OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE
Serving the Church communities of St Peter, Shoreham ; Christ the King, Steyning ; The Towers Convent, Upper Beeding
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LIVE MASS
Watch the altar and the Tabernacle anytime by playing the Live Stream opposite. Mass Times and schedules can be seen below
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JUST GIVING
In addition to our Livestream available 24 hours a day above, a selection of recent services are below. These can be played back directly here on our website, or from our YouTube channel available by clicking here . By subscribing to our channel you will also be notified of any upcoming livestreams or new recordings.
Serving the Parish of Adur Valley
Our Lady Queen of Peace is a vibrant and active Catholic parish serving the communities of Shoreham and Steyning and Towers (Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament) Convent, Upper Beeding. We seek to enrich the faith of our brothers and sisters within the parish, and strive to deliver the gospel message to our neighbours; particularly those in need of God's love and compassion
Parish News and Updates
Find out about our parish news, updates and activities. Feel free to download our recent parish newsletter, or simply read our current news found within this section.
Parish News
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Parish News
Our very latest news updates and information about the parish activities.
You can watch the talk, ‘The New Eve’, given by Father Graham last Wednesday using this link: https://www.youtube.com/@ABCharismaticDSC/streams There were some connectivity and power issues on the night, but if you scroll to 13 minutes 50 seconds, you’ll see the talk in full. The next talk will be on ‘Salvation’, given by Deacon Phil Richardson, on Wednesday 17th April, 8.00pm. Click here for more information: https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/news/promise -father
We have built up a large collection of new/nearly new childrens’ books, from toddler to teen, which we will be selling next Sunday after the 9.00am mass at St Peter’s. All proceeds will go to the SVP sponsorship of education of primary and secondary school children in India. Please note: we don’t need any more books donated! Please come to the sale, where we can take cash and card payments. Thank you.
Jason and Tom now comprise our hardworking maintenance team working across both churches, halls, presbytery and priests house. They have a programme of work identified by the recent independent 5-year premises survey, that is required by all churches, as well as the routine maintenance, repairs and safety checks carried out throughout the year. We are very grateful that they came forward to undertake this important role. If you notice anything that requires repair or attention do not hesitate to contact the Parish Office and the team will do the rest.
Our thanks go to one of our very talented parishioners, who has created this beautiful display, depicting the tomb of our Lord. You are encouraged to come and spend some time here. There are some cards listing some of the important details to look for. Please take one away with you.
A fairground rollercoaster starts at ground level and then rises to the highest high only to plunge to the lowest low followed by many other highs and lows which slowly diminish until we return to ground level. Holy week is a spiritual rollercoaster but in reverse! It starts with a spiritual high, Palm Sunday, but we drop to the low of spy Wednesday then our spirits are raised up on Maundy Thursday but then drop to the lowest spiritual low of Good Friday. Finally we are launched up to the highest high Easter Sunday, Resurrection Hallelujah! Our spiritual rollercoaster has left us on a spiritual high that spills over to Easter Monday, when many of us have an extra day’s holiday. But what happens next Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday? During next week, we will still be coming down from the high of today but to what spiritual level will we get to by next Sunday? Just as gravity pulls the rollercoaster back down to earth so too our everyday worldly tasks, going to work, home making, shopping tends pull our spirit back down to earth. To help with next week I offer a short prayer that you can recite, in the morning, in the evening, as you go to bed or whenever. Father, I live in the world that you have made.  With all the distractions and tribulations that mankind has made. Jesus, help me this week to seek your face in the people I meet and so raise my spirit high enough so that I may come and meet with you again in Church next Sunday. Amen Have a happy and holy Easter, Deacon Simon
Parish Homilies
Our Lady Queen of Peace - Weekly Sermons and Reflections from Fr Graham - parish priest.
This Good Shepherd Sunday, at the request of Bishop Richard, we begin a month of prayer for Vocations, especially for future Priests for our diocese. A vocation, especially the Priesthood, is not a career path that we choose. Every vocation, including marriage, is a calling from God, to which we consent and say "Yes". It is both personal and communal. A priest isn't a priest for himself but to serve Christ and His people in the Church. The same is true for all vocations. Jesus always calls enough priests, deacons, religious, spouses, teachers, prophets, consecrated, healers. The problem is not the call but the hearing. We need to "know" the Good Shepherd in order to hear His voice. Behind every vocation there is a story. Jesus knows us well. We are His children, He knows what we shall become and He has "laid down (His) life for us". He is the only One through whom we can be saved. The urgency for more priests is not so that we can keep our diocese and parishes going, but so that more people might be saved by Jesus through the sacraments. Jesus will never leave us, even if we are scattered. He is still calling us to follow Him wherever He may lead us. With my prayer for you all this Eastertide and especially those to be anointed this week. God bless you.  Fr Graham
Most Recent Sunday Homily
Fr Graham's most recent audio only recording
Parish Schools
Find out about the schools connected to Our Lady Queen of Peace - View Here
Parish Homilies (Audio)
Unable to make Mass, or simply want to recollect this week's homily? Listen to Fr Graham's Audio collection - View Here
Parish Facebook Page
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page and reference OLQP - Fr Graham with any offering
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Parish / Diocese Events
Join us at one of our many parish events - Help us to continue our community work.
Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking – Communities and Parishes Presentation, 29 June, 11am-1pm, Shoreham-by -Sea BN43 5WG. Join members of the Santa Marta Group for a presentation and discussion on topics including 'What is Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking?' With an introduction to the Santa Marta Group, and case examples. Contact Tessa Ricketts to find out more, or see poster in the church porch.
People from across our diocesan family of faith are invited to join Bishop Richard and members of clergy at the annual Chrism Mass at Arundel Cathedral on Wednesday 27 March at 6pm. The Chrism Mass is one of the most beautiful Masses of the year and is celebrated in Catholic cathedrals across the world during Holy Week. During the Mass, Bishop Richard will bless the holy oils used to anoint people receiving the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, or ordination, or to bring them strength and comfort when they are sick. Diocesan priests will also renew the promises they made at their ordinations, committing "to be more united with the Lord Jesus" and to celebrate the sacraments and teach the faith, "moved only by zeal for souls." Would you like to join this year’s celebration? - All are welcome and there is no need to book. To watch the service online click here and visit our l ivestream webpage
Prayer in person • Tuesdays at CTK: 9.30am Stations of the Cross, 10.00am Mass, 10.30am Adoration & Confessions • Wednesdays at SP: 10.00am ‘The Way of the Cross’ with Deacon Simon & Cecilia. Follow the Way of the Cross in prayer, reflection & song. Different images and prayers will be used each week. • Thursdays at SP: 7.30pm Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet & Confessions • Fridays at SP: 9.30am Mass, 10.00am Stations of the Cross, 10.30am Invited Diocesan Mission – film and discussion and tea/coffee. • Sundays (SP/St Mary de Haura alternate weeks): 4.00pm Stations of the Cross (Mary de Haura: February 18th, March 3rd and March 17th. St Peter’s: February 25th, March 10th and March 24th). Prayer online • Mondays on Zoom: 7.30pm Rosary • Thursdays on Zoom: Diocesan Invited Mission (see Diocesan website for details of how to join) • Fridays on Zoom: 3.00pm Divine Mercy Chaplet & Stations of the Cross Printed & Online Resources • We have ‘Day by Day’ diaries, junior & infant ‘Day by Day’ diaries and calendars for children. Available in church porches. Please take one. • Pray More Lenten Retreat: https://praymoreretreat.org/ . An online retreat with inspiring talks to help you grow closer to Christ. Begins 14th February.
Something for the children
World Apostolate of Fatima
Our Lady Queen of Peace supports this beautiful Apostolate
Diocese and Church News
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Dear brothers and sisters, This Sunday’s Gospel Reading, taken from Luke’s text, follows on from the Emmaus encounter with the Lord and begins with the two disciples recounting their experience. As we read the Gospels describing the post-Resurrection appearances of the Lord, we might wonder why Jesus’ followers were so slow to catch on! Mary of Magdala, Peter, John, Thomas, the disciples on the road to Emmaus – the number of experiences grows as we read the Gospels. Yet still, the Lord needs to offer proof that He is truly risen. He questions their doubts and eats in their presence – further proof that He is truly alive, risen from the dead. Luke then writes that Jesus "opened their minds to understand the scriptures." Through our baptism, we belong to Him. We are called to live our lives in the love that exists in God. We receive the Holy Spirit – the same Holy Spirit that came upon the Apostles at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit who is the gift of the Risen Christ. Our minds, too, can be open to understand the scriptures; minds free from any doubt that the Lord has truly risen. This conviction is the gift that is the foundation for our mission as the Body of Christ – the mission to proclaim His life and love to a world in need – a mission we must carry out with total conviction and with every gift that God, in His mercy, has given to us. In this mission lies our joy and fulfilment. With every blessing, + Richard
There are still opportunities to make your confession before Easter: Sunday 24th March, 3.00pm: St Michael’s, High Salvington Tuesday 26th March, 7.00pm: St Catherine’s, Littlehampton Wednesday 27th March, 10.30am: St Joseph, Rustington Father Graham will also hear confessions at CTK after mass on Tuesday morning (approx. 10.30am) and at St Peter’s after mass on Maundy Thursday evening (approx. 8.30pm), and after the solemn Liturgy on Good Friday (approx. 4.15pm).
Dear brothers and sisters, “Hosanna to the Son of David” – our welcome to the Lord as He enters Jerusalem is a welcome to the One Who brings hope to a very broken world. With conflict raging in so many places across our world, the Lord comes to suffer, die and rise from the dead that we might know His peace – the peace that only He can bring. As we follow Him into our churches this Palm Sunday – and as we walk with Him in the events of His life-giving passion, death and resurrection – may we walk with our suffering sisters and brothers, wherever they may be. Let us accompany them in their suffering as we accompany the Lord in His suffering. Today, we shall listen to the Passion account given us by St Mark. Do not, as it were, leave this text at the church door when you leave. Take it with you in mind and heart. Read it again over the coming days. Allow the inspired words that are an account of our salvation to find a home in you. The more we dwell in the Gospel, the more we dwell in Christ, in the One who suffered, died and rose again for us. The more we dwell in Christ, the more open we shall be to His gift of peace – a gift that is for the whole world. With every blessing, + Richard
Dear brothers and sisters, The Fourth Sunday of Lent is Laetare Sunday. We mark this day with rose coloured vestments at Mass. The word Laetare is taken from the Entrance Antiphon for Mass: "Rejoice, Jerusalem". Perhaps we do not see Lent as a time for rejoicing – it is the penitential season of our year – yet there must be always an element of rejoicing in the life of the Christian. In this Sunday’s first reading, from the Book of Chronicles, the writer tells of the coming of Cyrus, King of Persia, who allows the people of Israel to return home after some seventy years of exile in Babylon. The yearning of the people for their homeland, expressed in the Responsorial Psalm, comes to an end and Cyrus, in response to his own experience of God’s call to him, also allows the people to rebuild their temple. The Chosen People of Israel find their unity once again, their dignity is restored. They can be at home once more. They rejoice. St Paul, writing to the Ephesians, speaks of a different separation. This is the separation that comes through sin. The conscious turning away from God that is sin brings exile. We find ourselves living in the darkness that is separation from God’s love. The greater our turning away, the greater the separation – the more distant the exile. Yet, as St Paul celebrates in his letter, God’s mercy is generous and in Christ we see the richness of His love, His grace. Through the saving work of Jesus, we can recognise once more that we are truly works of art, created by and for the love of God. We can be at home once more – brought home through Jesus' Passion, Death and Resurrection. We rejoice. Jesus, in his conversation with Nicodemus, describes His own saving work: “God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but so that through Him the world might be saved.” This is the reason for our rejoicing. We must lament our sins, a necessary part of our Lenten journey, but we do this knowing that God’s love and mercy – in the saving work of Jesus – overcomes even the darkest moments, the darkest places of our lives. Christ Jesus calls us home to live His life. This is the only way we can be truly at home. In Him we rejoice. With every blessing, + Richard
Vocations
Are you feeling increasingly compelled to spend time with Jesus? Do you find that your time is spent seeking him and all things connected with him?
More about Vocations
If you have questions and you need some help with the answers, then firstly pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you to understand what it is Jesus wants from you.
Bishop Richard - A talk on Mary leading us to Her Son
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Persecuted Christians
Christian's are now the most persecuted people in the world. See how God's people are being treated in various places and how you can help to make a difference.
Pope Francis
"Brothers and Sisters, in moments when we are far from God, it would do us good to hear this voice in our heart." - "My Son, my Daughter, what are you doing? Please don't kill yourself, I died for you."