24th Week in Ordinary Time 2020
13th – 19th September
The key phrase in today’s Gospel is: ‘he had no means of paying’. His debt is astronomical but his master wipes it out. When we come before God with our ‘debts’ we are totally unable to pay them. All our good works and prayers and penances are the fruit of divine grace; they do not earn us God’s forgiveness. This is the extraordinary gift of redemption. Our debts are wiped out as if they had never existed. This is what we celebrate in the Eucharist: ‘the blood of the new and eternal covenant’ that is poured out so that our debts are forgiven.
The ‘rule of six’ that the government has announced this week does not apply to places of worship. This means that we can continue to celebrate Mass in our churches as we have been doing since the beginning of July. Don’t forget that the Sunday obligation has been suspended. If you wish to attend a Sunday Massyou need to book a place with the co-ordinator for each church:
John Bolger at Sacred Heart – 01692 581516 (bolger@waitrose.com);
Fran Ludden at Aylsham – 07849 602227 (fran.ludden@btinternet.com);
Richard McGreevy, Hoveton – 01603 738255 (richardmcgreevy@supanet.com)
At present there is no need to book a place for a weekday Mass.
Although the confessionals cannot be used I am available for Confession at any time – outdoors if weather permits or inside the church in a quiet corner.
I have emailed Fr Greg at St Francis Xavier, Svay Sisophon sending the good wishes and prayers of the parish. We will remember our twinned parish especially as they celebrate the traditional feast of Ancestors.
Weekday Masses: Tuesday: 9.30 at Sacred Heart, Wednesday: 9.30 at St Helen’s, Friday: 9.30 at St John of the Cross.
Please pray for our sick parishioners: Maria Wilby, Matt Butler, John Gowing, Derek and Frances Palman, Kevin Fitzmaurice and Mary Carr.
We remember those whose anniversaries occur at this time: Mary Mousley,Margaret Griffith, John Barton and Ann Bailey.
Last week’s collection: £ 388.70 Standing orders: £533.00.
Father James
