Category: Uncategorized

The Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Halfway through the year 2026, we have the longest day of the year, Father’s Day, and the Day for Life—and two days of heatwave ahead. We also have the last verses of Chapter 10 of St Matthew’s Gospel, containing the instruction of Jesus about undertaking his mission. Additionally, we wait patiently for a Bishop!

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday, 21 June, 10am – 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
  • Monday, 22 June, 8.15am – Ss. John Fisher & Thomas More (at St Mary’s House)
  • Wednesday, 24 June, 9.30am – The Birth of St John the Baptist (Intention: Hilda Searle RIP)
  • Friday, 26 June, 9.30am – Weekday Mass (Intention: Teresa & Patrick RIP [F.P])
  • Sunday, 28 June, 10am – Ss. Peter & Paul

Day for Life

Each year, there is a Day for Life celebrating the dignity of all human life. This year, the theme is “The Wonder of the Child in the Womb”.

The Bishops of the UK and Ireland have sent a message and Pope Leo has added his prayers. There is a retiring collection to assist bodies promoting protection.

The Assisted Dying Bill

As this Bill is due to return to Parliament, please read Archbishop Sherrington’s letter.

The Missions & Red Boxes

There are copies available of the Annual Report showing the results of your giving to assist the Church in developing territories. Do please read it. If you have a Red Box that needs emptying, please bring it along next Sunday. Thank you.

Our Patronal Feast

The martyred saints, Bishop John Fisher of Rochester and St Thomas More, share 22 June as a combined Feast in the National Calendar on Monday. The original Feast of St Thomas More was on 9 July, the day on which our church was opened by Bishop Cowderoy of Southwark. Each year as a community, we celebrate the nearest Sunday as our Patronal Feast.

This year, we will be doing so on Sunday, 5 July at the 10am Mass. Do come along.

Forward Looking

Events in the future are currently being advertised, including the Marriage Anniversaries Gathering, the Pilgrimage to Walsingham, and the Adoremus Day in London.

St Bernadette’s Summer Festival

Saturday, 27 June, 11am. All welcome.

On Tower Hill 22nd June 1535

"I am come here to die for Christ's Catholic Church, and I thank God."

Saint John Fisher, Cardinal Bishop of Rochester

The Eleventh Week In Ordinary Time

Green Sunday

We enter the time when we follow the Gospel of Matthew from Chapter 9 onwards, listening to the teaching and ministry of Jesus. There are just one or two Sundays when a particular feast takes precedence. It is a good time to have your Bible open at the New Testament to follow the Gospel and the context of the passages we hear, to help us take in their meaning. The green applies to the colour of the chasuble and relates, too, to the gradual development of the Gospel.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday, 14 June, 10am – 11th Sunday Mass | Intention: For the people of the Community
  • Monday, 15 June , 8.15am– St Mary’s House (St Anthony of Padua) | Intention: José Tomé Neches
  • Wednesday, 17 June, 9.30am – St Richard of Chichester Mass
  • Friday, 19 June, 9.30am– St Alban, Protomartyr of England | Intention: Ellen Margaret Mary Gordon
  • Sunday, 21 June, 10am – 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass | Day for Life

Corpus Christi

On Sunday 7 June 2026, the Feast of Corpus Christi, a procession was held through the streets of London with the Blessed Sacrament. Read more by clicking here.

Refugee Week

For those who have suffered or died and those seeking asylum. Find out more by clicking here.

The Word Of Life

The June leaflet is now available for your prayerful reflection during the month.

This Week’s Saints

St Richard of Chichester: One-time Chancellor of Oxford University, then Chancellor of the Diocese of Canterbury. He was selected as Bishop of the Diocese of Chichester, an exemplary pastoral Bishop, and Secondary Patron of our Diocese.

St Alban: A Roman soldier in the town now known as St Albans who converted to Christianity, becoming the first British Christian martyr. St Alban’s Abbey is built on the place of his martyrdom.

Our Works Of Art no.4

For this, you have to look up to discover a significant work of art: it is the dome roof. It is described as a geodesic dome, the invention of American architect Buckminster Fuller. It is able to cover a large space without internal supports, more than any other enclosure. It was constructed by four men over seven months. Each facet is six feet square. Children who visit are able to identify squares, triangles, diamonds, and crosses. Look up and wonder at the skills in designing and putting it together.

Next Sunday

The Day for Life, with a second collection.

St Richard’s Prayer

Thanks be to thee, O Lord Jesus Christ,  

For all the benefits which thou hast given us,  

For all the pains and insults which thou hast borne for us.  

O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother,  

May we know thee more clearly,  

Love thee more dearly,  

And follow thee more nearly. Amen.

The Tenth Week In Ordinary Time

Sunday – The Feast Of The Body And Blood Of Christ

This Sunday is Farmers’ Sunday, when farms will be open for people to discover how our food is grown and produced. It is to educate us as to what happens to enable people to be fed and nourished. By chance, it coincides with the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ received by us in the Eucharist – one of the Latin phrases we may know as Corpus et Sanguinis Christi. In certain areas, such as London and Arundel, there are processions of the Blessed Sacrament in which people join to witness in faith in the gift that Christ gives of himself as we recognise his presence.
Can you remember when you first became a regular Communicant enjoying the presence of Christ in Holy Communion? The first time for me was the 6th June 1946.

Bishop Paul Mason Reflects On Corpus Christi

Pope Leo’s Apostolic Journey To Spain

Follow via our Useful Websites, Vatican News and the Holy See.
Madrid, Barcelona and the Canaries.

You can follow this link by clicking here.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 7th June 10am The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ
  • Monday 8th June 8.15am St Mary’s House
  • Wednesday 10th June 9.30am Weekday (Int. Diana Wilkins RIP)
  • Friday 12th June 9.30am The Sacred Heart of Jesus (being a Solemnity, no abstinence today)
  • Saturday 13th June 8.30am HMP Lewes
  • Sunday 14th June 10am 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Clergy Conference

Monday and Tuesday

Parish Of Brighton and Hove Renewal Meeting

This Thursday 11th June 7:30pm St. Bernadette’s School.

Diocesan Pilgrimage To Lourdes – Help Needed

Our Lourdes Pilgrimage Director, Alex Manko, is appealing for help to prepare for this July’s Pilgrimage to Lourdes. Can you help the Pilgrimage by purchasing any items on the new Pilgrimage Wishlist?

Alex says: “We are incredibly grateful to our supporters for their generosity and encouragement. The pilgrimage is such a big group effort where every little counts. Whether it is PPE for use on the Jumbulance or in the Accueil Notre Dame, portable shower chairs, music stands, or prayer resources for the youth, people are again supporting each other to make their pilgrimage – thank you!” To find out more about our Pilgrimage to Lourdes, visit the diocesan website.

Our Works Of Art – Part 3

The painter and teacher, Guy Roddon, was born in London (1919–2006) and studied at Goldsmiths’ College of Art. He was on the staff of Brighton College of Art and during the war was a member of the Camouflage Corps along with other artists, first at Farnham, Surrey and then in Norwich. Portraiture was one of his interests, which included paintings of the novelist L.P. Hartley and the composer John Ireland. He was commissioned to paint the Stations of the Cross and Resurrection for St Thomas More’s, Patcham in 1963. Comments are made about the colour, the style of elongated features, the hands, and the atmosphere of suffering in the 15 stations.

Tantum Ergo Sacramentum

Come adore this wondrous presence
Bow to Christ the source of grace...

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