Prepare a way for the Lord! Time passes rapidly. We celebrated the preparation for Mary to become eventually the Mother of our Saviour. This week John the Baptist utters the invitation to prepare given to us to be ready to receive the Lord when he comes.

Invited – Episode 3

This week’s video will be available from Monday and can be seen on youtube.

Meeting of Clergy With Bishop Richard

On Monday the Bishop will be meeting the clergy from Sussex to introduce the Third Edition of the Pastoral Plan which will be publishes on January 2^nd..We have to assemble at the Amex. Surrey Clergy will be gathering later in the week. We have to prepare for the future disposition of the Church of Arundel and Brighton. Keep us in your prayers.

Mass Schedule

• Second Sunday of Advent. Sunday Mass 10am
• Wednesday St Lucy. Mass 9.30am Int. Kitty Tucker RIP
• Friday Advent Mass 9.30am Holy Souls (wall box)
• Saturday HMP Lewes. Mass 8.30am
• Third Sunday of Advent Sunday Mass 10am

Hear The Angels Cry

Bethlehem will be quieter this Year due to the war affecting Gaza and the West Bank. As part of your praying for peace you may wish to view Pope Francis’s comments and accompanying video.

Carol Service

Next Sunday at 6pm there will be a Carol Service In St Mary’s Church ,led by singers from St Thomas More’s and St Mary’s, followed by seasonal refreshment in the Hall. All are welcome

More Carols

On Friday, Key Stage 2 Children from St Bernadette’s will have a Carol Service in St Mary’s with Parents. The School is then on holiday until January 3^rd 2024

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Come prepare the way of the Lord
Open wide the gates of your heart
For the Saviour comes
And all will see the salvation of God.

Advent will seem very short this Year because Christmas Day falls on a Monday.

It is a time then, to prepare spiritually with some prayer, reflection and participating in the INVITED MISSION.

There will be opportunities to avail yourself of the Sacrament of God’s Love and Forgiveness with an Advent Confession. Remember one of the features is to help us develop our Christian Commitment.

Bishop Richard reminds us how when we pray, we express of longing and waiting for Christ- “as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ” followed by our Acclamation “For the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory are yours…” Recall that how we pray is a statement of our belief.

 

INVITED THE DIOCESAN MISSION FOR ADVENT

Episode One -The Incarnation is available now with its accompanying video. Episode 2 is now with us.

You can watch the videos on YouTube and on Vimeo.

 

USEFUL WEBINARS You will also find 3 videos about Finances, Health and Safety and Gift Aid – from meetings with Parish responsibles.

The annual inspection of the Lightning Conductor has just taken place -£280.

Mass Schedule

• First Sunday of Advent Mass 10am
• Wednesday Advent Mass 9,30am Int .for the Higgins Family
• Friday December 8^th The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mass 9.30am
• Second Sunday of Advent Mass 10.00am

The Sacrament of Reconciliation with individual confession

Saturday 11am

Carol Service in St Mary’s

Sunday 17^th December 6pm.

Pope Francis

Because of a Lung Infection he was unable to travel to Dubai for COP 28. We pray for his recovery and in thanksgiving for his teaching on Care for our Common Home. He urges us to pray for peace in the Holy Land and especially for the population suffering hardship.

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We shall stay awake,
And pray at all times.
Ready to welcome Christ,
The Prince of Justice
We shall set aside,
All fears and worries
Ready to welcome Christ,
The Prince of Peace.

 

This Sunday is the last in the Church’s Year and ends with the reading of St Matthew’s Gospel which portrays the way to enter the Kingdom. We have a picture of the Last Judgement and our preparedness to be admitted. Jesus has to present to his Father ” a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace “

Pastoral Letter

Invited – The Diocesan Mission

Do sign up for the resources which can be found here.

Mass Schedule

• Christ the King .Sunday Mass 10am Intention for the people of the Parish
• Wednesday Weekday Mass 9.30am-34^th Week in OT. Int. November Holy Souls (wall box)
• Friday. Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart 9.30am Int. Alicia Cavallo (E.Higgins)
• Sunday 3^rd December FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Mass 10am

Advent Wreath

Any Volunteers to add evergreen/holly/ivy to the Advent Candle stand. Saturday 11am ?

Thank You

To Mike Mason and Jim Pal for tidying up the Courtyard

Front Doors

The usual left side door is closed after one of the doors was forced. Please use the right hand side set and push the marked door.

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From heaven you came, helpless babe
entered our world, your glory veiled,
not to be served but to serve
and give your life that we might live.
This is our God the Servant King
he calls us all to follow him
to bring our lives as a daily offering
of worship to the Servant King.

Hymn no. 267

This Sunday is described as the World Day of the Poor with a message from Pope Francis based on the theme “Do not turn your face away from anyone who is poor” – from the Book of Tobit, chapter 4; verse 7. He writes “a great river of poverty is traversing our cities and swelling to the point of overflowing; it seems to overwhelm us, so great are the needs of our brothers and sisters who plead for our help, support and solidarity.” You can read more the Message and other material here.

Bishop Richard

Along with other Bishops of England and Wales he has been attending the Autumn Conference in Leeds. They have agreed a number of Resolutions relating to present wars and the ongoing Synod on synodality. To keep up to date read the report here.

Invited – The Diocesan Mission

Commencing soon. You can join by going here.

Mass Schedule

• 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Sunday Mass 10am
• Wednesday St. Cecilia. Mass .9.30am Int. Robert Esser Rip (J.C.)
• Friday The Martyrs of Vietnam. Mass 9.30am Int. for Millie Stoner
• Christ the King. Sunday Mass 10am

Arundel Cathedral

The annual retiring collection for the maintenance of the Mother Church of the Diocese will be held this Sunday. If you have never been there do explore it virtually here.

Fr. Gerald Vann RIP

The Funeral Mass for Fr Gerry Vann takes place this Thursday at St John the Evangelist Church, Horsham at 1pm. He served as Assistant Priest at St Mary’s from 1966 and according to the Registers conducted Baptisms and Weddings until 1971 in St Thomas More’s.

Rest In Peace

Lord be good to them and show them all your love.
Lord be kind to them and grant the peace above,
Lord be gracious to them for the good that they have done,
Lord, may we meet again at last when heaven’s crown’s been won.

In different ways but always with emotion we remember those who died in World Wars and subsequent conflicts. War medals are worn with great pride and Commonwealth graves -such as those in Bear Road Cemetery and Northern France and Belgium are visited and tended with respect. This Year our minds are filled with the urgency of peace in the light of conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine. As we commenced November, we began with our prayers for family members and friends who have died and at the insistence of Pope Francis let us pray for peace each day.

Invited Mission

The Advent Session of the Diocesan Mission approaches. Do read how each one can be involved and sign up for the 4 accompanying films. Please visit the diocesan website for further details here.

Mass Schedule

• Sunday 12th Nov 10 am – for those who have died in war
• Wednesday 15th Nov 8 am – St Albert the Great
• Friday 17th Nov 9:30 am – St Edmund of Abingdon
• Sunday 19th Nov 10 am – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

November Mass for Deceased Clergy of the Deanery

The November Mass for the deceased Priests and Deacons who have served in the Parishes of the Brighton and Hove Deanery will be celebrated on Thursday evening at 6pm in St John the Baptist Church, Kemp Town. We will remember Fr Peter Rogers. Fr Gerry Vann and Deacon Ivor Pelling among others.

Clergy Deanery Meeting

The monthly Deanery Meeting is on Tuesday discussing the future of Brighton and Hove Parishes.

Diocesan Vacancies

• Education Officer (Part Time) for admissions and place planning
• Communications Professional (Part Time)

Please click here for more details

Abide with me,

Fast falls the eventide,

The darkness deepens,

Lord with me abide.

When other helpers fail,

and comforts flee,

help of the helpless

O abide with me!

Now we are in November and have celebrated All Saints Day and also the following Day the commemoration of all the Faithful Departed there is the distinct feeling that we are coming towards the culmination of the Church’s Year. The month of November is marked by remembrance of those who have died. We offer a Mass for our deceased Family members ,we mark Remembrance Sunday, and Catholic Organisations have a Requiem Mass for deceased members, there is a Deanery Mass on Thursday 18^th at 6pm in St john the Baptist Church for deceased Priests and Deacons who have served the local Parishes including Fr Gerald Vann who has Just died. He served our Parish in early days, Fr Peter Rogers, first PP, Fr Edward Fooks who built our Church and Deacon Ivor Pelling, along with others from neighbouring Parishes. We pray for those parishioners who have died since last November. May they rise in glory.

Invited

As a response to All Saints Day when we reflected on our efforts to live lives of holiness , the next phase of the Diocesan Mission is nearly with us. Please read the following item from the diocesan newsletter:

Have you signed up to our Invited Mission beginning Monday 27 November? The first of our Invited films launches later this month, accompanied by a range of spiritually enriching, thought-provoking resources. To find out how your parish can get involved click here. To sign up to receive Invited films emailed directly to your inbox click here. To join an online diocesan Invited group click here. Our Formation Team can’t wait to welcome new and existing Invited family members to this year’s Invited programme!

The Synod on Synodality

There is a summary of the first part of the Synod which can be read here. There is also a Report of the Proposals coming fro the participants which runs to 40 pages. You may wish to read it over an extended period of time.

Blessing of Graves

Today (Sunday 5th November) There will be priests on hand to bless the graves of family members

Hove/Portslade/Southwick Cemeteries 2pm

Lawn Memorial 3pm

Bear Road 3pm Middle to Top

Brighton and Preston 2:20pm Hartington Road – by Old Chapel

Mass Schedule

• 31^st Sunday in Ordinary Time. Sunday Mass 10am
• Monday St Mary’s House Mass 8.15am
• Wednesday St Willibrord Mass 9.30am Int .Tom Perrin’s
• Friday St Leo the Great Mass 9.30am Int .For Hilda Searle’s deceased Family members
• 32^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Retired Priests’ Fund

This Sunday there is a Second Collection to assist with the accommodation, welfare and support of diocesan priests in retirement. The Card Machine is set up for this collection as well.

Lead kindly light,
Amid th’encircling gloom
Lead thou me on
The night is dark,
and I am far from home,
lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet;
I do not ask to see,
The distant scene
One step enough for me.

St John Henry Newman

With the changing of the clocks there is a sense of conclusion and the commencement of new seasons. The first part of the Synod in Rome draws to a conclusion and Bishop Richard is now moving to the Diocesan Plan and its implementation. Liturgically, we celebrate All Saints and then the Faithful Departed – All Souls, and begin to draw Year A with the Gospel of St Luke to a conclusion prior to Advent. Not forgetting Flu Injection and Covid Boosters!

All Saints’ Day

Wednesday 1^st November. A Holy Day when we rejoice with those who have reached Heaven and have lived lives faithfully following the ways of the Lord. Mass is at 9.30am.

All Souls’ Day

Thursday 2^nd November when we offer Mass for those who have died that they may rest in peace. There are some envelopes for your November Masses you wish to be offered for your deceased family members and friends.

Blessing of Graves

Next Sunday 5^th November. Clergy from the Deanery will be at the Cemeteries of the City -Brighton 2.30pm, Hove 2pm.

Mass Schedule

• Sunday Mass 10am
• November 1^st All Saints. Mass 9.30am
• November 2^nd All Souls. Mass 9.30am
• Friday Weekday Mass 9.30am
• Saturday HMP Lewes Mass 8.30am

The Word of Life

The November leaflet is now available for you reflection and prayer during the month.

The Synod – The Final Week

Please click here for further details

Invited

Please click here to find our diocesan mission for the season of Advent.

Praise to God for saints and martyrs

Inspiration to us all

In the presence of our Saviour

Their example we recall,

Lives of holy contemplation

sacrifice or simple love

witnesses to truth and justice

honoured here and crowned above.

Hymn 580

“Hearts on fire. Feet on the move”. With these words Pope Francis gives the lead for World Mission Sunday. In every part of the Universal Church today is celebrated as we are reminded of solidarity with missionaries in the younger Churches developing with Schools, Clinics and Parish centres.The lived experience of the Gospel of Jesus Christ comes about through example and commitment and with persevering effort. The realisation that our own personal involvement is called for dawns gradually and Mission becomes central to who we are and what we are about. Do take time to explore the information and resources available. As someone has written, every penny, pound and prayer will help.

St Therese of Lisieux, known as a patron of the Missions, is honoured in a Letter from Pope Francis. You can read the full document here and a summary here. She is described as a Doctor of the Church – a spiritual guide with her Little Way.

Mass Schedule

• Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sunday Mass 10am
• Wednesday St Chad & Sr Cedd Mass 9.30am
• Friday Saints Simon & Jude Mass 9.30am
• Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass 10am

Friday Day of Prayer and Fasting For Peace In The Middle East

Pope Francis has asked us to observe Friday 27^th October as a Day of Prayer & Fasting for the Middle East at this time of tension and conflict.

Saint Vincent de Paul Society – A Request for Volunteers

Please read the message below. There will be a meeting in the hall on Wednesday for anyone interested.

Happy Half Term!

To all children, students, staff and parents!

Important and Timely Reminder

Please remember that the clocks go back one hour at 2am next Sunday the 29th October.

“Those sacred saints remain in perfect peace,
Which Christ confessed and walked in his ways,
They shine in bliss, which now shall never cease,
And to his name do sing eternal praise
Before his throne in white they ever stand
And carry palms of triumph in their hand.”

St Philip Howard in the Tower of London

The hostilities in the Holy Land have preoccupied the news each day this week and polarised opinions. Some information has reminded us of the History of the creation of Israel and the warring that has occurred as well as peace processes which have been attempted. Voices for prayer for peaceful resolutions have been raised and you can read what has been said by the Pope and Bishops here in England – above all for prayer peace and for the victims of violence.

The Synod on Synodality

The Synod enters its second week after hearing a contribution by an English Theologian, Anne Rowlands. She spoke to those present on the theme of COMMUNION . Not to be confused with Sacramental Holy Communion , but rather of unity in diversity. Please click here for more information.

Prisons Sunday

Our Bishop is the lead Bishop for Prisons and has spoken out on behalf of Catholics about the latest idea to rent out space in prisons abroad because UK Prisons are overcrowded. This last week we have been praying for the Prison Service, the men and women who staff the prisons, the families affected, the victims of crime and the prisoners,male and female. We think too of those Catholics who are volunteering and visiting prisons. The Catholic Charity called PACT, Prison Advice and Care Trust supports families and children. The Retiring Collection is for this Charity or you may wish to make a donation with your card.

Mission Sunday

Next Sunday is Mission Sunday with an opportunity to donate for the support of the Young Churches which are developing, Do read about them in the Magazine and in the envelopes which will be handed out.

Mass Schedule

• Sunday Mass 10am Int for the people of the Parish
• Wednesday St Luke the Evangelist Mass 9.30am
• Friday St Philip Howard Mass 9.30am
• 29^th Sunday of Ordinary Time Mass 9.30am

St Philip Howard Pilgrimage

Arundel Cathedral Sunday 22^nd October.Pontifical Mass 3pm. See Poster

Parish Insurance

2023-24 £1752.28 Thank you for your regular offerings

No eye has seen what joys the Saints obtain,
No ear hath seen what comforts are possessed,
No heart can think in what delight they reign,
Nor pen express their happy port of rest,
Where pleasure flows and grief is never seen,
Where good abounds and ill is banished clean.

St Philip Howard (composed after imprisonment in the Tower)

After a peaceful and prayerful time on Retreat at Douai Abbey near Reading with other Priests and Deacons from the Diocese it is back to Parish life. It begins with prayers to St John Henry Newman for the Students & Staff along with the parents of the Cardinal Newman Catholic School, On Tuesday we have a Meeting of the Deanery as we consider the Church of the future, Wednesday sees me in St Bernadette’s for a meeting and then on Thursday the Clergy from Sussex have a Training Day on Safeguarding at the Amex Focus Rooms. On that day there is the Funeral and Burial of Rosaria. This week also marks the time when Parents consider applying for places in our Primary and Secondary Schools and finding Baptismal Certificates of the occasion when they came forward promising to do their best in in bringing up their children as Catholics. On Saturday I am back at HMP Lewes as the Priest whose turn it is, is bringing the Parish area of Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and Keymer into one new Parish. It is Prisons Week so please remember to pray for those who are in prison, their families and the staff. At Mass this morning, David who is having major surgery in the RSCH this week, received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Please pray for him.

The Synod in Rome

Walking together and listening to Pope Francis’ address opening the first General Congregation of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Wednesday in the Paul VI Audience Hall was followed by the interventions of the Synod’s General Secretary Cardinal Mario Grech; and the Relator General, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, who recapitulated the goals, spirit, and method of the three-year synodal process launched by the Pope in 2021. Please click here for more detail.

Climate Change

The other major item is Pope Francis’ further statement about Climate Change and the prospect for the future. As Bishop Richard reminds us, we can have a part to play in looking after our Common Home. More information can be found here.

Mass Schedule

 

Monday St John Henry Newman Mass 9.30am

Wednesday Pope St John Paul xxiii Mass 9.30am

Friday St Edward the Confessor Mass 9.30am

Saturday HMP Lewes 9.30am

Sunday 28^th In Ordinary Time Mass 10am

 

In addition to the Saints above, Thursday is the Feast of St Wilfrid, Apostle of Sussex and Secondary Patron of the Diocese. St Peter’s Hove is the venue for a Mass to honour Blessed Carlos Acutis on Thursday at 7pm at which Bishop Richard will preside. There is refreshment in the hall afterwards. All welcome.

CAFOD

You may place your saving from last Friday’s Fast Day in the marked basket or transfer them directly by card.

The Word of Life

The October leaflet to help with your prayer is now on the table in the Entrance.

Slavery on Our Doorstep

Wednesday 18^th October 6.30 – 9.00pm in the Fitzherbert Community Hub – next to St John the Baptist Church. Come and find out how modern slavery is very much here in our local area. See the poster

October – The month of The Rosary

The gladness of thy motherhood

The anguish of thy suffering

The glory now that crowns thy brow,

O virgin mother we would sing

 

Hail Blessed Mother full of joy.

In thy consent, thy visit too:

Joy in the birth of Christ on earth

Joy in him lost and found anew.