Category: Saint George’s latest news

              For a Synodal Church                                                                 Our Process   

Two Questions

Why do we need it?   How can we best progress it?  

First it is important that we are aware that there is a process presented to us on the Diocesan Website and that we read it.  It also has an introduction by Bishop Richard.  This is the link  to find the information https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/synod.

I believe that the most important thing is the outcome.  I am aware that there is a late February deadline.  For the best outcome I have two constant points of reference; to farming and to building.  In farming what is the most important to begin ploughing, or preparing the ground.  In the building trade the foundations.  I would be very interested to hear the process for other achievements.  For my own calling, preparation leaves me with a great sense of failure.

From last year; with an awareness of thanksgiving for the harvest, what is most important are the seeds for future growth.  When I came to the parish I first introduced our Leaven Group for each community.  I now believe we need to return to our roots and begin again with core groups.  These can be made up from within extended family, children’s liturgy group, parish groups etc to make the most of this opportunity to do good.  Responding to their questions, hopes and expectations.

This Sunday we are highlighting the Synod.  Next Sunday we will turn our attention to the ministries.  The third Sunday, most important, be reconciled with God.  What we grew up with, confession, and when I was first ordained I spent hours in the confessional.  The true, true gift “God’s pardon and peace.  Then the fourth Sunday, preparation to make it the best Christmas celebration ever in our lives.

Looking for a new challenge? 

Could you visit schools in your local area to deliver assemblies and workshops about CAFOD’s work and encourage young people to take action, fundraise and pray with CAFOD? 

No experience necessary. Full support, resources and regular training provided.  

As well as using your skills to help the poorest people in the world volunteers are inspired by young people, it strengthens their faith, develops their communication and presentation skills, plus much more.   If this of interest and you would like more information, please contact either:  Jenny Finlayson, Community Participation Coordinator for Arundel and Brighton Diocese, email: [email protected] Tel: 01483 898866  Mobile: 07710 094448 or  Mike Dean Education Volunteer Coordinator for Arundel and Brighton Diocese email: [email protected] 

This week – Thursday 25th November, 2pm, Afternoon Tea & Fun in our hall.  Homemade cakes/scones, sandwiches, plus “French gourmand”, fancy “bite size cakes/biscuits in English”, all for £3.  We have a small raffle, 50p per ticket.  Do come and join us.

Christmas Lunch at Kings Head – Horsebridge:  Thursday 9th December, in the function room, 12noon.  Three courses plus tea/coffee, mince pies and crackers, £18 including tip.  Please pay the £18 when booking, I will give you a copy of the menu so you can make your choice, to make it easier on the day for the chef and us.  I have had many bookings already and so advise you to book soon.  Our friends from St George’s are invited of course and many have booked already.  Lets make it a jolly good Christmas lunch enjoyed by all of us from both parishes, plus our non catholic friends.  If transport is a problem please contact Joan 07873390944.

Thursday 30th December, 2pm in our Hall for Afternoon Tea:   We have decided to make this a pre New Years Eve Party, special 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 party!

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.

We have an opening for a Parish Treasurer and this will involve around 5-8 hours work a month.  Please contact Jackie at [email protected] for further details about the role and the application process. Closing date for applications will be Thursday 2nd December 2021.

We have been given quite a few to sell, plus good items donated by Ann and David Hoad that belonged to their daughter “Hannah” a “larger than life” character to all who new her.  She has been a sad loss in our community and in her honour they have given us toys and teenage items to sell and the money raised will go to the “Lourdes Fund”, so more children can go to this “special place” that Hannah loved and looked forward to every year.  The goods and teddies will be on sale in our hall after Mass this Sunday.  Please take the time to pop in and purchase something “Christmas is coming” in her honour.  Thank you.

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 11 am, Children from St Wilfrid’s and St George’s are all welcome to take part in this special part of the Mass. 

This short quotation said a lot to me. I hope you like it! 

Eyes to See by Frank Topping

Lord, give me eyes to see in the light you shed upon the world. Let me see the magic of common place things. Let me see the mystery of creation in the sky that goes on being endless day after day. Let me see the wonder of creation in the families of birds that have flown for thousands of years across endless miles of sea, guided by what? Let me see the whole of creation in a blade of grass, and the reason for it all in an act of kindness.

The Pope says that the Synod represents the main road for the Church, called to renew herself under the action of the Spirit and by listening to the Word.
The ability to imagine a different future for the Church and her institutions, in keeping with the mission she has received, depends largely on the decision to initiate processes of listening, dialogue, and community discernment, in which each and every person can participate and contribute.
Our Diocese is starting this listening process during December 2021, with a number of questions shared directly with  parishes. The Diocese will also share the Synod questions on its website https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/synod

The Synod provides us with an opportunity to be creative about who we engage with; are there people who are housebound you could talk to over the phone? Could you use the Diocese’s upcoming Junior Synod resources to engage the children of your parish and help them feel included? Perhaps you could set up your own group, using the materials to be provided soon by the Diocese?

Please God, for this weekend.  It is the Feast of Christ the King, youth weekend; but normally known as the 34th week of the year, and the end of the churches year.  So next Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent.  I have long believed that this Sunday should evolve to become one of the Great Feasts like Christmas, Good Friday, Easter and Pentecost, and in the end, the greatest Feast of all when “Christ returns in glory”.  This Sunday we will celebrate it to the best of our abilities with a special celebration of First Holy Communion at St George’s, a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Now it is important to highlight events for Advent.  After harvest time, the most important gift we are left with is seeds, to be sown to provide for the year; and years to come.  Pope Francis has called for a special Synod, to respond to the life of the church at this time.  The time for this consultation has been extended and its importance is really great.  Through real prayer and effort I hope we will address this

For the Four Sundays:

First Sunday:  “Call to Synod”.  Ideas on how we might address this most welcome.

Second Sunday:  “The ministries of the church”.  How they enrich and develop the life of our church.

Third Sunday:  “Be reconciled to God”.  Confession as I knew it and spent hours at this time in the confessional box when I was first ordained.

Fourth Sunday:  “Hope, Aspiration, Visions”.  For the community, local church ecumenism and gracefully challenging those who have high office in the life of the church.

Thursday 25th November, 2pm, Afternoon Tea & Fun in our hall.  Homemade cakes/scones, sandwiches, plus “French gourmand”, fancy “bite size cakes/biscuits in English”, all for £3.  We have a small raffle, 50p per ticket.  Do come and join us.

Christmas Lunch at Kings Head – Horsebridge:  Thursday 9th December, in the function room, 12noon.  Three courses plus tea/coffee, mince pies and crackers, £18 including tip.  Please pay the £18 when booking, I will give you a copy of the menu so you can make your choice, to make it easier on the day for the chef and us.  I have had many bookings already and so advise you to book soon.  Our friends from St George’s are invited of course and many have booked already.  Lets make it a jolly good Christmas lunch enjoyed by all of us from both parishes, plus our non catholic friends.  If transport is a problem please contact Joan 07873390944.

Thursday 30th December, 2pm in our Hall for Afternoon Tea:   We have decided to make this a pre New Years Eve Party, special 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 party!

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.