Dear Friends,
During this past week we have relived the last days of Jesus before his arrest. On Maundy Thursday we returned to the Last Supper from which every Mass takes its meaning. On Good Friday we followed Jesus on his journey to Calvary. At last night’s Vigil we understood how Jesus went down into the valley of death and has now trampled death underfoot. On the third day he rose again….’we look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come’. This is the core of our faith. Today and throughout Eastertide we will hear eye-witness accounts of those who would proclaim, ‘He is alive. He is truly risen!’ At each Mass today we will renew our baptismal vows, promising to reject all that is evil and destructive and then professing our faith in God the Holy Trinity.
A happy and blessed Easter to you all.
Father James
The Alive in Faith campaign is now officially over in our parish. The final total of £127,890 has been pledged or donated. This is an amazing result. Over 40% of our parishioners responded which, I am told, is a high degree of involvement. Interestingly each of our three communities gave roughly equal amounts. So thank you for your generosity. My personal thanks go to Jim Farrell, Terry McIlwee and Carol & David Shippey for their hard work and support. Now, with a huge sigh of relief, we can get back to normal parish life!
We have been having problems in getting Google to recognise our parish website and are trying to put this right. Meanwhile you can access it using other search engines!
The Collection at Masses on Easter Sunday (Vigil & Sunday) is your Easter gift to Fr James. Please keep all other contributions to the parish until the following week.
The Senior Citizens’ Group (NW) will not meet until after Easter.
Hoveton’s 4th Wednesday Club next meets on 27th April
Celebrate our Faith conference at St Benedict’s School, Bury St Edmunds on 9/10th April. Contact T&B Dady on 01692 402398.
Newman Lectures at UEA. The 2016 lectures take place each Monday in April beginning on April 4th. Speakers include Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor and Bishop Philip Egan. Lectures begin at 6.30 pm in the Julian Study Centre and are free. There is also free parking for those attending. For more information see: www.newmanlectures.co.uk
Inviting ALL young people in Year 9 – 13 to the Ignite Festival, 30th April – 2nd May. Come and experience your faith in a new and dynamic way at the Ignite Festival. Held in Swaffham, the weekend will include live music and talks as well as free time for sport and activities. It is organised by the Diocesan Youth service. Please see www.ignitefestival.co.uk for more information.
The Diocesan Youth Service wish to appoint three people to join the Ignite Team. These are full-time residential positions, sharing the Gospel Message in schools and parishes, in a way people can relate to including using music, drama and tech. Please see www.rcdea.org.uk/youth for more information.
Vacancy at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School (Jessopp Road, Norwich NR2 3QB) Required from September 2016. We are seeking to appoint a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) (0.5) who can take a lead role in coordinating the SENCO provision at our School. For further details or to arrange a visit please contact Mrs Theresa Dashley: senco@st-francisofassisi.norfolk.sch.uk Closing date for applications: 14th April 2016.
We pray for David Randall who died last week; we remember in prayer his family and friends at this time. We pray also for those whose anniversaries occur during this week including: Mamie Sweetman, Henry Newton, Millicent Lee, Barbara Stephen, Ronald Wilders, Alice Bean and Augustus Heralty.
May they rest in peace.
