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Richborough Festival The Bishop of Richborough will be holding his Festival at Canterbury Cathedral on Saturday 10th June. He has been afforded the honour of celebrating at the High Altar. My hope would be that parishioners would attend this Festival in support of our Bishop. I would anticipate travelling on the Friday, staying overnight and then returning on Saturday evening. If you are interested in attending, please speak to Fr Harri.
The Church has long used ashes as an outward sign of grief, a mark of humility, mourning, penance and morality. The Old Testament is filled with stories describing the use of ashes in such a manner. In the Book of Job, Job repented before God:“Therefore, I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes” (42:6). Daniel “turned to the Lord God, to seek help, in prayer and petition, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes” (Dn 9:3). Jonah preached conversion and repentance to the people of Nineveh: “When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes” (Jon 3:6). And the Maccabees army prepared for battle: “That day they fasted and wore sackcloth; they sprinkled ashes on their heads and tore their garments” (1 Mc 3:47). Ashes were imposed on the early catechumens when they began their preparation time for baptism. Confessed sinners of that era were also marked with ashes as part of the public penitential process. Other baptized Christians began asking to receive ashes in a manner similar to catechumens and penitents. Christian men had ashes sprinkled on their heads while ashes were used to trace the cross on the forehead of women. Thus the use of ashes as the sign of penance, in readiness for Easter, was becoming a Churchwide practice. Around the year 1000, Abbot Aelfric of the monastery of Eynsham, England, wrote: “We read in the books both in the Old Law and in the new that men who repented of their sins bestowed on themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. Now let us do this little at the beginning of our Lent, that we strew ashes upon our heads, to signify that we ought to repent of our sins during the Lenten feast” (“Aelfric’s Lives of Saints,” 1881, p. 263). This same rite of distributing ashes on the Wednesday that begins Lent was recommended for universal use by Pope Urban II at the Synod of Benevento in 1091. So when we go to Mass on Ash Wednesday and receive the blessed ashes on our forehead, we are repeating a somber, pious act that Catholic Christians have been undergoing for over 1,500 years. As “The Liturgical Year, Septuagesima,” by Abbot Gueranger, O.S.B., written in the middle decades of the 1800s, puts it: “We are entering, today, upon a long campaign of the warfare spoke of by the apostles: forty days of battle, forty days of penance. We shall not turn cowards, if our souls can but be impressed with the conviction that the battle and the penance must be gone through. Let us listen to the eloquence of the solemn rite which opens our Lent. Let us go whither our mother leads us, that is, to the scene of the fall.” Ash Wednesday is one of two days of special observance (the other being Good Friday) for which fasting is recommended. Traditionally this has referred to going without food for the entire day however this is not practical for everyone, it is best to use your own discretion in determining how to you best can observe this teaching. The most important thing that any Christian can do on Ash Wednesday is to be present at Mass. This is a day of obligation, a day when all Christians should present themselves at the Altar. There will be three opportunities to do this in the Benefice on this day: 10.00am Low Mass, Holy Trinity, Hempton The Annunciation of the Lord (25th March) We will celebrate this feast with: Making your Confession Preparation for confession should include an examination of conscience, which means you think back on sins you have committed since your last confession. If you don’t recall how long it’s been or have never been before please don’t worry. Just tell the priest your situation he will guide you through the process. What you will experience is the healing gift of God’s love, the chance to start over with a clean conscience, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Stations of the Cross The services will all begin at 7.00pm in St Mary’s Little Walsingham on the following Fridays: In addition, there will be ‘Mini-Stations’ on a Wednesday at St Giles’ Church at 10.15am every week during Lent, where we will pray three stations each week. Lent gives us the opportunity to cultivate a spirit of generosity. It gives us a chance to share what we have and who we are with other people. It puts us in communion with others and helps us understand that we are all members of the Body of Christ. Think carefully about how you will share your time, your talents and your treasure during Lent. Keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Following a discussion in the PCC, and in recognition of the significant need in our local community, our fundraising effort this Lent will be for the work of the Norfolk Foodbank. Lent Lunches will be held on every Tuesday during Lent, at 12.30pm in St Mary’s Church, Little Walsingham, following the 12noon Mass. They will take place on the following dates: 28th February 7th March 14th March 21st March 28th March 4th April If you are willing to assist by making soup, or providing help on the day, please sign up on the sheet at the back of St Mary’s Church. You may of course wish to support their work through additional donations to the foodbank station, or a one off monetary donation. This year we will be undertaking the course: ‘Bread of Life’ The course has been written by leading thinkers in the Catholic Tradition of the Church of England, and even features an interview with our own Sr Mary Angela SSM! The course will run at 7.30pm every Thursday in the Orangery within the Shrine Grounds. For convenience, and with grateful thanks to Fr Andrew Greany SSC, the Chantry Priest, the Parish Mass on a Thursday at 7pm will be held in the Guild of All Souls’ Chapel. One of the best ways in which we can observe this holy season is by seeking to deepen our Christian faith and understanding and so I would strongly encourage you to attend. 23rd February I am the bread of life
You will recall that from the 5th Sunday of Lent onwards crosses, statues and images are draped in purple. Placing the coverings out on this Sunday underscores a deeper step we take with Christ on his Lenten journey. As Monsignor Elliott remarks: "The custom of veiling crosses and images ... has much to commend it in terms of religious psychology, because it helps us to concentrate on the great essentials of Christ's work of Redemption." How can I keep a Holy Lent? Here’s a helpful acronym to help you stay focused during Lent: Keep • It • Simple • Sinner. The best Lent is one in which we enter the season wholeheartedly. All too often, people either take on too much or don’t take on enough. The solution is to simplify our disciplines, focus our intentions and concentrate more clearly on our spiritual goals. To keep it simple this Lent, try the “1-1-1 Plan”: one sin, one add- in, one give-up. Concentrate or focus on one sin or fault that is getting in the way of your relationship with God and with others. Add one positive activity that will deepen your prayer and spiritual life (especially if you think you are too busy to put anything more into an impossibly busy schedule!). Deny yourself something you really like or are attached to. One sin One add-in Ideas for add-ins are pretty much endless, but some include:
One give up
Chantry Roll for the Parish of Walsingham with Houghton The Parish maintains a chantry roll, which records the names of the faithful departed and their date of death. At Mass on a Sunday and during the week we pray for the repose of the souls of these individuals and their names are published in the Pew Sheet. The time has come for this list to be updated. From Sunday 4th March the list will only include the following:
Foodbank During 2022 the foodbank collection point in St Mary’s has donated 1,168kg of items, and helped to provide 2,336 emergency meals for people in crisis. Overall Mid Norfolk Foodbank has seen an increase of 50% in demand for their services in comparison with 2021. Thank you to everyone who supports this important work.
Chrism Mass 2022 The Rt Rev Norman Banks was the Pricipal Celebrant and Preacher at the Mass on Wednesday 13th April in Saint Mary & All Saints, Little Walsingham. Below are a few of the photos taken at the Mass which was 'live-streamed' to Sweden.
NEWS FROM THE APCM
St Mary's: Stephen Parkinson (Vice-Chair of the Walsingham PCC) & Maureen Howard St Peter's: Brian Landale & James Woodhouse St Giles: Bert Frew & Barry Shipp West Barsham: Susanna Soames & Grace Howlett (Vice-Chair of the Barsham PCC) East Barsham: David Simmons & James Goodley Walsingham Treasurer: Stephen Parkinson Barsham Treasurer: Lynette Sutton PCC Secretary to both Parishes: Lynette Sutton Walsingham PCC Members: Jonathan Bardwell Paolo Castagnoli Graham Howard Marlene Keeling Susan Poole Pat Sikes Marc Booty Steve Burgoine Pam Millar Cara Ross Sr Angela SSM (In attendance) Barsham PCC Members: Sheena White, Sue White.
Parish Confirmation The Bishop of Richborough will administer the sacrament of Confirmation on Wednesday 15th June at St Mary’s. The service will take place in the evening, time to be confirmed. If you are interested in being confirmed, please speak to Fr Harri.
Ukraine Appeal The Disaster Emergency Committee is appealing for donations to support the people of Ukraine who are in need of food, water, shelter and healthcare. To make a donation please either follow this link: https://donation.dec.org.uk/ukraine-humanitarian-appeal
UKRAINE
Parishioners are encouraged, as the Archbishops do, to join in Pope Francis' call for Ash Wednesday to be a day of prayer and fasting for this situation.
Licensing at Hempton On Thursday 3rd February at Holy Trinity Parish Church, Hempton, Fr Harri was licensed as Interim Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Hempton with Pudding Norton by the Bishop of Lynn who officiated and preached in the presence of The Rt Revd Norman Banks, Bishop of Richborough.
The Crib Service 2021
The Confirmation of Joe Goswell It was a great delight to witness the Confirmation of Joe,by Bishop Robert Ladds, on Thursday 16th December at S. Mary's. He is the eighth candidate to be confirmed this year from a Benefice Population of 929.
Bishop Roberts Ladds SSC celebrated his 40th anniversary to the Sacred Ministry with a Votive Mass of Thanksgiving at S. Mary & All Saints Little Walsingham on Sunday 26th September 2021
60th Wedding Anniversary Celebration
ASSUMPTIONTIDE 2021
Further images of the Assumptiontide Weekend can be viewed in the Photo Albums by clicking this link
Baptism & Confirmation at S. Mary's On Sunday 11th July there was a Solemn Pontifical Mass with Baptism & Confirmation with The Rt Revd Normans Banks SSC, Bishop of Richborough, as Celebrant and Preacher. Those Baptised & Confirmed: Makayla Marshall Those Confirmed: Louise Boer, Jorja Bradshaw, Ellie Jordan
INSTITUTION AND INDUCTION OF FR HARRI WILLIAMS The Institution by The Rt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich and the Induction by The Venerable Ian Bentley, Archdeacon of Lynn of The Revd Dr Harri Williams as Vicar of Walsingham Benefice: Walsingham, Houghton and the Barshams on 6th May 2021 at S. Mary & All Saints, Little Walsingham
Confirmation at All Saints Church, East Barsham
Fr Alfred Hope Patten's Memorial Mass On Tuesday 19th January 2021 a Solemn Mass in thanksgiving for the 100th Anniversary of Fr Patten's Induction as Vicar of Walsingham was celebrated at S. Mary's. The chasuble warn by Fr Harri and the Chalice and Patten used belonged to Fr Patten.
Confirmation at S. Mary's Congratulations to Zac, Mel and Charlie on their confirmation at St Mary's on 23rd August 2020, by The Rt Rev Norman Banks, Bishop of Richborough.
For more photos of the Confirmation please click on Photo Albums (above left)
Bishop Norman Banks, Bishop of Richborough, was the Celebrant and Preacher at a well attended service at S. Peter's on 17th July, when Joseph Gould and Andrew Rodgers were Baptised and Confirmed together with Zinnia-Claire Booty, India Davies and Arthur Woodhouse.
Fr Harri Williams SSC Priest-in-Charge On Monday 3rd December 2018 Fr Harry Williams SSC was licensed as Priest-in-Charge of the Benefice by The Rt Revd Jonathan Meryck, Bishop of Lynn and the Archdeacon of Lynn, The Ven Ian Bentley; the Preacher was The Rt Revd Norman Banks, Bishop of Richborough.
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