“A wonderful, crazy time of year” for the Werbie’s SVP

When the ever-ebullient President of the St Werburgh’s SVP Conference, Marco Abbiati, describes something as “crazy” then you know that it definitely is very crazy!

And “crazy” was just how Marco described SVP’s lead-up to Christmas 2025 - as a “Wonderful, crazy time of year” - with a veritable host of activities, appearances and achievements, all arranged and attended by St Werburgh’s enthusiastic (and growing!) group of dedicated Conference Members.

Tea and coffee after the Reconciliation Mass.

Our photographs hardly do justice to the number and diversity of the events supported; suffice it to say that they included the popular Reconciliation Mass with tea, coffee and cakes; an Afternoon Tea at the Catholic High School - where SVP Guests were entertained by students with an excellent rendition of Mary Poppins - and a round of ‘Bingo’ - ably-assisted by our new and clearly very versatile Parish Priest (and Bingo Caller), Fr David (!), and a Dance Marathon at the Catholic Primary School with 303 children, Mrs Oates and her Staff members, all dancing to raise funds for SVP!

Afternoon Tea and Bingo at the Catholic High School.

In addition, Marco and his team of happy helpers headed a Presentation and Thank You (by SVP District Council President Stephen Perry) to the young people at the St Werburgh’s & St Columba’s Catholic Primary School in Hoole, for their work in donating food to the Wirral SVP Community Centre; the Purchase and Delivery of Christmas Gifts to Families in need at the Catholic High School and starring performances at the SVP’s series’ of Christmas Carols Premiers, to delighted residents (and their Families) at the Retirement / Care facilities at Belong Chester, Grosvenor Villas and at Oaklands.

Good works: the Wirral Community Centre and the Primary School Mini Vinnies.

Marco commented: “With social, economic and day-to-day living conditions getting tougher for many people in the UK, including those in our own Chester communities, our work of helping people in need, whatever their background or circumstances, is becoming increasingly more important.”

“And so, in many ways, 2025 has been a significant and blessed year for St Werburgh’s SVP: We were always blessed with the support of Fr Paul, who left the Parish in the Autumn, and we have been blessed once again with the arrival Fr David, who has played such a wonderfully enthusiastic, hands-on role at so many of our events. We have been blessed by the involvement and partnership of our Catholic High School, our Primary School and by our other local SVP Conferences. And we have been blessed by the arrival of so many, eager new Members.” he added.

“I would therefore like to take the opportunity, at this very special time of year, to Thank everybody for helping us in our work of, ‘Turning Concern into Action’ and I would especially like to Thank each and every one of our Members for their support and commitment. I am privileged and proud to be President of St Werburgh’s Chester SVP Conference.”

The Christmas Dance Marathon to raise funds for the SVP.