Parish Newsletter

 

Caritas Boxes Collection

• Saturday 18th June: 6.00 pm Mass
• Sunday 19th June: 9.00 and up to 10.45 Masses

No foreign coins, please. Gift Aid and Standing Order forms available, and new Box Holders very welcome.

Retreat House, Chester: Administrator

Recruiting now for the new role of Administrator, this is a special opportunity to be involved in the running of this local Christian charity and its programme. To find out more, please visit the website. Closing Date 24th June. www.retreathousechester.co.uk

Chester Heritage Festival: 17th – 27th June

A walk and talk about “A Tale of Two Architects”, John Douglas and Edmund Kirby, two good friends. Edmund Kirby designed St Werburgh’s Church and John Douglas designed most of the rest of Victorian Chester. Sunday 19th June. The walk will start at 2.15 pm at Dee House and will pass Douglas and Kirby buildings, reaching St. Werburgh’s around 2.50 pm. The talk, here, will start at 3.00 pm for about an hour.

Upcoming Music Concerts in Chester

Saturday 16th July: 80th Anniversary Celebration Concert, Chester Male Voice Choir, Cathedral 7.30 pm.

On the Free Table today: A3 sheets of Paper

Newsletter blanks from the lockdown period – printed on one side but blank on the other. Anyone want?
Plus: the old Cutlery from the House, now replaced with beautiful modern ones. We have a number of bone-handled knives and forks. We are asking for a small donation for these, to pass on to Caritas.

Tattenhall House Masses Have Started!

They will be on the First Thursday of each month, at 10.30: 7th July the next one. Please email or contact FP if you would like details of the venue.

Three Peaks Challenge: Christians Against Poverty

Congratulations to one of our Altar Servers, Conor Walsh, who along with two friends completed the climb of the Three Peaks (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) in just over twenty-three hours on the 2nd/3rd June. They were raising funds for the Charity, Christians Against Poverty. Sponsorship has currently generated £1,100 for which they are most grateful. Well done!

SVP Summer Lunch: Wednesday 6th July

SVP Summer Lunch for the elderly will be held on 6th July at the Forest Hills Hotel in Frodsham, with transport provided. Numbers are limited but if you know of anyone who would benefit from this social event, please contact Fran on 07990-524-780.

Cathedral Nave Choir Concert

The Nave Choir are performing a concert on 9th July at 7.30 pm in the Cathedral, their first concert in the Cathedral since 2019. The concert is called Silence and Music and includes mainly music by Ralph Vaughan Williams to celebrate his 150th anniversary.

Christleton Summer Teas: Sundays 2.30-4.30 pm

Starting up again today, Sunday 19th June, and running through to Sunday 25th September. Organised by Churches Together in Christleton, it’s a way of welcoming wizziters to the village and raising funds for Water Aid at the same time. In the Methodist School Room. Why not pop out and say hello?

Work Placements for Catholic High School Students

Two of our Sixth Formers are looking for summer work placements if anyone can help out. We have an excellent record in helping our youngsters in this way over the years. One is for anything in the Life Sciences: we’re hopeful the Hospital may be able to come up with something, but if they can’t, can anyone else offer anything? The other is for Finance and Accountancy. Two excellent young people, I can promise you. Let me know if you have any contacts.

Refugee Week 20th - 26th June 2022

During this week, please look out for displays relating to refugees in libraries, Waterstones, Share Shop, Amblongus Books and the Fair Trade shop (in the Wesley Centre, St John’s St). Especially, look out for 300 handmade “messages” placed throughout the city giving you “food for thought”. For more information, please see the Chester City of Sanctuary website.

Chester Catenians

Many congratulations to Fr Neill, this year’s Catenian President, for his excellent Clergy Night last Tuesday, very much enjoyed by all the local Priests and Deacons. Coming up is his President’s Mass, here on Sunday 3rd July (10.45) and the Catenian Celebration of St John Plessington, Tuesday 19th July. If any of the men of the Parish would like more information about the Catenians, do please have a word with Fr Neill.

Sister Gunilla of Stanbrook RIP

Sister wove our beautiful white Altar Cloth for us. Originally from Sweden, Sister had been ill for some little time, and Went Home to the Lord on 6th June at the age of 80. I am glad to be able to attend her Requiem on behalf of St Werburgh’s on Monday 20th June. May she Rest in Peace.

Visit of the Relic of St Bernadette to Our Diocese

The morning of 14th September will be for the schools to visit and learn more about Bernadette and the Lourdes Apparitions of 1858. Bishop Mark will celebrate the main Mass of the day at 12.15 pm. The afternoon will then be for as many people as possible to come and pray in our church – and we are anticipating crowds. We will need a full team of Stewards to work alongside the Diocesan team (Marian and Syd i/c), Altar Servers for Mass (Gerry i/c), the Choir to grace our Liturgy (Tom i/c) and last but not least, Catering for our Guests (Bernice and Denise i/c). Watch this space for appeals for help.

“Chester and the Crown” Exhibition at the Cathedral

Until Thursday 30th June: 10.00 am-6.00 pm.
https://chestercathedral.com/event/chester-and-the-crown/

Next Year’s First Sacraments Programme

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.

Photo of the Week: Upper Sixth Leavers – 1951!!

Our Convent High School top year, over seventy years ago! Sylvia Pritchard on the back row? Copy on the Notice Board for you to write in any more names of those you recognise. Who’s the nun in the front row?