Latest News

Sunday 18th October 2020 – Today is World Mission Sunday

World Mission Sunday supports missionaries who work alongside communities that are poor or in need, regardless of their background or belief.  By supporting Missio, the Pope’s charity for world mission, you will help missionaries like Sr Nilcéia share the love of Christ with those most in need.  Please pray for the mission of the Church throughout the world and give what you can to this very important collection which will sustain the future of our Church. Please call 020 7821 9755 (office hours) or visit Missio’s website to give a single gift, set up a Direct Debit and Gift Aid your donation, if possible: mission.org.uk

“You are my disciples”                         

                        Fact                                  Faith                                Feelings

The words of Jesus are alive and true as they came down to us through the ages.  So we can acknowledge that fact. 

Faith then is one of the essential ingredients that can bridge the great gap that at a time exists between this fact and our feelings.  This episode with the coronavirus highlights in a very distinct way the drama that is the life of faith.  As the churches have returned to their lockdown in Ireland, the statement by our Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, sets the scene for the drama to unfold for us.  Our situation at the moment allows for “steady as you go”.  Streaming our Masses on Sunday is a God sent blessing, and can be a channel of grace as we develop our faith and grow as a community.

When we were first given the challenge to return to church for mass, because I did not have my car the people from St George’s were very active and helpful to me in arranging meetings in the garden and getting the ball rolling.  Margaret Piegrome has also been very pro-active in getting our parish list up-to-date, this is a work in progress.

This sets the scene for us now to grow as a community of faith.  The age profile with the implied complications of being over seventy sets the scene for a new generation.  Streaming of Mass and preparing for our Christmas celebration may be very helpful with this.  Some time ago as we were trying to develop our parish structure.   We established what we called the “Missing Link” as a first step in developing a plan for our way ahead.  We need to renew this link, with me having oversight for, to bring about plans to help us to work together.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives a list of lame excuses from the invited guests which they used as reasons for not attending.

The Toronto Star invited teachers to submit excuses they had received from their students as part of a competition. They received these examples: A student explaining why he was late: “I was kidnapped by aliens and interrogated for three hours.” Another student, telling why he had failed to turn in his essay: “The bus driver read it and liked it so much he kept it to show to his passengers.” Another: “I got mugged on the way to school. I offered him my money, my watch, and my penknife but all he wanted was my essay.” Mike, a 14-year old, came up with a “watertight” excuse for arriving at school an hour late with his pants soaked to the knees: “I was just about to board the bus when I found I’d lost my ticket. Since it would take too long to walk to school, I hopped a fence onto a golf course. I headed for a creek that criss-crossed several fairways until I found a likely spot for lost balls. Retrieving three balls from their watery graves, I then made for the clubhouse where I sold the balls for bus fare! And that’s why I’m late.” Mike’s entry won.

We have all been given our wedding garment through our Baptism.We need to keep wearing the wedding garment of holiness. This means we must do good for all the people we know and meet in our everyday lives. We are helped in our efforts through the graces which receive through the other Sacraments. When we attend Mass either through live streaming or in Church and receive Holy Communion we are strengthened in our lives. Our personal prayers at any time of day or night help us to recharge our own spiritual batteries and guide us in our efforts of doing good for those we meet. Listening to God’s Word when we hear the readings nourishes us and help us in our actions. 

Yes, we have all been given our wedding garment ready for the banquet waiting for us in heaven so we must take care to wear it at all times in preparation for the event. Just remember that we do not have automatic entry. We can, however, succeed through our actions.

The St George’s Children’s Liturgy group enjoyed a, Covid-safe, extended session on Sunday 27^th September when they went Rosehip picking.  A glorious crisp sunny day in the fresh air was had by us all and Rosehip Syrup has since been made and will be placed at our altar alongside other delicious homemade conserves for our Harvest service on October 11^th. During this pandemic, and within the Covid guidelines of the National Youth Association there are still activities that can continue, and this was one of them thankfully.  All the children involved will carry memories of these types of days out for many years to come, an invaluable way of sharing our faith together during such difficult times.

This year the Mustard Seed Mission is going ahead with Love In A Box donations, but things will have to be organised slightly differently. There are leaflets at the exit from church for you to use if you are intending to make up a box.  However, we will not have the table of little extras in the hall for you to bolster your box; you will have to fill it yourself.

If making up a box is tricky, we can still help in a couple of other ways.  Perhaps you would be able to make a donation towards the transportation costs? £3,000 is needed for each lorry that makes the long journey across Europe to the areas in most need.  Also, our parish has a team of knitters and sewers who work all year round to provide blankets which join the convoy too.  You may wish to donate some money or double knitting wool towards keeping that good work going.

If you choose to make a donation, please leave your money in an envelope marked LORRY or WOOL and we will make sure it goes to the right people.   However you feel able to, do please help our parish to continue to support the great work that the Love In A Box team does.

Sunday 11th October 2020 – Next Sunday is World Mission Sunday

Next Sunday is World Mission Sunday, when the Holy Father invites all Catholics to contribute to a special collection for Missio, his charity for world mission.  Please support Missio in helping missionaries to work alongside communities throughout the world that are poor or in need, regardless of their background or belief.  Join in on this special day, that unites Catholics all over the world in prayer and celebration of our Church’s mission to share God’s love with all people – ‘Here I am, send me’.  Please call 020 7821 9755 (office hours) or visit Missio’s website to give a single gift, set up a Direct Debit and Gift Aid your donation, if possible mission.org.uk

This is working for God – Belief in the One He has sent.

As we have now launched the streaming of our Mass, rather abruptly, maybe not sufficiently prepared, but this could be providential, and a great opportunity to work together.  On alternate weekends we will stream the Mass from one of our churches.  So the Sunday time will vary.  It will be 9am from St George’s and 10.30am from St Wilfrid’s; weekday Masses remain at the same time and will not be streamed.  Our website will be the central point, and used well, will be a beacon for us in our communities of faith to bear witness to the life of Him who loves us.  He in turn sends us out to bear witness to Him.

Two things: 1) I belong, 2) I am nourished. 

The first is the relationship with Jesus through the church and our faith.  At the heart of all this is preparation for Baptism and the First Holy Communion.  So again one is to belong, to be part of, and two to be nourished.  Belonging is central to baptism, and is rightly a title to a very good catechetical programme that we use for First Holy Communion preparation.  The strength of this foundation is extremely important.

The second one – nourishment.

How we nourish our physical bodies determine our health and well-being.  This is equally vital to our spiritual lives, and deserves all the care and attention that we can bring to it.  Vital to all of this is ministry and please God, as life in our churches continue we will highlight our ministries.

Important ones are Readers and Ministers of the Eucharist, but these times of trial have highlighted the value of cleaners and stewards and we are deeply grateful to all those who have stepped up to the plate and are serving us so well.  Thank you and bless you always.

Our website is the central point and, please God, will be a beacon for us to bear witness together as communities of faith.  We had a very good meeting at St George’s church on Tuesday morning, and please God, it has done me a lot of good, hopefully I can do much better.  A big thank you for all the work that has been done since we returned to church from lockdown 10 weeks ago.  With earnest and deep and constant prayer, let us face the future and let our two churches be united in solidarity  and support for each other.

St George’s Parishioners Harvest Service – Sunday 11^th October offerings requested – FOODBANK DONATIONS please place them in the basket at the back of church at whichever mass they attend this week.

This year as we cannot celebrate Harvest together, we’re using the Bankuet website to help us carry out our Harvest food drive for    Hailsham and Eastbourne Foodbank online. We’re encouraging everyone to give what they can to help people in our community who are experiencing a crisis; Bankuet will then pool everyone’s generous gifts and use them to bulk-buy the items the food bank needs most. This makes it easy for everyone to contribute and increases our impact as a church. By giving through Bankuet, Bankuet are able to deliver 10-20% more food than traditional donations. They are also able to deliver the exact items requested by the food bank, and    deliver the order at a time most convenient to them!

Bankuet dreams of a world where people don’t go hungry. You’re part of a growing movement of people who are using technology to make that happen.
All you have to do is go to bankuet.co.uk/givenow and make a donation, selecting “Harvest The Parish of St Wilfrid and St George” from the drop down menu at checkout to make sure it goes towards our shared total. Thank you so much for whatever you are able to contribute. We are hoping to raise £250 and will be sure to let you know how we get on!

The Bonus Ball will re-commence this weekend.