Parish Newsletter

 

Br Adrian Marsh OFMCap: 29/3/24 – 31/7/22

Br Adrian died peacefully in Hospital on Sunday morning, at the amazing age of 98. He was an outstanding Capuchin, a lovely Priest, the warmest of men and a dear personal friend of mine. However much the body was slowing up and the hearing failing, his mind remained sharp to the end. All of us at St Werburgh’s send our deepest condolences to the Franciscan Community at St Francis. Adrian was an excellent friend to us, and would always support our Penitential Services, for example, when required. His Requiem Mass is on Tuesday 16th August at 12.00 noon, and as a mark of respect, we will not have a Mass here at that time, to enable all of us to go to St Francis to thank God for Adrian’s amazing life and ministry.

Arrangements for 14th September – St Bernadette

The Booking System is live! Go to the Home Page on our website and click the button “St Bernadette Relics – 14th September”. Eight lines down you’ll find the link to the National Website. Click that and you’ll find a wealth of information. For Booking purposes, click “Registration” on the menu bar at the top of the page. Find the Map Pin for Shrewsbury Diocese (hiding behind Liverpool – cheek!) and that will bring up the two venues, our Cathedral and St Werburgh’s. At the moment, only the afternoon visits are bookable. The morning is exclusively for our schools. We hope to be able to clarify whether or not we need to book for Mass when the Diocesan Team gets back from Lourdes this weekend. Watch this space, everyone!

FP’s Holiday Dates

I’m flying from Manchester to Bologna on Wednesday 17th August, and back (via Amsterdam!) on Thursday 1st. While I am away, Syd Jones will be in charge as Parish Administrator, a role he has fulfilled excellently in previous pre-Covid years. He’s the Boss!

Annual Mission Appeal: 27/28 August

For one of the two weekends that I shall be away, Fr William Hattie from the Xaverian Fathers will be with us for all the Masses and preaching the Annual Mission Appeal. I know you will make him very welcome. Our old friend Fr Colin will also be helping us out, so the Weekend Masses will look like this:

• Saturday 20th August 6.00 pm: Fr Neill
• Sunday 21st August 9.00 am: Fr Colin
• Sunday 21st August 10.45 am: Fr Colin
• Sunday 21st August: 6.00 pm: Fr Neill
• Saturday 27th 6.00 pm: Fr William
• Sunday 28th 9.00 am: Fr Neill (Fr William Preaching)
• Sunday 28th 10.45 am: Fr William
• Sunday 28th 6.00 pm: Fr William

Getting Back to Normal and Autumn Parish Renewal

Just a reminder that when September comes, we will have a major Parish Renewal exercise, which will involve looking at all our activities together and asking what we’ve learnt over the last two and a half years. Our Four Questions will follow on from the Synod Consultation Exercise we did in January:

1. Post-Covid, what do we need to pick up again?
2. What do we pick up again but with changes?
3. What do we need now to drop?
4. What do we start that we’ve never done before?

As with the Synod Consultation in January, we’ll be having four Open Parish Meetings to discuss these questions: Tuesdays 27th Sept, 4th, 11th and 18th Oct.

Gardening Club

We have a wonderful little group of parishioners who look after the front and back gardens. For one reason or another, some of them are off air at present: anyone like to help out, at a time to suit you? We have one Wolunteer now for the back garden: anyone like to join her? At a time to suit you both.

Tony Murphy, Leader Chester Across Group, writes…

“I am back recently from an excellent pilgrimage to Lourdes by Jumbulance. Our sick and disabled pilgrims received great care from a team of nurses and helpers. My next Across Group leaves Chester Thursday 8th September and returns Saturday 17th but, sadly, it will be cancelled unless I attract three new helpers (a nurse or Doctor would be a bonus!) Are there any individuals who might consider it? Must have a GB Passport and be COVID Vaccinated. A contribution to the cost would be appreciated but financial help may be available for those who cannot afford the cost. Thanks in anticipation, Tony Murphy (07881-656-974)”

Spring Cleaning (Autumn Cleaning?) the Church

A long time since the church has had a jolly good clean, so Friday morning, 9th September, all welcome at 9.00 am with mops, buckets and hoovers. All ladies, please have your hair up in headscarves à la Hilda Ogden. Elevenses provided half-way through!

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. Closing date for enrolment is Sunday 4th September ‘22. A full list of “Names Submitted So Far” is given here, just in case you have sent a name in, and we’ve missed it.

1. Harriet Keogh
2. Thomas Burns
3. Alice Connolly
4. Lucia McDaid
5. Timothy Kusiak
6. Casper Kusiak
7. Eric Kusiak
8. Isabella Ward
9. Abigail Garner
10. Edith Willett
11. Rose Polanczyk
12. Benedict Penson
13. Grace Naylor
14. Alice Allwood
15. Giulia Armenio
16. Francesco Armenio
17. Dougie Marks
18. Field
19. Sophia Harris

Many apologies, but I only have “Field” down as one of the bookings, with no first name or contact details. If anyone can recognise this one and get in touch, we’d be most grateful. Sorry for being doo-lally on this one!

“Day by Day” and Sacred Heart Messengers

Our very popular Monthly Mags are on the News Stand at the back of church - £1 each.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes: Welcome Back!

We welcome back Bishop Mark and all our Diocesan Pilgrims, the first such to Lourdes since 2019. Any appetite for our Parish joining them one year?

Photo of the Week: Bro Adrian

A lovely collage of recent pictures of Br Adrian, sparkling to the end. It’s also printed off and on our Notice Board at the back of church for those of you who don’t have access to a computer. If ever the wonderful Salvation Army phrase “Promoted to Glory” was fitting for anyone, it was for Adrian. May he rest in the Peace and Light of the Risen Lord Jesus.