My dear brothers and sisters, it is with sadness that we learned earlier this week of the death of Mrs Marlene Robb, wife of Fr Neill Robb, who died peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones and fortified by the sacraments of the Church. I wish to renew my deepest condolences to Fr Neill and all the family, and I know that you will all join me in praying for dear Marlene and for the happy repose of her soul. A requiem Mass will be celebrated for her, here in church, on Thursday, July 9 at 12 noon.

Today, in Matthew’s gospel, we have one of those few times when Jesus asks us explicitly to pray for a specific intention, namely labourers for the harvest of souls, which is plentiful indeed! Providentially, we hear this call just one week after celebrating the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. The compassion that Jesus felt for the crowd, we receive in a very special way in the sacraments of the Church, above all in the Eucharist and in the healing offered in the gift of penance and reconciliation. When was the last time we really prayed for vocations? Let us then, with one heart and one voice, ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers and give us priests after his own heart so that we may always have the access to the bread of life and receive God’s healing love in the sacraments when we need it.

Next Sunday, after Holy Communion, members of the parish’s St Vincent de Paul conference, (SVP), will address parishioners at all masses about the work that they carry out to make the compassion of God present and active in the lives of others. The presentation will allow us to “hear the voices” of some of the beneficiaries, both those who live in the parish and those in other places of need. Allow me, once more to express my thanks to each of the members of the SVP for the work they do and to each one of you for your regular financial, practical and spiritual support, which is all greatly appreciated! May the compassionate love of God inspire all that we do and say during the coming week. God bless you all.  Fr David +

To mark the 175th Anniversary of the Diocese of Shrewsbury, a new website has been launched: why not take a look by clicking on: https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/

A prayer in Assisi for your intentions Our dear parishioners Andrée and Maureen are travelling to Assisi at the end of the month and have promised to pray for us all at the tomb of St Francis. If anyone has a specific intention, please write them down and put them in an envelope marked ‘ASSISI’, which you can leave at the presbytery or in the sacristy before June 25. As you may know, to mark the 800^th anniversary of the death of il poverello (the poor man) of Assisi, whose life and testimony have touched countless souls and continue to inspire so many, Pope Leo XIV, has offered a special jubilee year. It’s no coincidence that the recently canonized and London-born young saint, Carlo Acutis, wished to be buried in Assisi, not far from the place where St Francis lived and died; a very special place indeed! Let’s ask for many graces for the parish and especially that our children and young people can discover God’s love for them and grow in Eucharistic devotion.

Parish Database Please can leaders of parish groups, who have not yet done so, submit a list of volunteers in their groups as well as contact details to the Parish office (admin@stwerbughchester.co.uk). If individuals do not want their information stored in this way, you are invited to please let us know.

First Holy Communion 2027 Applications are now being accepted for children wishing to join next year's First Holy Communion Group. If your child is in year three or above in September and not attending the parish primary school, please contact Fr David at parishpriest@stwerburghchester.co.uk and Louise Robertshaw at robertshaw499@btinternet.com before 1^st September.

Support for the Parish Primary School PTA summer fair fundraiser: Raffle tickets will be on sale between morning masses on Sunday 14 and 28 June.

Wheelchair access to the church. Please remember, when parking in front of the church, to allow access to the wheelchair ramp.

Last chance to pick up a June edition of ‘My Day by Day’ and/or ‘the Sacred Heart Messenger’ (Please put your offering in the box towards the back of church.

Welcome Wednesday ‘making a difference’: grateful thanks go to Judith Done for her terrific talk on June 10. Judith’s presentation was full of valuable information, and she truly illustrated how Citizen’s Advice ‘makes A Difference.’ Please be aware that there will be no Welcome Wednesday this coming week (June 17) due to the parish outing to the WORLD OF WEDGWOOD, nr. Stoke-on-Trent. The coach is scheduled to leave Bath Street, Chester (just behind the church) at 9.25 am., and will make a stop at the bus stop next to the Shell Garage, Vicar’s Cross Rd., at 9.35 am, leaving there at 9.40 am. The journey will take about an hour. We’ll be back in Chester at approx. 5.00 pm. Mass will be celebrated at 8:30 a.m., and day-trippers are more than welcome to come along! Any other practical questions, please email Pat pat.floate@gmail.com

Heart to Heart women's retreat, 19 - 22 June 2026 - A three-day retreat for women (whether single, married or religious), based on principles of Ignatian spirituality. Guided by Fr Bernard Murphy, CFR and Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, the retreat will seek to draw participants closer to the Lord through a greater attentiveness to His will. https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/heart-to-heart-retreat/

The SVP invites you to the District Afternoon Tea on Saturday 20th June at St Columba’s Church Hall. There'll be cakes, music and a raffle! Numbers are limited! Please contact Madeleine on madeleinemorrin@aol.com or 07533 151 667 if you'd like to attend and indicate any dietary requirements.

Free Will & Grace, 28 - 31 August 2026: Join us for a theological and philosophical deep dive on one of the great themes of the Christian Faith: human freedom and Divine grace. With lectures and workshops building on St Thomas Aquinas' writings, the course will also explore questions of conscience and the problem of evil. This year's guest speaker will be Rev. Dr Simon Gaine, OP. https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/free-will-grace-course/

Photo of the week: Thank you to Yana Laszcziw for sending in this photo of a statue of the crucified Christ in Parc Peyrou, Montpellier. It was erected in the 17th century as a symbol of gratitude and devotion following the city's deliverance from a plague epidemic.