NEWSLETTER 20.09.20

25th Week in Ordinary Time 2020 
20th – 26th September

The key word in today’s Gospel is ‘entitlement’. Surely, we think, the workers who had spent the whole day in the vineyard were entitled to a bigger wage than those who had begun later in the day. ‘It’s not fair’, children would say! Remember that the Gospel parables are not just stories, they are stories with a message. They can sometimes be disconcerting, taking us by surprise; today’s parable is no exception. The point that Jesus is making is that entitlement has no place in the mind of God. His thought are not our thoughts, his ways are not our ways, Isaiah reminds us. The parable is about God’s generosity – ‘why be envious because I am generous’. What we possess – our gifts, our redemption, our very existence – these are all gifts given to us, not because we are entitled to them but because of the infinite love of God.

The ‘rule of six’ that the government announced last 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 Mass you 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.

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: Frances Ablitt, Erwin Loska, Godfrey Fahey, William Blewett, Michael Page, John Breen and Ada Loads.

Last week’s collection: £370.50 Standing orders: £533.00.

Father James