Category: Latest News

SYNOD 2023 – Listening and Participating

After the successful launch of our Parishes focus on Synod 2023 we are now delighted to start work on hand out two, which you will receive this morning.

To recap, The Synod, initiated by Pope Francis, is a process in which the Church encourages its people (you) to listen and learn and a vessel by which we can communicate to the Pope what WE believe is needed for OUR future Church.  This is an extremely important step and you, the parishioners of St Wilfrid and St George, are invited to take time to be part of it.

Last week we worked on answering questions relating to Our Companions on the journey. Communion.  Some of you hopefully undertook this as individuals, families, or smaller groups.  We are also delighted that many of you chose to be part of it in one or both of our meetings that we held on Wednesday and Saturday.  All these responses will be passed to the Bishop.  They will also be used to help us as a Parish consider what is needed for us to unite further on our journey in faith.

Week 2 – YOU are invited to Speak Out Some more…

This week, as requested by Our Pope, we are invited to reflect on the following issue, and let him know our thoughts:-

Week 2 – Listening – Participation, handout available today at mass.

Private, Individual or Group responses can be handed in via the box at the back of Church – marked Synod.  You are also encouraged and very welcome to attend either or both of the following meetings being held for the Parish:-

Wednesday 26th January after 10am Mass – St Wilfrid’s Hall

Saturday 29th January 10am – St George’s Hall

Next week  – Week 3 – Speaking out, Mission, handout available from Sunday 30th January

Further information:

www.abdiocese/org.uk/synod – this includes the Diocese document and an online easy to use survey.  Even if you undertake this survey though, which we wholly encourage, please also take time to respond to the Parish survey.

https://www.synod.va/en/documents/english-version-of-the-preparatory-document.html

St George’s Hall

St George’s Hall is used extensively during the week to fee paying hall hirers who have to comply with strict covid regulations. The hall or toilets must not be entered by parishioners when a session is taking place as this compromises their contract and their requirement to have names and contact details of all present. If you need to use the toilet before or after Mass, please speak to Angela or Cathy for permission to use the church toilet. Thank you for your co-operation.

Over 50’s Activities

I expect you read in your newsletter last week that we have cancelled our monthly lunch at the Kings Head on Thursday 13th January.  Although the Kings Head love to have us and are very aware of what the COVID rules are, many of us are not ready to eat out at a restaurant just yet.  We are hoping, please God, we can all meet up on Thursday 10th February, 12noon at the Kings Head, Horsebridge, more details nearer the time.

However, you cannot keep us ‘oldies’ down for long, so we are going ahead with our belated Party on Thursday 27th January, 2pm in our Hall.  The cost will be £5 per person, which will include expensive crackers (no not with cheese!!), homemade large Christmas Cake, a chocolate raffle and all our usual eats and fun games.  It will be your last chance to purchase any bargains from our Sales Table, as it is closing end of January unless anyone would like to take it over?

Please inform any of our friends who do not receive our newsletter, indeed anyone you feel will benefit from our afternoon teas, they are open to all, so long as you enjoy good company, good food, fun and laughter, you will be very welcome.  Please contact me for catering purposes.  Thank you, Joan – Tel: 07873390944.

Well Done

Well Done to David McMeekin who has been given the Golden Jubilee Award by the Order of the Knights of St Columba in recognition for his work for the Church over the last 52 years. The Order started in 1919 and David joined the Eastbourne Knights in 1970.

Synod 2023 – Encouraging Participation

SYNOD 2023 – Encouraging Participation 

The Synod, initiated by Pope Francis, is a process in which the Church encourages its people (you) to listen and learn and a vessel by which we can communicate to the Pope what WE believe is needed for OUR future Church.  This is an extremely important step and you, the parishioners of St Wilfrid and St George, are invited to take time to be part of it.

Our Bishop has been asked by the Pope to listen to your ideas, to plant dreams, draw forth prophecies and visions, bind up wounds, awaken a dawn of hope, learn from one another and create a bright resourcefulness that will warm hearts and give strength to our hands.

Our Pope wants our Parish to listen and learn from everyone within it, young people who might have ideas on what the Church should do in the future, people who think that the Church ignores them, and from everyone on their faith journey.

YOU are invited to Speak Out

The Pope would like us to reflect on the following issues, and let him know our thoughts:-

Week 1 –  Our Companions on the journey. Communion.  Please see handout provided at Mass this week.

Week 2 – Listening – Participation, handout available from Sunday 23rd January

Week 3 – Speaking out, Mission, handout available from Sunday 30th January

Each week for the next three weeks so it is important we consider these issues, and respond as soon as possible for the Bishop.

Individual or Group responses can be handed in via the box at the back of Church – marked Synod.  Or you could attend one of the meetings detailed below, if you prefer.

Further information:

www.abdiocese/org.uk/synod – this includes the 24 page document prepared by the Diocese and an online easy to use survey where private responses can be provided.  Even if you do this survey though, which we wholly encourage, please also take time to respond to the Parish survey.

https://www.synod.va/en/documents/english-version-of-the-preparatory-document.html

Synod 2023 Week 1 –  Our Companions on the journey. Communion. 

All Parishioners are invited to consider this week’s theme together at either or both of the following meetings.

Wednesday 19th January after 10am Mass – St Wilfrid’s Hall

Saturday 22nd January 10am – St George’s Hall

Bishop Richard Writes

The Lord – the Word made Flesh – was born in this world riddled with difficulty, conflict and disease. We have celebrated His birth and, at the Epiphany, his manifestation to the world that He came to save. This Sunday, the Gospel takes us thirty years on – to His baptism in the Jordan by John. The Holy Spirit is seen and the voice of the Father proclaims Jesus as “the Beloved” on whom “favor rests”. This event marks the beginning of the Lord’s public ministry. After the hidden life of Nazareth, the time has come for the Lord to embark upon the three years of preaching, healing and teaching that would lead him to Passion, Death and Resurrection – all for our salvation; all out of love for us. All was done so that, in the words of St Paul in his Letter to Titus, “We should be justified by His grace, to become heirs looking forward to eternal life.”
 
Despite the circumstances in which we find ourselves – no matter how difficult they may be – we can be confident in the power of the Saviour Who has come. There must be something of John the Baptist about us, as we point the way for others towards the person of Jesus. Now is the time for us to listen to the Prophet Isaiah and to say, as John the Baptist said: “Here is your God.”  

Over 50’s Activities

This is a very difficult time for us oldies.  Many of us have ‘Good Reason’ to be anxious and worried.  We do not attend Mass, but thanks to Gary we can view it online.  We had to cancel our ‘Christmas Party’ but please God, we will be able to celebrate on Thursday 27th January at 2pm in our hall, £5 per person.   Please pass the information on to our friends, all are welcome, especially our friends from St George’s and our Non-Catholic friends.  To make it a great success, I need numbers for catering etc.  Please ring me on 07873390944. Thank you, Joan.

 Unfortunately we have had to cancel our monthly lunch at the Kings Head on Thursday 13th January.  Although they carry out the necessary Covid Rules, not many of us are prepared to risk dining out just yet.  So we have decided to try for Thursday 10th February, 12noon.  Details nearer the time.  Please inform anyone who normally joins us, but does not receive our newsletter.  Thank you.

On a lighter note our Christmas Lunch went ahead very successfully, 25 of us sat at three large round tables in the function room.  The food, service and atmosphere were great.  Fr Kieran and Fr Rory joined us with several of our friends from St George’s, what fun and laughter we had.  We really want to keep up this happy meal out once a month.  If you would like to join us or have a friend to come with us, you only have to be over 50 and enjoy good food and company and a good laugh.  Transport is not a problem, just let me know on 07873390944.  I do hope we can start going out for a meal again.  If you pray hard enough, I am sure the ‘Good Lord’ will help us.  Thank you, Joan.