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St George’s Church

During the Christmas period, Ros Burke, a parishioner at St George’s, and her lovely neighbours, constructed a life size nativity scene on the tiny roundabout at the end of her road set in a cul-de-sac in Willingdon. They lit up the tree and it was truly stunning. The purpose was to raise money for local charity, Children With Cancer. They organised a small Christmas fair in their road and the local brass band played carols on Christmas Eve. Over £760 was collected. Well done Ros.

Deacon John Writes

Happy New Year with many blessings to you all. This prayer is from the Redemptorists and I thought it would be good to share it with you: A New Year Prayer:

Lord, You make all things new and  bring hope alive in our hearts and cause our Spirits to be born again. Thank you for this new year for all the potential it holds. Come and kindle in us a mighty flame so that in our time, many will see the wonders of God and live forever to praise Your glorious name.
Amen.

Fr Rory Writes

“The Lord is our Rock and our Salvation”.  A good place to begin a new year. 

Better still, Renaldo, our very helpful resident has come into the office and he adds his bit.

“He is always present at our side.  He may not be visible but He is to be experienced in others.  In Gaelic “tús maith is ea leath na hoibre”.  A good start is half the work.

So please God, for the coming year.  Reality is that the virus continues to play a big part in our lives at the present.  At the beginning of last Advent as we lit the first candle I was in a bad place, but the light of “Hope” became very important to me.  Now that we have celebrated to the best of our ability the light of Christ coming into our world, it is a time to refocus, to trust where Christ finds us at this time which is a real test; and to start reaching out with a sense of great hope as we begin our journey into the New Year.

For me the best point of reference is the synod that Pope Francis highlights and has his confidence and trust.  Having begun my journey with great confidence in the 2nd Vatican Council, and during my years in the Seminary, was a great challenge and real hope.  I have some great events to recall from this time, in fact my first mass and celebrating my brother John and his wife Helen’s Wedding, was part of a great occasion.  Early experiences left a sense of adventure.  More and more I came to realize the forces that are against it, that’s life.

Leading and organising remains one of my many weaknesses.  Conviction that a body made up of many parts working together has always been a strength.  The new church is an expression of this, but the church as a community of the faithful has always been my great hope.  Leaven Groups promised to play a great part in this.  So it is time to begin again and to heed the promptings of our very helpful resident, Renaldo.

The diocese has provided us with material to facilitate this (For a Synodal Church – Communion, Participation, Mission), this can be downloaded at  https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/synod.   As stated earlier there are two additional items that are crucial.  A) Why do we need it?  and B) like our new church – what would be the best outcome?

Thank You

I would like to thank all of my friends at St Wilfrid’s for their care and compassion. I have been overwhelmed by your well wishes, gifts, mass offerings and prayers. Knowing that I am in your thoughts has been a great source of comfort and is helping me to make a good recovery.   Happy Christmas everyone from Teresa Palmer xx

Weekly Services

Sat 1st St Wilfrid’s –                              

Second Sunday of Christmas

Sun 2nd 9.00am             St George’s – Parish Communities’ Intention

                               10.30am             St Wilfrid’s  –  Private In tention

Mon     3rd            2.30pm St George’s –  Rosary Group

Tue      4th         10.00am St George’s – The McCann Family Intention

Wed     5th           10.00am St Wilfrid’s – Ephram & Lesley Crowe Intention

Thurs 6th           10.00am St George’s –  The Epiphany of the Lord, Cathy & Trevor Hollingdale Int

Fri    7th             10.00am St Wilfrid’s – Holy Souls’ Intention

Sat    8th            St Wilfrid’s – .

                     The Baptism of the Lord

Sun    9th          9.00am St George`s  – Marylou Cockshoot Intention

        10.30am St Wilfrid`s    – Bridie Cleary 1st Anniversary RIP

Fr Rory Writes

With a very grateful heart, a great thanks to all who contribute so much to the life of our parish.  Our two churches look great with all the  work, care and attention including the decorations, they are second to none.  This has been a very difficult time, with an unavoidable sense of stress, so special thanks are in order for those who help so much.  Nothing easy, and with health issues, please God, we can look forward to a fresh new year (and because) this newsletter covers the New Year, best wishes for that. 

Many, many thanks for your cards, gifts and donations, I am truly grateful.  It is very important that we focus our attention upon the Feast that is celebrated, “A Saviour is Born” and though first celebrated over 2000 years ago it remains for each year and for each generation a great joy, especially in times of trials and afflictions, we have our saviours promise “these are the trials through which we now triumph by the power of Him who love us”. 

Deacon John and Tessa have asked to join with me as we offer you our Christmas Greetings and wishing you a Holy Happy and enjoyable Christmas, in the safety of your families.

Merry Christmas

And A Happy New Year

CAFOD

CAFOD is combining efforts with the DEC to launch the Afghanistan Crisis Appeal.  In Afghanistan, 8 million people are on the brink of famine because of drought, collapsing economy, food shortages, conflict, and COVID. CAFOD is supporting sister Caritas agencies to reach communities most in need with food, clean water, and fuel. During Advent, when we open ourselves to the needs of others, let’s do all that we can to save lives. You can donate on the CAFOD website: cafod.org.uk/AfghanistanAppeal and please pray for the people of Afghanistan.