As I am sure many of you are aware, Catholic Priests do not receive a salary and rely on your generosity at Christmas and Easter as a thank you for all they do for us. It is also possible to claim gift aid on your donation if you are a UK taxpayer and that extra 25% will go directly to Father Rory. If you aren’t part of a planned giving scheme then please use the “one off” gift aid envelopes located in the porch. You can also contribute via the digital collection plate at St Wilfrid’s or via the donations website link (https://donate.mydona.com/st-wilfrids-church-hailsham ) using the “Easter Collections” tab.
Author: Jacky
13th April 2025
Parish Leadership Group Update
Last week, Gerry Palmer and I attended the latest Parish Leadership Group meeting with Father Kevin and other representatives of our new parish. Significant progress has been made since our first meeting in January.
Over the next few weeks, we will complete an audit of all church organisational structures, which will enable us to assess consistency of approach and reduce duplication of effort. We also hope to launch a new parish website by the end of spring, which will help us communicate more effectively across all our communities.
Plans are also underway to centralise financial arrangements and meetings with all current parish treasurers will be taking place shortly.
The major focus for April, however, is the development of a new Liturgical Strategy. The current situation is not sustainable, given the limited number of priests available to carry out liturgical duties such as saying Mass and holding Adoration and Reconciliation services. The challenge lies in reimagining our provision of services based on the geographical boundaries of our new parish, rather than the existing church catchment areas.
Currently, there are four priests serving the Eastbourne hub, which covers seven churches. However, we must plan on the basis of having only three priests to ensure a sustainable workload, allow for rest days, holidays, and potential illness, and to reduce the risk of burnout.
According to Canon Law, one priest may celebrate no more than three Masses across Saturday evening and Sunday. This means our maximum capacity for weekend Masses across the hub is nine. An audit will therefore be carried out across the seven churches to determine how best to reduce the number of Masses accordingly.
Importantly, this assessment will also consider factors beyond just attendance—such as the spiritual and community significance of individual Masses.
The next step is to prepare a draft proposal, which will then be shared for consultation. This process will allow all congregations to provide input before any final decisions are made.
Easter Cards
Easter Cards are on sale at the back of St George’s Church .
Womble Day at St George’s
Sat 12th April 10am-12noon.
If you would like to help with weeding the car park, clearing away leaves and generally tidying the borders, do come and join us for a couple of hours.
If possible bring your own tools or borrow some on the day! Thank you!
Womble Day at St Wilfrid’s
Sat 12th April 10am-2pm.
Please do come and help to garden, clean, tidy etc. There will be enough jobs for us all to have something to volunteer for on the day. Many hands make light work – don’t assume others will do it.
Prayer Around the Cross
A service of Taize Music and Prayer for Good Friday. 18th April, 8pm at the Church of St Thomas of Canterbury & English Martyrs Magdalen Rd, St Leonards.
The South Downs Singers Spring Concert:
The South Downs Singers Spring Concert is on Saturday 26th April, 3.30 pm St George’s Church. Tickets available from Anne or Shirley at £10. Tickets will be available on the door. A diverse programme of Mozart, Nella Fantasia plus easy listening show tunes
News from the Diocesan Link:
There is now a web edition which can be accessed from this link April 2025 Newsletter or https://sueschurchpage.blogspot.com/2025/03/April Newsletter.html
Diocesan Link is a way to communicate with the women of our diocese in a two way exchange, please do take a look if you think this may be of interest.
Pilgrims of Hope Day:
Thank you to everyone who joined our Pilgrims of Hope day! Last Saturday, twenty-six of us gathered for a Jubilee-themed Adoration before enjoying a sunny Big Lent Walk along the Cuckoo Trail to St. George’s. Three members even completed the return journey. Together, we walked 187 km, just shy of our 200 km goal.
Our Parish Team is going strong, having walked over 540 km so far! If you haven’t sponsored them yet, your donations will keep them going. So far, we’ve raised £622 for CAFOD—thank you for your generosity! Your donations help to change lives and offer hope to those in urgent need.
Special thanks to Mary Burbage, Sandra King, Shirley McCann, and Anne Hoad for the delicious lunch, and to James O’Brien, Gary Westcar and Mary Burbage for leading Adoration and the Stations of the Cross.
It was a wonderful and successful day!
6th April 2025
Returning from the meeting of the Parish Leadership Group – 1st April 2025
Most important: The Devine life of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Fr Kevin began the meeting with ten minutes of silent prayer focused upon the message of Pope Francis:
Evangelii Gaudium 28
If the parish proves capable of self-renewal and constant adaptivity, it continues to be “the Church living in the midst of the homes of her sons and daughters”. This presumes that it really is in contact with the homes and the lives of its people and does not become a useless structure out of touch with people or a self-absorbed group made up of a chosen few. The parish is the presence of the Church in a given territory, an environment for hearing God’s word, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration. In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelizers. It is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a centre of constant missionary outreach.