My dear parishioners,
It is with a grateful heart that I write this message to you. As I come to the end of my time as your parish priest here at North Walsham with Hoveton and Aylsham, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge my gratitude and appreciation to you all for your contribution and commitment to the life and growth of our faith in the Parish.
I am overwhelmed with the experience of gratitude as I recall the three and a half years of my priesthood that I have spent here with you sacrificing my own comforts, family, culture etc. for the Lord’s love.
I loved the celebration of the Eucharist with great devotion and sincere respect so that it would become the real source and summit of our spiritual lives. I always remembered what St Mother Teresa said, Priest of Jesus Christ, celebrate this Holy Mass as if it were your first Mass, your last Mass, your only Mass….
I want to take this opportunity to humbly apologize to anyone whom I may have treated rudely, or did not have time for, or if there is anything that I did to offend you. Please know that, that was never my intention and I ask for your forgiveness.
Lastly, I want to say I love you. You are a wonderful community of family and faith, and I treasure each of you. Even as I go forth to my new assignment at Huntington, I will always hold you all in my heart, especially at the Altar of God.
God bless you always.
With my deepest gratitude to God and to you,
Fr. Peter
We welcome Fr. Alan to our parish and hope he will enjoy the great diversity our three communities provide. He will certainly see how blest we are with our North Norfolk locations and the scope it gives to our church activities. We look forward to sharing our spiritual life under his guidance and trust he will help us to move forward with faith and assurance despite the unexpected sadness we have recently experienced in having to say goodbye to Fr Peter so early in his time with us. With God’s blessing, we truly welcome our new priest, Fr Alan.
Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. It is a day of fasting and abstinence. Please see back page for Mass times.
Stations of the Cross will take place in each of our churches during Lent. Times will be notified in each church.
“Walk with Me” booklet of readings for Lent, is available in church porches £1.50, with a foreword by bishop, Bishop Peter Collins.
Coffee Morning at St Helen’s will be on Wednesday 4th March.
‘One-off’ event insurance for Pari. Bookings for the Parish Hall are welcomed, whatever the occasion may be. Please note, when planning your party, that an insurance certificate to cover the event is required and you are advised to look into the cost before making your booking. This applies to all private events, although celebrations after a church service e.g. Baptism ceremonies, are covered by the parish insurance.
We pray for our sick parishioners: Matt Butler, Frances Palman, Mary Bell, Celia Cooper, Margaret Larkins, Maria Halsey, Joan Macnamara, Richard Skelton, Teresa Fitzmaurice, 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, Alan Ganney.
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur this week: Mary Devitt, Edward Brown, Kathleen McBride, Marjory Lawrence, Winifred Coates, Iris McGee and Denis Walker.
May they rest in peace.
