Deacon Simon Writes: 22nd March 2026
Webmaster • March 20, 2026
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
May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, honouring her as the Mother of God and Queen of Heaven. We will crown her statue in our churches this weekend. We have a longstanding First Saturdays Devotion in our parish and it was good to see so many parishioners and visitors at the recent visit from the World Apostolate of Fatima, England & Wales, in March this year. They write... What is achieved by fulfilling the Five First Saturdays devotion? In the first instance we comply with the desire of Jesus to establish devotion to Mary’s Immaculate Heart, as revealed by Our Lady in her second apparition on 13th June 1917. She then went on to say, “I promise salvation to those who embrace it, and these souls will be loved by God, like flowers placed by me to adorn his throne.” When we fulfil the requirements for making this devotion, as revealed by Our Lady on 10th December 1925, we make reparation for the thorns of blasphemies and ingratitude which pierce Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart and by which she is offended. Our Lady then promises to assist those souls who make this devotion “at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation.” What a wonderful consolation, to know that at the moment of death when it is natural to feel a sense of apprehension, one need not fear because Our Lady will be there to assist with the graces needed to ensure eternal salvation! May God bless you and Our Lady pray for you. Fr Graham
Join us for a Table Top Sale in aid of the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) on Saturday 9th May at the former St Charles Borromeo Church, located at the junction of Ham Road and Chesswood Road in Worthing. Doors open at 10.00 a.m. There will be a wide variety of items for sale — bric-a-brac, clothes, books, and more. All proceeds will go to support the charitable work of the SVP. Please come along, find some bargains, and support a great cause!
The temporary base the SVP runs out of the former St Charles Borromeo Church needs more helpers. We need help with: • additional drivers - under 70 years old with licence category C. This would be on a rota x1/ month • repairing furniture - small repairs to donated furniture. • sorting of donations - kitchen goods, clothing, bedding etc. If you can help with any of these please contact: Rosaleen Murphy, St Catherine's - stcatherinessvp@gmail.com Sheila Padwick, St Michael's - TreasurerA010406@svp.org.uk Ann Olliver, St Peter's - PresidentA010406@svp.org.uk
Would you be interested in being a small group leader, refreshment maker or prayer minister at our diocesan Young Adult retreats? The Diocese of Arundel and Brighton are looking to run Young Adult retreat days for those aged 18-35 across the diocese. Each will be a day of Faith, Fellowship, Formation and Food! But we need your help...if you are aged 18+ and are interested in supporting these events, please email the Diocesan Youth Project Officer, Bex Driver E : bex.driver@abdiocese.org.uk
Saturday 18 July 12 noon – 4.15pm , Church of Our Lady of Consolation & St Francis, West Grinstead, RH13 8LT. A pilgrimage for people across our diocese - the day includes Holy Mass, a personal Consecration to Our Lady, the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, Exposition, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Adoration and Benediction. There is no need to book, to find out more contact Linda C-Dominguez T:01273463463 or M:07944377252 or Jayne Lock M: 07816422851 or E: jayne.lock1@gmail.com . Please bring a packed lunch.
The Diocesan Vocations Team has launched a special month of prayer for vocations beginning this Sunday. As Catholics, we know that God has a plan for each of us and has called us by name through our baptism, to holiness. He continues to call out to us each day to be His disciples; some to the married life, some to the single life, some to religious life and some to the priesthood. In a Message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Pope Leo highlights the importance of daily prayer and cultivating a personal relationship with God: “We must urgently recommence our vocational ministry and renew our commitment to evangelisation” he said. “In light of this, I invite everyone –– in families, parishes and religious communities, as well as bishops, priests, deacons, catechists, educators and all the faithful –– to commit themselves more fully to creating conditions that allow this gift to be embraced, nourished, protected and accompanied, so that it may bear abundant fruit. “Only when our surroundings are illumined by living faith, sustained by constant prayer and enriched by fraternal accompaniment can God’s call blossom and mature, becoming a path of happiness and salvation for individuals and for the world. By embarking on the path that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, shows us, we come to know more deeply both ourselves and the God who calls us… “Dear brothers and sisters, dear young people, I encourage you to cultivate your personal relationship with God through daily prayer and meditation on the Word. Pause, listen and entrust yourselves. In this way, the gift of your vocation will mature, bringing you happiness and yielding abundant fruit for the Church and the world.”
‘United in prayer we save our children’ ‘Mothers Prayers’ was launched in England in 1995. At that time, two grandmothers felt led by the Lord to pray in a special way for their children. The movement has spread throughout the world and is now in over 100 countries. Our parish group meets on the first Friday of the month, in the Parish Room at St Peter’s, from 10.00am until 11.00am. Open to all mothers, including spiritual mothers, godmothers and grandmothers. “As mothers learn to trust each other, through their prayers and sharing together, their burdens become lighter”.
Our thanks go to one of our very talented parishioners, who has created this beautiful display, depicting the tomb of our Lord. We encourage you to come and spend some time here. We have some cards listing some of the important details to look for. Please take one away with you.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Priests are called to be shepherds too, modelling their life on the One who lays down His life for His sheep. Vocations to the Priesthood find their source in Christ. It is not my priesthood but His. In fact we are all His and all our vocations, whatever they are, come from Jesus. When we pray for vocations to the priesthood we should look to see what Jesus wants and He looks at the heart for faithful disciples to become shepherds. Pope Leo writes about how we discern our vocation. He says "create space to listen to the Lord's voice". “In this way, you will come to know the Lord. Through the intimacy of his friendship, you will discover how to give of yourselves, whether through marriage, the priesthood, the permanent diaconate, or consecrated life”. Creating space for interior silence means we begin to recognise His voice through Eucharistic adoration, spending time each day meditating on the Bible, doing works of charity, and participating fully in the sacramental life of the Church. Jesus also describes Himself as the door to the sheepfold. No one comes to the Father except through Him. He guards His sheep and is the protector of our souls. He knows each one of us and what He is asking us to be and do. Let us discern and recognise His voice in the midst of the noise and anxiety of life. His voice is the password to our soul. May God continue to bless you this Eastertide. With my daily prayer for you. Fr Graham
Friday 29 May 6.30pm , English Martyrs Catholic Church, Goring-by-Sea, BN12 4UH. People across our community of faith are invited to join Worthing Deanery Justice & Peace Group and pray for peace in our world. The Mass, celebrated by Fr Liam O’Connor, will offer an opportunity to pray for all those impacted by war, and for healing. All are welcome, there is no need to book.