Parish Newsletter

Liturgical

I Samuel 16, 1-13; Psalm 22; Ephesians 5, 8-14; John 9, 1-41

Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Harry McElduff (L.D.)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Jean Hewson (Wedding Anniversary Remembrance)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Gregory Phillips (Birthday Remembrance)
St Werburgh’s: 12.30 pm: Baptism of Amber Pimblett
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Ken and Simon Riseam

Monday 20th March: St Joseph: II Samuel 7, 4-16; Psalm 88; Romans 4, 13-22; Matthew 1, 16-24
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Very Rev Kevin Lyon (L.D., Co Kildare)
1.10 pm: University Chapel: University Mass – All Welcome
6.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: First Holy Communion Commentary Mass

Tuesday 21st March: Ferial: Ezekiel 47, 1-12; Psalm 45; John 5, 1-16
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of JG
7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Confirmation Class Three for Adults

Wednesday 22nd March: Ferial: Isaiah 49, 8-15; Psalm 144; John 5, 17-30
11.00 am: Grosvenor Manor Nursing Home: Service for Residents and Visitors
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Rebecca Coriam (12 years)
7.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Confirmation Class Four for Youngsters

Thursday 23rd March: Ferial: Exodus 32, 7-14; Psalm 105; John 3, 31-47
8.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Derek Booth (L.D.)

Friday 24th March: Ferial: Wisdom 2, 1-22; Psalm 33; John 7, 1-30
12.15 pm: St Werburgh’s: Alan Chambers (L.D.)
7.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Zoom Lenten Meditation – please email FP for link.

Saturday 25th March: The Annunciation: Isaiah 7,10 – 8,10; Ps 39; Hebrews 10, 4-10; Luke 1, 26-38
10.30 am - 12.00 noon: St Werburgh’s: Confessions
6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Caroline Miller (5th Anniversary, Michigan)

SUNDAY 26th MARCH 2023: FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT (YEAR A)
Ezekiel 37, 12-14; Psalm 129; Romans 8, 8-11; John 11, 1-45
Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Caroline Miller (5th Anniversary, Michigan)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Gerald Barcroft (11th Anniversary)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Minnie Taylor (30th Anniversary)
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Kevin and Dolores Coriam (Anniversaries)

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 Frances Dixon, Lee Jennings and Joan Duff; ; and for those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Barbara McClean, Annie Owens, Essie Lawrie, Daniel Hogan, Frederick Mercer, Linda Wynne, Oscar Dubussy-Durgan, Dolly Huxley, Rita Williams, Patrick Walsh, Thomas Smith, Maria Bannister, Donald Tilston, William Paton, Karen Ash, Arthur Hedges, Mary Partington, Arthur Wright, Ted Finney, James Moore, Sarah Chamberlain, Peter Heaney, Magda Cumberford, Wendy Moore, Bill Dobbins, Bridie Williams, Geraldine Pile, Jean Versey and Anne Roberts. May they all Rest in Peace.

Parish Information and Contacts

SVP: svpchester@gmail.com    Countess of Chester Chaplaincy: 01244 364543.

St Werburgh’s is part of the Diocese of Shrewsbury: Registered Charity No 234025.

Safeguarding Reps:    Liz Aiello (email: elizabeth.aiello20@btinternet.com, tel: 07813743723) and

Chris Proudfoot (email: chrisproudfoot.stwerbughs@btinternet.com, tel; 07711495070) 

Parish events

Holy Week and Easter Volunteer Rota

Out this weekend! We need wolunteers from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday inclusive for the following roles: Readers, Communion Stewards / Welcomers, Offertory Collectors, Procession of the Oils, and Washing of the Feet. Please sign up asap.

Should We Keep Communion Stewards?

Total Votes Cast: 205 (63% of those present)
Mass Attendance at both morning Masses: 324

• 9.00 am: 102 votes – 33 (32%) for, 69 (68%) against
• 10.45: 103 votes – 43 (42%) for, 60 (58%) against
• Total: 205 votes, 76 (37%) for, 129 (63%) against

So, roughly two thirds think we should drop Stewards, and one third want to keep them. We’ll discuss this at Monday Morning’s Taskforce Meeting and decide the best way forward. Meanwhile, many thanks to everyone for giving us your views – it’s your parish, not ours!

Calling All Eucharistic Ministers

As you know, the reintroduction of the Chalice at Mass is high on the agenda of the Bishops’ Conference: if the decision is made to go ahead, then this reactivates the role of Eucharistic Minister in the Parish. Towards this end would as many as possible come to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday Evening (7.30 pm) for the renewal of vows? We appreciate that this reintroduction may well be the moment for some to decide to stand down, and this is fully in the spirit of our ongoing Parish Renewal Programme. Meanwhile, if you are an existing minister do please come along for Maundy Thursday, and then we can look at individual wishes after Easter in the light of whatever the Bishops decide.

Laetare Sunday today = Rose Pink

Today is one of our two Sundays in the liturgical year when the colour is Rose Pink. The other one? The mid-Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday.

SVP Lenten Reconciliation Service

Saturday 1st April, 10.30 am at St. Werburgh's, followed by tea and coffee. Everyone is welcome! Please get in touch with Fran if you need a lift on fran.waldie@gmail.com

New Tax Year Weekly Offertory Envelopes

The 2023/24 envelopes are available at the back of church. They start from the first Sunday in the new tax year which will be Easter Sunday 9th April. If you use envelopes, please help by collecting yours as soon as possible. Thank you.

Christian Aid Lent Lunches: 12.00-1.30 pm

Monday 20th March: Wesley Methodists
This is the final one this year, so do come along if you can. Many thanks to everyone who supported.

NW Chaplains Spring Meeting on Thursday

We meet twice a year as a regional group, Spring and Autumn. The NW Group is one of the biggest, from Bangor up to Chester, all the many Manchester and Liverpool Universities, on to Lancaster, Preston and up to Cumbria. This time we’re at the Catholic Chaplaincy at the University of Salford, courtesy of their wonderful Chaplain, Sister Teresa Wild FMSJ.

St Werburgh's Parish FHC Group

Monday 20th March: Commentary Mass
The Commentary Mass is at 6.30 pm in church, for all the FHC children and their families. This is an important part of the children's preparation, so we expect to see all our First Holy Communion children there accompanied by a member or members of their family. If for any reason, children or parents are unable to attend any of the meetings, it is important for parents to let us know.

Confirmation: 10th May 2023

Both Adults and Youngsters Classes going great guns, and huge thanks to our new batch of Catechists. Tuesday night is Class 3 for the Adults, Wednesday Night Class 4 for the youngsters.

Easter Flowers Second Collection Next Weekend

Lent Friday Evenings: 7.30 pm

Last Friday, the Choir presented a Lenten Musical Mediation for St Patrick’s, here in church, for which many thanks to all involved. Next Friday, 24th March, Lyn will be presenting a Zoom Meditation. Please contact FP for link. The final Friday, 31st March, will be in-person Stations here in Church, led by Denise. And the Friday after that? It's Good Friday, 7th April!

Lent Chapel Visits

Christleton and Waverton Churches Together
We’ve had great visits to the Cathedral and Foxhill so far. On Tuesday 21st March, we’re at the University Chapel, the original heart of the campus, 1839, and beautifully preserved ever since. We gather at 2.30 for a time of prayer and reflection, and then enjoy a cuppa together, leaving at 4.00 pm. The final visit will be out to Hawarden and the Gladstone home. Flyers at the back of church with full details. Everyone very warmly invited to join us.

Zoom Links – why we don’t put link on newsletter

Please, everyone, do not pass zoom links or addresses for House Masses round to other people or parishioners. It’s quite confidential information: we see right into each other’s sitting rooms, and, with House Masses, actually go in! Hence our request to obtain the details from FP only, so that we can vet these are bona fide parishioners.

Diocesan Youth Mission Team

The Diocese is looking to recruit a Youth Mission Team Member to engage with young people in schools and parishes across the Shrewsbury Diocese, based in Stockport. The full-time employee will be a key member of the team led by the Director. Salary £19K to £22K depending on experience. For more information please visit https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/ For application form please contact Pauline McCulloch Closing date: 7th April. recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org

Photo of the Week: Sicily Ancient and Modern

Powerful picture taken by Paul W with modern Catania in the foreground and the eternal, very active volcano in the background. Last eruption was November 2022, and it’s been rumbling away ever since… (Bit like some of you??)