Our Next Youth Mass: Sunday 2nd February, 6.00 pm

This is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, and we also commemorate the Feast Day of St Werburgh.
There is a list at the back of Church for parents, carers and children: please sign up for roles as welcomers, readers, singers, musicians and offertory procession.

 

150th Anniversary Launch Meeting

Excellent first meeting last Thursday, sixteen of us coming along to share ideas of how we should celebrate the 150th Anniversary of our beautiful church in 2025. We’re planning an exciting programme of events, big and small, and asking each individual Parish Group how they would like to mark the occasion: the Liturgy Group are going to produce a Parish Prayer Book with 150 prayers; the Welcome Wednesday team with the Parish Recipe Book, 150 Werbie Recipes. Tom and the musicians are full of amazing ideas. The Gardening Group are aiming to plant 150 new flowers and shrubs in our front garden. The ideas are coming thick and fast. We will meet every month, always on the last Thursday at 7.30 pm, so do come along if you have any suggestions of your own – we’d love to see you! Thursday 27th February, 7.30 pm.

 

Vacancy in the Diocesan Youth Mission Team

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Team.  Further details can be found on the Diocesan website Latest Vacancies - Diocese  Completed applications to be sent to Pauline McCulloch recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org by 21st February.

 

Want to Find Out More about Caritas?

Caritas Social Action Network is launching Catholic Social Teaching: An Introduction, an online course for staff and volunteers in parishes. The programme will be spread over five one-hour Zoom sessions on each Tuesday in March and on 1st April 2025. The course is aimed at parishioners who are not so familiar with Catholic Social Teaching, or who would welcome a refresh. We will also be hearing from CSAN members who work on the front line of poverty and exclusion, bringing our theoretical discussions to life. The course fee is £95 for all five sessions, which includes a copy of Raymond Friel’s book, Catholic Social Teaching: An Introduction for Schools, Parishes, and Charities. More information, or get in touch with course administrator, Bernadette, at bernadette.durcan@csan.org.uk.

 

Message from Lionel Dumont in Singapore

“Dear Fr Paul, I hope everyone is doing well and as you used to say the year is speeding ahead slowly but surely. I will keep all Werbies and you in my prayers.
I will keep in touch and wishing you a pleasant week ahead. Kind regards, Lionel.

 

Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality

Fr Pat Munroe will celebrate Holy Mass on Tuesday 11th February for the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes . Hospitality members are invited to join him at 7.00 pm at St Hugh and St John, West Timperley. If you have any questions, or need further information, please contact secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk

 

February Review Month for our Parish Website

A number of special groups are working away on their pages, revising old ones and adding new ones. 
Have YOU started on YOUR pages yet?

Work on the Porch – We’re Almost There!

You’ll see today the wonderful work that’s been completed: stripping down the old, damaged plaster; replastering; painting; and renovating all the woodwork. While the work is on, for a few more days, the Porch will be out of use, entrance to the church being by the side door along the passageway.

 

Welcome Wednesdays – There’s No Stopping Them!

Thanks to the Citizens Advice Energy Team for a far-reaching and useful presentation on Saving Energy last Wednesday, with so many useful tips and hints for everybody. A super presentation to 28 WWers. This coming week as well as chat, dominoes and knitting, we’ll continue with our project to produce our 150th Anniversary Recipe Book. Remember to bring along your favourite, tried and tested recipes. And although WW will organise and produce the Recipe Book we do want the support of all parishioners, Leave your recipe, with your name on it, in the basket at the back of the Church.  Many thanks, WWers & Werbies!

 

Anniversaries List

Leave it as it is or restrict it to the past ten years? We’d value your views before making any decision. 

 

Readers Review Sessions

There are two reviews scheduled: Tuesday 28th January at 7.00 pm and Thursday 6th Feb at 10.00 am. Please will all readers, including at Rowton, email Marian (marian.mccarthy@btinternet.com) as soon as possible with the date that you plan to attend this mandatory review session.

 

Repository Reopening: Preloved Sale

Sunday 2nd February the Repository reopens with our popular Sale of Pre-loved and donated items.  We are always grateful for the support generated by the sale of these items and further donated items will be most welcome.  Please leave at the Repository table.

 

Advent Singers Concert – Friday 21st February

It’s a Charity Concert in aid of Parkinson’s Research UK, and is full of wonderful Popular Choral Classics, from Sixteenth Century Motets to Twentieth Century Songs from the Shows. Some very talented youngsters will also be performing, Henry with Bach unaccompanied Viola, and Adam with the Saint-Saens Clarinet Sonata. Something for all! 

 

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Closing Service

The week closes on  Sunday Evening at Christleton Methodists, 7.00 pm. Everyone warmly welcome.

 

Healing Mass: Sunday 9th February at 2.30 pm

Building on the success of our very good first Healing Mass last year, we are planning a second, a joint initiative between the SVP and the Parish Liturgy Group. Its theme will be “Come to me, all you who are overburdened, and I will give you rest”, and a flyer is now out, giving further details. Book the date! 

 

Photo of the Week: Pluscarden Abbey 

The most northerly Benedictine Monastery in Europe, high up on the Moray Forth in Scotland. A dear friend of mine left the English College in Rome to  become Bro Gabriel there in 1988 and was Called Home to the Lord in 2022. Rest in Peace, Bro Stephen Gabriel.