Dear Friends,
Today is the last Sunday in Advent. In the Gospel reading Luke gives us a vivid picture of the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth. The salvation so long expected throughout the history of Israel and foretold by the prophets has now come about. They, together with John the Baptist, are fulfilling the will of God, each part of the eternal plan of salvation.
There will be a Journey in Faith session today at 6 pm in the presbytery.
We are beginning our parish preparations for the Synod which will take place in 2023. Pope Francis wishes every parish to have a voice in it. You will find more details on the parish website or on hard copies that are available in each of our churches.
In spite of the current uncertainty I wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas.
Father James
Christmas Masses:
Christmas Eve – 6 pm at North Walsham. 9 pm at Aylsham
Christmas Day – 9 am at Hoveton. 11 am at North Walsham
Sunday, 26th December – 9 am at Hoveton (celebrated by Fr Denys Lloyd)
Sunday, 26th December – 9 am at Aylsham and
Sunday, 26th December – 11 am at North Walsham
Christmas Eve Mass at Aylsham (9.00pm) As numbers will be limited to 60 St John’s have put out a booking list. This list is now full. You do not need to reserve places at the other Christmas Masses.
The Collection taken at these Christmas Masses is the traditional Christmas gift to your priest.
‘Back With A Bang!’ – (Diocesan Mass for young people followed by fireworks, Sunday 2nd January at 4pm) – 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!
Regrettably, the children’s Christmas Party (Sunday 19th Dec) has had to be cancelled owing to problems with the plumbing in the hall.
Holy Hour & Eucharistic Adoration is on Thursdays at St Helen’s, at 3pm – a time for quiet reflection, meditation and contemplation. We pray the Rosary after 3.30pm.
The ‘2022 Yearbook & Liturgical Calendar’ is now available in our church porches, costing £2. To anyone who is interested in the ’life’ of our Diocese throughout the year and the special events that take place, and for useful references, this book is invaluable. Our free Diocesan Newspaper, ‘Catholic East Anglia’ for December/January is also available.
Flowers at Christmas. At North Walsham we would be very grateful for any donations you might care to make towards the cost of flower decorations.
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 with the particular needs at that time.
We pray for our sick parishioners: Matt Butler, Derek and Frances Palman, Mary Bell, Monica Hawley, Mary Carr, John Bradley, Paul Watson and Patricia Newton.
We pray for Kathleen Hartree who died recently and for those whose anniversaries occur this week: Molly Harland, Bridget Bennett, Bertha (Teddy) Palmer, Alice Taylor, Richard Barrett, Doreen Clark, Juliette (Nan) Davies, Mary Dawes, Nora Slater, John Hall, Patricia Coles, Kathleen Bates and Ruth Blishen.
May they rest in peace
