Parish Newsletter

HM Queen Elizabeth II – May She Rest in Peace

St Werburgh’s joins the whole nation in expressing our heartfelt sadness at the death of the Queen, and our profound thanksgiving for her remarkable lifetime of service and dedication. On the morning of her funeral, Monday 19^th September, we will have a Requiem Mass for the Repose of Her Soul at 10.00 am. Do please come and join us if you can. May She Rest in Peace.

 

Welsh Railways Day Out Monday 19^th September

Having canvassed opinion as widely as possible, it was the overwhelming feeling of those coming on the trip that we should postpone, as a mark of respect to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.  Realistically, we are now looking at April/May next year, but we will get there!

 

We Did St Bernadette – and the Diocese - Proud!

What a day! Many, many thanks to all of you for a most successful hosting of the St Bernadette Relics. Hosting any event one doesn’t organise is always stressful, but we seemed to cope with each and every surprise and still be smiling at the end of the day.

*** The Stewards, perfectly led by Marian and Syd, were incredible, so well organised, polite and efficient dealing with very big numbers (300 for Mass, 400 school-children and over 800 afternoon visitors), not everyone understanding why they couldn’t come in as soon they had arrived. The Stewards were the cogs on which the whole day ran, and, thanks to all that Covid Practice, they were superb!

*** Denise and Bernice: an incredible catering job. Everyone complimented us on the delicious array of food (I told them it hadn’t taken me long…) and how you were able to serve everyone from 9.00 am onwards, when Bishop Mark and Canon Chris arrived and wanted coffee, right through to 3.30, and Stewards wanting an afternoon tea break from their duties. It was six hours of solid catering, and really hit the spot. My thanks to everyone who cooked or prepared dishes for us.

*** Gerry: a magnificent cohort of Altar Servers, as always. Immaculately turned out and so efficient in their duties, including the unexpected, escorting the Blessed Sacrament over to the Schools Marquee in the Park. You did us proud.

*** Tom and Choir: thank you very much for the musical contribution, first class as ever. Please thank the non-Werbies who joined us, and everyone who worked so hard to deliver such a high standard.

*** And Taskforce: you started the planning of this day back in June, when Bishop Mark first asked us if we’d be willing to host. I do hope you felt that Wednesday was a worthy reflection of your astounding hard work and commitment. Thank you, one and all: and please pass on my thanks to your respective teams.

 

Plates in the Dining Room

If any of you lent a plate so that I could put all the food I’d cooked on them – 2.00 am again! – please collect from the Dining Room.

 

Annual Mission Appeal: 27/28 August

We’ll close the Appeal today, Sunday 18^th September.

 

Spring Cleaning (Autumn Cleaning?) the Church

Anyone like to be one of the new teams? If enough wolunteer, you’d be on duty once a month, for an hour and a half. Sign-up sheet at the back of church.

 

SVP Sponsored Walk in Aid of the Holiday Home

District SVP are planning the annual sponsored walk to raise funds in support of the Holiday Home. The walk will take place on Sunday 2^nd October, starting at 13:30 from Parkgate, going to Neston and returning. More information to follow soon.

 

Back to School Sale

Thank you to everyone who bought a set of lunchbox and bottle, we sold them all and raised £121.66 for the Holiday Home!!

 

SVP Mass for Elderly and Housebound

The SVP is celebrating a Mass on 18^th September in St. Werburgh’s at 2:30 pm, with tea and cake afterwards. Everyone is welcome! If you would like to attend and need transport, please get in touch with Fran on fran.waldie@gmail.com.

 

Calling All Students!

Are you a student at the University of Chester? Are you a student elsewhere, but living in Chester? Either way, we’d love to hear from you and invite you to be part of our Catholic Student Community. Our main meeting night is Sunday, and next week flyers will be available telling you all about us. Meanwhile, there are sheets at the back of church for you to give us your details – and we’d love to hear from you!

 

September’s Here: So, 2023 Mass Diary Open!

Get those dates in for 2023, everyone!

 

Getting Back to Normal: 1^st Parish Meeting, 27^th Sept

We want to build on the excellent Synod Consultation Meetings in January, when we put the universal church and our own parish under the microscope. Coming out of Covid, what do we need to pick up again? What to drop? What to change? And what to start that we’ve never done before? Tuesday, 27^th September, 7.00 om here in church – do please come along and bring all your ideas with you! Everyone warmly welcome.

 

Wine and Cheese Evening for Meningitis Now

All tickets now sold – wow! Many thanks to everyone for such a generous response. Donations, if you are unable to attend and would like to make a donation remembering Richard and Helen, can be made at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-helen

 

Monday Lunchtime University Masses Re-started

Every Monday lunchtime, 1.10 in the Chapel on Parkgate Road. All welcome! (But not tomorrow, 19^th September, on account of the Queen’s Funeral).

 

2022-23 First Sacraments Programme: Launch Meeting: Tuesday 4^th October, 6.30 pm

Good to have a meeting with the new FHC Catechists Team, led superbly, as always, by Louise Robertshaw and Karen Elliott. They’ve recruited Ruth Johns, Claire Shields and Clare Woodhouse to join them, to help out with the record numbers this year. Enormous thanks to them all for taking this on.

 

Photo of the Week: Advent Wreath and Crib

A lovely photo from Christmas 2020, when we were all still very much under lockdown. Snapped by Eileen Owen (aka “Catalogue Katie”!) it’s a reminder of the difficult times we’ve all been through, but also of the eternal, enduring message of Christmas: the Light of Christ which has come into the world, and which all the darkness has never been able to put out.