Dear Friends,
“The most powerful smile is the one that radiates from the inside to the outside. It is capable of transfiguration.”
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of Jesus. The Transfiguration of Jesus is one of the major mysteries in the life of Jesus. The Transfiguration of the Lord with all its display of glory and divine beauty forms a watershed in the gospel narratives of Matthew, Mark and Luke because on the top of this mountain, as we look back, we see the fulfilment of many Old Testament scenes, and looking forward towards, we see what the future has in store for Jesus and then for all of us — we see the Cross, the Resurrection, and the final consummation of salvation history.
I hope that each of us has his or her own Transfiguration moments and spaces in which they can be instructed and strengthened by Jesus by the simple fact of being with him, and having him as “food for their souls ….” When we come together to celebrate the Mass – each Sunday and for a few of us even most days of the week – we spiritually climb the mountain of the Transfiguration to be with Jesus as he comes to us in the Sacrament, and to listen to his voice in the Scriptures. Here we get a glimpse of what the life of heaven will be like, here the Lord displays his glory, and here he nurtures the life of faith. But following Jesus we must come down the mountain with him, and after celebrating Mass, we must return to our labours so that the beauty we have experienced might be replicated in the world.
Father Peter
Here at St Helen’s (Hoveton) we are holding our Patronal Celebration Mass on Saturday 19th August at 5.30pm. This is open to all the parish and we do hope lots of parishioners will come. After Mass there will be a procession of St Helen in the church grounds and some refreshment: also we’ll be celebrating Nick Walmsley’s 50 years as an organist.
The Memorial Garden Mass at the Sacred Heart takes place on Thursday 17th August at 6pm. Help in setting up the chairs in the garden and returning them to their shed after the Mass would be very much appreciated. Please let Tom or any of the other ‘welcome’ stewards at the church know that you are willing to assist.
Follow our Diocesan Group at World Youth Day in Portugal. Please pray for the group of over 50 young people from East Anglia on pilgrimage at World Youth Day in Portugal culminating in Mass with Pope Francis. For the latest updates from the pilgrimage please see www.rcdea.org.uk, twitter.com/RCEastAnglia and facebook.com/catholiceastanglia
Large, ‘self assemble’, traditional cot for a baby – free to a good home, but please collect. Contact Jeannie on 0798 419 6757.
Message from the Parish Office Can we please have items of any events in the future, near and far, taking place in our three churches and of any other parish news, not only to liven up our newsletter but to make it more informative!
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, Margaret Larkins, Daphne Necchi, Bert Pooler, Maria Halsey and Shirley Teague.
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur this week: Jeanette Shaw, Peter Carty, Audrey Howard, Christina O’Flaherty, Betty Beardshaw, Stanley Duddridge, Winifred Foran, Elspeth Forrest, Brian de Soissons, Baby Abel Almand-Chinn, Deacon Ron O’Toole, Bernard Eyre and Dudley Hardingham.
May they rest in peace.
