Pope's November Prayer Intentions
For Anyone who has Lost a Child: We pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community and receive peace and consolation from the Holy Spirit.
Arts & Craft WorkshopSaturday 30th November 2024
Due to illness, the workshops originally scheduled for Saturday, November 23rd, have been postponed to Saturday, November 30th, at 1:00 p.m. in our church hall. Apologies for any inconvenience caused and hope to see you on the new date!
We invite everyone to the workshops which will take place on Saturday, 30th November at 1:00pm in our church hall. Children will be making Christmas decorations and adults will make decorative candles.
Entry for adults £5 and children £3. The entry fee will cover materials costs, use of the room as well as refreshments. Every participant can take hand made stuff with them. We look forward to seeing you there!
St Francis Church - News & Events
If you would like to stay informed about current parish matters and receive our newsletter directly on your phone, join our parish WhatsApp group by scanning the following QR code.
Diocese of Shrewsbury - News & Events
Stay up to date with everything that is happenning on our Diocese. Click on the link below to open a new tab to the Diocese of Shrewsbury website news and events page.
Diocese of Shrewsbury - News and Events
Month of Prayer for the Faithful Departed
During the month of November, we invite you to submit the names of your departed loved ones on the November Dead List, which can be placed in the box at the back of the church. Blank forms are available on the tables. The brothers will celebrate a Mass every day in November for all those listed. You may also leave donations in the same box.
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.
Prayers Request
Please pray for Kamila from our community, who is in very critical condition after heart surgery. May Jesus heal her and give strength to her family. Amen.
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!
Build a Nativity Scene for Baby Jesus
We invite children, youth, and adults from our parish to participate in the competition for the most beautiful Nativity scene!
Rules:
- The Nativity scene must be handmade.
- Any technique and form are allowed – unleash your creativity!
- Nativity scenes must be submitted by December 21st.
- The exhibition and voting will take place on Sunday, December 22nd, before and after Masses. Visitors will evaluate the Nativity scenes – everyone can vote for their favourite.
- The results will be announced on Christmas Day during Masses, as well as on WhatsApp groups and the parish Facebook page.
- Prizes can be collected by December 29th from Brother Piotr (or at a later date).
Age Categories:
- Group 1: up to 8 years old.
- Group 2: up to 15 years old.
- Group 3: 15 years and older (including adults).
For Sponsors:
If you are interested in sponsoring prizes, we would love to hear from you! Please contact us at: stfrancis.chester@gmail.com - We look forward to seeing your creative Nativity scenes!
Discover the Enchanting Story of Shana's Marriage
Step into the world of Shana, a spirited young woman navigating life in a small Croatian village in Backa. Rich with tradition, intrigue, and the challenges of a rapidly changing world, Shana's Marriage by Ante Jakšic captures the essence of rural life, blending heartfelt struggles with moments of pure joy.
This beautifully crafted novel has been expertly translated into English by our very own parishioner, Mrs. Dubravka Williams-Podhraški, making this hidden gem accessible to a wider audience. Don’t miss this compelling tale! Order your copy today on Amazon:'Shana's Marriage' https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DJPL1VM5
Singers, Readers, and Altar Servers Wanted for Sunday 9:30am Mass
If you enjoy singing and would like to join the Sunday 9:30am Mass Choir, please see Peter Cooke after the 9:30am Mass.
We are also looking for readers and altar servers. Those interested in these roles and in preparing for this ministry are invited to contact Brother Piotr at stfrancis.chester@gmail.com.
Preparation for Baptism and Confirmation for Adults
Everyone is welcome to join, whether you're already baptized or just looking to grow in your faith. Catechesis classes are held every Saturday at 7:30pm in our parish hall. If you would like to get involved, please let Br Piotr know via email at stfrancis.chester@gmail.com
Monthly First Friday DevotionFriday 6th December 2024
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 7th December 2024
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.
St Francis' Repository
Christmas cards, calendars etc now on sale in our Repository - you are welcome to have a browse.
Many thanks to everyone who has given to our Repository - this all contributes to the upkeep of our Church and we are most grateful. Please keep bringing them in and we will lovingly restore them! We would especially welcome any unwanted holy items such as statues, crosses, medals and rosary beads.
A good stock of Mass, Prayer and general cards are all available and Holy Water direct from Lourdes! Please feel welcome to browse!
Why not come along and have a look and buy someone special a present!Additional photos on our 'Gallery' page.
The Assisted Suicide BillFriday 29th November 2024
Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury asks to resist moves in Parliament to legalise assisted suicide. Bishop has urged Catholics to oppose a forthcoming Bill in Parliament that seeks to legalise assisted suicide, warning it could lead to a “dark and sinister path” where the medical profession assists in the killing of patients. He expressed concern for the vulnerable, including the sick, disabled, and elderly, and urged immediate action by contacting MPs to reject the proposal and instead focus on palliative care.
The Bill, introduced by MP Kim Leadbeater, will receive its Second Reading on 29th November, offering MPs a free vote on the issue. Bishop Davies called for the sanctity of life to be respected and for society to reject euthanasia. Ask your MP to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law
You can make a difference right now by contacting your MP to ask them to stop assisted suicide from being rushed into law. It only takes 30 seconds using our easy-to-use tool available via the link below.
https://righttolife.org.uk/ASthreat
Alternatively please contact your Member of Parliament:
SAMANTHA DIXON Parliamentary office House of Commons London SW1A 0AA Phone: 020 7219 3000 Email: Samantha.dixon.mp@parliament.uk Constituency Office Phone: 01244 343229
'A Journey into The Catholic Faith' by Father Francis Maple
Our very own Father Francis has published a new book, A Journey Into The Catholic Faith, which can be purchased from him or on Amazon for £8. It is intended for Catholics and Non-Catholics alike who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the faith.All royalties go to charity.
At the time of writing his book is number 18 in the Amazon UK best sellers ranking in Catholic Theology.
The book is available in Paperback from Amazon UK - Here
An article about Father Francis' previous publications can be found later on this page.
Important Notice - Change of Sunday Mass Times
- As from Sunday 5th May there will be no Sunday 8:00am mass at St Francis Church.
- The Sunday 9:45am mass at St Francis Church will be moved to start at the earlier time of 9:30am.
This has been discussed in the parish council, please feel free to share your opinions to any of the brothers. There are masses at the Curzon Park Abbey each day at 8:00am and all the masses are open to everyone.
The small change of 9.45am mass to 9.30am will give the English community a few extra minutes for coffee morning before the Polish community arrives for mass.
Sunday Mass Times (from Sunday 5th May 2024)
- Saturday 6:30pm - Vigil Mass in English
- Sunday 9:30am - Family Mass in English
- Sunday 12:00pm - Polish Family Mass
- Sunday 4:30pm - Polish Mass
Mass Times at Curzon Park Abbey
- Every day at 8:00am - In English, all are welcome
Singers Wanted for Sunday 9:30am Mass Choir
Anyone who loves singing and would like to join the new Sunday 9:30am Mass Choir, please see Peter Cooke after the 9:30am Sunday mass.
Sunday 9:30am Mass - Hymns & Music
| Sunday 24th November 2024 Solemnity of Christ the King (Year B) |
|---|
| Organ Prelude: Chorale Prelude on 'Sleepers wake! A Voice is calling!' (J. S. Bach) |
| Entrance: 321, 'Crown Him With Many Crowns!' (Tune - Diademata) |
| Sung: 518, Kyrie; 529, Gloria; Psalm; Alleluia; 570, Sanctus; Eucharistic Prayer Acclamation; 591, Agnus Dei; |
| Communion Hymn: 768, 'How Lovely On The Mountains' (Tune - as set) |
| Recessional: 327, (Sung Anthem for Choir and Congregation) 'Christus Vincit' |
| Organ Postlude: Trumpet Tune in D (John Stanley) |
Further Threat to the Unborn of Abortion up to Birth
In the next couple of weeks an attempt is to be made to widely decriminalise abortion up to the birth. This is a further assault on the sanctity of human life in our society. This extreme amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill is being made by Diana Johnson MP and parliamentarians will be under pressure to support the amendment on grounds of compassion for mothers who seek to abort their unborn child beyond the legal limits.
The effect would be to withdraw legal protection from the unborn. It is important to make our voice heard in support of the unborn child. The Right to Life website has details under ‘Take Action’ which enables you to find and contact your MP directly and the website of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children has helpful information under ‘Resources.’ The Right to Life website also has details of an alternative amendment by Caroline Ansell MP to reduce the legal limit for abortion from 24 to 22 weeks on the basis of the increased survival rates for babies being born at 22 and 23 weeks. We cannot doubt the impact which your e-mail or letter will have in making known opposition to decriminalizing abortion up to birth and in support of the value of every human life.
https://righttolife.org.uk/littlefighters https://www.spuc.org.uk/Mark – Bishop of Shrewsbury
Please contact your Member of Parliament to ask that they oppose the decriminalization of abortion up to birth:
SAMANTHA DIXON Parliamentary office House of Commons London SW1A 0AA Phone: 020 7219 3000 Email: Samantha.dixon.mp@parliament.uk Constituency Office Phone: 01244 343229
Car Parking at St Francis Church
Please note the following and many thanks for your co-operation.
- Car park is for Church and Hall use only.
- Park your car prudently using every available space. For those who are arriving first please use the spaces against the wall not the front spaces.
- Any regular parishioners using the car park out of service time must inform one of the brothers using any medium of communication to avoid confusions.
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 Jinson. 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
An Update on Br Jim
Br Jim is thankfully no longer in the hospital and is currently at Florence Grogan House in Blacon for some respite care after which it is hoped that he will return to the Friary. The address of where he is: Florence Grogan House, Shelley Road, Blacon, Chester, CH1 5XA. Please feel free to visit Br Jim whilst he is in respite at Florence Grogan House. Once he is back at the Friary a notice will be put in the newsletter.
Help Father Francis Feed The Starving
If you are thinking of a present for someone how about buying an article of Fr. Francis' crochet, a coat, a shawl, a slipper or a mitten. You will be helping him raise money for the starving children in the world. They can be bought from the display at the back of the Church.
A Prayer To The Holy Spirit
At the end of year 2022 I asked the Holy Spirit, my best Friend, to help me write a prayer I could recite every day to keep me closer to the Blessed Trinity and get me to Heaven.
This is the prayer He inspired me to write. I give it to everyone who comes to confession to me. You may like to say it too.
Heavenly Father, with the help of your Holy Spirit, may I lead the best life I can today. When the time comes for me to take my last earthly breath, may I be surrounded by Your loving arms. On the day of my death may I hear your Son say to me, "I promise you this very day you will be with me in Paradise."
Father Francis OFM Cap, November 2023
Several of Father Francis' books and publications are now available for sale from the repository at St Francis Church.
A full list of Father Francis' books and publications are available on this link: Books by Father Francis
Father Francis prepared a special homily for All Souls Day which is exclusively avaiilable in the Library page of our website. Here is a link which will take you to the homily on our Library page.
'Pray the Rosary without Distractions' by Father Francis Maple
Our very own Father Francis has published books on Amazon UK.
Do you have difficulty in praying the rosary? If you do, you may find this book helpful. Praying the rosary as described in this book will help you to cut out distractions. You will find that for every Hail Mary there is a thought or picture to keep your mind concentrated on what you are saying.
The paperback book is now available for sale from the repository of St Francis Church priced at £5.00.
The book is also available in Paperback from Amazon UK - Here
The book is available in Kindle format from Amazon UK - Here
A list of books written by Father Francis and published by Amazon UK is available - Here
A link to Father Francis' own website can be found - Here
If you don't have an Amazon UK account an order form can be downloaded - Here
Vocation Promotion
Let us all pray together for the promotion of more vocations to the Priesthood. There are a number of cards at the back of the Church with a prayer attached please take one.
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!
Confession - The Sacrament of Reconciliation
As from Saturday 7th January 2023 the start time of the Saturday afternoon confession changed from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Confessions will be heard starting at 6:00pm for half an hour before the 6:30pm mass. See the table below:
- Friday 11:00am - 12:00pm
- Saturday 11:00am - 12:00pm
- Saturday 4:00pm - 4:30pm (Up to Saturday 31st December 2022)
- Saturday 6:00pm - 6:30pm (From Saturday 7th January 2023)
- Confessions available on request. As long as there is a Priest available within the Friary the sacrament of reconciliation can be heard any time by going to the green door in the car park.
- St Clare's Catholic Church, Downsfield Road, Chester, CH4 8HH
- St Werburgh's Catholic Church, Grosvenor Park Road, Chester, CH1 1QJ
- St Columba's Catholic Church, Plas Newton Lane, Chester, CH2 1SA
- St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, 128 Blacon Avenue, Blacon, Chester, CH1 5BU
CAFOD Volunteers Wanted
The church relies on people getting involved. Our church, our world needs you. Could you be more involved in the life of our church? What aspects of church brings you life or joy? Could you give a bit of time to help those parts flourish?
CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, are looking for people to give some time and join them in their mission. Could you help in our parish, bringing people together to help build a better world or help by visiting local schools? Or raise a voice and campaign for justice or perhaps speak for CAFOD throughout the diocese? Could you support local volunteers or share your office skills to help CAFOD keep costs low? Training and support is provided.
See www.cafod.org.uk/Volunteer for more information or get in touch via our email address shrewsbury@cafod.org.uk or by phoning 07920 232936
Holy Days Of Obligation 2024
Click on this link to the Liturgy Office for further information and a list of Liturgical Dates.
| Date | Holy Day (click on the name to find out further information) Weekday Mass Times - 12 Noon in English and 7.00pm in Polish | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th January | Epiphany Of The Lord | ||||
| 5th March | Ash Wednesday | ||||
| 20th April | Easter Sunday | ||||
| 29th May | Ascension Of The Lord | ||||
| 8th June | Pentecost | ||||
| 22nd June | Corpus Christi - The Body and Blood of the Lord | ||||
| 29th June | St Peter & St Paul | ||||
| 15th August | Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | ||||
| 2nd November | All Saints | ||||
| 30th November | First Sunday of Advent | ||||
| 25th December | Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord | ||||
'Capuchin Friars in Chester' - Our Facebook Page
Here is the link to our official parish website on Facebook called 'Capuchin Friars in Chester'.If you have a Facebook account click on the link below to follow and like the page.There will be items published in both, Polish and English.
www.facebook.com/capuchinsinchester/
Here is a wonderful video from our Facebook page called 'Christ is risen!/Chrystus Zmartwychwstal!'
Prayer For Peace
O Prince of peace, one more we hear the guns of war. Once again we see the faces of frightened children. We pray for the people of Ukraine, that they may be granted peace. We pray for the people of Russia, that they may demand peace. We pray for our country, that we may be a positive part of peace-making in the world.
O Prince of peace, lead us from this dark time to a deeper understanding of the global family, so that all may break bread together in the secure embrace of peace. Amen.
Anniversaries
Prayers are requested for those whose anniversaries occur this month ✟ Requiescat in Pace ✟ To view anniversaries for the whole year visit our Prayers Page
Sick Parishioners
Please let us remember our sick parishioners in our prayers:
Terry Halpin, Kath Heffeman, Barbara Edwards, Kevin Roberts, Margaret Davis, Hilary Linty, Patrick Hannah, Elle Mae Dunne, Elaine Bruce, Christopher Browne, Gill Wright, Emma Noble, Eleanor Milan, Colette Lazenby, Rita James, Janka Whitlock and Rose Kane.
Feast Days
The 'Feast Days' page has been added to the main menubar. There is now a direct link to the Wiki page for each feast day. Just click the name to open up the information in a new tab.
To view feast days for the whole year visit our Feast Days
Chester Pastoral Forum
After the initial meeting of the ‘Chester Pastoral Forum’ which took place on 22nd October 2018 we have decided to improve the communication between the Catholic Parishes in Chester. On our website we have added links to the Chester Church websites below.
Links to Chester Catholic Church Websites
Franciscans In Chester: St Francis' Church and Friary Photographs Wanted
They say that a photograph is worth a thousand words. We are currently looking for any photographs of St Francis Church and St Francis Roman Catholic school in Cuppin Street, 'the Sisters' (ie the Faithful Companions of Jesus from Dee House) or other teachers and pupils at the school. Any photographs used will be credited, scanned and made available on-line as part of the history of St Francis School and Church. Please pass any photographs in and envelope with your name, address and a contact number to one of the Brothers. We will simply scan which photographs we wish to use and pass them back to you.
The book can be found by clicking on a new tab on the top menu called 'History'. It was originally published in 2000 to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the consecration of St Francis’s church in Chester and the 125th anniversary of its opening.
A guided tour of the church was published on our website last year and the full book has now been digitally published over the last twelve months setting out the Catholic and Franciscan history which gave rise to the church, friary and parish.
The book has been brought completely up-to-date with new pictures and topics in this digital edition. Be sure to have a look at our 'History' page and discover the origins of our beautiful Church.
Virtual Church Tour
Our virtual Church tour is now live and accessible via the 'TOUR' tab on the far right of the menu bar or by clicking 'Tour' on the Latest News item. Please have a look and let the other people know how interesting and informative it is. We found it fascinating and learnt so much about St Francis Church and it's history. Alan, Peter and Bernard have done a great job with the tour. We are sure that people all over the world would enjoy a virtual tour of our beautiful Church.
Prayers Web Page
We have set up a very special web page on our internet site which records all the anniversaries of family and friends who have died in the Parish. Throughout 2016 we will be updating this page adding dates of death and special epitaphs.
The page says the following; 'Prayers are requested for those whose anniversaries occur this month. May they Rest In Peace.' Due to the size of the list and the work involved in updating the list, names will be added to the web page each month during 2015 as the year progresses. It is also possible to include the date of death and a short personalised epitaph for your loved ones which will be displayed next to their name. To add relatives, dates or a personalised epitaph to the anniversary list please email to information to; stfrancis.chester@gmail.com We will try to update your information as soon as possible but please allow up to 28 days for the website to be updated.
See Prayers Web Page
The Order Of Mass: Printable Leaflets
We have included an on-line link to the printable 'Order Of Mass' leaflets from the Liturgy Office website which we will leave on our website as a 'Useful Link'.
Here is a direct link to the web page The Order of Mass Printable Leaflets