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
Following the Emmaus Story and the Thomas incident this week we have another post resurrection moment when the disciples like ourselves are called to be witnesses to the Risen Christ. It is an encouragement for us to reflect on the description of a Parish on the first pages of the Pastoral Plan documents.
Human Dignity
You may have heard the Thought for the Day on Friday by a Catholic Catherine Pepinster. It can be found here. It focussed on a recent Declaration from the Congregation for the Faith . You can read Bishop Richard’s brief summary here and read the full Declaration here.
Vocations Day of Prayer
Next Sunday is Vocations Sunday, a Day of Prayer for Vocations. This is not an easy subject because of the mentality of the time. There is also the annual collection for the six year’s training for future priests.
The Word of Life Leaflet for April
Copies of the leaflet are in the entrance for you to keep handy for reflection on the scripture text with prayer and effort to make it part of your spiritual life and attitude.
Mass Schedule
Sunday 14th April Mass 10am
Monday 15th April St Mary’s Convent 8.15am
Wednesday 17th April Eastertide Mass 9.30am
Friday 19th April Eastertide Mass 9.30am
Saturday 20th April HMP Lewes Mass 8.30am
4th Sunday of Easter (21st April) Mass 10am
Requiem Mass
A Requiem Mass for Hilda Searle (RIP) will be celebrated at 2pm on Tuesday 23rd April.
External Information
May 2nd Polling Day. Remember to bring photo ID when you come to vote.
B&H advice on avoiding falls and information on activities to strengthen mobility – leaflets are available in the porch.
Paschal Prayer To Our Lady
Queen of heaven, rejoice alleluia. For he whom you were worthy 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 risen indeed, alleluia!
Let us pray. O God, who through the resurrection of your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, did vouchsafe to give joy to the world : Grant, we beseech you, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life, Through the same Christ Our Lord. 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 25th – 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.
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 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.
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.
This Sunday is traditionally known as “Rejoice. Be joyful Sunday.” Marking the mid-point of the Lenten Journey. It is an uplifting journey of hope, a preparation time of reflection and renewal for the joy of Easter. We recall that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world, shown to us through what he suffers. When faced with the questions about suffering and the present state of the world, we have a guide in what Jesus went through for us.
Day of Prayer for the suffering people of the Holy Land
Around the worldwide Church there is a call to have a day of prayer for those suffering from the effects of war and destruction.
This coming Saturday 16th March we will have in the Morning the following activities
Within a few days we will reach the mid-point of the Season of Lent. It is always a good time to check on our progress by remembering the description of what Lent means. “Lent is a time for turning again to the practice of the Faith – prayer, self-denial and practical generosity.” In our weekly news these elements appear. Let us not miss out. It is s spiritual Springtime, a joyful season when God wants to give us new grace and new life.
The leaflet for March is on the table in the Entrance .The purpose is for use during the days of March to focus prayer and reflection on the words of Scripture to give life to our Christian living.
Do Justice
A vision for spiritual and civic renewal produced by the Catholic Social Action Network. Please click here.
Mass Schedule
Sunday March 3rd Mass 10am
Wednesday March 6th Lent Weekday Mass 9.30am
Friday March 8th Lent Weekday Mass 9.30am
Sunday March 10th 4th of Lent Mass 10am
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation with individual confession. A list of opportunities is on the Noticeboard. These refer to Services where additional priest Confessors are available.
Lord of life, you give us all our days: Let your life fill ours with hope and praise. May our learning, seeking, yearning, Lead us on to share your risen life.
On the Second Sunday of Lent the Gospel is always an account of the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. It is one of the events which we consider when we pray the Rosary and reflect on it in the Mysteries of Light or Luminous Mysteries, as it gives us further insight into the person of Jesus. “To know you more clearly , to love you more dearly” – part of our Lenten efforts.
Lenten Emphasis On Prayer
There are resources for us to discover as we examine our prayer habits. Pope Francis is encouraging us to take the opportunity to develop our exercise of prayer. How do we Pray ?. You can find some advice on the website CBCEW- the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales.- “Why the Lord’s prayer is so important to us “ and news of a forthcoming booklet -Teach us to pray. You could also try to use the daily suggestions towards the bottom of the list of “Useful Websites “. The app “Universalis” can be downloaded on your phones with the Morning and Evening Prayers of the Church and the Mass details of each day click here for iOS and here for android.
Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament
You will have read how our Bishop has asked us to have time before the Blessed Sacrament to pray for Vocations to the Priesthood and Diaconate and for the Church of Arundel and Brighton as the Diocesan Plan is gradually implemented. This Sunday after the 10.00am Mass there will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for an extended time of thanksgiving after our Communions until 11.30am. Fr John would like to hear of your suggestions about future times for periods of Adoration.
Invited
Details of this week’s session of the Diocesan Mission can be found on the Diocesan Website together with the times when the videos will be available.Please click here.
Mass Schedule
Sunday Mass (25th February)10AM Int. for the people of the Parish
Wednesday (28th February) . Lent Weekday Mass 9.30amInt.Gilbert Losasso RIP
Friday (1st March) . St David Patron Saint of Wales. Mass 9.30am
Third Sunday of Lent (3rd March) Mass 10.00am.
Prayers
Prayers for Canon Colin Wolczak PP. The Sacred Heart.
The Taylor Family, Tom & Margaret Perrin, Patrick & his parents,
May Wynne RIP, Seamus O’Donnell RIP.
CAFOD
Thank you for your CAFOD Donations & for the Lourdes Fund.
Lenten Alms wall box for your self- denial.
To pick up
The Spring edition of Mission Today and a Prayer Card for Ukraine.
The Last Words Of Saint David
“Be joyful and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk in the path that our fathers have trod before us.”
The journey of Lent to Easter is an opportunity to review our spiritual lives as Christians and to begin to look into the future with the Pastoral Plan and the vision it has for the Catholics in the Diocese. Our reflection on the journey Christ takes as his destiny is revealed is reflected in the words of Scripture and of the Way of the Cross, together with the Lenten devotions and special resources. Do make the most of the time.
Prayer
One of the key features of Lent is the practice of Prayer. We have been invited by the Bishop to have time before the Blessed Sacrament and so next Sunday after the Mass there will be 30 minutes of Adoration concluding with Benediction. You could see this as an extended time of thanksgiving after Holy Communion. Available from the Bishops of England and Wales are weekly sessions exploring the Our Father. Session 1 can be found at (click to CBCEW)
Next Friday is CAFOD Fast Day, when we reduce what we take and are generous in donating to the work of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. (The envelopes include – only if you wish – fund raising mechanisms. There is no obligation to commit to these.)
Ecology
Care for our Common Home and the Planet are the subject of a workshop with the title “Let us dream “which will be held in the hall at St George’s Church, Court Farm Road, Hangleton. BN3 7QR. Saturday 2nd March 10am – 1pm.
Mass Schedule
First Sunday of Lent Mass 10am
Wednesday Lent Mass 9.30am
Friday Short Stations & Mass 7pm
(10,30am Requiem for Bernard Regan RIP St Mary’s )
Second Sunday of Lent. Mass 10am – followed by 30 minutes Adoration.
Seamus O’Donnell RIP
A former parishioner and local dentist has died at St Mary’s House. May he rest in peace.
He will not ask the fickle crowd’s acclaim, Nor flaunt the Sonship, which is his by right, Nor seem distrustful of the Father’s name, Who bids us walk by faith and not by sight. He seeks no kingdom but by cross and grave, For love of sinners spurning Satan’s throne His triumph seen in those he died to save, Who to his glory, worship God alone.
St Thomas More Church, Patcham, Brighton 
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