Tag: religion

Patronal Feast Day

It is good to celebrate Anniversaries – to remember and give thanks. As this Jubilee Year continues, we are pilgrims of hope. So it was 60 years ago when the Patcham, Westdene and Hollingbury areas of Brighton were being developed that Fr Edward Fooks of St Mary’s promoted a search for a site to build a Church for worshippers in the area. The Catholic population first had Mass in a Doctor’s house and then in the Patcham Junior School. Eventually a new Church was built and on Sunday 9th July 1965 the Bishop of Southwark opened St Thomas More’s Church.

We think of our predecessors and benefactors who generously donated to the cost.

There are three works of art originating from leading members of the Brighton College of Art – the Carved statue of our patron, the Mother and Child statue and the Stations of the Cross. Bishop Cormac Murphy O’Connor consecrated the Church with the twelve crosses and the ambo, altar and baptism font decorated in green Cumberland Stone.

Bishop Richard’s Weekly Reflection

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus send out the seventy-two and gives them a word for those they visit. This word, this message, is the message of peace – and peace is the first gift of the Risen Christ to the Apostles, spoken as He appears to them in the Upper Room.

In the 4th Century, as monasticism began to develop in Egypt, Syria and the Holy Land, monks would go to their spiritual fathers and ask for a word by which they might be saved. The word that was given to them, although expressed in different terms, was often about living in peace, in harmony, and in the silence that opens our hearts to the promptings of the Spirit. Just as the seventy-two offered a “word”, given them by the Lord, so these monks of earlier times did the same – and this practice continues in the spiritual accompaniment sought by so many in our own times.   

Openness to the word demands a spirit of listening, and we might reflect that the first word of St Benedict’s Rule is “Listen.” 

When the seventy-two went on their journey, Jesus told them that if the word of peace was not received, it would come back to them. Listening is just as important as speaking, for the word that is spoken must find a home to be effective.

This message of peace is so necessary in our present world, and the need for the spirit of listening is equally necessary. May our word to the world be that of the seventy-two, for it is the gift of the Risen Lord: “Peace be with you.” May this message find a home in the hearts of all.  

Peace is the gift of the Risen Lord to those gathered in the Upper Room on the first Easter Day. It is in Him that true, lasting, peace is to be found, for the Risen Lord has won the victory over sin and death. He offers us the gift of His peace – it is something real and it is a reality to be accepted.

In a world where, in so many places, peace is not a reality, it is our task, always and everywhere, to offer that greeting of the seventy-two disciples and the joy that is the gift of the Risen Christ.

With every blessing,

+ Richard

The Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 6th July 10am (Patronal Feast)
  • Monday 7th July 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Wednesday 9th July 9:30am (Martyrs of China)
  • Friday 11th July 9:30am (St Benedict, Patron of Europe)
  • Saturday 12th July 8:30am HMP Lewes
  • Sunday 13th July 10am (15th Sunday OT)

Sea Sunday

Next Sunday is Sea Sunday. At Mass, there will be a collection for Stella Maris, the Catholic provider of pastoral care for seafarers and fishers. You can also make a donation here.

The Word Who Is Life

The July leaflet is ready for you to help with your prayerful reflection on the scripture and prayer.

St Benedict’s Week

Some information about prayer opportunities with the monks in St John the Baptist Church, Kemptown:

  • Monday 7th July 12-12:30pm – Community Prayer
  • Tuesday 8th July 12-12:30pm – Individual Prayer
  • Wednesday 9th July 12-12:30pm – Lectio Divina
  • Friday 11th July 12pm – 1pm – An hour of music, prayer, on themes from the Rule of St Benedict

Outstanding!

St Bernadette’s Primary School has achieved this status after the Catholic Inspection. Congratulations to the teachers and children and for the support of parents and carers.

The Pastoral Plan

We are approaching its implementation .

On Thursday Evening there will be a gathering to formulate a vision and mission objectives . Have a word with Fr John if you wish to participate in this process. The meeting will be in St Bernadette’s Hall 7-9pm.

Fr. Ray Blake RIP

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr Ray, former parish priest of St Mary Magdalene’s who died during the week.

Requiem Masses

  • Maura Mason (RIP) – Thursday 17th July 11am
  • Sonia Von Geyer (RIP) Wednesday 23rd July 11am

Soup and Sandwich

At Thursday 12 Noon in the church hall. All welcome

A Man For All Seasons

This play will be showing in Brighton from 22nd July to the 26th July – tickets are available here. As well as depicting the life of St Thomas More, the film version of the play earned Paul Scofield (who played the part of St Thomas More) an Oscar in 1966. Scofield, a baptised Catholic, attended Varndean Grammar School for Boys (1934-9) -the building is now Varndean College. 

" Give me, good Lord , a full faith, a firm hope and a fervent charity, a love for the good Lord incomparably above love for myself, and that I love nothing to thy displeasure but everything in order to love Thee"

A devout prayer written in the Tower of London by St Thomas More.

Saints Peter and Paul

These two have been in the news recently because of the happenings in Rome. The shrine of St Peter is in the Basilica of the Vatican where Pope Leo went to pray before his inauguration as the successor of St Peter. As Bishop of Rome he visited the Basilica of St Paul outside the walls. Both were martyred as witnesses to Christ.

We honour them as Founders of the Church, and they will be celebrated by the many Pilgrims of Hope during this Jubilee Year.

Bishop Richard’s Weekly Reflection

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As we celebrate the solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul, I invite you all to join me in prayer for Pope Leo, that he continues to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit in his task as shepherd of the flock entrusted to him. As our Holy Father, he brings particular gifts to the Church through his experience in Peru, where he served with some of the priests of our own Diocese; his times of leadership of the Augustinian Friars, and his service in the Dicastery for Bishops.

He comes to the Petrine Office at a difficult time for the world. Let us join him in fervent prayer for peace – for which he has called so many times in these first weeks of his papacy. With him, and in the spirit of his predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, let us continue to strive for justice and promote the dignity of every person at every moment of life.  

St Peter, our first Pope, could not have imagined the steps he would be called to take in the service of the Lord. This is true of Pope Leo and, indeed, of every one of us. The life that is given to us in baptism – life lived in the love of the Holy Trinity – calls us to follow the Lord Himself, wherever he may lead us. As His disciples, we are called to learn from Him, to grow ever closer to Him, to be always faithful in our witness to Him. This is what it means to be a Pilgrim of Hope, for we journey towards the One who died and rose from the dead that we might have life – and whose first gift after the Resurrection was the gift of peace.  

As Pilgrims of Hope, may we – with Pope Leo – strive to share that gift with the world.

With every blessing,

+ Richard

Clergy In-Service

This week we have two days away together to focus on “How do we live our vocation in the parishes of the future.” Say a prayer for us.

The Pastoral Plan

At the forthcoming Council of Priests the Bishop will hear from each of the existing Deaneries with the Moderators elect of the proposed New Parishes, made up of the parish communities, before he decrees their election.

The Vision Meeting

Thank you for those who have offered to participate in the Vision making process on 10th July.

Your Questions

  1. What do you consider the mission of the one Parish will be ?
  2. What mission objectives do you consider important ?
  3.  What are your expectations for the new Parish?

Have a think and put pen to paper and return your response to the box in the Entrance.

Our Patronal Feast

Next Sunday we will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of our Church , its consecration and St Thomas More. After Mass we will have a social gathering and celebratory drink.

Mass Schedule

  • Sunday 29th June 10am Solemnity SS Peter and Paul
  • Monday 30th June 8:15am St Mary’s House
  • Tuesday 1st July 9:30am Anniversary of Arundel Cathedral
  • Friday 4th July 9:30am St Thomas Apostle
  • Sunday 6th July 10am Patronal Feast Mass
Peter, blessed shepherd to you was entrusted the power of opening the gate of heaven,
Paul, teacher without equal, fashion our live aright and carry off our hearts with yours till faith is sole master of our hearts.