The Nineteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time

The breathless post-event interviews have been fascinating as the athlete expresses their joy, their thankfulness, their gratitude to family, coaches and supporting crowds at the Olympics. No doubt it will be the same in a fortnight when the Paralympics commence. What a contrast to the rest of the news, not only about prejudice but also those who have shown true respect by gathering to support and protect. Nor should we forget those who have faced aggression in all its forms, fulfilling their duty to server the community.

Our penitential rite and prayer will reflect our attitudes.

Statements Of Faith Leaders And Ecumenical Leaders

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, President of the Bishops’ Conference. has joined the Chief Rabbi, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Chief Imam and the Chairman of the Imams National Advisory Board, to speak out against the violence and rioting that has been taking place across the UK.

Please click here for further details.

Bishop Richard’s Statement

Bishop Richard’s Calls For Renewed Openness Download

Ecumenical Leaders’ Statement On Violent Protests

Please click here.

Mass Schedule

Sunday 11th August 10am – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday 12th August 8:15am St Mary’s Convent
Wednesday 14th August 9:30am – St Maximilian Kolbe
Thursday 15th August 9:30am and 7:30pm HOLYDAY – The Assumption Of Our Lady
Friday 16th August 9:30am St Stephen Of Hungary
Sunday 18th August 10am – 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday 18th August 3pm – Mass with Sacrament of Anointing – St Mary’s Church

The Word Of Life

September leaflet to help with your prayer. “Lord it is good for us to be here.” cf. The Transfiguration.

The Sacrament Of Anointing

Next Sunday with St Mary’s we will be celebrating a Mass with the Sacrament of Anointing at 3pm followed by tea. During the Lourdes pilgrimage those with health conditions, disabilities and acute illnesses are anointed as Christ is present as physician and in Holy Communion. The oil for the sacrament is one of the three blessed by the bishop at the Chrism Mass and received at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. The oil is put on the forehead and palms of the hands. Those accompanying pray with faith for those being anointed and those persons may receive the sacrament more than once. Remember that over fifty years ago at the Second Vatican Council the name of the sacrament was changed from “Unctio In Extremis”. If uncertain, have a word with Fr John.

The Assumption Of Our Lady

August 15^th is a holiday in many European Countries as holidaymakers will experience. It is an Holyday of Obligation. The Obligation is to assist at Mass and if possible, from work, We have two Masses on Thursday 9:30am and 7:30pm.

Guide me O thou great Redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land,
I am weak but thou art mighty,
Hold me with thy powerful hand,
Bread of heaven, Bread of Heaven,
Feed me till I want no more,
Feed me till want no more.

The Sixteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time

With the end of the School Year, holiday time is here and a time for a break and change of routine, hopefully without a repeat of the chaos with the outages. For Teachers and Staff of our Schools a thank you for all your commitment to the young.

The Diocesan Pilgrimage To Lourdes

Over 700 Pilgrims from the Diocese begin journeying to Lourdes on Thursday and Friday – 17 year olds from the Secondary Schools, nurses, disabled and sick people and lots of helpers. You may catch sight of them by visiting “The Sanctuary of Lourdes” via our website or the Diocesan Website. It will be the 50^th Anniversary of A&B’s Pilgrimage.

Mass Schedule

Sunday 21st July 10am 16th Sunday Ordinary Time
Monday 22nd July 8:15am St Mary’s Convent
Wednesday 24th July 11am Requiem Mass for Adela Page RIP St Mary’s Church
Friday 26th July 9:30am Ss Joachim and Anne (parents of Our Lady)
Sunday 28th July 10am 17th Sunday Ordinary Time. Day for the elderly and grandparents

Our Lady of Walsingham

Her memorial on September 24^th has now been decreed to be a liturgical Feast.

St Mary Magdalene

Monday is now her Feast Day. She is described as ‘The Apostle To The Apostles’. From the Preface:

He appeared in the garden and revealed Himself to Mary Magdalene, who had loved him in life, witnessed him dying on the Cross, sought him as he lay in the tomb, and was the first to adore him, newly risen from the dead.

Our Patronal Feast and Dedication Anniversary

Every Year around the Anniversary of St Thomas More’s Church and Parish we celebrate with a Mass of thanksgiving, remembering the Founder Priest and members who built the Church in 1963 and the comings and goings since then. We think of the benefactors who raised the funds and those who generously continue to support the Parish.

Why was it named after the Martyr, St Thomas More? Fr Edward Fooks and his brother, also a priest were sons of Arnold Fooks of the legal firm Arnold, Fooks and Chadwick who were the lawyers for the Catholic Diocese of Southwark which then covered the territory of South London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent. When the Canonisation of Thomas More and John Fisher was to take place in 1935, Mr Fooks sought permission to take his sons to Rome – they were both students for the priesthood at the time – and Bishop Amigo agreed. When Fr Fooks was Parish Priest at St Mary’s and recognised the need to build a Church for the growing areas of Patcham, Hollingbury and Westdene he requested that the new church would have the title of St Thomas More.

When Bishop Murphy O’Connor consecrated the Church on 10^th July 1983, anointing the altar with Chrism – that is why the Celebrant kisses it – Fr Fooks was present and anointed the 12-consecration points around the church. Under the Table of the Altar the Bishop inserted a relic of the Martyr St Philip Howard.

Remembrance

We remember Fr Gerry Vann RIP and Fr Peter Rogers RIP who have served this Parish and Fr John who recently passed another anniversary of priesthood on 24^th May, having been ordained in St Dominics, Waddon, Croydon, 1964.

Mass Schedule

Sunday 7 July 10am Patronal Dedication and Feast Day
Monday 8 July 8:15am St Mary’s Convent
Wednesday 10 July 9:30am Weekday Mass
Friday 12 July 9:30am Weekday Mass
Saturday 13 July 8:30am HMP Lewes

The Word of Life

The leaflet for July takes for the scripture a line from Psalm 23.

The New Lectionary

From Advent, the Scripture will be taken out of the translation known as the ESV CE -The English Standard Version, Catholic Edition. It contains those Readings omitted from some Bibles.

Thank You

To the trio, Mike Mason, John Mason and Jim Pal who weeded the courtyard and gave a ‘short back and sides’ to the driveway. Thank you!

100+ Fundraiser

The Summer Draw will take place after Mass this Sunday. Annual Subscription £30.

Sea Sunday

Next Sunday the annual appeal for Stella Maris – The Apostleship of the Sea – will have a retiring collection.

Contactless Giving

A technical problem with the Card Machine should now have been corrected. In these days when cash is not normally used it should be easier to make your offerings. Follow the instructions on the table.

Give me Thy grace to long for Thy holy Sacraments and especially to rejoice in the Presence of Thy very blessed Body, sweet Saviour Christ, in the holy sacrament of the altar and duly to thank Thee for Thy gracious visitation in it.

- From St Thomas More's 'Treatise on The Blessed Body of The Lord'

The Third Sunday of Easter

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 2^nd 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