Tag: jesus

The Presentation Of The Lord

Forty Days after Christmas we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple by Mary and Joseph – part of a Jewish ritual in thanksgiving for the birth of a child. It was the occasion of the family meeting Simeon and Anna and the utterance “a light to enlighten the Gentiles”. Jesus is the light for the world. This is recognised with the blessing of candles and a procession entering the Temple.

For Missal users the Mass texts may be found with the feasts of the Lord in the pages towards the back.

Coffee After 10am Mass

There will be coffee after the 10am Mass tomorrow (Sunday 2nd February)in the church hall. Please do come along.

North Brighton Parishes Meeting

Thank you to St Thomas More’s Parishioners who were there and participated with ideas. A report of the meeting is on the noticeboard for you to read

There will be more to report after a meeting of the clergy on February 11th.

Diocesan Pilgrimage To Lourdes

Booking is now open and details will become available on the noticeboard. Please click here for more information.

The Jubilee Year

Please click here to find out more details.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 2nd February 10am Feast of Presentation
  • Monday 3rd February 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Wednesday 5th February 9:30am St Agatha
  • Friday 7th February 9:30am
  • Sunday 9th February 10am 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Word Who Is Life

The February leaflet to help with your prayer reflection during the month is now in the entrance for you to collect.

For Sale

  • New Sunday Missals £19:95
  • The Diocesan Directory 2025 £5

Soup and Sandwich Lunch

The next on will be on Thursday 13th February at 12 noon. Do come along!

Requiem Mass

For Wendy Woodland RIP. Friday 21st February at 12 noon.

At The Temple

There filled with holy joy
Simeon in his hands
Takes up the promised child
The glory of all lands

O light of all the world
We light our lives with thee
The chains of darkness gone
All sons of God are free.

Sunday of The Word of God

The third Sunday in Ordinary time is denoted as the Word of God Sunday to remind us of our use of Scripture deepening our prayer life. The prayerful reading and reflection -Lectio Divina – as it is called is recommended. There is  a new resource to help with praying the Psalms (Click here) Our Readings this Sunday are appropriate and we do begin the reading of St Luke’s Gospel -the Evangelist for 2025.

This Week

This Sunday afternoon we are invited to a gathering in St Mary’s Hall at 5pm about the future shape of Brighton and Hove as a united Parish. This is part of the journey envisaged in the Diocesan Pastoral Plan as it unfolds. Do come along to participate.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Monday is the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Continuing last week’s theme of Peace we pray for the building of peace and respect for each person.

Next Sunday

February 2nd is the day we celebrate the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple and is Candlemas Day. At our Sunday Mass we will have the blessing of candles, a simple procession and Mass. It takes precedence over the texts of the 4th Sunday.

100+ Draw

After Mass, next Sunday (2nd February) coffee will be available in the Hall and a Draw will take place. Do come in to meet and socialise.

The Jubilee

As Pilgrims of hope we will hear of various opportunities. Bishop Richard is leading one to Lourdes – please click here.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 26th January 10am 3rd Sunday Ordinary Time
  • Monday 27th January 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Wednesday 29th January 9:30am St Thomas Aquinas
  • Friday 31st January 9:30am St John Bosco
  • Sunday 2nd February 10am The Presentation of The Lord

Jubilee

The Jubilee was launched in our Schools last week. See the notice board.

The Diocesan Bulletin

Sign up to see what events are happening.

How I long to see you
Jesus face to face
How the heart is thirsting
Living spring of grace
Show me soon your glory
Be my great reward
Be my joy for ever
Jesus, gracious Lord.

St Thomas Aquinas no 396

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

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.

Christ The King

Thy Kingdom Come

Our daily prayer reminds us of the Kingship of Christ, his kingdom which is constantly being established and the place given in our hearts to him. Christ has to present to the Father “a Kingdom of truth and life. A kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.”

This Sunday marks the end of the Liturgical Year B, when on most Sundays we have listened to the Gospel of St. Mark. Next Sunday we commence the celebration of Advent in Year C , when the Gospel of St Luke will mainly be read.

Bishop Richard’s Weekly Message

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

This Sunday, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. It is fitting that, on this last Sunday in the Church’s year, we look to the Kingdom, to our destiny as children of the God who is all love. Jesus’ kingship is not of an earthly nature – He makes this very clear in His response to Pontius Pilate, that we hear proclaimed in this Sunday’s Gospel.  

Jesus exercises power that is so completely different to that exercised by Pilate. We must reflect that we, in our following of Jesus, must live in His way, not that of a world consumed by wealth, power over others, and political gain. We see power being abused so often in the world at the expense of the vulnerable. We see that which is deemed expedient, placed above the dignity that belongs to every person as a wonder of God’s creation. 

Our baptism brings with it the responsibility to live every moment of life in preparation for the wonder of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is this Kingdom – that is of a different kind – in which we are called to live, and that we are called to proclaim, bringing others to the hope that points our way to the Kingdom.

We rejoice in His Kingship and we rejoice in His death and resurrection; the victory that He has won for us – for with Him, as St Paul reminds us – we are co-heirs to the Kingdom of God.

Our world needs this message in every place and in every aspect of the human condition – most especially, at a time when so many parts of our world are torn apart by war and conflict, when the dignity of every human being is threatened, and when so many live without the hope that leads to the fullness of life. Let us proclaim this message with every greater urgency and joy.  

With every blessing,


+Richard

Opposing The Second Reading Of The Assisted Dying Bill

The cards to send off to your MP are on the table in the entrance.

Informing yourself of the issues is important. Last week we had our Bishop’s Pastoral Message and the Statement form the Bishops of the UK.

We have all been asked to make special prayer on Friday 29th November for the voting down of this Bill.

Our Friday Mass 9.30 am will have a period of adoration added until 10.30 for those able to give half an hour.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 24th November Christ the King Sunday Mass 10am
  • Monday 25th November St Mary’s House Mass 8.15am
  • Wednesday 27th November Mass 9.30am
  • Saturday 30th November HMP Lewes Mass 8.30am
  • December 1st The First Sunday of Advent Mass 10am.

The bi-weekly Newsletter of St Mary’s and St Thomas More’s is available after Mass.

Soup and Sandwich Lunch This Thursday In Our Hall 12 Noon

An opportunity to meet up. See the poster.

The Lectionary

The four volumes will be blessed next Sunday. They have distinctive covers. As liturgical books for worship they are to be treated with care and respect.


Hail Redeemer, King divine
Priest and Lamb, the throne is thine
King whose reign shall never cease
Prince of everlasting peace.

Angels, saints and nations sing
Praised be Jesus Christ our King
Lord of life, earth sky and sea
King of love on calvary

Remembrance

Following All Souls Day, the month of November continues with Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day with Assemblies in Schools.

Parades in towns at war memorials, Blessing of graves, Masses for the Dead and other opportunities to call to mind those who have died.

In every Eucharistic Prayer there is always an intercession for the Dead…

Blessing of Graves

In the Cemeteries of Brighton and Hove 3pm and Brighton & Preston, Hartington Road, 2pm.

Bishop Richard’s Request

Holy Hour for the Dignity of the Human Person

Next week, the Bishops of England & Wales gather in Leeds for the Autumn Plenary Meeting.  On Wednesday 13th, at 5.30pm, they will gather for a Holy Hour for prayer to promote the dignity of the human person and the culture of life in our countries in the face of the assisted suicide legislation before the UK Parliament.  

I do encourage you to arrange Holy Hours on the same day – where possible at the same time – in our parishes, thereby facilitating a  powerful moment of prayer in our lands promoting the intrinsic dignity of every person.

With every Blessing,

+ Richard 

Holy Hour

This will be on WEDNESDAY of this week -13th November 5.30 -6.30pm

Please try to come in even for part of the time. It has the theme of praying for the dignity of Human Life.

Mass Schedule

  • 32nd Sunday Mass 10am
  • Monday St Mary’s House. St Martin of Tours Mass 8.15am
  • Wednesday Weekday Mass 9.30am
  • Friday St Albert the Great Mass 9.30am
  • 33rd Sunday Mass 10am World Day of the Poor

The New Lectionary

Not long to go before its introduction.

Orders for the 3 Year Sunday Missals may be given using the sign up sheet in the Entrance – either the CTS edition or the Redemptorist publication £ 19.95 each.

To learn more about the Lectionary read from the following link.

Cardinal Newman Catholic School – Outstanding

Read the Principal’s letter

Annual Retired Priests’ Fund

This can be gift Aided, Contactless available.

Of your charity…

Pray for the soul of Dick Lock, husband of late Mary Lock. His coffin is to be draped in the Sussex Police flag.

North Brighton Parishes’ Newsletter

This is now available in the entrance

May the choirs of angels lead you into paradise
And my the martyrs come to welcome you
To bring you home into the holy city
So you may dwell in new Jerusalem

World Mission Sunday (20th October)

“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

The Body and Blood Of Christ

The description of the Eucharist as “the source and summit of the Christian life” does not immediately engage us or reveal the richness of Christ’s gift to His followers. It takes a lifetime to appreciate the riches it contains. Remembering the first time we received Holy Communion is a starting point. Where was it? What preparations were made? Who was there? What can you remember of the day? Maybe we could think of how it draws us closer to Jesus or how it strengthens our sense of belonging as a member of the Church – the great family of Catholics who are attached to the worldwide Catholic Church or the local Church of the Diocese or the community of the Parish. Take time to think about the meaning of Communion in all its forms. Our response, of course, is one of thanksgiving, worshipping , promising and adoring.

Bishop Richard’s Weekly Reflection

No video this week, but the text can be found here.

National News

A new publication – ‘Called to be Peacemakers’ has now been published. Click here for further details.

Grand News

A newsletter for grandparents is now available. Please click here. Details of the Grandparents Pilgrimage to West Grinstead are included June 26th 11am – 3pm.

The General Election

The Bishops’ Conference has highlighted the issues. Do consider them. Please click here.

The Day For Life

Will take place on Sunday 16th June. More information can be found here.

The New Lectionary

These are now being ordered. Read all about it! Here.

100 +

Do see if you could join this fundraising venture for the Parish – annual subscription £30.

Word of Life

The leaflet for your prayer during June is now on the table. Keep it handy during the month and let the scripture text become part of you.

Mass Rota

  • Sunday 2nd June 10 am The Solemnity of The Body and Blood of Christ followed by Adoration concluding at 11:30 am
  • Monday 3rd June 8:15 am St Mary’s Convent Mass
  • Wednesday 5th June 9:30 am St Boniface Mass
  • Friday 7th June 7 pm Solemnity Of The Sacred Heart
  • Sunday 9th June 10 am 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus, who gave himself for you,
Upon the cross to die
Open to you his sacred heart
O to that heart draw nigh.
You hear how kindly he invites,
You hear his words so blest.
All you that labour come to me,
And I will give you rest.