Dear all,
This Tuesday, as is customary, we meet with our bishop at the cathedral for the Chrism Mass – the Mass where, not only does the bishop bless and conscrate the oils for the whole diocese to be used over the year ahead, but the priests of the diocese also renew their vows to the bishop.
Then, on Thursday we gather for the Mass of the Last Supper where the Lord teaches us about humility and service as he washes the feet of his disciples before celebrating and instituting the very first Mass through the ritual of thr Last Supper. We gather together as a community for this most powerful and moving Mass as we begin out Triduum. The Blessed Sacrament is then reposed to one of the side altars and the main altar is stripped as we wait with the Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane.
On Fiday we meet again as we are taken to the place ofcrucifixion to meditate on the horrors and brutality of this method of execution, we pray for the needs of the world, for the church and for each other. The suffering of the Lord is unbearable and we are all called to understand the tremendous love that Christ has for us as he undergoes the agony of the Cross.
Then, on Saturday evening we gather for the final chapter of the Triduum as we celebrate the Easter Vigil with great joyn and delight -we sing the Gloria after an absence of over six weeks and greet the Gospel once more with a resounding ‘Alleluia’. We are blessed to have three people seeking to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church as two of them are baptised and all three are Confirmed. Finally, we gather as true people of the Resurrection as we greet our Risen Lord. Through our prayers and worship we understand the Triumph of the Cross and celebrate the day of Resurrection with great joy.
We are all invited to join the Walk of Witness in North Walsham starting at the market cross at 10.00 on Good Friday. A good witness to the townsfolk, walking alongside other Christians on this most sacred day.
Father Alan
Chrism Mass: Please do not forget the Chrism Mass on Tuesday 31st March – this is all part of our Holy Week celebrations and, if you can go, I do encourage you to make every effort to do so. Coach pick up times are as follows:
North Walsham 9.30
Aylsham 9.50
Hoveton 10.45
To arrive at the Cathedral 10.45.
FOR TIMES OF ALL HOLY WEEK SERVICES AND OF EASTER SUNDAY MASSES GO TO MASS TIMES
NB The Collection on Easter Sunday including the Saturday Easter Vigil is our personal gift to Fr Alan. Please keep all general contributions for the parish until the following week.
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 2nd April. I need twelve volunteers who would be willing to take part in this very moving ceremony. If you have not participated before, then I actively encourage you to do so.
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 11.30 when the group joins the congregation in church for the Eucharist. For more information please speak to Kerry Barrett on faithful.flames2025@gmail.com
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: Tony Dickerson, Barbara Stephen, Ronald Wilders,Alice Bean,Augustus Heralty, Grace Middleton and Eric Moll.
