Bishop Stephen celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at Westminster Cathedral on Friday
Webmaster • November 6, 2026
Speaking during the homily he explored his journey as a sixteenyear-old teenager who didn't believe in God, to priesthood and his appointment as Bishop of Arundel & Brighton.
Highlighting the importance of sharing our "gift of faith" he affirmed the role of church communities as places "of love, of welcome and of belonging" where people can find grace and hope.
“[I need] to be rooted in a place, a people” he said. “In a world of social media, AI companions, hypermobility and working-from-home, how hard it is to build lasting relationships and find communities where we are truly known; and how many of us are struggling with loneliness?
“We need to work on this as a Church. Our parishes are meant to be communities of love, of welcome, and of belonging. That doesn’t just happen. It takes a lot of investment and commitment.
“To be with others as Christian brothers and sisters when they may not be your best mates or your obvious social group; to care for one another, simply to know someone’s name, and to be known in return. Our parishes should be beacons shining out for everyone who is searching for a place to belong. That takes someone – you, me – who is willing to reach out and simply say hello.”
Come and deepen your devotion to Our Lady at this inspiring day of prayer and reflection on Sunday 22 November, from 12:30pm, in Chelsea, London. Featuring Sr Angela de Fátima Coelho and Fr Lawrence Lew OP, the programme includes Mass, the Rosary, a Marian Procession, talks, and devotions centred on the message of Fatima and the First Saturdays. Free to attend - all are welcome. Please bring a packed lunch. Registration required: https://bit.ly/4dgPDE3
The Vision statement for the new parish has been agreed at a meeting of the Clergy Team as follows: “Our vision is to be a vibrant, joyful, Christ-centric Catholic family of communities, where everyone is made welcome. Inspired by God’s love and compassion we seek to grow together in faith, nurture each other’s talents and care for the vulnerable and marginalised.” The Leadership Team has now penned three draft Mission Statements as follows: Our Prayer Mission: To provide opportunities to deepen our relationship with God through prayer at all stages of life. Our Formation Mission: To develop and equip all people to grow in faith and become confident disciples knowing and imitating Christ. Our Outreach Mission: To welcome everyone with joy and create safe places which transforms our faith into action in our churches as well as in the wider society. If you have any comments on the Mission Statements, please speak or email me or any of the PFM Team. Thank you, Deacon Simon
To "pursue in freedom of heart the things that are yours" - words from today's opening prayer at Mass (Collect). It takes wisdom to know what things are God's, to know what God wants or what pleases Him. This wisdom will not come from knowledge per se, but by revelation. We need to be open to God's ways, designs, laws, grace and love. These ways may not be what we are used to or even expected to take for granted nowadays but they are true and eternal. For this necessary transformation to take place within us we need two things: freedom of heart and responsibility. Freedom to choose the things that are God's means to be free (repent) from those habits, assumptions and desires that enslave us. We are individually called to take responsibility for our faith, just as the "wise virgins" took responsibility for having enough oil for their lamps. Freedom does not mean just doing what we like but being free to love God and our neighbour more. Jesus asks us to be truly wise and truly free to follow Him. By His cross and resurrection, He has set us free to do this. Freedom always comes at a cost as we know so well from our Remembrance Day commemorations. With my prayer for you all. God bless you Fr Graham
The Prayer of St. Gertrude Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home, and within my family. Amen. The Prayer of St. Gertrude is a beautiful prayer asking God's mercy for the Holy Souls in Purgatory and for sinners throughout the world. Catholics pray it because it offers the infinite merits of Christ's Precious Blood to the Father and unites our prayer with all the Masses being celebrated that day. It reflects the Church's belief in the Communion of Saints: the faithful on earth can help those being purified after death through prayer, sacrifice, and above all, the Holy Mass. In Catholic teaching, the souls in Purgatory are already saved and destined for heaven but undergo a final purification before entering God's presence. Because they can no longer help themselves, they depend on the prayers of the Church. For this reason, the Prayer of St. Gertrude remains a cherished act of charity and hope for both the dead and the living.
Catholics across our community of faith welcomed a new bishop on Monday, when Fr Stephen Wang was ordained as the sixth Bishop of our Diocese. Words from St Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians form the basis of Bishop Stephen’s episcopal motto: “Veritas in caritate.” Reflecting on their significance on Monday, he said: “‘To speak the truth in love’ is a phrase that has inspired my whole priesthood: the search for truth, and the conviction that truth and love can never contradict. If we love God, and love our neighbour; if we seek the truth and speak the truth in love; what more could God want from us, and what more could we hope for each other? “I’ve felt remarkably peaceful over the last three months,” he continued. “It’s definitely a grace – the spiritual joy and consolation I’ve experienced since my appointment. I’m not complacent; I understand there will be challenges, but I know it’s all in God’s hands.”
Thank you for all your prayers, support, cards and patience. Thank you to Fr Tony and Fr Dominic, and everyone who has worked hard to keep our parish thriving. Just to say I’m back, but please be gentle! My prayer for you all and all visitors to our parish. God bless you. Fr Graham
The annual blessing of the graves will take place next Sunday, 1st November. Throughout November, we will have the Books of Remembrance in the church. Please come and write in names of loved ones who have died in the past year (no need to rewrite names from previous years).
This week, in our Gospel reading, we hear about exclusion. The first people invited to the feast exclude themselves, they are too busy, and so others are invited. Indifference to God can affects us all. So, what can be done? Jesus has not just pointed out the problem He has also given us a way from falling into the trap of being, too busy for God. What did Jesus say to Martha when she complained that her sister, Mary, was not helping with the preparation of food? “Mary has chosen what is better.” Jesus does not say that Martha is doing something wrong, preparing food is a good thing to do, but it was not the priority at that moment. Learning to prioritise the sacred over the secular is tricky, St. Vincent de Paul taught that “if you are praying in the chapel and hear a knock at the door from someone in need, you should leave your prayer because Jesus is knocking.” To help with this dilemma I offer a piece of advice once given to me by a Bishop. Read the gospels. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach. With Blessings and my prayers for you all, Deacon Simon
To tie in with our hosting of the Eucharistic Miracles Exhibition of Saint Carlo Acutis in the Parish Room at St Peter’s this autumn, we are planning a special day on Saturday 17th October , centred around Saint Carlo Acutis, with a FirstClass Relic. We are fortunate to have speaker Anna Johnstone, Guardian of the Relic and former Governess to the Acutis Family visiting our parish. Since 2017 Anna has given presentations on the life and spirituality of Saint Carlo Acutis, facilitated missions, and helped new Saint Carlo apostolates, across the UK. Anna is a British Catholic convert who read Theology at Cambridge. The day will include mass, prayer, veneration of the relic, adoration, exhibition and talks. You are welcome to all or part of the day. Tea/coffee available; please bring a packed lunch. Exhibition Dates: 17 October – 1 November 2026 Please help us spread the word by taking a poster and/or flyers. All are welcome
From our second reading: ‘Practise these things, and the God of peace will be with you.’ [Philippians 4:9] The phrase ‘the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’ appears in Psalm 118, and in today’s Gospel, and in the Acts of the Apostles, (4:11). Occurring before, during, and after the life of Jesus suggests to me that it is one of the more meaningful descriptions of the Messiah, Jesus. The cornerstone of a building is the most important stone in a foundation; it sets the angles, alignment, and structural integrity of the entire building. All other parts of the building are placed in relation to the cornerstone. So, what is our relationship with Jesus as cornerstone? Jesus is our spiritual cornerstone, and our prayer life should be modelled on His. Jesus is our physical cornerstone and everything we do should be aligned to His actions. Jesus is our mental cornerstone, and our thoughts should mirror His thoughts. I find thinking like Jesus the hardest because Jesus showed us how to pray, and he showed us what to do, but he did not specifically tell us what to think. Fortunately, St. Paul is a help, he suggests that whatever is true, honourable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, anything excellent and anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Happy thinking and Blessings, Deacon Simon