Dear Friends,
We are still in the Christmas period and today’s Gospel is the same as on Christmas morning – the Prologue to St John’s Gospel. Jesus, the Word of God, comes among us quietly and humbly. To all who accept him God gives the gift of becoming his adopted children. This gift we receive at our baptism.
I shall be away for a few days this coming week. Thursday is the Feast of the Epiphany and Father Denis from Wymondham will celebrate the Mass of the day for the whole parish at North Walsham at 11 am. Normally this feast would be a holyday of obligation but our bishops have continued to suspend the Sunday and feast day obligation.
Sister Monica Wyard died before Christmas. Some of you will remember her during the time she lived in the parish, in the late 1990’s, and was actively involved in the Journey of Faith program and other activities.
Thank you for your kind and generous Christmas offerings. I wish you all a happy and peaceful New Year.
God bless
Father James
‘Back With A Bang!’ – (the Diocesan Mass for young people, to be followed by fireworks, today, Sunday 2nd January at 4pm is – cancelled. Considering the recent concerns about Covid Omicron, this has had to be cancelled. Hopefully it will be back with an even bigger bang in the future!
Holy Hour & Eucharistic Adoration is on Thursdays at St Helen’s, at 3pm – a time for quiet reflection, meditation and contemplation.
The choir at the Sacred Heart would welcome any parishioners who enjoy singing and who would like to join the group. Come along to choir practice at 6.15pm on Wednesdays or speak to Anne Griffiths tel. 01692 404216
Kerry will again be taking any donations after Mass towards her setting up with equipment needed for the start of Faithful Flames, (the parish’s new group for children) on Sunday 9th January. She will be buying in new toys and resources so that she can set up little stations for this group and she would very much appreciate any support you can give with further donations. If you would prefer to make a different form of donation, please contact her on 07504 048352 or by email k_j_thorpe@hotmail.co.ukand she will be happy to discuss this further with you.
Advent Collections for North Norfolk Food Bank – Many thanks to all those who have donated Advent Boxes for the Food Bank; we have now delivered 24 boxes to Cromer. Please remember to keep donating to the Food Bank after Advent and Christmas as the need is great at the moment and will continue to be so. There are lists in our churches and on the parish website every month.
This year Norwich Food Bank was very well stocked before Christmas and their list of specific items required was small. We at St Helen’s tried to stick to the list but doubled up more on the items requested. We were able to supply 20 or so boxes and bags to the Food Bank. Our container for regular donations throughout the year will again be in the narthex from this weekend.
We pray for our sick parishioners: Matt Butler, Derek and Frances Palman, Mary Bell, Monica Hawley, Mary Carr, John Bradley, Paul Watson, Sheila Condon and Patricia Newton.
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Hilary Bolger and extend our sympathies to John and the Bolger family: she died very suddenly on Thursday 30th December. She will be sadly missed.
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur this week: Doreen Burton, Philip (Charles) Byrne, Pamela Corbould, Essie Rimmer, Arthur Hodgson, Kate (Kit) Denton, Adele Green, Mahalla Waller, Lilian Pycroft, Mary Betts, Wladyslaw Przybyla and Bridget Power.
May they rest in peace
