Parish Diary September 2025 to July 2026

Many thanks for all the dates that you have sent in and Steve, our admin assistant, has now entered them on an enormous spreadsheet. Remarkably few clashes were found this year, and where we have, we have gone back to the organisers. With the arrival of a new Parish Priest, we’ve included all the usual dates up to Christmas, to give Fr David a sense of what goes on, but kept it much more flexible from the New Year onwards so that he can make any changes that he feels appropriate. We hope to have a printed version of the Diary out by mid-Sept.

 

Arrangements for my holidays

I will be away from Monday 18th August to Friday 5th September. During this time Steve H, admin assistant, will be monitoring emails and phone calls and Marian McCarthy and Lyn Williams, our outgoing and incoming Chairs of the Parish Council will be the point of contact if anything of an urgent nature comes up. Please contact them through their email addresses: buildingsandmaintenance@stwerburghchester.co.uk
(Marian) and liturgy@stwerburghchester.co.uk (Lyn)

 

Free Table – CDs and William Books

Last chance to grab one of the CDs today, and I’ve been through all my William books and spotted several duplicates. Please help yourselves.

 

Donating to the Parish – Update

Our Card Reader/Contactless facility has now been installed at the back of church. This complements our online donations through the website and QR Code. The QR code is now on Newsletters, the bottom of page one.

 

August Newsletters

Many thanks for all the items that have come in for all the August newsletters: closing date: Thur. 14th Aug.

 

Our New 150th Anniversary Parish Prayer Book

In the Autumn, we plan to produce a prayer book to commemorate our 150th Anniversary.
Please send in your personal favourites to : Liturgy@stwerburghchester.co.uk and many thanks for the suggestions that have already come in.

 

Hospice Fundraising

This week: £525. Total £17,913.

 

Dementia Group.

Our next get together is Thursday September 4th 10.45 am in the Day Chapel. Please join us.

 

House Mass: Wednesday 24th September 5.00 pm

Next House Mass will be at Lyn and Richard's in Hawarden. All Welcome, please sign up at the back of Church or email Lyn: rich_lyn@hotmail.co.uk
followed by refreshments. Lifts can be arranged.

 

Caritas Boxes Collection, 13th/14th September

Caritas (www.caritasshrewsbury.org.uk ) provides services for families, vulnerable adults and children in need of support. The autumn Caritas Boxes collection will take place at all Masses on 13th and 14th September. If you are a box holder, please bring the contents of your box in a strong bag or envelope clearly marked with your name. You can also contribute by Standing Order, via the Caritas website https://tinyurl.com/caritas2025 or the QR code provided on the poster displayed on the 'Outreach' notice boards. Boxes, Standing Order & Gift Aid forms available.

No meetings in August

Just a reminder to everyone that August is a meeting-free month! See you all in September…

 

Handover File for Fr David

We have been working very hard over the last week in compiling the handover file for Fr David. It contains an amazing 142 items, principally contact names and emails. Everything that Fr David would want to know about St Werburgh’s but might be too polite to ask…

 

St Werburgh’s Young Adults – You’re Invited!

It was wonderful to see so many new faces at our last gathering. We’re excited to welcome you back for our next meet-up on Friday, 5th September, from 6:30 pm onwards at St Werburgh’s Church – Day Chapel. Whether you’re a student, a young professional, or a couple starting out, this is a space for anyone aged 18+ to feel welcome, find community, and spend time in prayer together. Feel free to bring a friend along!

 

Thanksgiving Meal

What a fantastic response, all places have been filled, and we now have a cancellation list at the back of Church .... For those of you who have put your names on the list, look out for an email this week... check your spam if you don't receive one by the weekend.

 

Gardening Group – New members wanted

Have you got green fingers or just like gardening? Our gardening group need some help, if you would like to find out more, please email : liturgy@stwerburghchester.co.uk

 

Re-Laying the Garden Path

Good response to our request for recommendations for a good firm/contractor. Any more you know of? 

 

Next 150th Planning Meeting: Thurs 25th Sept 7.30

We’ll look back at the summer and the Parish Meal and see what more needs to be done by 31st December!

 

St Werburgh’s & St Columba’s Primary School.

Mrs Oates, our much-loved Headteacher, is due to retire in December. Who could possibly replace her?
ctgonline.co.uk/jobs/6870b6a9473dd8927720524a 

 

Cabaret: Wednesday 13th August

All ready to go, 08.30 train from Chester, 10.30 at Euston, stroll through the heart of London to Trafalgar Square, lunch, then down to the Playhouse Theatre for Curtain Up at 2.00 pm. Pizza together top of Tottenham Court Road before catching the 8.00 pm strain, back in Chester just after 10.00 pm. A great day out! Any ideas for our next Theatre Trip together?

 

Names for First Holy Communions Parish Group

Year 3 and above and not at Catholic Primaries. We will take older children, but ideally, they should be Year 3. Closing date: Monday 1st September. Names coming in well, but that really is our deadline, folks!

 

Photo of the Week: A Wedding 75 years ago

May and John Brierley, married in St Werburgh's on 18th February 1950. Sent in by their daughter, Jane Jackson. So much the same in our church 75 years ago, so much altered? Keep those photos coming both current and archive, everyone. We love them!