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: Kathleen Smyth (L.D.)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Albert and Sheila Norman (Anniversary & Birthday Remembrance)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Joan Hall (100th Birthday Thanksgiving)
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Jo and Jerry McCann (Anniversaries)
Sunday 7.00 pm: Christleton Methodists: Service for the end of the Week of Prayer – all welcome.

Monday 23rd January: Ferial: Hebrews 9, 15-28; Psalm 97; Mark 3, 22-30
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Danny Fisher (2nd Anniversary)
1.10 pm: University Chapel: University Mass – All Welcome

Tuesday 24th January: St Francis de Sales: Hebrews 10, 1-10; Psalm 39; Mark 3, 31-35
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Kathleen O’Connell (Anniversary)

Wednesday 25th January: The Conversion of St Paul: Acts 22, 3-16; Psalm 116; Mark 16, 15-18
10.40 am: Blacon: Funeral Service for Gillian Blundell, late of Drummond Avenue, Great Sutton
12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Funeral Service for Thelma Cain, late of Upton Dene NH
5.30 pm: University Chapel: Weekly Service (FP Preaching)

Thursday 26th January: SS Timothy and Titus: II Timothy 1, 1-8; Psalm 95; Luke 10, 1-9
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of Fr Tim Redmond (Kiltegan Fathers)
10.30 am: Overleigh Cemetery: Burial of Ashes for the late Sheila Wright

Friday 27th January: Ferial: Hebrews 8, 6-13; Psalm 84; Mark 3, 13-19
9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Jean Gill
10.00 – 3.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Primary School Retreat Day
11.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Memorial Service for Philip Anthony Williams, late of Kingsway
1.05 pm High School: Weekly Voluntary Mass

Saturday 28th January: St Thomas Aquinas: Hebrews 11, 1-19; Psalm Luke 1; Mark 4, 35-41
10.00 am & 11.00 am: Sacrament of First Forgiveness
12.00 noon – 1.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Confessions
6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Frank Vitelli (2nd Anniversary)

SUNDAY 29th JANUARY 2023: FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)

Zephaniah 2,3 – 3,13; Psalm 145; I Corinthians 1, 26-31; Matthew 5, 1-12
Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Frank Vitelli (2nd Anniversary)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Isabella Roddy (Anniversary)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Mae and Gerald Kay (Anniversaries)
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Adam Bedkowski (L.D., Poland – Kate’s father)

Prayer Intentions

Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Kath Stanton, Brian Boardman Jnr, James Convey, Bill Hackett, Laura Chadwick, Stuart Clark, Keith Hayes, Ruth O’Kane, and Kevin Maguire and for all the sick of the Parish; and for those who have died recently, especially Sheila Wright, Richard Formby, Gillian Blundell, Mary Meichsner, Chelsie Carline, Thelma Cain, Sheila Hainey, Kath Heffernan, Bob Pollard and Margaret Laird; 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, Violet Brown and Connie Santos, Peter Devine. May They Rest in Peace.

Parish events

Canon John Marmion RIP

Sad news yesterday, Friday, of the death of Canon John Marmion, an amazing Priest of this Diocese and a good personal friend. He was also a good friend of St Werburgh’s, coming here more than once to supply for us. He was ordained – wait for it! – on 21st July 1951. Remember the minimum age for Ordination is 25, and you can do the Maths. He celebrated his Platinum Jubilee two years ago, an extraordinary achievement. May he rest in peace – and well done, thou good and faithful servant!

New Readers Training and Recruitment

Delighted to be back to two Readers on Sunday Mornings, doubling everyone’s opportunity of reading. Many of you indicated an interest in joining the rota on the recent Parish Renewal Recruitment Drive: so, there will be a training session for our new readers, on Tuesday 24th January, at 7.00 pm for an hour, in the church. If there is anyone else who’d like to volunteer for this important ministry then drop an email to marian.mccarthy@btinternet.com, and do please come along to this session and see what you think!

Confirmation 2023: Wednesday May 10th

The Chester Parishes take it in turns to organise Confirmation: one year it’s St Theresa’s and St Columba’s, the other year it’s St Werburgh’s, St Clare’s and St Francis. This year it’s our turn. We will be running the programme, but the final Sacrament of Confirmation with Bishop Mark will be at St Francis on Wednesday 10th May, 7.00 pm. Classes will be here at St Werburgh’s. on Wednesday evenings, starting 1st March. The Launch Meeting (for Candidates and at least one parent) is Monday 20th February. Minimum Age: second year High School (Year 8). No maximum, and always delighted to hear from Adults who weren’t confirmed as youngsters but would like to be now. They will have separate classes. Flyers at back of church with full details, so get those names in, everyone!

Would You Like to be a Confirmation Catechist?

A number of our excellent team now feel it’s time to stand down and make room for younger folk. We do thank them, in some cases for many years of faithful service – and their wish to stand down is very much in the spirit of our Parish Renewal Programme, about which you’ll be hearing a lot more in the coming weeks. So, would anyone like to join the Confirmation Catechists Team? It only commits you for one year, not for life! If interested, please let FP know, and there’s an Open Meeting for potential new recruits on Wednesday 1st February at 7.00 pm in the House.

First Holy Communion Preparation

First Forgiveness is on Saturday 28th January, 10.00 and 11.00 am. Delighted that all our children now have a Prayer Sponsor, parishioners willing to hold one particular youngster in prayer at this wonderful time in their lives. Please, all of us, let’s pray for our youngsters, the Church of tomorrow.

Liturgy Group Meeting Last Wednesday

Great to have the group up and running again. Thanks to all who turned out for it. It means that key decisions are made by all of us, not just FP!

Planning for Lenten Fridays

We had a good discussion on Wednesday about the best way of using the six Fridays of Lent, Stations versus Meditations, zoom versus in person. We’ve decided to have three Stations and three Meditations, in each case two ‘in person’ and one zoom. We hope this meets everyone’s needs.

New Mags on the News-stand!

Sacred Heart Messenger and Day-by-Day: do make sure you take your copy. £1 each.,

Crib Collection for Diocesan Children’s Society

£393-40: Many thanks, everyone!

Children’s Liturgy Has Started Again at 10.45 Mass

For children 4-8, please. Parents may come with their children, especially initially: but we’d prefer if you dropped them off and picked them up again afterwards, as they’re much better behaved when you’re not there!! (Cheek!) Many thanks, CL Team!

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: 16/21 Jan

Each weekday, we are once again visiting the churches of the Christleton and Waverton Churches Together for a time of Prayer together and a cup of tea afterwards. 12.00 noon each day:

• Monday 16th: Waverton Evangelical, Eggbridge Lane
• Tuesday 17th: Rowton Methodists
• Wednesday 18th: St Peter’s Waverton
• Thursday 19th: Christleton Methodists
• Friday 20th: St James Christleton
• Saturday 21st: St Werburgh’s

Then Saturday afternoon, we are all invited to the Cathedral for the county-wide Churches Together in Cheshire Service, with our Church Leaders, 3.00 pm. Sunday evening, 22nd, we gather at Christleton Methodists for our Christleton Churches Together Service, with our own Music Group.

New Diocesan Year Books and Ordos for 2023

New supply of Ordos has arrived – they’re going fast!

Diocesan Day for Chester Catechists – 4th Feb

The Diocesan Mission for Catechesis team is organising a day for all catechists (Baptismal, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, RCIA, Marriage Prep, the lot) for all the Chester Parishes, to introduce themselves and explain how they might be able to support our individual work. Saturday 4th February, 10.00-5.00 pm, St Columba’s Parish Hall. Get the date in your Diaries, everyone!

Repository Re-Opens Sunday 29th January

Paula & Bernice are packing their cases as I write…

Photo of the Week: “Which one is the Dame?”

One more person ask that question, and I shall turn nasty. Thank heavens for Liz today and a sensible photo from Bergerac in the Dordogne. (Actually, she gads and gallivants almost as much as Freda from Frodsham). Keep the pics coming, girls!