Current Events
Lenten Invitation at St. Francis Parish
Throughout Lent, we encourage you to join our morning Masses with the Capuchin Brothers in the friary chapel on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 8:00am. You may also arrive earlier to participate in Morning Prayer and Adoration from 7:00am. Access is through the main church, and we will lead you to the chapel at 6:55am and 7:55am.
On Fridays we invite you to:
- 10:30am – Stations of the Cross
- 11:00am - 12:00pm – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Lenten Confession
On Saturdays we invite you to:
- 11:00am - 12:00pm – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament & Lenten Confession
This year, we also have special spiritual events:
- 11th April 2025 - TAIZÉ prayer services in our parish hall, featuring Adoration of the Cross, biblical meditation and beautiful Taizé hymns
- 4th - 8th March 2025 - We will welcome the Sisters Minor of St. Francis from Birmingham, who will share their experiences of living the Franciscan charism after Masses.
Let us walk this Lenten journey together in prayer, reflection, and renewal. You are all most welcome!
Weekly Events
Divine Renovation Book Club Meeting Tuesday 18th March 2025
We have just finished reading Divine Renovation and are excited to continue our formation journey together! Starting March 11th, we will resume our Tuesday meetings (both in person and on Zoom) to explore Fr. James Mallon’s Ten Foundation Stones, following the Five Systems Analysis.
Each week, we will focus on two Foundation Stones, deepening our discussions and sharing insights. To make the most of our conversations, please read the respective pages in advance
Upcoming Sessions:
- March 18th – Evangelisation Hospitality: Welcoming the Stranger (p.101 – p.110)Becoming an Inviting Church (p.190 – p.195)
- March 25th – Discipleship Giving Priority to the Weekend (p.95 – p.101) Preaching with Purpose (p.123 – p.135)
- April 1st – Fellowship Meaningful Community: Belonging Before Belief (p.136 – p.153)Formation of Small Communities (p.168 – p.176)
- April 8th – Ministry Clear Expectations (p.153 – p.164) Strength-Based Ministry (p.164 – p.168)
Join us in person or on Zoom! Let’s grow together in faith, deepen our discussions, and continue building a vibrant community. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Morning Masses at the Friary with the Capuchin Brothers
Starting in December, additional morning Masses will be celebrated at 8:00am in the Friary choir (the brothers' chapel) on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Access to the choir is through the church, as the chapel is located behind the sanctuary.
On these days, from 7:00am, the brothers pray Morning Prayer (Lauds) and adore the Blessed Sacrament. You are warmly invited to join us for this time of prayer and adoration.
Please note that on these days, there will be no Masses at the Benedictine Abbey on Curzon Park. Masses at the Benedictine Abbey will continue to be celebrated at 8:00 AM on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Weekday Masses at 12:00pm in the church remain unchanged. We warmly invite everyone to join us in prayer.
Invitation to Weekly Parish Community Gatherings Over Coffee and Tea
We warmly invite you to join our weekly parish community gatherings over coffee and tea, held after the Sunday 9:30am Mass. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, enjoy fellowship, and strengthen our bonds within the community.
If you are interested in helping organize these gatherings on a rotating basis, please send us an email stfrancis.chester@gmail.com Together, we can create a welcoming space where everyone feels at home. We look forward to seeing you this Sunday!
The Rosary
The Rosary will be recited at 11.30am Monday to Thursday. If you would like to volunteer to lead the Rosary please contact Br Piotr. All are welcome to join in.
The prayers that compose the Rosary are arranged in sets of ten Hail Marys, called "decades". Each decade is preceded by one Lord's Prayer, and traditionally followed by one Glory Be.
Usually, five decades are recited in a session. Each decade provides an opportunity to meditate on one of the Mysteries of the Rosary, which recall events in the lives of Jesus Christ and his mother Mary.
Wikipedia contains a series on the Rosary of the Catholic Church available via this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary
St Francis Holy Hour
We will be meeting weekly for a Holy Hour to pray, to reflect and to share. We pray for our parish and our country in the sacramental presence of our Lord. We reflect on inspired readings and most of all on God’s Word. We share our thoughts and life experiences as Christian brothers and sisters. You are more than welcome to join in weekly, or bi-weekly or just once in a while when you can make it on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. in the Church (Entry via the green door at the left hand side of the Church).
If you have questions call 01244 351331. See you there!
Events in March 2025
Divine Renovation Book Club Meeting Tuesday 25th March 2025
We have just finished reading Divine Renovation and are excited to continue our formation journey together! Starting March 11th, we will resume our Tuesday meetings (both in person and on Zoom) to explore Fr. James Mallon’s Ten Foundation Stones, following the Five Systems Analysis.
Each week, we will focus on two Foundation Stones, deepening our discussions and sharing insights. To make the most of our conversations, please read the respective pages in advance
Upcoming Sessions:
- March 25th – Discipleship Giving Priority to the Weekend (p.95 – p.101) Preaching with Purpose (p.123 – p.135)
- April 1st – Fellowship Meaningful Community: Belonging Before Belief (p.136 – p.153)Formation of Small Communities (p.168 – p.176)
- April 8th – Ministry Clear Expectations (p.153 – p.164) Strength-Based Ministry (p.164 – p.168)
Join us in person or on Zoom! Let’s grow together in faith, deepen our discussions, and continue building a vibrant community. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Readers’ Training SessionSunday 30th March 2025
There will be a Readers' Training Session on Sunday 30th March, immediately after the 9:30am Mass. This session is for all current readers to refresh their skills and for new volunteers who would like to join the ministry.
If you feel called to serve as a reader during Mass, this is a great opportunity to learn and become part of this important ministry. Everyone is welcome!
Events in April 2025
Monthly First Friday DevotionFriday 4th April 2025
Join us for First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, following the 10.30am Stations of the Cross in St Francis Church, in front of the Sacred Heart statue of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The statue depicts the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a representation of the love of Christ, devotion to which, although it first appeared explicitly in the late 13th century, only became widespread after the Napoleonic Wars.
It was declared a universal feast of the Church in 1856, and in 1875, the year our church was opened, Pope Pius IX exhorted all Catholics to consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart. It might be considered a visual portrayal of the same sense of Jesus's overflowing love for mankind as is conveyed in the words of Methodist hymns dating from the same era.
Monthly First Saturday DevotionSaturday 5th April 2025
Join us for First Saturday Devotion to The Immaculate Heart Of Mary. Prayers will be led by members of The St Francis Prayer Group. Part of The Holy Rosary will be said in different languages. Anyone who would like to lead a decade of the Holy Rosary is welcome to come forward.
Invitation to Monthly Saturday Vigil Mass with Worship, Adoration, and CatechesisSaturday 5th April 2025
We invite you to join us for our monthly English Vigil Mass, held on the first Saturday of each month at 6:30 pm. Following the Mass, there will be musical prayer meetings led by a worship team, along with adoration and catechesis. This month, during catechesis, Br. Loarne will help us delve deeper into the mystery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, drawing inspiration from Pope Francis' latest encyclical. This initiative is part of our mission to build an international community within our parish for those seeking to deepen their faith.
The next Mass will be on 7th December at 6:30 pm. For those interested in contributing musically, we welcome new members to join the team! There will be a rehearsal on Saturday, 7th December, at 5:00 pm for anyone wishing to participate in the worship team.
We’ve created a dedicated WhatsApp group for communication about rehearsals and organization. Every contribution is welcome! Looking forward to seeing you there!
Events in May 2025
Jubilee of St Francis Church!Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th May 2025
On April 29th, we will celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Solemn Opening of our Church in Chester. As we begin to plan for this special occasion, we invite everyone to share ideas on how we can mark this milestone.
The main celebrations will take place on the weekend of May 2nd-4th, and we want as many people as possible to be involved! We’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Share your ideas, and help us make this a truly memorable event! Feel free to email us at stfrancis.chester@gmail.com.
Fundraising for the Jubilee of St. Francis Church
As we prepare to celebrate the 150th anniversary of St. Francis Church, we invite you to support this special occasion. Your generous contributions will help us organize a worthy and joyful celebration of this milestone in our parish’s history.
Donations can be made in the following ways:
- By placing your offering in the donation box at the back of the church
- Through the card payment terminal
Every contribution, no matter the size, is deeply appreciated and will make a difference. Thank you for your kindness and support in making this anniversary a truly memorable event. May God bless you abundantly!
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