Category: Latest News

St Patrick’s day cards & Easter cards are on sale at the back of St. George’s.

Saturday 12th March, preceded by Stations of the Cross.  Thursday 17th March after 10.00 am Mass

On Sunday 20th March,3rd April, and 10th April there will be a Holy Hour for peace in the world and end to the war in the Ukraine, it will include Stations of the Cross in St.George’s at 3pm. On Passion Sunday, 10th April, Stations will be followed by Benediction.

During these very traumatic times the Rosary is a powerful tool. We are so lucky to have had a Rosary Group at St George’s for decades quietly bringing together our pleas for intercession and help. This group meets in St George’s Hall on a Monday afternoon at 2.00 pm to pray the rosary and finish with a cuppa and some biscuits. Everyone is welcome to join and never have we needed the help of our Blessed Lady more than now.

We will be celebrating the Queen`s Platinum Jubilee on Sunday 5th June with a United Nations Lunch. Please put your name on the list in the church porch with the dish you can provide. If possible the dish would be able to serve approximately 15 people with a small bowl of food. If you are unsure what to provide please see Teresa Bradley or Loretta Fry.  Thank you.  After Mass today (13th March) there will be a Parish Meeting in the Hall at St Wilfrid’s for anyone who would like to help/donate food for the United Nations Lunch on Sunday 5th June 2022.

Recently, I have been reading various books about Lent and I thought you might like a selection from these readings from a little booklet by Fr.Thomas J Connery which starts with “Father, another Lent begins. I don’t want to waste it. Help me to put it to good use.”

1. If you want to know how strong your faith is, determine how generous you are. This can be used as a barometer to gauge your faith. Stretch yourself this Lent, make the barometer rise as your generosity grows. Give a little more than you think you can.

2. There is a man in the States who set out to mow a lawn for someone in need in each of the U.S states. He succeeded in2017 and 2018. He did this for the elderly, disabled, single mothers and veterans. You may say “so what that is not a big deal’, but it is for those who receive this favour. He sought out someone in need. We too, are called to help others wherever we can and in whatever way we can- serve others, no matter how simple the service may be.

3. There is the story of a woman who claimed that God was talking to her. She said this to a priest who was visiting her, who said “I want to find out if what you hear God say to you is only in your imagination. To prove it want you to ask God to name the three of the sins I confessed to the Bishop this morning. If you can name those sins I will believe that you really are in conversation with God.” The woman sat there quietly for a while, praying. Then she looked up and said “I asked God to name your three sins, but God said, “I forgot.” There is the good news – God forgets. Not only that he also forgives.” So! Go on. Laugh and pray your Lent.

The Great Season of Lent

Hopefully we have got off to a good start to our Lenten Season this year.  One event in particular, which happened at St George’s Church on Sunday afternoon, was the opening meeting of our young persons preparation for their confirmation, this was very good “tus maith leath na hoibre” a good start is half the work.  It was a very good opportunity to share some food, to share their faith, to experience our faith, and to have it strengthened, nourished and nurtured.  There was a very good presentation upon the life of faith and in keeping with the Synod.  Jesus was not a religious figure like a Priest, a Pharisee, or a Sadducees.  He was a human person, but also the Son of God, and as such he had great power and authority.  People were drawn to him, particularly for forgiveness and healing. The phrase “He worked many miracles”.  We in our time want to get to know more about Him who loves us.

The tragedy that is Ukraine, and sadly one that is not going to disappear,  really calls for oceans of prayer, because it is indeed Putin’s war.  So it is also tragedy for the Russian people.  Pope Francis clearly called for fasting and prayer.  As Alan Jozwik expressed it in the announcement last Sunday “well we just eat less food”.  If we can establish and clarify that intent and purpose it will be a real help to achieve fasting.  In the age that we live in, food is so readily available; so different from the time when I was growing up when an ice cream was more of a yearly event than a weekly one, but then I lived out in the country.

There are many requests to ask what are we doing in response to the events in the Ukraine.  There are many engaged in responding to this and I believe there is a lorry going from Eastbourne, but because of the situation it is very difficult to get materials to the right place, and so I believe to collect money for the cause would be most helpful.  Anyone wishing to help to co-ordinate donations please get in touch.

Bereavement Group:  will be meeting up again on Friday 25th March at 11am in St Wilfrid’s Church Hall.  All welcome.

Hailsham Foodbank are currently running low on longlife dairy milk, tinned sweetcorn/carrots/peas, tinned tomatoes, tomato based pasta sauce and tinned meat (such as hot dogs, chicken in white sauce, chilli, stew etc.).  They would very much appreciate you including one of these items in your shopping if you donate at local supermarkets.  Another fantastic way of helping them, which they set up during lockdown, is by donating to a platform called Bankuet.  When they have enough funds on that platform they are able to order food in bulk directly and this has been invaluable to them.  Details are on their website www.hailsham.foodbank.org.uk  Thank you.

A “webinar” with Bishop Richard, Wednesday 9 March at 7.30pm.

      The Diocese will be hosting a live webinar, where Bishop Richard will present the document about Pope Francis’s consultation.  This will be recorded for those unable to see it on a computer, and, afterwards, the Parish will arrange to show it locally.  Details later.

If you would like to watch the live webinar then you should register your interest by visiting the Diocesan website https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/synod and click on the words indicated.