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Grill a Friar!

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On Thursday 30th November Fr Nicholas Crowe OP, a Dominican friar of the English Province, will be preaching at St Mary of the Angels church, beginning at 6.45pm for a 7.00pm start. The theme will be “On to Christ: the virtues for Christian living”. This will be followed by a question-and-answer session to answer any queries you may have on matters of faith, doctrine and the Christian life.

The Kingdom of God

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FR DAVID WRITES…Dear Sisters and Brothers, now and not yet! I remember, vividly, listening to a fabulous theologian talking about the Kingdom of God – or as I put it the other week in a homily – the ‘reign’ of God – where he talked about the “famous” now and not yet of the Kingdom. What did he mean? Well, Jesus spoke about the Kingdom constantly in his teaching; from stories that began, “The kingdom of God can be compared to…” or “The Kingdom of God is like….”, and occasionally, he would say to some earnest questioner “The Kingdom of God is very close to you” or to those who opposed him: “The Kingdom of God will overtake you…”. But he also told us that
attempting to predict the dates and times when the Kingdom will “come” is futile.  So, is our Christian discipleship merely one akin to having a clean driving licence when we are asked to produce it for inspection? Should we respond to Christ’s message by keeping our nose clean and our reputation intact? Head down waiting for the great “Day”? Or is there a little more to it than that? – Of course, there is! A lot more!

We can see today from the Gospel, and from, say, the Beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5 (part of the sermon on the mount) that the Kingdom is something we live. It’s an attitude of heart and mind. So, when we live “in” Beatitude, with virtuous lives of generosity and compassion and faith, then we are living the Kingdom now. It is among us. And we, as St Paul says “make up what is lacking in Jesus’ sacrifice”. The Gospel today says nothing at all about the life of prayer and worship and sacrifice but so very much about our lived attitudes to our fellow human beings – and by extension, to the whole of creation. When we care about others, or our planet, then we are acknowledging that they are God’s creation and he cares for them. We participate in that care, through faith and in love. But we also point beyond our actions and prayers and worship to the fulfilment of all those things when
the Kingdom will come in its fulness and completeness and in its universality – everything and everyone will be redeemed, and the Day we live in hope for will actually arrive when He is “all in all.”

Until then, we must continue the work of faith, love and hope, knowing that the Kingdom is here among us in our lives and in the lives of those around us and pointing forward to when the “Not yet” has become the “Now” for all eternity and forever.

With my love and prayers. Fr David Benedict

The Promise of the Father2

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“The Promise of the Father” is a unique course designed specifically for Arundel and Brighton Diocese in support of the Word Who is Life Pastoral Plan. It aims to help us to live our lives more fully empowered by the Holy Spirit and will be held over seven sessions, each with a well renowned speaker and small group discussions. It starts just after Easter, on the 10th April 2024 and will run to the 23rd May and is completely free.

You can attend online or in person as the event is hosted from the Arundel Cathedral Centre. Many excellent speakers, including Michelle Moran, Bishop Richard Moth, Fr Richard Ounsworth, Joe Livingston and many others will be teaching – and the best bit, the course includes a special service in Arundel Cathedral on Pentecost Vigil, the Saturday evening before Pentecost where we will all come together for Mass, teaching and to receive prayer for the filling and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

The Promise Of the Father promises to be an exciting, enriching and God willing, a life-changing experience for everyone. Spaces in the venue and online are limited so early booking is essential, so please book now using the link below to avoid disappointment.

Please free to contact dabcdsc@gmail.com if you have any questions.

First Lighthouse Event 11th November

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“Lighthouse” is an exciting new event for our Lighthouse Charismatic Event for A&BDiocese where we can come together to worship, pray together and receive prayer through the laying on of hands, receive Holy Mass and also listen to a special talk from Joe Livingston, an international evangelist from Glasgow with a powerful ministry of deliverance, healing and renewal who travels teaching the Word of God across the UK and internationally. The event is hosted by the A&B Diocese Charismatic Service of Communion (CDSC) team and will be held in St Wilfred’s School, St Wilfrid’s Way, Crawley, RH11 8PG, on Saturday 11th November, starting at 2:30pm until 6:30pm.

Please come and join us and also spread the word with those you know. It’d be wonderful for our diocese to have a huge gathering for the first of these events and for us to fill St Wilfred’s school with prayer, praise and of course, the presence of God in the Eucharist and with His holy Spirit in abundance, please God!

This event will also look forward to our first diocesan Life in the Spirit seminar being planned for Arundel Cathedral in Eastertide 2024, that we may bring about an active missionary and expectant faith across our diocese. We will discuss more about the Life in the Spirit seminar and the great speakers that have agreed to take part and what you can do to help out in the “Lighthouse” event.

Lighthouse Event Poster Nov11th2023V7 (1)

A Thank-you from Fr Terry

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I am still somewhat astounded by the whole experience of last Sunday’s farewell! The lovely liturgy and the festive party were such happy events. To see so many of you sharing in the start of my sabbatical in this particular way was incredibly touching and humbling. The celebrations were a thoughtful and imaginative gesture, and I am deeply moved by your kindness. I want to say a gigantic thank you to all those who worked so hard to successfully
organise everything (including all that wonderfully delicious food!).

Thank you too, so very much, for the many cards, gifts, prayers, best wishes and – not least – the immensely generous offering.

Be assured my ongoing prayers for you all. Please remember to pray for me. God bless, Fr Terry.

Fr Terry: A Sabbatical

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After conversations with Bishop Richard, it has been agreed that I will take a year’s sabbatical. Following that time away, God willing, I will return to Worthing & Lancing as Parish Priest. I have been in public ministry for thirty-five years and will celebrate my silver jubilee of priestly ordination next year. I value this sabbatical opportunity as a time to pray, study, read, rest, and walk the dogs. As is sometimes said, it’s a chance to press the ‘reset’ button!

An excellent priest is coming to be with you while I am away. Fr David Osborne will be joining you, as a member of our parish family, from Wednesday 20th September. Fr David has been assigned to the parish for the whole year, and he will offer you first-rate liturgical and pastoral care. He is a priest for whom I personally have great respect and admiration. I have already made arrangements for supply priests to cover the first weeks of September, until Fr David arrives. I am grateful to them for their generosity. Thus, on Monday 4th September, my sabbatical will begin.

We remain united in Jesus Christ and in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Oremus pro invicem: Let us pray for one another.

Caring for the Animals Trust – A Tombola

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Next Sunday (28th May), after the 9.30am Mass at St Mary’s, this local charity, which does amazing work rescuing needy animals and rehoming them, is presenting a fundraising tombola in the Lady Chapel. Fr Terry volunteers with the charity and can testify, first hand, that absolutely every penny raised actually saves animals: there are no paid staff (only volunteers), and all administrative overheads are met by generous donors.

Please think about helping and rescuing neglected and abused animals by buying a few tickets today. Thank you.

Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III

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The Parish will be hosting a number of events to celebrate the Coronation:

  • MASS FOR HM KING CHARLES III, 5th May As requested by the Bishops’ Conference, there will be a sung Mass at 7.00pm on Friday 5th May, the evening before the Coronation, to pray for the King and his future as monarch. Special texts and prayers have been provided for this Mass.
  • CORONATION DAY, 6th May Mass on the morning of Saturday 6th May, Coronation Day, will be at the earlier time of 8.30am, to allow the opportunity to return home and watch the televised celebrations afterwards.
  • CORONATION OF HIS MAJESTY KING CHARLES III – A PARISH CELEBRATION FIT FOR A KING Bank Holiday Monday 8th May from 2.30pm to 5pm, in Fr Terry’s garden, there is an afternoon for everyone to celebrate and enjoy a toast to The King, music, drinks, finger buffet, entertainment, children’s fun and games, bring and buy stall, cake sale, raffles, competitions, and plenty more. Boxes will be at church entrances at Sunday Masses from today for donations of raffle prizes, bottled and canned drinks, wrapped food etc. On the day itself we would be most grateful for cakes and tarts, drinks, plus savoury and sweet finger foods. All help welcome. Money donated will be given to SHOUT (a local homeless charity) and our parish SVP group.