Parish Newsletter

Liturgical

Isaiah 49, 3-6; Psalm 39; I Corinthians 1, 1-3; John 1, 29-34

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Mae Kay
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Albert and Sheila Norman (Anniv. and Birthday Remembrance)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Special Intention (CM)
Sunday 3.30 pm: Chester Cathedral: Churches Together in Cheshire Service - Lord Alton
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Jo and Jerry McCann (Anniversaries)

Monday 20th January: Ferial: I Samuel 15, 16-23; Psalm 49; Mark 2, 18-22
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: John Paul McDonagh
1.05 pm: University Chapel: University Mass – All Welcome!

Tuesday 21st January: St Agnes: I Samuel 16, 1-13; Psalm 88; Mark 2, 23-28
7.30 am: St Werburgh’s: Private Intention (JA)
8.30 am – 3.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Primary School First Forgiveness Retreat Day

Wednesday 22nd January: Ferial: I Samuel 17, 32-51; Psalm 143; Mark 3, 1-6
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Special Intention

Thursday 23rd January: Ferial: I Samuel 18,6 – 19,7; Psalm 55; Mark 3, 7-12
10.30 am: St Werburgh’s: Requiem Mass for Anne Teague, late of Grosvenor Manor NH

Friday 24th January: St Francis de Sales: I Samuel 24, 3-21; Psalm 56; Mark 3, 13-19
11.00 am – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Patrick McKeown (Birthday Remembrance)

Saturday 25th January: Conversion of St Paul: Acts 22, 3-16; Psalm 116; Mark 16, 15-18
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Sacrament of First Forgiveness for our FHC Children
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Churches Together in Christleton & Waverton Ecumenical Service
6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Mae Kay (Anniversary)

SUNDAY 26th JANUARY: THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)
Isaiah 8,23 – 9,3; Psalm 26; I Corinthians 1, 10-17; Matthew 4, 12-23

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Mae Kay (Anniversary)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Cliff and Dina Sale (Anniversaries)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Winnie Scanlan (Anniversary)
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Bill and Elsie Wilson
7.00 pm: Christleton Methodists: Service for the End of the Week of Prayer – all welcome!

Prayer Intentions

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Tina Johnson, Laura Chadwick, Elisabeth, Stuart Clark, Keith Hayes, Sheila Winder, James Catterson, Joe and Ruth O’Kane, Henri Diacono, James Donovan, Garth Stocking and Kevin Maguire; and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Anne Teague, Doreen Nardini, Kenneth Jervis, John Ruane and Gioacchino Izzo; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: James Dean, Lawrence Heaney, Kathleen Wilbraham, Arthur Turner, Georgina Barlow, Mary Daly, Phyllis Campbell, Chris Redmond, Richard Bird, Brian Wilding, Margaret Fairhurst, Agnes Scanlon, John Anson, Mae Kay, Margaret Whelan, Douglas Haswell, Annie Burrows, Evelyn Stretch, Sr Christopher, Maria Scott, Sylvia Shaw, Jeremy Newell, Margaret Bates, Ernie Moore, Muriel Wright and Violet Brown. May They All Rest in Peace.

Parish events

Next meeting of the Readers' Group

Monday January 20th at 7.00 pm in the Parish House for about an hour to reflect on the Sunday readings for the next month.

Lourdes by Across Jumbulance

Chester Across Group is off to Lourdes again from Thursday 7th to Saturday 16th May. Travel is overland by Jumbulance, with seven beds on board. Franciscan Brother John Cavanagh is Chaplain. Cost including a kitty and insurance is £950 but nurses pay half price. For further information visit http://www.across.org.uk or Facebook Liverpool & Chester Across or contact Tony Murphy 07881-656-974 or email tonymurphyefc2002@yahoo.co.uk

Foundation Governors in Catholic Schools

We have several vacancies across Cheshire. Key requirements of Foundation Governors are that they should be practising Roman Catholics; and that they genuinely believe in the value and the importance of Catholic Schools. For more information and/or an application pack please contact Sue Blackwell, Governance Support Officer, either by sue.blackwell@dioceseofshrewsbury.org or telephone on 0151 652 9855.

Crib Collection: Many thanks indeed!

£422.81 collected (last year £319.93)
For the work of Caritas, our old Diocesan Children’s Society, now working not just with children but with all families in the Diocese.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Sunday 19th January: County-wide Churches Together in Cheshire Service in Chester Cathedral at 3.30 pm, where the sermon will be preached by our own David Alton (Lord Alton). Then Monday to Saturday, at 12.00 noon each day, we visit one of the churches of Christleton and Waverton for a time of prayer and fellowship. Monday is Waverton Evangelical, Tuesday St James, Wednesday St Peter’s, Thursday Christleton Methodists, Friday Rowton Methodists, and Saturday here in St Werburgh’s, where our Service will be followed by Refreshments here in church. The week finishes with our Joint Service, Sunday 26th at 7.00 pm, in Christleton Methodists.

CathSoc Tonight – Liverpool Trip

Leaving here at 7.00 pm – all students welcome!

The Two Popes: Friday 17th January *****

Superb film, and one not to be missed. The Werbies filled the cinema on Friday, and it was great to see so many of you there. Some went earlier in the week to a special “Silver Screening”. For this, you need to be over 85. If you would like to join the Werbies Silver Screeners, please see Bernice.

Taking Down the Christmas Decorations

Thanks to everyone who helped! 

First Holy Communion Meetings

Tuesday 21st January: next meeting for the FHC Parish Group, children and parents at 6.30 pm in the Parish House. The children will need their Preparation Books and pencil cases.
Saturday 25th January at 10:00 am in Church, The First Forgiveness Celebration.

SVP District Music Night Friday 31st January

A night of swing music provided by the Catholic High School ‘City Jazz Orchestra and Singers’ will take place in St Columba’s on Friday 31st January from 7.00 for 7.30. For the SVP Holiday Home. For tickets please contact Stephen Perry on 07775 781204 or via svpchester@gmail.com

SVP Elderly Housebound Christmas Meal

Thanks, everyone, for a superb lunch and social last Saturday afternoon, one of the best I can remember. And they all seemed to love my gravy…

Stop Human Trafficking – A New Year Resolution

Kevin Hyland will give the Annual Memorial Lecture on Modern Day Slavery at LACE, Croxteth Drive, Liverpool L17 1AA on Sunday 19th Jan 2.00-4.00 pm.
Info: s.atherton@rcaol.org.uk 0151 522 1080/81.

French Exchange Wanted!

“We are a French family living in Compiègne, 50 miles north of Paris. We are looking for a British family interested in organising an exchange for languages purpose for our elder son Thomas (15) and our daughter Alix (13) in June 2020.” If you’re interested, for either or both children, let FP know.

Bingo Night at the High School

Catholic High School Parents and Friends’ Association invite you to a Family Bingo Night on Friday 7th February at 7.00 pm in the School Lyceum. A bar will be open. Adults and children welcome.

The Annual Diocesan Mass to Celebrate Marriage

Celebrated by Bishop Mark, 12.00 noon in St Joseph’s Church, North Road, Birkenhead, CH42 7JY on Saturday, 8th February. All married couples and their families are welcome. If you are celebrating a significant anniversary (25th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th) and wish to attend the Mass, please let FP know (by the 26th January) and you will receive a special letter of invitation. If you are not celebrating a significant anniversary, but still wish to attend the Mass and enjoy the refreshments, let the Bishop’s PA know curia@dioceseofshrewsbury.org - 01743 290052.

Never been so insulted in my life…

Meeting in school in the week, and stupidly left my glasses behind. Rang the Office, who said they’d have a look and call me back. Did so half an hour later: “We’ve had a good look round, but the only glasses we can find are old and scratched and terribly dirty. They can’t possibly…”

Photo of the Week: Florence Cathedral

The magnificent West Front of Santa Maria del Fiore, completed in 1436. Makes one yearn for August and Italy, non è vero? (As they say in German).