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Trinity Sunday

TRINITY SUNDAY marks the beginning of a number of feasts or Solemnities, Corpus Christi or the Body & Blood of Christ, the Sacred Heart and Saints Peter and Paul, along with the Dedication of the Cathedral and our Patronal Feast of St Thomas More on Sunday July 5th.

Celebrating the unity and diversity of God as Trinity leads to many different images used to “explain” what is meant. Apart from the shamrock leaf, there is one I came across. It begins with the sun – “look down and see its reflection, feel the heat, and enjoy its shining” – threefold effects yet one.

When we pray, just think of the many ways in which we do so in a Trinitarian way.

Magnifica Humanitas

Pope Leo’s first Encyclical Letter ‘Magnifica Humanitas – On safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence’ was published on Monday. Did you notice in how many ways AI was the subject of the media this week, Question Time as an example? It is 53 pages long, so it will appear in a few weeks’ time.

More on Magnifica Humanitas can be found on our diocesan website here and on our national website here.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 31st May 10am Trinity Sunday
  • Monday 1st June 8.15am St Mary’s House, St Justin
  • Wednesday 3rd June 9.30am St Charles Lwanga & Companions, Ugandan Martyrs
  • Friday 5th June 9.30am St Boniface
  • Sunday 7th June 10am The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ

Corpus Christi In Arundel

On Wednesday & Thursday the Carpet of Flowers will be on view in preparation for the Mass and Procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Castle.

The Word Of Life For July

he leaflet for your prayerful use and reflection is now available. It has a commentary on a text from Matthew’s Gospel which should be used during the month of June. Keep it handy so that you can read a section of it, pray about it and put it into practice.

Praying For The Gift Of A Shepherd

Now that his Letter has been published, Pope Leo will be informing the Apostolic Nuncio to invite someone to be the Sixth Bishop of Arundel & Brighton.

Back To School

It was a sunny half-term. Raincoats on Monday.

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
All thy works shall praise thy name
in earth, and sky and sea.
Holy, Holy, Holy, merciful and mighty,
God in Three persons, Blessed Trinity.

Pentecost

The fifty days of Easter conclude with the promise of Jesus to send the Holy Spirit, the Helper—advocate, consoler, and animator—expressed in the Creed as the Lord, the giver of life, proceeding from the Father and the Son. All the words we use are active, guiding and leading us. The Acts of the Apostles reveals an outpouring of energy, change, belonging, and unity. The Catechism describes the Holy Spirit as the life of the Church; that is why we celebrate the birthday of the Church and why our invitation is for the Holy Spirit to come anew.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 24th May 10am Pentecost
  • Monday 25th May 8:15am St Mary’s House Mary, Mother of The Church
  • Wednesday 27th May 9:30am (Intention Frank Power)
  • Thursday 28th May 12 Midday Arundel Cathedral Jubilarians’ Mass of Jesus Christ Eternal High Priest
  • Friday 29th May 9:30am for the gift of a Shepherd for the Church of Arundel and Brighton
  • Sunday 31st May 10am Trinity Sunday

Pope Leo XIV’s First Encyclical

On Monday morning, May 25, there will be a press conference introducing the Letter on the anniversary of the encyclical Rerum Novarum, a presentation of Catholic Social Teaching by Pope Leo XIII. The new Letter is entitled Magnifica Humanitas: “On Preserving the Human Person in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” We will be able to read the text on the Vatican News site or through our website.

Half-Term

Our schools will be closed this week. Have a happy and safe time!

Our Works of Art

Moving into the church, in the far corner, we have the statue of the Madonna—Mary holding the Child Jesus. It was created by Antonio Pacitti (1924–2009). He was born in Cassino, Italy. In 1928, his father, who was in the trade union movement, was given 24 hours to leave by the local fascist movement. The family then experienced severe poverty in Glasgow.

Antonio gained a place at the Glasgow School of Art. When war broke out, he joined the Highland Light Infantry. After the war, his family moved to London, and he gained a diploma at the Slade School of Fine Art. He later became a Head of Department in Adult Education and a part-time teacher at Wormwood Scrubs. In 1964, he won a commission for the sculpture in the newly built church in Patcham. When you venerate Mary and perhaps light a candle, please do remember the artist.

Renew your wonders in this our day, as by a new Pentecost.
Grant to your Church that, being of one mind and steadfast in prayer with Mary,
and following the lead of Peter,
she may advance the reign of our Divine Saviour:
The reign of truth and justice,
The reign of love and peace.

— Pope St. John XXIII

The Seventh Week of Easter

Invitation time

As we approach the Feast of Pentecost it is a time of promise and invitation as we await a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Before his departure into glory the risen and ascended Lord foretold the gift of the Spirit to be our Helper and Advocate along side us as the Spirit of Truth and Understanding. The days before next Sunday prepare us by prayer and waiting with the call ‘Come Holy Spirit!’ We will recall with all the active words the action of this great gift.

World Communication Sunday

Pope Leo in his message calls us to preserve human faces and voices in the way we use means of communication. “We must value artificial intelligence, in as far as it can be of benefit – but be careful not to lose our sense of our own personality and humanity.”

Bishop John Arnold, Bishop of Salford and Lead Bishop for Communications for the Bishops’ Conference, has spoken ahead of the 60th World Day of Social Communication about the opportunities and pitfalls of AI. You can hear what he has to say by playing the audio file below.

There is a second collection to support the work of communications in the Church in this country.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 17th May 10am 7th of Easter
  • Monday 18th May 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Wednesday 20th May 9:30am St Dunstan – Julie Hilton RIP
  • Friday 22nd May 9:30am
  • Saturday 23rd May 8:30am HMP Lewes
  • Sunday 24th May 10am Pentecost Day

This Week

  • Monday. Clergy Welfare visit
  • Tuesday Brighton & Hove Clergy Team Meeting
  • Wednesday Annual Lightning Conductor inspection
  • Thursday City Pre- Pentecost Day of prayer for Christians
  • Friday Tribunal Judgement

Prayer for Vocations

In this 7th Week we pray for more priests who will celebrate the sacraments of healing with the living and the dying.

Our Works of Art

With the Brighton Festival week underway it seemed an appropriate time to remember for history the works of Art , Fr Edward Fooks the builder of St Thomas More’s Church opened in 1963, commissioned. On entering the church there is the carved wooden statue of our Patron, St Thomas More,

Lord Chancellor and Martyr -Statesman , Scholar and Saint. On the base you will see the signature of Arthur J. J. Ayres. He was born in 1902 and died in 1985. Sculptor and teacher, noted as a distinguished carver. Studied at the Royal Academy Schools and the British School in Rome. Some of his works are held in the Bolton Art Gallery and others exist in the Tyburn Shrine to the Martyrs – a carved wooden crucifix, a statue of St Aidan of Lindisfarne in East Acton, stone works on Westminster Abbey – where his memorial service took place and the Adelphi building. An artist to research further. His wood carving was mainly in lime wood.

Come Holy Spirit, dance

Within our hearts today

Our earthbound spirits to entrance

Our mortal fears allay

And teach us to desire

All other things above

That self-consuming holy fire

The perfect gift of love.

Sixth Week of Easter

Thursday of this week marks the Ascension of the Lord. In the Nicene creed it is described as “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father” It marks the end of Jesus’ historical physical life and the beginning of a far-reaching, all pervasive presence unlimited by time or location. We who believe are given the promise that we shall one day share his glory”. There are now nine days of preparation for Pentecost.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 10th May 10am Sixth Sunday of Easter
  • Monday 11th May 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Tuesday 12th May 9:30am Carthusian Martyrs’ Mass
  • Thursday 14th May 9:30am and 7pm Ascension Day – Holy Day of Obligation
  • Friday 15th May 9:30am
  • Sunday 17th May 10am Seventh Sunday of Easter

Pope LeoXIV’s First Anniversary

Please read this message from Archbishop Richard Moth

The Carthusian Martyrs

At Mass on Tuesday we will remember the courage of the monks from the London Charthouse taken to the gallows at Tyburn. It is said St Thomas More saw them being taken from the Tower to their martyrdom under Henry the eighth.

England’s remaining Charterhouse, St Hugh’s, is just up the road from Henfield to Cowfold.

The Life of Christ

Discover the wonder of Jesus’ life with an unforgettable event for all the family. The Life of Christ is a play like no other, placing you in the middle of an immersive theatre experience. Join over a hundred actors in the stunning grounds of Wintershall Estate as this magnificent story is movingly recreated with authentic detail in an epic open-air production. Watch the Wedding in Cana, the Feeding of the 5000 and the Last Supper unfold before your eyes. It’s the perfect day out for families, faith groups, theatre lovers and schools.

Tickets can be booked at  https://www.wintershall.org.uk/event/life-of-christ/    

World Communications Day

Next Sunday with retiring collection/ Dona card machine.

Message From The Diocesan Administrator

My dear brothers and sisters,

It’s become a regular Sunday evening ‘thing’ for me to flick through parish websites and social media platforms to get a glimpse of the life of our communities of faith.  How blessed we are to be in such good company with one another in our discipleship of Jesus and in our service of the Gospel.  I recently spent a week in Rome with the Bishops of England and Wales, amongst whom there was much talk of, and encouraging interest in our Diocesan Pastoral Plan.  I know that, across the Diocese, you are working closely with your priests and deacons to help realise the beautiful vision Bishop (Archbishop) Richard set out for us in ’The Word Who is Life’.

I pray for you all daily.  I’m especially mindful of the people of the parishes in which I have been privileged to serve;  of the specific needs, sorrows, and joys marking the life of our parish communities in any given week;  and of those whose names appear in your newsletters by reason of receiving the Sacraments, or in sickness or bereavement, and the souls of those of our number who have died.  All of these prayers I gather together in the Mass I am asked to offer each Sunday ‘for all the people of the Diocese’.  Please pray for me;  and keep praying, each day, for the election of a new Bishop for our Diocese.

God bless you all.

Father Jonathan Martin

Diocesan Administrator

Prayer For Vocations

During the Month of May keep up our prayers for vocations to Priesthood.

His glory still praising

On thrice holy ground

The apostles still gazing

His mother around

With hearts that beat faster

With eyes full of love

they watched while their

Master ascended above.

No. 493 Venerable Bede

Mary’s Month

As we commence May it is an opportunity to remember her role in the Paschal Mysteries we celebrate, from the Passion to Pentecost. It is a time when we honour Mary in prayers, devotions and pilgrimages and to deepen our appreciation of her role as Mother. Recall the Gospel accounts of the infancy of Jesus, the Presentation, the wedding feast at Cana, the Mother of sorrows, the joy of the risen lord and with the Apostles the coming of the Holy Spirit. She has a remembrance in every Eucharistic Prayer and her regular Feasts – watch for May 25th – Mary Mother of the Church.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 3rd May 10am Int Antoine Bamin Fifth Sunday of Easter
  • Monday 4th May 8:15 am St Mary’s House
  • Wednesday 6th May 9:30am The English Martyrs for victims of sexual abuse
  • Friday 8th May 9:30am Int. Margaret O’Donnell
  • Sunday 10th May 10am Sixth Sunday of Easter

Next Week

Thursday 14 May will be Ascension Thursday, a Holy day of Obligation. Mass will be at 9:30am

Get Together

After Mass Coffees and Teas. Do come and meet up for a short while.

Health and Safety

Annual check uo this Wednesday morning

Prayer for Vocations

Do pick up a prayer card

Catch Up


Do view the Bishops Conference of England and Wales to keep abreast of items of National Interest. Visit via “useful websites”

Queen of heaven rejoice alleluia
The Son whom you merited to bear alleluia
Has risen as he said alleluia
Pray for us to God alleluia
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary alleluia
For the Lord has truly risen alleluia..

The Fourth Week of Easter

By tradition the fourth Sunday is called the Good Shepherd Sunday and there is always a need for the promotion of vocations to priesthood or religious life. The vocations team are encouraging us to pray during May for this intention. Seeing the photographs of two of our newly ordained priests reminded me that in 1965 a year after my Ordination a similar leaflet had photographs of my self in action in Horsham. The Vatican Council said that to be a Diocese it should be able to produce priests. With the aging of priests the need is ever present.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 26th April 10am Int. vocations to priesthood
  • Monday 27th April 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Wednesday 29th April 9:30am St Catherine of Siena Int. for the gift of a shepherd
  • Friday 1st May 9:30am St Joseph The Worker
  • Sunday 3rd May 10am 5th Sunday of Easter

Second Collection – for the formation of future priests

Students study for 6 years, either at Allen Hall, Westminster or in Rome. There will be a basket and the Dona machine will be in use for the education of future priests.

Elections

Our local election has been postponed until 2027

St Bernadette’s Q&A

Thursday 1pm

Gathering after Sunday Mass

After the success of last week we will be meeting up with coffee and cake after Mass tomorrow. Please do come along even if it is only for five or ten minutes.

Soup & Sandwich

These are held of the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 12 noon in the church hall.

Pope Leo’s Apostolic Travel To African Countries

We give thanks for the Pope’s journey tp the African Churches. You can follow the Holy Father via this link which is also one of our Useful Websites.


The Third Week of Easter

Journeying appears in the Easter Gospels reminding us of the gradual realisation of the disciples of the new risen life of Jesus. This Sunday it is the road to Emmaus from Luke’s Gospel. Just at the moment, all the plans for Summer journeys are under scrutiny – will there be enough jet fuel for the planes to take off ? Here in our community we continue moving to Pentecost awaiting the Holy Spirit. Journey on!

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 19th April 10am 3rd Sunday of Easter
  • Monday 20th April 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Wednesday 22nd April 9:30am
  • Thursday 23rd April 9:30am St George Martyr, Patron of England
  • Friday 24th April 9:30am St Adalbert
  • Saturday 25th April 8:30am St Mark HMP Lewes
  • Sunday 26th April 10am 4th Sunday of Easter

Sunday Afternoon – National Holy Hour

The Bishops of England and Wales have asked every Catholic Parish and Community to hold an Hour of Prayer for the Dignity of Life between 4:30 – 5:30pm. A text for the time has been made available. I do hope you may be able to devote the time to pray for human life, which is under strain at this time. For further details, please visit this link.

Pope Leo’s Apostolic Visit

Over ten days the Holy Father is visiting a number of African Counties. For further details follow this link.

The Word Of Life

Appropriately the text for prayerful reflection is from Sunday’s Gospel.

Coffee and cake

After Mass this Sunday in our hall. Come along to meet up with each other






Thanks for the fellowship found at this meal





Thanks for a day refreshed





Thanks to the Lord for his presence we feel





Thanks for the food he blessed





Hymn 645 – Emmaus

	


	



			
				


			

			
The Second Week Of Easter
		
	
	

		

Fifty Days of Eastertide to hear of encounters with the Risen Lord. The days are ones when the newly baptised adults deepen their understanding of their new lives as Christians and members of the Church. For existing members, it is a time to renew our membership and grow in our commitment. This second Sunday’s Gospel is reflected in the eucharistic hymn “I am not like Thomas, wounds I cannot see.” May our acts of faith grow stronger!





The Eastertide Mass Schedule





    

  • Sunday 12th April 10am Divine Mercy Sunday
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  • Monday 13th April 8:15am St Mary’s House
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  • Wednesday 15th April 9:30am
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  • Friday 17th April 9:30am 
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  • Saturday 18th April 8:30am HMP Lewes
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  • Sunday 19th April 10am 3rd Sunday of Easter
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Our Schools Return





After the two-week Holiday the Schools return for the summer term.










He is risen, tell the story

To the nations of the night

From their sin and from their blindness

Let them walk in Easter light.

Now begins a new creation

Now has come our true salvation

Jesus Christ the Son of God.

	


	



			
				


			

			
Easter 2026
		
	
	

		

“The Lord is risen” After the journey from Ash Wednesday we come to its culmination in the Resurrection of Jesus. We have discovered His identity in the image of the Servant, suffering yet persevering despite what happens to Him. At the Vigil the Scripture takes us from Creation to the images of liberation and onto the living waters of Baptism. We discover what it means for us to be baptised disciples living faithfully our calling. The days that follow Easter Day help us to take in the results for our own lives and living. May you be filled with Easter joy and hope.





Mass Rota For First Week of Easter*





    

  • Sunday 5th April 10am Easter Sunday
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  • Monday 6th April 10am 
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  • Monday 6th April 11am St Mary’s House
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  • Wednesday 8th April 9:30am
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  • Thursday 9th April 9:30am
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  • Friday 10th April 9:30am
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  • Saturday 11th April 8:30am HMP Lewes
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  • Sunday 12th April 10am Divine Mercy Sunday
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*All locations are St Thomas More’s church unless otherwise stated. 










Alleluia! This is the day that The Lord has made
Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Alleluia!

	


	



			
				


			

			
Holy Week
		
	
	

		

The forty days seem to have gone quickly and we may be saying what have they meant for us?  The small efforts, the moments of prayer, the acts of reaching out, the returns or turn arounds, the moments of growth and so… you name them.





After the time of preparation of Lent we now come to the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem where he faces his destiny. In the last 3 days or Triduum we recall in slow motion what he says, what he does and what he goes through and it is up to each one to understand more fully why.





Our Holy Week Schedule





    

  • Sunday 29th March 10am Palm Sunday Of The Passion, The blessing of Palms, the procession and the Passion of Jesus from St Matthew’s Gospel
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  • Tuesday 31st March 9:30am Mass
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  • Wednesday 1st April 9:30am Mass
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  • Wednesday 1st April 6pm The Chrism Mass in Arundel Cathedral. All welcome or you can livestream. The renewal of Priestly Promises and the blessing of the oils used in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders and for those seriously ill.
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  • Thursday 2nd April 7pm Maundy Thursday, The Mass of the Lord’s Supper and the new Commandment 
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  • At the end of Mass the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the Chapel and there is “watching”, silent praying, – as did Jesus and Apostles in the Mount of Olives or Gethsemane until 9pm
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  • Friday 3rd April Good Friday 10am Way of The Cross in church
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  • Friday 3rd April Good Friday 10am – 11am Walk of Witness – from India Gate (Pavilion Gardens) to St Nicholas’ church by Christians of Brighton and Hove
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  • Friday 3rd April Good Friday 3pm – The Passion Of The Lord and Veneration Of The Cross
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  • Saturday 4th April Holy Saturday 7pm The Easter Vigil and Mass Of The Resurrection
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  • Sunday 5th April 10am Easter Sunday Mass
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Easter is celebrated as The Easter Octave





Practical Notes





The palms will first be blessed and then handed out.





Good Friday is a Day of Fasting & Abstinence





Do join in the crowd parts of the Passion Reading





A collecting Basket will be on a table for the Holy Places in the Holy Land under prevailing war conditions -AM & PM





Holy Saturday. Candles with drip trays to be picked up on arrival and for a light from the Paschal Candle to gradually be shared.





Three Films Explaining Holy Week





Do take time to watch three short videos by three of our priests describing the Three Days of Holy Week