Author: Jacky

Deacon John Writes

We are never alone when present at Mass. We share it with those present and with all those who have preceded us. We also share it not only with those present with us but also with all who participate in Mass wherever they may be in the world. We most importantly share it intimately with Jesus. We are not alone at Mass, just look around you at those present with you. To help us God feed us with himself in Holy Communion to strengthen us in our endeavours for our journey. Just as Jesus had faith in the Father we too are to have faith in our God who has promised us through the centuries that he will not leave us alone. He will always be with us as we walk our own journey of faith knowing with certainty that our God is with us. We know that Jesus has shown us the way. We know that He is the way the truth and the life. With my love and an Easter Blessing for you all.

Fr Rory Writes

Again and again I return to what is most important “PRAYER”.

Abba Father please send your Holy Spirit, come Lord Jesus live in me.

The reality of life is often focused upon trials, and from my home when I was growing up came the response “These are the trials through which we triumph by the power of Him who loves us”.

After two years of the pandemic, which has made us all very brittle, my hope was that it would be ending and that things would feel very much better.  Some things are very much better, it is very much easier to travel.  This illness though very serious is not as fatal as it was in the beginning.

In the life of our parish we have the challenge of life, now focused by the shortage of priests.  So we need to grow and develop as a parish community that does not rely upon having priests, this will entail the care of the elderly, responsibility for ecumenism, the constant care for mass and the sacraments, payments for maintenance of church and property, funding for the administration and financial needs of the parish.  There will be other responsibilities.  We have an important opportunity to develop and grow in response to these requirements.  With the help of God a very important meeting will take place for our parish communities at 6pm in the Presbytery (or in hall if needed) on Tuesday 3rd May.  This is following up upon the work that was done in response to the Synod.  It is providing a firm foundation and a real challenge.  A early comment “there is no support after Baptism or any of the other sacraments”.

Helpful to all our work will be “Core Groups” to identify and to commit to helping with the identified challenge in order to provide for a good outcome. 

On the horizon are projects for celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee, our Centenary Year at St Wilfrid’s, with the first class work that has taken place at St George’s in their confirmation preparation program.  With the help of God we may bear fruit, fruit that will last.  Let us continue to plant seeds and nurture those already beginning to grow.

Small Group in Polegate

We are a small group in Polegate praying for our children and all children. We are opening up the group  to include those who feel they would like to join us. We meet on Wednesday mornings and are part of a much bigger worldwide group, over a hundred countries are all praying for our children and grandchildren. It is truly a wonderful achievement, after all meeting together, to have prayed for them. Ring me on Polegate 487688 for more information Cathy.

Appeal for helpers – Lourdes Pilgrimage 2022

We have received several applications from Pilgrims who will require assistance to join this year’s Lourdes Pilgrimage, but at this point we are short of Helpers.   After two ‘grace years’ dictated by the pandemic we are conscious of people’s wellbeing, and we are having to look for more helpers than usual who are fit and well to support others. Subsidies are available for helpers to go towards them meeting the costs of the pilgrimage.   As we currently stand, we will have to turn down some pilgrims who require assistance, if we do not get a significant number of fit helpers applying in the next few weeks, so please do apply if you can spare the time to help those in need.  The Pilgrimage Office is happy to answer any questions anyone has prior to applying 01403 740110, [email protected]   Helpers Apply now lourdes.abdiocese.org.uk

Deacon John Writes

Joke of the Week

The reason for these jokes according to an ancient Russian Orthodox tradition, is that  the day before Easter was devoted to telling jokes. The reason was to reflect the joke God pulled on the devil in the Resurrection. Satan thought he had won on Friday, but God had the last laugh on Easter Sunday.

“TA-DA!”A Sunday school teacher had just finished telling her third graders about how Jesus was crucified and placed in a tomb with a great stone sealing the opening. Then, wanting to share the excitement of the Resurrection, she asked: “And what do you think were Jesus’ first words when He came bursting out of that tomb alive?” A hand shot up into the air from the rear of the classroom. Attached to it was the arm of a little girl. Leaping out of her chair she shouted out excitedly “I know, I know!” “Good” said the teacher, “Tell us, what were Jesus first words?” And extending her arms high into the air she said: “TA-DA!” Another little boy offered, “Please stop staring and pass me the fish sandwiches —  it’s been three days and I’m starving!” The teacher asked a second question: “Why did Jesus appear to women first after the Resurrection?” A girl answered, “He wanted to be sure the news spread quickly!”

Fr Rory Writes

With gratitude, real gratitude.

The Easter celebrations were a great blessing.  The meaning, the hopes they bring in marked contrast with the normal news we hear.  Receiving the Holy water, the Easter cards, the messages; so many.  “Let us greet the Risen Lord with thankfulness and joy”.  A good foundation upon which to place our hopes and expectations.

On the horizon is the Feast of the Ascension, but above all, Pentecost our firm foundation upon which to build.  The preliminary work that went into our response, the call for a Synod to help renew the life of the church.  I am really grateful for the work that has gone into this, and now the intention to develop our response.  Part of that response is to be ready for new offers of help and effectively use the help we can get.