Fr. Graham Writes: 8th June 2025
Webmaster • June 6, 2025
Eastertide ends with a "bang" this Sunday. It would be easy to think that the party is over on Monday and we forget all that we have learnt or experienced though Lent, the celebration of the Passion of Christ and the days of the Resurrection. However, God is always calling us deeper into faith.
Those who accused Jesus of blasphemy and shouted for Barabbas were pleased to get rid of Jesus. He was an inconvenience and demanded too much. They were unknowingly part of God's providence. Even betrayal and death cannot outwit the wisdom or love of God. How unsettling it must have been that this group of disciples were still talking about Jesus. They were growing in number and speaking of Jesus being alive - resurrected. The disciples themselves must have thought it was all over after the Ascension. But, no. It was just beginning.
Jesus spent 40 days preparing the disciples for this moment: the rushing wind, the tongues of flame, the Ruah*. Until this moment Jesus was only able to be present to them. But when the Holy Spirit comes He will "(fill) the entire house" and He and the Father will "come to him and make (their) home with him". The Holy Spirit dwells within us. Amazing. But we must love Him for who He really is - God - and keep His word.
This is not the end but the beginning of the next stage in our faith, in our following Jesus, in our parish life and the Church's witness to the risen Christ.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
With my prayer for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on us all.
God bless you
Fr Graham
Saturday 5th July , 12pm-4.15pm,Church of Our Lady of Consolation & St Francis, West Grinstead, RH13 8LT. With Mass, personal consecration to Our Lady, Rosary, Adoration, Chaplet, Benediction and opportunities for Reconciliation. Bring a packed lunch. For details, contact Jayne by email .
There are three events organised by the Worthing Deanery Justice & Peace Group to celebrate Refugee Week 2025. Please put them in your diary and come along to one or all: • Faces of Resilience on Sunday 15th June 2-5pm at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church Hall, Vermont Drive. East Preston, BN16 1JU. Come and see photographs and listen to a ‘Living Book’, vividly telling the stories of Ukrainian women fleeing war and seeking refuge in the UK. Join us in prayer in the church at 3pm for refugees, people seeking asylum and peace in our world. See you there! • Display during the week of Refugee Stations of the Cross at St Mary of the Angels, Worthing and Holy Family, Lancing. • An evening of Stories and Sharing on Saturday 21st June 7-9pm at St Peter's Church Hall, Shoreham. Come and hear from refugees and those who support them in our local community, with opportunity for discussions and sharing food. More details to follow, or please ask Carolyn Fuhrmann 07748326326
An update from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales about the Assisted Dying Bill ( download here )
June 7th 2025 is a First Saturday (you can read more in the attachment on this subject below) and all are welcome to mass at St Peter’s at 10.00am, followed by Rosary and Fatima Devotions.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, We rejoice this Sunday as we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the young Church - Our Lady and the Apostles gathered in the Upper Room. The coming of the Holy Spirit transforms their lives. No longer do they remain locked in the room together, fearful for the future. They go out to proclaim the message of the Risen Christ. So with us, who have received the Holy Spirit at our baptism and confirmation. We are called to be fearless in announcing the Good News in our present, often darkened, world. Into the difficulties, struggles and sorrows around us, the Lord Himself calls us to take His message, our every step guided by the Spirit, our every word given us by the Spirit. At this particular moment, as MPs prepare to debate the “Assisted Dying Bill”, I renew the call for us to write to our MPs, asking them to vote against this potential legislation. The vote will take place on the 20 June. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us in our prayer and our action to do all we can to promote the dignity of life. At this time, too, so many young people of the Diocese are receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation. They do this at an exciting moment for the Church, when we are seeing the green shoots of increased numbers of adults being baptised and more people coming to our churches in search of the gospel message. Please join with me in praying for our young people, that strengthened by the gifts of the Spirit that they receive, they continue their journey of life with Christ, taking their place in the mission of the Church. With every blessing, + Richard
The Jubilee logo shows four stylised figures to indicate all of humanity from the four corners of the earth. They are embracing one another, indicating the solidarity that unites all people. The first figure is clinging to the cross. The underlying waves are choppy to indicate that the pilgrimage of life is not always on calm waters. Sometimes personal circumstances and world events call for a greater sense of hope. This is why the lower part of the cross is turning into an anchor which dominates the movement of the waves. The anchor has often been used as a metaphor for hope. In fact, in maritime jargon, the hope anchor is the name given to the spare anchor, used by vessels in emergency manoeuvres to stabilise the ship during storms. The image shows how the pilgrim journey is not individual, but rather communal, with the signs of a growing dynamism moving towards the cross. This cross is by no means static; it too is dynamic, bending toward and meeting humanity so as to not leave alone, but rather offering the certainty of its presence and the reassurance of hope, expressed in the Jubilee motto: “Pilgrims of Hope”. Thank you to one of our parishioners for sharing this from a priest friend. We pray for all pilgrims during this Jubilee year, and in particular, the people joining the Diocesan pilgrimage to Walsingham this weekend.
We have been contacted by the Shoreham & Adur Community Foodbank. Every week they post a wish list on Facebook, of particular items they need. Most weeks they are having to use funds to buy these items that they are lacking. Here is where you can make a real difference: would you be able to donate just one item regularly from this list? We always have a collection box in the church porch, but you can also take donations direct to them on Friday mornings. For more information search Shoreham & Adur Community Foodbank on Facebook.
One of our parishioners is offering free help with IT. Advice on using mobile phones, tablets, laptops etc. as well as problems with apps or online setup and services. It is useful if people bring along details of usernames and passwords. No booking needed. David also volunteers as a Digital Advisor in Shoreham Library every Tuesday 10:00-13:00 (2x 1hr sessions, contact library by phone or in person to book).
Thank you to the team of volunteers who have been working hard to get this project going. Thank you for all the generous donations we have received. Come and spend some time in the new space. All are welcome
Please view the PDF copy of the letter (below) from our Parish Finance Chair, Patrick O’Donoghue. We are appealing to people to review their offertory giving and consider one of these ways of helping the Parish: • Firstly, would your family be able to raise your offertory contribution by 10% or above? We understand that this may not be possible for everyone, and we are conscious that we are bombarded by price increases in many aspects of daily life. • Secondly, do you give via the collection plate or via the dona machine? These are excellent ways of giving. Another way of giving is by standing order. This is particularly helpful because it saves you having to remember your cash or your card, and it helps our parish with budgeting. • Thirdly, if you are a UK taxpayer, please gift aid your donations. By doing this, we can claw back funds for the benefit of the parish. If you have any questions please email the office. Thank you for your support To all OLQP parishioners, from the OLQP Finance Chair, Patrick O’Donoghue ... Read the document here Here is the video version of the message from our Finance Chair, Patrick O’Donoghue https://share.synthesia.io/8015d7a5-372d-48bc-8d3d-9afef4ea685c