Category: Fr Rory Writes

              The Feast of Pentecost

                            “Once more the day of Pentecost has come”             

With it is the awareness that actions speak louder than words, praying in tongues is a real gift of the spirit and has great benefits.  Expectation, wanting to act in the light of the spirit are steps to revive and strengthen faith.            Communication, sharing our hope and expectations, a most important step in the right direction.  This Sunday we will share our names at St Wilfrid’s.  We have done this previously, and will bear fruit in our parish.  We will continue to develop and grow our plans for the future.

On Wednesday at 6pm we will have a parish council meeting, that will be of benefit for our future.  There are good ideas with important plans to structure, support and bring to fruition suggestions that are being made.  In time it will form a fruitful coherent strategy.  This evening I will be attending an overnight stay, and will be involved with Bishop Richard and the plans that are being formed for the Diocese.  So this is a time of importance for a real alive active   parish community to develop and grow.  Some have already engaged; preparation for our liturgies, children’s liturgy, social activities and our parish sponsored walk are preparing the way for an active living and sharing of faith.      Streaming will come to play an important part in this, as with our website, the way of things for the future.

‘As Good as Gold’

and with the help of God, far more valuable.  We had our first parish council meeting to lay out the tasks and responsibilities.  To focus our care for our parish and with the help of God “bear fruit, fruit that will last”.  Jesus could not be clearer “by their fruits you shall know them, good trees bear good fruit”.

For years now there has been question marks about the number of priests that are available to serve in our parishes.  An honest assessment is that in the prevailing circumstances a great shortage, not likely to change any time soon.  Now with the help of God, we will respond to our present circumstances and the Lord will provide.

Two thousand years ago, the church was in exactly the same situation, coping with the circumstances of their time.  One idea they came up with was deacons, God’s grace always works in other ways.  The greatest obstacle always is human nature effected by the sin of Adam.

With the Help of God

Our initial meeting of our parish council got off to a good start on Tuesday evening in the church.  Its role and above all its responsibility will be of great importance and will please God, be a great gift, very beneficial for our parish in the years to come.  The awareness that a body is made up of many parts, but working together is most beneficial; hence please God, core groups will enable this to bear fruit.

This coming Thursday to the Feast of the Ascension, with its focus upon the words of Jesus “It is good for you that I should go, for I will send the Holy Spirit, hence Feast of Pentecost” the most important event in the life of our church.

Another very special event, but this time a very happy one.  I received a copy of my sister Mary’s second book that has just been published “love speaks”, a very beautiful book full of hope and promise.

From the editor:

Love Speaks is a timely book, appearing at a time when all God’s people are asked to embark on a spiritual journey marked by two important elements: listening and sharing.  This journey is the synodal path that Pope Francis has    proposed for our times so that the Church can listen profoundly to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us.  However, an aspect of this listening which can too often be neglected is attentiveness to the inner voice in our own hearts, that still small voice of the Spirit in us.  Our author has shared generously the fruits of such attentive listening and by so doing invites us to ponder the words of love that sustains our journey in the spiritual life.

At the Link on Sunday

Such a special occasion; indeed a great privilege to have been there.  The food was so good, indeed delicious, yet the    occasion was so, so sad.  Kay’s acknowledgement “she was heart broken as the Link had come to a close”.  After years of love and care, a sanctuary for those in need, a port of call as a Christian outreach to Hailsham and beyond.  It      expressed its belief in actions; always spoke louder than words, an open door.  Ron will continue his outreach from the Christian bookshop for the moment and we will always keep them in our thoughts and prayers.  It brought Anne Fielder to the foremost part of my mind, as she was always so involved in everything good that happened in our     parish.  It helps me to strengthen hope that our parish communities continue to refocus and grow.  I believe Pentecost this year will be truly important.  Let us walk and work together for a new Pentecost, for a revived journey of life, love and faith.

The Feast of St George brings with it an opportunity to highlight our shared journey.   So the Mass at St George’s will be followed by tea and cake, thanks to Shirley and friends.  It presents us with an opportunity to share new steps on our journey.  We look forward to the work of our parish council.

A sad note to end.  We have been informed Anita Stone has died; with her husband Geoff, they too made a great   contribution to the life of our parish.

A great thanks be to God for Holy Week and Easter,

 and the great sense of grace that it brought to us. 

One special  moment was the children’s Stations of the Cross.

Now we look forward to Pentecost. 

That it may be a fresh beginning for a new life of faith in our parish communities.  Some very important work has been done.

Rejoice in the Lord always

and again I say rejoice.

Once again a Happy Easter to all

Christ is Risen from the death.

He will turn our crosses

into Crowns

   The Instruction “Do This in Remembrance of Me”

Restoring reception of the precious blood from the Chalice.

This is a very personal decision for each person.  We are all very aware of the pandemic and the need to exercise   caution and care.  This remains an important part of our discernment. So it is right and must play its part in deciding our response.                                  

The fact that we can receive the precious blood is of great value and should be cherished, even if it is our decision not to receive from the chalice at this time.  It is an important part of The Last Supper when Jesus said “Do this in           remembrance of me”.  It was at the heart of the event that took place on the night he was betrayed when Jesus took bread and wine, blessed and broke it, so that hence forth it provides us with the divine nourishment that we receive. This helps us on our journey of life.

The introduction of the idea of it being a mortal sin if we do not receive is a grave mistake.  Key to everything is the nourishment we receive.  We are particularly aware that if we do not nourish our bodies we are at a loss.  In the same way it is so important that we continue to nourish our spirits while we journey on to the fullness of life in God’s kingdom.  Please God, we will restore ministry of the chalice on Wednesday, when we celebrate the mass of the Lord’s Supper.  Deacon John has offered his service to carry out this ministry for this event.

“Holy Week is almost upon us”

“Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into His Glory?”

We are about to be presented with this mystery which is at the heart of life, the greatest occasion in the churches year.  Please God, this year presents us with the opportunity to bear much fruit.  So far, a lot of work has taken place and we look forward to the coming events.  Hopefully after my misadventure with the Covid virus, thanks be to God my symptoms were not too serious, and I will be able to catch up with visiting the housebound and get on with our preparations for Holy Week.  God bless and keep you.

Again, help and more help needed.  Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the faith of thy womb, Jesus.

The good news, God’s salvation is our greatest gift.  How we share and how we celebrate this is our greatest hope for our future.  Yes, this needs a structure, but it needs to be fit for purpose.  I am aware that when I write liturgy of the word and of the eucharist, it is controversial.  For me the most important thing is that we nourish and strengthen our faith.

The structure for our parish council is now the most important contribution that we can make, and I am grateful for the work that is taking place.  This Sunday will be St George’s turn to discuss and to propose, and here at St Wilfrid’s after mass this Wednesday morning.  The implication will take time to fall into place, its priority will be most important.  If we get them right, actions speak louder than words and I look forward to our liturgies, obviously the rosary is important, but liturgies of the word and our actions, please God, will bear good fruit, fruit that will last.   Maintenance of our churches, including halls and gardens will be an important part of our contribution to give witness to our faith.  We are particularly blessed with our parish secretary, and I am very hopeful that we can look forward to our future.