Do you wear hearing aids? Do you find it difficult to follow the services in church because you cannot hear clearly? Are you aware that there is an induction loop installed to assist hearing aid users?
To use the loop system, simply switch on the induction receiver in your aids, on older devices this is a manual switch which should be moved to the "T" or "MT" position, for newer digital devices switch to the induction receiver using the mode switch. Once enabled, you may need to adjust the volume setting to suit yourself, but will then find it much easier to hear what is going on! Please note the induction loop runs around the perimeter of the church so while there is a good signal throughout the church,the signal is stronger the nearer you sit to the outside wall.
If you have any questions or difficulties, please use the contact form to report them, or speak to Michael Long.
We are grateful to Matthew Thomas who has agreed to take on the role of parish secretary for Missio, the Catholic Church’s official charity for overseas mission. Mathew is taking over from Chris Codd who has filled this role for the past 6 years and we are very grateful to Chris for her work during that time. The Missio promoters in the parish have been contacted and advised of Mathew’s appointment. Will all promoters please check the letter rack in the narthex where they will find contact details for Mathew.
On Saturday 6th July in the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, five new priests for the Diocese of East Anglia were ordained. Please remember Fr Jude Beinas, Fr Alan Hodgson, Fr Michael Brooks, Fr Paul Spellman and Fr Simon Davies in your prayers as they each start their priestly ministry. You can read about the ceremony and see full pictures on the Diocesan web site.
Picture courtesy of Keith Morris/www.rcdea.org.uk
The bishop has taken this opportunity to announce where the newly ordained priests will be deployed and some other priestly moves and retirements across the Diocese of East Anglia. Full details of these changes can be found here on the Diocesan web site but those moves affecting the Ipswich Deanery, scheduled to take place after the summer holidays, are:
St Pancras: Fr Leeder retires, Fr Russell Frost becomes parish priest.
St Mark: Fr Peter Raj moves to St Marys, Woodbridge Road. Announcement of a replacement for Fr Peter will be made later this month.
St Mary: Newly ordained Fr Alan Hodgson is appointed assistant priest.
St James: Will come under the canonical jurisdiction of St Mary, with pastoral responsibility being entrusted to Fr Thomas Parakandathil who will be in residence at St James’ Presbytery.
The 2019 World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) will be celebrated on Sunday 29th September and the theme this year is “It is not just about migrants”. With this theme, Pope Francis wants to stimulate our prayer and action by reflecting on ways in which migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons and victims of human trafficking, are part a wider concern for all marginalised people. To help prepare for the celebration of this day, the Migrants and Refugees Section is conducting a diversified communication campaign offering reflections, information materials and multimedia aids. Over seven months, the theme “It is not just about migrants” is developed in seven sub-themes. The sub-themes are “It’s also about our fears” (March), “It’s also about charity” (April), “It’s about our humanity” (May), “It’s about not excluding anyone" (June), "It’s also about the very least" (July), "It’s about the whole person and about every person" (August) and "It’s about building the City of God and man” (September). Each month, the materials about the theme and its distinctive sub-theme are prepared and distributed. These are meant for our communication efforts, to educate and to inspire, to prepare progressively for celebrating the 2019 WDMR.
A fully escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine in Co. Mayo,Ireland will take place on 7th October 2019. The cost is £599.00 per person on a shared room basis. Price includes flight with 10kg hand luggage, from Birmingham or Stansted, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full board. All entertainment/guided tours included. WCHR rooms on request. Single room supp £100. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com. Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613. More information can be found on the poster in the narthex.
The annual grandparents pilgrimage to Walsingham will this year take place on Sunday 21st July. Organised by the Catholic Grandparents Association, the outline programme for this pilgrimage is:
11:00am Reconciliation
12 noon Mass
2:30 pm The Walsingham Story
4:00 pm Eucharistic Adoration.
Full details of the programme can be found on the organisation’s web site.
Last week in his pastoral letter for the Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul (June 28/29), Bishop Alan talked about the two great apostles, ordinations in Norwich this weekend and the call to a vocation. You can read the Bishop's letter here.
Caritas East Anglia would like to know how Catholics are sharing God’s love with the poor and marginalised. If you’re involved in any social outreach work, either through church or with another group, please fill in this short questionnaire to tell Jacinta Goode, the newly appointed Diocesan Caritas Coordinator,what you’re doing. For more information contact Jacinta by email with anyquestions: caritas@rcdea.org.uk
Every Saturday until 28th September, St John’s Cathedral in Norwich is offering Tower Tours – climb the 230 steps up the tower to the highest vantage point overlooking Norwich, with views as far as Happisburgh to the north and Great Yarmouth to the east. Tours of the cathedral, including the cellars, narthex and hidden gardens, are also available. Bookings can be made on 01603 724381 or by email to heritage@sjbcathedral.org.uk.
As we approach the main summer holiday season, there will be a number of individuals absent and unavailable for duty on various rotas. If you are scheduled for a duty at church which happens to fall during your holiday absence, please arrange cover for yourself with one of the other team members so that there are no gaps left for others to have to fill at the last minute.
