Dear Friends,
This week, on Ash Wednesday, we begin the Church’s season of Lent. Each year we set aside this period of spiritual renewal and refreshment when we prepare ourselves to renew our lives in general and our baptismal promises in particular at Easter.
As a Live Simply parish we will reflect on a series of Weekly Lenten Reflections which are based on Pope Francis’ encyclical ’Laudato Si’. Copies are available in each of our churches. They remind us that ’the ecological crisis is a summons to profound interior conversion’.
In today’s Mass readings the call is to recognise that those who belong to God should see and act like God – and God’s nature is holiness and total self-giving.
Father James
The next session of Journey in Faith is today at 5pm in the presbytery.
At the Sacred Heart – help is urgently needed!
We have had a good initial response but we do still need more volunteers. Please take a look at the list of jobs to keep our church running. Please put your name down for the Sacred Heart’s Taskforce. A box for completed forms is in the church porch. Thank you.
St Helen’s 4th Wednesday Club for senior citizens next meets on 26th February. Coffee is served from 11.30am, there is a simple hot lunch at 12.30pm followed by a free raffle, social activities and games. We finish with tea and cake at 4pm. All inclusive cost is £2.50
A group of actors, musicians and choristers from Cantamus choir are performing ’Mankind’, a modern mystery play, in the Sacred Heart Church this Thursday (27th) at 7.30pm. Tickets at the door cost £12.00. All are welcome.
“My Day by Day” booklet is a Lenten Journey of readings and prayer in preparation for Easter. It is available in church porches at just £1.
Churches Together (North Walsham) – dates for your diaries!
Next Prayer Meeting: Monday 24th February at 2pm in the Methodist Church, North Walsham.
World Day of Prayer – on Friday 6th March at 2pm in North Walsham it is being held at the Salvation Army Citadel.
It is also being hosted on the same day at St John of the Cross in Aylsham at 2.30pm and again at 7.30pm.
Lenten Lunches. For lunches in North Walsham see poster for dates and venues.
St John of the Cross in Aylsham will also host a Lent lunch on Friday, 20th March.
Bible Study – At the Sacred Heart sessions will continue on every 2nd and 4th Friday in the month. The next session is on Friday 28th February at 2.30pm in the parish hall.
At St John of the Cross during Lent there will be weekly Bible Study sessions starting on Thursday 27th February at 6.45pm. All are welcome: please bring your bible.
Support Cambodia’s “Soups, Slides & Crafts” lunch is on Saturday 28th March from 11.30am – 2.30pm in the parish hall (soup served from 12 – 1pm). Admission by ticket only, price £3.50 – available after weekend Masses next weekend or from Katie on 01263 577784. Ticket includes soup, bread, fruit, tea/coffee (bacon rolls extra), an illustrated talk on the recent Trustee Visit and the chance to buy from the new selection of Cambodia crafts. Early booking advised – it was sold out in advance last year!
We pray for our sick parishioners: Joe Seely, Maria Wilby, Matt Butler, John Gowing, Tom Ender, Derek Palman, Kevin Fitzmaurice and Mary Carr.
We pray for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time including: Michael McCann, Edith (Rusty) Collins, Michael Fogarty, Eileen Clarke, Monica Hardingham and Josephine (Jo) Ringer.
May they rest in peace.
Next Family Mass: Sunday 1st March – St David’s Day
(11.00 am Mass at the Sacred Heart)
