Dear Friends,
The love that Jesus presents in today’s Gospel is far from easy! Are we capable of answering hatred with goodness, curses with blessings, ill-treatment with prayer?
Lent is fast approaching. This year I am recommending as a Lent book ‘The Shattering of Loneliness’ It is written by Fr Eric Varden, the abbot of Mount St Bernard, a Cistercian Abbey near Leicester. The idea is to read it during Lent and then there will be a couple of sessions when we will meet together and share our thoughts. If you would like a copy of the book please add your name to the list so that we can order in bulk and obtain a good discount.
God bless
Father James
On Monday 11th March Fr James will lead a Day of Reflection for Lent starting at 11am. Mass will be at 12noon followed by a shared lunch. Father will continue with the reflection at 2pm.
During Lent Fr James is going to hold a Lenten Course which will be held on the following Saturday mornings in the parish hall at the Sacred Heart following the 9.30am Mass: 9th March, 23rd March & 6th April.
The Senior Citizens Group (NW). Meets Monday 25th for their usual morning activities. In the afternoon they will be “Making Radio” with Anna Perrott from BBC Radio Norfolk.
A reminder: the final date for booking a ticket on the “Mystery History Tour” is 28th February. The coach company needs to know numbers to assess the size of coach required.
The next meeting of St Helen’s 4th Wednesday Club for the senior citizens is on 27th February. We welcome you to coffee at 11.30am, a simple hot lunch at 12.30pm followed by social activities and games. We finish with tea and cake at 4pm. New members are always welcome.
Rededication of England as the Dowry of Mary: the Slipper Chapel statue of Our Lady of Walsingham, with the Dowry Tour Exhibition, will visit every English Catholic Diocese & Cathedral between 2018-2020. It will visit our Cathedral of St John the Baptist on Thursday 28th February and remain until Saturday 2nd March 2019. The timetable of events can be seen on our church notice boards.
This year the Sacred Heart Church will be hosting the World Day of Prayer, (for NW) on Friday 1st March 2019 at 2.00 pm. It will also be held in Aylsham at 2.30pm and again at 7.30pm in the Baptist Church on Cawstone Road, also at St Helen’s, Hoveton Friday 1st March at 10.30am.
On Sunday 10th March from 2pm till 4pm Kerry & Lauren invite 8-14 yr olds and their parents to a Summer Camp “Taster” Day! – to give the young people a fuller picture of the enjoyment to be had at the annual Diocesan Summer Camp. Questions to Kerry on 07504 048352.
Support Cambodia’s “Soups, Slides & Crafts” lunch is on Saturday 16th March from 11.30am – 2.30pm in the parish hall (soup served 12 – 1pm). Admission by ticket only, £3, available after weekend Masses or from Katies on 01263 577784. Ticket includes soup, bread, fruit, tea/coffee (bacon rolls extra); illustrated talk on the recent Trustee Visit, and a chance to buy from new Cambodia crafts. Early booking advised – it was sold out in advance last year!
Minutes of the PPC meeting held 29th January are now available on-line. Copies are also in our church porches.
Catholic East Anglia diocesan newspaper (March) available, FREE.
We pray for all our sick parishioners; Mary Johnson, Joe Seely, Maria Wilby, Frances Palman, Thomasina Hopkins and Carolyn Raynor.
We pray for Eric (Bill) Bailey who died recently; we remember his family and friends at this time. We pray for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time including: Michael McCann, Edith (Rusty) Collins, Michael Fogarty, Eileen Clarke, Monica Hardingham, Josephine (Jo) Ringer, Colin Johnson and Agnes Daniels.
May they rest in peace.
