Prisoners Sunday

It is just about 10 minutes away on a Saturday morning if the A27 is running clear. Every week, one of three priests celebrates Mass for some of the Catholic prisoners in HMP Lewes. There is one of a number of lay people who comes to play the keyboard or play the guitar to accompany the music. There will also be 4 or 5 volunteers who come in to help. The number of attendees varies from about 30 to 50. Their ages vary from 20 to 50. Prison life is regulated with various activities. For example, Catholics can sign up for a Wednesday meeting to explore the Faith.

On the occasion of visits by family members, PACT members arrange games for the children and welcome the visitors. In the A&B Diocese, there are six prisons in Surrey and Sussex.

PACT is the national Catholic prison charity — Prison Advice and Care Trust. It brings hope, dignity, and a fresh start to prisoners and their families.

Our former Bishop is the Lead Bishop for Prisons. He writes: “We will remember prisoners and their families at Mass this weekend. Prisons are in crisis, and life for prisoners and their families is challenging. Do support the work of PACT through your kind donations. Please take an envelope.”

Mass Schedule

•  Sunday, 11 October, 10am – Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time / Prisoners Sunday
•  Monday, 12 October, 8.15am – St Wilfrid, Apostle of Sussex (at St Mary’s House)
•  Wednesday, 14 October, 9.30am – St Edward the Confessor
•  Friday, 16 October, 9.30am – St Teresa of Ávila
•  Saturday, 17 October, 8.30am – HMP Lewes
•  Sunday, 18 October, 10am – World Mission Sunday

Baptisms

We welcome Isla Coulter and Edward Clark as they are baptised as members of the family of the Church.

Julian Taylor RIP

Julian died on Monday evening. We pray for the repose of his soul and for Wendy, his wife, and their family. His father, Sam, was one of the stalwart Catholics involved in the construction of our church. Julian will be remembered for many things, especially his public service as a JP and his involvement as a Governor in Catholic education in local Catholic schools: St Mary Magdalene’s, St Joseph’s, St Bernadette’s, and Newman. He was a member of the Catenians and a supporter of Sussex Cricket.

His Requiem Mass will be on Friday, 30 October. Time to be announced.

Mission Sunday

Next Sunday will be observed as World Mission Sunday.

Eucharistic Congress: Adoremus 2026

Yesterday in London, in the Cathedrals of Westminster and Southwark, there were meetings and celebrations focusing on the Eucharist. Do watch the film on devotion to the Blessed Sacrament – click here.

Episcopal Ordination

In just over a week, Fr Stephen will be ordained a Bishop. Last week, we read of the items which will be presented to him. In the third degree of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the Bishops present will lay their hands on his head as a sign of the Holy Spirit. This will be preceded by the Litany of the Saints and followed by the Prayer of Ordination, during which two Deacons will hold the Book of the Gospels over his head. Please continue your prayers for him.

Send forth, send forth your Spirit, O Lord,
To renew, renew the face of the earth.

Countdown Time

Just over two weeks to the Episcopal Ordination of our new Bishop on Monday 19th October. Bishop-elect Stephen has now made his pre-Ordination retreat and immediate preparations are being made. A few Sundays ago we thought about the role of the Bishop of the Local or Particular Church of Arundel and Brighton within the Universal Church and his being a member of the College of Bishops. The word Diocese is mainly used and is described in this way: “The Diocese is in the Southwark Province. It was formed on 28 May 1965 by the division of the Diocese of Southwark into the Archdiocese of Southwark and the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton. It consists of the Counties of West and East Sussex, Surrey outside the Greater London boundary south of the River Thames, and the City of Brighton and Hove.”

When we are watching the Ordination in the Mass at Arundel Cathedral, there will be moments when certain objects will be given to the Ordinand:

• The Ring, like a wedding ring, a sign of a bond;
• The Pectoral Cross, worn close to his heart;
• The Mitre, the tall hat worn on liturgical occasions; and
• The Crozier, shaped like a shepherd’s staff.

All these point to the role the Bishop will have for all of us.

Harvest Thanksgiving

We give thanks for all that we receive from the earth and sea. Thank you for last Sunday’s gifts destined for one of the city’s food banks.

Mass Schedule

• Sunday, 4 October, 10am: Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass
• Monday, 5 October, 8.15am: St Faustina Mass (St Mary’s House)
• Wednesday, 7 October, 9.30am: Our Lady of the Rosary Mass
• Friday, 9 October, 9.30am: St John Henry Newman Mass
• Sunday, 11 October, 10am: Twenty-Eighth Sunday Mass

The Word of Life

The October leaflet is now with us to help in our prayerful reflection with a verse of Scripture.

CAFOD

Envelopes for the development work of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development are available. You may prefer to make your donation by card online at cafod.org.uk.

The Month of October

During the month we are encouraged to pray the Rosary. If you have rosary beads, they help us to concentrate with 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, and 1 Glory Be. Failing that, use your fingers! More important is to think about the events from the Gospel on which to reflect.

BHCT

The Priests meet on Tuesday.

Praise to the Holiest in the height,

And in the depth be praise,

In all his words most wonderful,

Most sure in all his ways.

— St John Henry Newman

Paris Alive

Pope Leo has been in Paris these last few days and has been very busy with Vespers in the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral and an amazing Vigil with young people in the Stade de France, better known for its football. There are so many smiling faces. This Sunday he is in Lourdes at the shrine of Our Lady. Do discover the different events on your YouTube channels.

Harvest Sunday

The last Sunday in September is Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday. This year the farmers were busy harvesting in July because of the climate and, as we have heard, the yields have been smaller. We express our gratitude with a gift of some food, which will be destined for one of the food banks here in Brighton. Thank you for your generosity. When we commence the Preparation of Gifts or the Offertory, do bring your gift to the altar: “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands…”

Mass Schedule

• Sunday, 27 September, 10.00am: Sunday Mass (Intention: For migrants and refugees)
• Monday, 28 September, 8.15am: Mass at St Mary’s House (St Lawrence Ruiz and Companions)
• Wednesday, 30 September, 9.30am: Mass (St Jerome)
• Friday, 2 October, 9.30am: Mass (The Holy Guardian Angels)
• Sunday, 4 October, 10.00am: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass

Advisory

Clocks go back one hour on the night of Saturday, 24 October.

Looking Ahead

The Catholic Children’s Society has made available its order form for Christmas cards with religious themes.

Friday Self-Denial Wall Box

Donations are for the Refugee Fund.

Liturgical Rules

Two saints’ days have been superseded this year because the Lord’s Day rule for Sunday takes precedence: 27 September (St Vincent de Paul) and 4 October (St Francis of Assisi). Pray for us.

Bishop-Elect Stephen

Please pray for him as he makes his pre-Ordination Retreat.

Meet the Bishop

His Ordination and Installation will be on Monday, 19 October and will be live-streamed from Arundel Cathedral. Do a test run to the Cathedral website.

Mass of Welcome

At Worth Abbey on Saturday, 24 October: A Mass of welcome for our new Bishop. Each deanery or parish group has a coach funded by the Diocese to travel. Brighton & Hove Parish has a coach, and each community has been allocated six places. The coach will pick up at Hove Town Hall (travel there by the 5B or 5 bus). Please have a word if you wish to go (note: no independent travel to the Abbey).

Come, ye thankful people, come,

Raise the song of harvest home;

All is safely gathered in,

Ere the winter storms begin;

God, our Maker, doth provide

For our wants to be supplied;

Come to God’s own temple, come,

Raise the song of harvest home.

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.

A varied week ahead , commencing with the day on human trafficking, then (for school governors) a zoom session on Prevent. Wednesday takes us to Lourdes with the promise of a summer pilgrimage and then to Westminster for Friday pre-installation Vespers and to the Mass of Installation of Bishop Richard as the Archbishop of Westminster – and Lent begins next Wednesday (18th February).

Sunday 8th February – Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking.

Sr Josephine Bakhita is named as the Saint for the victims , having been trafficked herself. Cardinal Vincent heads up the St Martha’s group bringing the issue to international attention. More details can be found here.

February 11th The Feast Of Our Lady Of Lourdes

Celebrating the first vision Bernadette had of Mary and the response to the call to come on pilgrimage. Please take an envelope if you can make a gift to assist the unwell and frail. A special day at St Bernadette’s because of our connection with Sisters of Nevers who ran the Lourdes Convent on the site.
It is also the Day for the Sick and Pope Leo has sent us a letter.

Visit Lourdes day or night by clicking here.

Bishop Richard’s Thanksgiving Mass Arundel Cathedral

Whether you were part of the overflowing congregation or a virtual participant last Friday it was a grand celebration of thanksgiving for his eleven years as our Bishop. You can read what he said here and also a tribute on behalf of the Diocese by the Chancellor, Canon Jonathan Martin.

Celebrations In Westminster

We can join in two parts – Friday – Solemn Vespers and Saturday the Installation of the Archbishop of Westminster 12 noon. Details of how to follow these events can be found here.

Mass Schedule

• Sunday 8th February 10am 5th Sunday Ordinary Time
• Monday 9th February 8:15am St Mary’s House
• Wednesday 11th February 9:30am Our Lady of Lourdes Day of The Sick
• Friday 13th February 9:30am
• Saturday 14th February 9:30am HMP Lewes
• Sunday 15th February 10am 6th Sunday Ordinary Time

Ash Wednesday Masses

• Wednesday 18th February 9:30am
• Wednesday 18th February 7pm

Electrical Inspections and PAT Testing

Five Year test. Church, Hall, Priest’s House. Part of the Diocesan Health & Safety requirement.

“Oh, yes my Jesus. From now on, be my all and my life. I shall follow you wherever you go…
Come my soul,  courage. One more day to follow Jesus and Mary and climb to Calvary….
And then with Jesus and Mary, happiness, joy, eternity. “
St Bernadette.

Word Of God Sunday

It was Pope Francis who introduced the theme for the 3^rd Sunday in Ordinary time, as a reminder to celebrate and appreciate the Word of God in scripture. This year we are reminded that “the word of Christ dwells among us” and can take up residence in our thoughts, attitudes, and guiding principles. Our monthly leaflet the Word of Life is one way for this to happen by giving a simple commentary on a text of scripture for us to mull over and let it sink in. For example, has this month’s text helped us with the desire to pray and work for unity? Some of our Readers or Proclaimers of the Word have been able to attend a Saturday with Bishop Richard reflecting on the spirituality of the Word in Scripture.

As an exercise in some education about the Scriptures here is a link to the teaching of Vatican 2.

In Thanksgiving For The Ministry Of Bishop Richard

On this Friday (30th January) evening in Arundel Cathedral there will be a Thanksgiving Mass with Bishop Richard at 6.30pm to which everyone is invited. If you cannot travel, you can participate on your phone, tablet or other device by live streaming remembering his teaching and pastoral planning. We will recall his frequent encouragement to practise Lectio Divina – the prayerful reading and reflection on Scripture.

Mass Schedule

• Sunday 25th January 10am (3rd Sunday OT)
• Monday 26th January 8:15am St Mary’s House (Ss Timothy and Titus)
• Wednesday 28th January 9:30am (St Thomas Aquinas)
• Friday 30th January 9:30am
• Sunday 1st February 10am (4th Sunday OT)

The Parish Of Brighton and Hove

Meeting Thursday 29^th January In St Bernadette’s Hall 7.15 to consider the mission. STM will have a table.

The Diocesan Pilgrimage To Lourdes

24^TH – 30^TH JULY. Applications are now open. For further information and prices visit www.abdiocese.org.uk/lourdes To support frail, sick or disabled Pilgrims applications are invited from nurses, doctors, and health professionals. Helpers and Young People are essential.

On Sunday February 8^th there will be a Second Collection. Purple envelopes may be used along with Pilgrimage envelopes.

Do also read Bishop Richard’s letter.

Come, adore this wondrous presence,
bow to Christ, the source of grace
here is kept the ancient promise
of God’s earthly dwelling place
sight is blind before God’s presence,
faith alone may see his face.
            
St Thomas Aquinas (Tantum ergo)