17th November 2024

Deacon John Writes:

On Saturday November 2nd, All Souls Day, after Mass, I blessed the Memorial Garden at St George’s and all the graves in the garden. I then went to Willingdon cemetery and blessed the graves there. A good gathering came to the Church garden and a much smaller group accompanied me to the cemetery. Thank you to all who supported me and a special thank you to Anne who transported me.

Last Sunday I preached about Remembrance Sunday and included two poems. I found it quite emotional reading these poems. I was in Plymouth when war broke out. My father was an air raid warden during the war. I remember the air raid shelter at the bottom of the garden and I remember having to move from one shelter to another several times one night as bombs fell around us. In the   chaos of movement I got separated from my parents but was safely returned home the following day. I was 5/6 at the time. My    father was a schoolteacher and his school was evacuated in its entirety to Penzance for the rest of the war. The poems I referred to were: 

Laurence Binyon’s poem ‘For the fallen’:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
           Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
           At the going down of the sun and in the morning
             We will remember them.

John McCrae wrote the poem “In Flanders Fields” In the spring of 1915, shortly after losing a friend in Ypres, after seeing poppies growing in battle-scarred fields.

In Flanders’ fields the poppies blow  Loved and were loved, and now we lie             Between the crosses, row on row        In Flanders’ fields.
That mark our place: and in the sky   Take up our quarrel with the foe;
The larks, still bravely singing, fly     To you from failing hands we throw
Scarce heard amid the guns below.    The torch; be yours to hold it high, We are the dead. Short days ago If ye break faith with us who die
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders’ Fields.

That poem inspired the use of the poppy as a symbol of Remembrance.

 

10th November 2024

St Wilfrid’s and St George’s Writes:

“Our Communities planning the way ahead”

From the minutes of St Wilfrid’s Parish Meeting held on 3rd November, and from the Moderated Communities Council here is an important synopsis.  Full minutes should be available in the church porches.  Diocesan Pastoral Plan 2024.  Gerry wrote to Fr Kevin at the end of September with a list of questions to help with a Q & A session for the next open meeting. Diocesan representatives are meeting with clergy in November to outline plans for development of the       Moderated Parish, it is anticipated that the process will take at least two years to implement. 

Ministries & Formations – Father would like to rotate the Ministers more frequently, all whilst recruiting more Ministers. A Baptism Formation has been established with two Catechists, one for each Church. Angela & Mary.

The Sacristy needs an updated inventory, with additional resources that reflects the needs of the Parish moving forward. This to be carried out by Lorreta & David St Wilfrid’s, and Martin & Angela at St George’s.

Given that in our limited understanding of the Moderated Parish timelines, it was decided that we should look at updating the Parish website. Possibly looking at website revamp and a maintenance contract, that will assist the Parish in changing content on a regular basis.

Christmas Mass times to be agreed by Father, hopefully by the 1st week in November.

The Diocese sent out a “keep in touch form” that we can use to ask all the Parishioners to fill out.

3rd November 2024

“God is love, let us love one another”

At a time like this when there is so much strife and stress in our world, this focus can have great value.  Our council meeting at St George’s reflected this.  We continue to wait for more decisions and guidance from the diocese; but the focus of our responsibility is to bring leadership and guidance to our communities.  Spotlighting two particularly important events.   The first was the mass for healing which took place at St Wilfrid’s and the second which takes place here at St George’s this Saturday, the Service of Remembrance.  From these events, acknowledging our need for  developed communications, the need is to establish more coherent communication, particularly within the ministries as we move forward developing and growing.

Focusing upon our ministries as the best way to move ahead.  The ministry of welcomers and hospitality has a key part.  Knowing more and more the members and deepening awareness, particularly of sacrament preparation, and  co-ordinating ministries of the eucharist, readings, website and a growing number of activities to develop the life and lives of our community.  This relates particularly to the housebound, sick, social activities and those enquiring how to belong and share more fully in the needs of the church.

27th October 2024

Over one billion Catholics all over the world observe last Sunday as World Mission Sunday. This annual observance was instituted 98 years ago in 1926 by Pope Pius XI’s Papal decree. Every year since then, the universal Church has dedicated the month of October to reflection on, and prayer for, the missions. On World Mission Sunday, Catholics gather to celebrate the Eucharist and to contribute to a collection for the work of evangelisation around the world. This annual celebration gives us a chance to reflect on the importance of mission work for the life of the Church. It reminds us that we are one with the Church around the world and that we are all committed to carrying on the mission of Christ, however different our situations may be.

Pope Francis’ theme for 2024 World mission Sunday is rooted in the Gospel of Matthew: “Go and Invite Everyone to the Banquet,” reflecting the inclusive and urgent call to bring God’s love to everyone. Let us join in this universal mission to spread the Gospel and invite all to experience the joy of Christ’s message!

With my love and prayers for all of you this week. 

18th October 2024

As mentioned last week, we will need to read the minutes of the deanery meeting, and here goes:

PREPARING TO BE A NEW PARISH TOGETHER: On 19 November the Deanery Clergy will meet with the Diocesan Team, who will begin guiding us into the formal process towards our becoming a new Parish, from Eastbourne to Rye. There’s no denying it sounds a daunting task, but together all of us will be able to start taking steps to get in place what will be needed for this to work. Already behind the scenes good conversations and meetings are beginning and we have had well attended open meetings across the deanery. The most important task is for us all to PRAY with OPEN and POSITIVE HEARTS. I am confident that if we do this, we will not just be pleasantly surprised but even AMAZED at the good that can be done together to build the Church and share the Gospel in new and exciting ways. There are inevitably many “unknowns”, but we will move at a pace that allows us to do things well and properly, and always for the upbuilding of people and community, and for the welcoming and inclusion of people who are distanced from their faith or who have never yet heard the call of the Gospel.

Regular updates will come through in the weeks ahead and opportunities for  everyone to play their part in the     journey we will be on together. As well as in our communal gatherings, please keep this intention very much in your personal prayer. God bless, Fr Kevin

11th October 2024

“So far so good, maybe, so good, so far”.

We will need to read the minutes of the deanery meeting, which will move us on to the usual November meeting, when we gather to say mass for the deceased priests from our deanery.  We will be visited by the diocesan team, who have been mandated by Bishop Richard to see his plan for the diocese implemented by all the deaneries.

The time schedule to get all this done may be extended.  My overriding concern at the moment is when we would be rostered to say mass at the different churches in the deanery.  Needless to say it was echoed at the meeting and I am more at ease, that it will not begin immediately.  So for the moment all our attention is drawn to Deacon John’s piece in the newsletter on Sunday 29th.  This was excellent and deserves a lot of further attention.  He focused our attention on Martin’s appeal for volunteers to help with the ministry of the church.  It takes all kinds of roles that are helpful, possibly critical for any parish to function in the future.  It serves as a reminder that a parish is not just a priest.  St Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians makes this quite clear to all of us.  Everyone has a role but not the same role.  We are not all called to be ordained priests.  Neither are we all called to be prophets.  But we all do have one thing in common.  We have all been baptised into one Body, and because of this we each have a necessary and relevant role that contributes to the well being of the whole.

4th October 2024

“Two important events on the way ahead”

The first one is at St Wilfrid’s but unfortunately it is very soon.  “The Celebrations for my Birthday and my Jubilee” which I deeply appreciate; were a distraction from this most important event.  It is a mass for the Sacrament of Healing.  In the past the focus of attention was on extreme unction; the primary tag “in danger of death”.   Also in confessions, now the sacrament of reconciliation has now replaced the emphasis upon confessions of mortal sins.  Now is the time and is a great opportunity to begin again with the focus on pardon and peace, healing and forgiveness.

The second event is at St George’s on Saturday morning with the Requiem Mass; a service of remembrance for our loved ones, our treasured memories and an important window to highlight our Gardens of Remembrance.

20th September 2024

Fr Rory’s Birthday celebrations and CAFOD Harvest Appeal:

Come and join us in celebrating Fr Rory’s special birthday next Sunday, September 29th. We all give thanks that he has chosen not to retire, just yet! 

We are encouraging all parishioners to sponsor Father Rory as he walks between our two parish churches, departing from St Georges, Polegate at 3pm. Or, if you are able to join him along the walk, please collect your own sponsor forms and cheer him along. Sponsor forms are available at the back of the church. Following the walk, we will celebrate with a birthday tea and musical entertainment in St Wilfrid’s hall from 4pm. If you are joining us for the walk or coming along to the birthday celebrations, don’t forget to add your name to the list at the back of church. This will help us to cater for everyone’s needs. 

CAFOD Harvest Appeal:  CAFOD’s Harvest Family Fast Day is on Friday 4th October, a day we can pray, give, and eat simply in solidarity with our global family. Thank you for your support of previous Fast Days and thank you for your generosity and prayers for our sisters and brothers in this Harvest Appeal. This year’s appeal is focusing on supporting people like Daniel, a young man in Democratic Republic of Congo.  Daniel’s family didn’t always have enough to eat, despite both of his parents working. There was no money to send him to school. Now Daniel is carving a better future for his family with carpentry skills he learned in a CAFOD-funded training centre. Give to CAFOD today and you’ll fund training, tools, equipment and safe spaces so more people like Daniel can learn new skills and fulfil their God-given potential.
 
 Please share the link with your family and friends and help us to reach our target of £500 for the CAFOD Harvest Appeal

23rd August 2024

“Another Outing”

Last week I shared our experience of a visit to see Elizabeth Robinson, which was a great moment of grace amidst all the adversities of life.  She was a blessing and a joy to visit.  Reminiscing on moments from the past, and the special contributions of Peter and Sophie from confirmation preparation, plus treasured memories from our past.

This week I am about to set out on a much longer venture, when we will visit Fr Jerry Twomey in York.  He was ordained with me at Thurles in June, fifty years ago.  We joined the seminary together, six years earlier.  I look forward to sharing with him treasured moments from that time.  We were very blessed with aspects of our experiences, and one of the professors was a true treasure that can never be taken away.   Other aspects were fit for purpose, and we looked forward to a rewarding time of ministry in the church.

I am afraid that was not sadly how it turned out and continues to be echoed in the times we are living.  The seminaries are closed (a sign of not fit for purpose) some will not be pleased by the reminder.  Fr Jerry’s health has let him down, so he has made the decision to retire.  I am really looking forward to our time of sharing.  I am hoping and praying that this visit will be equally rewarding as the one with Elizabeth.  In fact I am sure it will be a great help and I am looking forward to it.  Please God, it will help to open my eyes to see the beam in my own eyes before attempting to take out the splinters in other peoples eyes.  Also, help me as I look forward to our future following on the moderated plans in Fr Kevins letter, laying out the focus for our future.  Please continue to give the letter the care and attention that it requires.

16th August 2024

So important that we continue on our pilgrim way on life’s journey.

At times like this, easier said than done.  Thanks be to God for a very special moment of grace, last week had a blast from the past.  Myself, Joan and Granddaughter Sophie visited Elizabeth Robinson.  She is very blessed because her nursing home near the seafront in Bexhill is looking after her very well and she is very happy there.  Sophie and Elizabeth’s husband Peter, did a lot of work together for our parish and we cherished good times together.

So needless to say I continue to pray for our future.  Words are always selective and we choose what we like to hear from “Letter to all parishioners of the Deanery – July 2024”.  We won’t be about “closing down” but building up what we already have, sharing all our good resources.