Parish Newsletter
SUNDAY 17th JANUARY: SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)
Liturgical
- + 2024
-
+ 2023
- 31st December
- 24th December
- 17th December
- 10th December
- 3rd December
- 26th November
- 19th November
- 12th November
- 5th November
- 29th October
- 22nd October
- 15th October
- 8th October
- 1st October
- 24th September
- 17th September
- 10th September
- 3rd September
- 27th August
- 20th August
- 13th August
- 6th August
- 30th July
- 23rd July
- 16th July
- 9th July
- 2nd July
- 25th June
- 18th June
- 11th June
- 4th June
- 28th May
- 21st May
- 14th May
- 7th May
- 30th April
- 23rd April
- 16th April
- 9th April
- 2nd April
- 26th March
- 19th March
- 12th March
- 5th March
- 26th February
- 19th February
- 12th February
- 5th February
- 29th January
- 22nd January
- 15th January
- 8th January
- 1st January
-
+ 2022
- 25th December
- 18th December
- 11th December
- 4th December
- 27th November
- 20th November
- 13th November
- 6th November
- 30th October
- 23rd October
- 16th October
- 9th October
- 2nd October
- 25th September
- 18th September
- 11th September
- 4th September
- 28th August
- 21st August
- 14th August
- 7th August
- 31st July
- 24th July
- 17th July
- 10th July
- 3rd July
- 26th June
- 19th June
- 12th June
- 5th June
- 29th May
- 22nd May
- 15th May
- 8th May
- 1st May
- 24th April
- 17th April
- 10th April
- 3rd April
- 27th March
- 20th March
- 13th March
- 6th March
- 27th February
- 20th February
- 13th February
- 6th February
- 30th January
- 23rd January
- 16th January
- 9th January
- 2nd January
-
- 2021
- 26th December
- 19th December
- 12th December
- 5th December
- 28th November
- 21st November
- 14th November
- 7th November
- 31st October
- 24th October
- 17th October
- 10th October
- 3rd October
- 26th September
- 19th September
- 12th September
- 5th September
- 29th August
- 22nd August
- 15th August
- 8th August
- 1st August
- 25th July
- 18th July
- 11th July
- 4th July
- 27th June
- 20th June
- 13th June
- 6th June
- 30th May
- 23rd May
- 16th May
- 9th May
- 2nd May
- 25th April
- 18th April
- 11th April
- 4th April
- 28th March
- 21st March
- 14th March
- 7th March
- 28th February
- 21st February
- 14th February
- 7th February
- 31st January
- 24th January
- 17th January
- 10th January
- 3rd January
-
+ 2020
- 27th December
- 20th December
- 13th December
- 6th December
- 29th November
- 22nd November
- 15th November
- 8th November
- 1st November
- 25th October
- 18th October
- 11th October
- 4th October
- 27th September
- 20th September
- 13th September
- 6th September
- 30th August
- 23rd August
- 16th August
- 9th August
- 2nd August
- 26th July
- 19th July
- 12th July
- 5th July
- 28th June
- 21st June
- 14th June
- 7th June
- 31st May
- 24th May
- 17th May
- 10th May
- 3rd May
- 26th April
- 19th April
- 12th April
- 5th April
- 29th March
- 22nd March
- 15th March
- 8th March
- 1st March
- 23rd February
- 16th February
- 9th February
- 2nd February
- 26th January
- 19th January
- 12th January
- 5th January
-
+ 2019
- 29th December
- 22nd December
- 15th December
- 8th December
- 1st December
- 24th November
- 17th November
- 10th November
- 3rd November
- 27th October
- 20th October
- 13th October
- 6th October
- 29th September
- 22nd September
- 15th September
- 8th September
- 1st September
- 25th August
- 18th August
- 11th August
- 4th August
- 28th July
- 21st July
- 14th July
- 7th July
- 30th June
- 23rd June
- 16th June
- 9th June
- 2nd June
- 19th May
- 19th May
- 12th May
- 5th May
- 28th April
- 21st April
- 14th April
- 7th April
- 31st March
- 24th March
- 17th March
- 10th March
- 3rd March
- 24th February
- 17th February
- 10th February
- 3rd February
- 27th January
- 20th January
- 13th January
- 6th January
-
+ 2018
- 30th December
- 23rd December
- 16th December
- 9th December
- 2nd December
- 25th November
- 18th November
- 11th November
- 4th November
- 28th October
- 21st October
- 14th October
- 7th October
- 30th September
- 23rd September
- 16th September
- 9th September
- 2nd September
- 26th August
- 19th August
- 5th August
- 29th July
- 22nd July
- 15th July
- 8th July
- 1st July
- 24th June
- 17th June
- 10th June
- 3rd June
- 27th May
- 20th May
- 13th May
- 6th May
- 29th April
- 22nd April
- 15th April
- 8th April
- 1st April
- 25th March
- 18th March
- 11th March
- 4th March
- 25th February
- 18th February
- 11th February
- 4th February
- 28th January
- 21st January
- 14th January
- 7th January
- + 2017
I Samuel 3, 3-19; Psalm 39; I Corinthians 6, 13-20; John 1, 35-42
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Albert Norman (Birthday Remembrance) and Sheila Norman (Anniversary)
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Thanksgiving (Sapna)
11.00 am: St Werburgh’s: John Thompson, Catenian (L.D.)
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Barbara Evans (L.D.)
Monday 18th January: Ferial: Hebrews 5, 1-10; Psalm 109; Mark 2, 18-22
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Bill and Jane Butcher, and family
Tuesday 19th January: Ferial: Hebrews 6, 10-20; Psalm 100; Mark 2, 23-28
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Vera Clyne (Anniversary)
Wednesday 20th January: Ferial: Hebrews 7, 1-17; Psalm 109; Mark 3, 1-6
9.30 am: St Clare’s: Rina Gradwell (L.D.)
Thursday 21st January: St Agnes: Hebrews 7,25 - 8,6; Psalm 39; Mark 3, 7-12
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Deceased Family Members - Nikki and Mark Perry
Friday 22nd January: Ferial: Hebrews 8, 6-13; Psalm 84; Mark 3, 13-19
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Requiem Mass for William Walsh, late of Allington Place
Saturday 23rd January: Ferial: Hebrews 9, 2-14; Psalm 46; Mark 3, 20-21
Fr Paul’s Private Mass Intention today: Parishioners of St Werburgh’s
SUNDAY 24th JANUARY: THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)
Jonah 3, 1-10; Psalm 24; I Corinthians 7, 29-31; Mark 1, 14-20
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Cliff and Dina Sale (Anniversaries)
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Alex Barnes
11.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Mae and Gerald Kay
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Private Intention
Prayer intentions
Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Pauline and Bill Hackett, Laura Chadwick, Elisabeth, Stuart Clark, Keith Hayes, Sheila Winder, Joe and Ruth O’Kane, Garth Stocking and Kevin Maguire; and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Malcolm Crowther, Luke Ellis and William Walsh; 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
- + 2024
-
+ 2023
- 31st December
- 24th December
- 17th December
- 10th December
- 3rd December
- 26th November
- 19th November
- 12th November
- 5th November
- 29th October
- 22nd October
- 15th October
- 8th October
- 1st October
- 24th September
- 17th September
- 10th September
- 3rd September
- 27th August
- 20th August
- 13th August
- 6th August
- 30th July
- 23rd July
- 16th July
- 9th July
- 2nd July
- 25th June
- 18th June
- 11th June
- 4th June
- 28th May
- 21st May
- 14th May
- 7th May
- 30th April
- 23rd April
- 16th April
- 9th April
- 2nd April
- 26th March
- 19th March
- 12th March
- 5th March
- 26th February
- 19th February
- 12th February
- 5th February
- 29th January
- 22nd January
- 15th January
- 8th January
- 1st January
-
+ 2022
- 25th December
- 18th December
- 11th December
- 4th December
- 27th November
- 20th November
- 13th November
- 6th November
- 30th October
- 23rd October
- 16th October
- 9th October
- 2nd October
- 25th September
- 18th September
- 11th September
- 4th September
- 28th August
- 21st August
- 14th August
- 7th August
- 31st July
- 24th July
- 17th July
- 10th July
- 3rd July
- 26th June
- 19th June
- 12th June
- 5th June
- 29th May
- 22nd May
- 15th May
- 8th May
- 1st May
- 24th April
- 17th April
- 10th April
- 3rd April
- 27th March
- 20th March
- 13th March
- 6th March
- 27th February
- 20th February
- 13th February
- 6th February
- 30th January
- 23rd January
- 16th January
- 9th January
- 2nd January
-
- 2021
- 26th December
- 19th December
- 12th December
- 5th December
- 28th November
- 21st November
- 14th November
- 7th November
- 31st October
- 24th October
- 17th October
- 10th October
- 3rd October
- 26th September
- 19th September
- 12th September
- 5th September
- 29th August
- 22nd August
- 15th August
- 8th August
- 1st August
- 25th July
- 18th July
- 11th July
- 4th July
- 27th June
- 20th June
- 13th June
- 6th June
- 30th May
- 23rd May
- 16th May
- 9th May
- 2nd May
- 25th April
- 18th April
- 11th April
- 4th April
- 28th March
- 21st March
- 14th March
- 7th March
- 28th February
- 21st February
- 14th February
- 7th February
- 31st January
- 24th January
- 17th January
- 10th January
- 3rd January
-
+ 2020
- 27th December
- 20th December
- 13th December
- 6th December
- 29th November
- 22nd November
- 15th November
- 8th November
- 1st November
- 25th October
- 18th October
- 11th October
- 4th October
- 27th September
- 20th September
- 13th September
- 6th September
- 30th August
- 23rd August
- 16th August
- 9th August
- 2nd August
- 26th July
- 19th July
- 12th July
- 5th July
- 28th June
- 21st June
- 14th June
- 7th June
- 31st May
- 24th May
- 17th May
- 10th May
- 3rd May
- 26th April
- 19th April
- 12th April
- 5th April
- 29th March
- 22nd March
- 15th March
- 8th March
- 1st March
- 23rd February
- 16th February
- 9th February
- 2nd February
- 26th January
- 19th January
- 12th January
- 5th January
-
+ 2019
- 29th December
- 22nd December
- 15th December
- 8th December
- 1st December
- 24th November
- 17th November
- 10th November
- 3rd November
- 27th October
- 20th October
- 13th October
- 6th October
- 29th September
- 22nd September
- 15th September
- 8th September
- 1st September
- 25th August
- 18th August
- 11th August
- 4th August
- 28th July
- 21st July
- 14th July
- 7th July
- 30th June
- 23rd June
- 16th June
- 9th June
- 2nd June
- 19th May
- 19th May
- 12th May
- 5th May
- 28th April
- 21st April
- 14th April
- 7th April
- 31st March
- 24th March
- 17th March
- 10th March
- 3rd March
- 24th February
- 17th February
- 10th February
- 3rd February
- 27th January
- 20th January
- 13th January
- 6th January
-
+ 2018
- 30th December
- 23rd December
- 16th December
- 9th December
- 2nd December
- 25th November
- 18th November
- 11th November
- 4th November
- 28th October
- 21st October
- 14th October
- 7th October
- 30th September
- 23rd September
- 16th September
- 9th September
- 2nd September
- 26th August
- 19th August
- 5th August
- 29th July
- 22nd July
- 15th July
- 8th July
- 1st July
- 24th June
- 17th June
- 10th June
- 3rd June
- 27th May
- 20th May
- 13th May
- 6th May
- 29th April
- 22nd April
- 15th April
- 8th April
- 1st April
- 25th March
- 18th March
- 11th March
- 4th March
- 25th February
- 18th February
- 11th February
- 4th February
- 28th January
- 21st January
- 14th January
- 7th January
- + 2017
Lockdown Three: Churches Remain Open
In this current Lockdown, when (unlike the previous two) churches have been allowed to stay open, it’s essential to emphasise two points: that everybody needs to decide for themselves if it is safe to come to Mass, and that there is no Obligation to come. I think most of us were a little surprised but very gratified that Churches were allowed to remain open for Public Worship in last week’s announcement. Many of us take this as a huge vote of confidence in how well the vast majority of churches have cooperated with the Covid-19 rules and restrictions, and how conscientiously the vast majority of church-goers have followed those rules. But clearly many of you are nervous about coming to Mass, including our Stewards, and that we totally understand and support. There were appreciably fewer of you at Mass last Sunday than the week before, and we guess that trend could well continue today. When we have seen the numbers, and the numbers of Stewards who wish to stand down, we will make a decision about next Sunday. That will be communicated daily on-line, via the Blog, but if you don’t have online access, do please ring us, preferably between 10.00 and 11.00 each morning, for an update.
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Delighted we are able to keep this going, via the ever-faithful Christleton and Waverton Churches Together. We will be meeting remotely via Zoom, at 12.00 noon each day next week, with the different churches hosting, the services based on the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland material:
- Monday 18th Jan: Waverton Evangelical
- Tuesday 19th Jan: St James Christleton
- Wednesday 20th Jan: Methodists
- Thursday 21st Jan: St Werburgh’s
- Friday 22nd Jan: St Peter’s Waverton
Each day, there will be a short 20-25 minute service, followed by half-an-hour of social time if you’d like to stay for that. Plus, sandwiches, of course... If you would like the Zoom link and a copy of the CTBI Material, please email me and I will forward it to you. Hoping to see you all there for as many of the days as you can manage. Off now to carry on preparing the Sandwiches...
Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals?
Baptisms: permitted, but "Rule of Six" - maximum of six people allowed to attend.
Weddings: only in exceptional circumstances such as grave illness, and, again, "Rule of Six".
Funerals: permitted, with a maximum of thirty people attending.
St Clare’s
Fr Emeka is on his three-week annual leave, back home with his family in Nigeria, and St Werburgh’s is pleased to cover for him while he is away. (Whether St Clare’s are equally pleased remains to be seen...) He is due back on 21/22 January.
New Notices Around Church
You’ll see today some new laminated notices displayed in prominent places, just reminding everyone about the Covid-19 essentials: hand-sanitising as often as possible, wearing that mask properly, and keeping two metres apart.
If I can touch you, we are too close!
The really important Covid-19 Regulations can be boiled down to "Face-Hands-Space". Speaking personally, I am very happy with the way we are all observing the first two in St Werburgh’s. But the third sometimes gives me the heebie-jeebies (as they say in German). We are getting far too close to one another, and I never thought I’d have to say that! Seriously, everyone: this horrible virus spreads from person to person, and the major way it does that is by physical contact. So, a new rule in St Werburgh’s:
IF I CAN TOUCH YOU, THEN WE ARE TOO CLOSE.
The Baptism of the Lord: End of Christmastide
Crib figures put away, decorations taken down... Yes, Christmas is definitely behind us, and it’s going to be Next Stop Lent, with Ash Wednesday falling on 17th February. As so many of us have had to link into Zoom and other online services, shall we start planning soon for an online Lent, perhaps a Stations of the Cross on Friday some time? What do the rest of you think? Any other ideas?
Magazines, Year Books, Ordos...
We haven’t been able to have our usual Newsstand during Lockdowns, but the Day by Day (£1) magazines and Sacred Heart Messengers (£1.50) are both available in the porch as you leave, as well as the Diocesan Year Books and Ordos (£5 each). Don’t worry if the "one-way system" makes paying difficult: just take the mags and pop the money in next week!
Photo of the Week: Confirmation 1966
Just look at that sea of faces - and that’s just the girls! It made me go to the Safe and get out the Confirmation Register for that year. Bishop Eric Grasar confirmed - wait for it! - 491 youngsters on that occasion (25th September). How on earth was such a thing possible? I’d love to have any first-hand memories of that event. Some of the names that leapt out at me? Declan Barry, John Kenyon, Paul Kimpton, Brian McCann, David Park, Edmund Ronayne, Paul Sweeney, Heather, Michelle and Janette Astbury, Jane Brierley, Rachel Curtis, Denise Norman. I’m not going to ask, "Where are they now?", as I think we all know. (Whatever happened to that nice, shy little Denise Norman??)
And finally: Great News on the Vocations Front
Bishop Mark writes:
The Diocese continues to see a small yet genuine springtime in vocations. This year I hope to ordain four men to the Priesthood and two to the Permanent Diaconate. The fruitful work of the Shrewsbury Discernment House has been able to continue amid the difficulties, uncertainties and restrictions of this past year. Since the summer, three men have already been able to share in this discernment and three more young men are due to begin at the start of this year when Covid restrictions allow. We also have two further applications for the Priesthood from mature men, together with one candidate accepted into training for the Permanent Diaconate; one man entering the propaedeutic programme for the Diaconate and two other applications and enquiries amid the difficult conditions of the pandemic. Thank you for your continued prayer - and for the support and encouragement for this vital work for the promotion, discernment and formation of those vocations which will provide for the service of the whole Diocese in the century ahead.
So, let’s keep all those seminarians and possible seminarians in our prayers, everyone.