This Month's Parish Priest's News
My dear friends,
Those of you who receive hard copies of the monthly news will have already noted a new facility in the Office as we now have a new printer that prints colour at a reasonable price. This machine also enlarges to A3 at the push of one button which brings joy to Lisa and I as before when Ange was away Large Print documents were the bane of our lives. This also gives me opportunity to welcome Lisa to her new role as Parish Safeguarding Officer and to thank Clare Phelan for the diligent way she has fulfilled this role over a great number of years. Lisa is going to be supported by Clair Wellard to whom we are also grateful.
The new machine will have its work cut out as there are three extra service sheets to prepare for this month.
The first two of these will be for All Souls Day on November 2nd. There will be two Requiem Masses offered at 12 noon and 6pm. The traditional lists are at the back of Church for you to ask for loved one(s) to be prayed for by name: as always if you can not be at either we will include them if you speak to Ange or myself.
The third sheet will be needed for S Martin’s Day when once again there will be two Masses at 12 noon and 6pm. Sadly this is the second time in nine years we shall not be joined by the School Choir, the first being the OFSTED year, but I am delighted to say that year 4 have enacted the Life of S Martin and the film of this will be shown in School that same afternoon.
On a similar note the Remembrance Parade cannot take place this year but the Mass on November 8th will be the usual Requiem and the Silence observed at the conclusion. On November 11th itself while we can not organise what has now become the traditional service at the Trinity Street memorial I shall, with Ange, observe the 11am silence there and you may like to join us in your homes (or at work.)
On All Saints Day it will be a great pleasure to welcome Orville back on the newly commissioned white Laudian over the Nave Altar: if you remember the previous frontal had become tatty and frayed, the new one in memory of Lillian Robinson therefore continues the memorial to Fr Beau’s parents. On that day we will also use the Gospel Book Cover in memory of Katie Hackman, thus preserving the Book of the Gospels previously given in memory of Paul Fallows, the spine of which had been damaged over the years.
In the November News I would usually be looking forward to our Winter Wonderland Fayre. While, of course this is not to take place this year, it gives me a further opportunity to thank you for your continued generosity throughout the trying conditions of the Pandemic: like all parishes, we have seen a drop in income and as we face a greater loss than usual it is nowhere near the same as many. So, yes, you have guessed—we are launching two socially distanced fundraisers! There will be a stall in Church of home made “trinkets”, they will have prices and, having picked up only the one you wish to buy, payment may be made in cash or cheque by dropping it in the payment container and we would trust you to do that the following week. Secondly we hope to organise some form of draw towards the end of the month.
Thank you again for your continued co-operation and forbearance and Happy S Martin’s Day to you all.
With Love and Prayers
Fr. Trevor