Dear Friends
One of the greatest challenges to Christians is reconciling our faith in a good God with the reality of evil and suffering. Our faith does not offer a neat philosophical answer to suffering and evil. Instead it insists that the final word is always God’s word of life and fulfilment. Paul speaks of Jesus ‘making himself ‘poor for your sake’. He is speaking of the pouring out of his life so that others may have life. In confronting evil and death Jesus overcomes them and brings life to all who would receive it. The Gospel passage tells us that Jesus is the Lord of life – restoring life to Jairus’ daughter. Evil and death may be realities in human life but they are not the masters of human life.
We welcome Father Luke Goymour who will celebrate the Masses next weekend.
God bless
Father James
.
Next Sunday, 8th July at the 11.00am Mass (Sacred Heart) there takes place our First Holy Communion Mass. It will also be a Family Mass.
Also next Sunday is Sea Sunday. There will be a retiring collection for the Apostleship of the Sea. Gift Aid envelopes will be available in the porch, also prayer cards.
Tomorrow Monday there is the Confirmation Mass at the Sacred Heart at 7.00pm.
The Senior Citizens Group (NW) meets on Monday 2nd July: there will be the usual morning activities, starting at 11am. In the afternoon there will be free time to socialise.
‘Post of Learning Support Assistant required at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School, Norwich. Application form/job description are available on office@st-francisofassisi.norfolk.sch.uk Closing date, Friday 29th June; interview date, Tuesday 10th July 2018.
Saturday 28th July will be the occasion of “Father James’ Garden Party” – an enjoyable event for the whole parish to get together for lunch ‘alfresco’ in the grounds of the Sacred Heart. Please add your names to the lists in the porch of our churches.
Share the Journey Parish Walk 18 adults, 4 children and 4 dogs had a wonderful walk in the sunshine along the Weavers Way last Sunday afternoon and added 156 miles to CAFOD’s ‘Walk Around the World’ in support of refugees. Along the way we paused to pray for the refugees and to read out some of their stories. Those who were unable to do the walk supported the stalls in the Parish Hall and all signed cards to be sent to the PM requesting that she work with other world leaders to ensure that global compacts are met on human dignity, protection of the vulnerable, tackling the reasons for migration and keeping families together. £200 has been sent to the Refugee Community Kitchen in Calais.
We pray for all our sick parishioners, including Mary Johnson, Joe Seely and Veronica Williams.
We pray for Jean Booth from Aylsham who died recently (her funeral will be at St John of the Cross on Tuesday July 3rd) also for Jan Fitzer from North Walsham; we remember their families and friends at this time.
We pray for all those whose anniversaries occur this week including: Nancy Flatley, James Metcalf, Patricia Bolton, Selma (Karen) Mortimer, Ellen McKeown, Martin Wood, Pauline Watson and Doris McGee.
May they rest in peace.
