Dear Friends,
The fire at St John of the Cross church last Monday was an unwelcome surprise. Thankfully it caused only minor damage to the church itself and we are able to continue to use it for weekday and Sunday Mass. Special thanks go to Peter and Wendy Adamson who, with other members of the Aylsham community, have cleared up the fire damage and arranged for the building to be weather-proof.
As part of the Alive in Faith campaign I have invited one of our students for the priesthood, Anthony Asomugha, to spend the weekend of 6/7th February in our parish. Anthony was a member of the Cathedral parish while studying for his degree at UEA. He is now in his second year at Allen Hall seminary in London. Meanwhile my meetings with parishioners continue at an ever increasing pace!
God bless you all,
Father James
The Senior Citizens Group (NW) meets on Monday 25th when there will be the Computer Workshop and Chair Exercises. After lunch, and a brief annual report, the game of Hoy will be played. For further information or any enquiries about the group, Teresa Butler can be contacted on 01692 405007.
St Helen’s 4th Wednesday Club for Senior citizens meets this month on 27th January. This will be our New Year Party and we will have home-spun entertainment, sing-a-long, poems and quizzes. Coffee is served from 11.30am, a simple hot lunch at 12.30pm and tea and cake at 4.00pm. There will be a free raffle.
The next Diocesan Charismatic Renewal Day will take place on Saturday 27th February 2016 at The Church Centre, Bowthorpe, Norwich. Please see poster on notice boards for further details.
The Diocesan Year Book & Liturgical Calendar are now available in our churches – £4.00
The Bible Group meets on every 2nd and 4th Friday at 2.30pm in the parish hall when they are at present studying the Gospel each time for the following Sunday.
A Proposed Sponsored Slim will shortly be taking place; the “weigh in” is on Sunday 31st January and running through Lent, until an agreed date is reached just after Easter. Anyone interested in taking part please contact Gerry Francis on 01603 737066. The proceeds will be going towards financing the girls, Kerry and Lauren (North Walsham) and Sarah (Aylsham) to World Youth Trip to Poland. Do lend your weight in helping them raise money.
When requesting a Mass Intention please allow, if at all possible, at least a month before the date required as there are always other Mass intentions to be fitted in, such as Foundation Masses during the year. Please use the special Mass intention envelopes if possible.
Parishioners may remember a year or so ago the United Press invited church congregations to enter a Religious Poem Competition by submitting three poems that in some way contain religious content: eg. a prayer, words for a hymn, an uplifting moment, religious experience, about a person/church: It can be rhyming or free verse, historic, romantic, factual or personal, anything you like, as long as there’s a religious theme. The winner will receive £250 for their church. Poems to be of no more that 25 lines (including blank lines) and 160 words each, to be sent in by 31st March 2016 to Religious Poem, United Press, Admail 3735, London EC1B 1JB. Tel 01282 459533 or email info@unitedpress.co.uk More information www.unitedpress.co.uk and on notice boards. The previous winner is a Catholic! So, don’t be timid – one can always think of a limerick!
We pray for Mick Booth from the Aylsham community who died last week. We pray also for those whose anniversaries occur during this week including: Jacqueline Beardshaw, Mary Barry, Mary Phillips, Minnie Nicholls and John Halsey.
May they rest in peace.
Today is Racial Justice Day: there will be a retiring Collection for the Catholic Association for Racial Justice.
