Category: Latest News

Will comment in next weeks newsletter regarding our Parish Christmas Lunch last Thursday.  Our next event is Thursday 30th December, 2pm in our Hall for Afternoon Tea, when we will have a pre New Years Eve Party.  The cost for this will be £5 each.  Anyone who would like to join us is very welcome, plus any friends who are non Catholics and St George’s friends of course.  The idea of getting together on the last Thursday of the month is to bring a little fun and happiness to anyone who would like to join us.  Please contact Joan 07873390944 as this is a party we need to know numbers please.  Thank you.

If anyone has any empty shoe boxes at home, could they please bring them into St. George’s, and we will start covering them for next year’s “Love in a Box!”  Thank you  Anne Bowe.

St Wilfrid’s Church,  Broad Road, Willingdon – A Service of Remembrance on Sunday 12 December at 4.00pm.

St Wilfrid’s would like to invite you to a special event to remember loved ones who have died.  During this event we will name each person and light a candle in their memory.   We wish also to remember those who never saw the light of day, but who died before birth.  If you would like us to name your loved one, please let us know beforehand, if possible, by contacting:  01323 482088  or email [email protected].

Advent Penitential Service and First Confession for our 7 candidates on Saturday 11th December at 5 pm.

Rehearsal for Nativity Mime at Christmas Eve Mass will be Saturday 18th December at 2pm, Children from St Wilfrid’s and

St George’s are all welcome to take part in this special part of the Mass. 

Last Sunday we lit the 2nd Advent candle. This candle can remind us that spending time in prayer is one way to prepare for Christmas. Some people find that what is known as ‘The Prayer of the Hand’ or ‘The five finger prayer’ can help us to pray.

Thumb: This is the nearest to me, and can remind me to pray for those who are closest to me, my family and friends.

Index Finger: This is used for pointing, and can remind me to pray for all teachers and those from whom I learn.

Middle Finger: This is the tallest and biggest, and can remind me to pray for those who have a special responsibility, for doctors and nurses, those in the rescue services, and anyone who has to take decisions that effect how we live our lives.

Third Finger: This is the weakest finger, as I’m told any piano player will tell you, and can remind me to pray for anyone who is ill or in trouble.

Little Finger: This is the smallest and least important, and can remind me to pray for myself, as I recall the words of Jesus who said we must love our neighbours as ourselves.

Finally, a Danish Proverb that’s worth remembering: Pray to God in the storm, but keep on rowing.

Again, thanks be to God.

We had a lovely, lovely evening which took place at St George’s church last Saturday.  The Southdown Singers presented us with very enjoyable singing, music and stories most appropriate to the Advent Season.  Also, they left us with a beautifully decorated church to enhance our worship prayer and commitment.  After the long term effects of covid, windows of opportunity for enjoyment are much appreciated.  We have a baptism here at St George’s this Saturday and for all of us this weekend the sacrament of reconciliation; an opportunity to experience one of God’s most special gifts – His forgiveness, His pardon and His peace.

Repetition has a great value in leaning,  so I return to the idea of sowing new seeds.  Please, please God, we will really sow some new seeds.  So that is why I mention “co er” groups.  I suggest that you give some thought to this and say we could form a “co er” group.  As the pandemic has had a major influence on our actions, the opportunity that this “Synod” is of the greatest importance.  A real challenge confronts us in the life of our church.

In response to this, various groups should give it the care and attention that it deserves.  Again, these two questions:-

Why do we need it?              And what is the best outcome for the future, for the life and witness for the catholic church? 

This could be a tick box exercise in futility, on a memorable opportunity in the life of our church.

When I left the seminary almost fifty years ago as a young priest, I had hopes of a new Pentecost, and while some aspired to it, the church in general allowed itself to be laden and overburdened – so no great fruits.  The challenge always goes on; and people always try to accept a challenge.  We had in our time an excellent effort from the Liverpool Diocese and with Cardinal Hume providing his authority, more was expected of it.  To outer eyes it was shelved, and here we are like St Peter; who has fished all night and caught nothing.  With the inspiration of Jesus…….  St Peter was prepared to set out once again with the message of salvation, that he had received from His master.   In keeping with what he said we set  out once more in obedience with the words “I have come to save the lost”.

Please make a note in your diaries of our over 50’s Activities: 

Christmas Lunch at Kings Head – Horsebridge:  Thursday 9th December, in the function room, 12noon.  We have had to close the list for people coming, as we have reached our maximum available.  Sorry if you cannot join us for this Happy Event.  We have a good interest in our monthly lunches so perhaps you would like to join us on our next date which will be Thursday 10th January, details to follow in the New Year.  Of course our friends from St George’s are invited to any of the events organised by us here at St Wilfrid’s.

Thursday 30th December, 2pm in our Hall for Afternoon Tea:   We have decided to make this a pre New Years Eve Party, homemade food, music, games suitable to our age group!!  Crackers, goody bags and special raffle.  The cost for this will be £5 and I can assure you it will be worth every penny – come on lets make it a jolly good party.  2-4pm, looking forward to seeing you there, make a New Years resolution.

All these events are open to St Wilfrid’s and St George’s plus any friends are most welcome of course.  Please contact Joan 07873390944 or after Sunday and Wednesday Mass in the Hall.

St Wilfrid’s last Sunday, 21st November:  We had a special sale in our hall after Mass of Hannah’s toys.  The money raised will go to the Lourdes Pilgrimage Fund in her honour.  Well we raised £104, mainly from donations given to this very worthy cause.  The goods, very good quality, will be on sale until the 1st week in December when the ’Sales Table’ will have a Christmas Theme.  Do pop in after Mass on a Sunday, have a cup of tea with us and buy some ’Bargain Goods’ or pop some money in the pot for this very worthwhile cause – Lourdes Fund for Handicap Children.  Thank you so much. 

Hello, my name is Kelly Richards, and I am the Safeguarding Rep for St George’s

Christmas is fast approaching and it is a joyful time, but can also be a lonely time for those that may not have family or friends that they can spend this Holy time with.  Safeguarding is not only there to help and support families, or children that may be of concern  regarding any issues, but also for older people in our community in need of help.  If you feel that anyone is in a situation of concern please do contact me …. Merry Christmas Kelly (07967562110).