It’s Lent Again! We are invited to journey through this Season to the most important Christian Festival of the Year – HOLY WEEK AND EASTER.
Lent is not just about giving things up; it is also about doing something extra. Whatever we decide to do should be helping us “to die a little more to self”. It is a season of prayer, and prayer acquires strength when accompanied by fasting and almsgiving. During Lent we have our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus and his journey to Jerusalem and we journey with him. Lent is about growing in love for God, for one another and for those most in need.
How is this LENT going to be special for YOU? Take these few days leading up to Ash Wednesday to plan well.
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| ASH WEDNESDAY 9th March
Today is kept as a day of Fasting and Abstinence. It is a day we should make every effort to join with our Parish Community at Mass and so get Lent off to a good start. At Mass we will be signed with the ashes, the traditional sign reminding us that this is a time of Repentance and Renewal. We are all called to “turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel”.
MASS TIMES:
9.00am St John of the Cross, Aylsham
10.30am Sacred Heart, North Walsham
6.00pm St Helens, Hoveton.
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STATION MASSES AROUND THE PARISH
Lenten Station Masses (they have nothing to do with Stations of the Cross) have long been celebrated in Rome and in recent years have become increasingly popular in other places. The idea is that people “make pilgrimage” to a number of churches for the celebration of Mass. We plan to have three such Masses in the parish during Lent (one in each of our community churches) and it is hoped that as well as a good attendance from the local community, parishioners will also travel from the other two worshipping communities of the parish. Mass will be followed by coffee and biscuits and so provide an opportunity for getting to know each other better.
Tuesday 22nd March at 7.30pm: St John of the Cross, Aylsham
Friday 1st april at 7.30pm: Sacred Heart, North Walsham.
Thursday 7th April at 7.30pm: St Helens, Hoveton
N.B. On these dates there will be no morning Mass at North Walsham. Please do offer a lift to others and don’t be shy to ask for a lift if you require one.
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| CAFOD FAMILY FAST DAY - Friday 18th March
The CAFOD envelope will be distributed on the weekend 12/13th March for returning the following weekend. Our Fasting on this day means that we experience something which many people around the world experience everyday - we do it by choice, they have no choice.
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“Go out to the whole world – Proclaim the Good News to all Creation”
(OUR DIOCESAN THEME FOR 2011)
Taking this theme Fr David will lead a Day of Reflection
On
Monday 28th March 10.30-3.00pm
(Parish Hall, North Walsham)
Repeated:
Saturday 16th April 11.00-3.00pm
(St Helens, Hoveton)
These days are open to all. Please bring food for a shared lunch.
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| OUR PARISH RECONCILIATION SERVICE
This will be similar to our Service in Advent with the opportunity for Individual Confession. It will be held at North Walsham on Saturday 2nd April at 11.00am. Do put the date in your diary NOW.
There will also be a Reconciliation Service at the church of Our Lady of Refuge, Overstrand Road, Cromer, on Saturday 9th April at 3.00pm.
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| TAIZE PRAYER – Saturday 26th March at 3.00pm
A time of prayer and reflection using some of the beautiful Taize chants with suitable readings. It will be held at Sacred Heart Church, North Walsham and is open to all. This follows a similar Service held in Advent and which people found very helpful.
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| ST JOHN OF THE CROSS - AYLSHAM
Inter-church Lent House Groups entitled “Rich Inheritance: Jesus’ Legacy of Love” (York Course), are taking place in the Aylsham area. See Pauline Andrews or Fr David for more details.
Stations of the Cross will take place each Friday following the 9.30am Mass (beginning on 18th March). All are welcome. We will try to vary the reflections and prayers used.
ST HELEN’S - HOVETON
This year the local “Churches Together” has decided to replace the Lenten Discussion group with a series of alternative-style services. Each one will be hosted by a different church on a midweek evening from 7-80pm. And will include refreshments and a time of sharing what we found helpful in the time of prayer.
Thursday 24th March: Taize worship at St Mary’s, Wroxham
Thursday 31st March: Café Style worship at St Helens but led by URC
Thursday 7th April: Iona worship at St John’s, Hoveton
Thursday 14th April: Songs of Praise at Neatishead Baptist Church
Tuesday 19th April: Stations of the Cross at St Helens
Stations of the Cross will take place on Wednesday mornings following the 9.30am Mass (commencing on 16th March). All welcome.
SACRED HEART, NORTH WALSHAM
LENT LUNCHES
Will take place on the Thursdays of Lent from 12.30-1.30pm in the St Nicholas Room (behind St Nicholas Church, North Walsham) starting on 17th March and ending on 14th April. The lunch is a simple one of excellent homemade soup and bread, with fresh fruit. The cost is £3.50. Proceeds (after expenses) to Christian Aid. Each week there will be a short reflection from one of the Church Leaders of the town based around the theme entitled: “A Psalm for Lent”. These lunches are a very good way for the Christians of North Walsham to get to know each other better.
Stations of the Cross will take place on Fridays of Lent at 12noon commencing 11th March.
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| OTHER IDEAS FOR LENT
Attend Mass during the week (see weekly newsletter for times)
Come to Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on a Thursday morning. This is a time of prayer and Adoration following on from the 9.30am Mass at North Walsham.
Read a passage from the Bible each day.
Read a Spiritual Book over the weeks of Lent – e.g. “Walk with me”; “The Magnificat: Lenten Companion”, or borrow a book from the spiritual library at your church.
Make the “Stations of the Cross” privately, or with a few friends.
Spend a Quiet Day at Walsingham.
Think of something you could give up for Lent and the money you save give to a good cause, e.g. CAFOD; or The Society of St Peter the Apostle which supports the formation of Seminarians and Religious in mission territories. Money placed in Lenten Alms will go to this particular fund. There is a designated Wall-slot at North Walsham and baskets at St John of the Cross and St Helens; or hand in at the end of Lent.
Think of a positive good action to do for someone else on each of the days of Lent.
There are many other positive ideas once you start thinking about it!
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HOLY WEEK
CHRISM MASS – this will take place on the Wednesday of Holy Week (20th April) in the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich at 7.30pm. Details of the coach going from the parish will be available soon.
Full details of the Services for Holy Week will be given later in Lent but the main Parish Services for the Triduum (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday evening) are as follows and will take place at North Walsham:
Mass of the Lord’s Supper – 7.30pm (Thursday)
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion – 3.00pm (Friday)
Easter Vigil – 9.00pm (Saturday)
Make the commitment NOW to be with the Parish Community for these three wonderful Services which truly celebrate our faith.
EASTER SUNDAY MASSES
St John of the Cross – Aylsham: 9.00am
St Helens – Hoveton: 9.00am
Sacred Heart - North Walsham: 11.00am
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