Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This Sunday, as we gather for the Palm Sunday celebration, our Holy Week begins. The joyous message that greets the Messiah as he enters Jerusalem must, surely, bring hope to a world in which so many of our brothers and sisters are suffering the effects of conflict, injustice and the impact of natural disasters. As we enter Jerusalem in the celebration of the Palm Sunday Liturgy, let us take with us in prayer our brothers and sisters across the world. In our prayer, in our lives, let us seek to walk with them in their suffering as, in the coming days, we spend time with the One who is the Suffering Servant. As the Passion is read this Sunday, let us make every effort to walk with Jesus in every step that he takes. In the days to come this week, I invite you to take parts of the Passion account and make use of them for Lectio Divina. This prayerful reflection on the sacred text will bring the words of the Gospel to a place in the heart, where we listen in faith to the One who calls us to be His. The more we dwell in the Gospel, the more we dwell in Christ, in the One who suffered, died and rose again for us. May God bless you all, + Richard

Bishop of Arundel & Brighton Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of England & Wales on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill 5/6 April 2025 Fifth Sunday of Lent My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I wish to speak with you today about the process in which our Parliament is currently considering legalising assisted suicide through the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. As I have made clear earlier in this debate, as Catholics we have maintained a principled objection to this change in law recognising that every human life is sacred, coming as a gift of God and bearing a God-given dignity. We are, therefore, clearly opposed to this Bill in principle, elevating, as it does, the autonomy of the individual above all other considerations. The passage of the Bill through Parliament will lead to a vote in late April on whether it progresses further. This will be a crucial moment and I, together with all the Bishops of England and Wales, am writing to ask your support in urging your MP to vote against this Bill at that time. There are serious reasons for doing so. At this point we wish not simply to restate our objections in principle, but to emphasise the deeply flawed process undergone in Parliament thus far. We wish to remind you that it is a fundamental duty of every MP to ensure that legislation is not imposed on our society which has not been properly scrutinised and which will bring about damaging consequences. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will fundamentally change many of the key relationships in our way of life: within the family, between doctor and patient, within the health service. Yet there has been no Royal Commission or independent inquiry ahead of its presentation. It is a Private Member’s Bill. The Bill itself is long and complex and was published just days before MPs voted on it, giving them inadequate time to consult or reflect upon it. The time for debate was minimal. The Committee examining the Bill took only three days of evidence: not all voices were heard, and it comprises an undue number of supporters of the Bill. In short, this is no way to legislate on such an important and morally complex issue. One consequence of this flawed process is that many vital questions remain unanswered. Can MPs guarantee that the scope of the Bill will not be extended? In almost every country where assisted suicide has been introduced the current scope is wider than was originally intended. What role, if any, will the judiciary have in the process? We were told that judicial oversight was a necessary and vital part of the process; now we are told it isn’t needed at all. What will protect the vulnerable from coercion, or from feeling a burden on family? Can the National Health Service cope with assisted suicide or will it, as the Health Secretary has warned, cause cuts elsewhere in the NHS? Can MPs guarantee that no medical practitioner or care worker would be compelled to take part in assisted suicide? Would this mean the establishment of a ‘national death service’? In contrast to the provisions of this Bill, what is needed is first-class, compassionate palliative care at the end of our lives. This is already provided to many in our society but, tragically, is in short supply and underfunded. No-one should be dispatched as a burden to others. Instead, a good society would prioritise care for the elderly, the vulnerable, and the weak. The lives of our families are richer for cherishing their presence. It is a sad reflection on Parliament’s priorities that the House of Commons spent far more time debating the ban on fox hunting than it is spending debating bringing in assisted suicide. I am sure that you will share these concerns. It is now clear that this measure is being rushed without proper scrutiny and without fundamental questions surrounding safeguards being answered. This is a deeply flawed Bill with untold unintended consequences. Every MP, and Government, has a solemn duty to prevent such legislation reaching the statute book. This, tragically, is what may happen. So I appeal to you: even if you have written before, please make contact now with your MP and ask them to vote against this Bill not only on grounds of principle but because of the failure of Parliament to approach this issue in an adequate and responsible manner. In his Letter to the Philippians, from which we heard in the Second Reading, St Paul reflects on the difficulties and responsibilities of life. He speaks of ‘pressing on’ and ‘striving’ for the fulness of life promised in Christ Jesus. Yet he is totally confident in his struggles because, as he says, ‘Christ Jesus has made me his own’. We too have many struggles. We too know that Christ Jesus has made us his own. So we too press on with this struggle, so important in our times. May God bless you all,

Bishop Richard is offering a Lenten Service of Reconciliation in each deanery, accompanied by members of clergy from each community. The Sacrament of Reconciliation holds particular significance during the Lenten season, serving as an important means of spiritual renewal and conversion. Lent is traditionally viewed as a time of penance, reflection, and preparation for the celebration of Easter, with the Sacrament of Reconciliation playing a vital role in this journey. Pope Francis has often spoken about the “infinite mercy of God”, highlighting that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is “a gift that permits us to encounter this mercy in a personal and profound way”. Join Bishop Richard on Wednesday 26th March 7pm at St Michael's, Worthing. Deanery priests will be available to hear confessions. This is in addition to our regular times for confession. See poster in church porches.

Join Bishop Richard on Wednesday 26th March 7pm at St Michael's, Worthing. Bishop Richard is hosting a reconciliation Service in each deanery in Lent as part of the Jubilee Year. Deanery priests will be available to hear confessions. This is in addition to our regular times for confession.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, The phrase “By your fruits shall ye know them” has passed into our English language and is one of those expressions that has often been used down through the centuries. We see its origins in this Sunday’s Gospel, in which Jesus speaks of the fruit that the tree produces. What we do, what we say, how we live – these are the things that inform others about the people we really are. All of us will know of examples in our lives where the external and internal – as it were – truly match up. This is wonderful to see and is an example of the person who is a truly integrated human being. For most of us, the struggle to be truly consistent in our living, our speaking, our actions, is a daily challenge – but it is one we must embrace if we are to be the Lord’s disciples. A first step is an honest appreciation of where we are, who we really are. We must take the plank out of our own eye if we are to realise where we truly stand. We cannot see the way forward unless we do this. We cannot help our brother, our sister, unless we can see ourselves. Similarly, we cannot show them a life lived fully according to Gospel values unless we live it ourselves. When we start out, our way may seem unclear, we shall be burdened with a heavy load – the things that we know must change. Our motives may be mixed – selfishness and self-fulfilment may loom large. As we travel, grace will change us. Our load will become lighter, our motives purer, our sight clearer until, as St Benedict puts it, we run joyfully along the way of salvation. St Paul reminds us that “death is swallowed up in victory.” The more we are enabled – through the promptings of the Spirit – to live the integrated life of the disciple, the more we show to the world the victory of Christ’s Resurrection. While the way of the Gospel may seem demanding and difficult – and it certainly is at times – we rejoice that, in Christ, the victory is won. All is possible in Him. I know we shall all be continuing our prayers for the Holy Father at this time – may he continue to draw strength through his closeness to the Lord, and know the healing presence of the Holy Spirit. With every blessing, +Richard.

A Women led Global Ecumenical Movement.  This year's service has been prepared by Christian Women from the Cook Islands, on the theme: "I MADE YOU WONDERFUL". Our local services: • St. Mary de Haura Church, Shoreham at 10:30 am, followed by refreshments. • St Andrews Church, Steyning at 2.00pm. All are welcome.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This Sunday’s Gospel is, probably, a very challenging one for each of us, in our different ways. Indeed, we might use the text as an examination of conscience - perhaps at the end of each day, and especially in our preparation for the Sacrament of Penance. Take time to read this text. If you are in the habit of Lectio Divina, use it for Lectio. Every sentence holds treasures, themes for our reflection, themes that may bring us to sorrow, or to joy. In the second half of the text, Jesus calls us to a place where we do not judge one another, where we pardon, where we show compassion – walk alongside our brother or sister and share their burdens. Ultimately, He calls us to give. We all know that when we give of ourselves it brings rewards far greater than the passing happiness of our own comfort. This is far more than just the satisfaction in knowing we have done a good thing – it is a joy that comes because we are doing what the Lord asks of us. Our service is an expression of the Lord’s self-giving for us. When we truly walk with another, we are able to see Christ present in them; we are sharing His love with them. In our present world of consumerism and the cult of the celebrity, the Lord calls us to a different path. The First Reading this Sunday provides the example of David who did what was right. He had the chance to do away with Saul, who was seeking to kill him. He took the more difficult – but righteous and compassionate – path. He spared his enemy. So with us, we are called to do what is right in every circumstance of our lives, for this will be the path of service, the path that leads to life Let us, too, pray most ardently for peace in our troubled world, remembering especially the need for an end to the war in Ukraine, the present troubles in Congo, that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza will hold and that the tensions on the boarder of Lebanon will ease. Also, as Pope Francis continues his stay in the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, let us remember him very specially in our prayers. With every blessing, +Richard.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, The worship of God is the highest of all our human activities. There is nothing more important, nothing more natural for us, for we are created by God and for God, as an expression of His love. We can be brought to this moment of worship by different things – and we see this in this Sunday’s readings. For Ezekiel his worship comes through visions. These are a gift to him that are so clear that it brings him to action: “Here I am, Lord, send me.” For Peter, it comes through a different experience – the miracle of the great haul of fish, following a bad night’s fishing. He does not think of the profit he will make in the fish market, or the fact that his nets are damaged. Rather he falls to his knees before Jesus, recognising his own weakness and sinfulness in the presence of the Lord. As with Ezekiel, so with Peter – his life is transformed and he is ready for action, leaving everything and following Him. So with us, our experience of God’s love in our worship is transformative. Our morning and evening prayers, these moments of quiet worship and intercession that mark our day, bring us closer to the Lord, enabling us to be His people, His instruments for our world. We meet the Lord Himself, most especially in the Eucharist. Our response to follow Him, to be his disciples – all grows out of this moment of the greatest closeness to Him. Let us, then, not stay away from the worship of God. The Lord has loved us beyond measure – must we not show our love for Him in the greatest, the highest, of all our activity? Our prayer and worship is the fount of all our action as Jesus' followers, called to proclaim the Good News to a world in need of His peace; in need of the respect for life at every moment, for life is God’s gift; in need of the call away from the isolation that so many experience, into the hope that is life in Christ. With every blessing, +Richard

The Diocese will be hosting an event organised by Rethinking Abortion, a national pro-life organisation. In the midst of the challenging experience faced by many women in today's world, Rethinking Abortion will be providing educational sessions looking at the lived experiences and reality of women that led them to facing the lonely choice of abortion. The aim is to help build an understanding on how to tactfully and empathetically talk about abortion with those around you in a meaningful way. Come along to build a better understanding of the full reality of the pro-life agenda, becoming more articulate and effective in holding conversations with those considering this pathway. We will begin our day with an optional Mass at 10.00am, followed by discussion and talks on how we can accompany people in their time of need. Please bring a packed lunch. If you have any questions regarding this event please contact Formation Advisers, Tessa Ricketts or Simon South E: tessa.ricketts@abdiocse.org.uk or simon.south@abdiocese.org.uk Please see the poster below for more information and the booking link. PDF of poster here