Newsletter 14th February 2016

NEWSLETTER 14TH FEBRUARY 2016

East Grinstead Mass Centre-Our Lady & St. Peter

Masses next weekend

Reconciliation (Confession)

SICK/HOUSEBOUND VISITS – requests for visits and for Holy Communion in the Lingfield area – contact Deacon Ted.

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT – “Exposition takes place every Friday morning at Our Lady & St Peter’s between 09:00-1:00pm. Come let us adore Him.”

REFRESHMENTS – Everybody is cordially invited for refreshments after Sunday Mass at both St Bernard’s and Our Lady & St Peter’s churches.

WILLS & BEQUESTS – The Parish has benefited greatly in the past from the thoughtfulness of parishioners who have nominated the parish to receive funds from their estate. Please consider it.

GIFT AID OFFERINGS/DONATIONS – can be taken out at anytime throughout the year. It is a valuable source of additional income for the parish with no extra cost to the parishioners.

MASS OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK – Wednesday, 11.30am followed by lunch in the hall for those who can stay.

2ND COLLECTION NEXT SUNDAY – for CAFOD Lenten Fast Day (Friday). Envelopes already at the back of the church if you wish to gift-aid.

LENT BOXES – Parish lent boxes (to encourage your Lenten almsgiving) are at the back of the church. This is to raise money to help those going to Lourdes from our Parish. Please take one and return it after Lent.

CAFOD LENT FAST DAY FRIDAY 19TH FEBRUARY – This Lent the UK government has promised to match every pound and penny you give to CAFOD’s Lenten appeal (from 10 Feb – 9 May) up to the value of £3.5M. Your donations can be used to bring water to more villages of the world’s poorest families, meaning girls don’t have to walk hours every day to collect it. Don’t forget to fill in the gift aid form and put it in the envelope with your donation. Many thanks for your generous compassion for those living in poverty and for fasting in solidarity with them.

PARISH 100 CLUB – Congratulations to winners in the January draw: 1st, £50, no 125, Mrs Newby; 2nd, £25, no 10, Miss Longley; 3rd, £15, no 21, Mrs Jones. Thanks to a take-up last week, we have just one membership for sale. If interested, please contact Chris Pond, 327002.

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION GROUPS – EAST GRINSTEAD AND WORTH ABBEY – In East Grinstead, we meet each Thursday from 4.30-5.30pm. Please contact Gabrielle for venue details.

At Worth Abbey, the meetings are held in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in the Abbey Church, on the 2ndand 4th Wednesday of each month, from 7.45-8.45 pm. For further details of dates, there is a leaflet at the back of the churches. You are very welcome to join us. If you would like further information, please contact Gabrielle Joyce- 01342 326118- East Grinstead, or Caterina Brown- 01243 554001- Worth Abbey.

HOW CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ARE FUNDED
Catholic schools in England were built by (and on land paid for by) the pennies of the poor or the generous gift of the wealthy. St. Peter’s was built by the generosity of the Blunt Family (as was the Church). When the schools were taken over by the government they were allowed to continue to be Church/Faith schools and the government would pick up the running costs. However, capital expenditure would have to come privately to the sum of 10%. So any new work on our schools, the school has to find the 10% the government will not give. 10% is the cost of Catholic schools. That is why parents are asked to help contribute to the school, why the parish contributes in various ways, and why, if you have any spare money to donate, our school would be pleased to receive it. It all helps the school more on, grow & develop. Thank you. And thank you all who contribute to the life of our school in any way.

OUR LADY & ST PETERS LUNCH CLUB – will meet on Wednesday 17th February. There will be an Anointing Mass at 11.30 followed by lunch at 12.30. Please ring Ivy (323240) Jean (311295) or your driver if you are not able to come.

EAST GRINSTEAD CATENIANS – The East Grinstead Circle of the Catenian Association will meet on Wednesday, 17th February at Rowfant House, Rowfant at 8.00 p.m. Members are also reminded that there are still spaces available to help retain the Provincial Quiz shield in Crawley on Friday 26th. The Catenian Association is an international brotherhood of practising Catholic laymen who meet socially, at least once a month. To find out more on the Catenian Association please call Bill Blackledge on 01342 317599 or visit http://www.egcats.co.uk

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN EG (CTEG) AGM – 7.30pm on Tuesday 23 February at Trinity Methodist Church with guest speaker Faith Axten from Surrey Fairtrade Group. All welcome.

INDIAN HOLY MALAYALAM MASS – on 23 Feb. Tuesday at 5.15pm begins with Holy Rosary. All are welcome in the name of Jesus.

GOSPEL OF LIFE GROUP – Please note the following dates for diary. Saturday 16th April at 10.30 – Down Syndrome Awareness/Support Meeting, at OLSP Hall; 21/22 May – Cake & Plant Sale at OLSP; Sunday 2nd October at 2.00pm – Walk for Life. The next meeting to organize these events will be held on Monday 22 February at 5.00pm in the Hall – all welcome. Please do contact me if you have any comments, queries or suggestions. Les Whittaker 315484 / 07502 274450.

TRAIDCRAFT – to let you know that Fairtrade Fortnight is from 29th February till 13th March and we plan to hold a coffee morning on Tuesday 8th March to promote Fairtrade.

12 HOURS FOR OUR LORD – A PARISH ADORATION – During this Year of Mercy, Pope Francis asks if each Parish will set aside one day for personal prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. The chosen date is Friday, 4th March, and across this day, between 8.00am and 8.00pm, for our Parish we would like to gather as many people as possible who will spend one hour at Our Lady & St Peter’s in Adoration. The day will begin with the celebration of Holy Mass by Father Steven at 8:00 o’clock after which there will be Exposition until 8:00 o’clock in the evening when the Blessed Sacrament will be reposed again. Everybody will be welcomed to spend this special time (less if you can only visit for a shorter time) on this special day. Over the next two Sundays sheets will be available for names to be entered over the hours of the day. There is no limit on “times for being present” and we do hope that we can generate a worthwhile presence in the church fully across the twelve hours of this Year of Mercy celebration.

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER – RECEIVE CHILDREN, RECEIVE ME – 10.30am (at Jubilee Church) and 8pm (at Trinity Methodist Church) on Friday 4 March. Prepared by the Women of Cuba with the theme – Receive children, receive me. Please make a note of the event in your diary.

RICH MAN POOR MAN LUNCH FAIRTRADE LUNCH – a fundraiser for our young people going to Lourdes as Redshirts this Summer will be held at St Peter’s School at 12.30pm on Sunday 13. March. Make a note of the date in your diary and support this lovely Parish event. Tickets available from mid February.

PARISH SPRING LUNCH – FURTHER CHANGE OF DATE – In order not to clash with the Rich Man Poor Man lunch on 13th March the date for the Parish Spring Lunch will be rescheduled to take place on a Sunday during April. The date will be announced shortly.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: PARISH LUNCHES – 2016

The dates for this Year’s Parish Lunches are:-
Parish Spring Lunch – yet to be announced ;
Parish Summer Lunch – July 10th;
Parish Christmas Lunch – December 4th

As usual the lunches are at St Bernard’s Hall; gather at 12.30pm for 1.00pm. Make a note of the dates now and look out for the notices on the church notice Boards.

CAP MONEY COURSE – learn how to budget, save, spend wisely and prevent debt. This 3 week free course -Tuesdays 1st, 8th and 15 March is run by Churches Together in EG at Trinity Methodist Church. Further details from Phil Holland. EG 311295. www.capmoneycourse.org

LOURDES DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE – the 2016 Arundel & Brighton Pilgrimage will be held from 29 July to 4 August and leaflets are available for anyone interested in going as pilgrims, assisted pilgrims or as helpers. Further details from Sue Joy EG 835190 or www.ablourdes.org

EG FOODBANK – urgently needs cartons of Long Life Fruit Juice,Tinned rice pudding, Tinned sponge puddings, Surface cleaner, Boxes of tissues, together with any spare carrier bags you may have. If people are able to drop-off items at the Jubilee Community Centre between 9am and 7pm asap that would be appreciated, if not put in the box at the back of church. More details about the foodbank, its location, contact details etc are on the website -www.eastgrinstead.foodbank.org.uk