Ash Wednesday – 5th March

Not a Holyday but most Catholics love to come to Mass to receive the Ashes. Three Masses – 7.30 am, 12.15 pm and 7.30 pm. You must, of course, come to all three. 

 

Peter Meredith – Promoted to Glory

We will give God thanks for his life in his Requiem Mass, Thursday 6th March, 1.30 pm. All warmly invited. 

 

150th Planning Meeting: Thursday 27/2, 7.30 

Excellent meeting, twenty-two of you turning up to consider all the ideas that have come in so far. Lots now launched, and you’ll see more information about them every week on the Newsletter. Others need more detail, and some are just at the early stages. Next meeting: Thursday 27th March. Keep those ideas coming!

 

150th Major Fund-Raising Initiative 

The major commitment we made on Thursday evening was to a significant fund-raising project – £15,000 for our Hospice of the Good Shepherd. Three reasons: as a thanksgiving offering for all the blessings we have received as a Parish over these 150 years; to acknowledge that we are comfortably off and can afford to help others; and as a sign of our commitment to Hospice Care and Palliative Care generally in the face of the current Assisted Suicide Bill. So, all our fundraising this year will be directed to this excellent cause. 

 

Parish Recipe Book: Call for Entries!

In celebration of our 150th anniversary and in support of the  Hospice of the Good Shepherd, we are compiling a Recipe Book. Your recipe should be a family favourite, not taken directly from a recipe book. We welcome recipes from our multicultural cuisines representing our Parish. Please include your name and email address along with a one-line comment e.g. “My Gran's favourite” and place in the  Collection box at the back of Church or email Liturgy@stwerburghchester.co.uk

 

Thomas Burke: An Unfinished Life Wed 12/3, 7.30 pm

It’s 70 years since these watercolour Stations had last been on display in a church, and that church was actually a POW camp chapel in Germany. They will be on display in St Werburgh’s throughout Lent. On Wed 12th March Marian McCarthy will give a talk, detailing Thomas Burke’s life, his connection with her family, his work as a talented artist and his wartime experiences, which tragically cut his career short. All very welcome.

 

Biblical Roots of the Jubilee Year – Its Focus on Family

St Columba’s Hall on Saturday 15th March.

 

Catholic High School Big Lent Walk 

Inspired by the Jubilee Year, we will walk the distance from the school to Rome, over 2,000 Km. It will require a lot of effort, time and dedication. Since this is a BIG challenge, we ask for your sponsorship to keep us motivated. We would like to raise £800. Walks will be organised in different ways, including a treadmill in school! Thank you in advance for your support. https://schools.walk.cafod.org.uk/fundraising/chsc 

 

Chester Uni CathSoc Tonight: Pancake Sunday!

Including their favourite filling, Nutella, (Ugh!)

 

Werbies Theatre Group – Our Next Outing

Shakespeare’s The Tempest, at Chester Little Theatre Tuesday 11th  March 7.30 pm. Sign up at back of church by Monday 3rd March. Tickets £12

 

SVP Annual Pulpit Address – Sunday 9th March

This will provide an overview on the various aspects of the SVP’s work. An opportunity to learn more about the work of SVP - and perhaps to consider joining them in their wide-ranging projects.

 

(Women’s) World Day of Prayer 2025 Service

Come and support this women-led, ecumenical and international service. Salvation Army, St Anne Street, 10.30 am, Friday 7th March. All welcome. Even men.

 

Bereavement and Loss Group

Meeting on Wednesday 12th March in the Day Chapel, 1.00-2.30 pm. All welcome for a chat and a cuppa.

 

Welcome Wednesday Last Week and Next

A chatty, industrious morning at last Wednesday with progress made with our Easter craft project. 5th March we welcome another parishioner, Chris Proudfoot, to help us with the intricacies of the Web. “A Walk through the Parish Website and how to Access It”.  

 

St Werburgh's Annual Christian Aid Lenten Lunch

Monday 17th March, 12 noon, Wesley Methodist on St John's Street. Soup, rolls, bread, fruit, cheese, and delicious scones and cake, so not too Lenten!

 

Disbanding the Parish Library

Very sadly, we’ve concluded there is no demand for our Parish Library, and it is occupying valuable space. 
Please take home and keep any books over the next TWO weeks before they are collected for recycling.
You may find there a biography of your favourite Saint as well as of English Archbishops and Cardinals.

 

Mrs Ruth O’Leary RIP, Fr John’s Mother

I shall go down for her Vigil Reception and Requiem in their home Parish, Sacred Heart Ruislip, Monday and Tuesday, 3rd/4th March. May she Rest in Peace.

 

First Holy Communion Events in March

Monday 10th March, 6.30 pm in St Werburgh's Church, Commentary Mass for all children and their families. This is part of the children's FHC Preparation, and it is important that each First Holy Communion Child attend with either the whole family or a parent or carer. Tuesday 18th March, 6.30 pm at St Werburgh's Church, Class/Meeting for children attending non-Catholic Schools and their parents. The children need their new preparation books and their pencil cases.

 

Lent Stations of the Cross: Fridays at 7.00 pm

We start on Friday 7th March with a Stations led by Tommy Teague, followed by Exposition until 9.00 pm.

 

Photo of the Week: American War Cemetery

Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, St Avold, France. The largest number of graves of American military dead of WWII in Europe, 10,481. Thanks, Eileen. You cannot miss the Star of David.