Parish Newsletter

Cath Blucher RIP

Thank you to everyone who came along last Thursday to celebrate Cath’s life, faith and hope in the Life Eternal. The church was fuller than we have seen for a long time, as Cath touched so many lives. As well as her immediate family, we had so many members of her church family. It was good to welcome you all. May she rest in peace.

Getting Back to Normal: Our Target Date

SUNDAY 12th SEPTEMBER is 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 after that date 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? And now we are actively planning for reintroducing the weekend evening Masses. Watch this space!

Farewell to Graham, Anna and family

This month, we sadly say farewell to Graham, Anna, Barney, Daniel and Ruth as they leave Chester to return to their home area in Surrey. Graham, as you know, has been Vicar of Christ Church, Newtown, for the past ten years, and from the day of his arrival here has been a wonderful friend to me personally as well as to the ecumenical scene here in the City Centre. Sharing the same surname, we were eternal Blood Brothers. Graham and Anna have always made me welcome in their home in Black Diamond Park, and I’ve loved doing my usual trick of being with their three smashing children, winding them up to the ceiling, and then handing hem back to their poor parents to try to return to some sort of normality. I cannot thank Graham enough for all the help and support he has given me personally, a sort of unofficial Spiritual Director. They go back to their home area now with my heartfelt thanks and the blessings of all of us in St Werburgh’s. Go well, Bro!

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 First 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 September.

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: Results!

125 of you submitted questionnaires
117 were valid, 8 were "spoilt ballot papers"!
63.8% of you preferred the same time every day
36.2% of you wanted different times different days

• 40.9% wanted 12.15 pm
• 34.1% wanted 10.00 am
• 11.4% wanted 9.00 am
• 9.1% wanted 7.30 pm
• 4.5% wanted 7.30 am

So, dearly beloved, the majority want the status quo, as they say in German: the existing time of 12.15 pm each weekday. So be it. Just don’t say you weren’t asked!!

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

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.

No, chained to the Presbytery Desk, never a day away, a martyr to the Parish (Contd. p 94). A distinct smell of burning flesh around the Werbies these days. But don’t worry about me. As long as you all have good summer hols...

Photo of the Week: Ladies Inter-Parish Group

And there they all are, 2006, just before I arrived (= Black Saturday) presenting a cheque to the Hospice. Cath Blucher far right on the front row. One of literally dozens of Cath's "good works".