Dear Friends,
As I enjoy the warm weather and the tranquillity of the vast ocean
before me, I continue to thank the Almighty for my vocation and for all the people entrusted to my care.
Today is called Good Shepherd Sunday, and appropriately, this day is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Today, the Church calls us to reflect on the meaning of God’s call for each of us and to pray for generous respondents to God’s personal call (vocation), to the priesthood, the diaconate and the consecrated life, because the entire Christian community shares the responsibility for fostering vocations. Both the Old and New Testaments use the image of a Shepherd and His flock to describe the unique relationship of God with Israel and Christ with Christians.
We need to be good shepherds. Everyone who is entrusted with the care of others is a shepherd; hence, pastors, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, government officials, and care-givers, among others, are all shepherds. We become good shepherds by loving those entrusted to us, praying for them, spending our time, talents, and blessings for their welfare, and guarding them from physical and spiritual dangers.
Father Peter
We welcome back and thank Fr James Walsh for presiding at our Masses for the next four weeks whilst Fr Peter is taking his annual break in Goa.
This weekend there is a Second Collection for the Diocesan Priests’ Training Fund. Gift Aid envelopes available.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham is on Bank Holiday Monday 1st May. A small coach will pick up parishioners starting at North Walsham at 9.50am and then from Aylsham at 10.15am, arriving at the Shrine at 11.15am. Please be punctual as the coach cannot wait for latecomers. Cost – £6 to be collected on the coach. Please bring a packed lunch.
The Rosary (North Walsham) will be said at 10.30am prior to Mass during the Sundays of May. Those who would like to lead the Rosary please sign the list in the porch – there are similar arrangements both at Aylsham and Hoveton. Leaflets on how to pray the Rosary are available.
St Helen’s May Coffee Morning will take place after Mass from 10.20am on Wednesday 3rd. Please do come and join us for refreshments including home-made bakes and a chat with friends for just £2. You will be made most welcome.
Faithful Flames children ‘go bowling’ Sunday 7th May 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 ‘Singers Unlimited’ concert in memory of Michael Hawley at St John of the Cross last Saturday 22nd April raised an amazing £1,026.87 for the Alzheimer’s Society. Huge thanks to all who supported a thoroughly enjoyable and successful evening.
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; Doris Beaumont, Joseph Gawlina, Emily Gray, John Russell, James Byrne and Margery Huxtable. May they rest in peace.
