“Go and invite everyone to the banquet ” Pope Francis in his letter to us uses these words from St Matthew’s Gospel 22:9 to remind us that Mission is a tireless going out to all men and women to encounter God and enter into a union with Him. We think of the Missionary Orders which serve in countries where the Church is growing despite the difficulties which can arise and also the annual collection for a different group each year. There are also the Red Boxes for the coins in your pockets or purses – they do mount up. On the grey radiator in the entrance there are some Red boxes which could do with a home.
Why not offer your October Rosary for the world missionary endeavour?
Mission Today Magazine
Copies available for you to take home and read.
Donation Envelopes
To send off your gift or to bring in with a donation next week.
Bishop Richard’s Weekly Reflection
Dear brothers and sisters,
The First Reading this Sunday, taken from the Song of the Suffering Servant of the Prophet Isaiah, looks to the moment when Christ takes on Himself the faults, the sins, of the world. Jesus, as the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us, took on our nature in every way, but sin. He urges us never to lose faith in the One who suffered, died and rose from the dead for us.
Our openness to the gift of faith is our way to conformity to Christ – to becoming one with Him. This is the path of sanctity, to which we are all called. This, as we know all too well, is no easy path. Jesus reminds us that “to those who are given much, much is expected.” In this Sunday’s Gospel, we see what happens when the relationship with Him becomes centred on ourselves. James and John fall to the temptation to pride. Their closeness to Jesus brings them to think they deserve special treatment in the Kingdom.
Jesus tells them very clearly that His way is one of humility and service. This is true greatness in our following of Him. The life of faith, lived in trust, and the living out of the two-fold command to love God and love neighbour, brings us to be the disciples we are called to be.
The world around is in the greatest need of this witness. We live in a world that is not at peace, a world in which the dignity of life is not respected. We, as Jesus’ followers – His disciples, must step into this space with the witness of our lives of faith, humility and service, that all might find life in the One who died and rose from the dead for us.
With every blessing,
+ Richard
Mass Schedule
- Sunday 20th October 10am World Mission Sunday Mass
- Monday 21st October 8:15am St Mary’s Convent Mass
- Wednesday 23rd October 9:30am Pope St John Paul II Mass
- Friday 25th October 9:30am Mass
- Saturday 26th October 8:30am Mass HMP Lewes
- Sunday 27th October 30th 10am Sunday Ordinary Time
Clocks To Change!
Please remember that the clocks go back one hour on Sunday 27th October at 2am
A Week of Health and Safety
- Monday Fire Risk Assessment on the Church and Hall
- Tuesday Five Year Electrical Testing and PAT testing on the Priest’s House
- Annual Testing of the Lightning Conductor of the Church
- Risk Assessment of Mower used by the Contractor cutting the grass around the Church .
Ministry of Readers
Wednesday Evening October 23 7pm. In the Hall our readers have a meeting to introduce the New Lectionaries – four volumes
Schools’ Admission Dates
Please note the dates for open days:
- Saint Bernadette’s 13th November 9:15am, 20th November 1:30am
- Cardinal Newman Catholic School Thursday 24th October from 9:15am
Farewell
Thank you for participating in the Requiem Mass for John. He had a very full life with interests in sport – running the marathon -the Park Run as well as his professional role. He will be remembered by parishioners as a reader, a weekday Mass attender, the organiser of the 100+ Club, the Catenians and latterly representing STM with the Deanery Discussions.
Our prayers are with Maura and the Family for “one loved and lost awhile “
From the commissioning at the end of Mass
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord!
Thanks be to God