Parish Newsletter
SUNDAY 24th DECEMBER 2023: FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (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
II Samuel 7,1-16; Psalm 88; Romans 16, 25-27; Luke 1, 26-38
Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Peter Whitby (L.D.)
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Syd Jones
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Deceased Members of the Noone and Cummins Families
SUNDAY 24th DECEMBER: CHRISTMAS EVE
Sunday 4.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Children’s Christmas Vigil Mass (Now Fully Booked): Barbara Dolan
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Children’s Christmas Vigil Mass: Eugene McElduff (1st Anniversary)
Sunday 8.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Vigil Mass of Christmas: Jones and Garbett Family
Sunday 11.30 pm: St Werburgh’s: Carols and Midnight Mass: Matthew Robinson
MONDAY 25th DECEMBER: CHRISTMAS DAY
Monday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Dawn Mass of Christmas: Brian Boardman
Monday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Day Mass of Christmas: Alex Barnes
TUESDAY 26th DECEMBER: FEAST OF ST STEPHEN
Tuesday 10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Annual Altar Servers’ Mass – All Welcome: Intentions of B&D
Wednesday 27th December: St John: I John 1, 1-4; Psalm 96; John 20, 2-8
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Requiem Mass for Alan Bonner, late of Tattenhall
Thursday 28th December: The Holy Innocents: I John 1,5 – 2,2; Psalm 123; Matthew 2, 13-18
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Intentions of Joan
Friday 29th December: St Thomas Becket: Colossians 1, 24-29; Psalm 22; Luke 22, 24-30
10.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Sioban and John Ryan (Birthday Remembrance and Anniversary)
Saturday 30th December: Sixth Day of Christmas Octave: I John 2, 12-17; Psalm 95; Luke 2, 36-40
10.00 am: HMP Berwyn: Mass for Prisoners, Staff and Visitors
6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Ana and Leo Wedding Anniversary Thanksgiving
SUNDAY 31st DECEMBER 2023: THE HOLY FAMILY (YEAR B)
Ecclesiasticus 3, 2-14; Psalm 127; Colossians 3, 12-21; Luke 2, 22-40
Saturday 6.00 pm: Rowton Methodists: Ana and Leo Wedding Anniversary Thanksgiving
Sunday 9.00 am: St Werburgh’s: Felicity Hughes (L.D.)
Sunday 10.45 am: St Werburgh’s: Deceased Members of the Tasker Family
Sunday 6.00 pm: St Werburgh’s: Malcolm Crowther
Sunday 12.00 Midnight: St Werburgh’s: For God’s Blessings on 2024
Prayer Intentions
Your prayers are asked for the following who are sick: Wendy O’Brien, Jimmy McCahy, 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 Felicity Hughes, Brian Haslam, Kevin Smyth, Alan Bonner, Joyce Casey, Maureen Carroll and Joyce Backhouse; and for all those whose anniversaries occur about this time: Johnnie Jones, Edward Davies, Patricia Smith, Joan Barlow, Krystyna Pepper, Patricia Wood, Charlie Esser, Pat Crayton, Doris Vickers, Tony Shepherd, Terry Pealing, Luzia McDonough, Lexy Wilkinson, Winifred Challinor, Mary Hoban, Rita Duckers, John Haresnape. Joseph Doran, John O’Leary, Winifred Shaw, Arthur Biscaine, Brian Clegg, Barbara McKeown, Sheelagh Potter, John Oliphant, Charles Green, James McCleary, Pat Walsh, Vera Howard, Michael Davies, John Ruane, Doreen Nardini and Bridget Jennings, Debra Larkin. May they all Rest in Peace.
Parish Information and Contacts
Live Streaming Link: www.churchservices.tv/stwerburghchester.
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: safeguarding@stwerburghchester.co.uk Liz Aiello: 07813743723 and Chris Proudfoot: 07711495070
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
The Parish Family – The Family of Prayer
We were all shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Felicity Hughes, Marian Curtis’s daughter, knocked off her bicycle on the way to work last week. We send Marian, Jeremy and Eve our deepest sympathies and warmest love. Very sadly, two more sudden and unexpected deaths this week, Consilia’s brother Kevin, who died in his sleep Tuesday night, and Brian Haslam, on Wednesday, one of our great Rowton contingent. Kevin had always been looked after by their father until he was no longer able to do so, which was when Consilia and Simon moved Kevin up to Chester and did a wonderful job caring for him here. Brian was ninety and was soldiering on amazingly after the death of his beloved wife Cath two years ago. May Kevin, Brian and Felicity rest in the peace of the Risen Lord. Felicity’s Requiem Mass is here on Friday 19th January at 12.00 noon. A number of other parishioners are also in our prayers at this time, for themselves and their family members, undergoing medical tests or treatments of various kinds. As we always say in this parish, whatever anyone is going through today, we can’t go through it for you, but we can go through it with you. And that can make the world of difference.
The family of prayer.
Christmas Times: 4.30 pm Fully Booked
- Christmas Eve: 4.30, 6.00, 8.30 and 11.30 pm. Booking Essential 4.30 pm: and all tickets now gone
- Christmas Day: 9.00 am and 10.45 am.
- Boxing Day: 10.00 am: Altar Servers Mass.
Christmas Volunteer Rota
Filling up nicely: thanks! If you can fill those few last slots, we’d bite your arm off.
A Eucharistic Minister needed for 6.00 pm, please, and Collectors for 10.45 on Christmas Day.
You will get your reward in Heaven. Promise.
Christmas Flowers: Second Collection £583-20
Thank you for your very generous response – and the lovely Christmas Tree in the Porch decorated with all your Prayer Stars. Crib now in place! Please don’t forget your Crib Offerings which go to the Diocesan Children’s Society, now part of Caritas.
Mass Times Between Christmas and Epiphany
- Boxing Day 10.00 am – Altar Servers Mass for St Stephen’s Day – Everyone Welcome!
- Weekdays thereafter at 10.00 am
- Sunday 31st December – Holy Family – Normal Sunday Mass Times
- Sunday 31st December – Midnight Mass to see in the New Year and pray for God’s Blessings on 2024
- Epiphany Holyday - Sunday 7th January - Normal Sunday Mass Times
Final Children’s Liturgy of this Year
Sunday 17th December, starting up again on Sunday 7th January. The team would love to have more volunteers if you were able to help out.
Welcome Wednesdays!
A huge success over these last couple of months: starting up again Wednesday 10th January.
See you all there, 10.00-12.00 noon!
Would Make Beautiful Christmas Presents…
We’ve had donated two new Ukuleles, in cases, with Instruction Booklets – they might be a breeding pair, but I can’t be sure – and a lovely Stamp Album mainly featuring Vatican Stamps. On the table at the back of church for your inspection. Sealed bids to FP please, and all proceeds to Caritas.
Closing Date for Bids: Sunday 24th Dec 12.00 noon
Repository: Now Arrived in Blackpool…
Bernice and Paula are happily ensconced in Mrs Peabody’s Guest House on the South Shore, 21st December onwards, for their usual Turkey and Tinsel Christmas, and sent us this photo yesterday:
They’re in the party hats nearest to the camera. Enjoy, girls – and go easy on the gravy!
Concerts in St Werburgh’s
Some super concerts here in our church in recent weeks – Chester Bach Singers, Dee Ensemble, Cathedral Nave Choir. All due back in 2024, plus Chester Male Voice Choir and a number of others coming for the first time. Choirs and Musicians are always welcome, and we make no charge for their use of our beautiful church. Just give us plenty of notice, as we book up fast!
Photo of the Week: Junior Werbie in the Smoke
Not just Santa coming to town, but Sebastian, a proud Junior Werbie, visiting the crib in Westminster Cathedral after the 10.00 am Mass there last Sunday. Their Crib is almost as good as ours, isn’t it? Hurry back to Chester, Sebastian, and make sure you’re tucked up in bed good and early on Christmas Eve…