Dear Friends,
It’s great to be in the parish again this year (my fourth year doing this), whilst Fr James takes a well-deserved break. Firstly, it’s pleasing to see that England is getting a little better at cricket (thanks to an Aussie coach),……. Valiant effort this year, BUT we’ve still got the Ashes!! My mother’s grandfather was born and baptised in 1853 at Woodbastwick, where many generations of my forebears have lived. (It’s a great place too celebrate that fact with a local ale!) Shortly after his birth, he and his parents and brother set out on a perilous voyage, across the seas, for a new life in the new colony of South Australia.
Each year I begin my pilgrimage to the UK in West London, with a month ‘supply’ for my friend Fr Nicholas Schofield, in the parish of Uxbridge. My travelling companion Paul then joins me and, this year, we drove through Germany and France, beginning at Aachen, celebrating Mass in the magnificent Cathedral of Charlemagne. A spiritual highlight in France was a con-celebrated Sunday Mass in the Basilica of St Therése at Lisieux. For the first time, I drove a car with a Sat-Nav system to guide me. It makes driving so much less stressful and it reminded me that my Catholic Faith is the Sat-Nav system guiding me through the maze of life, and even when I take the wrong turn, it always helps me to find the right path again.
Fr Gavin
Work on the roof of the Sacred Heart church will begin on 1st October and last for about three weeks. Please note: the church will be closed during that week and therefore no Tuesday 9.30am Mass.
A reminder that on Sunday 6th October in the Sacred Heart Church the Mass will be a celebration in thanksgiving for the Harvest within the Family Mass. Baskets will be supplied in which to bring to the altar the fresh produce you kindly provide so there will be no need of plastic bags. Produce will be sold off after Mass, the proceeds going to CAFOD.
During this coming week Cambodians observe the Feast of Ancestors, the equivalent of our Holy Souls Day. Owing to clergy changes around the diocese, this year there will be no diocese-wide celebration. Instead, the normal 9.30am Mass at Aylsham next Friday (27th) will be offered for Cambodian families and their departed loved ones. This will not be a ‘Cambodian-style’ Mass, simply an opportunity to be united in Spirit and in prayer with our Cambodian friends, especially in our twin parish of Svay Sisophon. Please do try to attend, if you can.
St Helen’s 4th Wednesday Club for senior citizens next meets on 25th September. We will be celebrating “Harvest Home” with homespun entertainment, sing-a-long, poems, readings and quizzes. Come in for coffee from 11am, then a simple hot lunch at 12.30pm. The afternoon ends with tea and cake at around 4pm. New members are always welcome or just come along for a “taster session” to see what’s on offer The cost of £2.50 is for everything and also includes a free raffle ticket.
Tickets for the Support Cambodia Race Night in the Parish Hall on Saturday 12th October are going very fast and horses & jockeys are almost sold out. If you wish to be involved in this event in any way, you are advised to take action very soon! Phone Katie on 01263 577784 or email info@supportcambodia.org.uk
Regrettably owing to unavoidable circumstances the planned Harvest Meal for 6th October at St Helen’s has been cancelled.
We pray for all our sick parishioners: Joe Seely, Maria Wilby, Matt Butler, John Gowing, Teresa Farrow, Tom Ender, Derek Palman and Lesley Jarvis.
We pray for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time including: Godfrey Fahey, William Blewett, Michael Page and John (Jack) Breen.
May they rest in peace.
Next Family Mass: Sunday 6th October – Harvest Thanksgiving
