Parish Newsletter

Liturgical

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
Sunday 7.00 pm: Christleton Methodists: Service for the End of the Week of Prayer

Monday 27th January: Ferial: II Samuel 1-10; Psalm 88; Mark 3, 22-30
12.00 noon: Northop Crematorium: Funeral Service for Kenneth Jervis, late of Carrick Road
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Lilian Bell (L.D., Knotty Ash)
1.05 pm: University Chapel: University Mass – All Welcome!

Tuesday 28th January: St Thomas Aquinas: II Samuel 6, 12-19; Psalm 23; Mark 3, 31-35
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of Kathleen Young and Family

Wednesday 29th January: Ferial: II Samuel 7, 4-17; Psalm 88; Mark 4, 1-20
11.20 am: Blacon: Funeral Service for John Ruane, late of Malvern Avenue, Ellesmere Port
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Holy Souls

Thursday 30th January: Ferial: II Samuel 7, 18-29; Psalm 131; Mark 4, 21-25
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Thanksgiving (S.F.)

Friday 31st January: St John Bosco: II Samuel 11, 1-17; Psalm 50; Mark 4, 26-34
11.00 am – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Peter Sherman (L.D.)

Saturday 1st February: Ferial: II Samuel 12, 1-17; Psalm 50; Mark 4, 35-41
10.00 am: HMP Berwyn: Mass for Prisoners, Staff and Visitors
10.30 am – 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Confessions
6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Terence Maughan

SUNDAY 2nd FEBRUARY: FEAST OF ST WERBURGH: PRESENTATION OF THE LORD (YEAR A)
Malachi 3, 1-4; Psalm 23; Hebrews 2, 14-18; Luke 2, 22-40

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Terence Maughan
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Jean Hewson (Birthday Remembrance)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of Kerry Woodbury
Sunday 12.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Harry Jack Law
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Rachael Andrews

Prayer Intentions

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Kerry Woodbury, 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 Kathleen O’Brien, Beryl Deacon, Anne Teague, Kenneth Jervis, John Ruane and Gioacchino Izzo; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Michael Cochrane, Gerald Kay, Mary Buckley, Kathleen Wilbraham, Sr Christopher Whitehead, Rachael Andrews, Jim Ilott, Baby Dane Layden, Maud Matthews, Denis Mannion, Mary Williams, Jean Bourne, Audrey O’Brien, Zita Box, Patricia Fitzgerald, Gerardina Vitelli, Alex McKeegan, John Smart, William Rainbow, Gertrude Lucas, John Dee, Winifred Esser, Peter Taylor, Margaret Mercer, Bernard Egan, Winifred Fields, Paul Webber and Joan Thornton-Firkin. May They All Rest in Peace.

Parish events

Next Countess Hospital Mass

The next regular “First Thursday” Hospital Mass will be Thursday 6th February at 12.15 pm in the Hospital Chapel. This is for patients, outpatients, staff, families and friends, including Bowmere. All warmly welcome.

Retired Priests’ Fund – Second Collection

Next weekend, 1st/2nd February, the annual collection for the Retired Priests’ Fund will be held – one of our eight second collections.
The Fund helps meet the future needs of our sick and retired priests, for pensions, housing and social care. Please take one of the special envelopes which are available at the back of church for you to use. If you wish Gift Aid to be claimed on your donation, please complete the front of the envelope in full. Leaflets about the Fund at the back of church.

Altar Servers’ News

We are delighted that 14 of our Servers will be participating in a Ten Pin Bowling Alley Competition at Cheshire Oaks along with a similar number from St Columba’s on Saturday 1st February. Parents are reminded to be there for 10.30 am. Our teamsters will be ready for collection at about 12.30 pm. Thanks to Fr. William and to Richard Curtis of St. Columba’s & St Theresa’s for making this event possible. A warm welcome to Gabriel, a student at the University, who has joined our Team of Servers at the 10.45 Mass on Sundays.

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: sue.blackwell@dioceseofshrewsbury.org or telephone on 0151 652 9855.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The week finishes with our Joint Service, Sunday 26th at 7.00 pm, in Christleton Methodists.

CathSoc Tonight – Prayer and Praise

Good trip over the Liverpool last Sunday for our evening stroll – this time round the Albert Docks area – and very enjoyable Chinese Buffet Supper. Tonight, Prayer and Praise, starting 7.00 pm after Evening Mass. All Uni Students warmly welcome.

Saturday 25th January

The First Forgiveness Celebration. Please keep all our children who made their First Confession yesterday in your prayers, as they now go full steam ahead for their First Holy Communions in May.

Back from Blackpool!!

Next weekend, Paula and Bernice are back from their extended Christmas / New Year break in Blackpool and will celebrate the re-opening of the Repository with another of their very popular Second-Hand/Used/Pre-Loved Piety Articles. If you have any to contribute, please hand to them or FP.

Mental Health Group Meeting on Monday

Monday 27th, 7.00 pm in the Parish House: everyone welcome who has any interest or involvement whatsoever in Mental Health issues.

Post-Confirmation Pizza

This coming Tuesday, 28th, for all our Confirmation Candidates and Catechists. Talk about painting the town red! (Red? Liturgical Colour for Confirmation? No? I am so wasted on you lot…)

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.

Renewing Our Communities – Thursday Evening

ROC is a national charity dedicating to working with partners in the voluntary sector including Churches, to renew communities. Their website – roc.uk.com – tells you all about them. They are holding a meeting in Chester on Thursday at 7.00 pm. I have two tickets – anyone like to come with me?

Parish Council – Minor Works List and Day Chapel

Excellent meeting on Wednesday, reviewing, among other items, our Minor Works List, which is almost complete, and our thinking about use of the Day Chapel. Full Reports to Parish coming soon.

Photo of the Week: Shinto Shrine

Another fascinating photograph from Japan, a shrine at Gyotoku, Honshu.