Category: Fr Rory Writes

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.

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.

Fr Rory writes:        

Father,                                                Son                                       and Holy Spirit. 

A work in process.  Progress was made at the meeting last Monday at OLR.                                                                                             Our Parish Priest, Fr Kevin has sent us the following information:-

NEW PARISH UPDATE

Our New Parish will operate from 2 Hub centres (the Eastbourne end and the St Leonard’s/Hastings end). We already have an excellent Leadership Group up and running in each Hub, made up of clergy and lay reps from each church. When we reach     Advent, end of November, we will have a Single  Newsletter for all churches in each Hub; all our Catechists will be working together across churches to deliver Sacramental programmes; we will have Stewardship Groups in each Hub, expertise drawn from across our churches, to oversee care of our many buildings in a strategically joined-up way; we will be consulting with you all about revised New Mass Schedules in each Hub, taking account of fewer priests and giving good variety of times for everyone. Please keep all this work in your prayer, and for more detailed info see: https://eastbourne-stleonards.org.uk  God bless,  Fr Kevin (on behalf of the clergy team)

Father,                                                Son                                       and Holy Spirit. 

A work in process.  Progress was made at the meeting on Monday at OLR.                                                                                            

Our Parish Priest, Fr Kevin has sent us the following information:-

NEW PARISH UPDATE

Our New Parish will operate from 2 Hub centres (the Eastbourne end and the St Leonard’s/Hastings end). We already have an excellent Leadership Group up and running in each Hub, made up of clergy and lay reps from each church. When we reach Advent, end of November, we will have a Single  Newsletter for all churches in each Hub; all our Catechists will be working together across churches to deliver Sacramental programmes; we will have Stewardship Groups in each Hub, expertise drawn from across our churches, to oversee care of our many buildings in a strategically joined-up way; we will be consulting with you all about revised New Mass Schedules in each Hub, taking account of fewer priests and giving good variety of times for everyone. Please keep all this work in your prayer, and for more detailed info see: https://eastbourne-stleonards.org.uk  God bless, Fr Kevin (on behalf of the clergy team)

Vibrant Communities,     Vibrant Communities,               Yes, Vibrant.    

Our parish priest, Fr Kevin, continues to highlight our need to be vibrant, and hearing from progress in the diocese in establishing now the new order that is intended to be in place, we must focus our efforts.  Good work has taken place over the years, but now we are at the point of deliverance and facing a challenge.   

The saying is “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”.  We need to continue to develop our responses, so far the preparation for the sacraments of reconciliation and holy communion has got off to a good start.  Last week a good suggestion for caring for the housebound; increasing opportunities to receive holy communion and praying together.  We now have an item from Fr Kevin for next weeks bulletins.  Please continue to pray and work for our future.   

                  “By the grace of God                                   with the help of God”

The Rosary Group at St George’s, faithfully, quietly, constantly over the years gathered to pray and share time together each Monday early afternoon.  This has been invaluable and leaves a great legacy of shared memories and company.  It now lends to something most important for us in facing the challenge for the future.  Suggestion has been raised to Fr Rory, that this could be a valuable opportunity for the elderly to receive Holy Communion in the church to begin with, and then they could join together for the rosary and teas in the hall after the service.

We will also have celebrated the anniversary of the Diocese at Ardingly Showground.  At this time we can hope that it will be a great celebration of our life in the Diocese.  When I entered the seminary, it had just been established, seeing as a good opportunity for a future of its own, freeing it from the clutches of the Diocese of Southwark. 

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,                Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Pray and pray constantly and never loose heart

As we begin a new year with the visit of the Relics, and a very important fruitful meeting with leaders from our two communities at St George’s and St Wilfrid’s.  Please God, we are off to a great start.  A true sense, I hope and pray we have very dedicated hard working core members of our faith communities ……. With a constant underlining true sense we need more persons to step forward and help, my constant prayer is that we are on our way with the help of God.

“By their fruits you shall know them,                    Good trees bear good fruit”

A constant saying as I was growing up, the family that prayed together, stayed together, but it also acknowledged that this does not act as the guarantee that there would be no crosses or afflictions. There is no guarantee of a trouble free life, but yes, there are aids to overcome them. 

The Knights of St Columba National Relic Tour, is a God sent opportunity and our highest priority to experience graces and blessings. A grateful heart to those who have laboured to prepare for this event, with the time and effort spent.  Let us embrace this event with prayer full hearts, and a good sense of hope that it will bring great blessings and the strengthening to be faithful witnesses through the important weeks and months to come.

             “A most special time             The Sabbath Day”

A day of rest.  Through the ages the Sabbath Day has received different guidelines on how it is best to celebrate it.  So it is good to pay attention for this time of rest as we enjoy our holiday season.

A big thank you to Bob and Madeleine Waters for their great contributions to us over the years.  An opportunity to express gratitude as we host the sacred relics, St Andrew – Apostle, Patron of Scotland, St Columba of Iona and St Margaret of  Scotland.

It is good for me to take this time to thank you all for the work we share for our communities, and as we enjoy our holidays we share a great sense of thanks to God’s providence in our lives.   With the help of the holiday season we will respond to the challenges that face us as we begin a new year.

Special Visitors

Each year we have special and interesting visitors attending our mass during the summer time.  From the very gifted man, who sings in concerts at Glyndebourne, others having very interesting stories from our past, leaving us enriched treasured memories remembered of celebrations and sorrows for sad losses.  Please God, all strengthening and supporting us on our journey.

This year we now have a visit from the National Relic Tour, Wednesday 27th August.  Organised by the Knights of St Columba, bringing the relics of three Saints; St Andrew – Apostle, Patron of Scotland, St Columba of Iona and St Margaret of Scotland.  Hoping that it will be a profitable, enjoyable and memorable occasion.  Please give it your best attention and response.