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This Lent, your donations to CAFOD’s Family Fast Day Appeal will help families fighting the climate crisis and ensure that our Church network can quickly respond to emergencies, like the recent earthquake in Syria and Turkey. Give today using the envelope or at  cafod.org.uk/give and please join us in praying for CAFOD’s development and emergency response work all over the world.

St Patrick’s day cards are on sale at St George’s Church.

“A very, very special moment”

The outstanding event during my visit to Ireland was Fr Seamus Ryan’s funeral mass in his home village of Cappamore.  A truly, truly inspiring priest, a great gift to us during our seminary days.  Because of his inspiration we left our       seminary full of hope, a time of renewal and inspiration was in store for our church because of the 2nd Vatican    Council.  Pope John 23rd had announced the council in order to open up the windows and let fresh light shine into the church.  A time of great hope.  Unfortunately his funeral mass was quite a contract.  The age profile of the priests, and indeed the congregation.  The stories of all his endeavour and our remembrance of his celebrations of the liturgy.  His key message …. “The church as communities of faith and a new generation”.  This is exactly what he would want us to continue to focus upon, and to develop and grow.

This traditional devotion is in danger of being lost and as a Whole Parish during lent we encourage maximum attendance from everyone.  Family Stations – 11.30am Sat 11th March at St G’s Church this will be followed by a  Lenten soup lunch.   Stations – 3pm Sun 12th March at St George’s Church – led by our Parish Confirmation Group.  Palm Sunday Stations and Benediction 3pm Sun 2nd April, St George’s Church and refreshments in hall.  Good Friday Family Service/Stations 10.30am Fri 7th April at St Wilfrid’s Church followed by Hot Cross buns in the hall.  All parishioners, our youngest to our most senior, are encouraged to support these, especially the Family Services.  

are both running Lenten Sign-up courses by email with reflections and resources. For more information  please check out the following links;  https://cafod.org.uk/pray/lent-calendar and  https://go.ctsbooks.org/prayer-community

Thank you to the people who have taken the time to recommend parishioners to the Parish Council. If you have not completed your form, please do this today.  The Synod Core Group are meeting on Tuesday 21^st February to prepare a list of those recommended

is on 22^nd February and is a day of Fasting & Abstinence. Many thanks to everyone who brought back their old palms which have now been burned to produce the ashes.

It was Lulu’s 75th Birthday, we all appreciate what she does for our parish community, clearing, tidying, teas/coffees and keeping our garden pots around the church & hall beautiful.  We presented her with a beautiful plant, a special “star studded” bag full of goodies including a voucher for Waitrose and a special birthday cake with sparklers.  She was so amazed, she was speechless.  Emily paid a fleeting visit from France, so we had a large Christmas Cake too! (one of the things she misses most).  She has organised a student visit from her school in France and St Richards College.

First I give you the text of a message from Bishop Richard which came last week. “On Saturday, we celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes – the Day of Prayer for the Sick.  Mary calls us to Lourdes, a pilgrimage that is such an  important part of our diocesan life.  Mary our Mother calls us to see her Son in those around us and Pope Francis, in his message for this day writes: “Brothers and sisters, we are rarely prepared for illness. Often times, we fail even to admit that we are getting older.  Our vulnerability frightens us and the pervasive culture of efficiency pushes us to sweep it under the carpet, leaving no room for our human frailty.” Mindful of the frailty and weakness that is present in every one of us, let us do all we can to strive against the isolation that is so prevalent in our present society, ensuring that all recognise their value and dignity and know the love of Him who carries our weaknesses for us.”

I also want to draw your attention to our charity for this month at St George’s.  It is the Handicapped Children’s Pilgrimage Trust, and I ask you to support it as much as you can. First the proceeds of the sales table this month will be split between HCPT and parish and youth activities. The last Sunday of the month is the occasion for a real feast after Mass – a superb breakfast.  All the money raised at this event will be donated to HCPT.  Please support it if you possibly can

Lenten Reflections

 Ash Wednesday is fast approaching and CAFOD would like to invite you to join them as we seek to make space and time to draw closer to God through reflection and prayer this Lent. Each day in their emails they will share a reflection on one of the readings of the day, a prayer and a suggested action you might like to take as we prepare for Easter. Join them on this journey by signing up at   https://cafod.org.uk/pray/lent-calendar

The Catholic Truth Society are also providing a similar reflection activity at https://go.ctsbooks.org/prayer-community