Dear brothers and sisters, allow me to use this space to wish you and all your loved ones, our friends, parishioners and visitors to St Werburgh’s, a truly blessed celebration of Easter. The days of our Lord’s Passion are over, and we now embark on a period of fifty days of rejoicing for the new life we have received in baptism: the great gift of our faith, the fruit of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus. We are indeed an Easter people! Let us show this to those around us by our words and actions. For we are also, to use that expression so dear to the late Pope Francis, “ missionary disciples”. All of us! Sent, as missionaries, to bring good news to the world, and called, as disciples, to be formed by God’s Word, to participate ever more fully and responsibly in the life of the Church and in this particular community to which we are all privileged to belong. I am grateful to all those who have taken part in the celebration of the Paschal Triduum and indeed to all those who contributed to their realization. Some of the work is visible, much more goes on behind the scenes… A big thank you to you all! To Fr Neill, to the welcomers and fire marshals, to the readers and extraordinary ministers, to the organists and the choir for leading us in song and keeping us in tune, for your time, effort and practices. To the altar servers, and those who accompany them, to the flower arrangers, and to those who clean and beautify the altar and the sanctuary, and all that fills it… to the collectors and the counters! These are just some of the many ways you continue to show your love for the Lord and for this community of faith. I am very grateful!

I wish to also thank those who have already contributed to the traditional Good Friday Collection for the Holy Places. If you weren’t able to do so, there will be time in the coming weeks to support the work of those who ensure the holy sites are remain as places for prayer for all, as we continue to pray for peace in that region which is so fragile and sadly caught up, once more, in a devastating spiral of violence and war.

Please continue to pray for those journeying with us in faith, most of whom are regulars at Mass and are familiar to some of you. Our next meeting is on Wednesday 8^th, when we will discuss the distinctive signs and symbols of our Catholic faith and reflect on the importance of the sacraments. It is my hope that some members of this will be received into the Church at Pentecost. In the same way, you are invited to keep the children in your prayers who are preparing to receive Jesus for the first time in Holy Communion in May. Let us pray that we can all grow in Eucharistic wonder for such an awesome gift! The youngsters at secondary school will soon be invited to enrol on the Confirmation program. For more details see below. May God bless you all! Fr David +

Welcome Wednesday will open the doors of the parish meeting room for a series of programmes and events starting from this coming week, (8^th April from 10:00 am till 12 noon). Do pop along for a chat, tea/coffee and dominoes. All are welcome!

On the same afternoon and in the same place, the Bereavement and Loss Group will meet at 1.15 pm for a chat with tea and coffee.

There are still some new Tax Year weekly offertory envelopes to be collected. Please do take yours if you make your weekly offering to the parish in this way. Thank you!

There is still the possibility to donate clothes, backpacks, pillows, blankets, pans, tents, sleeping bags etc., to the Ellesmere Port charity Refugee Assist. Please contact SVP: svpchester@gmail.com or 07778 392816

The Dementia and Carers’ Prayer Group will meet on Thursday 16^th April at 10:45 am.

There is a Marriage & Family Life Ministry (MFL) Retreat Day on 18^th April 9:30 am to 4:00 pm in Northwich. Please see the flyers at the back of church for details and for any further information or to register please email: monika.golembiewska@dioceseofshrewsbury.org

“Come and Sing Messiah” April 18^th, 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

The Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality Focus Group 21st April, at 7:00 pm (open to all members, new and old) will meet at St Columba’s, Plas Newton Lane, CH2 1PL. Fr Sean Henry, Chaplain to the Hospitality, will join us. If you wish to attend, please email Clare Marchmont at secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk

Encountering Jesus in the Gospels. The Jesuit Institute is running a short online formation course building the skills and confidence needed to hold and guide groups of those who wish to deepen their relationship with Jesus, in conversation with others, through reflectively praying with gospel texts. Time: Tuesday evenings 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Dates: April 21^st, 28^th, May 5^th, 12^th, 19^th, 26^th, June 9^th. For details please see https://jesuitinstitute.org/events

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated by the Bishop on 11th November next at St Columba’s church. It is possible for individuals from all parishes in Chester and will be led by St Columba and St Theresa’s Confirmation preparation team. Anyone currently at high school, or older is encouraged to prepare. Please email stcolumbatheresaconfirmation@hotmail.co.uk if you are interested.

Thank you from CAFOD for your generous support this Family Fast Day – your kindness is helping families grow food, even in the face of drought and floods. To donate and to find out how your donations are helping to build a better world please visit https://cafod.org.uk/envelope or use a CAFOD envelope at the back of Church.

Photo of the week: Thank you to Jane Jackson for her photo of the Catholic Church in Chania, dedicated to St Mary of the Assumption and the headquarters of the Catholic Diocese of Crete.