Parish Newsletter

 

Christmas Times at St Werburgh’s

Please take a yellow A5 flyer today with all the times for Masses, Confessions, Penitential Services and Concerts over the Christmas period – and do please distribute them far and wide.

Diocesan Ordos and Year Books for 2020

Now arrived. The Ordo is the Liturgical Guide for the year, and the Yearbook gives details of every Parish and Priest/Deacon in the Diocese, plus a wealth of information about the Diocese as a whole. Big article and photos this year on Chester CathSoc! £5 each, at back of church.

St Werburgh’s Two Great War Books: £10 each

Our two published books, "We Shall Remember Them" (Red) and "A War-Torn Chester Parish" (Blue) will be on sale after most Masses/events, between now and Christmas - the perfect gift for the person who has everything else.

Christmas Volunteer Rota Gaps

Just a couple of welcomers needed for 8.30 pm Mass, and we’re there. Many thanks, everyone

Christmas Eve Children’s Mass: 6.00 pm

Children of all ages welcome, in costume, two legs or four or none (Stars – geddit?) mentioned in the Gospels or not… Just come. One of the great Masses of the Year. Wall-to-wall children.

Diocesan ‘Voice’ Magazine

Out today – do please take your free copy from the table at the back of church.

Welcome to Donna and Donald

Carrara’s, our wonderful Statue Firm in Liverpool, have worked their usual magic, and we now have both Donna (badly smashed here in church – come on, someone knows how it happened, folks) and Donald, rescued from their cellars. Both lovingly restored and on display today, before they take their rightful places in the Crib. I do happen to know they are a Breeding Pair (never you mind how, trust me, I’m a doctor), so hopeful of some happy events this time next year…

Last Week’s 2nd Collection: Christmas Flowers

£554 – many thanks, everyone. 

Last Chance for Confessions – Monday

Monday Morning, 10.00 – 11.30 am, with Fr Neill. (He gives much easier Penances.)

Repository Closed for Christmas

Reopening in February with our very popular sale of second-hand oops, “Pre-Loved” Piety objects. Do please let FP have any such if you would like to donate them to us. Meanwhile if you need Bernice or Paula, you all know the address: c/o Mrs Peabody, The Home for Distressed Gentlefolk, South Shore, Blackpool.

Mass Times Between Christmas and Epiphany

10.00 am, each day, including Saturdays, with a Christmas Carol at the start and end.

Boxing Day: Feast of St Stephen

At the 10.00 am Mass we shall be enrolling four new members into the Guild of St. Stephen for service in our Parish; Bethan Duke, Norah Radulescu, Joe Baxter and Ciaran Johns. The warmest of welcomes is extended not only to all our Altar Servers, Parents and Friends but also to the wider Parish Community.

Message from Caritas - Diocese of Shrewsbury

“Thank you for the generous donation of £860.09, a grand total this year of £1,608.24. Much has been achieved in 2019 including a Family Support Worker now permanently based in Shropshire, an Early Years Programme in Wirral and key developments emerging in Crewe and Shrewsbury. Thank you all very much!”

On the Shelf?

Many of you leave Christmas Cards for each other on the Sacristy Window Ledge, which is an excellent way of distributing them without paying postage. But do please all check if there are any for you, and do put full names on, as we have a lot of Caths, and far too many… (I’m not going to finish that sentence).

Photo of the Week: Vienna’s Karlskirche

The magnificent Cathedral dedicated to St Charles Borromeo, covered in Christmas lights. Thanks, Paul!

And finally…

Query from a Parishioner last Sunday after our recent 2nd Collection: “Why are we having a collection for the SNP?” No, dear, it’s the SVP. Give me strength. As you all know, the only political party we officially endorse in this Parish is Plaid Cymru…