Fr Frank writes:
On Thursday of this week, the Frinton & Walton Parish hosts a meeting of our ‘Parish Partnership’. This meeting will involve both parishes, Fr Frank will be present as will Sheila Wright, representing Frinton & Walton, and Maree Noons, representing Harwich & Dovercourt.
The Partnership concept is a new initiative on the part of the diocese. The diocese has been divided into Partnership areas, and the number of priests available to each, in the long term, has been allocated by the diocesan planning body. It is for each Partnership to decide on the number and location of Masses and where priests will reside.
Our Partnership, which consists of the three Colchester parishes and the four on the Tendring Peninsula, met for the first time towards the end of last year, and the meeting at Frinton is the second time we have come together. We have a long way to go. Our allocation of priests is 4(+1), i.e. between 4 and 5, and it has been suggested that we plan on the basis of 4 priests overall. The Bishop has made it clear that no priest can celebrate more than three ‘Sunday Masses’ (which includes Vigil Masses) meaning that there will be 12 Sunday Masses in our Partnership Area (there are currently 17 places of worship). We need to do a lot of work to arrive at a satisfactory solution. We need your prayers.
There are further meetings for the Stewards of the Gospel at diocesan level, and some for the priests of the diocese (who have many concerns about their future), following the next such meeting, parish meetings will be organised which will give us an opportunity of sharing information and concerns. There will be parish meetings at Frinton on 21st February, meetings at Dovercourt will be fixed soon.
May the God who holds each one of us in the palm of his hand bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
Walter Sickert to an annoying guest: “You must come again when you have less time.”
A former vicar receives a visit from an angel to enquire what the Rev. would most miss from this mortal life. He unhesitatingly answers “golf”. He asks, “Will there be courses up there?” The Angel asks if he would like the good news or the bad news. He answers, “The good news”. “Yes, there are golf courses”, the Angel replies. “And the bad news?” “You tee-off first thing in the morning.”