Dear Parishioners,
In my priestly life, I have met many people who told me that the story of the disciples going to Emmaus is one of their favourite Bible stories and I certainly include it in my list of favourite ten New Testament Stories. Why? Because it is such a human story. It is about ordinary, everyday disappointments and ordinary discoveries of God in our lives. No matter what happens in our lives, the risen Jesus is always with us. God is always near to those who seek Him. Above all, it is about our encounter with the Lord in the Eucharist. Let us encounter the Risen Lord and share the experience, His love with others.
I will be away on my annual holidays to Goa (home) from 24th April to 25th May. I am grateful to Fr James Walsh for taking care of the Parish in my absence.
Fr Peter
Next Sunday is a World Day of Prayer for Vocations and there will be a Second Collection for the Diocesan Priests’ Training Fund next weekend.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham is on Bank Holiday Monday 1st May. A coach will pick up parishioners from Hoveton at 9.30am, from North Walsham at 9.50am and from Aylsham at 10.15am, to arrive at the Shrine at 11.15am. Please sign your names to the list in church porches as we need to know numbers for size of coach. Cost – £6 to be collected on the coach. To bring a packed lunch. Need for an immediate response, please, if you wish to travel on the coach.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 18th – 26th August 2023. Bishop Peter will be leading us on the pilgrimage, leading, in fact, the whole Catholic Assoc. Pilgrimage: see website https://www.tangney-tours.com/pilgrimages/lourdes/catholic-association More details to follow.
St Helen’s 4th Wednesday Club for senior citizens next meets on 26th April. Coffee is served from 11.30am, with an opportunity to chat and catch up. A simple hot lunch is served at around 12.30pm with further time for social interaction. Everything included for a charge of just £2.50 per head. New members always welcome. We finish at 2.00pm.
Exciting outing for Faithful Flames children – Let’s go bowling! Sunday 7th May the children will go bowling, for free, as a group at Jr’s North Walsham (NR28 0JQ) at 12.45pm. Pl contact Kerry – 07504048352 to book or speak to her during Faithful Flames.
Bishop Peter invites all married couples in the Diocese to join him at the annual Marriage Celebration Mass on Saturday 3rd June at 11.30 at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist. All married couples and their families are welcome! Those couples who are celebrating significant anniversaries (one year, five years and every multiple of five years thereafter, or individual years from 60 years onwards) will receive a certificate from the Bishop. If you would like to register for a certificate please visit the website https://www.rcdea.org.uk/marriage-mass-registration/ or contact the Marriage & Family Life Coordinator, Dr Antonia Braithwaite, on mflcoordinator@rcdea.org.uk Join us after Mass for tea & cake in the Cathedral Hall. Photographs of couples with the Bishop will be available online after the day.
The Norfolk Churches Trust is presenting an Exhibition of Icons at St Peter’s Church, Corpusty on 23rd June to 1st July 2023; open on Saturday 24th from 11.00am to 5.00pm; Sunday 25th from 11.00am to 7.00pm: Monday 26th – Saturday 1st July open 10.00am to 4.00pm. Visit www.norfolkchurchestrust.org.uk for more inform.
We pray for our sick parishioners: Matt Butler, Frances Palman, Mary Bell, Mary Carr, Paul Watson, Cyril Shenton, Patricia Newton, Celia Cooper, Michael Haughton, Marie Barton, Gerry Francis, Robert Buhagiar and Alf and Margaret Larkins.
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur this week: Alfred Pycroft, Bernard Lipscombe, Anthony Kelly, Marin Conneely, Connie Newsham, Robert (Bob) Maidment, Sally Lovell, Livia Caffarelli, Betty Empson and Nuala Wilders.
May they rest in peace.
