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1/ The Columban Missionaries in Britain are inviting students aged 13 – 18 to enter the 2026 Schools Media Competition, exploring the theme: “Becoming a refugee is never a choice. But how we respond is” Closing date 14^th Feb Columbans launch Schools Competition 2026 – Columban Missionaries

 

 

 

2/ Worthing Area Justice & Peace Group invites you to a morning of Living Simply and Bringing Hope to All. Sat January 31st 10am to 1pm St Peter’s Church, West Street, Shoreham-by-Sea. BN43 5WG.  To book a place please contact Ashley  ajralston37@gmail.com

 

 

3/ Holocaust Memorial Day 27^th January The theme for this year is ‘Bridging Generations’, it’s a call-to-action. A reminder that the responsibility of remembrance doesn’t end with the survivors – it lives on through their children, their grandchildren and through all of us. This theme encourages us all to engage actively with the past – to listen, to learn and to carry those lessons forward. By doing so, we build a bridge between memory and action, between history and hope for the future. Holocaust Memorial Day Trust | Bridging Generations: Theme for 2026

 

4/ Live Simply Tip of the week get rid of the big items. There’s tons of little clutter in our lives, but if you start with the big items, you’ll simplify your life quickly and in a big way.

 

 

5/ Peace Sunday will be held this Sunday 18th January. The Bishops’ Conference encourage us all the use the day to reflect on the Pope’s message for the World Day of Peace on the 1st January.

Pope Leo has said that the theme for his message which will be ‘Peace be with you all: towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace’.

Pax Christi promote Peace Sunday with the support of the Bishop’s Conference and have produced a number of resources to help us reflect including a liturgy and activities for children. You can download these from the Peace Sunday 2026 page on their website www.paxchristi.org.uk  On Peace Sunday, we will be taking a collection to support Pax Christi’s work which includes promoting nonviolence as a way of resolving conflict, advocacy and campaigning for peace and peace education in schools. If you are unable to give on the day then you can also donate via their website www.paxchristi.org.uk/product-category/peace-sunday-appeal/  or scan the QR code in the newsletter.

Please take time to visit the display in the Lady Chapel on the 18th January. There will be quotes from Pope Leo’s Message on the board, prayer cards and other resources to take, including Pax Christi’s Newsletter & White Peace Poppies also available to help us promote Peace in our world

 

 

6/ CAFOD is inviting parishes across our Diocese to join their “Big Lent Walk” fundraising challenge, walking 200km during the 40 days of Lent and bringing the gift of clean water to our brothers and sisters like Mortikana, aged 70, from southern Ethiopia. www.walk.cafod.org.uk

 

 

 

From CAFOD a petition about Sudan marking 1000 days of the terrible conflict there. If you have a minute please do sign as this is such a crucial time: https://action.cafod.org.uk/page/183860/petition/1

1/ The Columban Missionaries in Britain are inviting students aged 13 – 18 to enter the 2026 Schools Media Competition, exploring the theme: “ Becoming a refugee is never a choice. But how we respond is” Columbans launch Schools Competition 2026 – Columban Missionaries

 

 

 

2/ Worthing Area Justice & Peace Group invites you to a morning of Living Simply and Bringing Hope to All. Sat January 31st 10am to 1pm St Peter’s Church, West Street, Shoreham-by-Sea. BN43 5WG.  To book a place please contact Ashley ajralston37@gmail.com

 

 

3/ SHOUT Helps those who are really struggling to feed their families and the homeless. If you can spare an extra item from your shopping, please donate it to SHOUT Worthing – Soup Kitchen. There are boxes for food donations at the church entrances of St Mary’s.   Holy Family also support a similar charity.

 

4/ Live Simply Tip of the week cut down meat eating or eliminate altogether, and cut down on dairy foods, and on all food waste.

 

 

5/ Peace Sunday will be held on Sunday 18th January. The Bishops’ Conference encourage us all the use the day to reflect on the Pope’s message for the World Day of Peace on the 1st January.

Pope Leo has said that the theme for his message which will be ‘Peace be with you all: towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace’.

Pax Christi promote Peace Sunday with the support of the Bishop’s Conference and have produced a number of resources to help us reflect including a liturgy and activities for children. You can download these from the Peace Sunday 2026 page on their website www.paxchristi.org.uk  On Peace Sunday, we will be taking a collection to support Pax Christi’s work which includes promoting nonviolence as a way of resolving conflict, advocacy and campaigning for peace and peace education in schools. If you are unable to give on the day then you can also donate via their website www.paxchristi.org.uk/product-category/peace-sunday-appeal/  or scan the QR code

Please take time to visit the display in the Lady Chapel on the 18th Jan. There will be quotes from Pope Leo’s  Message on the board, prayer cards and other resources to take, including Pax Christi’s Newsletter  & White Peace Poppies also available to help us promote Peace in our world

 

 

Happy New Year Everyone

 

1/  Parish Projects Friends of the Holy Land Was recommended to us by Bryan Robinson a long-time Justice & Peace member who sadly passed away in December.  Their vision is for Christians to remain and thrive in the Holy Land so they may build just and lasting pathways to peace in the land where Jesus walked, serving the common good of the entire region.

We sent £500 to this charity, for more information see   Friends of the Holy Land

 

 

2/ Worthing Area Justice & Peace Group invites you to a morning of Living Simply and Bringing Hope to All. Sat January 31st 10am to 1pm St Peter’s Church, West Street, Shoreham-by-Sea. BN43 5WG.  To book a place please contact Ashley ajralston37@gmail.com

 

 

 

3/ SHOUT Helps those who are really struggling to feed their families and the homeless. If you can spare an extra item from your shopping, please donate it to SHOUT Worthing – Soup Kitchen. There are boxes for food donations at the church entrances of St Mary’s.   Holy Family also support a similar charity.

 

 

 

4/ Live Simply Tip of the week for one journey or two per week, don’t use the car. Cycle or walk instead and get some exercise. Average cost of a gym/swim/exercise session – under £50/month. Cost of pedalling or walking fast to work – nothing. Provided by Friends of the Earth

 

 

 

5/ The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. The Story of Stuff

 

 

1/ From CAFOD We would like to thank you for campaigning with us in this Jubilee Year about the global debt crisis. Debt is having a devastating impact on many of the world’s poorest countries, as their governments channel huge sums to rich western banks instead of funding schools and hospitals – and this year we joined together to call for urgent change, whether you signed the worldwide petition, wrote to your MP or came to an event.

The debt crisis has not been solved yet – but as campaigners across the world have made a huge noise about it, world leaders have responded by putting it on the agendas of their global summits, acknowledging that urgent action is needed. Thank you for being part of this.
Almost 45,000 of you signed the petition online or in church! 900 Catholic parishes and schools got involved this year.

We’ll continue campaigning on debt in 2026, pushing for action that would make a huge difference to people living in poverty. Thank you for being with us.  CAFOD – Catholic international development charity

 

 

 

2/ SHOUT Helps those who are really struggling to feed their families and the homeless. If you can spare an extra item from your shopping, please donate it to SHOUT Worthing – Soup Kitchen. There are boxes for food donations at the church entrances of St Mary’s.

As we’re approaching Christmas many families can’t afford to provide presents for their children, if you have any they would be very grateful, also any Christmas food http://www.worthingsoupkitchen.co.uk

Holy Family also support a similar charity.

 

 

 

3/ Plant a Tree scheme. Celebrate a significant faith event by investing in a greener environment. Suitable for baptisms, adult receptions, first communions, confirmations and marriages. For further information  www.nationalforest.org/

 

 

 

 

4/ Parish Projects one of the projects we’re supporting this year is Green Christians.  They are a Christian community and network focused on caring for creation through prayer, simple living, public witness, campaigning, and mutual support, aiming to align faith with environmental stewardship. www.greenchristian.org.uk

Please see below the Christmas Masses for 2026 for our parish. Note there will not be a 5:30pm Mass at St Mary of the Angels, Worthing on Christmas Day.

1/ FR SILVESTER Volunteers If there are any medical professionals who would like to visit the health centre in Uganda to assist us for a short time, we would welcome you. We would welcome specialist critical care nurses/emergency workers to train our staff in emergency care, and ambulance crew to assist staff in the use of the ambulance that has been donated by the parish. Perhaps you could assist at training camps held for our staff or other health units in the area. Free accommodation and food would be provided but volunteers would have to pay their own airfare. If interested, please email rod_rugby@yahoo.co.uk  Home – St Faustina

 

 

2/ The following message was posted earlier this week from Fr Silvester One of our brother priests, Fr Ssekabira was abducted. We are looking for him. Kindly join us in prayer and also publicise to bigger platforms where probably some people in public authority/UK Government can put some pressure on our government in Uganda

The good news is it’s been discovered he’s being held by the government & formal negotiations are now going on for his release.  There’s no further need to campaign on his behalf in the UK

 

 

3/ SHOUT Helps those who are really struggling to feed their families and the homeless. If you can spare an extra item from your shopping, please donate it to SHOUT Worthing – Soup Kitchen. There are boxes for food donations at the church entrances of St Mary’s.

As we’re approaching Christmas many families can’t afford to provide presents for their children, if you have any they would be very grateful, also any Christmas food. Holy Family also support a similar charity. http://www.worthingsoupkitchen.co.uk

 

 

4/ CAFOD World Gift catalogues are available to take from St Mary’s & at Holy Family

 

5/ Live Simply Tip of the week Plant a Tree scheme. Celebrate a significant faith event by investing in a greener environment. Suitable for baptisms, adult receptions, first communions, confirmations and marriages. For further information  www.nationalforest.org/

 

One of our brother priests was abducted. We are looking for him. Kindly join us in prayer and also publicise to bigger platforms where probably some people in public authority/UK Government can put some pressure on our government in Uganda

1/ SHOUT Helps those who are really struggling to feed their families and the homeless. If you can spare an extra item from your shopping, please donate it to SHOUT Worthing – Soup Kitchen. There are boxes for food donations at the church entrances of St Mary’s.

As we’re approaching Christmas many families can’t afford to provide presents for their children, if you have any they would be very grateful, also any Christmas food. Holy Family also support a similar charity. http://www.worthingsoupkitchen.co.uk

 

2/ LIVE SIMPLY Tip of the Week Seasonal food in December Cook with the freshest local produce this month, including Jerusalem artichokes, kale, beetroot, celeriac and parsnips. As well as the veg, look out for apples, pears and chestnuts. Provided by Friends of the Earth http://www.foe.co.uk

 

 

 

3/ Fr Silvester – Any medical professionals who would like to visit the health centre in Uganda sometime in the future for a short time they would be very welcome.  They could be a specialist critical care nurse/ emergency worker to train our staff in emergency care.  And ambulance crew to assist staff in the use of the ambulance that has been donated by the parish.  Training camps can be held for staff & other health units in the area.  Free accommodation and food would be provided but they would have to pay their own airfare. If interested please email rod_rugby@yahoo.co.uk

Home – St Faustina

 

 

 

 

4/ CAFOD World Gift catalogues are available to take from St Mary’s & at Holy Family

 

 

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The Advent Reconciliation services for 2026 across the Worthing Deanery are listed below.

Location	Date	Time
Steyning Christ the King	Tuesday 9th December	10.30am
High Salvington St. Michael’s	Sunday 14th December	3.00pm
Littlehampton St Catherine’s	Tuesday 16th December	7.00pm
Rustington St. Joseph	Wednesday 17th December	10.30am
East Preston Our Lady Star of the Sea	Wednesday 17th December	6.00pm
Goring-by-Sea English Martyrs	Thursday 18th December	7.00pm
Shoreham-by-Sea St Peter’s	Thursday 18th December	7.30 pm
Worthing & Lancing St Mary of the Angels	Saturday 20th December	10:30am
Worthing & Lancing St Mary of the Angels	Saturday 20th December	3:00pm