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We are organising a friendly lunch time meal with members of St Wilfrid’s and St George’s community.  Fr Rory will join us.  The venue is The Treacle Mine, midday Thursday 24th June.  If you are interested please contact Joan on 07873390944 asap please.

The last time we were able to meet together for a meal was St Patrick’s Day, 17th March 2020.  Lockdown happened very soon after.  It would be great if we could start back socialising with our friends in both parishes.  All the necessary precautions are in place of course.  Please God, we will be able to meet on that day.

Have you ever had the thought that you don’t like your credit card? Does it make you think that you have more money than you actually do have? Does it make you feel powerful or reckless? Well if you do you will not be alone! I am sure that many have that feeling from time to time but the vast majority do not let the feeling last for more than a fleeting moment when common sense steps in, aided probably by the Holy Spirit and guides you into more appropriate avenues of action and thought. Moments like those are moments of darkness and light quickly shines through. Always remember that God said “Let light shine out of darkness”. We must let God’s light shine on everything we do, not what we do tomorrow, but on everything we do TODAY. Tomorrow will not do because as we all know – tomorrow never comes. Everything is today and it is today that really matters!  

We will do this if we remember that we are all part of the new covenant that we are called to be part of. This covenant calls us all into partnership with God. This partnership is one of love between God and ourselves. God loves each and every one of us with no conditions attached so we should all return this love today and every day. God is faithful in all and to all – so, if it is necessary, pull your socks up and get on with doing good to those around you. If you don’t wear socks then use your imagination and just do whatever is needed to go forward in a manner that is truly life-giving to yourself and to others.

Friday, June 11th, is the Feast of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and is an opportunity to remind ourselves about our duty to make it obvious that we love one another, to refrain from quarrels and bitterness, stubbornness and being stuck in a rut. We do not, of course, have to go to Mass to do this – this is important, particularly in the current pandemic, when it is not easy to bring ourselves to attend Mass. The time is coming, quite soon, I hope, when it will be possible to freely attend Mass again without any fear, but until that time comes for you, and for me, let us not forget to help anyone in need, and remember that God loves us all – there really are no exceptions!

Last week I posed the question, “how did I end up the week before?”.  It was to begin again with the idea “how do we best work together?”.  Firstly, to have the sense that anytime we gather, we strengthen our bonds and our commitment to be a parish community.  We have a sense of what it is to be a good parish, but this must be very much updated and a return to the foundations as Jesus laid them out.  “You are my witness” and this is above all to the forgiveness of sin, and restoring a life of grace “by this shall all men know that you are my disciples, your love for one another”.

At this time one of the strongest affirmations of faith that I have received has been the celebration of funerals.  It brings home to my heart the central focus of our lives which is to be at home with God.  Thanks be to God that I have experienced some special moments, because over all we have been through a very difficult time.  I am most grateful for all the help and support that I have received.  It is as I listen to the concern and indeed echoes of distress that many are still experiencing; so it is most important that we are ready to resume our lives for the good of others to the best of our ability.

I acknowledge that this is helped most by having a good parish priest.  I always recognised that I have lacked some important characteristics to be a “good shepherd”, and sometimes I feel I am more cut out for a monastic type of life.  But key elements for all of us “is live and learn” and so with this foremost in our minds, let us look forward and be ready for the opportunities that will come our way.  We will have celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation and we will be getting prepared for the mass celebrated by the bereavement team.  

The parish community mass celebrations will be in July, with other various occasions when we will meet in different groups to catch up and to look forward together.  Please God, let us look forward to our future with hope and confidence.

St Wilfrid’s Memorial Plaque:  If anyone would like any names put on our second memorial plaque, please could they be forwarded by email to [email protected] or phone 01323 841504.  Thank you.

Mary Frances Marshall Hogan Maura, passed away peacefully after a long illness on 7th May 2021, aged 91 years.  Widow of Ronald Marshall.  She will be greatly missed by her daughter Jane, son John and all the grandchildren and great grandchildren.  A private family committal will be held at Hailsham Cemetery.

In Loving Memory ‘Stephen Robson’ 1st RIP Anniversary 7th-June

Fri 18^th-Sun 20^th June (Online) :  COME DINE WITH ME: Feasting with Moses and Jesus

Led by Viv Randles and Michael Woodward (both Lay Community of St Benedict)

Hanuka, Shavout, Rosh Hashana – come and learn some fresh angles on these festivals and others, which go so far to explain our own. . .

Further information and to book your place online: https://worth.co.uk/retreats/online-retreats For enquiries, please email: [email protected]

Fighting Modern Slavery – Steering Group:    The latest edition of the Fighting Modern Slavery Newsletter is available to download here Modern Slavery Newsletter Issue 3 (website-files.com) and also from the diocesan website www.abdiocese.org.uk

The Steering Group is seeking individuals to be parish/deanery Modern Slavey Awareness Ambassadors.  More information on what this voluntary role entails from Rosie Read at [email protected]

Are you aged 18-30? CAFOD offers a gap year programme called Step into the Gap.  As part of the 10-month programme, you will be based in either a youth retreat centre, university chaplaincy or a secondary school chaplaincy team gaining new skills, developing as a leader and gaining work experience. Accommodation and travel expenses are included. Full time placements include stipends. Find out more information including how to apply at www.cafod.org.uk/gapyear

This Sunday is the Feast of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ and celebrates the last two precious gifts given to us by Jesus:- the Holy Eucharist as our spiritual food on Holy Thursday and Jesus’ mother Mary as our spiritual mother on Good Friday 2) Corpus Christi is the celebration of the abiding presence of a loving God as Emmanuel – God with us – in order to give collective thanks to our Lord for his living with us in the Eucharist. 3) The feast also gives us an occasion to learn more about the importance and value of the “Real Presence” so that we may appreciate the Sacrament better and receive maximum benefit from the Eucharist.

We believe in the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist because 1) Jesus promised it after miraculously feeding the 5000. 2) Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist during his Last Supper. 3) Jesus commanded his disciples to repeat it in his memory. 4) “Nothing is impossible for God.”

There are several messages for us in this feast day. Three of these are examples of really good Life messages: 1) Let us appreciate the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, by receiving him with true repentance for our sins, due preparation and reverence. 2) Let us be Christ-bearers and conveyers: By receiving Holy Communion, we become Christ-bearers as Mary was, with the duty of conveying Christ to others at home and in the workplace, through love, mercy, forgiveness and humble and sacrificial service. 3) Let us offer our lives on the altar along with Jesus’ sacrifice, asking pardon for our sins, expressing gratitude for the blessings we have received and presenting our needs and petitions on the altar.

A priest called Fr. Denis likes to tell a story about an American paratrooper in World War II who got entangled in a tree and couldn’t get down. He was terribly afraid that he had come down behind enemy lines and would be killed. Then two men dressed in civilian clothes came by so the GI quickly called out, “Can you tell me where I am?” “Indeed we can,” said one – “You are up in a tree.” There was a long pause, and then the paratrooper asked suspiciously, “Are you guys Dominicans?” “Yes, but how could you tell?” The GI replied, “I knew because what you say is perfectly true – but it doesn’t help me to get out of this tree!” Likewise, to describe Catholic belief about the Holy Eucharist by saying that it is the Body and Blood of Christ is true, but not very helpful unless we are convinced of this truth, appreciate this great gift and experience it in our lives.

St.Augustine has an important message for all of us when he wrote: ‘Without God, we cannot. Without us, God will not.’