Parish Newsletter

 

Confirmation 2023: Wednesday May 10th

The Chester Parishes take it in turns to organise Confirmation: one year it’s St Theresa’s and St Columba’s, the other year it’s St Werburgh’s, St Clare’s and St Francis. This year it’s our turn. We will be running the programme, but the final Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Mark will be at St Francis on Wednesday 10th May, 7.00 pm. Classes will be here at St Werburgh’s. on Wednesday evenings, starting 1st March. The Launch Meeting (for Candidates and at least one parent) is Monday 20th February. Minimum Age: second year High School (Year 8). No maximum, and always delighted to hear from Adults who weren’t confirmed as youngsters but would like to be now. They will have separate classes. Flyers at back of church with full details, so get those names in, everyone!

Would You Like to be a Confirmation Catechist?

A number of our excellent team now feel it’s time to stand down and make room for younger folk. We do thank them, in some cases for many years of faithful service – and their wish to stand down is very much in the spirit of our Parish Renewal Programme, about which you’ll be hearing a lot more in the coming weeks. So, would anyone like to join the Confirmation Catechists Team? It only commits you for one year, not for life! If interested, please let FP know, and there’s an Open Meeting for potential new recruits on Wednesday 1st February at 7.00 pm in the House.

First Holy Communion Preparation

Both groups meet at the Primary School (Lightfoot Street) at 7.00 pm on Monday 9th January, where the focus will be on the forthcoming First Forgiveness Service on Saturday 28th January. Then our Parish Group (children not at the Catholic Primary) meet on Tuesday 17th at 6.30 pm, children in Church and parents in House. This is their final meeting before First Forgiveness on Saturday 28th so please make sure the children have completed as far as page 12 in their books and have learnt the Act of Contrition on page 18. Finally, if any parishioners would like to be a Prayer Sponsor for one of our youngsters, then please email Louise Robertshaw on robertshaw499@btinternet.com, or see her in church. Many thanks, everyone.

Chester Catenians Annual Fish and Chip Supper

St Columba's Parish Hall on Friday 13th January at 7:30 pm. Tickets are £10 per head and are available in advance from Martin O'Brien (please email him at meoblfc@gmail.com). There will be music from a very talented band of Catholic High School students called "CH2". A raffle to raise funds for the SVP and the Emmaus Youth Ministry will be held… please be generous! We don't have a drinks licence so feel free to bring your own "refreshments". We're looking forward to a great evening, and the Catenians are delighted to invite all parishioners and friends to come and join them.

Marriage Prep Day Next Saturday

Seven couples will be with us all day next Saturday, preparing for their forthcoming marriages. So, Confessions 9.30-10.30 on that occasion, please. Please keep them in your prayers.

Crib Collection for Diocesan Children’s Society

Today, Sunday 8th January, is the official end of Christmastide, so please make your contribution to the Crib Collection before everything is dismantled next week and put away for another year.

Children’s Liturgy Starts Again Today at 10.45 Mass

For children 4-8, please. Parents may come with their children, especially initially: but we’d prefer if you dropped them off and picked them up again afterwards, as they’re much better behaved when you’re not there!! (Cheek!) Many thanks, CL Team!

Friday Morning Live-Streaming Meeting

We all come together at 10.30 – providers, tekkies, architects, everyone – for taking forward our plans for Live Streaming from St Werburgh’s. We hope to have some definite dates out of this meeting for when we’ll be going live! Exciting or what?

Christmas Cards on Table at Back of Church

Do check if there are any for you, please: otherwise, they’ll still be there next Christmas!

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Coming up, week after next, and St Werburgh’s is part of three great celebrations for this important week. Each weekday, we are once again visiting the churches of the Christleton and Waverton Churches Together for a time of Prayer together and a cup of tea afterwards. 12.00 noon each day:

• Monday 16th: Waverton Evangelical, Eggbridge Lane
• Tuesday 17th: Rowton Methodists
• Wednesday 18th: St Peter’s Waverton
• Thursday 19th: Christleton Methodists
• Friday 20th: St James Christleton
• Saturday 21st: St Werburgh’s

Then Saturday afternoon, we are all invited to the Cathedral for the county-wide Churches Together in Cheshire Service, with our Church Leaders, 3.00 pm.
Sunday evening, 22nd, we gather at Christleton Methodists for our Christleton Churches Together Service, at which our own Music Group will be leading. (Delighted Music Group are up and running once again – well done!) Needless to say, everyone is invited to everything – see you all there!

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.

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!

Repository Re-Opens Sunday 29th January

Photo of the Week: Rhodes

Freda from Frodsham has been at it again – is that woman ever at home? – and snapped some beautiful shots of the Church of the Annunciation in Rhodes.