Parish Newsletter

New Church Lockdown

All churches and places of worship are closed for Public Worship until Sunday 6th December. Please God, we will be able to reopen then; but meanwhile, please follow the latest news on our website, via this Newsletter, and on the Daily Blog.

November/December Mass Intentions

• Sun 8th Nov: Deponeo Family and John McMahon
• Mon 9th Nov: Karen Elliott’s Family
• Tues 10th Nov: Maurice and Peggy Power and Family
• Wed 11th Nov: Hugh Lancaster’s Family
• Thurs 12th Nov: Cook and Fernando Family
• Fri 13th Nov: Angie Bithell’s Family
• Sat 14th Nov: Michael Burke’s Family
• Sun 15th Nov: Syd and Denise Jones’ Family
• Mon 16th Nov: John and Vera Clyne and family
• Tues 17th Nov: Alex and Pat Barnes’ Family
• Wed 18th Nov: David & Barbara Graves’ Family
• Thurs 19th Nov: Gerry Tighe’s Family
• Fri 20th Nov: Anne and Aidan Cadden’s Family
• Sat 21st Nov: Daly and Rogers Families
• Sun 22nd Nov: BC’s Uncle Joe
• Mon 23rd Nov: Gillian Roe’s Family and Friends
• Tues 24th Nov: Mike and Gillian Rogers’ Family
• Wed 25th Nov: Bernadette O’Shea’s Family
• Thursday 26th Nov: David and Jane Kluth’s Family
• Fri 27th Nov: Anne and Terry Collier’s Family
• Sat 28th Nov: Margaret Astbury’s Family
• Sun 29th Nov: Barbara Evans (L.D.)
• Mon 30th Nov: Marian Curtis’ Family
• Tues 1st Dec: Maurice Power (Anniv)
• Wed 2nd Dec: Godfrey Sproston’s Family
• Thurs 3rd Dec: Matty Bannaghan
• Fri 4th Dec: Pam Mullen’s Family
• Sat 5th Dec: Consilia and Simon Black’s Family
• Sun 6th Dec: Catherine and Simon Neal’s Family
• Mon 7th Dec: McKeown and Norbury Families
• Tues 8th Dec: Margaret Catterson’s Family
• Wed 9th Dec: Mick and Sheila Fields’ Family
• Thurs 10th Dec: Mike and Margaret’s Hart’s Family
• Fri 11th Dec: Judith and Walter Done’s Family
• Sat 12th Dec: Celia Hickey’s Family
• Sun 13th Dec: Matt and Christine Lawton’s Family
• Mon 14th Dec: Lyn and Richard Williams’ Family
• Tues 15th Dec: Finn Abberton
• Wed 16th Dec: John and Frances Matthias’s Family
• Thurs 17th Dec: John and Sarah Collins
• Fri 18th Dec: Keith and Helen Gornall’s Family

If I have missed you off, please let me know!

Sunday Collections and Mass Offerings

During lockdown, please either post or pop through letter-box - thank you!

SVP Holiday Home Appeal

Chester and Ellesmere Port District SVP have had to cancel all of their annual fund raising events that would normally raise money to help maintain their Holiday Home in Talacre. As an alternative approach they have decided to set up a 'Just Giving' page for a limited period so that donations can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chesterellesmereportholidayhome.

November: Month of the Holy Souls

Delighted we can still have our Blessing of Graves: Sunday afternoons, 2.00-4.00 pm, 22nd November at Blacon and 29th November at Overleigh.

Stories, Poems, and Music for Advent and Christmas

Trevor Dennis and Friends, St Mary-Without-the-Walls, Handbridge, Wednesday 16th December 7.30 pm. For Christian Aid. Trevor Dennis will introduce and read seven of his published stories and poems on the themes of Advent and Christmas, while Brian and Claire Heald from Wesley Church will provide some wonderful music. Reserve a place by emailing Trevor on trevordennis11@gmail.com with your name(s) and phone number, or by ringing him on 01244 638441.

Samanta Scipanova (Grand Duchess’s Daughter) Writes:

Demand for food banks has grown in the last few weeks. The hub on Dicksons Drive is always looking for food/toiletry donations and volunteers to help pack and/or deliver the boxes. Anyone who would like to donate items can drop them off at The New Church on Monday, Thursday and Friday 1-3 pm. To receive a food box or refer someone, to volunteer or find out more, contact 07598-536-904 or email hello@hbc.org.uk.

Bishops’ Statement on the National Lockdown

Wednesday 4th November 2020

Today, Parliament passed into law the Regulations governing many aspects of activity in the whole of England until 2nd December. These Regulations prohibit the gathering of people for communal worship in churches and other religious buildings. Churches remain open and in use for activities other than communal worship, including personal prayer and support for those in need. Funeral Masses and funeral services may be held. Please refer to the Regulations (for places of worship see paragraph 18) and associated Guidance. Despite profound misgivings it is important that we, as responsible citizens, observe these Regulations, which have the force of law: ‘Remind them to be obedient to the officials in authority; to be ready to do good at every opportunity’ (Titus 3:1). We do this in solidarity with so many others on whom are being imposed restrictions which impact severely on their lives and livelihoods. It is also important to recognise that these Regulations are not an attack on religious belief. However, they do demonstrate a fundamental lack of understanding of the essential contribution made by faith communities to the well-being, resilience and health of our society. At this difficult moment, we ask that, as a Catholic community, we make full use of our churches as places of individual prayer and sources of solace and help. We must sustain each other in our patterns of prayer, joining a national shared moment of prayer each day at 6.00 pm, and observing the Vigil of Christ the King (21st November) as a day of prayer for the ending of this pandemic. We encourage you all in your practical service and support of each other and those around you in need. This pathway of prayer and service is the royal road we are to take as a gracious witness in our society today.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols Archbishop Malcolm McMahon OP
President and Vice-President

Photo of the Week: St Werburgh’s School Fair 1968

A super photo of six of our children fifty years ago running the Book Stall at the Fair held in the grounds of the convent, to raise money to help pay the rent for Love Street School. And we’ve been able to identify all six! From the left: Michelle Astbury, Jane Sweeney, Pauline Dunne, Margaret Mannion, Christine Green and Karen White. Where are they all now???

FP’s Happy Hour - Sundays 10.00-11.30 am

Like last time, see you outside Church Sunday mornings!