This weekend we celebrate our parish feast day in our worship and gathering

When our newly built Church was opened in July 1963 Fr Edward Fooks PP of St Mary’s requested it be given the Dedication of St Thomas More. Martyr and Lord Chancellor of England . who was executed on Tower Hill in 1535 on July 6^th. Annually we are ordered to celebrate on a Sunday Mass near to that date.His exceptional witness to the Catholic Faith as a member of the Lay Faithful and his devotion to the Eucharist inspires us in our belonging and membership of Christ’s Church.

We offer our prayer for those who have gone before us enabling us to worship here in our church. The 12 Consecration stones anointed with Chrism and the Altar consecrated by Bishop Cormac remind us that the physical buildings reflect the spiritual reality of the People of the Parish , Baptised and Confirmed and daily witnessing to our Faith.

Our scripture reminds us that we are living stones making up the Body of Christ

Bishop Richard

We pray for him on the 3rd July as he celebrates his ruby jubilee of his priestly ordination.

Growing Up Catholic

Children from Years 3 & 4 will be at Mass next Sunday to receive Jesus in Holy Communion as they participate for the first time in Mass in the fullest way. Let us all remember our joyful response to the great Gift for our spiritual nourishment and deepening of our relationship with Our Lord.

Ordination to the Priesthood

We rejoice with Deacon Nick Harden and Family as he is Ordained in Arundel Cathedral by Bishop Richard for service in the Diocese.

Pope Francis July Prayer Intention for the Elderly

As the Church gears up to celebrate the 2nd World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on 24 July, Pope Francis is calling on Catholics to pray throughout the month for the elderly.

His July prayer request comes on the heels of last month’s intention for families, and was accompanied by The Pope Video.

“We cannot speak about family without talking about the importance of the elderly among us,” said the Pope in the video, tying the two prayer intentions together.

He noted that never before in human history have there been so many elderly people, saying “we don’t quite know how to live this new stage of life: there are many plans for assistance for the old age, but few projects for existence.” Read more here

The Synod – The National Synthesis Document

This is now available to read reflecting views from around the Diocese. It runs to 27 pages.

The Relics of Saint Bernadette

These will be visiting our diocese in mid-October.

Cardinal Newman Catholic School – Newman Festival

This is taking place next Saturday 9th July from 12 Noon until 4pm. See poster in church for further details.

Mass Schedule

• Sunday 3 July 10am Patronal Feast Mass (People of the parish)
• Wednesday 6 July 9:30am St Maria Goretti
• Friday 8 July 9:30am Weekday Mass
• Sunday 10 July 10am 15th in Ordinary Time

A Prayer of St Thomas More

“Give me good Lord, a humble, lowly, quiet, peaceable, patient, charitable, kind, tender mind, with all my words and all my thoughts, to have a taste of Thy Holy, Blessed Spirit.”

Patronal Feast

Next Sunday we will be celebrating the Anniversary of the Dedication and Consecration of St Thomas More’s Church and Parish. After Mass you are invited to come into the Hall for a drink and an opportunity to meet up.

Celebrating Mass with Holy Communion for the first time

Sunday 10^th July at the 10am Mass

Mass Schedule

• Sunday 26th June 10am – 13th Sunday Ordinary Time Year C
• Tuesday 28th June 9.30am St Irenaeus
• Wednesday 29th June St Peter and St Paul (Holyday) Masses at 10am and 7.30pm
• Friday 1st July 9.30am Anniversary of the cathedral church
• Sunday 3rd July Patronal Feast day Mass 10am

Saint Peter and St Paul

Please note this is a holyday when Catholics are expected to attend Mass. The morning Mass will be at 10am and the evening Mass at 7.30pm

World Meeting of Families

This meeting continues this week. For more information click here.

The Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS)

A new Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS) course starts soon. The qualification is ideally suited to catechists, teachers, readers, extra-ordinary ministers of the Eucharist, governors, parents and grandparents, in fact, anyone and everyone interested in sharing or discovering more about their faith. The next intake will begin studying this Autumn. For more information, please contact our Formation Adviser, Jon Harman;
E: jon.harman@abdiocese.org.uk

Life and Death Issues

Following the day for life here are two items of concern: Update from the Bishops’ Conference – please click here. Assisted Suicide – actions of pressure groups. Please click here for further details.

Contactless Giving

The Pad is now set up to receive donations for Second Collections. This week is when throughout the Universal Church there is the Peters Pence collection. For further information on 30th June at 12 noon there is a Zoom Instruction from Dona about its use. Please click here.

For by your providence the blessed Apostles ,Peter and Paul ,bring us joy,
Peter foremost in confessing the faith
Paul, its outstanding preacher.
                                                 
From the Preface

Corpus et Sanguinis Christi -The Body and Blood of Christ – celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday or on the following Sunday is a time to prolong our worship of Christ in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. For us it is when the Paschal Mystery is celebrated – the Passion, Death and Resurrection at every Mass. Adoring Christ present is when we recall that this comes from the Sacrifice and leads to Sacramental Communion. Our prayer before the Tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved, our genuflection or bow, together when there is exposition or a Procession, our reverence, all demonstrate our faith in the Presence of Christ glorified.

In our ever deepening of our understanding of the great gift we are reminded of the dynamic of the Eucharist “that it may become..”, that we may become one body one spirit in Christ “. There is so much to discover and be enriched by as we participate in the action.

Mass Schedule

• Sunday Mass 10am – The Body and Blood of Christ
• Tuesday Mass 9.30am – St Alban (Protomartyr of England)
• Wednesday Mass 9.30am – St John Fisher and St Thomas More
• Friday Mass 9.30am – The Sacred Heart of Jesus
• Sunday Mass 10am – 13th Sunday Ordinary Time

Growing Up Catholic

Years 3 and 4 are meeting next Sunday

St Bernadette’s Catholic School – Summer Festival

This will take place from 10.30am to 2.30pm.

Class performance, BBQ, cakes, tombola, Ice creams ,toys, Bar & lots more. Everyone welcome. Entrance from Cornwall Gardens.

Day For Life – Sunday 19th June

This year’s Day for Life will be celebrated on Sunday 19 June, the focus this year is on on valuing the elderly with the theme ‘Caring for the Older Person’. The annual Day for Life is dedicated to raising awareness of the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition. The Church teaches that life is to be nurtured from conception to natural death. In his Catechesis on Old Age, Pope Francis writes:

“The alliance between generations, which restores all ages of life to the human, is our lost gift and we have to get it back. It must be found, in this throwaway culture and in the culture of productivity… The arrogance of the time on the clock must be converted into the beauty of the rhythms of life.”

Pope Francis

More can be found here.

Hymns for Corpus et Sanguinis Christi

O salutaris Hostia

Tantum ergo

Pange lingua

Lauda Jerusalem

Panis Angelicus

Ave verum corpus natum

Adoro te devote

Lourdes and The Blessed Sacrament

Join The Blessed Sacrament each day from Lourdes at 4pm. Please click here.

O Sacrum Convivium

O Sacred banquet in which Christ is received.

The memory of the passion is recalled

And we have the pledge of eternal life.

“At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors” (Hebrews 1:1) Remember that our prayer in worship is always expressed in a trinitarian way e.g. the sign of the cross, the ending of prayers, the doxologies, the formula of baptism and the sacraments. Worship is the dialogue of God with man through Christ in the Holy Spirit.

Annual Mission Appeal

Every Year one of the Missionary Congregations takes it in turn to make an Appeal for the Missions. In A&B this Year it is one of the Sisters’ Congregations called the Daughters of Divine Love founded in Nigeria. We have in prayer the victims of the shootings last Sunday in one of the Churches in Nigeria. Their aim is to serve the less privileged and vulnerable children. There will be a basket for a collection and a section for contactless giving.

Platinum Jubilee Celebrations

Thank you to John Mason and his team who put on a drinks reception in our hall to toast Her Majesty.

Growing up Catholic

Years 3 & 4 meet this Sunday and next as their full participation in Sunday Mass comes closer. Keep them in your prayers.

100 +

Thank you for the Cheque from the 100+ club which goes to the repair of the Hall Roof. New members are welcomed with an annual subscription of £30.

St Bernadette’s Summer Festival

Saturday 25th June. Hopefully more details next week

Mass Schedule

• Trinity Sunday Mass 10am
• Monday St Anthony of Padua Mass 9:30am
• Thursday Mass for Year 7 (CNCS)
• Friday Mass 9:30am
• Sunday The Body and Blood of Christ Mass 10am

Corpus Christi in Arundel

Mass at the Cathedral Thursday 16th June 5:30pm followed by procession to the castle. The carpet of flowers will be on show Wednesday and Thursday .

Through Him, and with Him, and in Him,
O God, almighty Father,
In the unity of the Holy Spirit,
All glory and honour is yours,
For every and ever.
Amen.

The doxology at the end of every Eucharistic Prayer

Eastertide concludes with the celebration of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, the Church’s foundation, and the beginning of the mission to all nations. We invite the Holy Spirit to come anew into our souls to be present with the gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and reverence. And with fruits of joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Come, Holy Spirit and enliven our faith!

The Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth is a time of rejoicing and giving thanks for her reign distinguished by her service. God save the Queen! We will recognise this in our Mass and the celebration afterwards as we raise a glass to honour her.

Growing Up Catholic

The group for Years 3 and 4 will meet next Sunday as we deepen our understanding of Holy Mass and our part in celebrating it.

Saint Bernadette’s Summer Festival

This takes place on Saturday 25th June. Do come along!

Mass Schedule

• Pentecost Sunday Mass 10am In thanksgiving for HM The Queen
• Tuesday Mass 9.30am (Fred Marchant RIP – foundation Mass)
• Wednesday Mass 9.30am
• Thursday Arundel Cathedral Mass for priests and jubilarians
• Friday Mass 9.30am
• Saturday Mass HMP Lewes 8.30am
• Sunday Mass Holy Trinity 10am

Annual Mission Appeal

This will take place next Sunday by the missionary sisters, The Daughters of Divine Love.

Contactless Giving

Enter the amount you are giving and tap your card. You can also use gift aid by following the instructions on the screen.

The Word of Life and Mission Today (June)

Copies of these publications are available for you take home and read.

Whitsun

Spirit hovering o'er the waters
When the world from chaos begun
Living Sprit recreate us
Come, restore our hearts with life!
Veni, veni, Sancte Spiritus

Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth

The days of jubilee will be joyful ones for so many with holiday time included. I am sure you will want to join in the service of thanksgiving in St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday. On Sunday in all Catholic churches we will be offering a Mass of thanksgiving with a special prayer. This will be followed by a gathering at which there will be a toast to Her Majesty.

Preparing for Pentecost

The days running up to the day are ones of invitation and preparation – Come, Holy Spirit fill our hearts and renew us!

Invited

The diocese has prepared items for each day of the novena. You can receive them daily – find out more here.

World Communications Day

Pope Francis has written to all of us taking the theme “listening with the ear of the heart “ you can read this here. There is a retiring collection to support the Catholic Communications Network in our country.

St Bernadette’s School

The annual Summer Festival this year will take place on Saturday June 25th – entrance from Cornwall Gardens. All are welcome.

Mass Schedule

• Seventh Sunday of Easter Mass 10am
• Tuesday. The Visitation of Our Lady 9.30am
• Wednesday. St Justin 9.30am
• Friday St Charles and Companions 9.30am
• Pentecost Sunday Mass 10am

Come, Holy Spirit, come !
Inflame our souls with love
Transforming every heart and home
With wisdom from above.

Ascension Thursday

This Thursday 26^th May -celebrating 40 days after Easter the return of Jesus to be at the Father’s right hand and to be in glory. A Holyday with 2 Masses – 9.30am  and in the Evening at 7.30pm.

June 2nd – The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

On the Sunday at Mass there will be a Bidding Prayer and after Communion, prayers in thanksgiving together with the National Anthem. This will be followed by the loyal toast in the hall.

Invited

Season 2 continues and there is also a Novena we can follow leading to Pentecost Sunday – click here for further details.

A New Saint

Bishop Paul Swarbrick, Bishop of Lancaster, introduces us to Charles de Foucauld, a former soldier and Trappist who will be canonised by Pope Francis on Sunday 15 May 2022. Click here to find out more.

Prayer for the Eastern Catholic Church

This Sunday we are invited to pray for the Eastern Rite Churches. These are Churches of Eastern Rite Catholics in Union with the Pope, Bishop of Rome. Many Ukrainians belong to the Ukrainian Catholic Church and Parents will have seen these Churches mentioned in the Criteria for school admissions. They are to be distinguished from Orthodox Christians who are not in communion with the Pope – e.g. Greek, Coptic, Russian Orthodox.

World Communications Day

Next Sunday with second collection.

100+ Draw

Sunday June 2nd. Annual subscription £30

Contactless Giving

John Mason will be on hand to introduce you to the very simple system with your card.

Growing Up Catholic

Saturday 28th May 11:30am The Sacrament of Reconciliation – Years 3&4

Mass Schedule

• Sixth Sunday of Easter – Mass 10am – int. for the people of the parish & the members of The Eastern Catholic Church
• Monday of Eastertide Mass 9.30am – The Holy Souls
• (Tuesday Arundel Cathedral Mass in thanksgiving for St Charles de Foucauld)
• Wednesday of Eastertide St Bede the Venerable – Mass 9.30am
• Ascension Thursday – Holyday Masses at 9.30am (int Wallie Moore RIP) & 7.30pm (int for the people of the parish)
• Friday Feast of St Augustine of Canterbury Mass 9.30am intention Mrs Higgins
• Seventh Sunday of Easter Mass 10am (World Communications Day)

Mary’s Month

Daily, daily sing to Mary

Sing, my soul, her praises due

All her feasts her actions worship

With the hearts devotion true

Lost in wondering contemplation

Be her majesty confessed

Call her Mother , call her Virgin

Happy Virgin, Mother blest.

Returning to Mass at Pentecost

An invitation from the Bishops of England and Wales

This is the bread come down from heaven (John 6:58)

A beautiful hallmark of the Catholic faith is the profound desire to participate in the Holy Mass and share in the Eucharist. We do so with deep gratitude and joy. The Eucharist gives the Church her identity – “The Eucharist makes the Church, and the Church makes the Eucharist.” It enables us to worship Almighty God, to support each other on our journey of faith, and to be a visible sign of faith in the world. This hallmark is supported and strengthened by the precept that our fundamental Christian duty is to worship God by participating in the celebration of Mass. Attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days is the greatest of all privileges, sometimes referred to as “the Sunday Obligation.”

To continue reading please click here.

Mission Today

Please take a copy of “Missio” to keep abreast of the missionary activity in the world. The beatification of Pauline Jaricot who created the APF (now known as Missio) takes place next Sunday in Lyon.

There are some red boxes and cards detailing ways of support in the entrance of the church. Other details can be found here.

This Sunday the second collection is for the missionary endeavour of the diocese and our connection with the diocese of Chulucanas in Peru.

Growing Up Catholic

The group of Years 3 & 4 meet this Sunday and are preparing for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The 100 +

The 100+ is inviting membership with an annual fee of £30. The next draw will be on Pentecost Sunday with an opportunity to toast The Queen.

Mass Schedule

• Fifth Sunday of Easter – Sunday Mass 10am (int People of the parish)
• Tuesday – Easter weekday Mass 9.30am (int Survivors of abuse)
• Wednesday – Easter weekday Mass 9.30am Monica and Lucas Perieira
• Friday – Easter weekday Mass 9.30am Fr Gareth Jenkins SMA on his Golden Jubilee of Ordination
• Sixth Sunday of Easter – Sunday Mass 10am

Two New Saints

Titus Brandsma – more information can be found here.

Charles de Foucald – more information can be found here.

Mary’s Month

O Mary, when our God chose you

To bring his only Son to birth,

A new creation made in you

Gave joy to all the earth.

Good Shepherd Sunday is set aside each fourth Sunday of Easter to focus on vocations or the call to priesthood or the religious life.  Pope Francis in his message encourages members of the church to join the prayer on this day.

We are also invited in the second collection to join in the costs for the training of future priests.

Invited

The Diocesan mission continues throughout Eastertide – more information can be found out here.

Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention for May

Growing Up Catholic

We welcome nine new children as Communicating members of the Church . The Years 3 & 4 Group continue their preparation for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist. Thank you to the Year 6 Team who provided refreshments for the children after the Mass last Sunday!

Anniversary of Ordination to Priesthood

An email from Fr Garry Jenkins of the Society for African Missions reveals he is celebrating his Golden Jubilee of his Ordination next week. He has served as a Missionary in Liberia for many years. I will be offering a Mass in thanksgiving for him.

Mass Schedule

The Fourth Sunday of Easter – Mass 10am
Tuesday St John of Avila – Mass 9.30am
Wednesday Eastertide weekday – Mass 9.30am
Friday St Erconwald – Mass 9.30am
Saturday Mass – HMP Lewes
Fifth Sunday of Easter – Mass 10am

Our Lady – Queen of The May

O Mary we crown thee 
With blossoms today 
Queen of the angels 
And Queen of the May!

This Sunday we welcome nine children with their families as at Mass they receive Holy Communion for the first time. An occasion of taking another step on being a follower of Jesus. These children had commenced their preparation in 2019 before there was an unexpected break. Most are now in Year 5 upwards. The Mass will be an opportunity for us all to remember when we first welcomed Jesus as we participated in mass.
A larger group of Year 3 & 4 children continue their preparation with a meeting next Sunday 8th May.

May 1st

This is usually the feast of St Joseph the Worker. Citizens UK which has a local Group are advocating for the Real Living Wage to be paid to all  workers in the care sector – in nursing & care homes and care agencies. A Cardinal Newman Student speaks up in a video below:

Invited

The second session is underway – please click here for more information.

The Lourdes Pilgrimage

An appeal for helpers is being made – see here for further details

At The Foot Of The Cross

A monthly initiative from the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales – more details here.

Acts Of The Apostles During Easter

You can follow this daily guide by clicking on this link.

Mass Schedule

• Third Sunday of Easter Mass 10am
• Tuesday Mass 10am St Philip & James, Apostles
• Wednesday Mass 10am  The English Martyrs
• Friday Mass 10am Eastertide Weekday
• Sunday Mass 10am Fourth Sunday of Easter. Day of prayer for vocations

May Eastertide Prayer To Mary

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!

Regina Caeli