St Werburgh's Roman Catholic Parish, Chester

Parish Newsletter

 

SUNDAY 3rd DECEMBER 2017: FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR B)

Liturgical

Isaiah 63,16 - 64,8; Psalm 79; I Corinthians 1, 3-9; Mark 13, 33-37

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Veronica Turner (L.D. Troon)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Patrick, Mary and James Regan
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Timothy Dwyer (L.D.), Past President of Chester Catenians
Sunday 1.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Wedding Service for Stefano Milo and Victoria Jenkins
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Greta Morgan (Anniversary 1999)

Monday 4th December: Ferial: Isaiah 2, 1-5; Psalm 121; Matthew 8, 5-11
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Joe Griffiths (L.D. Liverpool – former Lecturer at Liverpool Hope University)
1.05 pm: University Chapel: University Mass – All Welcome!
2.40 pm: Blacon: Funeral Service for Cherrie Pateman, late of Birch Heath Nursing Home

Tuesday 5th December: Ferial: Isaiah 11, 1-10; Psalm 71; Luke 10, 21-24
8.00 am: Poor Clares Hawarden: Special Intention
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Graham George

Wednesday 6th December: St Nicholas: Isaiah 25, 6-10; Psalm 22; Matthew 15, 29-37
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Birthday Intentions (MP)

Thursday 7th December: St Ambrose: Isaiah 26, 1-65; Psalm 117; Matthew 7, 21-27
10.30 am: Crawford’s Walk Nursing Home Carol Service – All Welcome!
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: John and Mary Dillistone (Bexhill)
1.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Funeral Service for Kathleen Herbert, late of Private Walk
2.30 pm: Oaklands Nursing Home: Carol Service – All Welcome!

Friday 8th December: Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Genesis 3, 9-20; Psalm 97; Ephesians 1, 3-12; Luke 1, 26-38
11.00 am – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Eucharistic Adoration
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Dominic Bryon (L.D., Cardiff)

Saturday 9th December: Ferial: Isaiah 30, 19-26; Psalm 146; Matthew 9,35 – 10,8
10.30-12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Confessions
6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Terry Collier

SUNDAY 10th DECEMBER 2017: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR B)
Isaiah 40, 1-11; Psalm 84; II Peter 3, 8-14; Mark 1, 1-8
Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists:
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of M&E
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Christina Reece and Mary O’Brien
Sunday 12.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Margot Alexandra Hayes
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Donald Aloysius Deponeo

Prayer intentions

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Iris Philp, James Donovan, Garth Stocking, Ann McGowan-Scanlan, Mary Lyons, Kevin Maguire, Christine Davies, Michael Morton; and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Cherrie Pateman and Kathleen Herbert; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Nancy Lugg, Patrick Kavanagh, Bernard Cunningham, Michael Hughes, Pat Wright, Ann Hanrahan, Brian Parker, Teresa Evans, Ronald Pugh, Michael Hatherall, Gordon Maidment, Mary Murphy, Noreen Kind, Mary Corr and Betty Chilton. May They All Rest in Peace

Parish events

St Werburgh’s Christmas Service Times Cards

Out today: please distribute as far and wide as possible. You have no idea how many people come to Mass and Confessions at Christmas because they receive one of these cards...

St Werburgh’s Great War Book of Essays

May possibly be with us this week!!

Tickets for the Mold Pantomime: Dec 28th

These are available for distribution this weekend. Gerry will look after altar servers and families. Other tickets available from the Parish Office.

Catholic High School Parents Association

A Carol Service will be held on Tuesday 19th December at 6.30 pm at the Catholic High School, followed by refreshments, a Christmas raffle and musical entertainment by the School Jazz Band. Free entrance. Everybody is welcome.

Forthcoming Concerts in Church This Month

  • Friday 8th - Abbeygate College Concert
  • Tuesday 12th - Primary School Carol Concert
  • Saturday 16th - Chester Bach Singers

Home Communions

A request: if you know of someone who would like Holy Communion at home, please let Pauline or myself know. Please don’t just arrange it yourself, or we won’t know where we’re up to!

CathSoc Meetings for Rest of Term: Sun @ 7.00

  • Sunday 3rd December - Christmas Quiz Night
  • Sunday 10th December - Christmas Meal Out
  • Quiz Night Tonight - Everyone Welcome!

Next meeting for the FHC Parish Group

Children and parents: Tuesday 5th December at 6.30 in the Parish House. The children will need to bring their folder with their Preparation Book, their pencil case and a handwriting pencil.

Chester Bach Singers Candlelit Carol Concert

Saturday 16th December at 7.30 pm. A mix of carols old and new for choir and many of the traditional favourites for the audience to join in. Highlights include Lauridsen’s O magnum mysterium. Retiring collection for Chester Aid to the Homeless. Tickets are £12 and £5 for students and include refreshments during the interval.

New Diocesan Ordos on Sale: £4

The very popular guide to the Liturgical Life of the whole year: what and when the Feast Days are, the Readings for every day, the Anniversaries, the lives of the Saints week by week - an excellent read and reference book.

Great War Plaque Group Meeting on Monday

Finalising design and then out to tender...

Christmas Volunteer Rota Out Today

Please sign up: we need the usual team of volunteer Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, Welcomers and Collectors for our special Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. For the two regular morning Masses on Dec 24th EMs and Readers allocated already on the quarterly rota.

Confirmation on Tuesday

"You really do have an excellent team here!” were Bishop Mark’s words after Confirmation - and I couldn’t agree more. It was a fantastic Team Effort; the Catechists who prepared the Candidates; the Choir and Musicians, so ably led by Kate and James; Gerry, James and the superb Altar Servers; Syd and Denise for the Booklet; Bernice and Anne for the Bishop’s Tea (10/10!); and everyone else who played a part. It was all hugely appreciated, and we do thank Bishop Mark and all our visiting Priests for coming.

Confirmation Booklets

There are some spare booklets if you’d like one.

Caritas: Diocesan Children’s Society

After some 25 years’ service, Roger has decided to stand down as our Children’s Society Collector. We can’t thank him enough for his sterling work over all those years. Now we need someone to take his place...

City Centre Ministers Christmas Lunch

Here on Wednesday - thanks, Catering Team!

SVP 2nd Collection: Christmas Lunch and Gifts

At all Masses next weekend: GA Envelopes too.

Great War Group

Meeting 2.00 pm Monday 4th December in the Parish House.

Advent at the Retreat House

Take some time for a retreat with Retreat House Chester. Saturday 16th: Walking through Advent with the Saints 10.30 am-3,00 pm, £25 (£20 concessions). Full details on www.retreathousechester.co.uk and bookings through Chester Cathedral.

Visit to Halifax Town Hall War Memorial

A very useful visit on Thursday, looking at their Calligraphy and Parchment War Memorial - and a chance to see around their amazing Town Hall.

Advent Day by Days (£1 each) on the Newstand

SVP High School Tea: Wed 13th December

SVP Christmas Tea and Entertainment for the elderly and housebound at Catholic High School.

Philip Chidell Recital - Friday 1st December

Many thanks, Philip, for an excellent recital! Our next "First Friday” will be Friday 4th May.