CAFOD

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 Sales Table

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.

Thank You

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 21st 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

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.

Blessing of the Graves

Blessing of the Graves:  After the 10am Mass on Tuesday November 2nd, Deacon John will bless the graves in the Memorial Garden at St George’s and then go onto Willingdon Cemetery.  Fr Rory will bless the graves after the 10am Mass on Wednesday November 3rd in the Memorial Garden at St Wilfrid’s and then go onto Hailsham Cemetery.

Deacon John Writes

During this week we heard a Gospel which talks to us of the qualities of being a good servant. Jesus was speaking to all of his followers, which includes us, when he said “blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.” We must never consider being a servant as being a demeaning term. We are privileged to be able to act as servants of Jesus. We must remember that, as Fr James McKarns wrote in a recent article I read, Jesus is our Lord, Rabbi, Teacher and Master. We must always be available to him even though we do not know what his plans are for us. I think we all have our own agendas but sometimes we must put them on hold so that we can follow whatever plans the Master has for us so that we can all say, as Mary said “Thy will be done”. We really should be saying “Speak Lord ; your servant is listening.”

There have been some notices in recent newsletters which are good examples of how we can be servants if we really listen and decide that we can be servants to the Lord. I have read that we need more people willing to write the Bidding Prayers – it only comes round about once every two months and does not need a computer. 

We are also in need of people to volunteer with the counting of the collection. This would be once a month if four volunteers come forward. It does involve two people every week for about an hour and a trip to the Bank in Eastbourne. Please come forward if you can to help in this important work.

There are many other areas in which we need volunteers to help, such as welcomers and readers in church. Why not give it a try! There is a line in the Gospel this Sunday which says “Master, I want to see.” We all need to see, to see His presence in what we do, for ourselves, others, the church and in the people we meet. I hope and pray that we will all “see” and do those things which we possibly can. So if you can help in any way to assist Fr Rory and those who already do, please phone or email Jackie on 01323 841504 or [email protected]. If you have already volunteered then I wish to thank you sincerely on behalf of Fr Rory, myself and the community. Thank you for reading this and, hopefully, for volunteering in either community.

Fr Rory Writes

Again two things:- Are you surprised?  When we were in the seminary these two things were given a special emphasis. 1) An awareness that life is a journey with a beginning and most importantly an end.  2) On that journey the importance of our and each story.  The church through the liturgy of the word gives us the perfect structure to express this.

Each new year begins in Advent with the liturgy of the Eucharist, to give life to our journey and our story.  The heart of this event is the assembly of the faithful.  The presence of Christ in His faithful is what gives greatest witness to His presence in our world.  To be true to this; is not well, maybe not at all served by seeing it an obligation, a mortal sin if we do not do so.

The mass as a “celebration” the presence of Christ with us.  Before the 2nd Vatican Council Mass was seen as a very liturgical event with a strict discipline, where the language was Latin, mostly unknown to those in attendance who were there saying their prayers.  With the emphasis on celebrating His presence, and refocusing on its first celebration by Jesus on the night He was betrayed….  He celebrated His Last Supper with His instruction “Do this in remembrance of me”.  Let us become far more faithful to this.