Author: Jacky

26th October 2025

Month of the Holy Souls

Gone before us, marked with a sign of faith.

While growing up in Ireland, I sometimes heard it said “the family that prays together and plays together, stay together”.   Recently we have been blessed by good experiences with the holy memorial and beautiful requiem mass service for Sheila Jury, and followed by a quiz night with memorable moments.  The team that won the prize for best name, brought some special excitement by the way they participated in the evening – credit where credit is due.

There is a very special occasion to look forward to on Friday 12th December in Hailsham; Comedy and   Carols.  This event deserves a lot of attention and communication, but above all, personal invitations.  So often we are so dependant upon a few doing so much.  Hopefully another event could be ever so enjoyable and rewarding, an occasion of remembrance with music and fellowship, remembering the many treasured members of our community who have died.  Bill O’Rourke stands out, as I remember an occasion that he lead, and it was a very memorable evening, with music and dance.

This year is coming to a close, believe it or not, and best foot forward for the coming year.  Let us continue working together, with just a bit more hope and good reason to be confident that the work that is taking place is the best way to go, and with the help of God, more persons working together will bear fruit.

Fruit that will last.

St Wilfrid’s

You may have noticed a large plastic box in our porch marked “Gift Bags & Gifts” to go in them.    Although we are not holding this very popular event until after our Carol Service in December (Date TBC).  We would like to make this event even bigger this year, so we will need more “Gift Bags” please, plus any gifts, just place them in the box.  Thank you.  Money raised will go towards our Children’s Liturgy.
 

Funeral Mass for Sheila Jury:

All of us who attended this moving service did so to remember our Sheila, a lovely lady, so bubbly and generous.  She is sadly missed by all of us, especially at Sunday & weekday masses and in the hall over a cuppa and chat.  Thank you Darcy for inviting us to a reception in our hall.  It was a privilege to see all her family mingling with us.  A big thank you to Leslie and her team, you did a great job of arranging a full buffet.  A collection was made in her honour for St Wilfrid’s Hospice, a very worthwhile cause.
 

World Mission Sunday

Today, parishes worldwide celebrate World Mission Sunday.  By supporting Missio – the Pope’s charity for world mission – we stand united as God’s global family, in prayer, solidarity and action.  We are called to be ’Missionaries Of Hope Among All Peoples’ as everyone deserves to hear that God loves them and to be strengthened by God’s Spirit.  Please pray for missionaries and give what you can to this vital collection, bringing God’s compassion, peace and justice to those in need.   To donate, use the Missio envelope, call 020 7821 9755 (office hours) or visit mission.org.uk to give a gift, set up a Direct Debit and Gift Aid your  donation if possible.
 

19th October 2025

Fr Rory writes:                                          

 Simple & Sincere.                                          For the love of God.

The harvest is great but the labourers are few, ask the Lord of the harvest.

With help of God; let us focus upon the Kingdom of God.  The focus remains the same, the labourers are few.  Moments of Grace are so important, and as you read, our moments of grace are so special.  My greatest failure is expressed in the appeal for Special Ministries.  The constant reality is that the labourers are few.  The Requiem Mass for Shiela Jury was very special, and great thanks to the funeral helpers who worked so hard to provide the event.  Another bonus, Annette has been given a date for her surgery.  The incredible amount of work that she does, sometimes without much support, leaves us very short while she is recuperating.  We wish her a speedy recovery, and like Lulu make a remarkable recovery.  All our thanks is not sufficient, but we remain ever so grateful.  The other items help us to realise how important our newsletter has been as a great platform to help us communicate within our communities.  We hear a lot about it, “to be vibrant communities”.  A constant work that will dictate the outcome for our future.  Other special moments, a call for prayer and thanks for Gary’s dad and the long list, who we remember each week in the newsletter, which is constantly updated.  Constant moments, “Month of the Holy Rosary”, nourishment.

West Hub Lumen Christi Confirmation Formation Group

Last Saturday, the West Hub Lumen Christi Confirmation Formation group gathered for the first time. Please keep in your prayers the more than fifty young people who have begun their journey of preparation to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation after Easter 2026.

Applications for this year’s programme are now closed. If you have a child who will be in Year 9–13 in September 2026, applications for the next group will open in July 26.