Category: Latest News

Do you have compassion for the lost and broken?  Would you be able to give 5 hours a week?  Get involved as a Volunteer Chaplain.  Find out more about the work of Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team at www.bhct.org.uk or contact [email protected] for more information.

Now all of the children have received their first communion, they will all come together today Sunday, June 23rd at St Wilfrid’s 10.30 mass to celebrate their ‘Going Forth’ mass and to share a communion breakfast.  

Recently I have written about the Holy Spirit. There are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit so over the next few weeks by way of relaxation, I will present some jokes which are based on these gifts:

A. The Gift of Wisdom

1) Four-year-old Amanda was taken to the doctor’s office with a fever.  The doctor looked in her ears and asked, “Who’s in there?  Donald Duck?” she said, “No.”  He looked in her open mouth, “Who’s in there?  Mickey Mouse?” Again, she said, “No.”  He put his stethoscope on her heart and asked, “Who’s in there?  Barney?” — Amanda replied, “No, Jesus is in my heart.  Barney is in the pocket of my underwear.”

2) “Where there’s smoke…” There is an old joke about a man who asked his priest whether it was okay to smoke while he prayed. His priest said, “Absolutely not! When you pray, you should be completely devoted to prayer!” So the man went to another priest, but he changed his question, “Would it be okay to pray while I smoke?” “Yes, of course” was the answer.

3) Qualifications?  Several years ago in Germany,  a Bishop was questioning the children who were about to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation: “Who can administer the sacrament of confirmation?” he asked. A young girl          answered: “Any bishop, once he’s attained the age of reason!”

The diocese Marriage and Family Life Adviser,   Katherine Bergin, has worked with a range of contributors to create a fantastic brand-new newsletter aimed at diocesan grandparents.  We have made several copies of the newsletter available at the back of church for anyone wishing to read it.  Please do leave them for others to read after you.  

For myself and I am sure I speak for my fellow parishioners in St George’s and St Wilfrid’s, I want to express heartfelt thanks and our deepest gratitude to our very own Fr Rory.   Also, many congratulations upon achieving 50 years of   devoted service.

For over 18 years, Fr Rory has given an unwavering dedication to our community and continues to be a shining        example of faith.  His guidance and support have touched the lives of countless individuals.  We are truly blessed to have him as a spiritual leader.  Fr Rory’s compassion, wisdom and selfless service have made a profound impact upon our parish and we are forever grateful for his presence in our lives. Thankyou Fr Rory for your steadfast commitment to spreading love, hope and grace to all of those around you.  You are truly a man of faith and we are honoured to have you as our Catholic priest.  You have been a guiding light in our spiritual journey. You have left a lasting impact upon our spiritual journey together.

We should all strive to serve each other by recalling Our Lord’s example.  John described this when he wrote in his  gospel, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them”. (John 13:14-17).

Finally, on behalf of all those whom have known Fr Rory over his 50 years since he became a priest in 1974, a message from me:

Mile buiochas Rory as gach a dheanann tu duinn. Go mbeannaitear thu le blianta fada eile na dea-shlainte. Bain sult as do jubilee.

Go mbeannai Dia. 

The last Sunday parish breakfast in May raised over £150 for the RNLI, thank you to all who supported. Our June Charity Breakfast will be on the Sunday 30th in St George’s Hall after mass and is in aid of the Foodbank.  Please join us and bring friends and family – All are welcome.

We warmly welcome the following children into the family of God and the community of St Wilfrid’s, who were baptised during the last month.

Please pray for them and their families: Oliver Bogacki and Alexander Jedrzejewski

Thank you to everyone who took part in the womble day at both our churches, we achieved lots, not everything and more help would have been good, but a work in progress!   We intend to have two of these Big Help days a year; the next will be in September/October.  As parishioners we hope that you consider our churches and the gardens as an extension to your own home, so if you ever see anything    needing doing, especially something simple like a little weeding or gardening or dusting/de-cobwebbing etc. please do take any time you like to do it.  Thank you to everyone for all the help given both on Womble Day and any other time.

Fr Rory and Deacon John also wish to pass on their thanks, your work was noticed on Sunday and much appreciated. Thank you.

Please pray for all our parish children due to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time this month:  Phoebe Munro – Bishop and Lillian Codling who will be making their First Holy Communion on Sun, 9th June at 9.00am at St G’s.  Juan Escaner, Jack Mullan, Rosemary Selby and Taira Shinto who will be making their First Holy Communion on Sun, 16th June at St W’s 10.30 mass.  Once all of the children have received their first communion, they will all come together on Sun, June 23rd at St Wilfrid’s 10.30 mass to celebrate their ‘Going Forth’ mass and to share a communion breakfast.