Dear all,
A Lent catchup: We enter into the final stages of our Lenten season now (for me it has gone so fast – I guess I have just had so much happening since I moved to North Walsham at the beginning of Lent). As we move into the last ten days before we celebrate the Triduum – the most sacred nights of our Catholic year – it’s good to take stock and to honestly review our own Lenten period.
- Some may have set out a reasonable Lenten commitment on Ash Wednesday and can look back over the last month and feel a sense of achievement at having held a successful Lent and can relish the thought of Easter with a wonderful sense of achievement.
- Perhaps you have fallen into the bracket of ‘good intentions – but not quite successful’. You may have missed out on your commitment and strayed from the path that you set yourself. I encourage you to pick up the baton once more and diligently follow your intentions for the next ten days.
- Or maybe you did not set yourself any target at the beginning of Lent? It is never too late; try over the next ten days to make a real effort to fulfill some Lenten act and enjoy the success you achieve even in this late hour. Remember the parable of the workers in the vineyard.
Whatever category you see yourself in, I wish you a blessed remainder of Lent and joyful period of watching and waiting for the Triduum.
Father Alan
Chrism Mass. Please do not forget the Chrism Mass on Tuesday 31 March – this is all part of our Holy Week celebrations and, if you can go, Ido encourage you to make every effort to do so. Details of the coach journey as follows:
Pick up times: North Walsham 9.30. Aylsham 9.50. Hoveton 10.20.
Arrive Cathedral: 10.45
Please make sure you arrive on time as the coach cannot be delayed.
Maundy Thursday – Mass of the Last Supper. We have a list at the back of the church for volunteers to take part in the washing of feet at the Mass on Thursday evening 2 April. I need twelve volunteers to take part in this very moving ceremony. If you have not participated before, then I do actively encourage you to do so.
Readers. If you will be joining the complete parish at North Walsham for the Holy Week Services and would like to read,
Hoveton: please give your name and phone number and which services you are attending to Francis Horner;
Aylsham: please give these details to Fran Ludden.
A choice can then be made and those reading will be informed.
Faithful Flames – a reminder to parents, especially if attending Mass at the Sacred Heart, that there is a children’s liturgy group, held in the parish hall on Sundays. It runs between 10.30 and 11.30am when the group joins the congregation in church for the Eucharist. For more information please speak to Kerry Barrett at Faithful.flames2025@gmail.com
Exercise Class Possibly unknown to most of our parishioners, the church has set up an exercise class, at a level most suitable for the ‘senior citizen’ and this takes place in the parish hall on Mondays at 10.30am. After an hour’s light ‘work out’ there is always time for some refreshment and a chat. The membership is not confined to our own parishioners giving us another occasion to welcome local people to our church. Do come along if you need some exercise and see how you find it!
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, Amy Heywood & Peter, Cathie Dickson, Carolyn Rayner & her mother Mary Rayner, and Alan Ganney.
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur this week: Denis Condon, James (Jim) McCartan, Ivy Cafferky, Lawrence Carrol, Herbert Coates, Mamie Sweetman and Henry Newton.
Bmay they rest in peace.
