Parish Newsletter
SUNDAY 18th DECEMBER: FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR A)
Liturgical
Isaiah 7, 10-14; Psalm 23; Romans 1, 1-7; Matthew 1, 18-24
Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Arlene Law and Vera Connon (Anniversaries)
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Mike Griffiths (2nd Anniversary)
10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Ryoichi Iwasaki (3rd Anniversary)
6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: John Park (L.D.)
Monday 19th December: Ferial: Judges 13, 2-25; Psalm 70; Luke 1, 5-25
11.00 am: Crabwall Hall NH: Service for Residents and Visitors
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: John Haslam
1.10 pm: University Chapel - University Mass. All welcome.
7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Penitential Service with opportunities for Individual Confessions
Tuesday 20th December: Ferial: Isaiah 7, 10-14; Psalm 23; Luke 1, 26-38
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Malcolm Crowther
2.15 pm: Iddenshall NH: Service for Residents and Visitors
Wednesday 21st December: Ferial: Song of Songs 2, 8-14; Psalm 32; Luke 1, 39-45
10.30 am: St Werburgh’s: Requiem Mass for Maureen Scargill, late of Water Reams, Huntington
Thursday 22nd December: Ferial: I Samuel 1, 24-28; Psalm I Samuel 2; Luke 1, 46-56
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Requiem Mass for Evelyn Parry late of Rowton Bridge Road
Friday 23rd December: Ferial: Malachi 3, 1-24; Psalm 24; Luke 1, 57-66
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Hilda Jones and Pat Maguire (Birthday Remembrances)
SATURDAY 24th DECEMBER: CHRISTMAS EVE
10.30 – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Confessions
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Day Mass of Christmas Eve: Tom Larkin
4.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Children’s Vigil Mass of Christmas: Intentions of Graham
6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Children’s Vigil Mass of Christmas: John and Vera Clyne
8.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Vigil Mass of Christmas: Jones and Garbett Families
11.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Carols and Midnight Mass: Matthew Robinson
SUNDAY 25th DECEMBER: CHRISTMAS DAY
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Dawn Mass of Christmas: Brian Boardman
10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Day Mass of Christmas: Alex Barnes
MONDAY 26th DECEMBER: FEAST OF ST STEPHEN, PATRON SAINT OF ALTAR SERVERS
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Diana Scipanova (L.D.)
Prayer Intentions
Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Brian Boardman Jnr, James Convey, Bill Hackett,
Laura Chadwick, Stuart Clark, Keith Hayes, Ruth O’Kane, and Kevin Maguire and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Evelyn Parry, Diana Scipanova, Maureen Wilkinson and Donal Farrell; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Margaret Aspinall, Geoff Crank, Betty Kinsey, Margaret Brotherston, Joan Finney, Peter Wyn Jones, Fred Fazey, Elizabeth Clark, Tom McLoughlin, Patrick McDonough, Margaret Ilott, Patrick Walsh, George Baxter, Bill Gough, Irene Kite, William Barron, Antonio Nardini, Finn Abberton, Joan Baxter, Edith Dodd and Michael Griffiths. May They All Rest in Peace.
Parish events
New Diocesan Year Books and Ordos for 2023
Now arrived, and full of useful information, the Year Book about the Diocese and all its Parishes and organisations, the Ordo about the Liturgical Year ahead. On the Newsstand, £5 each.
Christmas Volunteer Rota Now Out: Please Sign Up
For all ministries over the Christmas Period – please sign up. Last chance today, so that we can identify any gaps and twist arms to fill them!
Diocesan Day for Chester Catechists – 4th Feb
The Diocesan Mission for Catechesis team is organising a day for all catechists (Baptismal, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, RCIA, Marriage Prep, the lot) for all the Chester Parishes, to introduce themselves and explain how they might be able to support our individual work. Saturday 4th February, 10.00-5.00 pm, St Columba’s Parish Hall. Get the date in your Diaries, everyone!
Wistaston Retreat Centre Brochures
The OMI Retreat Centre at Crewe offers a whole range of guided talks and retreats, as well as the opportunity for individuals to stay there for their own quiet time. Brochures at back of church.
Advent Penitential Service: Monday 19th Dec
7.00 pm: a short Penitential Service with opportunities for individual confessions afterwards. Everyone welcome.
Christmas Mass Times at St Werburgh’s
Christmas Eve
- 12.15 pm: Day Mass of Christmas Eve
- 4.30 Children’s Vigil Mass
- 6.00 pm: Children’s Vigil Mass
- 8.30 pm: Vigil Mass of Christmas
- 11.30 pm: Carols and Midnight Mass
Christmas Day
- 9.00 am: Dawn Mass of Christmas
- 10.45 am: Day Mass of Christmas
No Need for Booking This Year!
- Monday–Friday, 26th–30th Dec: Daily Mass at 10.00 am
- Saturday 31st: Rowton Mass at 6.00 pm, and Midnight Mass for the New Year at 12.00 midnight
- Sunday 1st: Feast of the Holy Family
- Monday 2nd – Thursday 5th: Daily Mass at 10.00 am
- Friday 6th: Epiphany Holyday: Mass at 10.00 am
- Sunday 8th January: The Baptism of the Lord – the end of Christmastide.
Advent and Christmas Day-by-Days
Now on News-Stand - £1
Plus, December Sacred Heart Messengers. These popular little mags are both £1 each. If you’ve never tried one, why not take a back number for free and see if they might be for you?
“Ministry of Welcome” Recruitment Drive
We’re soon going to re-launch our whole Welcomers Programme: meanwhile, if you can help out at Christmas to extend a warm welcome to our hundreds of wizziters, do please sign up on the Wolunteer Rota at the back of church.
Children’s Liturgy at 10.45
Good to meet with the team for a detailed planning meeting on Thursday evening, all ready for those final DBS checks and then swing into action!
CAFOD Advent Prayer Card
Beautifully illustrated cards, free, on the table at the back of church. Do take one: they’ll go quick!
Second Collection for Christmas Flowers Today
Weekend of 17/18 December: many thanks for any help you can give us.
SVP Second Collection 3rd / 4th December
A magnificent £1,007-20 was raised, to help struggling families at Christmas, our post-Christmas treat for the elderly and housebound, and many other very worthy causes at this festive but difficult time. Thank you, everyone!
Repository Christmas / New Year Closure
Closing after morning Masses on Sunday 18th December, reopening on Sunday 29th January with our popular sale of donated and previously loved items. Please check with FP before leaving further donated items on the Repository table. We thank you for your valued support during the year and send our very Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year. Paula and Bernice (c/o Bide-a-wee Guest House, South Shore, Blackpool).
Boxing Day Altar Servers Celebration: 10:00 AM
For the first time since 2019 our Altar Servers, Families and Friends will come together to celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen at the 10.00 am Mass. Nila Heartin, Philippa Egan, Joseph Penson, Rory Johns and Matthew Egan will be enrolled into the Guild and Emily Neal will receive a Silver Medal for Ten Years of Service.
All Parishioners are most welcome.
Carols in the Nursing Homes
Many thanks to everyone who turned up on Thursday 15th December, in the morning in Grosvenor Gardens (Crawford’s Walk) and afternoon in Oaklands, Littleton. We had a very warm welcome for the staff in both Homes, and it was so good to be with the residents for an hour to share some Christmas cheer and faith. Thanks to the SVP for organisation, and to everyone who came along. Mr Taylor’s hat was magnificent…
CathSoc End of Term Meal Last Sunday
Good to be out last Sunday Evening with 18 of our students and wrinklies to mark the end of term. Huge thanks to Barl and Committee for organising such a good programme and plans well advanced for the Spring Timetable. If you’re a student, why not come and join us, every Sunday evening after Mass? Even better, who not come to Mass first…
Diocesan Our Mission Together Appeal Report
Please take a copy from the back of church. Headline Figure: £11.2 million raised, for training of seminarians, support of retired clergy, on the Diocesan Youth Mission Teams and Caritas social outreach projects and refugee support. Do please take a copy for full details, and huge thanks to all who supported this Diocesan Appeal so generously.
Photo of the Week: Tulips from Amsterdam…
Wonderful photo from our Netherlands Correspondent where 6th December is celebrated as the Feast of St Nicholas, the Bishop coming with gifts for all the children. Bedankt, Tulip!
