Parish Newsletter

The Parish Family – The Family of Prayer

We were all shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Felicity Hughes, Marian Curtis’s daughter, knocked off her bicycle on the way to work last week. We send Marian, Jeremy and Eve our deepest sympathies and warmest love. Very sadly, two more sudden and unexpected deaths this week, Consilia’s brother Kevin, who died in his sleep Tuesday night, and Brian Haslam, on Wednesday, one of our great Rowton contingent. Kevin had always been looked after by their father until he was no longer able to do so, which was when Consilia and Simon moved Kevin up to Chester and did a wonderful job caring for him here. Brian was ninety and was soldiering on amazingly after the death of his beloved wife Cath two years ago. May Kevin, Brian and Felicity rest in the peace of the Risen Lord. Felicity’s Requiem Mass is here on Friday 19^th January at 12.00 noon. A number of other parishioners are also in our prayers at this time, for themselves and their family members, undergoing medical tests or treatments of various kinds. As we always say in this parish, whatever anyone is going through today, we can’t go through it for you, but we can go through it with you. And that can make the world of difference.

The family of prayer.

Christmas Times: 4.30 pm Fully Booked

• Christmas Eve: 4.30, 6.00, 8.30 and 11.30 pm. Booking Essential 4.30 pm: and all tickets now gone
• Christmas Day: 9.00 am and 10.45 am.
• Boxing Day: 10.00 am: Altar Servers Mass.

Christmas Volunteer Rota

Filling up nicely: thanks! If you can fill those few last slots, we’d bite your arm off.  

A Eucharistic Minister needed for 6.00 pm, please, and Collectors for 10.45 on Christmas Day.

You will get your reward in Heaven. Promise.

Christmas Flowers: Second Collection £583-20

Thank you for your very generous response – and the lovely Christmas Tree in the Porch decorated with all your Prayer Stars. Crib now in place! Please don’t forget your Crib Offerings which go to the Diocesan Children’s Society, now part of Caritas.

Mass Times Between Christmas and Epiphany

• Boxing Day 10.00 am – Altar Servers Mass for St Stephen’s Day – Everyone Welcome!
• Weekdays thereafter at 10.00 am
• Sunday 31^st December – Holy Family – Normal Sunday Mass Times
• Sunday 31^st December – Midnight Mass to see in the New Year and pray for God’s Blessings on 2024
• Epiphany Holyday - Sunday 7^th January  - Normal Sunday Mass Times

Final Children’s Liturgy of this Year

Sunday 17^th December, starting up again on Sunday 7^th January. The team would love to have more volunteers if you were able to help out.

Welcome Wednesdays!

A huge success over these last couple of months: starting up again Wednesday 10^th January.

See you all there, 10.00-12.00 noon!

Would Make Beautiful Christmas Presents…

We’ve had donated two new Ukuleles, in cases, with Instruction Booklets – they might be a breeding pair, but I can’t be sure – and a lovely Stamp Album mainly featuring Vatican Stamps. On the table at the back of church for your inspection. Sealed bids to FP please, and all proceeds to Caritas.

Closing Date for Bids: Sunday 24^th Dec 12.00 noon

Repository: Now Arrived in Blackpool…

Bernice and Paula are happily ensconced in Mrs Peabody’s Guest House on the South Shore, 21^st December onwards, for their usual Turkey and Tinsel Christmas, and sent us this photo yesterday: 

They’re in the party hats nearest to the camera. Enjoy, girls – and go easy on the gravy!

Concerts in St Werburgh’s

Some super concerts here in our church in recent weeks – Chester Bach Singers, Dee Ensemble, Cathedral Nave Choir. All due back in 2024, plus Chester Male Voice Choir and a number of others coming for the first time. Choirs and Musicians are always welcome, and we make no charge for their use of our beautiful church. Just give us plenty of notice, as we book up fast!

Photo of the Week: Junior Werbie in the Smoke

Not just Santa coming to town, but Sebastian, a proud Junior Werbie, visiting the crib in Westminster Cathedral after the 10.00 am Mass there last Sunday. Their Crib is almost as good as ours, isn’t it? Hurry back to Chester, Sebastian, and make sure you’re tucked up in bed good and early on Christmas Eve…