Saturday 6:00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Philip Proudlove (RD)
Sunday 9:00 am: For all mothers
Sunday 10:45 am: Jacqueline McLelland (RD) and intentions of her children and family
Sunday 6:00 pm: For the people of the parish
Monday 16th March – Ferial: Isaiah 65: 17-21; Psalm 29; John 4: 43-54
11-12 - Holy Hour in church followed by Mass at 12:15 pm Ken Jones (BR)
Tuesday 17th March – St Patrick, Feast. Jeremiah 1:4-9; Psalm 116; Acts 13: 46-49; Luke 10:1-12, 17-20
7:30 am. for Peace
12:15 pm: Matt and Christine Lawton (wedding anniversary and healing)
Wednesday 18th March – St Cyril of Jerusalem: Isaiah 49:8-15; Psalm 144; John 5:17-30
12:15 pm: Margaret Doherty (2nd Anniversary)
Thursday 19th March – St Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary Solemnity
2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16; Psalm 88; Romans 4:13, 16-18,22; Matthew 1:16,18-21, 24
7:30 am: for the Church
11-12 - Holy Hour in church followed by Mass at 12:15 pm Victor Piggot (BR)
Friday 20th March - Ferial: Wisdom 2:1,12-22; Psalm 33; John 7:1-2,10,25-30
11-12 - Holy Hour in church followed by Mass at 12:15 pm Shrewsbury Secular Clergy Fund Members
7:00 pm: Way of the Cross, led by members of the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP), followed by Eucharistic Adoration till 9:00 pm
Saturday 21st March – Ferial: Jeremiah 11:18-20; Psalm 7; John 7:40-52
9:00 am: Special Intention (FM) Followed by Adoration & Confessions
2 p.m., Service of Healing and Hope with the opportunity for individual confessions and anointing of the sick – At the end of the service, refreshments will be served the back of church.
6:00 pm: Rowton Methodists: For the people of the parish
SUNDAY 22nd March 2026: FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Ezekiel 37:12-14; Psalm 129; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45
Saturday 6:00 pm: Rowton Methodists: For the people of the parish
Sunday 9:00 am: Family and Friends (PA)
Sunday 10:45 am: Minnie Taylor (33rd Anniversary) and Gregory Stuart Phillips (Anniversary)
Sunday 6:00 pm: Rebecca Coriam and family
Prayer Intentions
Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Helen and Peter Jones, Rita Spencer, Duncan Mason, José Luis Velasco, Jimmy McCahy, Kath Stanton, Brian Boardman Jnr, Bill Hackett, Stuart Clark, Kevin Maguire, Ruth O’Kane, Phillip Peers and Adele Vance, and for all the sick of the Parish. We also remember our beloved dead, particularly those who have died recently, including Teresa Bainbridge, Mary Bannon, Ian Bruce, Alexandra Mays Chandler, Margaret Chantler, Elizabeth (Betty) Cooney, Pam Corkerton, Ruby Daniel-McCann (aged 2), Antonia Daniel-Passmore, Ena Donovan, Mark Fuller, Jamie Lee Granger, Wendy Griffiths, Derek Hannaby, Harry Huxley, Sam Marsden, Ed Mulligan (New Jersey), Joseph O’Leary, Victor Piggott, Elizabeth Kathryn Skupski, Elizabeth Tobin, Margaret Tudor, Father Paul O’Grady and Deacon Terry Simms, and those whose anniversaries occur about this time, including Barbara McClean, Annie Owens, Essie Lawrie, Daniel Hogan, Frederick Mercer, Linda Wynne, Oscar Dubussy-Durgan, Dolly Huxley, Rita Williams, Patrick Walsh, Thomas Smith, Maria Bannister, Donald Tilston, William Paton, Karen Ash, Arthur Hedges, Mary Partington, Arthur Wright, Ted Finney, James Moore, Sarah Chamberlain, Peter Heaney, Magda Cumberford, Wendy Moore, Bill Dobbins, Bridie Williams, Geraldine Pile, Jean Versey, Anne Roberts, Ellen Borthwick, Arthur Ryan, Pat Skinner, Carole O’Brien.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace
Live Streaming Link: see website home page
Instagram: stwerburgh_chester
SVP: svpchester@gmail.com 07778-392816
Countess of Chester Chaplaincy: 01244 364543.
Diocese of Shrewsbury: Charity No 234025.
Safeguarding safeguarding@stwerburghchester.co.uk Liz Aiello 07813-743-723 & Chris Proudfoot 07711-495-070
Newsletter items- admin@stwerburghchester.co.uk
Dear friends, today we have much to celebrate: Easter is that bit closer, when we will, once again, celebrate the mysteries of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus, which give us life, and it is for this reason that Holy Church bids us rejoice. How many situations and difficulties do we encounter that seem to rob us of that joy. We must resolve to be fervent in prayer and offer our lives in loving service of others, so that our joy may increase and we can share the joy of the Gospel, that is the joy of knowing Christ and share his message with others. The fourth Sunday of Lent is traditionally Mothering Sunday, and so we also give thanks for those who gave us life and those who continue to do so, by their care and attention. We pray for mothers everywhere, for those who are with us and those who have died. We also give thanks for the light of faith, which illumines our life on earth and pray that we be enabled to see in a new way, going beyond appearances to that which is essential, for this is the dynamic of the sacraments, which we ought to celebrate and receive with lively faith and devotion. May God bless you and keep you always in his care. Fr David +
Planned Giving/Gift Aid - If you pay income tax, joining the Gift Aid scheme increases the value of your donations to the Parish by 25% at no extra cost to you. If you no longer pay income tax, have changed your home address in the last 2 years, wish to join the Gift Aid Scheme, or simply update your planned giving/gift aid, please contact Denise Jones via the parish office admin@stwerburghchester.co.uk by 5th April.
New Tax Year Weekly Offertory Envelopes. The 2026/27 envelopes are available at the back of church. They start from the first Sunday in the new tax year which will be Sunday 12th April. If you use envelopes, please help by collecting yours as soon as possible. Thank you.
The Lenten Lunch on 9th March, which was hosted jointly by parishioners of St Werburgh’s, and members of the Wesley Methodist church and the Welsh Presbyterian church, raised a whopping £543 for Christian Aid. This event is always popular and was attended last week by 60 people. Well done to everyone who helped organise this.
SVP and the Sixth Form students from Chester Catholic High School would like to invite everyone to Afternoon Tea and Bingo at the school on Tuesday 17th March 2026 at 2:00 pm. If you need transportation or would like further information, please contact Marco: svpchester@gmail.com or 07778 392816; meanwhile, the SVP Winter Collection raised £1873.13. Thank you for your generous support to allow the Conference to continue to “turn concern into action!” Another practical way to show love for our neighbour this Lent, is through Refugee Assist, an Ellesmere Port-based charity created to support refugees arriving in the UK. They need the following items: Men’s jackets, T-shirts (sizes m &l), jeans, joggers, socks and trainers sizes 7 8 9 10 11. They also need backpacks that will take an A4 folder, new pillows, blankets, pans, tents, sleeping bags and suitcases. Please contact a member of the SVP for further information at svpchester@gmail.com or 07778 392816
First Holy Communion Group Events: On Tuesday 17th March at 6:30 pm at St Werburgh's church, there will be a meeting for parents and a class for the children who don't attend the parish primary school. Children will need their new workbooks and pencils.
Welcome Wednesday. Thanks to Bernice for the enjoyable Bingo games last week. This coming Wednesday 18th March 10:00 am to 12:00 pm., students from the Catholic High, and their chaplain, Ana Gasparini who will lead a Lenten reflection at 11 am in the church. Everyone is most welcome to join.
Annual Reader’s Review – Wednesday 18th March 3:00 pm or 7:30 pm. A reminder to all readers that although the training sessions are not mandatory, all readers are encouraged to attend one of the sessions.
The Parish History Group will be meeting on Wed 18th March at 6.00 pm in the Presbytery. Newcomers welcome.
Dementia / Carer’s Prayer Group: 10.45 am Thursday 19th March. In the Day Chapel. Please bring a prayer, a poem or a piece of prose to share. All very welcome.
A reminder that on Saturday 21st March, we will have a Service of Healing and Hope during which the sacraments of reconciliation and anointing of the sick will be offered to those who wish to receive them. All are welcome and refreshments will be served by members of the SVP at the end.
Lead, Kindly Light – The Journey in Faith. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 25th of March at 7 p.m., when the group will meet to consider the question “Are we Tradition-bound or Spirit-led?”. It’s wonderful to see how this group has developed. Please pray for those who are considering joining the Church.
Please do sign up if you wish to help out in the forthcoming Holy Week Liturgies. Thank you!
Faith Stories Christleton Churches Together has organised a series of informal talks. There will be an opportunity for questions and refreshments afterwards at Christleton Methodist Chapel: 7:00 pm 25th March.
“Come and Sing Messiah” April 18th, All Saints Church, Hoole, Chester, CH2 3HZ. Registration 10:00 am, Rehearsals 11:30 am. Performance at 7:00 pm. See https://www.deogratiaschoir.com/blank-5 for details
Photo of the week: Thank you to Chris Proudfoot for this photo of the 16th-century Cathedral of Seville, at its construction the largest cathedral in the world, and still the largest Gothic Church.

