Parish Newsletter

Journeying together: The Synod and Our Diocese

A two-year ‘synodal’ process is taking place in the Catholic Church from October 2021 culminating in the final Synod Gathering of Bishops in Rome in October 2023. The overall theme is “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, Mission”.

It’s an invitation for us, as Catholics, to ‘walk together’ and every member of the Church has the right to speak, and the obligation to allow those charged with the work of discernment the freedom to do so. For the first time, the Synod Office in Rome has produced a comprehensive process which encompasses the stated aim of the Holy Father that the Church in today’s world should have a vision of missionary communion orientated to evangelisation.

The process begins in individual Dioceses and then moves to the level of the Bishops’ Conference. From there to the European Council of Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE), before moving to the Universal Church with the final Synod Gathering of Bishops in 2023. For more details about our Diocese of Shrewsbury go to the Diocesan website and click the link at the bottom of the home page:  click here.

 

Timetable: November/December 2021, Parish consultations. Feedback to Bishop Mark by 31^st December. He produces his Response to that Feedback on 17^th January. All the England & Wales Bishops do the same, and send their joint response to the European Conference, as does every other continent. All responses received in Rome, and the Synod begins in October 2023.

 

St Werburgh’s Timetable: next weekend (7/11) a list of Consultation Questions will appear on the Newsletter. Thursday evening, 7.15 pm, 11^th November, Parish Council Meets to plan how best to consult the whole Parish. Responses need to be in by 12^th December. On 25^th December I shall start processing them all… Our final response will be sent to Bishop Mark by 31^st December.

 

CathSoc Starts Up Again Sunday Night!!

Sunday evenings, straight after 6.00 pm Mass:

• 31^st October: Halloween in Church
• 7^th November: Advent Candle – Hope
• 14^th November: Advent Candle – Faith
• 21^st November: Advent Candle – Joy
• 28^th November: Advent Candle – Peace
• 5^th December: Christmas Quiz
• 12^th December: Christmas Supper Together

If you’re a student at Chester or any other University, and over 18, we’d love to welcome you.

 

Pauline Hackett RIP

An extraordinary £700 was raised by the Retiring Collection after Pauline’s Funeral, the family wishing it to go to Pauline’s beloved SVP. They are in discussion as to how best to use it, but, as you all know, the Holiday Home at Talacre was a cause very dear to Pauline’s heart. The family have also asked if her Papal Medal cold be displayed in Church, with the accompanying Certificate, and this we’re delighted to do. Finally, Peter and Christine, two of Bill and Pauline’s children, delivered a magnificent Eulogy at her Requiem, and they have given permission for me to reproduce it on our Blog.

 

All Saints and All Souls

 All Saints becomes the Sunday Feast (as 1^st Nov is a Monday). Tuesday is All Souls: Masses at 7.30 am, 12.15 pm and 7.30 pm.

 

Large Print Sunday Mass Readings & Prayers

Excellent suggestion from Joe O’Kane that there should be some Large Print Mass Texts available on the table at the back of church for those who find the print on the Newsletter a little too small.

 

First Holy Communion: Parish Groups

• Group One: Tuesday 2^nd November: 6.30 pm
• Group Two: Tuesday 9^th November: 6.30 pm

Children and Catechists in church, Parents in Dining Room. Because we have so many youngsters this year (thanks to Covid lockdowns!) we are needing to split them into two groups.

 

University Masses Re-Starting after Half-Term

Delighted we are able to resume our Masses in the University Chapel. Beginning Monday 1^st November at 1.10 pm. Everyone warmly welcome to join us.

 

High School Masses Re-Starting after Half-Term

After a break of more than two years, excellent news that the weekly voluntary High School Masses are able to re-start next month. They will be on Fridays at 1.10 pm. Not open to the general public at present, but this might change when Covid-019 restrictions permit. Let’s hope so!

 

Remembrance Day Concert Here Friday 12^th Nov

Once again, after a gap of almost two years, our Concerts and Recitals can begin again. Starting with the Cathedral Nave Choir coming here for an hour’s concert of music to mark Remembrance Sunday. It’s a mix of choral and organ pieces, commencing at 7.30 pm. Free entrance, retiring collection. Come and join us for this next “first”!

 

Blessing of Graves at Blacon and Overleigh

Sunday 21^st November at Blacon, the following Sunday at Overleigh, 2.00-4.00 pm each afternoon. If you would like your family or friend’s grave blessed, just turn up or, if that is not possible, let me know the names and locations in advance.

 

Mass of the Holy Souls Monday 29^th November

7.30 pm, when every name in our Holy Souls Book will be read out and you are invited if you wish to come forward and light a candle in their memory.

 

November Holy Souls Book

Delighted to be able to resume this vital part of our life together as well. Please send in your names by email or letter. If writing them by hand, please PRINT them to avoid misspellings. Thank you. A couple of points to note: we begin the book afresh every November, so please don’t assume that if you’ve sent your list in last year or the year before, it will automatically be included this year. It won’t! Secondly, the book is updated every week during November: the cut-off point for each update is Thursday evening. Thanks, everybody!

 

Photo of the Week: 3 Generations of Kenyons!

Wonderful photo for the start of the new term at our Catholic High: a proud Finlay Kenyon with his father, Niall, and his grandfather John. Finlay will be pulling pints in our Club in no time at all!