Category: Saint George’s latest news

Thank You

I would like to thank all of my friends at St Wilfrid’s for their care and compassion. I have been overwhelmed by your well wishes, gifts, mass offerings and prayers. Knowing that I am in your thoughts has been a great source of comfort and is helping me to make a good recovery.   Happy Christmas everyone from Teresa Palmer xx

Weekly Services

Sat 1st St Wilfrid’s –                              

Second Sunday of Christmas

Sun 2nd 9.00am             St George’s – Parish Communities’ Intention

                               10.30am             St Wilfrid’s  –  Private In tention

Mon     3rd            2.30pm St George’s –  Rosary Group

Tue      4th         10.00am St George’s – The McCann Family Intention

Wed     5th           10.00am St Wilfrid’s – Ephram & Lesley Crowe Intention

Thurs 6th           10.00am St George’s –  The Epiphany of the Lord, Cathy & Trevor Hollingdale Int

Fri    7th             10.00am St Wilfrid’s – Holy Souls’ Intention

Sat    8th            St Wilfrid’s – .

                     The Baptism of the Lord

Sun    9th          9.00am St George`s  – Marylou Cockshoot Intention

        10.30am St Wilfrid`s    – Bridie Cleary 1st Anniversary RIP

CAFOD

CAFOD is combining efforts with the DEC to launch the Afghanistan Crisis Appeal.  In Afghanistan, 8 million people are on the brink of famine because of drought, collapsing economy, food shortages, conflict, and COVID. CAFOD is supporting sister Caritas agencies to reach communities most in need with food, clean water, and fuel. During Advent, when we open ourselves to the needs of others, let’s do all that we can to save lives. You can donate on the CAFOD website: cafod.org.uk/AfghanistanAppeal and please pray for the people of Afghanistan.

Hailsham Foodbank

HAILSHAM FOODBANK COMMUNITY FRIDGE  We are currently Crowdfunding to purchase a Community Fridge (and Freezer) which will be supplied by end of day food from local supermarkets and businesses.  This will give the opportunity to offer fresh items and help eliminate food waste locally.  We were able to secure match funding for this project but need a minimum of 30 supporters.  If you could help us reach this target we would be extremely grateful.  Even £1 could make all the difference to us receiving an extra £1000.   Thank you.   https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/hailsham-community-fridge

I think we at St Wilfrid’s would like to contribute to this very worthy and worthwhile cause.  There will be a collection box in the porch after each Mass, please put some money into the pot.  Thank you.

Over 50’s Activities

St Wilfrid’s Christmas Lunch last Thursday 9th Dec.  25 of us got together on this happy occasion from both communities, plus we were honoured to have Fr Rory and Fr Kieran.  The food and service was wonderful, three courses, homemade cooking plus tea/coffee and hot mince pies.  It was great to hear the happy laughter and chat, the word COVID never entered our conversations.  Our “new arrangement” for paying proved beneficial, everything went so smoothly, so in future I will ask for payment when booking please.  Our next date is Thursday 13th January 2022, 12noon at the Kings Head, Horsebridge.  Make a note in your new diaries and if we are still allowed under covid rules, happy to see you there.  If you have never been before, do join us, you will be most welcome to our gatherings, which are always happy events to cheer us up in this gloomy old world.  Transport can be arranged for you, so don’t let that stand in your way.

Thursday 30th Dec, 2pm in our hall is the next date for afternoon tea and more.  As this date is the day before New Years Eve we have decided to have a Pre New Years Eve Party!!  Cost £5 per person.  I would like to have numbers for catering purposes please on this special occasion, so please contact Joan on 07873390944.  Anybody is invited, the whole idea is that we all get together once a month for good food and friendly chat, don’t sit on your own at home, come and join us.

Warm clothes for the Homeless at Christmas:   Well what a wonderful result, you have really answered the call.  A representative form this marvellous organisation will come this Wednesday after Mass to collect 4 large bin bags.  They were so overwhelmed with the result, St Wilfrid’s is well and truly on the map.  Well done to anyone who left clothes and necessities or money to make life a little more comfortable for these poor unfortunate people.  As God said feed and clothe my people.

Deacon John Writes

Holy God,
When angels visited the shepherds, they sang for peace on earth.
Yet as we look out on your world, we see that there is still much conflict, war, injustice and poverty.

Holy God,
When an angel visited Mary, he whispered to her not to be afraid.
Yet as we look out on our communities, we see much fear and anxiety, so much that is not as you would have it be, Lord God.

Holy God,
When you came, as a baby, to a refugee family 2000 years ago,
You showed the world that every human life matters,
That every person’s potential can be fulfilled,
And that there is hope for a better kind of world.

Holy God,
Come to us again this Christmas, come and bring your hope.
In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen.

(From the Redemptorists)

South Down Singers

The South Downs Singers, Community choir performed a concert, “Christmas Melodies” at St George’s last Saturday, which was a sell out.  Last week was the first time the concert has been held at St George’s, and what a fitting venue it was. The church had the most warm, welcoming atmosphere, and the acoustics were excellent.  The choir have been formed for many years, and we produce two concerts a year in aid of local charities.   We were under the musical direction of James Aburn from Bede’s, who is the most talented of young directors whose enthusiasm shines through in our performances. Our piano accompanist, as always, was Robert Scamardella, a most achieved musician, who is the director of music at Bede’s.  It was heart warming to see so many of the parish in the audience, and to have Shirley McCann, Anne Bowe and myself singing in the choir, felt a bit like being at home among friends. I would like to thank Shirley and Anne for all the support they gave to organise the afternoon.  Finally a very big thank you to our Father Rory for giving his permission for us to use St George’s so many thanks Father.  The feed back from the audience has been overwhelming, and we are all so pleased that the concert was a great success… 

Merry Christmas one and all…and God Bless us all in 2022.  Kelly Richards (Chair of the South Downs Singers)