Parish Newsletter

Cath Blucher RIP

We were all very saddened on Friday morning to hear news of the death of Cath, one of the finest servants this parish has ever had. As most of you know, Cath has been battling ill-health for a number of years now. A couple of weeks ago her condition deteriorated and she was admitted to the Countess. But she did well enough there to be transferred to the Ellesmere Port Cottage Hospital with a view to coming home again. Sadly, it was not to be, and on Friday morning she was peacefully Called Home to the Lord. To list everything Cath did for this Parish and the wider church would fill the Newsletter. She was on our Parish Council, she organised Children’s Liturgy for many years, was a Volunteer in the Hospital, a Eucharistic Minister both there and here, a key member of the old Chester Parishes Ladies Group, and she kept on having great ideas. Monthly Wednesday Lunches was her brainwave, as was the Prayer Board at the back of church, brought up with the Offertory Procession at the 10.45 Mass. She never stopped working and thinking of new ways we could grow together as a faith community. At the heart of it all was her own rock-solid faith. If anyone merited the lovely Salvation Army expression, she did: she’s been "Promoted to Glory". May she rest in peace.

Getting Back to Normal: Our Target Date

We are all longing to get back to normal and our two traditional Sunday Morning Masses, 9.00 and 10.45. On the one hand, we need to give you plenty of notice for when that will be; on the other, no-one has a crystal ball. At last Monday Morning’s Taskforce Meeting we bit the bullet and set SUNDAY 12th SEPTEMBER as our target date. Barring major reverses in the national numbers, that is the date when we will go back to the old times. Because we will no longer be constrained to half-an-hour, we will be able to reintroduce all the usual ways of celebrating Mass that have had to be suspended for the last eighteen months. Like those interminable notices at the end... Go on, be honest: you’ve really missed them, haven’t you?

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, you will not be stewarded out, but please vacate church as speedily as possible.
• 7. Say "hello" to each other well clear of the porch and church steps.
• 8. If you would rather Holy Communion was brought to you, please raise a hand at the end.
• 9. Holy Communion may be received either on the tongue or in the hand.
• 10. If you would like a Blessing, please come out in the normal way.
• 11. We revert to saying "The Body of Christ, Amen" individually.

First Holy Communion: Parish Group

For children not at our Catholic Primary School. We are currently taking names for those who would like to make their First Forgiveness next January and Fist Holy Communion next May - all conditional on Covid-19 Regulations, of course. Please email Fr Paul if you would like your child’s name added to the list. If you emailed for last year’s cancelled programme, we believe we still have your name, but it would be very helpful if you could do so again, just to make sure. We cannot guarantee this Programme will go ahead this autumn, but we need to have your names in case it does. Numbers may need to be limited. Closing date for applications is Sunday 5th Sept.

SVP Holiday Home in Talacre, North Wales

St Werburgh’s has an allocated week beginning 25th September, for any local family in need. The home can take up to six people and is entirely free to any family who wouldn’t otherwise have a holiday. If you are interested or know of anyone who might benefit from this offer, please contact svpchester@gmail.com or call 07775-781-204.

Consultation on Weekday Mass Times

Finishes Sunday 15th August! 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.

September 1st: Bookings Open for 2022 Masses

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.

Photo of the Week: Statue of the Good Shepherd

Part of the 2003 Flower Festival. Can you see what’s in that place now? (Clue: Photo taken by Ray Harper, our "Raymondo"!)