Parish Newsletter

 

Good Friday Evening: Prayer Vigil for Ukraine

Many thanks to all those who came to our Prayer Vigil – an extraordinary turn-out over the two hours. Special thanks to Lyn for leading us in such a beautiful Meditation for Peace. As this evil war does not seem like ending any time soon, please keep those prayers going, all of us.

Holy Week and Easter Wolunteer Rota

This time of year needs a real army of wolunteers, and you never let us down. Huge thanks to all our readers, stewards, florists, musicians, secretaries, altar servers, foot washes (?): just everyone who helps, and without whom we would not be able to celebrate Holy Week as fully as we do.

Diocesan Chrism Mass: Wednesday of Holy Week

Good to fill a minibus on Wednesday evening to go up to St Michael’s in Birkenhead for the Chrism Mass. As Bishop Mark had unfortunately tested positive, Auxiliary Bishop Stephen Wright from Birmingham gallantly stepped in, and celebrated a fine Mass, at which all the Priests of the Diocese renew their Priestly Vows, and the Holy Oils for the whole Diocese are blessed and then distributed.

CAFOD Lenten Fast Day Envelopes

Many thanks to all of you who returned your Family Fast Day envelopes. A few pounds for each of us, but a few million for CAFOD nationwide.

Ellesmere Port Music Society Spring Concert

Saturday 23rd April, 7.30 pm at St Thomas’s Church Ellesmere Port. Vivaldi Gloria and ‘We Celebrate the Light’, a piece commissioned by EPMS during lockdown. Full details on flyers at the back of church and poster in the porch. We’d love to see you there!
If you want to ask anything further about the concert, several members of the choir are Werbies!

Parish Renewal – Autumn 2022

Coming out of Covid and on the back of our excellent Synod Consultation, what do we all want the “Werbies New Normal” to look like?

Repository

Lots of lovely Easter goods now in.

CAFOD Ukraine Appeal

news@email.cafod.org.uk

Please use the website address above if you’d like to help the humanitarian relief effort.

SVP Holiday Home Availability

The SVP Holiday Home in Talacre, North Wales is available for two one-week slots on the weeks commencing on the 21st May and 24th September.
The Holiday Home can accommodate up to six people and is free of charge to any family/couple that would otherwise not be able to have a holiday this year. If you are interested or know anyone that might benefit from this opportunity please contact Craig.mullan@outlook.com.

Next Year’s First Sacraments Programme

The programme runs from September to June each year. So, if you have a child in Year 3 or above who does not attend our Catholic Primary School, please contact Fr Paul, preferably by email. The classes begin in October, with First Forgiveness in January and First Holy Communions in May. The closing date for enrolment is Sunday 4th September 2022.

FHC Parish Group: Upcoming Meetings Reminder

• Parish Group One: The final meeting for parents and children is on Tuesday 19th April at 6.30 pm.
• Parish Group Two: The final meeting for parents and children is on Tuesday 26th April at 6:30 pm.

Forthcoming Funerals: Promoted to Glory

Sadly, we have lost three wonderful Werbies over the last week or so, whose lives and faith we will be celebrating at Requiem Masses here in church:

• Wednesday 20th April: 1.00 pm: John Dolan
• Wednesday 27th April: 12.30 pm: Pauline Ivory
• Tuesday 3rd May: 12.00 noon: Veronica Rogers

May they all Rest in Peace.

Hearty Congratulations, Bob!

We were all delighted to hear that our great 10.45 Organist, Bob Owens, had been honoured by being selected as one of the Recipients of Maundy Money from Her Majesty the Queen this year. In the event it was Prince Charles leading the Service, and we all send our
best wishes to Bob today on this superb honour.

SVP Gardening / DIY Gloves Sale

Members of the SVP will be selling a range of Gardening and DIY Gloves after Masses on Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May. These are new gloves, and offered at very competitive prices, all the proceeds going to the SVP Holiday Home, which is due for complete replacement in 2024. Don’t miss this bargain opportunity, especially as the gardening season is now upon us!

Learning about the Passover

Great to see so many of you at the Cathedral last Tuesday for a fascinating talk on the Jewish Passover Meal. Many Christian Communities also celebrate this Seder Meal in our Holy Week: something we might think about for next year?

Parishioner’s Pilgrimage to Fatima

One of our Parishioners is going on Pilgrimage to Fatima in Portugal at the start of May and has very kindly offered to take any Petitions. Please pass them to FP in sealed envelopes if you’d wish to do so.

The Synod: Bishop Mark’s Response

Two Documents issued by Bishop Mark this week: a detailed Report on the Diocesan response to the Synod Consultations, with a lot of interesting and important statistics; and then a shorter Personal Response from the Bishop to all that he has read. Both Documents are on our website, in the “Synod of Bishops: October 2023” box on the home page. The Report is eight pages, so I do not propose to print this off. If any individual cannot access it and has no-one to print it off for them, let me know: but I’d rather do my bit to save the planet! The Bishop’s Response is a shorter two-page Document, and copies of that are available at the back of church today. So much work has gone into this Consultation Phase at all levels, do please take the time to read both our own Submission – copies still available (yellow paper) at the back of church - and the two Diocesan Documents.

Photo of the Week: Deva Hospital Staff, 1975

Another extraordinary archive photo from our good friend John Wall: staff and friends of the Deva gathered at our Social Centre with Canon Murphy (second from right) in 1975.