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Women’s Group Meeting

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The next meeting of the Women’s Group will be on Saturday 17th February at 2.00pm in St Mary of the Angels Parish Centre. Please come along we look forward to seeing you.

St Mary of the Angels Car Park Entrance Doors

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The decision to keep the car park doors closed except for during Mass is one of necessity for security. The doors have suffered badly from the weather, to the point where they will not now open or close unless both doors are opened or closed simultaneously. As the car park doors are a designated fire exit, they are opened whilst there is a service in the church. They are opened about ten minutes prior to the commencement of the service, and closed soon after when the bulk of the congregation has left the church. We would suggest that people time their arrival at the church for ten minutes or so before Mass starts and they will then be able to access the church through the car park doors.

Closing the doors is not intended to keep people out, or make access or egress difficult, but to extend the useful life of the doors for as long as possible. The church is a Grade II listed building and any remedial work, or any proposed alterations, needed to the structure have to be approved by the Historic Churches Committee (HCC). To that effect, an application detailing the repairs or alterations has to be submitted to them, supported by necessary documentation, costings, measurements etc., and evidence of Diocesan approval, for their consideration and approval. Once the application has been received by the HCC it is circulated and a notice displayed publicly, for a period of 28 days to allow for any comments or objections to be lodged. In the event that the work is external to the building, additionally a Press Notice has to be inserted in the local paper inviting comment or objection within 28 days. After the 28-day period the matter is considered by
the HCC who may approve (or reject) the application and grant (or refuse) a Faculty allowing the work to be carried out.

The doors have deteriorated to the point that they are badly in need of replacement. A quote was obtained last July, valid for 90 days, for the manufacture and installation of the replacement doors. However, the Diocese insisted on receiving a copy of the current Quinquennial Report detailing the condition of the church (to include the state of the car park doors) prior to agreeing to the proposed replacement and thereby allowing us to submit an application. This agreement has now been received and an application has been submitted to the HCC. We are now in the mandatory 28-day period awaiting public comment. Once that period has passed and, hopefully, HCC approval is given, we can proceed. However, we will then need to seek a revised quote, which we trust will be acceptable to the Diocese. Then the work can begin. The construction and installation of the doors will probably take six or seven weeks after approval of the revised quote.

Diocesan Pastoral Plan Online Meeting Wednesday 10th January

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The third edition of Bishop Richard’s Pastoral Plan entitled “The Word Who is Life: The Call to Mission” was published on 2nd January. As society becomes more secular our parishes must be ever-clearer beacons of light guiding people to Christ. The new plan highlights how our community of faith can embrace this important time of renewal, forging diocesan parishes into  communities of saints and strong, lively, and welcoming schools of discipleship. This edition of the plan seeks to lay out some of the practicalities of the way forward for the diocese.

The Pastoral Plan is available on the diocesan website at www.abdiocese.org.uk/diocese/pastoralplan, with hard copies available to read in each parish. Bishop Richard will also be hosting a Pastoral Plan Webinar for people across our diocesan community at on Wednesday 10th January at 7.30pm. Please use the following the link to join the webinar https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86457734895.

First Holy Communion Preparation for 2024

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There will be an information and enrolment meeting for parents only, who wish their children to receive First Holy Communion in June 2024. This will be held at St Mary of the Angels Church on Monday 8th January 7.00pm – 8.00pm. It is most important that all interested parents from both our Worthing and Lancing churches attend.

The first session for children and parents is on Saturday 20th January 1.15pm – 2.45pm at St Mary of the Angels. Enrolment forms and copies of your child’s Baptismal Certificate should be handed in at this meeting. Please note, following particular guidance from the Diocese, only those children who regularly attend Mass may enrol on the programme.

All queries to Mary Murphy on 07827 774810.

 

Christmas Masses 24th and 25th December

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Sunday 24th December

  • 4th Sunday of Advent: 9:30am Worthing and 11:15am Lancing
  • First Mass of Christmas (with children’s nativity): 5:30pm Worthing
  • “Midnight” Mass: 8:00pm Lancing

Monday 25th December

  • Christmas Day Holy Mass: 9:30am Worthing
  • Christmas Day Holy Mass: 11:15am Lancing

Deanery Advent Reconciliation Services

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There are several Reconciliation Services across the Deanery through Advent. Please see below:

  • Thursday 14th December 7.00pm; English Martyrs, Goring
  • Thursday 14th December 7.30pm; St Peter’s, Shoreham by Sea
  • Friday 15th December 6.30pm; Our Lady Star of the Sea, East Preston
  • Sunday 17th December 3.00pm; St Michael’s, High Salvington
  • Tuesday 19th December 10.30am; Christ the King, Steyning
  • Wednesday 20th December 10.30am; St Joseph’s, Rustington

Confirmation Preparation 2024

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If you are in Year 10 or above and feel called to reflect on and grow in your faith, and to own the promises made on your behalf at baptism, then the grace of the Sacrament of Confirmation is what you need! Our preparation sessions begin in January working towards receiving the sacrament from Bishop Richard in Arundel Cathedral on May 12th.

If you want to make this commitment and attend Mass regularly (otherwise why would you want to be confirmed?!) then please email me on philip.richardson@abdiocese.org.uk introducing yourself and telling me
something about why you would like to make this significant step.

Please do this before 31st December. I look forward to hearing from you!