Parish Newsletter

Liturgical

Zephaniah 3, 14-18; Psalm Isaiah 12; Philippians 4, 4-7; Luke 3, 10-18

6.00 pm Saturday: St Werburgh’s: James Firth (2nd Anniversary)
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Celia Murphy (L.D.)
10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Trudy Nowakowska (L.D.)
12.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Daniel James Wilcock
6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Neil Longridge (L.D.)

Monday 13th December: St Lucy: Numbers 24, 2-17; Psalm 24; Matthew 21, 23-27
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of C
1.10 pm: University Chapel: University Mass – All Welcome
7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Penitential Service with Individual Confessions

Tuesday 14th December: St John of the Cross: Zephaniah 3, 1-13; Psalm 33; Matthew 21, 28-32
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: 70th Anniversary of Becoming a Catholic (BG)

Wednesday 15th December: Ferial: Isaiah 45, 6-26; Psalm 84; Luke 7, 19-23
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Mike Griffiths (1st Anniversary)

Thursday 16th December: Ferial: Isaiah 54, 1-10; Psalm 29; Luke 7, 24-30
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Exam Intentions (G)

Friday 17th December: Ferial: Genesis 49, 2-10; Psalm 71; Matthew 1, 1-17
11.20 am: Blacon: Funeral Service for Brian Anthony McNicholas, late of Pine Grove, Hoole
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Special Intention

Saturday 18th December: Ferial: Jeremiah 23, 5-8; Psalm 71; Matthew 1, 18-24
9.00 – 10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Confessions
11.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Baptism of Larisa Okodi
6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Susannah Timothy

SUNDAY 19th DECEMBER: FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR C)
Micah 5, 1-4; Psalm 79; Hebrews 10, 5-10; Luke 1, 39-44
6.00 pm Saturday: St Werburgh’s: Susannah Timothy
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Geraldine Pile
10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Finn Abberton (Birthday / Anniversary)
6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Dominic Carroll RIP (Month’s Mind)

 

Prayer Intentions

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Duncan Steele, Brian Boardman Jnr, John McMahon, James Convey, Bill Hackett, Laura Chadwick, Elisabeth, Stuart Clark, Keith Hayes, Ruth O’Kane, Garth Stocking and Kevin Maguire and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Steven Andrews, Tony McGrady, Brian McNicholas and Calogera Safina; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Maria Downey, John McCarthy, Nell Murphy, Mark Entwistle, John & Frances Williams, Terence Hunt, Elizabeth Macaulay, Olive Rowlands, Arthur Townley, Pauline Blanche, Brendan Anderson, David O’Malley, Maureen Middleton, Robert Barlow, Josephine Quinn, Peggy Sheen, Sheila Burns, Marie Gilmovitch, Loreta Roberts, Gilderoy Finney, Violet Carroll, Stephen Kennedy, George Bowyer, Ron Bennett, Dot Williams, Charles Donnelly, Douglas Brown, Violet Martinez, Harry O’Korn, Cesidia Moreton, Margaret Cooper, Christina Williams and John Arcari.

May They All Rest in Peace.

 

Parish events

Christmas Bookings as of Saturday, 11th December

160 Maximum for each Mass. These are the numbers for how many have booked by Saturday Morning:

Friday 24th, Christmas Eve

• 4.30 pm: Children’s Christmas Eve Mass I: FULL
• 6.00 pm: Children’s Christmas Eve Mass II: FULL
• 8.30 pm: Vigil Mass of Christmas: 109/160
• 11.30 pm: Carols and Midnight Mass: 119/160

Saturday 25th, Christmas Day

• 9.00 am: Dawn Mass of Christmas: 100/160
• 10.00 am: Day Mass of Christmas: 48/160
• 11.00 am: Day Mass of Christmas: 96/160
• 12.00 noon (if needed): Day Mass of Christmas

Booking essential for all Masses, as numbers will be limited due to Social Distancing. Tickets will be issued, and no admittance without a ticket. Booking online (through the Parish website) and by telephone, 8.00-10.00 am each weekday, Monday to Friday. If booking online, please go through the parish website and complete everything that way, rather than sending an email.

Advent Penitential Service on Monday

Here in St Werburgh’s at 7.00 pm, Monday 13th Dec. A short service of readings, hymns and prayers, and then an opportunity for Individual Confessions.

Bishops’ Conference Advice: Friday 10th December

In the light of this week’s developments, the Bishops have restated their advice. The main change is that Masks in Church are now MANDATORY unless you have official exemption.

“With respect to the current situation with the omicron variant it is important to ensure the following points are followed in our churches:

1. That people displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 should stay at home and not travel to church or participate in person.
2. That hand sanitiser is available to those attending the Church.
3. Face coverings (both nose and mouth) are now MANDATORY during acts of worship.
4. That there is good ventilation and air throughput in the building; in this case, because of climatic conditions, it would be important to remind people to wrap up well in church!
5. That a positive message encouraging people to get vaccinated and have the booster jab when able is delivered whenever possible.”

 

St Werburgh’s Christmas Mass Times Cards

On the table at the back of church – please help distribute them far and wide!

Emergency Lights Installation in Church

One week down, one week to go. Please refrain from playing on the scaffolding, Choir.

Repository: Just a few cake tins left…

Ideal for Lemon Drizzle Cake…

Christleton Churches Together Cards

Again, on the table at the back of church. Can we please deliver to those five roads?

Chester Bach Singers: Concerts Here Next Saturday

Saturday 18th Dec, at 3.00 pm and 7.00 pm, a short concert of Christmas Music. All warmly welcome.

Hospice of the Good Shepherd: Light up the Dark

Many thanks to everyone who supported this beautiful initiative.

Would you like to become a FHC Prayer Sponsor?

Would you be happy to pray for one of the children who is preparing for their First Holy Communion next May? We’d love to hear from you by email or phone. Record numbers are making their FHC this coming May, with 54 candidates. Over thirty of them have indicated that they would like a Prayer Sponsor. But only seven Werbies have wolunteered. Altogether now, “Shame!” If you’d like to “adopt” one of these youngsters in order to pray for them over the next sixth months, please let Louise or FP know.

The Repository will close after morning Masses

On Sunday 19th December. A little reminder for those last-minute gifts is that our excellent parish Notelets (10 in packet) are still available at the special price of £2.00 per packet. Reopening on Sunday 30th January with a SALE of donated and pre-loved items. Thank you for your valued support during this extraordinary year. Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year. Paula & Bernice
(May be contacted during next six weeks at Mrs Peabody’s Guest House, South Shore, Blackpool).

Christmas Volunteer Rota

Now out at the back of church, for Readers, Welcomers, Collectors. Please sign up!

High School Advent Masses: Last Week and This

Delighted to be asked to say a series of five Masses so that each year group had their own special one.

Ideal Christmas Gift: Tanglewood Acoustic Guitar

For sale by a parishioner. Can be inspected at rear of church. Excellent condition and would be £800 new. Sealed offers to FP (your name, your contact details and your bid) by 20th December. Money to be donated to church funds

“Silver Singers” at St Mary’s: Saturday 18th Dec

Featuring the amazing opera duo Belle Voci, the Silver Singers, as well as the brand-new St Mary's Youth Choir. Tickets are £10 and can be purchased from the Parish Office at St Mary's or from www.christmasstmarys.eventbrite.co.uk

New Diocesan 2022 Year Books and Ordos

Still expected any day now!

October/November Mass Count 2021

• 25/26 September: 369; 2/3 October: 372
• 9/10 October: 380; 16/17 October: 399
• 23/24 October: 414; 30/31 October: 383
• 6/7 November: 413; 13/14 November: 397
• 20/21 November: 383; 27/28 October: 343
• 4/5 December: 400

Photo of the Week: Plessington Stained Glass

“Lead, kindly light…” Sunlight streaming through the Trena Cox stained-glass window of St John Plessington in our porch. The inscription in the window reads: “Blessed John Plessington. Priest and Chaplain to Edward Massey, Esquire, of Puddington Hall in the Hundred of Wirral. He was martyred on Gallows Hill, Chester, on July 19th 1679.” Thanks to Vera from ’Ackney for sending it in!