STOP PRESS: There are a few spaces for activities in our Parish Centre at the moment. If you are looking for a venue to run a meeting, stage a film show, have a party or run an activity, see details by clicking here.

Fr. John writes –

Wanted!   1 volunteer, living not too far from St Andrews, willing to deal with all the practical tasks to do with the Church, parish room, car park, and to some extent, the parish house.   Now all these things come my way inevitably, because I live on the premises!   You do not need to be able to fix everything yourself, but be willing to contact a plumber, or electrician etc. as necessary, and to chase things up.   As I get older, I find the fewer things I have to remember the better for all and sundry! Usually the biggest obstacle to people volunteering is the fear that they will be landed with the job forever! Therefore, I would suggest we limit it to a two-year commitment.   The volunteer and I would have to sit down together to discuss what is on the ‘job description’!

So over to you!

Congratulations to the parents of Lyla Daisy Parker (grandchild of Liz Dumbleton) baptised at St Andrew’s last Sunday

The Bible Journey continues this Sunday in the hall at 9.15am with the topic Jeremiah on anguish and compassion. We will then have a break of one week.

2^nd collection this weekend for Ecclesiastical Education

Your prayers are asked for:

• Those ill of infirm in our parish – Elizabeth Morrison and Colin Morrison, Joseph Adams, Patricia Hook, Michelle McKinnon, Jo Venables, Marjorie and John Dumbleton, Joseph Delaney, Elena Troake (Elena Peck’s daughter), Linda Wharfe, Jane McKinnon, Michael McDermott (Mara’s husband), Wendy Butler, Stephen Beasley, Mgr. Hill, Lester Kinkel, Ellie Lawrence, Kevin Thornton, Catherine O’Driscoll, Beryl Cowderoy, Yolande Urquhart and Linda Smith.
• All our sick parishioners, family members and friends
• Those whose anniversaries of death occur about this time – John Stanley, Jack Holman, Eileen Rimmer, Margaret Toke-Nicholls, Florence (‘Flo’) Primarolo, Karen Vidler, Gwen Terrett, Catherine Tours, Patricia Walden, Catherine Dowding and Ellen Shanahan. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.

Important Dates for your Diaries  

• Saturday May 5^th in Saint Andrew’s Parish Centre, the Christian Aid Big Brekkie event (as last year) – open to all, including children .This will be followed by a short act of worship in Saint Andrew’s to mark Christian Aid week.
• Saturday June 16^th at 12:00 pm – MASS in CELEBRATION of the SACRAMENT of MARRIAGE will take place at St. George’s Cathedral, Southwark .If you are celebrating your 1^st 10^th 25^th 40^th 50^th or 60^th wedding anniversary this year and would like to attend this service, please let Fr. John know as soon as possible, so that you can receive an invitation from the Archbishop.
• Sunday April 29^th at 3pm at the Sacred Heart, Goudhurst. Rosary on the Coast. This is a day of Pilgrimage and Prayer for the re-flourishing of our Faith, for the Grace to build a culture of Life and for true peace to reign in the hearts of all people and Nations.

The Food Bank has been well supported but recently donations have decreased; please do try to bring some suitable foods to help those families in need. Suggested items include Irish stew, minced beef & onion, stewed steak, meat balls, frankfurters, tinned carrots, peas, potatoes, tinned fruit; rice pudding, breakfast cereals, biscuits, tea, coffee, cocoa