The action-packed account in the Acts of the Apostles of Pentecost is seen as the birth of the Church, the end of the Easter season but most significantly of the coming of the promised Holy Spirit. There is remarkable energy in the symbols of a wind and fire manifested in enthusiasm ,courage and action. From the first mention by Jesus of an advocate and God’s Spirit there was anticipation of what this would mean. Subsequently  the message of Jesus and its effects became evident in the spreading far and wide of the knowledge of the meaning for individuals and communities, At Baptism and all the other moments of Christian celebration the presence of the Spirit is evident, Remember those word at your Confirmation “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”.

Bishop Richard’s Weekly Reflection

This week’s reflection can be found here.

Praying For Vocations To The Priesthood

We pray for the Holy Spirit to be poured out on our Diocese to produce many vocations.

Read about the variety of spiritual gifts that make up the Church.1 Corinthians 12.3 -13.

Two Deacons will be Ordained to Priesthood in Arundel Cathedral in June. Deo gratias.

Mass Schedule

• Pentecost Sunday Mass Sunday 19th 10am
• Monday 20th May St Mary’s House 8.15am. Mary, Mother of the Church.
• Wednesday 22nd May Mass 9.30am. 7^th in Ordinary Time
• Friday 24th May St Bede the Venerable Mass 9,30am
• Trinity Sunday 26th May Mass 10am

Ordinary Time

The next two Sundays will celebrate the Holy Trinity and the Body and Blood of Christ.

And then we will be back to the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the Weekdays the memorials of various Saints occur and this week is Week Seven in cycle 2 of the weekday Lectionary.

The New Lectionary

The publication details have now been announced.

Next week these will be shared with you.

The Clergy have an In-Service time soon.

Mary’s Month

St Bernadette’s has a May Celebration this Friday.

The Catholic Shrine in Walsingham, Norfolk now has a new website. Please click here.

The Diocesan Plan

There is a gradual roll out around the Diocese. For general information you may like to read a recent progress report.

We have heard that Canon David Parmiter who is shortly to take over St Peter’s ,Hove, will in 2025 become the Moderator of the area. He is presently dean of the Cathedral in Arundel.

Send your Spirit upon us,
As helper and guide
May he fill us with wonder and awe.
Seal us O Lord with your holy gift.
Send your Spirit to renew our lives.

This coming Thursday 40 days after Easter Day we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord as He returns to the Father and commissions his followers to “go out and bear much fruit” – a challenge to us. He sends us His Spirit and he gives us the hope of one day reaching the place he has won for us. The day is a Holyday when we are expected to attend Mass. There are 2 Masses in our church: in the morning at 9.30am and in the evening at 7pm. Do make the effort to participate.

Day of Prayer for The Eastern Churches

We are asked to pray for the members of the Eastern Catholic Churches which include the Catholics in the Holy Land. These remain in union with the Pope and have their own Liturgies and Canon Law. For example, Greek Catholic, Coptic, Syrian. There are also other Churches who are described as Orthodox who as yet are not in union with the Catholic Church. They are celebrating Easter this weekend.

Praying for Vocations

In this 6^th week of Easter, we reflect on the spirit of sacrifice and pray for greater numbers to respond generously to celebrate the sacrifice of the Mass.

The Diocesan Plan

There was a first gathering of the five parishes of the Brighton part of the Deanery to begin the consideration of how in the future the Church can co-operate, for example with preparation for the Sacraments, training for ministries, levels of administration, Mass times etc.

Now is a good time to read again the green covered copies of the Bishop’s Plan – either the A4 copy or the abridged version – along with the prayer!

The Ministry of Welcome

A Parish Community likes to be called ‘welcoming’. This depends on members thinking that the other people are also present to be part of the worshipping  group forming community. It makes all the difference if there is someone there to greet us at the door. A friendly welcome, a smile, offering a hymn book but no inquisition! Could you fit the profile? Do let Fr John know.

Sudan Crisis Appeal

There is a wall box in the Entrance for your generosity.

Mass Schedule

• Sunday 5th May Mass 10am. Int. For the people of the Parish
• Eastertide Wednesday 8th May 9.30am
• ASCENSION THURSDAY 9TH MAY HOLYDAY OF OBLIGATION
• Masses at 9.30am and 7pm
• Eastertide Friday 10th May Mass 9.30am
• Saturday 11th May HMP Lewes Mass 8.30am
• Seventh Sunday of Easter Sunday 12th May Mass 10am

New praises be given,
To Christ newly crowned 
who back to his heaven
a new way hath found,
God’s blessedness sharing
Before us he goes
What mansions preparing
What endless repose.

Due to some technical issues, this week’s newsletter is very much reduced. We hope to resume normal service as soon as possible.

Mass Schedule

• Sunday 21st April 10am 4th Sunday of Easter
• Tuesday 23rd April St George, Patron of England 9:30am Mass and 2pm Funeral Mass for Hilda Searle (RIP)
• Wednesday 24th April Feast of St Mark 9:30am
• Friday 26th April Eastertide Mass 9:30am
• Sunday 28th April 10am 5th Sunday of Easter

Lord Jesus,
Grant to our Diocese
the gift of priests
filled with zeal for your Word,
and with dedication
in the service of your people,
that your church may be nourished
through the Sacraments
and strengthened for the Mission
to which you have called us.
For you are Lord
for ever and ever.
Amen

After Easter Week, the Season continues to Pentecost – the 50 Days when we rejoice in the Risen Lord and read the Acts of the Apostles and the development of Christian Communities, living and celebrating Christ’s Ways.

Thank you to those able to participate in Holy Week and the Liturgies and for your generosity with the Lenten Alms Box, the Good Friday Offerings for the Church in the Holy Land and the Easter Offering. Holy Saturday, when we joined the Easter Vigil with St Mary’s, was a joyful celebration. Earlier that morning it had been my turn to celebrate Easter Mass at HMP Lewes and, thanks to the Ministry of Justice, we ended up with a bag each of mini chocolate eggs.

Bishop Richard’s Weekly Message

This can be found by following this link. There is no video podcast this week.

The Chrism Mass

Photos from the Chrism Mass during Holy Week at Arundel Cathedral can be found here.

Pope Francis appeals for peace

Pope Francis has called for a ceasefire in Gaza. More details can be found here.

The Word of Life leaflet for April

To assist with your prayer life during the Month. The scripture text and commentary are to be kept to assist you during the month to reflect on the Word and by reflection to let it nourish your spiritual life.

The Annunciation of The Lord

This Solemnity usually celebrated on March 25^th – nine months before Christmas – is transferred (because of Holy Week) to this Monday (8th April) at 9.30am. It is of course recalled every time Gabriel’s Salutation is made (Hail Mary full of grace…) and the event is meditated on in the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary.

Mass Schedule

• The Second Sunday of Easter Mass (7th April) 10 am.
• Monday (8th April) The Annunciation of the Lord Mass 9.30am
• Wednesday (10th April) Eastertide Mass 9.30am
• Friday (12th April) Eastertide Mass 9.30am
• The Third Sunday of Easter (14th April) Mass 10am

Once you showed to Thomas wounded
Hands and side
Here I kneel adoring,
Faith alone my guide
Help me grow in faith,
Lord, grow in hope and love,
Living by your spirit
Gift of God above.

Hymn 396

The great Feast of Easter is with us and as so many are saying it has come quickly. We can make the most of the 50 Days as we renew the promise of our lives in the different conditions we find are ours. In a spirit of faith, we deepen the commitment of the Sacrament of Baptism which may have happened long ago and are inspired by those adults who are baptised at the Easter Vigil along with those being received into full communion in Christ’s Church. Along with these features of Easter life comes a fresh joy in our hearts –singing a new song.

It is also a time to thank parishioners for their generous support in giving but also in the time and effort of ministries – of reading preparations for the liturgies, maintenance, music, finance and so many ways needed to support the parish community.

The Chrism Mass

Some of you did join the live streaming of this significant Mass. You can read more here.

Easter Week Mass Schedule

• Easter Sunday Mass (March 31st) 10am Int. for the People of the Parish
• Easter Monday Mass (April 1st) 9.30am Int. Arline Bowman RIP Anniversary
• Easter Tuesday Mass (April 2nd) 9.30am Int. Anne Carroll RIP
• Easter Wednesday Mass (April 3rd) 9.30am Int. Hilda Searle RIP ( F. Parsons)
• Easter Friday Mass 9.30am (April 5th) Int. Halina Salvage RIP
• Second Sunday of Easter Mass (April 7th) 10am

Hilda Searle RIP

Please pray for the soul of Hilda Searle who has died in the Royal Sussex County Hospital. For so many years a faithful Mass goer, sacristan, and member of the SVP. Her parked car was always guarded by one of her Yorkies.

School Holidays

Our schools broke up on Thursday and will enjoy a two week break.

Awaking Time

In many meanings! Did you wake up an hour earlier as Summertime commenced?

Now the green blade riseth
From the buried grain
Wheat that in the dark earth
Many days has lain,
Love lives again,
That with the dead has been,
Love is come again,
Like wheat that springeth green.

An opportunity to discover the destiny of Jesus as we discover more about who he means for us. We will travel with him from the moment he enters Jerusalem, the growing rejection of him, the gift of himself in service, his patience in suffering, his betrayal, and his sacrifice on the cross. We accompany him along with Mary and his close friends, sensing their reactions and emotions. All the features of our lives are reflected in the Passion accounts of Mark and John as we try to find answers to the questions we ask. The Liturgies of the three days guide us on the way.

The Chrism Mass

In Arundel Cathedral our Bishop gathers the Priests for this Celebration. We renew our Priestly Promises and then the Oils are blessed for use in the celebration of the Sacraments – the Oil for the Baptism of young and old, the Oil of Chrism for the anointings at Confirmation, Baptisms, the Ordination of Priests, the Consecration of chalices, patens, altars and buildings and the Oil for the Anointing of the Sick.

You can witness this by going to the Arundel Cathedral website at 6pm on Wednesday. The Deanery Oil Stocks are filled after the Mass and parish stocks are filled on Thursday morning.

Palm Sunday of The Passion

At 10am we gather in our Hall for the blessing and distribution of Palms followed by a Procession into the Church. The Passion of St Mark is proclaimed. Do join in the Crowd sections marked © in your missals.

The Three Days – The Paschal Triduum

Holy Thursday, Maundy Thursday

7pm The Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Oils are received in the Church and the Gift of the Eucharist is celebrated

Good Friday

A day of fasting and abstinence

10am The Way of the Cross

3pm The Liturgy of the Passion

Holy Saturday

7pm The Easter Vigil. This year we will join the congregation of St Mary’s Church, Surrenden Road.

Easter Sunday Mass

Mass at 10am – celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Stations of The Cross with Cardinal Vincent Nichols

Invited – Episode 5 Season IV

And finally…don’t forget!

The clocks go forward very early in the morning on Sunday 31st March – Easter Sunday! Please don’t be late for Mass.

Passiontide

The name given to the last weeks of the season of Lent. The focus of our journey turns to the events leading us to the Three Days of Holy Week. As is the custom, the statues of Mary and Thomas More are covered up, as too is the crucifix. Our Lenten observances prepare us for the momentous events recorded in the Gospels, along with the growing opposition of the crowds towards Jesus. The way of the cross we walk with Him reflects back to us what happened and what happens in daily living.

Reconciliation

Details of the opportunities for Individual Confession as part of the Sacrament of Reconciliation are posted on the noticeboard in the entrance. These give people a choice of priests to minister the Sacrament. In this Parish the Sacrament can be requested by arrangement.

Invited

The fourth session of the Mission is all about Reconciliation and if you have difficulties with understanding what it is about, you will find clear instruction.

Tower House Community Centre

A cafe now runs each day from 11am – 2pm. Click here for further details.

New Life In The City

A weekend Retreat in Brighton for 18 -35-year-olds. April 26th -28th. See poster for more details.

Mass Schedule

• Fifth Sunday of Lent Mass 10am Int. May Wynne RIP
• Tuesday 19th March St Joseph Mass 9.30am
• Wednesday 20th March Lent Weekday Mass 9.30am
• Friday 22nd March Lent Weekday Mass 9.30am
• Palm Sunday 24th March Mass 10am

Brighton Clergy Meet 3pm Tuesday

Meeting of Clergy in the Brighton Parishes about the Pastoral Plan.

St Joseph

Good and faithful servant God was pleased to place His own family in your care.

Joseph – the Just man. The one who listened, the man of trust , the loving father.

Patron of a Happy Death, dying in the presence of his loved ones. Pray for us.

Palm Sunday of the Passion of The Lord

Next Sunday we gather in the hall for the Blessing of the Palms and the process through the gates, symbolising the Entry into Jerusalem, followed by the reading of the Passion according to St Mark at 10am. Do join in the C parts of the response of the crowd.

Holy Week 2024

Details of the Three Days are on the Noticeboard.

Advance Notice

Clocks go forward one hour on Easter Sunday morning. We have to be up one hour earlier. Do not miss your Easter Mass!

Joseph, be our guide and pattern.
Faithful to your sacred trust
Strong protector of the Virgin
And the infant Jesus Christ
Joseph firm and faithful guide us
Joseph walk the way with us.