Author: Jacky

26th July 2024

Most important that we become communities of faith. 

After the great celebrations for the Jubilee and all the goodness, help and support, I had to come back down to earth with a bang.  So the focus has to come back on what is truly important to the life of our future.  The meeting at Our Lady of Ransom, the attendance was very good, the only big question surrounded the age profile of those present.

Fr Kevin’s presentation for our future was well prepared and laid out as the guiding principles for this.  It did not lend much opportunity for discussion and how we might work together to bring it to fruition.  I am sure all of this is to be tackled in the coming times.  The age profile of those in attendance, particularly what they would say to the children who are now raising children, and seldom attend church was most on their agenda.  So they did not find it very     helpful.

We will be able to download the material and it is vital to give this great care and attention.  The fact is we have been doing some very good work.   I brought our “Welcome Card” to the meetings attention.  It is excellent but now we must express the same welcome to the catholic communities of St George and St Wilfrid.  The focus is spot on and ready for purpose.  Clarifying the role of our children’s liturgy and welcome to new members needs to be done.  The foundations are ready to be put in place.  Speaking for a moment to Bob Waters has been very helpful.  His focus was on Pope Francis as he renewed the call for a Synodal approach in the decisions that are facing the church in our time.  Returning to our very successful celebrations for my Jubilee in the music and verse, this supports us on our  journey of faith:-

“We come to share our story,

We come to break the bread, The divine bread that has come down from heaven.

We came to know our rising from the dead”.

Lourdes Pilgrimage 2024:

Please pray for the 850 people from our Diocese that will Process on the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage this week. We pray  especially for Laura, Claudia, Maria and Sandra from St Georges who will be going as helpers.  They plan to light candles and request masses whilst they are in Lourdes for our whole Parish intentions.  If anyone has anything in particular they may wish a mass to be offered or candles lit for please email Sandra   [email protected] or text 07791627368 with the details and she will ensure she does this for you.

A parishioner writes:

Fr Rory’s Celebration 

As a relatively new member of the parish I feel    compelled to say what a marvellous party the parish held in honour of Fr Rory.. I can only imagine the amount of planning and hard work this took.   Everything was so well organised with plenty of food and drink, a toast, a cake  as well as entertainment. There was a lovely atmosphere of joy…. and the sun shone.   Congratulations to all those involved and thank you for your  hard work and service. I feel so blessed to have come to such a parish.

Charity Breakfast – St George’s

Sunday 28th July Charity Breakfast at St George’s – after Mass. Mario and Richard are taking the lead this month and will be cooking up delicious sausage and bacon baps for everyone. We are very lucky to have these two smiling happy chappies with us so make it worth their effort and take time to join, donate for the food and enjoy – bring your friends and family as well. All are welcome.  This month we are raising money for Love in a Box. This charity desperately needs as much support as it can get to provide Christmas gifts in boxes to children in Romania, many of whom live in Orphanages.  It costs over £3000 per  lorry alone to send everything to them. Please give generously.  We will not have a charity breakfast in August but normal service will resume in September on Sunday 29th.

Fr Rory’s Golden Jubilee

What a wonderful day it was.  First the “Good Lord” sent a beautiful sunny day.  Mass at St George’s & St Wilfrid’s was very special and started off this very extraordinary occasion.   Celebrations all day in both halls suitably decorated.     Fr Rory enjoyed it all on his very happy day.  It was so lovely to have his family around him.  The banquets of food were overwhelming and the entertainment; Storyteller, Magician, Irish Dancers, Indian Dancers and Great Band where we all let ourselves go! With singing, some dancing and the “conga” , others taping our feet under the table.  The atmosphere was electric. A very big thank you to all the committee who organized the event and an extra special thank you to Sandra (amazing party planner) and her family for making the day run so smoothly.  We are blessed in both communities with many good helpers and we do appreciate all the work that goes on behind the scenes and on the day itself, without your hard work and time given freely, none of these wonderful celebrations would happen.  Well done all of you, Fr Rory himself was so happy and proud of all the work that was done on his behalf.

A Big Thank You to our Fr Rory.  You may not be the most practical person! But to us you are a wonderful priest carrying out your duties from the day you were ordained.  You have a special gift of making a person feel special and when saying mass the person thinks it is said just for them.  Please continue to be you Fr Rory and stay with us for as long as our Bishop will allow.  God bless you always.

Fr Rory Writes:

When God’s glory is revealed, our joy will be full.

“Superb” was my immediate response on the day.  I was overwhelmed and more conscious as the day was going on, my failure to give sufficient recognition and thanks to those who were contributing to the day.  The music was a blast from the past, the Irish dancing from early days and a new contribution from the Indian community.

One name stands out among many, Sandra, but a great big thank you to so many to make it such a great day.  Please God, it will provide inspiration for the challenges ahead, and I think a good return to the music; without a colossal amount of work would be nice to see on the horizon.