Amidst the gatherings and rejoicing of Easter Day , remember we have Fifty Days as well! There have been the days of the Lenten season for us to take stock and to renew prayer and service in our lives. Now in Eastertide we live that out, inspired by the enthusiasm of the newly baptised and by our realisation that we are baptised. Let us discover the meaning of our status, the responsibilities which come with it and the ever present vitality and Spirit of faith and hope as we go on our pilgrim way.
May the new life and hope of the Risen Lord be in your heart!
Bishop Richard’s Easter Message
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
At the time of writing, we are about to enter the Sacred Triduum – the days that mark the Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. These are the most significant days in our Christian year. On Palm Sunday we accompanied Jesus on His entry into the Jerusalem and reflected on His Passion.
Today, we enter the Upper Room with Him. The second reading at Mass, from St Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, tells us of the Eucharist and the account of the Last Supper from John’s Gospel, and of Jesus’ mandatum – the command – to serve as He serves. We might note that John tells us, that in washing the feet of his friends, Jesus showed us how perfect His love was. This perfect love finds its fullest expression – surely – in the events that follow the Last Supper. Yet, the act of service and His Passion and Death are, in a sense, as one. All given out of love for us – and the washing of the apostles’ feet shows us how we can imitate the Lord’s self-giving in our own service of one another.
After the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we shall watch with Jesus in Gethsemane, as we spend time in watchful prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. We are called to stay awake, open to the graces of this night and reflecting on all we have heard and seen in the celebration of the Eucharist – and in closeness to the Lord as He prays. Our prayer must be His: “not my will, but thine be done.”
Into this time of silent prayer in the darkness of the night, let us take the struggles, disharmony and conflicts of our age, praying that all of humanity will learn the lessons of the Lord’s service, even unto death.
On Good Friday, the Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion – unlike any other in our liturgical year – enables us to focus on the Passion and on the Cross. This Liturgy is marked by silence and, as we return to our homes, let us take with us that silence that comes over the world in the face of the death of the Saviour. May this day be marked by a further watching – that of Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and John at the foot of the Cross. Let us, like the holy women, watch again as they mark the place where the Lord is laid in burial.
Holy Saturday is a further time of watching. It is that watching that comes with silent waiting – waiting for the Lord who rises again. Jesus dies. We must not try and escape this – yet He rises again and in His rising our life is restored. As the light of the Paschal Candle casts its warmth over the darkened church, so Jesus, the Risen One, is light for our darkened world. In Him lies the Hope of the world.
On Easter Day, having journeyed with Jesus in his Passion, Death and Resurrection, may we rejoice in the salvation He has won for us and seek to continuing watching – our gaze fixed on Him alone as we make our pilgrimage of life in service to Him, bringing the message of salvation to our brothers and sisters.
With every blessing,
+ Richard
Mass Schedule
- Sunday 20th April 10am Easter Sunday Mass
- Monday 21st April 11am St Mary’s House
- Tuesday 22nd April 9:30am
- Wednesday 23rd April 9:30am
- Thursday 24th April 12 Noon Requiem Mass for Ellen Higgins, St John the Baptist Church, Kemp Town followed by burial
- Friday 25th April 7pm
- Sunday 27th April 10am Divine Mercy Sunday (2nd Sunday of Easter)
The Solemnity of St George – Monday 28th April
Please note this has been transferred from the 23rd April because of the Easter Octave – Mass will be celebrated at 10am
Summer Term
Our schools return on Easter Tuesday after their two weeks of holiday.
St Bernadette’s
Easter Assembly. The Children decorate a Cross with flowers celebrating the Risen Christ. Friday 9.15am
The Canonisation of Blessed Carlo Acutis
Next Sunday this young man will be Canonised in Rome. Our Bishop will be at St Peter’s Hove, which is the Diocesan Shrine of this new Saint. He had a great love of the Eucharist.
Memorial Bench
The Memorial Bench of Melvin and Rita Smith RIP has now been varnished and returned to the Church’s Courtyard by their family.
Jesus Christ is risen today Alleluia
Our triumphant holy day Alleluia
Who did once upon the cross Alleluia
Suffer to redeem our loss Alleluia.
St Thomas More Church, Patcham, Brighton 