“A church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.”
Today, instead of the usual Sunday liturgy, we are celebrating the feast of the dedication of a Church – the Lateran Basilica in Rome. As the first and oldest Christian Basilica, it is considered ‘the mother and head of all churches of Rome and the world’. It is the Pope’s Cathedral as Bishop of Rome. In celebrating this feast, we express our union with our Pope, Leo, and our loyalty to him as supreme leader of the Church. The feast also invites us to reflect on the important role of church buildings in our lives as communities of faith, called to worship and pray together. It also challenges us to recognise our personal baptismal identity as temples of the Holt Spirit, and to confirm that identity by the way we live.
Fr. Peter
This Sunday, following the Mass at the Sacred Heart, the interment of the ashes of Fiona Watson will take place in the Memorial Garden.
Missio Boxes To people who collected boxes last year: please could you return them to Sue Perrott for emptying. At the Sacred Heart boxes can be left in a collection box on the table in the church porch.
+Rachel’s Vineyard offers weekend retreat for women & men who have participated in or been affected by abortion. It aims to help them find hope and healing. The founder of Rachel’s Vineyard, Rachel Mackenzie, will be speaking at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist on Saturday November 15th at 7.15pm. (Over-18s only) Contact mflcoordinator@rcdea.org.uk for more information.
Advent Retreat Day. The parish is organising an Advent Retreat Day on Saturday 13th December in the parish hall from 9.30am to 4.00pm. Fr Alvan will be the speaker.
On Tuesday 18th November at 3.00pm there will be a House Mass at the home of Ken and Cathy Watkins: 9 Wilson Road, Stalham, NR12 9FL.
Please give prayerful thought to the following: we need nominations for some new Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) representatives from each of our churches. Nomination forms are available at the back of our churches, for you to put forward, with their consent, the name of a parishioner you think suitable to help with the running of parish events etc. under the guidance of Father Peter, our parish priest. After completion, the forms should be passed to Fr Peter. Further information about the role of a representative can be obtained from one of the current reps or from Father Peter.
The CHRISTMAS FAYRE – Saturday 29th November, 9am – 1pm. PLEASE, continue to donate items for our raffle prize. WE ARE ALSO GOING TO NEED BOTTLES FOR THE BOTTLE STALL. Details of the stalls at the Fayre and of items needed that we would ask you to contribute will be listed in next week’s newsletter.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY Sat. 20th Dec. 2-5pm in the hall. To secure your child’s place you MUST SIGN UP BY SUNDAY 23RD NOVEMBER. Further information please email: faithful.flames2025@gmail.com Also sign up using QT code on any of the ‘Children’s Christmas Party’ posters.
Message from Mary Rayner. I would like to thank everyone for their cards & gifts on the occasion of my 100th birthday. I greatly enjoyed the party on 2nd November and I was deeply touched by the love and good wishes shown to me. Thank you all.
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, and Cathie Dickson.
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur this week: Evelyn Andrews, Paul McGee and Teresa Chapman.
May they rest in peace.
