Some notes about on-going activities,
around the parish and/or the Diocese
Suffolk Historic Churches Trust: “Ride and Stride”
From 09:00 to 17:00 on Saturday 14th September
Following a successful 50th anniversary year, the Suffolk Historic Churches Trust are again staging their sponsored cycling and walking “church-visiting” event.
St Benet’s will take part, as usual, and would welcome volunteer cyclists and walkers willing to canvass family and friends to sponsor them to visit as many churches as possible throughout Suffolk or Norfolk on the day.
In addition to making grants to Churches(including St Benet’s) the Trust rebates 50% of the sponsorship our participants raise, to our own Church funds – a very welcome boost given the work our buildings are likely to require in the near future!
Sponsorship forms and information packs are available from Patrick Hardiman on 01502 714 066 or at pjh@fusioninternet.co.uk
CARITAS EAST ANGLIA FESTIVAL
09:30 to 12:30; SAT 25 MAY
ST PETER THE APOSTLE; GORLESTON;
SAVE THE DATE!
St Peter;s Parish, and others in the Coastal deanery, will celebrate the work of organisations involved in social outreach. If there are charitable social action groups you think should be represented, please e-mail caritas@rcdea.org.uk
After Mass at 09:30 celebrated by Bishop Peter, there will be refreshments followed by opportunities to learn about local projects.
The event will end at 12:30 pm with prayer and reflection on the day.
ALL ARE WELCOME – for all or part of the day
SAVE THE DATE!!
WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR OWN WEEKLY COPY OF THE CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER, THE “UNIVERSE”?
Our aim is to provide a strong weekly Catholic voice in the world. We also have an excellent website with trustworthy articles and an online shop where subscribers receive 10% discount.
Print Subscription:- 12 mths £140.00, 6 mths £75.00; 3 mths £42.00
Digital Subscription:- 12mths £75.00, 6 mths £40.00; 3 mths £20.00
Call Michelle on 0743 661 7650 or email: michelle.jones@universecatholicweekly.co.uk
Parish Bank Accounts
Our parish accounts are now with Lloyd’s Bank. Any donations for St Benet’s Parish can be made to:-
‘St Benet’s Parish (Beccles) Accounts’ ; Sort Code 30-98-97 ; Account number 7907 4762.
(NB The monthly collection for the upkeep of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour continues to use Account name ‘Gillingham Catholic Church’ Barclays Sort Code 20-92-08; Account No. 4051 8174)
Ukraine
How can we continue to help people caught up in the war in Ukraine?
Visit the Catholic Social Action Network at: https://www.csan.org.uk/ukraine
As we have combined the roles of Editor for the Newsletter, the E-News and the Website, please send any items for publication in any or all of our media to tmob@sapo.pt
PS If you have any interest and/or ability in any of the “Social Media” and would like to co-ordinate a presence on them for the parish – please let me know via the addresses above!
Flower Guild
A new list for church flowers is at the back of St Benet’s.
If you would like to provide an arrangement in memory of a friend or family member, please add your name to the list as more people are always welcome.
Waveney Foodbank
The Foodbank is more heavily subscribed than ever before and needs our support!
They have secured extra drivers and storage space, and are in need of all the usual items (listed on tear-off slips in St Benet’s porch). Especially needed are: tinned fish and meat; fruit juice, cleaning products and the following items of clothing: sweat shirts, hoodies and men’s socks.
Please leave contributions in St Benet’s porch (or deliver to the presbytery) or take direct to St Luke’s Rigbourne Hill during the afternoon on Mondays (2.00 – 3.00 pm) or Fridays (2.00 – 3.30 pm)
Spiritual Direction
An online service has been set up by Fr Paul Maddison, an experienced priest in our diocese, at www.divinethread.org providing resources to help in the practice of prayer.
Fr Paul writes: ‘You have the power to become a child of God; together we will attempt to discover the fulness of that potential’.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
Leader Required – Can you help?
Speak to Deacon Tony.
Children below the age for First Holy Communion are very welcome to join in a discovery of the Sunday readings through story-telling and related activities in the Parish Hall.
The children then return to the church for the offertory procession and the second part of Mass.
This liturgy takes place between 10.25 am & 11:00 am on the Second, Third and Fourth Sundays of the month during the school year.
We ask that the youngest children are accompanied by their own parent or carer.
Mass and Prayer Intentions
If you want to have a Mass said for any personal intention, please use this link to obtain a form of request to contact the Parish Secretary.
Alternatively, you can send an email – with all the relevant details asked for on the form – to StBenetsParish@rcdea.org.uk A suitable date can then be agreed and arrangements made for the traditional stipend to be paid.
Prayer Requests
We have three facilities for parishioners – or indeed anyone – to ask our clergy and our parishioners to pray for a particular personal intention that is important to you.
The first two have existed for some time, and consist of a “Prayer Request Book” and a “Prayer Request Pin Board”; simply jot your request on either, with as much or as little detail as you wish, and these can be read by anyone and referred to during Mass or other relevant services. The Book and Board are kept just inside the “Bunbury Door”- alongside the pulpit. They are adjacent to the Lady Chapel, where the atmosphere is conducive to quiet thought and reflection, and where you might like to offer your own prayers in whatever form you find relevant.
The third option provides the same facility of asking our clergy and parishioners to think of – and pray for – something important to you. Just send an email to StBenetsParish@rcdea.org.uk or an ordinary letter to Parish Priest, St Benet’s Church, 2 Grange Road BECCLES NR34 9NR – with your Prayer Request. This will then be added to our website “Prayer Requests” page. The message posted may be anonymous or just use a first name, if you wish.
Sacrament of Reconciliation; “Our Easter Duties”
Every Catholic is required to make an annual Confession within a few weeks of Easter – usually between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday.
We do not have a resident priest so Confessions cannot be on a fixed schedule. However, for your annual Confession, you can make an appointment to see the Parish Priest at a time of mutual convenience during the week.
Gift Aid
For those donating by Gift Aid, the Envelope boxes for the new tax year, starting in April, are now available for collection at the back of St Benet’s. If you don’t already commit to Gift Aid, please consider joining the scheme as it means we can claim back 25p in the pound from the government – at NO COST to you.
For more information see https://saintbenetsbeccles.org/parish-finances/income/gift-aid/
Missio Red Boxes
Boxes are still available at the back of both churches along with copies of the latest edition of “Mission Today” booklets.
For more information about Missio, please contact Bernadette Starak.
Ignite Team
Our Diocesan Youth Service is looking for people aged 18-30 to share the Gospel with young people in a way they can relate to.
Full-time positions with food, accommodation and a monthly allowance provided (ideal ‘gap year’).
For further details: www.rcdea.org.uk/youth
Marriage Preparation Programme
This programme may be of interest to couples who have been married (or otherwise been together) for some time and can be followed in the parish as well as in the diocese.
It can also be a preparation for the annual Renewal of Vows with Bishop Peter in the Cathedral, usually in early June each year.
The Parish Office can provide further information.
Parish Census
A good number of parishioners have participated in the Census in recent weeks, and it looks as if the Catholic population of Beccles and surrounding areas is growing!
Anyone who hasn’t yet completed the census – or whose circumstances have changed – is asked to complete one of the forms. They are on the table at the back of the church.
Repository
Sundays 15 minutes before and after 11:00 Mass
The Repository will be open after Mass on most Sundays.
Our normal stock includes Bibles, Missals, Rosaries, Religious and Devotional articles.
We also have our suppliers’ catalogues, and orders are normally with us in one or two weeks.
Year Books
Copies of the East Anglia Diocesan Yearbook @ £3 are available in St Benet’s.
Please place your contributions in the wall box marked ‘publications’ near the porch at the back of St Benet’s.
Praying the Rosary
Usually, we meet to pray the Rosary in St Benet’s at 9.30 am. on Wednesday.
Hospital & Other Visits
In large hospitals (Norwich or Great Yarmouth), sacramental ministry is provided by a hospital Chaplain: patients (or their families) should inform the chaplaincy of their needs as Catholics on being admitted to hospital. It is best if you inform the Parish Priest as well as the hospital Chaplain.
If you wish to receive communion in Beccles Hospital, or to receive visits from a member of St Benet’s wherever you may be, please inform the Parish Priest.
Friends of ST BENET’S SCHOOL – Appeal for YOUR support
The Friends are keen to have the support and help of all parishioners in their efforts to raise funds for additional equipment and facilities for our parish school.
Please click on this link to visit the new page we have provided on this web site.
Catholic Singles
This is an organisation which helps single Catholics of all ages (over 18 yrs) meet other single Catholics – either one-to-one or through social events.
For further information, visit www.catholicsingles.org.uk or tel 0161 941 3498.
Get Involved – Please!
There are lots of ways you can get involved!
We always need help in building our parish life and Supporting the Liturgy – from reading to altar serving, flower arranging to singing in the Choir.
And we also need help with cleaning and polishing the church, as well as gardeners to keep the grounds looking presentable!
Or why not help Pam Storey’s team working on social events and fundraising? There is something to suit everyone.
New ideas are always welcome too, and the more help we have, the more the parish can achieve.
St. Benet's Minster Catholic Church, Beccles 