Some of our choir, enjoying a well-earned break . . .

I recently received this lovely photo of some of our choir members enjoying a meal out in Brighton on their annual outing.

I'm very grateful for all that our choir do throughout the year to enhance our liturgies, not just at Sunday Masses but at funerals, weddings and on other occasions too.

They have a break from their regular duties during August and enjoy a well-earned rest. Even so, they kindly made a 'special appearance' at Mass last week to help us celebrate the Feast of the Assumption in style.

We look forward to welcoming them back in September.

Helpers' Lunch . . .

Every year at about this time we invite everyone who helps in the parish in any way whatsoever to a 'Thank You' lunch in the parish hall. I was delighted that so many could attend. If you were to make a list of everyone who helps in some way in our parish, I think you would be surprised at the length of that list.

Inevitably, there will be some people who unfortunately can't make the date allocated but we had a good number of parishioners in our hall at lunchtime today. Actually, if everyone in the parish were to be available on the same day, I don't know how we would cope!

I am very grateful to everyone who assists in the running of the parish. As all parish priests know, we simply couldn't manage without you!

In the photo above you can see some of our social committee in the kitchen and here is a slide show which has hopefully captured everyone else who was present.

Thank you . . .

Just a brief footnote to my post on the Parish Helpers' Lunch on Saturday. Here is a photo of the group of helpers who made it possible. Thank you once again for all your hard work.

And this second photo also includes the photographer!

Parish Helpers' Lunch . . .

Today we had our annual Parish Helpers' Lunch. As you can see from the photos below, I think everyone had a good time. There are so many people who willingly give of their time and talents to help in the parish without expecting anything in return. We are blessed to have such a vibrant parish and this is just a small token of thanks for all those who help in so many ways.

I'm only sorry that not everybody who helps in the parish was able to join us.

And yet more happy, smiling, faces.

I am very grateful to our social committee who worked hard to give us a delicious lunch. They were in the parish hall all morning setting up and decorating the tables and I know they also spent time shopping for ingredients and preparing the food at home. Thank you all very much.

New Parishioners' Evening . . .

Our parish continues to go from strength to strength with many new young families and last night we hosted a New Parishioners' Evening to welcome them to our parish.

Although not everyone was able to attend, we had a fair number of new and 'old hands' who did come along to the hall after Mass to enjoy a glass of wine and a chat.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get around to chat with everybody but those I did meet commented on the friendliness of our parish and the beauty and reverence of our Sunday celebrations.

This is a great compliment to our parish and parishioners.

If you are among those who were not able to come along last night, do please make a point of having a chat with me after Mass on any Sunday. Why not come along and join us for coffee in the hall after the 10am Mass on Sundays?

The 'CC' Factor!

We had a fantastic evening in the parish last night when the internationally renowned organist, Carlo Curley, came to give a concert for us in aid of St Anne's School Building Fund.

Thank you for giving us such an entertaining evening, not just marvellous music but amusing anecdotes and interesting comments about the pieces selected for the programme too.

A lot of people were involved in making the evening such a success, both 'front of house' and behind the scenes and I'm very grateful to everyone for all the help given so enthusiastically. It is always very encouraging to see how a parish can 'pull together' on occasions such as this.

A Christmas Extravaganza

We are all looking forward with great anticipation to a "Christmas Extravaganza" this evening in our parish hall.

Weeks of hard work; planning and preparation, rehearsals, meetings, shopping etc. have been going on behind the scenes leading up to a frenetic rush of activity during the last few days.

It's great to see all sections of the parish working together, and having had a 'sneak preview' of tonight's programme, I can assure you there will be something for all ages.

As well as raising funds for St Anne's School Building Fund, it is also very important as a way of bringing the parish together as a community.

Parish Life

As on most Sundays, yesterday morning after the 10.00am Mass many parishioners went into the parish hall to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a chance to chat with their friends in the parish. When we are blessed with the beautiful weather we've been enjoying recently, it also means that the children can play in the garden behind the parish hall.

This is a an important part of parish life, and together with organised social events throughout the year, helps to develop the community life of our parish. I am very grateful to all the volunteers who generously give of their time to make this possible.