Parish Newsletter

Cath Blucher RIP

David, Nicola and Andrew would like everyone to join them next Thursday, 19th August, here in church at 12.30, to celebrate Cath’s extraordinary life and faith. She did so much for this Parish, and for the wider community here in Chester, and we thank God for her commitment, enthusiasm and unrelenting hard work. She never stopped having great ideas! People like Cath are the centre of the Catholic Church, the true saints, and we have so much to celebrate on Thursday. Afterwards, David would love us all to join him at the Red House on Dee Banks. It will mean a 2.00 am start for me in the kitchen, but in memory of Cath - remember, she was the one who started our Wednesday Monthly lunches - it will be a pleasure.

Getting Back to Normal: Our Target Date

Our superb weekly Covid-19 Taskforce Group has bitten the bullet and set SUNDAY 12th SEPTEMBER as our target date. Barring major reverses in the national numbers, that is when we will go back to the old times. No longer 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?

SVP Summer Lunch at Forest Hills

A huge thanks to Steve, Fran and all their wonderful SVP team for organising such an excellent Summer Lunch for our elderly and housebound up at Forest Hills on the cliffs above Frodsham last Thursday. A great meal in a superb setting, the staff there always look after us magnificently. A lot of work went into organising this event and the whole Parish thanks the SVP for this further step towards getting back to normal.

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.

September 1st: Bookings Open for 2022 Masses

For those who like to submit their Mass Intentions well in advance to guarantee those special dates, the 2022 Mass Diary opens on 1st September.

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.

Pedal to Paris 2021

Stephen and Caroline Perry will be cycling 300 miles over three and a half days, from London to Paris, from 3rd to 6th September, in aid of the Royal British Legion. If you’d like to support their effort, please visit www.justgiving.com/search and enter Stephen Perry in the Search Box.

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. His website is uk.virginmoneygiving.com/edblack

West Cheshire Food Vacancy

Operations Co-ordinator, 30 hours a week, based at CH2 4SA, salary £26,572 pa pro rata. Main task is running the Admin and Warehousing side of this vital charity work. For more information, go to www.westcheshire.foodbank.org.uk. Closing date for applications: Friday 20th August.

CAFOD Thanks: 10 Years of Syrian Conflict

Thanks to your donations, CAFOD have been helping the people of Syria ever since the crisis began ten years ago. Over 12 million people have left their homes, and 5.6 million are now refugees in neighbouring countries. Initially, CAFOD provided essential food and blankets; now the emphasis is equally on education and health provision and helping people back into the workplace. None of this would have been possible without your generosity. From CAFOD, a hearty "Thanks!"

Summer Hols. Or not, as the case may be.

Next Monday, August 16th, in normal times, I would have been flying out to my beloved Italy. But not this year. Each of us has to make their own individual judgement about holidays abroad in these Covid-19 times. My personal decision was against. Plus, the fact that so much is changing this month as we start to get back to normal. Mind you, temperatures of 48.8C in Sicily would be hot, even for me. But talking of Summer Holidays...

Photo of the Week: We’re all Going on a...

Well, not exactly a Summer Holiday, but the next best thing - the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes! Raymondo snapped this happy group, ready to board the coach from outside St Werburgh’s an amazing seventeen years ago. Yes, 2004! Is that Glenda Otto For Sale? Never Maureen and Laura on the right? Mr and Mrs Trellis from North Wales next to them? Anyone recognise anyone else?