Author: Jacky

A Special Day for St Wilfrid’s in this Jubilee Year

A Special Day for St Wilfrid’s in this Jubilee Year

We are honoured that St Wilfrid’s is the only parish in East Sussex selected to host a reliquary from Carfin Grotto in Scotland, as part of the National Relic Tour organised by the Knights of St Columba.

The reliquary contains sacred relics of three revered saints:

· St Andrew – Apostle, Patron of Scotland, and also Patron of Ropemakers (fittingly, as Hailsham has a strong historical link with rope-making)

· St Columba of Iona

· St Margaret of Scotland

The relics will be available for veneration at St Wilfrid’s Church on Wednesday 27th August, following 10am Mass, and throughout the day until an Evening Mass at 7pm.

A steering group, made up of members from the Parish Pastoral Council and the Knights of St Columba, is now inviting parishioners from both St Wilfrid’s and St George’s to get involved in helping organise this special day.

If you’re able to assist in any way, please contact:

· Martin Falkner – in person or on 07946 700366, Bob – 07752 043009, Teresa – text 07951 082592

Let’s come together as a parish to honour this blessed occasion in our Jubilee Year.

22nd June 2025

“Food for the journey and early guidance.

To fresh pastures to nourish and develop our communities of faith”.

I have collected all the left over newsletters from the past weeks. I believe our two communities have real foundations to build upon as we address the future.  Last weeks newsletter addressed this situation by saying:

“A certain parish priest frequently reminds his congregation that our God is community, friendship, love, unity: Three Persons who POPE FRANCIS’ ENCYCLICAL FRATELLI TUTTI are One. The human race is made in His image: made to be     community, love, friendship, unity. Because of the fall of Adam and its consequences, this has become a huge challenge, as we see in the war in Ukraine and as we have experienced so often in the past. Yet we do see signs of what should be, when we hear of or see, great acts of generosity or courage on the part of individuals or groups. Our God is not a God far off. As Moses put it, “What great nation is there that has its gods so near as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to Him?” It is something that Our Lord makes clear in today’s Gospel passage: the Spirit of Truth will “guide you into all truth”; and, “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine” and the Father’s, “and making it known to you.” “He will guide you.” We are not left alone. God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit are there for us; invite and call us to put our faith and trust in Them.. They will renew in us, individually and as a people, the image of Themselves.”

Soon we will return to that journey as we again celebrate what we call “the ordinary”, the cycle leading us to our salvation and the fulness of life in God’s Kingdom.  It is through the ordinary cycle that we grow in faith and faithfulness; the great challenge .  As a priest it will be my fifty first cycle, and while on earth, sadness is part of our experience.  In my earliest years I was full of hope and purpose, it was shortly after the Second Vatican Council, and there was a great focus on it.  Our Professor of Theology, Fr Seamas Ryan, was truly inspirational, and continues to inspire me and I hope all of us, as we face the new challenges, our emphasis will be on communities of faith.

Pilgrimage of Reparation & Consecration

Pilgrimage of Reparation & Consecration – Saturday 5th July 12 noon – 4.15pm at the Church of Our Lady of Consolation & St Francis, West Grinstead, RH13 8LT

The pilgrimage will begin with Mass, followed by a   personal consecration to Our Lady, the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, Exposition of the Blessed        Sacrament, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Adoration, Silent Prayer and Benediction. To find out more please contact: Linda C-Dominguez; T: 01273 463463 M: 07944 377252 or Jozef Bubez T: 01444 232974.

Diocesan Festival of Hope: 20 September (Ardingly):

The Diocese will be gathering to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the         Diocese, the Jubilee Year of Hope, and the Pastoral Plan with its call to Mission.  Sadly, space is limited which means that not everybody who might wish to attend will be able to.  Each parish has a small number of tickets which will be allocated via its parish priest.  Thanks for your understanding.  The whole Diocese will be prayed for, and those attending will be encouraged to share back in their parishes the fruits of the day’s reflections.
 

Stella Maris

Stella Maris (formerly called Apostleship of the Sea) is seeking one volunteer from St Wilfrid’s Church please to help with Sea Sunday (which falls on 12/13 July this year) in this parish. (Thank you to Anne, who has kindly volunteered for St George’s).  This is the day when the Church comes together to pray for seafarers, fishers and their families, and takes a  second collection to support the work of Stella Maris. The volunteer will read out the appeal (which Stella Maris will provide) at the end of Masses that weekend. If you can kindly do this, please contact [email protected] or call 07887 893 763.  Related to that, all parishioners are warmly invited to an online webinar being run by Stella Maris on Thursday 19th June from 7:30pm to 9pm. You will hear about the work that Stella Maris has been doing with seafarers and fishers over the past year or so, including the use of the funds kindly donated on Sea Sunday last year. To attend this     webinar, please sign up at: www.stellamaris.org.uk/thankyouwebinar
 

15th June 2025

Trinity Sunday

Celebrates the end of our journey when we will experience the fullness of life in God’s Kingdom.

Having celebrated all the great feasts from the annunciation through the birth of Our Saviour, highlighting the response of the Kingdom of Darkness and the forced journey of the Holy Family into Egypt.  Then commencing with His baptism, Jesus begins the process that leads us to salvation and the fulness of life in God’s Kingdom.

Soon we will return to that journey as we again celebrate what we call “the ordinary”, the cycle leading us to our salvation and the fulness of life in God’s Kingdom.  It is through the ordinary cycle that we grow in faith and faithfulness; the great challenge .  As a priest it will be my fifty first cycle, and while on earth, sadness is part of our experience.  In my earliest years I was full of hope and purpose, it was shortly after the Second Vatican Council, and there was a great focus on it.  Our Professor of Theology, Fr Seamas Ryan, was truly inspirational, and continues to inspire me and I hope all of us, as we face the new challenges, our emphasis will be on communities of faith.

St George’s Children’s Liturgy

St George’s Children’s Liturgy – Help Needed:

Children’s Liturgy has been a valued part of St George’s for years — even continuing remotely during COVID. Sadly, we now have just two leaders and one helper, and with frequent travel, we can’t cover every Sunday.

We need your help! If you can assist as a helper or leader, please speak to a member of the team. No    experience needed — training and support will be   provided. It’s a simple and rewarding way to support our young people in their faith.