Home from Hols - Did you Miss Me?

As always, enormous thanks to everyone who minds the shop while I’m away. Arrived back Friday tea-time after a super few weeks on Murano, one of the lovely islands in the Venice lagoon, a real haven of peace and quiet after a day’s sight-seeing. So many highlights but possibly the best was grabbing the last ticket for Tosca at La Fenice, Venice’s great opera house. It was “restricted view, the understatement of the year! But it didn’t matter, just listening to that glorious music. So, thanks you to everyone here: to Steve, our ever-efficient Admin Assistant, who looked after the office, to Frs Neill and Colin for looking after the Masses, and to everyone who kept the show on the road. I really should go away a bit  more often… And now September is upon us, always one of the busiest months of other year. Just look at all the activities mentioned below happening this month!

 

Thanksgiving Meal on Friday

All the acceptances have come in and the menu choices gone out, and we’re so looking forward to seeing 150 of you at the High School on Friday evening for a chance for us to sit down for a meal together and for us to say an enormous “thank you” to everyone for making this 150th Celebration such a success. Of course, it’s going to mean 2.00 am in the kitchen Friday morning  for me, but if it brings a smile to those bitter and twisted lips of yours… Just wait till you see those Flamenco Dancers! 

 

First Holy Communion Parish Group 2025-6

List now closed, and a wonderful eighteen names have come in for the Parish Group, children who do not attend a Catholic Primary School but wish to make their First Holy Communion – seventeen boys and one girl! As always, mighty thanks to Louise and her team – Karen, Clare, Claire and Ruth – for looking after them so well. Tam Benni; Julian Lusar Colmenares; James Connolly; Sebastian Fuller; Aidan de Guzman; Ludovico Jack; Frankie Jones; Freddie Keating; Arin Khanna; Harry Knights; Armando Montoya Flores; Lochlan O’Kane; Leslie Pickstock; Edoardo Restuccia; Erik Rodriguez; Ariana Tamasanu; Norman Ward; Samuel Willett.

 

Heritage Open Doors 12- 21 Sept: “Architecture”

• Sun 14-Sun 21 Sept: Church Open each day, 1.00–3.00 pm.
• Sun 14 Sept, 2.00 -3.00 pm: Talk about the Architecture of St. Werburgh’s and how it changed over the years, in response to Historical Events.
• Wed 17 Sept, 1.00 pm-3.00 pm: Aleta Doran will be in the porch to talk to anyone about the Trena Cox stained glass windows.
• There is also an event at the Lead Shot Tower from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sat 20 September

 

Talk from Historian Dr Anna French: 11th September

Dr Anna French of the University of Liverpool will come to St Werburgh’s on Thursday September 11th, to talk about the challenges that Catholics in this area faced after the Reformation. She will explain some of the developments that allowed a confident Catholic community to emerge and build a beautiful church like St Werburgh’s in 1875. The talk starts at 7.30 pm. Everyone welcome.

 

Children’s Liturgy Starts Again This Sunday

Many thanks, Clair and Team, for organising this!

 

Autumn Mass Count: 21/9, 28/9, 5/10.12/10

Counters please enter totals on list in Sacristy. 

 

Parish Diary September 2025 to July 2026

Off to the Printers this week. Thanks everyone!

 

150th Celebrations - Wildflower scheme

In celebration of our 150th year, we have 150 envelopes filled with wildflower seeds which can be planted all year round to create wildflowers in gardens and around the community. Available after each Mass. Suggested donation £2.

 

Our New 150th Anniversary Parish Prayer Book

We plan to produce a prayer book to commemorate our 150th Anniversary. Personal favourites to Liturgy@stwerburghchester.co.uk Thanks for all suggestions so far! Do please keep them coming. 

 

Dementia Support Group Last Thursday

Another excellent meeting, this little group really coming together. Would you like to join us?

 

Sycamore Course Starts This Week

The first of six sessions is planned for Wed. 10th Sept at 7.30 pm in the Church. This is an informal course about the Christian faith and its relevance for life today. All are welcome. Please email admin@stwerbughchester.co.uk to confirm attendance

 

SVP Welcome Mass

You are all warmly invited to the SVP Welcome Mass on 21st September at 2.30 pm at St Werburgh Church. It will be followed by a tea/coffee party. Like to come? Contact svpchester@gmail.com or 07778 392816

 

House Mass: Wednesday 24th September 5.00 pm

Lyn & Richard are hosting at their home in Hawarden, starting our new year of House Masses. Do please sign up if you’d like to join us. Everyone welcome.

 

Caritas Boxes Collection, 13th/14th September

Please enter contents into a secure bag with your name on. A chance also next week to join Caritas. 

 

Bereavement & Loss Group in the Day Chapel

Next meeting Wed September 10th at 1.15 pm to 2.45 pm. Old friends and new very welcome to join us.

 

Parish Safeguarding Training Sept. 22nd 7 pm.

Parishioners who would like to continue working to ensure that our parish is a safe and welcoming place, are required at the Safeguarding Training session detailed above. Parish volunteers who have not attended previous sessions and who work with under 18’s and vulnerable adults are required to attend. 
This is a repeat of previous sessions.

 

Welcome Wednesday Re-Starts in the Day Chapel Wednesday 10th September at 10.00 am.

We look forward to seeing old friends and new!

 

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

 

Photo of the Week: The Stripping of the Altars

Maundy Thursday last year, and Geoff has beautifully caught the reflection of the Tabernacle in the polished granite of the Altar, uncovered today and Good Friday but otherwise hidden underneath the Altar Cloth.