Newsletter 20/21 February 2016

NEWSLETTER 21ST 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.

2^ND COLLECTION TODAY – CAFOD Lent Fast Day. Thank you. Can be gift-aided using CAFODs’ envelopes.

BAPTISM – 12.30 OLSP Sunday. Harry Edward LOUIS MOORE.

CORE GROUP MEETS – 7pm, Wednesday, The Presbytery.

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.

1^ST HOLY COMMUNION – Celebration of Reconciliation. Saturday 27^th, St. Bernard’s, Lingfield 10am -12 noon.

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.

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.

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 2^ndand 4^th 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.

CAN YOU HELP?  – A male parishioner is seeking a room to rent somewhere in the East Grinstead, Forest Row, Lingfield area. He is at present employed at Gravetye. His name is Javier – Junquera. His email address is: labusqueda11@ hotmail.com

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.

DATE OF PARISH SPRING LUNCH – The revised date for the Parish Spring Lunch is 10^th April.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: PARISH LUNCHES – 2016   The dates for this Year’s Parish Lunches are:-

Parish Spring Lunch – April 10^th ;
Parish Summer Lunch – July 10^th;
Parish Christmas Lunch – December 4^th

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

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 this weekend – £6 adults, £3 children under 14.  If anyone wishes to donate raffle prizes please give to Fr Steven. Thank you.

SPRING CHARITY FEAST 2016 – taking place over 2 nights.
Mon. 11^th April – Tarana, Lingfield (Indian Food),01342 832222;
Mon. 18^th April – La Farola, E.G. (Spanish Food), 01342 322399.
Please book early to reserve your place.

All Meals £16 per head, of which £8.00 goes towards the five Charities.
Also on Tues. 5^th April EG. Charcoal Grill, 01342 410305 & Glanfield Food & Wine, 01342 325666 (donation); Tues. 26^th April Shapla, 01342 313127 (donation).

Please mention Charity Feast when ordering takeaways.

Gospel of Life Group – Please note the following dates for diary. Saturday 16^th April at 10.30 – Down Syndrome Awareness/Support Meeting, at OLSP Hall;  21/22 May – Cake & Plant Sale at OLSP;  Sunday 2^nd 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.

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 jars of pasta sauces, tins of rice pudding, multi-bags of crisps, small packets of washing powder, toothbrushes, shaving form & small packets (5-10) of razors, deodorants – Male & Female, and 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

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, 4^thMarch, and across this day, between 8:00am and 8:00pm, for our Parish from Lingfield and East Grinstead we would like to gather as many parishioners as possible who will spend one hour (less if time really does not permit) in Adoration at Our Lady & St Peter’s.

The day will commence with Holy Mass at 8:00 o’clock after which there will be Exposition until 8:00 o’clock in the evening.

If you are able to commit to this special celebration, please will you just complete the simple slip at the foot of this week’s newsletter and return it to either church before 4^th March via a special collecting box or by handing it to Father Steven or Deacon Ted. This is just to help us to have knowledge of “cover” across the day for the exposed Blessed Sacrament. If transport is an issue, please telephone 327002 for assistance with a lift. Also, throughout the day, a welcoming (or retiring) cup of tea or coffee will be offered in the parish centre. So please do come and spend some time in private prayer and adoration on this special day, Friday 4^th March.

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PARISH ADORATION – FRIDAY 4^th MARCH

Please print off the Newsletter from this link and fill in the form and circle the hour which you hope to be able spend in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at Our Lady & St Peter’s on Friday, 4^th March.