Parish Newsletter

Parish Renewal: Calling All Welcomers/Caterers!

Now we’re ready for Phase Two, the Welcomers and Caterers. Invites have gone out to all those who’ve expressed an interest in being part of Welcoming Teams at each of the four weekend Masses, in compiling our Welcome Pack for new parishioners or in joining our fantastic Catering Team. Please, don’t forget to check Spam everyone. Ready for the Welcomers and Caterers Launch Meeting on Thursday 27^th July, here in church, at 4.30 pm and 6.00 pm.

The Catering Team are assembling, at 4.30 pm, to be called on whenever we offer hospitality here in the church or house. If you’d like to join me, 2.00 am in the kitchen, I’d love to see you. Come along to either group, or both! Could we contact you every so often and ask you to make a plate of sandwiches or savouries, knock up a cake, do something amazing with a trifle? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

If you’d like to be one of our Sunday Mass Welcomers, at any of the four Masses, again we’d love to hear from you. Or if you’re interested in helping with the Welcome Pack for New Parishioners, going out to everyone who arrives here with a complimentary bottle of Bombay Sapphire…

Very well-deserved break then for the fantastic Renewal Steering Group in August (Lyn, Pat, Bernice and Marian), and Youth is our exciting focus for September. It’s all happening!

North Wales Railways – Thursday 20^th July

What a fantastic day we all had last Thursday! Who was saying their Prayers, as the weather was superb, defying those gloomy Weather Forecasters? David Quayle did a magnificent job with organising all the details and driving the coach, and a huge vote of thanks to him. We left Chester at 10.00 and were at Blaenau Ffestiniog for noon, ready for a P&T stop before the train departed at 12.35. Fascinating journey along the route of the old slate trucks, arriving in Porthmadog at 13.45. Another P&T stop (what are these Werbies like?) and away on the 14.05 train to Caernarfon, both trains pulled by legendary Steam Engines. Very welcome packed lunch on this second train (2.00 am in the kitchen for me, but so worthwhile seeing the smiles on all those bitter and twisted little faces), as we admired the magnificent scenery, arriving at the station in Caernarfon right next to the Castle at 4.30 pm. Coach at 5.00 pm, appreciating the new Caernarfon Bypass, and back in Chester for 6.30 pm. Thanks everyone, for a great day out! Any suggestions for the next one?

Synod Document: Open Parish Meeting on 31^st July

Do please have a good look at the Synod Agenda Document, on our parish website. It sets out the themes to be discussed in the international Synod of Bishops in October. It makes for fascinating reading. Do please read as much of it as you can, and come along on Monday 31^st July, 7.00 pm, if you’d like to be part of a Parish Discussion. This week the Synod Delegates were named: from England and Wales, it’s Archbishop John Wilson (Southwark), Bishop Marcus Stock (Leeds), Bishop Nick Hudson (Auxiliary in Westminster), Professor Anna Rowlands (Durham University) and Rev Timothy Radcliffe OP, from Blackfriars, Oxford.

On the Free Table This Week

• More of the A3 paper, blank one side and old newsletters the other.
• Good selection of religious books
• Covid Tester Kits. Sadly, Covid is still with us, and if you’d like a Tester Kit, please help yourself.

Donations for any of the above, if you’d like to make one, for Caritas, please, in the bowl.

Children’s Liturgy at 10.45 Mass

Finishing now and starting up again on Sunday 10^th September. Big vote of thanks to the Team who organise this, and if you’d like to join them, please let any of them (or FP) know.

Support the Primary School – Vote at Tesco

StW&StC Primary School is bidding for up to £1,500 from a Tesco Community Grant. The project is our Gardening and Wellbeing Club. Voting is open now in these Tesco stores: Chester Pepper St; Chester Delamere St; Chester Sealand Road CH1; Chester Weston Grove; Chester Broughton. Voting closes at the end of September. Customers vote using tokens at the check-out each time they shop.

Summer Clergy Moves

Two moves in our Deanery: farewell to Fr Emeka from St Clare’s, taking on the new responsibility of three Runcorn Parishes (Palace Fields, Murdishaw and Castlefields), now grouped together as The Parish of the Divine Saviour. In his place, we welcome Fr Bernard Forshaw. Farewell also to Fr Humphrey, leaving the Ellesmere Port Pastoral Area to move up the Wirral to Christ the King, Bromborough. Welcome to Fr Bernard, and all best wishes to Frs Emeka and Fr Humphrey, with grateful thanks to all they have done for our Deanery.

Mass Diary for 2024

Next year’s Diary opens the first weekend in September, as soon as I’m back from hols. Then you can send me all your requests for 2024. Never too soon to get those important Mass dates!

Eucharistic Ministers September Review Meetings

• Tuesday 12^th September 11.00 am
• Wednesday 13^th September 2.00 pm
• Tuesday 19^th September 7.00 pm
• Thursday 21^st September 10.00 am

Next Year’s First Sacraments Programme

If you have a child who will be in Year 3 or above in September who does not attend our Catholic Primary School, please contact Fr Paul preferably by email. The classes begin in November with First Forgiveness in January and First Holy Communions in May. The closing date for enrolment is Sunday 3^rd September 2023. (NB, if you think you’ve already sent names in, please send them again so we are 100% certain we have not missed anyone)

FP’s Holiday Dates

I shall be away from Friday 18^th August to Friday 1^st September. Grateful thanks to Denise, Fr Neill and Fr Colin, who will be minding the shop. Not long to go!

Photo of the Week: Boxing Day Altar Servers

Here they all are, plus two guests from Birmingham Archdiocese, David & Joseph. Plus, BUD of course…