Category: Saint George’s latest news

Parish Quiz Night Success

Last Friday’s Parish Bi Annual Quiz night at St George’s was a great success and our thanks go to all who made it so: quizzers; refreshments and raffle team; and especially Mary & Colin our quiz masters.  The night raised over £400 (£200+ for each church) and the winning team, Paula’s Angels, really were wonderful when they donated their £60 winnings to our Youth attendees at Lourdes fundraiser, a very lovely gesture – they were more keen on the coveted trophy than money it seems!  Our next Parish Quiz will be in October at St Wilfrid’s Date TBC.

Fr Rory Writes

Just a lovely, lovely hour on a Saturday morning with Adoration and Veneration of the Blessed Sacrament,

and available to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, a time of grace and peace. 

Time is flying by, but thanks be to God for Holy Week and Easter.  It is a loss to see the Garden of Remembrance  installed at the Altar sliding away.   So our greatest care is the Ascension with Jesus returning to His true place in our Fathers House in Heaven.  As these signs and symbols of a great season move on, it is essential that we focus upon this time; the most important time in the whole year.  The words of Jesus; ‘It is good for you that I should go back to the father,  because when I go I will send you the Holy Spirit’.  Good preparation to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, must be the most important thing for all of us.

Then down the road is my Golden Jubilee year.  I look forward to its celebration.  The date chosen has been the second Sunday in July, which is the 14th.  Most important to it will be our return to the sponsored walk which got off again to a good start last year.  As we have two churches making up our parish community it is essential that both should celebrate the occasion and have a positive energetic experience.  An experience of grace, good stories to tell, an achievement to remember and so the emphasis is on all that can be done together now that in the near future there will be a real shortage of priests.  God willing I am hoping to soldier on for a time.

St Wilfrid’s

As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, we would like more of you to help us in our hall on the various social occasions.  Many of us are too old to help as we did in the past.  This was brought home to us last Sunday after mass when Anne had to rush off and Lulu was offered a lift home after mass because she was in a lot of pain.  Many of you went into the meeting in the church following mass and so it was left to the “oldies” to do the best they could.  If anyone would like to help us in the hall after mass on a Sunday and Wednesday, please get in touch with Joan 07873390944.  Thank you.

Having enjoyed our “Easter Bag Sale”, if you have any bags to spare ready for the next one, please pop them in the box provided in the church porch.  Thank you.

Fr Rory Writes

Hail Mary full of grace, The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women, Blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

We represent last weeks window because it is so fit for purpose.  Why the Hail Mary? Because it is absolutely important to realise that salvation has come down from heaven, that the Kingdom of darkness has a prevailing effect in our world.  So the Son of God, Jesus, came down from heaven to restore fallen mankind, that is why Deacon John’s presentation last week is so helpful, so important.  Nourishment, that is so important for our bodies;  is vitally          important for our spiritual life.

Let us have the courage of our Christian convictions to share our Faith as St Thomas did, and to recognize the “nail marks.”  We are not to keep the gift of Faith locked in our hearts, but to share it with our children, our families and our neighbours, always remembering the words,: “Every believer in this world must become a spark of Christ’s light,” spoken by Pope St. John XXIII. “We all have scars from our own Good    Fridays that remain, long after our own experiences of resurrection.  Our ‘nail marks’ remind us that all pain and grief, all ridicule and suffering, are transformed into healing and peace in the love of God that we          receive  from, and extend to others. The “nail marks” of Jesus are all around us in the lives of those living out their own Calvary’s.  Jesus calls us to be willing to place ourselves in the pain and struggle of others and bring the joy and peace of Easter into hearts, entombed in winter cold and darkness.”

Easter Celebrations at St Wilfrid’s

Easter Celebrations at St Wilfrid’s:  We started at 10am, Good Friday “Stations of the Cross” led by Teresa and our children, a very simple version enjoyed by us all.  Then into our hall for hot cross buns and tables of activities for the children.  3pm “Veneration of the Cross” led by Deacon John, well attended and moving.  Next our Easter Vigil, Sat at 7pm, starting in the hall then outside, lighting of new fire and decorating the two Easter Candles for both churches.  Then into the darken church, each one holding a lighted candle to begin the lovely service we always look forward to and enjoy.  Easter Sunday Mass absolutely packed out.   Thank Goodness the sun didn’t shine until later, so the “Egg Hunt” got away without melting.  The bag sale was very successful and many of you came in for tea and refreshments, especially the 2 large cakes decorated by Anne.  A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who helped in anyway towards making our Easter Celebrations so successful.  It is the many willing helpers we have that make these occasions so special.  If you would like to join us, please do let us know, we need you.  Last, but by no means least, Fr Rory, who is the one person who gives meaning to all our services and celebrations, thank you Father.