Author: Jacky

For the last few weeks the Synod group have been telling you about the formation of a new Parish Council.  NOW IT IS YOUR TURN!   We ask you all personally to do your best to recommend one or more people to join the Parish Council.   Please take a form home, complete it and bring it back to church next week. Thank you.  

Parish Meeting:  at St Wilfrid’s, 11.30am on the 5th February.

“Waters of life cleanse and refresh us, raise us to life in Christ Jesus”

Please God, this Sunday we celebrate the baptism of Maceo Adelaja.  I hoped that this celebration would have taken place on the feast day for the baptism of Jesus.  The waters of baptism open the way for God’s salvation, but above all focuses our need for community.  A very important moment during the celebration, is the lighting of the baptismal candle from the paschal candle.  It is then handed to the parents and godparents with the words “This light is          entrusted to you to keep burning brightly, your child has been enlightened by Christ”.  The parallel with the natural order is the same in the order of grace.  This is the beginning of a new life and I will continue to return to this during our journey through Lent, Easter and Pentecost. 

As you see in our parish newsletter this week, the recommendations of our parish council.   A lot of work has taken place and now it is time for it to bear good fruit, so please give this great care and attention

will be drawn this Sunday 29th January after Mass in our hall.  It will not be a ‘long drawn out affair’ as some raffles can be! But a quick efficient operation under our new arrangements!!

Do come and join us, there will be plenty of biscuits & cakes.  If your number comes up you choose what you like from the table, laden with prizes.  Good luck and hope to see you in the hall on Sunday.  The   money taken will be put towards future events in our parish, so we will all benefit.

St Wilfrid’s Hall on Friday 17th March, 6-9pm.  If anyone has any words to Irish Tunes, we would be truly grateful, we can then give everyone a copy to sing-a-long!  If you can help in anyway contact Joan on 07873390944.  Thank you.

Ash Wednesday is on 22 February. It is traditional for the ashes used on that day to come from the palms that were blessed on Palm Sunday the previous year.  So please bring your old palms and place them in the box at the back of the church. Thank you.

St George’s Church needs someone, either male or female to clean up the candle sticks each week, time to suit you.  Please ring Cathy on 487688.

St George’s Church also needs a lady/man who would like to join our flower arranger team.  Friday or Saturday morning, training will be given.

PS. My husband is a natural flower arranger.  Please contact Cathy on 487688.  Thank you.

Racial Justice Sunday 2023 – 5th February

Our theme “All are included in the mission of Christ and His Church. Let us walk together, pray together and work together” reflects on the role each of us must play in promoting the mission of Christ and His Church. This was inspired by conversations around last year’s Racial Justice Sunday and Pope Francis’ visit to Canada last year when he spoke about looking towards a future of ‘Justice, healing and reconciliation’.

To mark the day, three video reflections have been produced, highlighting the three sections; Walking together;  Praying together; and Working together.   This years’ resources can be found on the Bishops’ Conference website at: www.cbcew.org.uk/racial-justice-Sunday.  

“So Important”

Grateful for the team for taking on great responsibility and progressing our response to the synod experience.  It is now time to engage with our present situation and develop the parish council, the ministries needed, and a window to develop the liturgy and life of the church.

Those who are already committed are in danger of taking on too greater burden, tasks that are difficult and are put under too much pressure.  The work that they do is so important we are truly grateful, and our gratitude is best  expressed by working together to the best of our abilities.

I am trying to place myself on a learning curve; my role as parish priest is to keep our parish functioning…..  paying our bills.  But above all to focus upon the challenge for us to grow as communities of faith, to bear witness to the good news of God’s salvation in a world that is challenged by many dark forces.

Do you own a Rosary?  We all know how important it is to us Catholics to say the rosary or even one decade now and then, especially for a certain intention.  Our Blessed Lady appeared to  several people and employed them to say the “Rosary”.  Fr Rory joins us before Masses on Wed & Fri at St Wilfrid’s to say the rosary with us, it doesn’t take long!  So if you would like to join us we would be happy to see you.  If you have any spare rosaries, there is a box marked “Spare Rosaries” on the table in the church porch.  If you would like one, please help yourself.  Thank you.