Parish Newsletter

Getting Back to Normal: What’s Changing Today?

Today Sunday, 1st August, one big change: Holy Communion goes back to its normal place! Many thanks to everyone for their understanding and patience when we had to move Holy Communion to the very end of Mass, in order to allow everyone to leave church speedily and the whole church to be sanitised before the next Mass began. Now, because of the lighter cleansing regulations, we can restore Holy Communion to its proper place and allow everyone to go back to their places for private prayer, Final Prayer, Blessing and Dismissal. (But not yet endless notices - can you be patient for a few more weeks before they reappear??)

New guidelines for Holy Communion: 1st August

1. Please only come out when Stewards indicate.
2. Centre benches first, coming into the centre aisle and returning by the side aisles.
3. Then side benches, going to the back of the church and coming up the centre aisle.
4. Please maintain the metre distance always
5. Side benches, please do not cut through benches in order to reach the centre aisle.
6. At the end of Mass, you will not be stewarded out, but please vacate church as speedily as possible. Saying "hello" to each other is a key part of Sunday Mass, but please do it well clear of the porch and church steps.
This Sunday, we will all be monitoring how it goes, so any reactions will be gratefully received.

Coming out of Lockdown: Stage 4: 19th July

(1) We continue to provide sanitiser at entrances and exits, ventilate our churches well and expect that masks should be worn. Good general cleanliness will 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 phased in slowly, and continuing 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.
(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) Risk Assessments for Parish Social Activities.
(16) For Catechesis (eg Sacramental Preparation), Risk Assess each activity individually.

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 has issued guidelines, which we will follow, as appropriate for St Werburgh’s.
(4) We will have a phased return to normality.

Consultation on Weekday Mass Times

85 replies so far! You can either fill out the paper Questionnaire or go online to our home page - https://www.stwerburghchester.co.uk

Teacher Seeking September Accommodation

A young lady is coming to teach in one of our High Schools next term, starting 1st September, and would like rental property in Chester, preferably either Christleton or Broughton, while she looks round for somewhere to buy. Her budget is about £800 pcm and ideally including parking.

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.

Ed Black Running the London Marathon

Our great Werbie, Ed Black, son of Consilia and Simon, is running the London Marathon in October hoping to raise £2,500 for Pancreatic Cancer UK. Ed’s a former Altar Server here, and a former member of the Music Group, and an all-round good egg. The website is uk.virginmoneygiving.com/edblack where you can also read why Ed has chosen this particular charity. (I’d be running it myself if it weren’t on a Sunday, of course...)

Confirmation at St Columba’s - February 2022

Confirmation teenage candidates and their parents are invited to an Information Evening on Tuesday 14th September at 7.00 pm, at St Columba’s. All are welcome to attend, but to ensure sufficient resources are available please email your interest in being confirmed to stcolumbatheresaconfirmation@hotmail.co.uk by early September. Adult Confirmation Candidates will be invited to meet Fr William and the Confirmation Team in August. For further information, phone Denise Lusk on 379742.

Salford Diocesan Vacancies

Some key posts have become available, working from the Cathedral Centre in Ford Street. For details, go to their website: www.dioceseofsalford.org.uk/news/vacancies

Photo of the Week: Blessed Sacrament Altar

Our Dr Proudfoot is not just a pretty face: he’s also a very talented photographer, as many of us know who receive his Calendar every year with beautiful pictures of the exotic places he has visited (Cleethorpes 2019, Basingstoke 2020 and Frinton 2021). Today’s photo is the Blessed Sacrament Altar here in church in stunning night light.