“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family”

The Feast of the Holy Family Year A reminds us that Jesus lived in a real family. He had a mother and father who cared for Him and protected Him.  Mary and Joseph did not have easy lives, but they trusted God and followed His plan. Their home was simple, but it was full of love.

This feast helps us think about our own families. Every home has struggles. But like the Holy Family, we are called to listen to God and care for each other with patience.  Love grows in quiet moments, hard choices, and daily kindness.

Fr. Peter

CAFOD  We have received a letter of thanks for the support we have shown throughout the year and for our latest donation of £1,285.71.

Diocese of East Anglia ‘Yearbook & Calendar’ – copies are available in church porches: £5 each. To those not familiar with this book, it is an absolute fount of information and extremely useful for all manner of references concerning our diocese at all times during the church’s year. – well worth £5!

Volunteers sought to Support Admission Appeals The Diocese of East Anglia Schools’ Service is seeking volunteers to serve as ‘school admission appeals panel’ members, helping ensure parents’ rights are upheld when a child is not offered a place at their preferred Catholic school. Panel members play a vital role considering cases where parents wish to challenge a refusal of admission.  These appeals maybe heard Anyone interested in volunteering/finding out more should contact Helen Bates, Asst Dir (?Schools’ Service) at Diocese of East Anglia, 21 Upgate,  Poringland, Norwich, NR14 7SH. By email at ssc@rcdea.org.uk  or by telephone on 01508 495509 person or via video; volunteers may express a preference for type of hearing. Panel members will receive training.

Sunday Missals.  A limited number of new Missals are available for Sunday Mass but please will you make sure you return them to the back of the church after Mass.

Readers at the Sacred Heart.  Your new rotas are ready to be collected from the church porch, as soon as possible, please so as not to miss your next reading. If unable to read on the stated Sunday, pl. make contact with another reader to take your place. 

Message from the SVP. Thank you all so much for your most generous gifts given in response to the SVP Second Collection Appeal on 22nd/23rd November. We collected £942.69! If you have decided to be a benefactor or to volunteer to join our conference group you can contact Steve on 07808901028 or Maria on 07746007508.

The Norwich Foodbank thank everyone at St Helen’s for their wonderful donations in the Reverse Advent Calendar Appeal. They were truly overwhelmed by the response.

Apology and a plea.  Apologies from the parish office for lack of Mass Intention envelopes in our churches from time to time – will do better in the coming year!  However, requests do come in on cards and in correspondence to Father: when making such a request, please be sure the church for the Mass is named and whether or not the Mass of preference ie. a weekend Mass or weekday, is stated.  A reminder too: Foundation Masses do take preference. However, all other requests are dealt with ‘first come, first served’.

We pray for our sick parishioners: Matt Butler, Frances Palman, Mary Bell, Celia Cooper, Margaret Larkins,  Maria Halsey, Joan Macnamara, Richard Skelton, Teresa Fitzmaurice, Joan Gale, Bernadette Saunders, Doreen Rockey & daughter Sandra, Pam Thornton, Mary Long, Malcolm Akers, Frances Mack, Tony & Amy Heywood & Peter, Cathie Dickson, Carolyn Rayner, her mother Mary Rayner & Antonia. 

We pray for those whose anniversaries occur this week: Raymond Miller, Cecilia Booth-Skinner, Anthony Seaborne-Howard, John  Egan, Hilary Bolger, Ernest Brown and Doreen Burton. May they rest in peace.