Parish Newsletter

Caritas Boxes Collection: Today and Next Sunday

Another small but important sign of returning normality: bringing those Caritas Collection Boxes into church so that they can be emptied, counted, and sent off - and your empty boxes returned to you to start all over again! The last such collection was Autumn 2019, since when the demand for Caritas’s services has escalated, both at home and abroad. So, please empty the contents into a secure, strong plastic bag, with your name inside, and bring them to us:

• Sunday 12th June: 10.45 and 6.00 pm Masses
• Saturday 18th June: 6.00 pm Mass
• Sunday 19th June: 9.00 and up to 10.45 Masses

No foreign coins, please. Gift Aid and Standing Order forms available, and new Box Holders very welcome.

Retreat House, Chester: Administrator

Recruiting now for the new role of Administrator, this is a special opportunity to be involved in the running of this local Christian charity and its programme of retreats and related activities. To find out more, please visit the website. Closing Date 24th June. www.retreathousechester.co.uk

Chester Heritage Festival: 17th – 27th June

A walk and talk about “A Tale of Two Architects”, John Douglas and Edmund Kirby, two good friends. Edmund Kirby designed St Werburgh’s Church and John Douglas designed most of the rest of Victorian Chester. Sunday 19th June. The walk will start at 2.15 pm at Dee House and will pass Douglas and Kirby buildings, reaching St. Werburgh’s around 2.50 pm. The talk, here, will start at 3.00 pm for about an hour.

Diocesan IT In-House Support

The Diocese is seeking to employ a full time IT In-House Support member at the Curial Office in Birkenhead. For more information, please see our website http://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/about-us/curia/vacancies Completed CV’s to be sent to Pauline recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org

Closing date Friday 17th June 2022.

SVP Summer Second Collection: £1,611-84

Huge thanks to everyone who contributed, and a superb £1,611 was raised, to pay for the Summer Meal for our Elderly and Housebound, and to help with the replacement of the SVP Summer Home at Talacre, due in 2024, and estimated at about £40,000.

Upcoming Music Concerts in Chester

Two concerts involving Werbies:

• Saturday 18th June, St Mary’s on the Hill, “Swing into the Thirties”, Chester Bach Singers, 3.00 pm.
• Saturday 16th July, 80th Anniversary Celebration Concert, Chester Male Voice Choir, Cathedral 7.30 pm.

On the Free Table today: A3 sheets of Paper

Newsletter blanks from the lockdown period – printed on one side but blank on the other. Anyone want?
Next Week: the old Cutlery from the House, now replaced with beautiful modern ones. We have a number of bone-handled knives and forks. We are asking for a donation for these: would anyone like to see the lot before we put them out on the table?

Tattenhall House Masses Have Started!

They will be on the First Thursday of each month, at 10.30: 7th July the next one. Please email or contact FP if you would like details of the venue.

 

Three Peaks Challenge: Christians Against Poverty

Congratulations to one of our Altar Servers, Conor Walsh, who along with two friends completed the climb of the Three Peaks (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) in just over twenty-three hours on the 2nd/3rd June. They were raising funds for the Charity, Christians Against Poverty. Sponsorship has currently generated £1,100 for which they are most grateful. Well done, lads!

Sister Gunilla of Stanbrook RIP

We were sorry to hear news in the week of the death of Sister Gunilla, one of the great Stanbrook Benedictine Nuns, who wove our beautiful white Altar Cloth for us. Originally from Sweden, Sister had been ill for some little time, and Went Home to the Lord on 6th June at the age of 80. I am glad to be able to attend her Requiem on behalf of St Werburgh’s on Monday 20th June.
May she Rest in Peace.

Ffestiniog Welsh Highland Railway: All Places Gone!

Monday 19th September
No rush, but please get your cheques or cash (£65-00) (cheques payable to St Werburgh’s Church) in when convenient, and if you haven’t returned your booking form, please do so as well. It’ll be a great day out!

Visit of the Relic of St Bernadette to Our Diocese

The Relics of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes will be with us at the Cathedral from 1.00 pm on Tuesday 13th September until 9.00 am on Wednesday 14th September, when the Relic will travel to Saint Werburgh’s, Chester until 4.00 pm that same afternoon. Excellent meeting in the week with Canon Christopher Matthews, the Diocesan MC, and his team, to start the planning. The morning of 14th September will be for the schools to visit and learn more about Bernadette and the Lourdes Apparitions of 1858. Bishop Mark will celebrate the main Mass of the day at 12.15 pm. The afternoon will then be for as many people as possible to come and pray in our church – and we are anticipating crowds. We will need a full team of Stewards to work alongside the Diocesan team (Marian and Syd i/c), Altar Servers for Mass (Gerry i/c), the Choir to grace our Liturgy (Tom i/c) and last but not least, Catering for our Guests (Bernice and Denise i/c). Watch this space for appeals for specific help from you, the Parishioners.

“Chester and the Crown” Exhibition at the Cathedral

Wednesday 1st–Thursday 30th June: 10.00 am-6.00 pm
https://chestercathedral.com/event/chester-and-the-crown/

Join Chester Cathedral throughout June in celebrating HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with our exciting upcoming exhibition, “Chester and the Crown”. Entry by donation.

Next Year’s First Sacraments Programme

If you have a child in Year 3 or above who does not attend our Catholic Primary School, please contact Fr Paul, preferably by email. The classes begin in October, with First Forgiveness in January and First Holy Communions in May. The closing date for enrolment is Sunday 4th September 2022.

Photo of the Week: Lourdes and Ukraine

A road sign welcomes visitors to Lourdes on the main road from Tarbes in the national colours of Ukraine, blue and yellow. Taken by Paul W on a recent visit there – thanks, Paul! If any of you are gadding or gallivanting anywhere this summer and see something interesting, “Snap it, Send It, Sorted!” (Where have I heard that before?)