Deacon Simon Writes: 6th August 2023
Webmaster • August 4, 2023
I wonder, was Jesus in any way affected by his transfiguration? Clearly the disciples were but what about Jesus? Indeed, was Jesus affected by any of his life experiences? Was he changed as a result of his boyhood visit to Jerusalem or even his Baptism? Clearly Jesus knew He was the Son of God, but I suspect that his earthly mission was revealed to him slowly over time as He grew. Why do I say that? Jesus is fully human as well as being fully divine and it is part of human nature to mature and to grow, as St Luke put it “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favour with God and man.”
We also know that Jesus read the Law and the Prophets since he often quotes from the Old Testament. Thus, he would have and come to understand over time of how His mission would progress. But with any mission comes worries and concerns and like any journey, physical or spiritual we need signs. For us the sacraments help us in our faith journey of Baptism, Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation.
I wonder if it is possible that the Transfiguration was in some way Jesus’ confirmation. Did Jesus find the words of his father encouraging? ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour.’ Did these words increase His resolve for the difficult path ahead? Certainly, the Father’s words to us “listen to him“ are a strong encouragement for us to read the gospels!
With my prayer for you every day.
God bless you.
Deacon Simon
Alex Starley’s year as President of Adur Valley Catenians has drawn to a close. Alex chose as his charity fundraising cause our local "Adur Valley SVP". Along with his fellow Catenians, he will present a cheque to Ann Oliver and the SVP team this Sunday 25th May after 9am mass in the parish room. Adur Valley Catenians will be going for a walk afterwards along the beach walk to Lancing and back. The weather is looking fine. All are welcome to join us. Alex and Trish want to take this opportunity to thank the Adur Valley Catenians for their love and support throughout his year as president and always. It was great fun. May God bless you all.
I am going to reveal to you the secret of sanctity and happiness. Every day for five minutes control your imagination and close your eyes to all the noises of the world in order to enter into yourself. Then, in the sanctuary of your baptised soul (which is the temple of the Holy Spirit) speak to that Divine Spirit, saying to Him: O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me. Tell me what I should do; give me Your orders. I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your Will. If you do this, your life will flow along happily, serenely, and full of consolation, even in the midst of trials. Grace will be proportioned to the trial, giving you the strength to carry it and you will arrive at the Gate of Paradise, laden with merit. This submission to the Holy Spirit is the secret of sanctity.
You can sense the closeness of the young church to the Holy Spirit. The disciples were regularly prompted by the Spirit to speak, teach and heal. The Spirit guided them into ways of proclaiming the Truth of the Resurrection of Jesus to an everincreasing number of people from different cultures and traditions and even to those of other faiths. It seemed "good to the Holy Spirit" to share the faith of the risen Jesus with gentiles. The apostolic Church continues to seek the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We saw this in the recent conclave. It was far from a political hustings and more of a retreat to hear the whisper of the desire of the Spirit. Jesus promised this gift to the whole Church at Pentecost: "the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." We prepare for a renewal of this gift in the nine days after the Ascension (Thursday). We can listen to the advice of Cardinal Mercier (1851–1926) as we ask for the same intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit (see overleaf). With my daily prayer for you all. God bless you. Fr Graham.
O God, who chose your servant, Leo XIV in succession to the Apostle Peter as shepherd of the whole flock, look favourably on the supplications of your people and grant that, as Vicar of Christ on earth, he may confirm his brethren and that the whole Church may be in communion with him in the bond of unity, love and peace, so that in you, the shepherd of souls, all may know the truth and attain life eternal. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen
"Regina Caeli” or “O Queen of Heaven” is a musical antiphon addressed to the Blessed Virgin Mary, used in the liturgy during the Easter Season, from Easter Sunday until Pentecost. V . Queen of Heaven rejoice, alleluia. R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia. V . Has risen, as he said, alleluia. R. Pray for us to God, alleluia. V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. R . For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia. Let us pray . O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen
On Sunday Pope Leo XIV will celebrate the Mass of Inauguration of his Petrine Ministry. As Head of State many other leaders from around the world will also be attending. As much as this role is important, I do not think Pope Leo will be thinking this is his main work. He may be Pope, but he is also a missionary priest. Pope Leo's Coat of Arms says a lot about him. As well as the Papal keys, his motto In Illo Uno Unum (“In the One, we are one”), he indicates his love for Mary and his Augustinian Order. The latter is depicted by the emblem of a heart resting on the scriptures and the flaming heart is pierced by an arrow. In the words of Saint Augustine, "You pierced my heart with your love". On the night before He died, Jesus gave His church a new commandment, "that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.". The previous covenant had commanded that we love God with all our heart. But now Jesus extends this love as it overflows from His heart, the heart of God. Jesus gave this to us as at the same time as He gave us the Mass and the day before he was sacrificed for us on the cross. Love unites them all. This is how people will know we are His disciples, if our hearts are on fire with God's love. But like the Augustinian emblem and the heart of Jesus it needs to be pierced with an arrow. It will be evident for all to see what the Lord has done in us, to change us. This is our main work: the power of God's love bringing life from death and the new heavens and the new earth into existence. With my prayer for you all every day. God bless you, Fr Graham.
Work has now started. Over the next few months St Peter’s Church Garden will be transformed with the planting of roses, shrubs and flowers, providing a beautiful place to sit for quiet prayer and reflection. It will be renamed The Rosary Garden. As well as being a prayerful space, the garden will also be a place to remember deceased loved ones. A picture of the plan is available to view in the Parish Room. Parishioners are being invited to become a Patron and make a donation towards the cost of the garden in memory of those loved ones. A Memorial Board will be placed in the Divine Mercy Chapel, which will include the names of Patrons and their loved ones. You can donate via the card machines or use the postbox on the side of the Parish Room. Thank you to everyone who has come forward to donate. If you have any questions please speak to Ann Olliver, or contact Antonia in the Parish Office
The Catholic Diocese of Arundel & Brighton welcomes the election of Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Successor of St Peter and Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church. Responding to the news, Bishop Richard Moth said : "We give thanks that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit the Cardinals have elected Pope Leo XIV. “Pope Leo brings to the office of the Holy Father considerable experience as a bishop and pastor including in Chulucanas, so closely associated with our diocese, together with his more recent service as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops. His prayer for peace in his first words from the balcony at St Peter’s will resonate with Catholics and all people of good will. “This is a significant moment for the Catholic Church and for the world, and we offer our prayers for the Holy Father as he begins his Pontificate." Pope Leo, the first Pope from the United States of America, was born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago, Illinois. In 1977, he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine in the province of Our Lady of Good Counsel, in Saint Louis. On 29 August 1981 he made his solemn vows. He studied at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago, receiving a diploma in theology. At the age of 27 he was sent by the Order to Rome to study canon law at the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University (Angelicum). He received priestly ordination on 19 June 1982. He received his licentiate in 1984, and was then sent to work in the mission of Chulucanas, in Piura, Peru (1985-1986); the Diocese of Chulucanas. In 1987, he was awarded a doctorate with the thesis: “The role of the local prior in the Order of Saint Augustine”. In the same year he was elected director of vocations and director of the missions of the Augustinian province of “Mother of Good Counsel” of Olympia Fields, Illinois. On 3 November 2014, Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, elevating him to the dignity of bishop and assigning him the titular diocese of Sufar. He was ordained a bishop on 12 December, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the cathedral of his diocese. He was created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory of 30 September 2023, of the Deaconry of Santa Monica.
This Sunday we begin a Month of Prayer for Vocations (see below), and there will be a second collection for The Education of Future Priests.
We give thanks to God for a new Pope: our Holy Father, the Servant of the Servants of God, Pope Leo XIV. We must pray for him and ask Jesus to protect and lead him as our Shepherd and Vicar of Christ. May he hear the voice of the Lord, know Him and follow Him. Together with Mary may we all be gathered as the flock of Christ and brought safely home to heaven. May no one be "snatch(ed)" out of the Lord's hand. The apostles preached the risen Christ fearlessly in the face of great opposition. When they and the Good News were rejected, they went to where it was unheard. This is still the mandate of the Church. To build bridges, as Pope Leo stated, so that the Gospel can be heard. Bridges does not mean a watered down faith. What is true is true. But so that everyone can receive God's love. Christ is the bridge and humanity needs Christ. As Pope Leo said on the balcony of St Peter's Basilica "God loves us all, unconditionally". Pope Leo has taken his name from Leo XIII who wrote the important document on catholic social teaching - Rerum Novarum (1891). Like his predecessors we can anticipate a voice for the poor, criticism of political ideologies and a love of Jesus and Mary. May Pope Leo be leonine in his Petrine ministry. Pray for him. With my joyful prayer for you all. God bless you Fr Graham