We celebrated our Easter Sunday Mass outside on the lawn as we have been doing most Sunday’s, weather permitting! This comes as second nature to Father Martin as he was a Missionary Priest for twenty five years. We were very fortunate with the weather as we had a hundred present and ran out of chairs!
Here is a beautiful reflection from Glenstall Abbey for Good Friday. See YouTube link below.
Easter Sunday 4th April
I am writing to let you know that the weather forecast for Sunday looks good so the 9 o’clock Mass has been cancelled and the 10.30 Mass, with space for everyone, will take place outside on the lawn.
Good Friday
The Churches Together Walk of Witness cannot take place this year but there will be an on-line service reflecting the Walk of Witness. This will take place at 10am and can be accessed via the Parish Church website www.wadhurstparishchurch.org.
Weekly Masses from Saturday 10th April
Saturday Vigil Mass 6pm
Sunday Mass 10.30am (outside weather permitting)
For services in the Church COVID regulations will need to be followed. These include 2m social distancing, sanitising hands on arrival and departure, providing details for Track & Trace purposes and the mandatory wearing of face coverings.
For services inside and outside the Church you are reminded that no household mixing is allowed so please keep your distance from others on arrival and leave without lingering when Mass is over.
If you are unable to join us you can find information about the locations of live-streamed celebrations of Mass on the Diocesan Website at: https://abdiocese.org.uk/livestream.
Holy Week Services
Thursday 1st April at 8pm The Solemn Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Friday 2nd April at 3pm The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord
Saturday 3rd April There will be no Easter Vigil Mass this year
Easter Sunday 4th April Mass at 9am and 10.30am
Due to social distancing space will be limited in the Church so we are asking you to let us know which Mass you would like to attend on Easter Sunday. Please email or phone the parish office with your choice of Mass time and the number of people in your household group.
In the event of fine weather, the 9am Mass will be cancelled and 10.30 Mass for everyone will take place on the lawn outside the Priest’s Cottage. If this happens we will contact you in advance to let you know the new arrangements.
Weekly Masses from Saturday 10th April
Saturday Vigil Mass 6pm
Sunday Mass 10.30am (outside weather permitting)
For services in the Church COVID regulations will need to be followed. These include 2m social distancing, sanitising hands on arrival and departure, providing details for Track & Trace purposes and the mandatory wearing of face coverings.
For services inside and outside the Church you are reminded that no household mixing is allowed so please keep your distance from others on arrival and leave without lingering when Mass is over.
If you are unable to join us you can find information about the locations of live-streamed celebrations of Mass on the Diocesan Website at: https://abdiocese.org.uk/livestream.
Dear Parishioner
The Deer`s Cry
I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun, Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.
I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me, Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.
Christ shield me today
Against wounding,
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation.
This week we have received a letter from Bishop Richard which encourages us to take part in the diocesan Lent Mission which starts on Monday 22nd February.
‘Invited’ has been designed by the Diocesan Formation Team; It is the first year of a five year programme whose aim is to help us to understand better how much God loves us and how we can best respond to his loving initiative. Time-wise ‘Invited’ requires 45 minutes at 7pm each Monday in Lent, and if we wish to join a group, 75 minutes at 7.30pm each Thursday.The sessions will be available via the diocesan website www.abdiocese.org.uk/invited and group sessions via Zoom. Please register on the website to receive an invitation to a Thursday group.
Scripts for the episodes and the reflection questions will be available to print for anyone who is not able to join online. To find out more contact the Parish Office or diocesan Formation Team; Email: invited@abdiocese.org.uk.
Lent is an excellent time for doing something more rather than something less and ‘Invited’ fits that bill admirably. My prayer is that ‘Invited’ will enable us to know our Lord Jesus Christ more clearly, love him more dearly and follow him more nearly, day by day. I recommend it very warmly.
God Bless
Father Martin
At the time of writing government regulations allow places of worship to open for services. However, we have taken the difficult decision to cancel all Masses and close our Church until further notice.
This decision has been made in the light of rising COVID infections in our area and will protect our priest and our congregation from the risks associated with mixing with other households indoors. We understand that this will be a disappointment to many of you but know that you will appreciate our aim to keep everyone safe and well at this time.
Information about the locations of live-streamed celebrations of Mass is available on the Diocesan Website at: https://abdiocese.org.uk/livestream.
Father Martin will continue to say Mass privately and will be praying for you and your families. He is also happy for you to phone him if you would like prayer or a Mass for a specific intention.
The Parish Office will be closed to visitors until further notice. However, emails and phone messages will be dealt with on a regular basis, and if you need a priest urgently please contact Father Martin direct.
The Rosary group can pray for you and your concerns, and the Mother’s Prayers group is meeting by Zoom. Please contact Rosie on 01892 785464, Antonia on 782679 or Grainne on 07841 414689 if you would like prayer for a specific person or intention.
There will be no Mass on Thursday 7th January or Saturday 9th January 2021. There will be Mass on Sunday 10th January at 10.30am.
This will be celebrated outside weather permitting.