Our thanks to all who have given so generously with both money and prayers for Claudia, Laura and Maria our parish youth due to attend Lourdes in July/August. The girls are all very humbled by how much has been raised, in excess of £800 to be divided equally towards their fares. They plan to produce a short video of their journey and time in Lourdes which we will arrange to show to you all in Autumn. Please do continue to pray for all Lourdes pilgrims this year.
Author: Jacky
Bluebell Walk – Arlington
If you would like to join us on this visit to the Bluebell Walk on Monday 22nd April, we will be meeting at 11am at St Wilfrid’s Church. Anyone who has a car and spare seats, please could you offer a seat to someone else.
Parish Quiz Night Success
Last Friday’s Parish Bi Annual Quiz night at St George’s was a great success and our thanks go to all who made it so: quizzers; refreshments and raffle team; and especially Mary & Colin our quiz masters. The night raised over £400 (£200+ for each church) and the winning team, Paula’s Angels, really were wonderful when they donated their £60 winnings to our Youth attendees at Lourdes fundraiser, a very lovely gesture – they were more keen on the coveted trophy than money it seems! Our next Parish Quiz will be in October at St Wilfrid’s Date TBC.
Fr Rory Writes
Just a lovely, lovely hour on a Saturday morning with Adoration and Veneration of the Blessed Sacrament,
and available to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a time of grace and peace.
Time is flying by, but thanks be to God for Holy Week and Easter. It is a loss to see the Garden of Remembrance installed at the Altar sliding away. So our greatest care is the Ascension with Jesus returning to His true place in our Fathers House in Heaven. As these signs and symbols of a great season move on, it is essential that we focus upon this time; the most important time in the whole year. The words of Jesus; ‘It is good for you that I should go back to the father, because when I go I will send you the Holy Spirit’. Good preparation to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, must be the most important thing for all of us.
Then down the road is my Golden Jubilee year. I look forward to its celebration. The date chosen has been the second Sunday in July, which is the 14th. Most important to it will be our return to the sponsored walk which got off again to a good start last year. As we have two churches making up our parish community it is essential that both should celebrate the occasion and have a positive energetic experience. An experience of grace, good stories to tell, an achievement to remember and so the emphasis is on all that can be done together now that in the near future there will be a real shortage of priests. God willing I am hoping to soldier on for a time.
St Wilfrid’s
As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, we would like more of you to help us in our hall on the various social occasions. Many of us are too old to help as we did in the past. This was brought home to us last Sunday after mass when Anne had to rush off and Lulu was offered a lift home after mass because she was in a lot of pain. Many of you went into the meeting in the church following mass and so it was left to the “oldies” to do the best they could. If anyone would like to help us in the hall after mass on a Sunday and Wednesday, please get in touch with Joan 07873390944. Thank you.
Having enjoyed our “Easter Bag Sale”, if you have any bags to spare ready for the next one, please pop them in the box provided in the church porch. Thank you.
Walk for young people (Age 16+)
Walk for young people (Age 16+), Saturday 25th May, 9.30am to 4.30pm, commencing from St Wilfrid’s Church, Hailsham. Please wear suitable clothing and shoes. For more information email [email protected]
Youth Ministry Training
Youth Ministry Training – 20 April and 18 May at The St Philip Howard Centre, Crawley: Do you want to see more young people in your Parish? Sign up for the Diocesan two-day Youth Ministry Training course. Be inspired, encouraged and equipped for the new era of mission that we find ourselves in. E: [email protected]
Parish Charity Breakfast
Our next date will be Sunday 28th April after St George’s 9am mass – All welcome invite friends and family, they are welcome just to attend breakfast or join for mass also.
Fr Rory Writes
Hail Mary full of grace, The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, Blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
We represent last weeks window because it is so fit for purpose. Why the Hail Mary? Because it is absolutely important to realise that salvation has come down from heaven, that the Kingdom of darkness has a prevailing effect in our world. So the Son of God, Jesus, came down from heaven to restore fallen mankind, that is why Deacon John’s presentation last week is so helpful, so important. Nourishment, that is so important for our bodies; is vitally important for our spiritual life.
Let us have the courage of our Christian convictions to share our Faith as St Thomas did, and to recognize the “nail marks.” We are not to keep the gift of Faith locked in our hearts, but to share it with our children, our families and our neighbours, always remembering the words,: “Every believer in this world must become a spark of Christ’s light,” spoken by Pope St. John XXIII. “We all have scars from our own Good Fridays that remain, long after our own experiences of resurrection. Our ‘nail marks’ remind us that all pain and grief, all ridicule and suffering, are transformed into healing and peace in the love of God that we receive from, and extend to others. The “nail marks” of Jesus are all around us in the lives of those living out their own Calvary’s. Jesus calls us to be willing to place ourselves in the pain and struggle of others and bring the joy and peace of Easter into hearts, entombed in winter cold and darkness.”
South Downs Singers Spring Concert
The South Downs Singers Spring Concert on Saturday 27th April at 3.30pm. St George’s Church. Tickets £10 on the door or by calling 01323 832767.