Some people see the Ten Commandments as negative and restrictive. It is surely more helpful to understand their real purpose: to reveal God’s will to direct our lives and our relationships so as to live as God’s holy people.
In today’s Gospel reading Jesus cleanses the Temple of greed and hypocrisy. He doesn’t just drive out the merchants. He is going to establish a new and holy temple – the temple of his body – where God and humanity will enter into a new relationship. The risen Lord enters our lives, forgives our sins and cleanses us so that we can give fitting worship to our God. We too can become a ‘cleansed temple’.
Sometimes a nightmare scenario actually happens! A couple of weeks ago I came back to the presbytery to discover that I had left the key to the front door inside the house! How could I get in? After some reflection I thought of Marianne MacQueen. I went to her house and, yes, she had a key to the presbytery – ‘it’s in the second drawer to the right’. . Marianne is no longer with us: she died on Wednesday after many months of illness and treatment. Her death will leave many in our parish community with a profound sense of loss. She was a woman with great gifts – highly intelligent, a great organiser and a person of deep faith; she had a special gift for unlocking spiritual doors for many people. We will miss her.
God bless you all.
Father James
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Lent Courses (Ecumenical) taking place in Wroxham/Hoveton area beginning at 7.00pm: 5th March at the Hub, Wroxham (Bible study & discussion); 12th March at St Helen’s (Stations of the Cross); 19th March at St Mary’s, Wroxham, (Iona Service) and the 26th March at the Baptist Church, Neatishead.
There will also be Lenten Lunches in North Walsham on Thursdays from 12 .30 in St Nicholas’ parish hall; in Aylsham on different days and venues: Friday,13th at the Methodist Church, Monday,16th at the Friends Meeting Hall and 27th at Cawston Road Chapel.
Senior Citizens’ Group meets on Monday 9th March. Fr James will be leading “Mature Lenten Reflections” from 10.30am – 3.00pm. This is for all the Parish. Please bring food for a shared lunch.
St Teresa of Avila’s 500th Anniversary. A talk on St Teresa will be given on Wednesday 11th March at 7.30pm in the Cathedral Narthex by Fr John McGowan, a Carmelite Friar.
St Patrick’s Supper & Dance is on the night of Saturday 14th March: 7 for 7.30 pm. 3-course meal, music by Clan and lots of fun. Tickets are on sale after Mass today. Come and enjoy a great evening!
‘Soups, Slides & Crafts’ in aid of Support Cambodia projects on Saturday 21st March at 12noon to 1.30pm at the Sacred Heart parish hall. Homemade soup, bread, fruit & coffee, news and pictures of the recent Cambodia visit and a chance to purchase Cambodian crafts. Tickets £3 available from Katie Maidment (01263 577784) or Carole Shippey (01603 872901).
Support Cambodia Plant Sale. Please see enclosed flyer giving details of this year’s plant sale in May.
Parish Pastoral Council: Minutes of the meeting held on 25th November 2014 are now on the website and on the church notice boards.
St Helen’s 4th Wednesday Club. Our next meeting will be held on 25th March and we look forward to seeing you all then.
We pray for Marianne MacQueen who died peacefully in hospital on Wednesday and for those whose anniversaries occur during this week including: Leslie Alexander Hammond, Jim Bowden, Shaun Browning Tusting, Patrick Anthony Shiell, William Maloney, Agatha Semak, Murial Nellie Portallion, John Edward Barry, John Richard Price, William Lee and Cynthia Shearing.
May they rest in peace.
If you have any items for the newsletter please let us have them by Tuesday.
