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Fr Rory Writes

Remaining with grace and peace

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

As we continue with the holiday season, our hopes and prayers are that we may all benefit from this time.  There are real signs that the worst of the pandemic has passed, but there will continue to be different variants and outbreaks.

So to remain cautious and careful is important, but to be positive and to be looking forward to a more normal and beneficial lifestyle is important.

Returning from a long stay in Ireland, lots of rain and some opportunities to catch up with, and benefit from meeting with family and friends with the future more hopeful and at ease.  I attended a second funeral of priests who were truly inspirational when they were teaching us in the seminary.  I always look back to a time of great hope, so their funeral brought great sadness.  So many seminaries closed and hopes not realised.   This time the priest Fr  Denis    Talbot got a good send off, acknowledging his life of service.

Altar Server Mass

Altar Server Mass – Saturday 23rd September at    Arundel Cathedral:  Fr Aaron Spinelli, Diocesan    Director for the Guild of St Stephen, invites diocesan altar servers to a special Mass at Arundel Cathedral on Saturday 23 September at 12 noon, led by Bishop Richard. The Mass is for all those who have served, all those who are serving, and anybody who would like to serve – all are very welcome. Fr Aaron         requests attendees bring a cassock/cotta or an alb (if possible), and a packed lunch. There is no need to register, though attendees are asked to E: [email protected] to confirm numbers.

Deacon John Writes

Earlier this week we had the Gospel about loaves and fishes. It includes the sentence “They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over – twelve wicker baskets full”. An article by Kristin Armstrong wrote about this saying that when she gets discouraged by having too much to do she asks God to “loaves-and-fishes her”. She agrees that this is not a grammatically correct prayer but she says that God always answers it. She realises that she is asking God to take what she can offer and work within her and increase her understanding and her capacity to serve and to show her love. God combines his abundance and limitless capacity and ensures that there is more than enough to go around. The best thing about this, she says, is that she is not spent or drained. She says she can take the pieces of her left overs and still have the energy for self-care, for gratitude, for creativity and for fun. She says “I am able to do without sacrificing my ability to be”.

I have found this useful during this week – perhaps you could try asking God to “loaves-and-fishes you” this coming week. I hope that prayer helps you if you do!

All my love to each and every one.

Altar Server Mass

Altar Server Mass – Saturday 23rd September at    Arundel Cathedral:  Fr Aaron Spinelli, Diocesan    Director for the Guild of St Stephen, invites diocesan altar servers to a special Mass at Arundel Cathedral on Saturday 23 September at 12 noon, led by Bishop Richard. The Mass is for all those who have served, all those who are serving, and anybody who would like to serve – all are very welcome. Fr Aaron requests attendees bring a cassock/cotta or an alb (if possible), and a packed lunch. There is no need to register, though attendees are asked to E: [email protected] to confirm numbers.

A Big Thank You

A big thank you to all who supported the Charity Breakfast last Sunday, we raised £135 to help pay for resources for St Richard’s Art & DT students to design and make a set of Stations of the Cross for the new Chapel.  Once made and installed we will be sure to see if we can have a visit to see the Chapel and the school.

No breakfast in August but we return on the last Sunday of   September when we will be raising money for the Love in a Boxes transportation at Christmas.  It will also be our one year anniversary breakfast so we may even do something a little more special (watch this space!).

St George’s & St Wilfrid’s Parish Council

The role of the newly formed Parish Council is to live and communicate the love and values of Christ in our world. The Council will share in the responsibility for the ongoing life and development of our faith community. We go forward together as one parish united within our two churches in Hailsham and Polegate. Together, our Council’s aim is to  provide support for everyone’s efforts to live as followers of Christ.

We are a consultative body that will help the Parish Priest consider pastoral and other such works within the Parish. Also, to propose and co-ordinate practical measures in implementing them. The Parish Priest will take into account their opinions and recommendations. We are not involved in Finance or the affairs of other Parish Groups.

Our members consist of the Parish Priest and an equal number of members from St George’s and St Wilfrid’s.

Our current members are:

St George’s: Mary Burbage, Nick Cooray, Mary O’Hanlan, Martin Falkner, Cathy Hollingdale, Joanne Knight, Liz Oram and from St Wilfrid’s: Lesley Crowe, Morgan Mukitirwa, John Mullaney, James O’Brien, Teresa Palmer or Angela   Squizzoni or Annette Wake (just one to attend each meeting) and Stephen Gartzen.