Dear Friends,
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. The early years of the family of Jesus were not easy ones. Because of the menace of Herod they were forced to take refuge in Egypt. They then settled in Nazareth where Jesus spent his childhood. Today’s Gospel describes his first Passover in Jerusalem at the age of twelve. He is lost and found again on the third day – anticipating his Easter destiny. He is also becoming aware of his responsibility to his heavenly Father and of his future mission.
Thank you to all who prepared the Christmas Masses, set up the cribs, arranged the flowers or rehearsed the music so that each of our three churches offered an inspiring Christmas liturgy. My personal thanks too for your cards, gifts and generous offerings. May the Lord bless our parish and give us joy and peace in the year to come.
Father James
The next session of Journey in Faith will be on Sunday, 13th January at 5 pm in the presbytery.
On Sunday afternoon, 20th January, we shall host an important ecumenical event in North Walsham. All the churches in the town will formally sign a covenant promising to work together and support each other. It is some years since this last took place and it sends out a positive message about the good relations between the churches in the town.
Crib donations at the Sacred Heart will be going to Aid to the Church in Need. Please give generously to this very worthy and much needed cause.
During the school nativity play, when Mary and Joseph were told that there was no room in the inn, a child’s voice came from the audience: ’they should have booked’!
There will be NO Coffee Drop-in at St Helen’s in January. The next one will be on Wednesday 6th February.
The Reverse Advent Calendar Many thanks to all those who contributed boxes of food for the Norwich and Cromer Foodbanks his Advent. 38 boxes went to the Cromer Foodbank from Sacred Heart and St John’s and 32 to the Norwich Foodbank from St Helen’s. Please continue to donate food every week throughout the year. There is a list on the notice boards each month of what the Foodbanks particularly need that month together with their letter of thanks.
Epiphany Candlelight Mass – Saturday 6th January at 5.00pm. A celebration for all young people and their families from across the Diocese: this is followed by hot dogs, a bonfire and fireworks. There will be a collection of presents for children who are refugees (please bring wrapped presents and indicate whether suitable for a boy or girl or either, and approximate age). This will be held at The White House, 21 Upgate, Poringland, Norwich and is organised by the Diocesan Youth Service.
An Epiphany Crib Festival, displaying Nativity scenes from around the world, takes place at St Helen’s, Hoveton, on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th January, from 10.00am until 4.00pm. Please let Liz Smith know if you have a crib you would like to include, preferably one from another country.
We pray for all our sick parishioners, including Deacon Ron O’Toole, Mary Johnson, Joe Seely, Tony Seaborne and Maria Wilby. We pray for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time including: Cecilia Booth-Skinner, John Egan, Ernest Brown, Doreen Burton, Philip (Charles) Byrne, Arthur Hodgson and Essie Rimmer. May they rest in peace.
