Category: Latest News

As one of the older parishioners she is paying tribute to Fr Kenneth McCarthy who died last week (Oct 21st) aged 92.  Father came to Hailsham about 1990 and served for 10 years.   He retired due to ill health and was given a house in Walton-on-the-Hill, where he lived for more than 20 years, supplying in the area, until he was almost blind.  He went into hospital with heart failure, but was moved into a covid ward.  He was for many years the longest serving priest in the Diocese, he was ordained at the early age of 23 in 1953 and he had been in the junior seminary.  He was a priest for 68 years.

I will be brief today as I am going to ask you to do something for yourselves.  In Wednesday’s Psalm there was one phrase which gave me the idea. “Let me sing of the Lord, He has been good to me”.  

Well please choose one day, perhaps when you are sitting with a cup of tea or you have a visitor so you can use his/her thoughts and think of the many ways in which God has been good to you during the year. Please write them down and maybe add to them from day to day.  Then you will have a good list to say thank you for to God when you pray or sing.

Through the waters of baptism we have received God’s great gift “the pledge of eternal life”. 

To experience that life as God has ordained it that calls us to make our response.  All our lives are watched over by God’s providence, but at the heart of His care is true the Eucharist.  When we hear His word, and to receive the devine nourishment  which brings us to the  assembly of the faithful, where the liturgy of the Eucharist gives life to our journey.  Deacon John made a reference for the need to Volunteer in his contribution to our newsletter last week, and gave examples; welcomers, readers etc.  Helping us to open our eyes, there is a line in the Gospel this Sunday which says “Master I want to see”.

I had a very encouraging experience during the week from Joe Roberts, and I am very grateful to him for it.  He was picking up upon “Good News” and announcing some good news to me.  His came from the Olympics in Japan.  I have asked him to share this with us by a piece for our newsletter.  It is a good idea, so I asked another person hoping that he too would have some good news.  It would be good to encourage each other to share more good news.  There is always a space in the newsletter for this.

This week we celebrate the “Feast of All Saints”.   The fact  we are included in this, is reason for gratitude “thanks be to god”, and the second “to let it really influence our lives”.  More and more mention is being made of Pope Francis to have a Synod, and at the heart of it the role of the laity.  In the weeks to come I really, really ask for your help and your patience.  We really need to develop a way to work that helps one another to share and to work together before the life in our churches come to an end.

Computers for Charities:  Free Training. CfC is offering training to anyone unemployed or needing to reskill. Computer Hardware training is on offer. Deadline for applications 30th November. For application form. Email: [email protected] Tel: 01323 848588. Spaces are limited.

A message from CAFOD: Thank you for supporting our Climate Crisis Appeal for our recent Family Fast Day.  Every donation helps us in our work and is gratefully received. cafod.org.uk/climatecrisis

Please pray for the success of the upcoming UN climate talks in Glasgow, COP26, from 31 October to 12 November.  There are prayer cards at the back of church; please do take one and pray that that world leaders will put the needs of marginalised communities around the world, those most affected by climate change, right at the heart of these climate talks. For more information see cafod.org.uk/COP26

May the Holy Spirit inspire all political leaders at COP26 and instill in them the courage and gentleness to implement fairer solutions for the most vulnerable.

St George’s Table sale will resume in November, there are no marked prices just pay what you feel the item is worth.  Money raised will be used for Children’s Liturgy resources, parish social events and Charitable giving.  If you have any new or nearly new items suited for sale at the table please leave in porch clearly marked Table sale.

We are currently looking for more people to help with the Bidding Prayers for Mass at the weekends.  If this is something you would like to do, please email Jackie on [email protected] and I will add you to the next rota which will start in February 2022.

Bereavement Mass at St Wilfrid’s:  This will take place on Sunday 14th November 2021 at 3pm.

Our thanks to Thomas and Alen whose technical know-how has enabled us, at St George’s Church, to undertake livestreams recently for the First Communion in June and most recently Ann Eamer’s requiem.  We hope to continue providing livestreams for Sacraments and Funeral Masses as it is a wonderful way to ensure that as many family and friends as possible can

celebrate these special occasions from afar.  Our next livestream will be on Christ the King Sunday November 21^st when seven of our younger parishioners will receive the Sacrament of First Communion.  The livestream will be able to be accessed via the church website www.saintsgeorgeandwilfrid.co.uk.

St George’s Suggestions box – there is a suggestions box in the porch where parishioners should give ideas of social activities they would like organised during 2022 and beyond.  These may be activities/events we have run in the past or entirely new ideas, the more the merrier!  Once we have the suggestions we will look to plan a programme of activities (probably 4-6 over the year).  We do need help with events though so if you are happy to be involved as well as attend your suggested event please do indicate this on the suggestion form.  Events can’t run without helping hands.