Dear Friends,
“God has perfect timing; never early, never late. It takes a little patience and it takes a lot of faith but it’s worth the wait.”
On this 16th Sunday in ordinary time, the church turns our attention to the Lord, who is just, compassionate and a merciful Judge. Today’s readings tell us about a very patient and compassionate God who is hopeful that the so-called “weeds” among us will be converted. They warn us that we should not be in a hurry to eliminate such elements from the Church or society or the family based on unwarranted and hasty judgment.
The first reading from the Book of Wisdom shows us a merciful and patient God, rather than the disciplining and punishing God presented in the book of Genesis. The second reading, taken from Paul’s letter to the Romans, reminds us that the Spirit of God constantly empowers us in our prayers and in our weakness. So, we should be patient with ourselves and with others. Finally, in the Gospel parable of the wheat and the weeds, Jesus presents a wise and patient God who allows the good and the evil to coexist in the world until the harvest. We are invited to practice patience and show mercy.
Father Peter
An invitation from St Helen’s – a date for your diary! We are holding a Patronal Celebration Mass on Saturday 19th August at 5.30pm at St Helen’s. This is open to all the parish and we do hope lots of parishioners will come. After Mass there will be a procession of St Helen in the church grounds and some refreshments also celebrating Nick Walmsley’s 50 years as an organist.
Looking ahead to further forthcoming events:
Memorial Garden Mass at the Sacred Heart on Thursday 17th of August at 6.00pm.
40th Annual Bike Ride & Walk 2023 – Saturday 9th September: 9am – 5pm.
The 75th Anniversary Exhibition commemorating the great 1948 Cross Carrying Pilgrimage to Walsingham is taking place from July until the end of October 2023 between 10:00 and 16:00. For details please contact Zyg Rakowicz on Zyg@walsingham.org.uk
We regret to announce that the Fourth Wednesday Club held monthly at St Helen’s will no longer be meeting. The club has provided a chance for fellowship and good food for many years both for members of our community and other locals. However, time has caught up with the organisers and in the absence of any volunteers to take over the reins, it has been decided to call it a day. Many thanks go to those who have helped over the years particularly to Mary Rando and Mary Edmonds whose sterling efforts will be missed.
Your Catholic Legacy Free Wills Service. Legacies are a vital one-off support for the Church’s mission. They often make possible the significant projects that parishes have wanted to undertake for years. The diocese recently joined the organisation Your Catholic Legacy which promotes bequests to the Church and has made available a free will-writing service which supports individuals and couples to make their wills. There has been good take-up of this initiative in many parishes. If you would like to know more about how you can promote it in your parish, contact finance@rcdea.org.uk for details.
Minutes of the Parish Pastoral Council meeting held on Tuesday 6th June are now available to read here and in hard copy in church porches.
We pray for our sick parishioners: Matt Butler, Frances Palman, Mary Bell, Mary Carr, Paul Watson, Cyril Shenton, Patricia Newton, Celia Cooper, Michael Haughton, Marie Barton, Gerry Francis, Robert Buhagiar, Margaret Larkins, Daphne Necchi, Bert Pooler, Maria Halsey, Shirley Teague and Maria Wilby.
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur this week: Terence Green, Anthony Randall, Florence Cullingford, Victor Azzaro, Edmond O’Flaherty, Anthony McBride and Mary Bianco.
May they rest in peace.
