Tag: christmas

The Fourth Sunday Of Advent

Nearly there with just two days to wait. Our invitation “Come Lord Jesus come” will be met with the birth in Bethlehem of Jesus. There will be the 12 Days of Christmas to celebrate. The Creed reminds us of the meaning of the feast – unlike the thin and dim media statements “this is Christmas” from November onwards. “I believe in the only begotten Son of God…God from God, Light from Light… incarnate of the Virgin Mary”. At the crib at home and in the church – wonder, pray and be filled with joy.

Archbishop Elect Of Westminster

A surprise this Friday morning. Our Bishop Richard has been appointed to the Diocese of Westminster by Pope Leo. Our Prayers will be offered for him in gratitude for his ministry with us and for his new ministry with major responsibilities. Please click here for more on this story.

Bishop Ricard’s Weekly Reflection

Dear brothers and sisters,

With the focus in Advent moving, from the 17th December, to the proximate preparation for our celebration of the Lord’s birth, this Sunday’s readings focus very clearly on the Incarnation.
 
Isaiah’s message is clear: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call him Emmanuel – God-with-us. St Paul, in the first words of his letter to the Romans, is clear in his witness to the Saviour, from the House of David. 
 
Matthew’s account of the announcement of Jesus’ coming focuses on Joseph – of the House of David, and the angel’s words to this man of integrity, astounded at what he has been told, are those of Isaiah.  
 
The One who is to be born is the fulfilment of the prophecies of old, of David’s line and coming to the world in simplicity and in wonder. As we prepare in these final few days before the celebration of Christmas, may our response be that of Joseph: wonder, reflection and – now that our salvation has been won for us – obedience to the Word made flesh, God-with-us. 

With every blessing,

+ Richard

Joint Statement From Bishop Richard and Archbishop Bernard Longley

Today, 17 December, sees the beginning of the octave before Christmas, an ancient part of our liturgy, dating back to the fourth century, with a focus upon the coming of Christ the Prince of Peace at Christmas and marked by the singing of the ‘O Antiphons’ at the evening Office of Vespers.

The Christmas story gives us inspiration and hope in a world that can feel divided. We are concerned about the tensions that are growing in society and the desire by some groups to sow seeds of division within our communities. This does not reflect the spirit or message of Christmas.

From the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival,” referring to Jesus’ birth and second coming, Advent is a time of preparation. Parishes will have an Advent wreath with candles which are lit each Sunday as we approach Christmas. The candles symbolise hope, peace, joy and love. For Catholics these form the focus of our liturgy, prayer and social action. Our participation in Advent and the celebration of Christmas is our lived response in opposition to those who seek division.

Please click here to read more on this topic.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 21st December 10am
  • Monday 22nd December 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Tuesday 23rd December 9:30am
  • Wednesday 24th December 9:30am
  • Wednesday 24th December 6pm CHRISTMAS MASS WITH BLESSING OF CRIB
  • Thursday 25th December 10am CHRISTMAS DAY MASS WITH CAROLS
  • Friday 26th December 10am St Stephen’s Day
  • Saturday 27th December 8:15am St John Apostle HMP Lewes
  • Sunday 28th December 10am Holy Family
  • Monday 29th December 8:15am St Thomas Becket St Mary’s House
  • Tuesday 30th December 10am
  • Wednesday 31st December 10am
  • THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2026
  • Thursday 1st January 11am Mary, Mother of God
  • Friday 2nd January 9:30am Ss Basil and Gregory
  • Saturday 3rd January Holy Name of Jesus
  • Sunday 4th January 10am 2nd Sunday of Christmas

May I wish you joy, peace, and hope for these days of Christmas.

O come let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!

The Second Week of Advent

The progression of Advent moves on and in this second week, John the Baptist comes on the scene. He has a definite call about a change of direction, an assessment of how we reflect Christ’s ways and will. We do that by taking time to review our consciences – the capacity we have to judge right or wrong. Described like Lent as a penitential season, it provides an opportunity for us to see whether our values are in tune with the kingship of God.

Advent Calendar

Just a week late ! Here is a link to an Advent Calendar with a religious character. It is called a Wave of Hope, picking up on the Jubilee of Hope.Our Bishop provides one item for December 3rd. You can find 25 contributions here.

The Immaculate Conception of Mary

On Monday 8th December we celebrate Mary’s being chosen from her conception to become the mother of the long-awaited Saviour. For those who love the Pilgrimage to Lourdes and St Bernadette, this is a special day to pray the rosary, or to come to the 9.30 Mass and even to visit the Grotto of Lourdes by going to this link.

Bishop Richard’s Weekly Message

Dear brothers and sisters,

The Prophet Isaiah, writing some 800 years before the birth of Jesus, looks forward to a time when there will be peace and justice. His prophecy, which we hear in today’s first reading, speaks of openness to those gifts that we now recognise as the gifts of the Spirit, of mercy and justice for those who are oppressed, of total harmony for all of creation. 

In the Gospel this weekend, we find the last of all the prophets – John the Baptist – speaking out against the oppressors of his day and warning them of the coming of the Messiah, the Christ, whose message St Paul preaches to the Romans in a way that reflects the prophecy of Isaiah – for Christ has come that all may live in harmony.

At a time in our own history when we see so clearly that this message of peace and justice, of harmony between peoples and across the whole of creation – itself, God’s gift to us – is in peril, let us pray fervently for a renewed openness to the gift of peace. Let us pray for the recognition of the dignity of every person, especially on the part of all those in positions of power. May the world hear the warnings of John the Baptist and be open to the gifts of the Spirit and the peace that is Jesus’ gift to us.


With every blessing,

+ Richard

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 7th December 10am
  • Monday 8th December (The Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Virgin Mary) 8:15am St Mary’s House, 9:30am (STM)
  • Wednesday 10th December 9:30am
  • Friday 12th December 9:30am
  • Sunday 14th December (3rd Sunday of Advent) 10am

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

  • Wednesday 10th December 10:50am St Bernadette’s School (Years 4-6)
  • Friday 12th December 12:30pm – 1:30pm Cardinal Newman Catholic School
  • Saturday 13th December 12 noon to 12:30pm St Thomas More’s Church (Other times by arrangement)

Carol Service Sunday 14th December 7pm, St Mary’s Church

 Donations welcomed for St Mary’s Church roof fund. Refreshments in the Hall.

Sunday Missals

Do have a word if you wish to purchase either a Missal of Years A, B, and C or just a copy for Year A.

Requiem Mass

For Susan Cook RIP on Friday December 19th in St Mary’s 1.30pm

Prepare the way for the Lord
Make a straight path for God
Prepare the way for the lord
Wait for the Lord whose day is near.
Wait for the Lord; keep watch take heart.

Peace Sunday

The World Day of Peace is observed in England and Wales on the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Message of Pope Francis in this Jubilee develops the concepts of hope and forgiveness from which a genuine conversion of hearts at a personal, local, and international level will peace flourish.

This Sunday our hope is that a ceasefire in the Holy Land will be a step in the cessation of the destruction and violence and the restoration of peace for the people.

World Day of Peace MessageDownload

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 19th January 10am
  • Monday 20th January 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Wednesday 22nd January 9:30am (St Vincent, Deacon)
  • Friday 24th January 9:30am (St Francis de Sales)
  • Saturday 25th January 8:30am HMP Lewes
  • Sunday 26th January 10am (3rd in Ordinary Time)

This Week

  • Wednesday 22nd January Dentist
  • Thursday 23rd January 12pm Soup and Sandwich Lunch (Church Hall) – An invitation to everyone to come into our hall for lunch and meet up
  • Sunday 26th January 5pm St Mary’s Church Hall. Gathering of North Brighton parishes to begin to look to the future. Do not miss this!

The Week of Prayer For Christian Unity (18th – 25th January)

Remember to pray for Unity among all Christians our fellow Christians of All Saints, The Ascension, Westdene, The Methodists and the Elim Fountains Centre, and not forgetting spouses and neighbours. More information can be found here.

Monks in the City invite you to join them at St John the Baptist Church at 4pm on Sunday – especially this year when we celebrate 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea. During the Vespers service of hymns, psalms, readings and prayers, we will reaffirm the Nicene Creed and Bishop Lindsay Urwin will preach. Followed by light refreshments.

Pax Christi

The International Movement for Peace, based on the Gospel and inspired by faith. Our vision is of a world where people can live in peace, without fear of violence in all its forms. Our Friday self denial wall box in the Entrance will be ready to receive your gifts to assist the work of promoting Peace during 2025.

Looking Ahead

This Year The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus, Candlemas Day. February 2nd  is on a Sunday. It commences with the blessing of candles and a procession into Mass.

Thank You

To the willing hands who put away the Christmas crib and decorations.

For the healing of the nations
Lord we pray with one accord
For a just and equal sharing
Of the things that earth affords
To a life of love in action
Help us rise and pledge our word.

The Baptism Of The Lord

This feast marks the end of the Christmas Season with its feasts helping us appreciate the meaning of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem.

I hope you have been aware of Christ’s presence for us. Our families and friends, neighbours and those we have met remind us of being part of God’s family.

May I thank you for you kind greetings, gifts and the Christmas Offering – much appreciated as the sixtieth year as a priest moves into its second part.

2025 is a Holy Year in which the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ will be celebrated with pilgrimages of all kinds – Rome, Walsingham, Lourdes, Arundel, events and reflection on the virtue of Hope.

We will also be remembering the Church of Arundel and Brighton’s 60 years of existence. And the gradual implementation of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan.

Bishop Richard’s Pastoral Letter

6780ddfb88f4ba76938fa89b_Pastoral Letter – 12th January 2025 – Feast of the Baptism of the LordDownload

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 12th January 10am The Baptism Of The Lord
  • Monday 13th January 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Wednesday 15th January 9:30am (Int. Theresa and Patrick)
  • Friday 17th January 9:30am St Anthony (Abbot) (int. Gordon Cropp)
  • Sunday 19th January 10am

Invitation

Soup and sandwich lunch onThursday 23rd January at 12pm. Do come along to our church hall.

North Brighton Parishes General Meeting

Sunday 26th January at St Mary’s Hall at 5pm. Discover our future together in faith. All are welcome to attend.

Ordinary Time

After this Sunday we advance to Ordinary Time. Week one. Sunday Lectionary Year C.

See Christ who on the river's shore
With John the Baptist stood
His secret in the name he bore
The Holy Lamb of God

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Are we there yet ? Not quite -but nearly. Two expectant Mothers meet and share their joy at what is soon to happen. One of the unborn is kicking in the womb waiting to come into the light. Elizabeth’s words of greeting  are repeated every time we address Mary -Blessed art  thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Say those words with meaning.

The Advent Carol Service

This Sunday in St Mary’s Church 6pm with singers from the two parishes, readers and your presence.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 22nd December 10am Fourth Sunday of Advent
  • Monday 23rd December 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Tuesday 24th December 9:30am Christmas Eve Mass
  • The Nativity Of The Lord
  • Tuesday 24th December 6pm First Mass of Christmas
  • Wednesday 25th December 10am Christmas Day Mass
  • Thursday 26th December 10am St Stephen’s Day
  • Friday 27th December 10am St John the Apostle and Evangelist
  • Saturday 28th December 10am Holy Innocents
  • Sunday 29th December 10am Holy Family
  • Monday 30th December 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Tuesday 31st December 10am Sixth Day of Christmas
  • The Year of Our Lord 2025 The Jubilee Year
  • Wednesday 1st January 11am Mary, Mother of God
  • Friday 3rd January 10am The Most Holy Name of Jesus
  • Sunday 5th January 10am The Epiphany of The Lord

The Christmas Crib

During the Days and Feast of Christmas the cribs in the church remind us of the scene in Bethlehem with the birth of the child who is to become the Saviour. Take time to reflect on who was there, who came to visit and the promises which had been kept.

The Catholic Children’s Society

By tradition your gifts at the crib are for the Crisis Fund for A&B which the Society has for families in difficulty.

The Diocesan Directory 2025

Copies are available at £5 each.

Jubilee Year – Pilgrims of Hope

Pope Francis has decided that 2025 will be a year of Jubilee – something which happens every 25 years – with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope”. The Jubilee will offer people across our global family of faith an important opportunity to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. In order for everyone to share in the celebration of the Holy Year, the following diocesan churches have been designated as special places of pilgrimage, where Holy Year Indulgences may be gained: Read more here.

To All Parishioners,

May I wish you joy at the birth of Jesus and peace for you and yours.

Fr John

Rejoice in the Lord always!

This Sunday takes its name “Gaudete Sunday” from those words – REJOICE! Joy comes from the virtue of Hope and from a deep trust in the promises and presence of God. At this stage of Advent we have the opportunity to relish, appreciate and enjoy how God speaks to us through the words of scripture and his Word who is Life. In less than ten days our Advent waiting and preparation will come to an end with the Feast ahead. “Joy is not selfish – it flows outward through generosity and kindness to others.”

Greater Advent

A description of the last days of Advent on which in the Prayer of the Church there is an invitation to God with a sense of longing.

December 17th – 24th. The titles of the coming God are proclaimed

O Wisdom, O Adonai & Ruler, O Root of Jesse, O Key of David, O Emmanuel. The second Preface of Advent is prayed during this last week and expresses the feelings of the time “the Virgin Mother longed for him with love beyond all telling”.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 15th December 10am 3rd Sunday in Advent
  • Monday 16th December 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Wednesday 18th December 9:30am Advent Weekday Mass
  • Friday 20th December 9:30am Advent Weekday Mass
  • Saturday 21st December 8:30am HMP Lewes
  • Sunday 22nd December 10am 4th Sunday in Advent

Christmas Masses

  • Tuesday 24th December 6pm The First Mass of Christmas
  • Wednesday 25th December 10am Christmas Mass

Thank You!

To the team who worked so hard to prepare our church for our Christmastide celebrations. Not a cobweb, sweet paper or leaf in sight. Well done!

Carol Services

  • Thursday 19th December 1:45pm St Bernadette’s (Years 3 – 6 and parents) at St Mary’s Church
  • Sunday 22nd December 6pm St Mary’s Church – with singers from both parishes. Retiring collection for St Mary’s Meals and Martlets Hospice. Come along and sing!

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

After Mass this Sunday and at other times by arrangement. Please call 01273 563017.

Ah! Lord how shall I meet thee
How welcome thee aright?
All nations long to greet thee
My hope, my sole delight.

The Second Week Of Advent

Prepare The Way Of The Lord

A timely message as we move into the second week of Advent. An encouragement to put in the effort to take stock of our relationship with Jesus Christ and the ways we mark it – by prayer, by the Sacrament of reconciliation with an examination of our conscience, by reflecting on the words of Scripture, and by making sure our hearts are ready. Yes this is what the Season of Advent is about!

The Immaculate Conception Of Mary

This year December 8th falls on an Advent Sunday and so the Solemnity moves to Monday. We will be celebrating this with Mass at 10am. It is a reminder of how Mary was chosen to be the Mother of the Saviour. The Preface of the Mass sums up how she was prepared as a “model of holiness”. Remember how we address Mary as “full of grace”.

Notre Dame

Paris has been celebrating the reopening of the Cathedral damaged by fire five years ago. Many celebrities will be present at the opening and the Catholics of the Archdiocese will rejoice that they can participate in worship there once again in the Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Paris. How many observers and future tourists I wonder will realise that the oft repeated title means that it is dedicated to OUR LADY?

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 8th December 10am 2nd Sunday of Advent
  • Monday 9th December 10am The Immaculate Conception of Mary
  • Wednesday 11th December 9:30am Advent Mass
  • Friday 13th December 9:30am Advent Mass
  • Sunday 15th December 10am 3rd Sunday of Advent

The Word Who Is Life

Another step forward for the Parishes of Brighton and Hove took place on November 29th .  The Paper presented by Canon David Parmiter has been on the Noticeboard and is now available to read below:

role of the Moderator – Handout Nov 2024Download

What Was In The Box?

Readers of the Vatican News will have read of a Ceremony in preparation for the Jubilee Year. It centered on the Door of St Peter’s which was sealed up 25 years ago at the end of the last Jubilee Year. It began with breaking out the sealing and the retrieval of a box embedded in the back of the door. Inside the box are the keys to the Holy Door which will be opened by Pope Francis to inaugurate the Jubilee Year  of 2025.

Advent Carol Service

In St Mary’s on Sunday  December 22nd at 6pm.

In Memory of John Mason RIP the retiring collection will be shared by Mary’s Meals and the Martlets Hospice. See the poster for details

St Lucy

A Martyr, one of the fifteen mentioned in Eucharistic Prayer 1. Revered in Sweden as an image of light and celebrated by a procession of of young women with circlets of candles on their heads (not to be imitated H&S)

Remember

We are now Reading Cycle C of the Sunday Lectionary.

On Jordan's Bank, the Baptist's cry
Announces that the lord is nigh
Awake and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings of the King of kings.

Advent 2024

Commencing in October we have been bombarded with statements such as “This is…” This may be described as ADVERTS. On the other hand, what we now experience is a time of patient  and hopeful waiting to prepare for the main event – the The Birth of The Promised One and our celebration of that great moment, – called ADVENT.

This is marked by different signs – purple vestments, a new liturgical year with St Luke’s Gospel -Year C-the lighting of an Advent candle , some restraint,-no Gloria – and the opening of the new Lectionary to listen to the Prophets telling us of a Saviour, judging the “signs of the times”, we are encouraged to “straighten up, raise our heads, because your redemption is near at hand!”

The Assisted Dying Bill (Second Reading)

Thank you for making your views known . Before it can become Law there will be further opportunities to express belief in the value and dignity of human life.

Statement from the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales

Following the decision of MPs to vote in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at the Second Reading today (29 November), Bishop John Sherrington, Lead Bishop for Life Issues, said:

“We are disappointed that MPs have voted in favour of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill progressing through parliament. We believe that this bill is flawed in principle and also contains particular clauses that are of concern. We ask the Catholic community to pray that members of parliament will have the wisdom to reject this bill at a later stage in its progress.

“In addition to being opposed to the principle of assisted suicide, we are particularly concerned with clauses in the bill that prevent doctors from properly exercising conscientious objection, provide inadequate protection to hospices and care homes that do not wish to participate in assisted suicide and allow doctors to initiate conversations about assisted suicide. We ask that these voices be heard in the next stages of the Bill to strengthen the deep concerns about this proposed legislation.

“We have expressed the view, during this debate, that genuine compassion involves walking with those who need care, especially during sickness, disability and old age. The vocation to care is at the heart of the lives of so many people who look after their loved ones and is the sign of a truly compassionate society. It is essential that we nurture and renew the innate call that many people have to compassionately care for others.

“It remains the case that improving the quality and availability of palliative care offers the best pathway to reducing suffering at the end of life. We will continue to advocate for this and support those who work tirelessly to care for the dying in our hospices, hospitals and care homes.”

A Statement from Bishop Richard

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

In the wake of the vote in Parliament earlier today, in favour of the “Assisted Dying Bill”, may I take this opportunity thank all those who have written to MPs in recent weeks, alerting them to the dangers inherent in a vote in favour of the Bill, calling for increased levels of support for resources for palliative care, and for protection for the dignity of every person, at every stage in life.

The passing of this Bill represents a significant and very sad moment in the history of this country, and I ask you all to continue your prayers for those in government. As the statement from the Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales states, this Bill is flawed in principle.

There is much that we can do before this Bill becomes law and continuing the call for compassion, proper availability and resourcing for palliative care, proper provision for conscientious objection for medical professionals, and protection for hospices and care homes, will be vital in the months ahead.

Let us keep in prayer all those who will be already feeling fearful as a result of this vote, their loved ones, and all who care for them.

Yours in Christ,

+Richard

New Sunday Missals

The missals which have been ordered have now arrived and are available for collection.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 1st December 10am 1st Sunday of Advent
  • Monday 2nd December 8:15am Weekday Advent Mass St Mary’s House
  • Wednesday 4th December 9:30am Weekday Advent Mass
  • Friday 6th December 9:30am Weekday Advent Mass
  • Sunday 8th December 10am 2nd Sunday of Advent

The Word of Life

The leaflet for December is now in the entrance for you to help in your prayerful reflection on a verse from Scripture during Advent.

The New Lectionaries

The four lectionaries will be blessed at our Sunday Mass.

The translation of the Bible is called the ESV. CE -the English Standard Version – Catholic Edition – i.e. including the Old Testament Books not included by Protestants in the main parts of their Bibles. The Book of Psalms, 150 of them, is described as the Abbey Psalter.

Leaky Flat Roof Areas

Apologies that there is a leak in the Day Chapel dripping on the edge of the altar cloth, in the corner near Our Lady’s statue and in two other places.

The Pastoral Plan

A meeting was held last Thursday at which the Moderator of the future Parish of Brighton and Hove presented ad description of the role. You can read the text on the noticeboard.


Hark, the glad sound : the Saviour comes
The Saviour promised long:
Let every heart prepare a throne
And every voice a song.