SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – YEAR B

SUNDAY 17TH MAY 2009

MASS TIMES: INTENTIONS:

Saturday Vigil Mass: 7.15 p.m. Elizabeth Poole

Sunday: 9:15 a.m. The Parish

11.00 a.m. Joseph O’Reilly

Monday: 9.15 a.m. Frank Garside

Tuesday: 9.15 a.m. Rose Mitchell

Wednesday 9.15 a.m. Ada Laura Savage

Thursday: 9:15 a.m. Dennis Healey (Sick)

Friday: 9.15 a.m. Anthony Comerford

Saturday: 9.15 a.m. NO MORNING MASS

LPA Training Day

Saturday Vigil Mass: 7.15 p.m. Michael Bowditch

Sunday: 9.15 a.m. Ron Wells

11.00 a.m. Thomas Nicholls

BAPTISMS:

Baptisms are by appointment with Fr. Cooke. After speaking to Fr Cooke, it is important that parents contact our Baptism Co-ordinator, Ann Siddall (01244 371787) who will arrange for members of our Baptism Team to discuss Baptism and the practical details.

ANNIVERSARIES:

Please remember in your prayers: Michael Joseph Barnett, William Walker, Thomas Patrick Dowd, Lillian Rachel Beswick, John Bennett, Mary Ellen Rodgers, James Hoyland, Gerard Barrow, Margaret Veronica McClellan, Michael Finan, Sam O’Reilly, Margaret North, Brenda Cawley, William Lumley, Rachel Buckley, Rosaline Ives, Nora Elizabeth Reilly, Henry Sweeney, Eileen Bridget Byrne, Evelyn Siddall, Glyn Roberts, Thomas Martin, Elizabeth Baker, Dolly Cooper, Ronald Alfred Wells, Eileen Hughes, Thomas Patrick Nicholls, Godfrey Z Mullins and Frederick McGhee.

CONFESSIONS:

Confessions are heard every Saturday after morning Mass and in the evening from 6:45 p.m. to 7:10 p.m.

COFFEE AFTER MASS:

Tea and coffee are served in the Hall after the Sunday morning Masses. All are welcome.

OFFERTORY

Loose Plate: £638. 82

Planned Giving: £555. 35

Donations:

Hall hire: £384. 00

Aver.Weekly Standing

Order: £562.00

Many thanks.

S.V.P. COLLECTION:

The S.V.P. collection on 2nd/3rd May raised£321. 84p.

We sincerely thank you for your generosity.

BUILDING CONFIDENT PARENTS:

A Six-week Programme for parents of teenagers will begin on Monday 8th June from 7.30 p.m. to 9.15 p.m. in St. Werburgh’s & St. Columba’s Catholic Primary School. The purpose of the programme is to help us find our own ways of enjoying our children more while also being more effective as parents. The course will be very positive in its nature and anyone attending should not feel or think of themselves as bad or failing parents, in fact, quite the reverse. For further information contact Clara Donnelly 0151-691-2811 or email cc.donn@talktalk.net

FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS:

There will be further groups celebrating their first Holy Communions on 24th May and 31st May. The central benches will be reserved for these children and their families. Please pray for them all at this special time.

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN UPTON:

This week we pray for:

The residents of Arley Close, Lincoln Drive and Grasmere Road.

For the Upton Day Centre

For the elderly and housebound

ST. PETER’S CENTRE:

ST. Peter’s Ecumenical Christian Centre at The Cross in Chester is run by volunteers from the main Christian denominations and is open Mon. to Sat from 10am to 3.30pm. There is a large selection of drinks and refreshments available. A range of books and greeting cards is also on sale together with a selection of fair traded items. Call in when you are in Chester and enjoy the “cheapest and best cup of tea” in Chester!

FEASTS THIS WEEK:

Pope St. John I: born in Tuscany, he was elected pope in 523. King Theodoric sent him to Constantinople to persuade Emperor Justin I to cease his persecution of Arians. Neither he nor the emperor obeyed the king and on his return to Rome John found himself exiled to Ravenna, where he was martyred in 526.

St. Millburga: born in Shropshire in the eighth century. Milburga was education at Chelles in France. She entered the convent, founded by her mother Ermenburga, at Minster in Kent. She became abbess, a ‘comforter to all in affliction’ and died there c.700.

BEREAVEMENT GROUP:

Has bereavement affected you?

Do you feel the need to talk in confidence?

The Parish Bereavement Group provides support and care to the bereaved and their families. All members have been fully trained and would like to invite people to contact the group by ringing Ruth on (01244) 380300

VINCENTIAN VOLUNTEERS:

A positive opportunity for young people to have a challenging experience in service to vulnerable people, and living in a community with other likeminded volunteers. Accommodation and living expense provided. Volunteer year is 09/2009 – 07/2010. Contact Sr.Barbara Quilty DC at 0161 2269561 or 0161 2099156,

barbaraquilty@hotmail.co.uk, www.vincentianvolunteers.org

PEEL AND SEAL:

The new planned giving envelopes are provided with a ‘peel and seal’ facility. You are asked to use this. You do not need to lick the flap and Sellotape is not needed.

PLANNED GIVING AND GIFT AID:

Our total collections in the last financial year were about £88,000. Thank you for your generosity. Out of this we were able to reclaim the income tax paid by you on £46,800 that is, only just over half of the total. This means that there is potentially a large amount of tax which could be reclaimed if the donor is paying income tax. Over the next few weeks we will be using this space in the newsletter to explain the Planned Giving and Gift Aid systems, and how they could be used to recover some of that tax, with great benefit to the parish and at absolutely no cost to the donor.

MINISTERS OF THE WORD – DATE FOR YOUR DIARY:

A Day of Recollection with Fr. Geoff O’Grady has been organised for existing Readers on Saturday 31st October 2009 at St. Columba’s. Please make every effort to attend. Further details will be posted on the front and back porches as soon as available.

DIOCESAN CATECHISTS GATHERING WITH BISHOP BRIAN:

This will take place on Saturday 13th June at St. Nicholas Catholic High School, Hartford, from 1.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. All parish catechists are invited – please put the date in your diary and you will be contacted with the details by your team leader.

FAIRTRADE:

More volunteers are needed to sell Fairtrade goods at the Traidcraft shop in the Wesley Methodist Church in Chester. We especially need volunteers who could do the occasional half-day when regular members are away or unwell. Full training will be given. If you think you could help, please contact Jennifer Kennerley on 01829 770847.

JAMES TALLON:

James is now at home with his family after his extended hospital stay. He is making progress and would like to thank everyone who visited him in hospital, sent good wishes, prayers and masses. Please continue to pray that his recovery continues. Your kindness is much appreciated. Thank you.

NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:

This will be compiled by David Savage

Tel: 01244 380626

Email: savage214YOUKNOWWHATGOESHEREbtinternet.com

Items for inclusion can also be left in the blue folder in the Sacristy. Please ensure that all items are in place by 9.00 a.m. on Thursday. Please include a phone number in case of queries.