Called to Serve
Webmaster • December 19, 2025
Did you serve when you were younger? Perhaps you’ve never thought it was for you. Altar Servers are an integral part of Sunday worship. Tasked with assisting the priest, they ensure that at each section of the mass, the various books and sacred vessels are brought to the altar at the correct time.
There is arguably no better way to be so closely part of the Eucharist, to serve God and your community. We welcome people of any age, who have made their First Communion, to consider this important role. Full training is provided. For more information speak to Fr Graham, or one of the servers.
Last week we celebrated the Annunciation of the Lord. The moment when the Archangel visited Mary and greeted her with the words of the rosary. It is at this moment, after Mary's consent, that the Word became flesh - God with us in the womb of Mary. I wonder if Mary perceived that her simple and uncomplicated "yes" would lead to the events of Holy Week? Yes, she was scared at the sight and message of the Angel but this would fall into distant memory compared to her emotions during her Son's suffering and death. Mary heard the prophesy of Simeon and expected a "sword to pierce her own soul". This was it's fulfilment. She would not have left her Son's side, especially in death. When we give our consent to God's will in our life, when we renew our promises of baptism, we cannot envisage what being faithful to Jesus will mean for us either. Jesus calls us to pick up our cross daily and follow Him, step by step. We know where our final destination is but we do not know the route, only that there will be a Gethsemane, a betrayal, a crowd, a mocking and a Calvary for each of us. Persevere to the end through faith. Do we think that Mary, our heavenly Mother, will abandon us? Our sufferings cause a pain in the same heart of Mary as for her Divine Son, as each sin caused her Son to flinch in an inflicted wound. For love of us He died, for Love of us she follows. Try to keep Jesus and Mary company this Holy Week, especially the last Three Days. The Triduum is the climax of the year, the holiest of Holy Week. Come and see how much He loves you. With my prayer for you and a profound Holy Week. God bless you, Fr Graham.
Thank you to everyone who came to our Fatima day. The attendance numbers were much higher than previous years. Thank you to all parishioners who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, before, during and after the weekend. We had several comments from visitors noting how welcome they felt. Jerry, (one of the representatives from the WAF) wrote: Thank you very much for an inspiringly beautiful weekend at OLQP! I told the team that this was an edifying start of our year of visitations! It makes us continue to volunteer and spread the message of Our Lady at Fatima. I would like to extend again the invitation for a parish pilgrimage to Westminster Cathedral on Saturday, 31 October, from 12 noon to 5 pm. This will be the Culmination of the Cathedral Visitations in celebration of the Pontevedra Centenary, which began in May 2025. Ave Maria!
The Sacred Paschal Triduum (at St Peter’s, Shoreham) Maundy Thursday (2nd April 2026) 19.30 Mass of the Lord’s Supper Good Friday (3rd April 2026) 15.00 Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion Holy Saturday (4th April 2026) 20.30 The Solemn Vigil of Easter Easter Sunday masses across the parish (5th April) 09.00 Mass at St Peter’s 10.00 Mass at The Towers 11.00 Mass at Christ the King
Lenten Alms: Let the Children Live Some information about the second charity we are supporting this Lent: Many boys and girls in Medellín (Columbia) live in poverty, and in recent years their numbers have been swollen by an influx of Venezuelan children, forced by hunger to seek refuge in Colombia. They need food, shelter, medical care, catechesis, clothing, education, toys and recreation. It is our mission at Let The Children Live! to try to provide these for as many children as we can. Colombia receives very little aid from the UK. Your gift will benefit children there who are in great need. It will help to keep them alive, to make their lives worth living, and to build a better future. Unlike some charities, we never spend more than 5 pence in the pound on fund-raising. 1. £50 would provide lunch and a healthy snack for one child at Casa Walsingham for one month. 2. £25 would pay for one child's bus fares to and from Casa Walsingham for one month. 3. £10 would buy a school pack for one child of primary age
As last year we will come together as a united parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace to celebrate the Sacred Triduum. For practical reasons, the best place to do this is St Peter’s in Shoreham. I hope that people from all parts of the parish will want to be involved in the liturgy. We need welcomers, volunteers for feet washing, readers, servers, people to keep watch (on Thursday evening), and singers. I’d like to have a team of people fully representing our wonderful parish. If you can help (including offering lifts to fellow parishioners), please email the office or leave a message 01273 452654. All are welcome.
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord. Everyone who believes in me shall never die. According to the Gospels, Jesus raised three people from the dead during his ministry, demonstrating his authority over life and death. These specific miracles are the raising of Jairus's daughter, the widow's son at Nain, and Lazarus of Bethany. Jairus's Daughter (Mark 5:21-43): Jesus raised a 12-year-old girl immediately after her death, telling mourners she was only sleeping. This occurred in the home of Jairus, a synagogue leader in Capernaum, living a long way away from Jerusalem. The Widow's Son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17): Jesus interrupted a funeral procession, moved by compassion for the widow, and commanded her only son to wake. This occurred approximately 6 miles southeast of Nazareth, located a long way away from Jerusalem. Lazarus of Bethany (John 11:1-44): Jesus raised Lazarus after he had been dead for four days, demonstrating his power even after decomposition had begun. This occurred in Bethany, a small village about two miles from Jerusalem, right under the noses of Jewish authorities. Some people who witnessed the raising of Lazarus reported it to the Pharisees and when Caiaphas hears this ‘from that day on they made plans to put him to death.’ Why did the Jewish authorities decide this? Caiaphas said ‘it is better for you that one man should die for the people not that a whole nation should perish.’ Ironically Caiaphas is correct, without the death of Jesus there is no resurrection and only by the resurrection can all be saved. With my prayers, Deacon Simon
Please note the times below:
5 Apr Easter Egg Raffle and Easter Egg Hunt at St Peter’s 23 Apr Afternoon Tea for St George’s Day at St Peter’s
We have had a few important events in our parish over the last week, notably the World Day of Prayer, the WAF visitation and the Healing Service. I felt immensely proud of the teamwork, welcome and hospitality, and prayer of parishioners
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession, Penance) assures us of the forgiveness of God. We might think that we can go to God directly ourselves, and we can and should. But, when we make a daily confession like this, we are asking for God to forgive us, just as we do at the beginning of Mass. When we go to sacramental confession with a Priest, we celebrate the power and fruits of Jesus' death and resurrection. Jesus said to Peter that we can be assured of our forgiveness in this sacrament and He gave authority to priests to do so in HIS name. Only God can forgive sins. If we are sorry, do not want to commit the sin again and intend to do so, then we are REALLY forgiven. Just as at our baptism our souls are washed clean in the blood of Jesus. We are given new life. We should try to go to confession regularly, for venial sins and especially grave sins. God is waiting to pour His mercy into our hearts.