Author: Jacky

We have decided to venture out, our very first trip is a coach from St George’s and St Wilfrid’s to the very pretty village of Headcorn in Kent.  Monday 7^th Nov, £12 pp, first pick up St George’s, 9am, then onto      St Wilfrid’s, 9.30am where the hall will be open for a toilet call before we board the coach.  Then on to Headcorn where we are booked in for tea/coffee, 10.30am.  Please don’t be tempted to purchase a large slice of homemade cake because we are booked in for lunch at the Village Tea Room, 12noon.  Homemade food at very reasonable prices.  When you book your seat on the coach, I will be   asking for £12 pp and give you a menu to choose your meal and hand back to me please, as they need to have our orders at least one week beforehand.  We will probably take about 2 hours, they have a “Secret Garden” – plenty of room for us all.  The main high street through the village has plenty of different shops you can browse and buy?  There are no hills its all on the flat, okay for chairs and      wheelers.  Leaving about 3pm. Back to St Wilfrid’s and St George’s between 4 – 4.30pm.

Any queries please contact Joan 07873390944.  You are invited to bring a friend if you wish.   

Saturday, Nov 19th, 3.30pm – 5.30pm, St Wilfrid’s Hall. This is an opportunity for families to come together and have fun, be creative together and prepare for Advent.  There will be variety of Christmas   related activities, relevant to all ages, followed by a short time for worship and shared meal. Children under 11 must be accompanied by an adult, Please register your interest at the back of church and collect a tear off slip for your small contribution to bring to  the shared meal.

we will hold our newly introduced last Sunday charity breakfast Today, 30th Oct after mass.   It is open to all parishioners and their friends/family/neighbours. Those joining don’t have to have been at mass it’s open to all from 10am.  This month the nominated charity is Royal British Legion and we will be cooking up Sausage/Bacon Baps and lighter snacks for those less hungry.  (Helpers needed please volunteer if you can for this or a future breakfast). 

Deacon John will bless the graves at Willingdon Cemetery at 10am on Wednesday November 2nd.  Fr Rory will bless the memorial garden graves after the 12noon mass at St George’s.

“Gone before us, marked with the sign of faith”

The time gives way from October the month of the Rosary; to November when we remember the Holy Souls. Each year this has been a source of graces strengthening our faith.  It offers a fresh source from which we can renew and strengthen our faith.  My dad who suffered a great amount of constant pain, had great devotion to the Stations of the Cross.  Always for Lent and Easter, but also through the year, especially during the month of November when devotions allied to indulgencies are great incentives to the admonition “pray constantly and never loose heart”.

The temptation to loose heart at this time is very real.  I have been greatly helped by the endeavours of our two communities to try to renew and build up our parish after the pandemic.  Those who have gone before us still play a real part.  We have two funerals at this time for those who have died, Margaret and Sue have really strengthened and enriched my faith and they have left a tangible legacy.  When caring for them I felt a sense of real tragedy of death  giving way to the bright promise of eternal life.  The gift of life is now real to them and they were well prepared for eternal life, yes we walk through this valley of darkness and at this time it is very real.  With so many persons like Margaret and Sue gone before us, let us lift up our hearts and continue on our journey with great hope.

ST THOMAS A BECKET CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL is hosting its annual family friendly fireworks event on Friday 4th November from 5.15pm. Tickets are available from www.ptaevents.co.uk/stab

Pact (Prison Advice & Care Trust) invites you to join them at a JustPeople Workshop taking place at St. Pancras Catholic Church, Lewes, on Saturday 12^th November, 11am – 5pm.  Free to attend, it offers an opportunity to reflect upon Scripture, Church Teaching and Catholic Social Teaching through the lens of people affected by imprisonment.  Register here: JustPeople Workshop | Prison Advice and Care Trust  For more information, contact Marie on            [email protected] or call 07581 194907

Joan hopes you appreciated her “speel” sitting on her walker as she cannot get up to the lectern these days.  You must have listened to her plea to take the newsletters home to read, as there are many interesting articles ahead, they had all been taken.  Keep up the good work.

start by-weekly for year 10 and above this Sunday 23rd 4-6pm at St George’s Hall. Contact Sandra on 07791 627368 if you have not signed your child up but want to. 

Las Posadas – A Journey towards Christmas:  Mary, Joseph and the donkey are desperately looking for overnight lodgings in the Hailsham and Polegate  areas throughout Advent. Can you offer them a room for the night? For more details please take a leaflet from the church porch and fill in your details on the sign up sheet.