Parish Newsletter
SUNDAY 30th APRIL 2023: FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR A)
Liturgical
- + 2024
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- 2023
- 31st December
- 24th December
- 17th December
- 10th December
- 3rd December
- 26th November
- 19th November
- 12th November
- 5th November
- 29th October
- 22nd October
- 15th October
- 8th October
- 1st October
- 24th September
- 17th September
- 10th September
- 3rd September
- 27th August
- 20th August
- 13th August
- 6th August
- 30th July
- 23rd July
- 16th July
- 9th July
- 2nd July
- 25th June
- 18th June
- 11th June
- 4th June
- 28th May
- 21st May
- 14th May
- 7th May
- 30th April
- 23rd April
- 16th April
- 9th April
- 2nd April
- 26th March
- 19th March
- 12th March
- 5th March
- 26th February
- 19th February
- 12th February
- 5th February
- 29th January
- 22nd January
- 15th January
- 8th January
- 1st January
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+ 2022
- 25th December
- 18th December
- 11th December
- 4th December
- 27th November
- 20th November
- 13th November
- 6th November
- 30th October
- 23rd October
- 16th October
- 9th October
- 2nd October
- 25th September
- 18th September
- 11th September
- 4th September
- 28th August
- 21st August
- 14th August
- 7th August
- 31st July
- 24th July
- 17th July
- 10th July
- 3rd July
- 26th June
- 19th June
- 12th June
- 5th June
- 29th May
- 22nd May
- 15th May
- 8th May
- 1st May
- 24th April
- 17th April
- 10th April
- 3rd April
- 27th March
- 20th March
- 13th March
- 6th March
- 27th February
- 20th February
- 13th February
- 6th February
- 30th January
- 23rd January
- 16th January
- 9th January
- 2nd January
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+ 2021
- 26th December
- 19th December
- 12th December
- 5th December
- 28th November
- 21st November
- 14th November
- 7th November
- 31st October
- 24th October
- 17th October
- 10th October
- 3rd October
- 26th September
- 19th September
- 12th September
- 5th September
- 29th August
- 22nd August
- 15th August
- 8th August
- 1st August
- 25th July
- 18th July
- 11th July
- 4th July
- 27th June
- 20th June
- 13th June
- 6th June
- 30th May
- 23rd May
- 16th May
- 9th May
- 2nd May
- 25th April
- 18th April
- 11th April
- 4th April
- 28th March
- 21st March
- 14th March
- 7th March
- 28th February
- 21st February
- 14th February
- 7th February
- 31st January
- 24th January
- 17th January
- 10th January
- 3rd January
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+ 2020
- 27th December
- 20th December
- 13th December
- 6th December
- 29th November
- 22nd November
- 15th November
- 8th November
- 1st November
- 25th October
- 18th October
- 11th October
- 4th October
- 27th September
- 20th September
- 13th September
- 6th September
- 30th August
- 23rd August
- 16th August
- 9th August
- 2nd August
- 26th July
- 19th July
- 12th July
- 5th July
- 28th June
- 21st June
- 14th June
- 7th June
- 31st May
- 24th May
- 17th May
- 10th May
- 3rd May
- 26th April
- 19th April
- 12th April
- 5th April
- 29th March
- 22nd March
- 15th March
- 8th March
- 1st March
- 23rd February
- 16th February
- 9th February
- 2nd February
- 26th January
- 19th January
- 12th January
- 5th January
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+ 2019
- 29th December
- 22nd December
- 15th December
- 8th December
- 1st December
- 24th November
- 17th November
- 10th November
- 3rd November
- 27th October
- 20th October
- 13th October
- 6th October
- 29th September
- 22nd September
- 15th September
- 8th September
- 1st September
- 25th August
- 18th August
- 11th August
- 4th August
- 28th July
- 21st July
- 14th July
- 7th July
- 30th June
- 23rd June
- 16th June
- 9th June
- 2nd June
- 19th May
- 19th May
- 12th May
- 5th May
- 28th April
- 21st April
- 14th April
- 7th April
- 31st March
- 24th March
- 17th March
- 10th March
- 3rd March
- 24th February
- 17th February
- 10th February
- 3rd February
- 27th January
- 20th January
- 13th January
- 6th January
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+ 2018
- 30th December
- 23rd December
- 16th December
- 9th December
- 2nd December
- 25th November
- 18th November
- 11th November
- 4th November
- 28th October
- 21st October
- 14th October
- 7th October
- 30th September
- 23rd September
- 16th September
- 9th September
- 2nd September
- 26th August
- 19th August
- 5th August
- 29th July
- 22nd July
- 15th July
- 8th July
- 1st July
- 24th June
- 17th June
- 10th June
- 3rd June
- 27th May
- 20th May
- 13th May
- 6th May
- 29th April
- 22nd April
- 15th April
- 8th April
- 1st April
- 25th March
- 18th March
- 11th March
- 4th March
- 25th February
- 18th February
- 11th February
- 4th February
- 28th January
- 21st January
- 14th January
- 7th January
- + 2017
Acts 2, 14-41; Psalm 22; I Peter 2, 20-25; John 10, 1-10
Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Frank Hawley (L.D., Warrington)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Jean Hewson
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of Justina
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Ray O’Brien (13th Anniversary)
Monday 1st May: St Joseph the Worker: Acts 11, 1-8; Psalm 125; John 15, 18-21
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Birthday Intentions – Canon Bernard Lordan
Tuesday 2nd May: St Athanasius: Acts 11, 19-26; Psalm 86; John 10, 22-30
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Alan Kilfoyle (10th Anniversary)
Wednesday 3rd May: SS Philip and James: I Corinthians 15, 1-8; Psalm 18; John 14, 6-14
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Allan Marsh (L.D., Hull)
7.00 pm: St Francis: Confirmation Rehearsal
Thursday 4th May: The English Martyrs: Acts 7, 55-60; Psalm 30; Matthew 10, 17-20
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Elaine Rigg
Friday 5th May: Ferial: Acts 13, 26-33; Psalm 2; John 14, 1-6
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Exam Intentions
12.00 Noon: St Werburgh’s: Wedding Service for Sean Barker and Rachael Doran
1.05 pm: High School: Weekly Voluntary Mass
Saturday 6th May: Ferial: Acts 13, 44-52; Psalm 97; John 14, 1-6
10.30 am – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Confessions
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Rory Matthew Barnes
6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: John Gornall (L.D.)
SUNDAY 7th MAY 2023: FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR A)
Acts 6, 1-7; Psalm 32; I Peter 2, 4-9; John 14, 1-12
Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: John Gornall (L.D.)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of Sheila Braidwood
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Bob Delap (6th Anniversary)
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Ethel Tierney (L.D.)
Prayer Intentions
Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Kath Stanton, 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 Clare Graham and Michael Finney; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Bridget O’Hara, Apolonia Marano, Sally Dunne, Margaret Holland, John McShane, Philomena Kenyon, Maureen Moran, Margaret Haslam, Richard Spencer, Thomas Clisham, Janina Ratomski, Alan Kilfoyle, John Martinez, Terry Walshe, John Moore, Dorothy Arcari, Daisy Moran, Catherine Watkins, Christina Maguire, Bernard Gallagher, Kathleen Pickersgill, Thomas Kidd, Margaret Price, John Spencer, Thomas Raftery, Angela Lloyd, Humphrey Broad-Davies, Henry Joyce, Cora McHugh, Bernard Dodd, Bishop Joseph Gray, Denis Duckers, Eileen Briton, Mo Massey and Paddy Scanlan.
May they all Rest in Peace.
Parish Information and Contacts
SVP: svpchester@gmail.com Countess of Chester Chaplaincy: 01244 364543.
St Werburgh’s is part of the Diocese of Shrewsbury: Registered Charity No 234025.
Safeguarding Reps: Liz Aiello (email: elizabeth.aiello20@btinternet.com, tel: 07813743723) and
Chris Proudfoot (email: chrisproudfoot.stwerbughs@btinternet.com, tel; 07711495070)
Parish events
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- 2023
- 31st December
- 24th December
- 17th December
- 10th December
- 3rd December
- 26th November
- 19th November
- 12th November
- 5th November
- 29th October
- 22nd October
- 15th October
- 8th October
- 1st October
- 24th September
- 17th September
- 10th September
- 3rd September
- 27th August
- 20th August
- 13th August
- 6th August
- 30th July
- 23rd July
- 16th July
- 9th July
- 2nd July
- 25th June
- 18th June
- 11th June
- 4th June
- 28th May
- 21st May
- 14th May
- 7th May
- 30th April
- 23rd April
- 16th April
- 9th April
- 2nd April
- 26th March
- 19th March
- 12th March
- 5th March
- 26th February
- 19th February
- 12th February
- 5th February
- 29th January
- 22nd January
- 15th January
- 8th January
- 1st January
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+ 2022
- 25th December
- 18th December
- 11th December
- 4th December
- 27th November
- 20th November
- 13th November
- 6th November
- 30th October
- 23rd October
- 16th October
- 9th October
- 2nd October
- 25th September
- 18th September
- 11th September
- 4th September
- 28th August
- 21st August
- 14th August
- 7th August
- 31st July
- 24th July
- 17th July
- 10th July
- 3rd July
- 26th June
- 19th June
- 12th June
- 5th June
- 29th May
- 22nd May
- 15th May
- 8th May
- 1st May
- 24th April
- 17th April
- 10th April
- 3rd April
- 27th March
- 20th March
- 13th March
- 6th March
- 27th February
- 20th February
- 13th February
- 6th February
- 30th January
- 23rd January
- 16th January
- 9th January
- 2nd January
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+ 2021
- 26th December
- 19th December
- 12th December
- 5th December
- 28th November
- 21st November
- 14th November
- 7th November
- 31st October
- 24th October
- 17th October
- 10th October
- 3rd October
- 26th September
- 19th September
- 12th September
- 5th September
- 29th August
- 22nd August
- 15th August
- 8th August
- 1st August
- 25th July
- 18th July
- 11th July
- 4th July
- 27th June
- 20th June
- 13th June
- 6th June
- 30th May
- 23rd May
- 16th May
- 9th May
- 2nd May
- 25th April
- 18th April
- 11th April
- 4th April
- 28th March
- 21st March
- 14th March
- 7th March
- 28th February
- 21st February
- 14th February
- 7th February
- 31st January
- 24th January
- 17th January
- 10th January
- 3rd January
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+ 2020
- 27th December
- 20th December
- 13th December
- 6th December
- 29th November
- 22nd November
- 15th November
- 8th November
- 1st November
- 25th October
- 18th October
- 11th October
- 4th October
- 27th September
- 20th September
- 13th September
- 6th September
- 30th August
- 23rd August
- 16th August
- 9th August
- 2nd August
- 26th July
- 19th July
- 12th July
- 5th July
- 28th June
- 21st June
- 14th June
- 7th June
- 31st May
- 24th May
- 17th May
- 10th May
- 3rd May
- 26th April
- 19th April
- 12th April
- 5th April
- 29th March
- 22nd March
- 15th March
- 8th March
- 1st March
- 23rd February
- 16th February
- 9th February
- 2nd February
- 26th January
- 19th January
- 12th January
- 5th January
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+ 2019
- 29th December
- 22nd December
- 15th December
- 8th December
- 1st December
- 24th November
- 17th November
- 10th November
- 3rd November
- 27th October
- 20th October
- 13th October
- 6th October
- 29th September
- 22nd September
- 15th September
- 8th September
- 1st September
- 25th August
- 18th August
- 11th August
- 4th August
- 28th July
- 21st July
- 14th July
- 7th July
- 30th June
- 23rd June
- 16th June
- 9th June
- 2nd June
- 19th May
- 19th May
- 12th May
- 5th May
- 28th April
- 21st April
- 14th April
- 7th April
- 31st March
- 24th March
- 17th March
- 10th March
- 3rd March
- 24th February
- 17th February
- 10th February
- 3rd February
- 27th January
- 20th January
- 13th January
- 6th January
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+ 2018
- 30th December
- 23rd December
- 16th December
- 9th December
- 2nd December
- 25th November
- 18th November
- 11th November
- 4th November
- 28th October
- 21st October
- 14th October
- 7th October
- 30th September
- 23rd September
- 16th September
- 9th September
- 2nd September
- 26th August
- 19th August
- 5th August
- 29th July
- 22nd July
- 15th July
- 8th July
- 1st July
- 24th June
- 17th June
- 10th June
- 3rd June
- 27th May
- 20th May
- 13th May
- 6th May
- 29th April
- 22nd April
- 15th April
- 8th April
- 1st April
- 25th March
- 18th March
- 11th March
- 4th March
- 25th February
- 18th February
- 11th February
- 4th February
- 28th January
- 21st January
- 14th January
- 7th January
- + 2017
Confirmation – Wednesday 10th May 2023
Penitential Service for our youngsters last Wednesday, at the conclusion of which we had the Baptism of Sofia, one of our lovely teenagers who hadn’t been Baptised as a baby and was now embracing the Sacrament as a young adult. Our opening Class was the link between Baptism and Confirmation, so good to finish our classes with an actual Baptism for all the other youngsters to witness. For the adult group, I have been seeing them one-to-one this week to talk about the course and see if they wish to proceed to the Sacrament. Then their one-to-one Confessions, all building towards the Rehearsal at St Francis on Wednesday 3rd May and the Confirmation Celebration with Bishop Mark a week later. Exciting times!
Parish Renewal Programme
Delighted that three new members are joining the Steering Group, our first meeting this coming Friday morning. We’ll see what we’ve achieved to date, and what we need to do next as we put every aspect of our life together under the post-Covid microscope.
Christ and Creation: Four Talks & Discussions
One of the requests you made in the first phase of the Renewal Programme last autumn was for more talks about the faith and different aspects of our Catholic Theology. Delighted now to be able to advertise our first response to your request, four sessions led by Dr Claire Egan on Christ and Creation. Claire is a wonderful Werbie, mother of Matthew and Philippa, two of our ace Altar Servers. She read Theology at university, and then went on to do her Doctorate on the Book of Job. She now teaches Theology full time. This course looks at the startling but ancient truth that Jesus Christ as the Second Person of the Trinity has co-existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit from the beginning of time and has a central role in the work of Creation. The four talks are on Wednesday evenings at 7.30 pm, starting 17th May, the first two here and the second two at the Cathedral. Flyers out today giving full details. This is a course not to be missed for all of us who want to deepen our faith and understand more about the Mystery of the Lord Jesus Christ, God Made Man.
The Coronation of HM King Charles III
The Bishops have produced a special prayer card, at the back of church today. Monday is a Bank Holiday, so Mass on that day will be at 10.00 am. A word of warning: Forest Court are planning a day-long party on their Roof Top Bar, Olive and Fifi on the beer pumps. So do please be careful walking along Forest Street and Union Street, as they dispose of their empty glasses in their usual way.
Church Cleaning on Wednesday Mornings
Many thanks to everyone who signed up before Christmas. We’ve been contacting you during the week to see if you’re still available. Another list is at the back of church if you’d like to be a Mrs Mopp!
MISSIO Red Box Holders
St Werburgh's gave a total of £3,747.67 for 2022 which is made up contributions from the red box donations, direct debit or on-line payments and gift aid. Thank you so much. If you’d like a red box, please contact our secretary, Bernie on 340768.
Monday 1st May St Joseph the Worker Bank Holiday
Feast of St Joseph the Worker on a Bank Holiday?
You couldn’t make it up, could you?
SVP Second Collection 13/14th May
To provide financial support to families who may not otherwise have a holiday, to have a week in the Holiday Home at Talacre or a family day out, and to fund a Summer Lunch outing for the elderly and housebound. Also for families in need for school trips and various school holiday club activities. SVP could not provide this support without your help which is very much appreciated.
SVP Celebration Mass
You are all cordially invited to the Celebration Mass that will take place on Sunday 30th April at 2.30 pm in the Catholic Primary School. Please get in touch with Fran fran.waldie@gmail.com if you need a lift to get there. All warmly welcome!
Shrewsbury Diocesan Caritas
The next Caritas box collection will take place this weekend (29th/30th April) at all Masses.
Please empty the content of your box into a strong plastic bag or envelope, clearly labelled with your name. No foreign coins please. Gift Aid and Standing Order forms will be available. New Box Holders welcome. Caritas would like to thank you all most sincerely for £1,121.88 raised in the last financial year. Well done, everyone!
The Catholic High School 50th Anniversary Mass
You are warmly invited to join the CHS celebration Mass on Friday 9th of June, 11.00 am at Chester Cathedral. If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Mallon by email at mallonk@christofidelis.org.uk. There are a limited number of spaces available – tickets going well!
Parish Renewal: Renewing our Web Site
Good to start the process in the week of putting our excellent web site under the Renewal Spotlight. It’s done sterling service over the last dozen years. Now it needs some refreshing, both of its content and of its format. Initial meeting with Tekkie One in the week, with the whole group coming together on 11th May, welcoming some new members. If you have any suggestions for renewal of content or format, please email them in.
Financial Year End
We aim every year for income of about £120,00 and expenditure of about £100,000. This year has seen such a sharp spike in the Cost of Living, especially in fuel. Heating a church of this size is not easy, as you can imagine, and far from cheap. But the headline figures of 2022-23 are reassuringly in line with expectations:
- Annual Income: £130,808.37
- Annual Expenditure: £103, 637.19
Photo of the Week: Mustard Man on his Travels
The Cathedral at Syracuse, towards the southern tip of Sicily, looking out over the Med to Libya and North Africa. Originally a Greek Doric Temple dating back to the 5th Century BC, it’s now a magnificent Catholic Cathedral. Thanks, JO’S! If you’ve never visited Sicily, I can’t recommend it too strongly. An amazing island!