Category: Latest News

CAFOD in Eastbourne and St Leonards Deanery invite you to a Workshop on Catholic Social Teaching on Sat 1st April,  11 am to 1 pm, in Concordia Hall, Church Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea, TN37 6HB. Come and explore with us the history and practice of Catholic Social Teaching which informs and underpins the work of CAFOD.   Hot Cross Buns, coffee and tea provided. This is not an “April Fool” but an opportunity not to be missed!”.

 Help, I rely upon help.

In my first parish, St Anne’s, Banstead, we started up a parish youth group called Y.A.F (Youth Action Fellowship) it got off to a great start.  I hoped to add the word formation, but the time as curate was short lived, 3-4 years.  So I was moved on.  There appears to be so much less time in a week as weeks and years fly by.

We are now well launched on our response to Bishop Richards pastoral plan “The Word Who Is Life”, especially from the introduction 1.3: “I therefore take this opportunity to invite everyone in the Diocese – lay faithful and religious, deacons and priests – to join with me in forging our parishes into communities”.

Putting things into practice is the important thing, this is where I need all the help.  Already in our plan for St George’s I got the date for our meeting after our weekday mass wrong, as I am not free on Tuesday, so it needs to change.

Most important is our first Sunday Meeting after Mass which takes place at St George’s Church next Sunday. 

We need to spread the word and encourage people to come.

Family Stations and Soup Lunch Saturday 11th March 11.30am at St George’s –   All our children and their families, along with all other parishioners are invited to this child friendly Stations of the Cross – please make every effort to join if you can.  The stations will be followed by a homemade soup lunch in the hall. For catering numbers please sign up at the back of church or contact Sandra on 07736 839168/[email protected].  Other Parish Stations of the Cross during lent at St George’s will be held on Sunday 5th March, 12th March and 2nd April (Palm Sunday Stations includes Benediction and refreshments in hall).  Also on Good Friday 7th April there will be a Family Service with Stations of the cross at 10.30am followed by refreshments and hot cross buns in the hall.   All welcome.

Parish St Patrick’s Feast Day – Friday 17th March:  We couldn’t let this great Irish day go by without celebrating in the true Irish way.  We have arranged an evening of fun, music, singing and dancing.  Good food, tea/coffee provided.  You may bring your own drink.  All for £5 Adults, Children Free.  Tickets on sale now after Sunday and weekday masses.

If you wish a name to be  added, please contact the office on 841504.  Thank you.

Tuesday 28th March we are considering paying a visit to the Emmaus Centre in Portslade.  If interested please see Joan or Tel 07873390944 asap.  Details to follow.

Our afternoon tea last Thursday had a definite “Chinese New Year Theme”, the table had a great display of lanterns etc.  25 of us & Fr Rory had a great time.  Our next date will be 30th March, theme “Green for the Irish”.

St George’s Last Sunday Charity Breakfasts – Success so far!  With five charity breakfasts now under our hat we have been delighted with the response so far and thank everyone for their support. The initial idea of these breakfasts was to create a regular post-pandemic socialising opportunity for us all while raising much needed funds for charities close to our hearts – we think we are well on our way to achieving this.  Especially now people are starting to bring along friends and family to join as well, bring more and spread the word!

Charities we have supported and amounts raised: CAFOD £145 (Sept), Royal British Legion £72 (Oct), Children with Cancer £154 (Nov), St Wilfrid’s Hospice £145 (Jan) and Hosanna House Children’s Pilgrimage Trust £200 (Feb, this    includes £66 from 50% of our table sale fundraising). Hosanna House is our dedicated Lent charity so we will add to this amount raised with the Family Stations of the Cross Soup Lunch and the March Breakfast on Sunday 27th.  

Do you have a Charity suggestion that you would like us to support  at one of our future breakfasts? Ideally local or  Catholic.  Can you Help occasionally – we are very much in need of extra team members so we can set up a rota as this event needs at least four people helping monthly and we are not always all available.  Speak to Sandra after mass or email [email protected]

Le Cunamh De         with the help of God         Le Cunamh De

On the 4th Sunday of Lent “Laetare”, March 19th, Canon Paul will celebrate with us the 10.30am morning mass.  This will give an opportunity for all the people from St George’s to gather together after their 9am mass, to outline plans and actions for the future of the church at St George’s.  This is a response to the growing great shortage of priests.  Above all it is a providential opportunity for the people of God to grow.  As mentioned great and inspiring moments during our seminary preparation.   A statement in the Old Testament was “Let my people go”.  I have occasionally mentioned restoring the use of selective moments of incense at some masses.  Incense places special emphasis on God’s holiness, sacred moments like the consecration of the mass.  One other is the assemble of the faithful.  Fr Seamus always highlighted that emphasis, by saying without the faithful we cannot have the rest.  We are most grateful to Bob and Martin and all who have guided and facilitated our response.  An outline of this is now being prepared, and it is a time for all of us to join in and work together for our good future.

On Fri 3rd March, 4.30 pm, there will be a puppet theatre using the hall. Their show is 45 minutes long and is aimed at primary school age children. They do extensive work in schools and after the show the actors will bring out the puppets for the children to see close up.  Admission is free but seats are on a first come first served basis.

Friday 17th March:  We couldn’t let this great Irish day go by without celebrating in the true Irish way.  We have arranged an evening of fun, music, singing and dancing.  Good food, tea/coffee provided.  You may bring your own drink.  All for £5 Adults, Children Free.  Tickets on sale now after Sunday and weekday masses.