13th August
- 6th August
- 30th July
- 23rd July
- 16th July
- 9th July
- 2nd July
- 25th June
- 18th June
- 11th June
- 4th June
- 28th May
- 21st May
- 14th May
- 7th May
- 30th April
- 23rd April
- 16th April
- 9th April
- 2nd April
- 26th March
- 19th March
- 12th March
- 5th March
- 26th February
- 19th February
- 12th February
- 5th February
- 29th January
- 22nd January
- 15th January
- 8th January
- 1st January
-
+ 2022
- 25th December
- 18th December
- 11th December
- 4th December
- 27th November
- 20th November
- 13th November
- 6th November
- 30th October
- 23rd October
- 16th October
- 9th October
- 2nd October
- 25th September
- 18th September
- 11th September
- 4th September
- 28th August
- 21st August
- 14th August
- 7th August
- 31st July
- 24th July
- 17th July
- 10th July
- 3rd July
- 26th June
- 19th June
- 12th June
- 5th June
- 29th May
- 22nd May
- 15th May
- 8th May
- 1st May
- 24th April
- 17th April
- 10th April
- 3rd April
- 27th March
- 20th March
- 13th March
- 6th March
- 27th February
- 20th February
- 13th February
- 6th February
- 30th January
- 23rd January
- 16th January
- 9th January
- 2nd January
-
+ 2021
- 26th December
- 19th December
- 12th December
- 5th December
- 28th November
- 21st November
- 14th November
- 7th November
- 31st October
- 24th October
- 17th October
- 10th October
- 3rd October
- 26th September
- 19th September
- 12th September
- 5th September
- 29th August
- 22nd August
- 15th August
- 8th August
- 1st August
- 25th July
- 18th July
- 11th July
- 4th July
- 27th June
- 20th June
- 13th June
- 6th June
- 30th May
- 23rd May
- 16th May
- 9th May
- 2nd May
- 25th April
- 18th April
- 11th April
- 4th April
- 28th March
- 21st March
- 14th March
- 7th March
- 28th February
- 21st February
- 14th February
- 7th February
- 31st January
- 24th January
- 17th January
- 10th January
- 3rd January
-
- 2020
- 27th December
- 20th December
- 13th December
- 6th December
- 29th November
- 22nd November
- 15th November
- 8th November
- 1st November
- 25th October
- 18th October
- 11th October
- 4th October
- 27th September
- 20th September
- 13th September
- 6th September
- 30th August
- 23rd August
- 16th August
- 9th August
- 2nd August
- 26th July
- 19th July
- 12th July
- 5th July
- 28th June
- 21st June
- 14th June
- 7th June
- 31st May
- 24th May
- 17th May
- 10th May
- 3rd May
- 26th April
- 19th April
- 12th April
- 5th April
- 29th March
- 22nd March
- 15th March
- 8th March
- 1st March
- 23rd February
- 16th February
- 9th February
- 2nd February
- 26th January
- 19th January
- 12th January
- 5th January
-
+ 2019
- 29th December
- 22nd December
- 15th December
- 8th December
- 1st December
- 24th November
- 17th November
- 10th November
- 3rd November
- 27th October
- 20th October
- 13th October
- 6th October
- 29th September
- 22nd September
- 15th September
- 8th September
- 1st September
- 25th August
- 18th August
- 11th August
- 4th August
- 28th July
- 21st July
- 14th July
- 7th July
- 30th June
- 23rd June
- 16th June
- 9th June
- 2nd June
- 19th May
- 19th May
- 12th May
- 5th May
- 28th April
- 21st April
- 14th April
- 7th April
- 31st March
- 24th March
- 17th March
- 10th March
- 3rd March
- 24th February
- 17th February
- 10th February
- 3rd February
- 27th January
- 20th January
- 13th January
- 6th January
-
+ 2018
- 30th December
- 23rd December
- 16th December
- 9th December
- 2nd December
- 25th November
- 18th November
- 11th November
- 4th November
- 28th October
- 21st October
- 14th October
- 7th October
- 30th September
- 23rd September
- 16th September
- 9th September
- 2nd September
- 26th August
- 19th August
- 5th August
- 29th July
- 22nd July
- 15th July
- 8th July
- 1st July
- 24th June
- 17th June
- 10th June
- 3rd June
- 27th May
- 20th May
- 13th May
- 6th May
- 29th April
- 22nd April
- 15th April
- 8th April
- 1st April
- 25th March
- 18th March
- 11th March
- 4th March
- 25th February
- 18th February
- 11th February
- 4th February
- 28th January
- 21st January
- 14th January
- 7th January
- + 2017
Sunday Morning Mass – Numbers Plateauing Out!
- Week One: Sunday 19th July: 147
- Week Two: Sunday 26th July: 198
- Week Three: Sunday 2nd August: 201
- Week Four: Sunday 9th August: 215
- Week Five: Sunday 16th August: 232
- Week Six: Sunday 23rd August: 243
- Week Seven: Sunday 30th August: 257
- Week Eight: Sunday 6th September: 270
- Week Nine: Sunday 13th September: 270
- Week Ten: Sunday 20th September: 257
- Week Eleven: Sunday 27th September: 253
- Week Twelve: Sunday 4th October: 268
This is about 67.5% of our "normal” Sunday Morning Mass congregation. Thanks, everyone - and thanks Taskforce, Cleaners and Stewards especially. We couldn’t do it without you!
Next Sunday’s 12.00 Noon Mass - 18th October
Stella Farrell’s 1st Anniversary Mass, and Joe is wanting to bring a large number of family and friends to mark this important date. You will all be very welcome indeed! So, just a word of warning: with limited capacity, probably a Mass to avoid next Sunday unless you are coming especially for Stella. Many thanks, everyone!
Track and Trace: Government Covid-19 QR Code
Thank you everyone for your patience each Sunday morning as we necessarily collect names and contact details for everyone entering church. We are also supporting the Government’s Test and Trace App. The NHS COVID-19 QR Code is on the railings near the front gate for you to scan - coming in OR going out. It doesn’t replace the requirement for us to keep our own record of your attendance at Mass - it’s as well as! If you do leave your phone switched on during Mass, please ensure it is on silent.
Chester Catholic High: Virtual Open Days
This last week saw The Catholic High School’s first Virtual Open Week. Videos were uploaded daily to give an insight to the unique school for future students and their families. The videos can be seen on the school website https://www.christofidelis.org.uk/Virtual-Open-Evening-2020/. Please spread the word to any families with children currently in Year 5 and 6.
Baptisms - "Rule of Six"
Clarification from Bishop Mark that Baptisms DO fall under the "Rule of Six" restrictions. Sorry, folks!
Monday Morning’s Taskforce Meeting Agenda
(1) Reviewing this Sunday Morning
(2) Bishop’s Document on First Holy Communions
(3) Bishop’s Document on Resuming Music at the Mass
(4) Continuing to Brainstorm Christmas 2020.
As ever, full report of this meeting will be on the Blog!
Fire and Evacuation Procedures
In order to comply with Fire Regulations, we will, over the next few weeks, introduce you to our fire safety arrangements which the fire safety team are developing. These arrangements include fire notices (what to do in the event of fire) at strategic points, alarm system and emergency exit points. We will also need to undertake a fire drill at some point before the end of October.
Students Arriving in Chester!
Welcome to Chester and welcome to St Werburgh’s! Obviously we can’t have the normal Freshers Fair and Events that we would love to have - but if you have arrived in Chester and found your way to St Werburgh’s this morning, please stop on after Mass for a brief chat and a chance to get your contact details. The Werbies and CathSoc do need you!! Although we can’t have our traditional large CathSoc get-togethers, we will be meeting in smaller groups and having as much of a programme as is consistent with the lockdown!
Car Parking Sunday Mornings: Priority for Stewards
Please DON’T try to park at church if you are coming for one of the four Sunday Morning Masses. Blue Badges: you can park on the main road, as usual.
SVP Autumn Mass for Elderly and Housebound
Last Sunday 4th October 2.30 pm - and huge thanks to everyone who made this possible. An enormous logistical challenge, as you can imagine, within all the National and Diocesan Covid-19 regulations. Some important voices asked if it was all worthwhile. But I was fairly clear in my own mind, and so were SVP, that it was worth facing those challenges, partly for the sake of the folks we brought to Mass, some of whom had not been outside for six months; and partly because we must try and keep as much of our normal life going as possible - again, always within those non-negotiable Covid-19 Regulations.
Spring Bulbs! Time to Plant!
It’s that time of the year to get those spring bulbs in. The front garden was a riot of colour this year, and we’d love it to be even more colourful next spring, a little sign of hope and joy in these horrible lockdown days. So... Box in the porch if you can all donate a bag of bulbs - all the shops, supermarkets and garden centres have them on sale at present. And Thursday Morning 29th October the big Blub Planting session at 10.00 am! Bring your own kneeler and your own dibber (they can’t touch you for it) and we’ll have a fun morning, all socially distanced, shoving those bulbs into the yielding autumnal loam (Steady on!) Everyone welcome to join us - and everyone invited to donate!
Bishop Mark: Extra Importance of Cribs this Christmas
I know many parishes are starting to think about the preparations for Advent and Christmas. This will certainly be a Christmas celebration unlike any other we have known. However, this may be a time further to develop devotional practices in Christian homes and re-emphasise the meaning of the Christmas Crib. Pope Francis has written beautifully of this custom in his Apostolic Letter "Admirabile Signum" (1st December 2019). The Holy Father writes to encourage, 'the beautiful tradition of preparing the Nativity scene in the days before Christmas, but also the custom of setting it up in the work place, in schools, in hospitals, prisons and town squares... It is my hope that this custom will never be lost and that, wherever it has fallen into disuse, it can be discovered and revived.'
Photo of the Week: Our Infant School in 1883
An extraordinary photo from seven years after the present church was built. St Werburgh’s Infant School, the blackboard giving the date as 21st November 1883 (a Wednesday!) You’ll notice there are 44 boys in the class - and, presumably, an equal number in the Girls’ Class. Geoff Hewson is third from the right on the front row.