Dear Friends,
A friend recently moved to a new parish south of London. She has attended Mass half a dozen times and in that time no one has greeted or welcomed her. I wonder how long it will take for the people of that parish to realise that there is a newcomer in their midst who could enrich the life of that community.
We need to ask ourselves – could a similar situation happen in any of our three churches? I hope not! Unless we are welcoming communities all efforts to evangelise will come to nothing. Now that the summer season is upon us our churches will have holidaymakers coming to Mass. There may also be newcomers who have come to see what their new parish is like. And perhaps non-Catholics who are just putting a toe into Catholic life. All of them need to be greeted and welcomed. So if you see a new face in your community don’t be afraid to engage in conversation. It costs nothing to say:’ Welcome to our community’.
God bless you all,
Father James
Today there is the annual Civic Service at 3 pm in the parish church at North Walsham.
Everyone is welcome to join the Senior Citizens Pilgrimage to Walsingham on Monday, 13th July. There are plenty of seats on the coach at £5 a head. Contact Teresa Butler (see below) if you would like to come. On Monday, 22nd June, the Senior Citizens will have Computer Workshop in the morning. In the afternoon they will have a talk from Fernando Reis about his work within the local community.
The Summer Fete (5th July) preparations are going well and items are coming in apace. Please continue to leave your non-perishable items in the boxes provided in each church. Raffle tickets are available each Sunday. If you haven’t already take a handful and sell them to your friends and neighbours. Lots of help is needed for setting up on the day and for taking down. If you have any enquiries please ring Teresa Butler on 07901 830327 or 01692 405007 and she will direct you to the appropriate person. Click here for the Fete poster 2015!
Parish Twinning News: Father Rajat Hassapurti has now returned to India for six months study leave. The new parish priest of Svay Sisophon is Father Greg Priyadi, an Indonesian and former Director of Jesuit Services Cambodia. Please keep both of them and the people of St Francis Xavier Parish in your prayers.
Events at Aylsham:
“Youth Café” in Aylsham is a project for the young people of Aylsham and area supported by Broadland Christian Youth Trust and The Matthew Project. On Saturday 27th June there is a fund-raising AUCTION event at Bure Valley School. Proceeds to the new café. See poster at St John’s for more details.
A traditional Strawberry Afternoon Tea is to be held on Sunday 28th June, at 3 – 5pm at Orchard Cottage, Newton Road, Hainford, (Satnav NR10 3BQ) by kind permission of Rob & Clare Hardie. Tickets £5 : proceeds to St John of the Cross’ redecoration and the Sacred Heart Organ fund.
Look out for fundraising for World Youth Day when from 19th July, fortnightly, after Mass on a Sunday, Kerry and Lauren will bring second hand books to the parish hall for people to take and make a donation.
Margaret and Alfred Larkin would like to thank everyone for the prayers, good wishes and kindness at St Helen’s on their 67th wedding anniversary.
Anne Sibley’s Requiem Mass will take place at the Sacred Heart Church on Monday, 29th June at 1.30 pm.
Tony Kelly’s interment will take place in the Memorial Garden at 5 pm on July 5th.
We pray for Anne Sibley who died recently and those whose anniversaries occur at this time including: Kathleen Elsdon, Mary Guerny, John Toner, Leonard Winfield, Nellie Howell, Phillip Buller, Rose Diamond, Arthur Scorer, Sheila Butler, Victor Kavanagh and Iris Sherry. May they rest in peace.
Next Sunday we celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul.
