St Werburgh's Roman Catholic Parish, Chester
Parish Newsletter
SUNDAY 21st MARCH: FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (YEAR B)
Zoom Stations of the Cross Wednesdays at 7.00 pm
Many thanks to everyone who’s joined us for Zoom Stations on Wednesday evenings at 7.00 pm. The two we’ve had so far have been the Cloisonné Enamel Stations you see in St Werburgh’s Church today, and the woodcuts made to illustrate the new Stations written by St John Paul II. Next Wednesday, it’s those remarkable water-colour Stations painted by Thomas Burke in his Prisoner-of-War camp, the subject of an illustrated talk two years ago by his niece, Hattie from Hamilton Street. Everyone very warmly welcome to join us: if you don’t have the link and would like to, just email me and I will send it over.
Saturday 20:00 Correction: Week Three of our Stations of the Cross is not the Thomas Burke Prisoner-of-War water-colours. They are Week Four. Next week, Lyn Williams is leading us with stations based on the art and inspiration of Sieger Koder. The Hymns will be God so loved the World and We remember. Here’s a little Bio of Fr Sieger:
Father Sieger Köder was born in Wasseralfingen in Swabia in southwestern Germany in 1925. From 1947 to 1951 he attended the State Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart, where he trained as a silversmith and a painter. While establishing his art practice, he also worked as an art teacher at a secondary school in Aalen for just over a decade. Increasingly he felt a pull into Christian ministry, so from 1965 to 1970 he studied theology in Tübingen, becoming ordained in the Catholic Church a year later. He served as a parish priest in Hohenberg and Rosenberg from 1975 to 1995, combining that vocation with his work as an artist. He continued his art making well into retirement, dying in 2015 at age of ninety. His religious paintings can be found all over Germany and in other parts of Europe.
The Covid-19 Restrictions Are Still in Place!
Please, everyone – don’t start relaxing too soon!
- 1. The wearing of face coverings in church by the faithful (unless the person has a valid exemption from this regulation).
- 2. Social distancing of people within the church building.
- 3. Stewarding of the church premises to assist the faithful whilst in church.
- 4. Frequent hand cleansing, either with sanitiser or washing.
- 5. Suitable one-way systems in the building to prevent excessive interaction between people from different households or bubbles.
- 6. Good ventilation of the church building to refresh the air quality within.
- 7. Cleaning of the church building after each act of public worship.
- 8. The timely dispersing of the faithful after the acts of worship avoiding congregating in car parks or on the streets outside the church.
Holy Week and Easter 2021: You Need to Book!
Online Booking closed for all Holy Week and Easter Sunday Services. Thank you for your phenomenal response. As we plot your requests on the seating plans, a few extra seats become available, so do please phone us, Monday to Friday, 10.00 - 11.00 am.
Palm Sunday: now necessary to book. Sorry for this change of mind, but the amazing response to the Holy Week and Easter Booking - all Masses virtually full at the end of the first day - suggested we need to book for Palm Sunday. So, both online and telephone booking open, online from today, Sunday, and telephone from tomorrow, Monday.
Gift Aid: Two Important Notices
Tax Status - IMPORTANT
If you no longer pay income tax, please let Fr Paul or Denise Jones know by 5th April, otherwise it will be assumed that you have paid sufficient income tax for the Parish to claim Gift Aid on your donations for the tax year 2020/21. 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. If you are interested in joining the scheme, please contact Fr Paul or Denise Jones.
Delivery of Offertory Envelopes
Thank you to all those who kindly volunteered to deliver offertory envelopes to home addresses. This was a tremendous help and greatly appreciated.
Fr Paul and Denise
Palm Sunday - Next Sunday
Please collect your Palms on the way into church. Initially, please, just one palm per person: there will be some over at the end of Sunday if you need more. Please hold it up at the right moment for blessing, and then stow somewhere safe as you come up to Holy Communion at the end of Mass.
Palm Sunday Holy Week and Easter Stewards
Training Session: Tuesday 23rd March, 6.30 pm
Photo of the Week: St Bede’s Handbridge
Another photo we’d like to know much more about: all girls, smart in their uniform. Year? The date we were given was 1950’s, but was St Bede’s going then? All information gratefully received!
