Parish Newsletter

 

 

FP on Hols: Wednesday 17^th – Thursday 1^st Sept

Please don’t try to pretend you’re going to miss me, as I know you can’t wait for me to go. While I am away, Syd as Parish Secretary is in charge. If anyone wants to come into the church or house in that period, please clear it with him first. The Alarm will be on at teatime each day, Monday to Friday, and off again about 9.00 am the following morning. I’m most grateful to Fr Neill for looking after the weekday Masses and helping out at the weekend. This weekend, we are delighted to welcome back our old friend Fr Colin Wilson, who will share the weekend Masses with Fr Neill. Behave yourselves, everyone!

 

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

Br Adrian died peacefully in Hospital on Sunday morning, a fortnight ago, 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 down 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. His Requiem Mass is on Tuesday 16^th 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 Br Adrian’s amazing life and ministry. May he rest in peace.

 

Arrangements for 14^th September – St Bernadette

The Booking System is live! Go to the Home Page on our website and click the button “St Bernadette Relics – 14^th 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.

 

Carmel Kimpton RIP

As you all know, Carmel went Home to the Lord during lockdown, and it was not possible to celebrate her amazing life and faith as we would have wished to have done. So, on Saturday 10^th September, at 12.30, we are having a special Memorial Mass, to which everyone is warmly invited.

 

Annual Mission Appeal: 27/28 August

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 this weekend, so the Weekend Masses will be:

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

 

Spring Cleaning (Autumn Cleaning?) the Church

A long time since the church has had a jolly good clean, so Friday morning, 9^th 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!

 

Getting Back to Normal and Autumn Parish Renewal

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 27^th Sept; 4^th, 11^th and 18^th Oct.

 

Back to School Special Sale

The SVP has been donated a number of lunch boxes and water bottles that will be on sale at the end of every Mass on the 20^th/21^st August. The money raised will go to the maintenance of the Holiday Home in Talacre. Come along, everyone, and get your hands on a beautiful set to start the school year in style!

 

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 8^th September and returns Saturday 17^th 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)”

 

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 4^th 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
20. Gabriella Hughes
21. Julia Budavari

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.

 

Photo of the Week: Look at the Blue of That Sky!

Honestly, no touching up, filters or photo-shopping of any kind: that really is the blue of the sky in Santorini at this time of year, as snapped by Anne Rushton last week. In the foreground is the Catholic Cathedral, badly damaged in the earthquake of 1958 but lovingly restored in 1975. Thanks, Anne and Ged!