Parish Newsletter
SUNDAY 18th JULY: SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)
Liturgical
- + 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
Jeremiah 23, 1-6; Psalm 22; Ephesians 2, 13-18; Mark 6, 30-34
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Malcolm Crowther (Birthday Remembrance)
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Denis Hickey
11.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of HM
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Marjorie Bowditch (L.D.)
Monday 19th July: St John Plessington: Exodus 14, 5-18; Psalm Exodus 15; Matthew 12, 38-42
7.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Catenians’ Mass for St John Plessington Feast Day – All Welcome.
Tuesday 20th July: Ferial: Exodus 14,21 - 15,1; Psalm Exodus 15; Matthew 12, 46-50
1.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Nuptial Mass for Ivan Hendry and Carrie Lyons-Mound
Wednesday 21st July: Ferial: Exodus 16, 1-15; Psalm 77; Matthew 13, 1-9
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Matthew Robinson (12th Anniversary)
Thursday 22nd July: St Mary Magdalene: Song of Songs 3, 1-4; Psalm 62; John 20, 1-18
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Special Intention (GS)
Friday 23rd July: St Bridget: Galatians 2, 19-20; Psalm 33; John 15, 1-8
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Intentions of A&R
Saturday 24th July: Ferial: Exodus 24, 3-8; Psalm 49; Matthew 13, 24-30
9.00 - 10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Confessions
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Ava Margaret-Anna Dias
1.30 pm: Town Hall: Annual Commemoration Service at the Polish Airmen’s Memorial
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Tom Dolan (L.D., Stockport)
SUNDAY 25th JULY: SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)
II Kings 4, 42-44; Psalm 144; Ephesians 4, 1-6; John 6, 1-15
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Ordination Intentions - Fr Stephen Roberts (Ordained 16/7/21)
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Sheila Lawley (17th Anniversary); Ken Lawley; Kathleen Hargrave
11.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Geraldine Pile (Birthday Remembrance)
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Connie Bell (L.D.)
1.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Orla Catherine Brennan
1.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Delphi Patricia Wilson
Prayer intentions
Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Brian Boardman Jnr, John McMahon, James Convey, Pauline and Bill 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 John Moore; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Victoria Johnson, Albert Hassall, Therese Platel, Terence O’Brien, Jack Friery, Mary Banks, Patricia Cunniff, Pauline Wiggins, Alice Sproston, Joan Croft, Rosemarie Shone, Albert Tilston, Dorothy Rice, Anthony Graham, Norman Smith, Sebastian Vitelli, Kathleen Wright, Bill Wilson, Nan Butcher, Mary Kirkland-Jones, Norman Haggart, Anna Roberts and Stephen Steele. May They All Rest in Peace.
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
Coming out of Lockdown: Stage 4: 19th July
The National Task Force for Places of Worship met on Thursday. The full Catholic Bishops’ Statement is on the website, but here is Bishop Mark’s very helpful summary of their decisions:
(1) From 19th July, continue to provide sanitiser at entrances and exits, ventilate our churches well and expect that masks should be worn. Good general cleanliness should be maintained.
(2) Public confidence in coming to church must be maintained, and social distancing respected.
(3) Stewarding no longer mandatory but individual churches may want to continue some sort of helpful assistance to regulars and visitors.
(4) Congregational singing permitted once again, but phase it in slowly, and continue with masks.
(5) Keep on with Track and Trace as long as it is required nationally.
(6) Don’t reintroduce Holy Water stoops just yet.
(7) Servers, Readers and Eucharistic Ministers can gradually be reintroduced.
(8) Offertory Collections can be taken in the normal way.
(9) Sign of Peace remains suspended.
(10) Holy Communion remains via the Host only and may be administered on the tongue if people prefer. No need to maintain a one-way system.
(11) No restrictions on numbers for Baptisms but avoid Multiple Baptisms.
(12) No restriction on numbers for Marriages.
(13) No restriction on numbers for Funerals here in church, but this may not apply to Crematoria and Graveyards.
(14) Continue safeguards with Anointing of the Sick and Care Home visiting.
(15) For Parish Social Activities, it is strongly recommended a Risk Assessment should be undertaken first.
(16) For Catechesis (eg Sacramental Preparation), Risk Assess each activity in dividually.
Getting Back to Normal: What’s Changing First?
Next Sunday, 25th July, two big changes:
(1) You hand-sanitise yourselves on entrance, (and on exit if you wish).
(2) You choose where you sit. Please respect the "One Metre Rule", remembering it’s "in front and behind" as well as side-by side.
Each Sunday, we are going to introduce two changes on the Route Map back to normality, but conscious all the time that if the figures rocket up, we could all be back to square one. Remember: we are still "Tracking and Tracing".
Getting Back to Normal: Our Four Principles
(1) The emphasis now is as much on individuals deciding for themselves as on central diktat.
(2) As a result, different people will take different positions, and we need to be extra sensitive to those who take a different view from ourselves.
(3) The Government’s Task Force for Places of Worship will issue guidelines very shortly, which we will follow, as appropriate for St Werburgh’s.
(4) We will have a phased return to normality.
Consultation on Weekday Mass Times
75 replies so far! You can either fill out the paper Questionnaire or go online to our home page https://www.stwerburghchester.co.uk
Public Weekday Masses Re-Starting SOON!
Please watch this space everyone, as the Electrical Installation work has been put back a week.
Beginning of Emergency Lighting Installation
Creating the channels and laying the wiring began on Monday 12th July, hopefully for a fortnight - but it looks now as if it might be a few days longer. Grrrr! The workmen will be here Monday to Friday, and everything left neatly for the weekend, so we hope not too much disruption to our daily life.
Reintroduction of Confessions
Starting Saturday 3rd July, 9.00-10.00 am, on the Sanctuary, two chairs socially distanced. Please sit on the Red Plastic Chairs while you are waiting.
Summer Ordinations for our Diocese
Deacons Patrick Breeze, Humphrey O’Connor and Stephen Roberts will be ordained to the Priesthood at Saint Anthony’s, Wythenshawe on Friday 16th July 2021 at 7.00 pm. Sadly, the extension of public health restrictions means it will not now be possible to extend an open invitation to everyone. However, the Ordination Mass will be livestreamed from Saint Anthony’s for everyone who is not able to attend in person. On Saturday 24th July 2021 Dr John McKay and Professor Wilfred McSherry will be ordained to the Permanent Diaconate at Saint Michael & All Angels Church in Woodchurch at 12 noon. This Mass will also be livestreamed for anyone unable to attend in person.
St John Plessington Feast Day: Monday 19th July
The Catenians warmly invite their fellow parishioners and friends to a special Mass at St Werburgh’s at 7.30 pm, celebrated by Fr Neill Robb. The Mass will be preceded by a short memorial Service (led by Fr Neill) in the public garden by the obelisk memorial next to St Paul’s Church in Boughton. After Mass, you are invited to join the Catenians at the Parish Centre, Brook St.
Accommodation Sought
Both the Belgian and the Airbus students are hopefully now fixed up. Now we’re making a new appeal: "Two professional girls are looking for a property with two decent-sized double rooms, ideally with a third bedroom that could be used as an office. We would prefer a furnished property. We would also need two parking spaces. Anywhere within a five-mile radius of Chester, preferably not sharing with others. From start of September, ideally a few weeks before." Any offers to FP.
Photo of the Week: Dismantling the Altar Screen
A real bit of history, from 2012. In fact, it proved a remarkably easy job, and wood from the Screen has been used for the new Lectern and for a new partition for the War Memorial Chapel.
As we come out of lockdown and many of you enjoy summer holidays, do please send us in your photos for "Photo of the Week". During lockdown, we’ve drawn mostly on archive photos: now it would be good to receive any snaps from hols, not just churches you visit (though they are always popular) but any places of interest. How about shots of some old ruins? Or have you heard enough about the Choir recently... (Low blow!)