Latest News

JOKE OF THE WEEK

An Irishman moves into a tiny hamlet in County Kerry, walks into the pub and promptly orders three beers.  The bartender raises his eyebrows, but serves the man three beers, which he drinks quietly at a table, alone.  An hour later, the man has finished the three beers and order three more.  This happens yet again.

The next evening the man again orders and drinks three beers at a time, several times.  Soon the entire town is whispering about the Man Who Orders Three Beers.  Finally, a week later, the bartender broaches the subject on behalf of the town.  “I don’t mean to pry, but folks around here are wondering why you always order three beers?”  “Tis odd, isn’t it?” the man replies, “you see, I have two brothers, and one went to America, and the other to Australia.  We promised each other that we would always order an extra two beers whenever we drank as a way of keeping up the family bond.”  The bartender and the whole town was pleased with this answer, and soon the Man Who Orders Three Beers became a local celebrity and source of pride to the hamlet, even to the extent that out-of-towners would come to watch him drink.  Then, one day, the man comes in and orders only two beers.  The bartender pours them with a heavy heart.  This continues for the rest of the evening – he orders only two beers.  The word flies around town.  Prayers are offered for the soul of one of the brothers.  The next day, the bartender says to the man, “Folks around here , me first of all, want to offer condolences to you for the death of your Brother.  You know-the two beers and all…..” The man ponders this for a moment, then replies, “You’ll be happy to hear that my two brothers are alive and well…… It’s just that I, myself, have decided to give up drinking for Lent.”

Fr Rory Writes:                                                                               

Psalm 91 continued….. On Our Way

              He will cover you with his feathers,

              and under his wings you will find refuge;

              His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

              You will not fear the terror of night,

              nor the arrow that flies by day,

nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

Recently we hear a lot about signs and disturbances.  Some churches give them a lot of attention and with lots of events, plagues of locusts in Africa, our own Corona Virus,  with oceans of evidence of global warming, it is important to stay focused. 

God is my safe place; God is our safe place.

Yes, it is important that we take care of our health.  To this end, trips to the gym and any array of medicine and other activities can be conducive to good health.  So many other activities add to the cares of our lives, that we can lose sight of what is most important.  In the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24, even with all the signs Jesus councils us:  the end is not so soon and that no one knows, only The Father in heaven, when this will come to pass.  It is for us to remain focused upon Jesus.  The more we come to rely upon Him this will influence our response to this crisis.    

Isolation will bring a lot of suffering, and a very special place in our prayers must be for those in very difficult situations, with mental health, and other social issues.  Prayers also for families with small children, confined to very small and inadequate space for homes. 

Pray constantly and never lose heart, and because I am speaking to the converted, grace and peace be with you at this time:

But the last words belong to the distressed and those greatly afflicted, Jesus be with them in their hour of need.  As you were consoled in the Garden of Gethsemane, send your Holy Angels to watch over them that none may be lost and all will be saved.

St Wilfrid’s Children’s Liturgy – Unfortunately due to the Coronavirus we are unable to meet until Masses are resumed and so we are making lessons available online through items that you can read and lesson activities you can do at home.  If your children would like to show their work to the rest of the congregation who view the site from their homes, if you could email a copy to Sophie at [email protected] .   Please visit our Church Website at https://saintsgeorgeandwilfrid.co.uk/

The Rosary:

The Rosary will be said every Monday at 2.30pm.  Please join us in saying the rosary from your own homes to help us all stay connected.

Foodbanks:

If you are still able to donate non-perishable food and money to the foodbanks over the coming months.  There are opportunities to donate online, or our website to make this easier for people.  Immediate food needs for Hailsham Foodbank are tinned tomatoes and vegetables, this will probably change week to week. For more updates visit www.hailsham.foodbank.org.uk

JOKE OF THE WEEK

A priest spied a parishioner enjoying some tasty smoked sausage on Friday during Lent — a strict no-no in the Church. The priest, being a pragmatic soul, told the man for his penance he was to bring a load of lumber to the church to help repair the roof.  The man grumbled but went off to do his penance. He arrived at the church on the next Friday and proceeded to dump a huge load of sawdust into the parking lot. “What’s this?” the priest wanted to know. “I told you your penance was a load of lumber, not sawdust.” The man replied cooley, “Well, if that sausage I ate was meat, then this sawdust is lumber.

POPE FRANCIS SAID

Tonight before falling asleep think about when we will return to the street.

When we hug again, when all the shopping together will seem like a party.

Let’s think about when the coffees will return to the bar, the small talk, the photos close to each other.

We think about when it will be all a memory but normality will seem an unexpected and beautiful gift.

We will love everything that has so far seemed futile to us. Every second will be precious.

Swims at the sea, the sun until late, sunsets, toasts, laughter.

We will go back to laughing together.

Strength and courage.

Fr Rory Writes:                                                                                The Bigger Picture

See and Read Psalm 91

At our last Hailsham Minister Fraternal, David Bourne led our time of prayer.  It was a true Godsend, at a time in an hour of need.  It was a real tonic for me, a grace and a blessing.  Above all a source of inspiration for us all, through the trials that are about to afflict us.  He based it on Psalm 91, and I am hoping to draw inspiration from it throughout the weeks to come.

“whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.”

As David expressed ….  it’s a really beautiful Psalm and is full of re-assurance, promises of safety and victory pour out verse after verse. 

But the really big question, “To whom are these promises given?” .  The obvious first answer may appear to be to everyone, but that really misses the mark by a mile.  

Yes, the promises remain and are genuine.  But in order to avail of the fruits, then something very different is required.

Our more normal selves can be much more resistant to these promises than we would like to think.  It is easier to see other people’s faults, at this time when the church is in lockdown and many of the means that we thought were guarantees to God’s favour and most acceptable to him are not open to us.

Please God, that time of prayer and teaching was a very genuine moment for me.  Why was it? and why do I remain so apprehensive, so anxious, and as I have come to recognise, so vulnerable.  It may be a good time for us all to address your human situation at the moment.

If you read the readings for the 4th Sunday of Lent I am sure you will notice notice that the readings make no mention of a woman. Surely the mother of the sons would have been involved in the welcome home and would certainly have been a key player in the preparations for the party. I am sure you all know that this Sunday is Mothering Sunday. Mothers, we honour you this day and every day. We thank you, and we thank God for giving you to us and for endowing you with the spirit of giving, caring, nurturing, loving, and (when necessary) letting go.

There is a prayer which is one you can say at any time, but, it is very appropriate for Mothering Sunday, while quietly giving thanks for your own mother. “God our Mother and Father, rid our hearts and minds of all feelings and attitudes which do not reflect your loving kindness. Bless all mothers. Reward them for their sacrifice and their faithfulness to your image. We thank you for our mothers and for that part of you we have received through them. Finally, we pray that you will never let us forget how much our mothers and wives have given us. We ask this, emboldened by your Holy Spirit, through Christ our Lord. Amen”

Bonus Ball: 

Please be advised that the Bonus Ball will be suspended from now until further notice.  Thank you.