Parish Newsletter

Delighted that we were able last week to appoint Stephen Hutchinson to be our new Admin Assistant. We soon realised that our beloved Syd was irreplaceable, and that what we needed was a series of parishioners to take charge of specific areas – our Portfolio Leads on the Parish Council – and then a backroom boy to  look after the office, especially emails, phone calls and letters, which never stop in this Parish. He will be excellent in this role, coming from an IT background. He was on the last Catholic Enquiry Course, and so came to know St Werburgh’s – and the impossible Parish Priest – really well. And no, you can’t have his home telephone number or email address to contact at 10.00 o’clock at night to make a booking for an outing or ask him to find your missing glasses. Rest in peace, Syd! Utterly irreplaceable. 

Two beautiful new tables now at the back of church, immediately behind the pews, for leaflets, newsletters, flyers and so on. They were made by a  local craftsman from the old wood of the Choir Stalls that was then used for the Screen. Since the screen came down, that wood has made the new lecterns, the new partition for the War Memorial Chapel, and now these lovely tables. 

The really observant among you might also notice that our Grand Piano, kindly gifted from the Cathedral, now has a permanent A Frame under it, allowing it to be moved safely – safely both for the piano and the movers! Huge thanks to Fiona and Adrian for sourcing this for us, and to Buckley Pianos for installing it. Grand Pianos at home generally stay in the same place and don’t need moving: but in churches and concert halls, they are being moved all the time, hence the need for this special frame. Thanks, team, for an excellent job. 

On sale to support the Primary School. See Mrs Baggs TODAY and next Sunday (7th July) at the back of church in between Morning Masses!

The envelopes are in now all in and the final total counted: Collection - £1,475.92; Gift Aid  - £215.75. Making a Grand Total of £1,691.67. 

For children not at our Catholic Primary School 

in Year Three or above in the next school year. There is an introductory meeting for parents in October, and our classes begin in November.  First Forgiveness takes place in January and First Holy Communions are in May. The closing  date for applications is Sunday 1st September.

After the 10.45 Mass. Come along, bring a picnic and a blanket or chair and enjoy games and train rides. All welcome. Just pray for fine weather!

Gill Roe gave a fascinating talk on My Memories of Roman Chester, an absorbing subject, and coming in full Toga and Head-dress made it extra special. 

Thursday 4th July, 6.45 pm - 

“Assemble at Chester Cathedral” – AI: good or bad? Panellists include AI Ethicists, digital media and an AI Chatbot. Tickets from chestercathedral.com

Boys and Girls over the age of 8 who have received their First Holy Communion especially for 10.45. Full training given. Please contact Gerry, James  or Sam on a Sunday for an Application Form. 

Further details on 319350.

Group organiser? Please get your dates in asap. We work on the basis of “first come, first served”, so the earlier you get your dates in, the likelier they will work. 

We are a busy, energetic governing body and would warmly invite anyone interested in finding out more about the role to contact the school in the first instance to arrange an informal chat.  Telephone Sarah on  01244 478954 or email: admin@lovelearnlaugh.org.uk

Tables all bagged. Now we’re looking for homes for the brown-grey chairs that used to be in the Day Chapel. One’s at the back of church for you to have a look at. 

Liverpool Empire on Friday 4th October at 7.30 pm. Tickets are £38.50 each and coach transport to and from Chester would be approximately £12 a head, Please sign the form at the back of church. 

With two great Country Cousins: Mike and Liz’s out in Clotton (Tuesday 16th July); and John Petterson’s in Great Barrow (Friday 9th August), both at 12.00 noon. And both out of doors?? Sign-up sheets at back of church

Excellent talk from Aleta Doran last Wednesday – once we got the wretched technology to work! Watch out for further presentations on Trena Cox. And many thanks for all the Stewards on duty throughout the Heritage Week, welcoming wizziters to St Werburgh’s. 

Lovely day out in beautiful weather, Bodnant Gardens as glorious as ever and Llandudno looking really thriving. The less said about certain parishioners’ fish and chips (whale and chips?) the better. Even if she did give a good talk on Roman Chester…

St Mary’s Crewe, Saturday 13th July at 3.00 pm. Register your attendance and make any apologies to secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk

3rd July at Rosset Hall, with transport  provided. Numbers limited but if you know of anyone who’d benefit from this event, contact Anne on 07960 496386.

By Harry Clarke (1889-1931), one of Ireland’s finest artists in the art nouveau / arts and crafts tradition. Many thanks to Michael Burke for snapping it and sending it in. See it, snap it, send it!