Latest News
ST PATRICK’S DAY
Mass will be celebrated here at St Francis on 17th March at 8.00pm. There will be a Social in the Parish Hall afterwards.
SUPPORT THE POPE’S VISIT
The Holy Father has announced his forthcoming visit to the UK possibly some time in September 2010. Sadly there is already opposition headed by the Secular Society of Great Britain to this visit. The Secular Society has an online petition which has already attracted over 20,000 signatures and yet a petition supporting the visit has less than 6,000 signatures.
You are asked to visit the website and sign the supporting petition as we welcome the Holy Father to our country.
Catholics must stand up and be counted. Go to: http://www.petitiononline.com/PopeinUK/petition.html
EASTER LILIES 2010
The Lily for Easter scheme will continue to be run this year. You may donate a lily in the name of a deceased family member or a friend. The names of our loved ones will be displayed in the church over the Easter period. If you wish to contribute you are invited to put the names in an envelope with your contribution towards the cost of one lily. Please use the small white Gift Aid Envelopes if you are a UK tax payer indicating your Gift Aid number. The lilies will decorate the church over the Easter Season. Please pass your contribution to one of the clergy or post through the Presbytery letter box before Easter. Surplus monies raised (after deduction of flower expenses) will be used for Masses for those named in the Easter Lilies List.
SOCIAL WELFARE GROUP
It is intended to set up a Social Welfare Group in the parish. This will only be viable if there are sufficient volunteers to carry out the work involved e.g. visiting the housebound. Please give some thought as to whether, or not, you would be willing to join such a group. If you are willing, please contact Pat McKee via the parish office.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES GROUP
A group of parishioners have got together to form this Group. It’s aimed at anyone who might be interested in joining the Group for the occasional coffee, light lunch in town, visits to the cinema, bus trips or any other social activities that you can think of for that matter. If you are interested and fancy getting involved, why not come along to their first meeting tomorrow ( Monday, 1st March) in the Society Rooms (opposite the Church) at 10.30 am? For further information contact Mary Adam.
The Parishioner
The 18th edition of the Parishioner will be published in the New Year. Once again we need items of news, articles, stories, poems, artwork, cartoons, recipes, photographs, etc. If you’ve been involved in any parish event please send a small report and any photographs you have. Especially welcome are items from our young parishioners such as stories, jokes and drawings etc.
The final date for contributions is 18th January 2010. You can leave your contribution at the presbytery (FAO Denis Neale), if possible on a disc saved as MS Word document or email to:
diary dates
Saturday 22nd May (NEW DATE)
The Parish Day Trip to Pashley Manor Gardens and the historic town of Rye has now been changed to Saturday 22nd May. The Pashley Manor Gardens visit includes a special ‘Sculpture in Particular’ Exhibition. More details and ticket prices will be published shortly. Please amend your diary with the new date, Saturday 22nd May, if you are planning to join us.
Saturday, 18th September
Coach Trip — Seaside town of Deal and afternoon excursion to Walmer Castle (Further details to follow).
YOUTH CLUB
Are you in Year 11, or older? Why don’t you come and join our youth group? It’s a chance to relax and have fun! It meets every Sunday (7.00 pm to - 9.30 pm) in what used to be called the Parish Room (the old classroom behind the Parish Hall).
RCIA
The RCIA programme for those interested in learning more about the Catholic Church is taking place each Tuesday at 8.00 pm in the Presbytery (Grove House). For further information, please contact Sheila Connolly via the Parish Office.
Altar Serving
If your child has recently received their First Holy Communion then they are now eligible to serve at the altar. Please encourage your child to take an active part in the Liturgy here at St Francis and join our faithful group of servers. Adults are also most welcome to join as well! If you would like to join, then please ask either one of the priests, any senior server or
REPOSITORY
Calendars and Diaries for 2010 are now available, as are scapulars, devotional items of the saints and novenas. Also there is a wide selection of cards plus current copies of “The Messenger” and other periodicals.
