St Werburgh's Roman Catholic Parish, Chester

Parish Newsletter

 

SUNDAY 24th MARCH 2024: PALM SUNDAY (YEAR B)

Liturgical

Isaiah 50, 4-7; Psalm 21; Philippians 2, 6-11; Mark 14, 1-47

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Niall Long (L.D.)

Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Paul John Lawton

Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Gregory Stuart Phillips (Birthday Remembrance)

Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Youth Mass: Rebecca Coriam

 

Monday 25th March: Monday of Holy Week: Isaiah 42, 1-7; Psalm 26; John 12, 1-11

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Jim Catterson

1.10 pm: University Chapel – Weekly University Mass. All welcome.

7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Penitential Service

 

Tuesday 26th March: Tuesday of Holy Week: IsAiah 49, 1-6; Psalm 70; John 13, 21-38

10.00 am: High School: Stations of the Cross

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Peter McCabe

 

Wednesday 27th March: Wednesday of Holy Week: Isaiah 50, 4-9; Psalm 68; Matthew 26, 14-25

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Felicity Hughes (née Curtis)

7.00 pm: St Michael’s Woodchurch: Diocesan Chrism Mass

 

Thursday 28th March: Maundy Thursday

12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Day Mass of Maundy Thursday: Dilys Ball (12th Anniversary)

7.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Mass of the Lord’s Supper

8.30 pm – Midnight: Watching at the Altar of Repose

 

Friday 29th March: Good Friday

3.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Liturgy of the Passion

 

Saturday 30th March: Holy Saturday

8.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Easter Vigil: Caroline Miller (6th Anniversary)

12.00 midnight: Midnight Mass of Easter

 

SUNDAY 31st MARCH 2024: EASTER SUNDAY (YEAR B)

Acts 10, 34-43; Psalm 117; Colossians 3, 1-4; John 20, 1-9

Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Jean and Geoff Hewson

Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Ashley Rogers (2nd Anniversary)

Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Dolores and Kevin Coriam

 

 

Prayer Intentions

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Wendy O’Brien, Jimmy McCahy, Kath Stanton,Brian Boardm an Jnr, Bill Hackett, Laura Chadwick, Stuart Clark, Ruth O’Kane and Kevin Maguire and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Dorothy Holly and Margaret Gasson; and for all those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Angela Pavia, Mary Smith, Michael Bird, Maureen Newton, Michael Feeney, Edna Smith, Susan Lofthouse, Cath Thompson, Margaret Keenan, Catherine Bottomley, Joe Stockton, Norah Williams, Alan Baines, Eleanor Clay, Phyllis Kerrison, George Wilson, Alice Hignett, Sylvia Pritchard, Patricia Davies, Urcina Hernandez, Pope John Paul II, David Ollerhead, Paddy Elliott and Maureen Farrell. May They All Rest in Peace.

 

Parish Information and Contacts

Live Streaming Link: www.churchservices.tv/stwerburghchester.

SVP: svpchester@gmail.com     Countess of Chester Chaplaincy: 01244 364543.

St Werburgh’s is part of the Diocese of Shrewsbury: Registered Charity No 234025.

Safeguarding: safeguarding@stwerburghchester.co.uk Liz Aiello: 07813743723 and Chris Proudfoot: 07711495070

Parish events

Holy Week Penitential Service on Monday

7.00 pm, followed by opportunities for individual confessions. All welcome.

 

Holy Week and Triduum: 24th – 31st March

Sunday 24th: Palm Sunday

  • Normal Mass Times

Monday 25th

  • Penitential Service 7.00 pm

Wed 27th

  • Chrism Mass St Michael’s Woodchurch

Maundy Thursday 28th

  • Day Mass at 12.15 pm;
  • Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7.30 pm;
  • Watching at Altar of Repose till Midnight

Good Friday 29th

  • Liturgy of the Passion 3.00 pm

Holy Saturday 30th

  • Easter Vigil 8.30 pm;
  • Midnight Mass of Easter at 12.00 midnight

Easter Sunday 31st

  • Normal Mass Times

 

Chrism Mass at St Michael’s Woodchurch

The church you can see from Junction 3 of the M53 with the distinctive pyramid roof is hosting the annual Chrism Mass this year on Wednesday of Holy Week. We will organise a  minibus for those who’d like to go, so please sign up if interested.

 

Bodnant Gardens & Llandudno: Tuesday 25th June

Date now fixed, so booking opens this weekend, with Priority Booking until April 21st for those who put their names on the Expression of Interest list.

 

Christleton Churches Together Lent Chapel Visits

Many thanks to Rev John, Deacon Toby and Rev Karl for making us so welcome last Thursday.

 

Eucharistic Ministers Ready for Service Again!

We’d like all of you who indicated you wish to carry on to take your Renewal of Commitment on Maundy Thursday Evening, and then be ready for Administering the Chalice at Sunday Masses after Easter and helping me with Home Communions. We are also going to need quite a few new recruits.

 

Confirmation for Chester Parishes

The Chester Parishes alternate in organising Confirmation, St Columba’s & St Theresa’s one year and St Werburgh’s, St Clare’s and St Francis the other year. Our celebration was last year, in May, at St Francis, so this year it’s the turn of St Columba’s and St Theresa’s. We’ve received this  message from them: “The next Chester Confirmation will be on Friday 8th November. Anyone currently at High School is eligible, with no upper age limit. Email stcolumbatheresaconfirmation@hotmail.co.uk to register or receive further information, with your names and dates of birth.”

 

Holy Week Volunteer Rota Gaps

  • Maundy Thursday: Two for Procession of Oils;
  • Three for Washing of Feet; One Welcomer.
  • Good Friday: One Welcomer.
  • Easter Vigil (Saturday): Two Welcomers; Four Offertory Collectors.
  • Easter Sunday: One  more Welcomer for both 9.00 and 10.45; two Welcomers for 6.00 pm.

 

Caritas Spring Collection: Sunday 17th March

Any more “box contents” gratefully received.

 

Welcome Wednesdays

Many thanks to Pat Baxter for an excellent and moving talk last week to mark World Down Syndrome Day. We all learnt a great deal.

 

End of Financial Year Gift Aid Notices

  • If you no longer pay income tax, please let FP or Denise Jones know by 5th April.
  • Change of Address: Please let us know if you have changed your address in the last 2 years.
  • Joining the Gift Aid Scheme: If you pay income tax, joining the Gift Aid scheme increases the value of donations to the Parish by 25% at no extra cost to you. See FP or Denise Jones.
  • New Tax Year Weekly Offertory Envelopes are at the back of church. Please help by collecting yours as soon as possible. Thank you.

House Masses

A lovely gathering up at Lyn and Richard’s in Hawarden on Wednesday 13th March. The next two are at Denise Jones’s in Vicars Cross (Thursday lunchtime, 18th April) and at Mary Briody’s in Newton, (lunchtime on Tuesday 14th May). Sign-up sheets out soon, and all welcome.

 

Palm Sunday Evening Youth Mass 6.00 pm

Youth Mass this Sunday evening, Palm Sunday - do come and join us !

 

Catholic Enquiry Course

In our closing stages now, having started last September. Seven enquirers have been with us every fortnight, with one-to-one sessions in between, and now they are giving us their final decision as to whether to become Catholics or not. Some will be entering the Church at the Easter Vigil which makes it extra special. Please keep them all in your prayers at this key moment in their lives: Elizabeth, George, Jenna, Jordan, Raven, Stacey and Stephen

 

Extra Palms

On the table at the back of church from tomorrow, Monday, onwards. Please help yourselves.

 

My Last Blood Donation

Always nice to know where my corpuscles end up: this time, all the way up to York. Enjoy, someone!

 

Key Holders: Up-to-Date List Needed

Can you let FP know if you are a key-holder, please.

 

Clocks Spring Forward Next Weekend

Saturday evening 30th March, after the Easter Vigil.

 

Lenten Holy Hour: Moved to 17th March, 3.00 pm

Many thanks to Pat, Lyn and team for delivering such a beautiful service and to everyone who came along to support. Any suggestions for next one?

 

2nd Collection for Easter Flowers: £516-48

Many thanks to everyone for their generosity.

 

Our Wonderful Parish Library

Do come and take a look at all the books available, before and after Mass every Sunday. Just help yourselves, and return when finished reading

 

Highlight from the High

'Living Stations of the Cross', school hall, Tuesday 26th March 10.00 am. Parishioners invited. Free tickets: shawk@christofidelis.org.uk

 

Photo of the Week: Samantha in the Veldt

One of our Senior Altar Servers exploring the South African plains last year and its amazing wildlife. She’s back there again now, so best wishes to Sam!