Celebrating Christmas early or

fancy treating yourself to a fuss

-free roast? Our turkey dinner

is just the ticket! Tuck into ten-

der British turkey, crispy roast-

ies, stuffing, pigs in blankets, a

Yorkshire pudding and veggies

– YUM!

Parish of St. Wilfrid, Burgess Hill

and St. Edward the Confessor, Keymer

with

St. George’s Convent, Ditchling

and St. Anne’s Convent, Burgess Hill

Parish Priest Father Rick McGrath with Father Maksym Krat

Deacon Liam McIlvenny : liam.mcilvenny@abdiocese.org.uk

Priest’s House Station Road Burgess Hill RH15 9EN

Tel: 01444 232358 email: burgesshill@abdiocese.org.uk www.stwilfridsbh.com

Parish Office open: 9am - 3pm Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Sunday 11 April 2021 ~ Second ‘Low’, Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday)

Lectionary Cycle B - Year I

Parish Safeguarding for the Young or Vulnerable If you have any concerns for someone you know or need advice or help yourself, please call the Diocesan Safeguarding Co-ordinator, Mrs Angela McGrory in confidence, on 01273 859708 or the Parish Safeguarding Representative, Gerry Scott 01444 232358 Parish Office.

Despite the cold wave coming from the north, the days are sunny, and longer, and it does feel like Eastertide. It was lovely to see so many of you, and lovely to know that many were watching online: here at St. Wilfrid’s or St. George’s or so many other places in the world, including St. Peter’s in Rome. Though most of the liturgies were greatly simplified - except Good Friday’s Passion, which was pretty much as usual, except for not kissing or touching the Cross - I have to say I didn’t mind. Like the restricted weddings and baptisms and funerals, it rather focused the attention. And although the Easter Vigil was most affected, earlier, and much, much simpler, we had, it seemed to me, as many people, and more children than we ordinarily ever get for that, when it is long and late. An unexpected silver lining. Anyway, thanks, everyone and a very Happy Easter. Thanks too for your continuing kindness and generosity, which is very much appreciated.

We have heard from the roofers, for St. Edward’s. They will begin on Monday, 3rd May. They should not disrupt Masses, but will certainly disrupt parking for a while. All this should have been before everything else, but “it got complicated,” as they say. We’re also looking at flooring in the church, and the proposal is for “vinyl planking” for the main body of the church. This is heavy duty vinyl that looks like wood, and is often seen now in homes and public places. The main aisle and altar area would be carpeted, probably in a gold colour similar to what is already there, but other ideas for colour are welcome.

At St. Wilfrid’s, we have finally agreed the small roof for over the front door - largely to protect the doors when they are open in hope that they will not swell up in the rain. The roof is “discreet” and shouldn’t detract. We’re also waiting for a replacement loop machine after the last one “exploded.” A design fault, which we and many others were supposed to have been warned about last year in March, just at the beginning of lockdown, and no one seems to have got it, or at least noticed it. Luckily, no harm done, except for a slight shock and bit of singeing for our wonderful Diocesan technical man. And, finally, I’ve just had my second cataract surgery, which seems to have gone as well as the first, though will need a new eye exam in some weeks. The downside is needing reading glasses now, but I’ll live with that. To all of you who told me it would be easy and wonderful, thanks. You were right. To all of you who said a little prayer, thanks as well. Fr. Rick

First Holy Communion 2021 Further to last weekend’s notice, we look forward to meeting the FHC parents this coming Sunday 11 April at 4pm in the Parish Centre (parents only and there is NO Mass after this session). Please remember to wear a face mask (we have spares if anyone forgets), sanitise your hands on entering and keep to the socially distanced seating. We are so very pleased the programme is going ahead and look forward to working with you, to celebrate this beautiful Sacrament.

Divine Mercy Sunday

..occurs on the Sunday after Easter. It is an observance in the Roman Catholic Church in which followers are encouraged to offer forgiveness and reconciliation to all. It is based on visions recorded from St. Faustian Kowalski, a Polish nun who lived in the early 20th century. According to the diary of St Faustina, the image above is based on her 1931 vision of Jesus, after which she devoted her life to spreading the word about God's forgiveness - or

‘divine mercy’, for anyone who asks for forgiveness. In most images, Jesus is shown raising his right hand in blessing, and pointing with his left hand on his chest from which flow forth two rays: one red and one white. The depictions often contains the message "Jesus, I trust in You!". The rays streaming out have symbolic meaning: red for the blood of Jesus (which is the Life of Souls), and pale for the water (which justify souls). The whole image is symbolic of charity, forgiveness and love of God, referred to as the "Fountain of Mercy".

As the vaccination roll-out widens and restrictions ease, we continue to pray with the Prayer to St. Roch

O most merciful God, who through an Angel

promised St. Roch, that whoever should

invoke his Name, should be preserved from

pestilence and contagious diseases, grant

that through his intercession and the intercession of

Mary, our mother, we may be

preserved from all dangers both of soul and

body, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

St. Roch pray for us.

Prayers for the sick

Mass Intentions ~ from Saturday 10 April 2021

Sat 10 Second ‘Low’, Sunday of Easter ~ Divine Mercy

5.00 pm St Edward’s Dolores Cruz San Jose RIP

6.30 pm St Wilfrid’s Jean Campbell RIP

Sun 11 Second ‘Low’, Sunday of Easter ~ Divine Mercy

9.30 am St Wilfrid’s For the people of Myanmar (formerly Burma)

11.00 am St George’s People of the Parish

Mon 12 Monday after the Second Sunday of Easter

9.15 am St Wilfrid’s Well-being and intentions of the

Nevett family

10.00 am St George’s Intentions of the McGuiness family

Tues 13 Tuesday after the Second Sunday of Easter

9.30 am St Edward’s Holy Souls

11.00 am St Anne’s Bobbie and Patrick Brodie RIP

Wed 14 Wednesday after the Second Sunday of Easter

9.15 am St Wilfrid’s In thanksgiving - for Eilis Pike’s 101st

birthday

10.00 am St George’s Intentions of Derrick Peacock

Thurs 15 Thursday after the Second Sunday of Easter

9.15 am St Wilfrid’s Cornelius Bohane RIP

10.00 am St George’s Intentions of Halina Kent

11.00 am St Wilfrid’s Funeral Mass for Yvonne Strutt Read RIP

Fri 16 Friday after the Second Sunday of Easter

Day of abstinence

9.15 am St Wilfrid’s Alain de Penfentenyo RIP

10.00 am St George’s Intentions of Edward Denneny

Sat 17 Third Sunday of Easter

5.00 pm St Edward’s Jan Twardowski RIP

6.30 pm St Wilfrid’s People of the Parish

Sun 18 Third Sunday of Easter

9.30 am St Wilfrid’s Intentions and well-being of Chloe

Mansfield and family

11.00 am St George’s Well-being of the Condron family

Please remember in your prayers those from our community who are unable to join us for Mass: Joan de Lacey, Daniel Dempsey, Dorik Frantz, Father George Vincent (India), Haslum Owen Gotting, Pam Hocken, Mary Klimek, Pearl Makayi, Zoltan Mundi, Alex Murray, Sister Pat (Convent of the Poor Clare's, Crossbush), Caroline Powell, Damian Sewell, Barry Sexton, Ann Walsh, Patricia (Pat) Weatherseed, Sheila White, Fiona Wright and all those with long term illnesses.

In order to keep the Prayer List up to date - names will remain on for six months. If you have a name you would like added please advise the parish office. Thank you.

Homily In the 1980s, in America, of course, there was in some seminaries, a questionnaire for candidates for the priesthood that included some strange questions, such as, “if a casket of bones were discovered that could be proven beyond doubt to be the bones of Jesus, how would this affect your faith? The “correct” answer was held to be “not at all,” in as much as the faith brings all sorts of good things such as right living, etc. However, ignoring the undoubted fact that such a thing could never truly be proven beyond doubt, the correct and truly orthodox answer is: it would negate my faith, it would destroy it, for as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, “if Christ did not rise from the dead, my preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” Christ’s real, bodily resurrection is essential, for he promised it and the apostles witnessed it, and anything else makes him and them liars. It has been a temptation among liberal (usually Protestant, but not always) theologians to explain away Christ’s bodily resurrection - and the possibility of ours - because it is difficult. And so it is. It was difficult for the apostles. Remember when Jesus was telling them earlier on about what was to happen to him, and they discussed among themselves “what rising from the dead could mean?”. And in our Gospel passage today, on resurrection day, despite Mary’s testimony (even in legal hearings women’s testimony counted for less than a man’s) and the testimony of the disciples from the Emmaus road, they are doubtful (Matthew’s account) or frightened (Luke). John writes, later than the others and in further retrospect has a joyful remembrance of that initial meeting. But in each instance, all are surprised, all still unconvinced, and so their written accounts are to affirm the reality, the physical, solid and wonderful reality of his resurrection. Their faith had been weak, but now they believed, and so do we: our faith is not in vain. What was “resurrection” about? Jesus invites them to touch his wounds. St. Augustine wrote that he assumes that the wounds were now scars, battle scars, no longer bleeding but testimony to what had happened. Augustine also believed that the resurrected body did not need to eat, but could, and here Jesus does by way of more proof: the Jews believed in ghosts, but believed that ghosts could not eat. Jesus is showing that he is real in a physical and material way. And yet, he could appear, through locked doors, and yet be touched and seen, whereas at the transfiguration he shone so brightly that they could not look on him. Why not here? Because to prove the resurrection he needed to be seen, clearly and closely, and touched.

And we too are promised resurrection for our loved ones and for ourselves. Wonderful and comforting, of course, but still not easy to believe, but easier because we have the witness of those who were there. “If Christ is not risen from the dead, my preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain.” But He is – and so “happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Christ is risen, as he said he would! Alleluia, alleluia!

Vacancy: Handyman at St Anne's Care Home 5 mornings a week, 9.00 am -12 midday. Any necessary training will be given. Would suit a retired / semi-retired person. Role involves general repairs and maintenance around the Care Home (a separate company will be employed to maintain the grounds). 5 weeks holiday a year plus Bank Holidays. Please contact the office at St Anne’s on 01444 462929.