Category: Saint Wilfrid’s Latest News

BECOMING A MODERATED PARISH: Please take and read a copy of the Letter from Fr Kevin Dring (Dean), at the back of Church. This gives an overview of the process we are on, as a Deanery of 8 parishes, to become a single Moderated Parish in November-December. It also outlines how YOU can be part of the process. We will all need to work closely together, clergy and laity. Understandably there will be concerns and questions about what will happen, but together we can approach the challenges positively and find solutions that support everybody in the best way.

2025 – A YEAR OF JUBILEE The Holy Father has named 2025 as a year of Jubilee, something which happens every 25 years. “Jubilee” is the name given to a particular year. A time to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. The theme is “Pilgrims of Hope”, and it will be a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of COVID-19   pandemic, and a climate crisis. To prepare spiritually for the 2025 Jubilee, Pope Francis has asked Catholics to focus on two key elements: a) To study the key documents from the Second Vatican Council, held between 1962-1965 which can be viewed on: https://uscatholic.org/articles/201209/major-documents-of-vatican-ii/ b) To focus on prayer. The Jubilee of Hope will begin in December 2024 with Pope Francis opening the “holy door” in St. Peter’s Basilica, offering the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics the possibility of obtaining a plenary indulgence and a year of special graces.  

Today, 28th July Charity Breakfast at St George’s – after Mass. Mario and Richard are taking the lead this month and will be cooking up delicious sausage and bacon baps for everyone. We are very lucky to have these two smiling happy chappies with us so make it worth their effort and take time to join, donate for the food and enjoy – bring your friends and family as well. All are welcome.  This month we are raising money for Love in a Box. This charity desperately needs as much support as it can get to provide Christmas gifts in boxes to children in Romania, many of whom live in Orphanages.  It costs over £3000 per  lorry alone to send everything to them. Please give generously.  We will not have a charity breakfast in August but normal service will resume in September on Sunday 29th.

Thank you for giving to Sea Sunday.  Our parish raised £228.06.  Your generous gifts will ensure that Stella Maris chaplains can continue to be a friend for seafarers and fishers in times of need.  To find out more about how your  support helps those who live and work at sea please visit www.stellamaris.org.uk

Please pray for the 850 people from our Diocese that will Process on the Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage this week. We pray  especially for Laura, Claudia, Maria and Sandra from St Georges who will be going as helpers.  They plan to light candles and request masses whilst they are in Lourdes for our whole Parish intentions.  If anyone has anything in particular they may wish a mass to be offered or candles lit for please email Sandra   [email protected] or text 07791627368 with the details and she will ensure she does this for you.

Jean and Ernie Wyatt thank both communities at  St Wilfrid`s and St George’s for the prayers, cards and good wishes during their recent illness. We are recovering slowly and hope to be back to full health very soon.  God bless you all.

What a wonderful day it was.  First the “Good Lord” sent a beautiful sunny day.  Mass at St George’s & St Wilfrid’s was very special and started off this very extraordinary occasion.   Celebrations all day in both halls suitably decorated.     Fr Rory enjoyed it all on his very happy day.  It was so lovely to have his family around him.  The banquets of food were overwhelming and the entertainment; Storyteller, Magician, Irish Dancers, Indian Dancers and Great Band where we all let ourselves go! With singing, some dancing and the “conga” , others taping our feet under the table.  The atmosphere was electric. A very big thank you to all the committee who organized the event and an extra special thank you to Sandra (amazing party planner) and her family for making the day run so smoothly.  We are blessed in both communities with many good helpers and we do appreciate all the work that goes on behind the scenes and on the day itself, without your hard work and time given freely, none of these wonderful celebrations would happen.  Well done all of you, Fr Rory himself was so happy and proud of all the work that was done on his behalf.

A Big Thank You to our Fr Rory.  You may not be the most practical person! But to us you are a wonderful priest carrying out your duties from the day you were ordained.  You have a special gift of making a person feel special and when saying mass the person thinks it is said just for them.  Please continue to be you Fr Rory and stay with us for as long as our Bishop will allow.  God bless you always.

Don’t forget no tea in July, back again Thursday 29th August, 2pm.  Theme is French of course “oo la la”.  If you would like to join us please see Joan 07873390944.

Love Speaks (Messages to the Heart)

By Mary Harrington

Love Speaks is a timely book, appearing at a time when all God’s people are asked to embark on a spiritual journey marked by two important elements:  listening and sharing.  This journey is the synodal path that Pope Francis has  proposed for our times so that the Church can listen profoundly to what the Holy Spirit is saying to us.  However, an aspect of this listening which can too often be neglected is attentiveness to the inner voice in our own hearts, that still small voice of the Spirit in us.  Our author has shared generously the fruits of such attentive listening and by so doing invites us to ponder the words of love that sustains our journey in the spiritual life.

I received a very generous M & S gift voucher for my recent birthday, but the donor did not sign it.  If    anyone can tell me who the donor is, please phone 01323 483504.  Many thanks  from Margaret (N).