OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE

Starting this weekend, we are inviting parishioners to add an item or two to their weekly shop to support our Summer Foodbank Campaign. Thank you in advance for your kindness. 5 & 12 July – Getting Ready for Summer: plasters, wipes, suncream etc 19 & 26 July – Picnic Time: cartons of juice, snack bars, and similar items 2 & 9 August – Home for Tea: tinned meals, pasta, rice, etc

Congratulations to our young adult parishioners, Aiden, Aleya, Amelia, Daniel and Senna, who are to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at Arundel on Sunday. Please pray for them. May they have the faith and the courage of Saint Maria Goretti, a young girl, when she was martyred. Her relics are embedded in the altar at St Peter's in Shoreham. Her photograph is just outside the confessional door. Her feast day is on Monday.

The last part of today's Gospel is often read during the celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick and even when a person is dying and receiving the Last Sacraments. I must admit I feel uncomfortable when I read the words of Jesus saying that "my yoke is easy and my burden is light" when the person receiving the anointing is struggling, in pain or facing a terminal illness. That burden doesn't seem easy or light. Jesus does not make mistakes, so what does He mean? Firstly, the yoke of the Law and the Commandments was very heavy. It prescribed in minute detail how to live a life pleasing to God by obeying certain laws. Breaking even one was displeasing to God and had consequences. How could anyone be perfect or free? Jesus comes as the perfect human being as He is God and freely chooses to obey the Father by offering His life as the perfect offering on the cross. His death sets us free to love as He loves. The law of love fulfils the Law and the Prophets. Secondly, Jesus asks us to share His yoke. He invites us to come to Him and rest when we are tired and our burden is heavy. Jesus wants us to swap burdens and yokes. He takes our heavy burden for His yoke of love. There is nothing that we cannot bring to God in prayer. Jesus shares our humanity and He gives us a share in His divinity and the love of the Father with His Spirit living in us. May God bless every one of you. With my prayer.  Fr Graham

In addition to the First Friday mass, celebrated for our collective Parish Prayer intentions, we now have two prayer groups on the First Friday of the month:  10.00am-11.00am Mothers Prayers, in the Parish Room at SP  4.00pm-5.00pm: Prayers for Peace, in the Divine Mercy Chapel at SP  Thank you to the organisers. All are welcome.

Peter and Paul had several arguments. Initially they disagreed about salvation, Peter knew that Jesus was the Messiah and Saviour, Paul considered Jesus to be a false prophet but, after meeting with the resurrected Jesus, Paul changed his mind. Peter and Paul now wanted the same thing; they shared the exact same mission: to spread the teachings of Jesus Christ and to build up Christian Communities. They also agreed on where they should preach. Peter had the task of spreading the Gospel to the Jewish people whereas Paul had the task of preaching to the Gentiles. However this opened up another issue, which Jewish Laws should be applied to Gentiles. Again, there was disagreement but eventually this was resolved. As Pope Leo put it “the history of Peter and Paul shows us that the communion to which the Lord calls us is a unison of voices and personalities that does not eliminate anyone’s freedom. Our patron saints followed different paths, had different ideas and at times argued with one another with evangelical frankness. Yet this did not prevent them from living in Apostolic Harmony, that is, a living communion in the Spirit, a fruitful harmony in diversity. As Saint Augustine remarks, “the feast of the two Apostles is celebrated on one day. They too were one. For although they were martyred on different days, they were one” With my prayers for you all,  Deacon Simon

All are welcome to come and hear Fr Dr Fadi Diab from St Andrew’s Church, Ramallah, for an evening exploring peace and justice in the Holy Land. Saturday 4 July, 8.15–10pm, Steyning Centre “Peace in the Middle East: An Impossible Dream? A Palestinian Christian Perspective” In partnership with Steyning for Peace and Friends of the Holy Land. Free admission (voluntary collection). Wheelchair accessible. Free parking at Fletcher’s Croft Car Park (BN44 3YB). Enquiries: Dr Roger Williamson – rjlmwilliamson@gmail.com | 01903 892989

The Catechists would like to thank all those who helped in any way to make this a special year for our First Communion children. Father Graham for the Mass at St Peter's. The parents for their support throughout the preparation, the children who behaved so reverently and the families for their generous gifts to the catechists.

Pope Leo's first Encyclical Magnifica Humanitas ("Magnificent humanity") has been given much attention about his comments on AI (Artificial Intelligence), but it is much more than that. It is a letter addressed to everyone, not just Catholics. Pope Leo states that we are at a pivotal moment in human history. A choice between Babel and the city where we dwell with God. Life is full of choices and decisions. Each decision is determined on its own merit - not as a means to an end. This could not come at a more crucial time with the possible reintroduction of the Assisted Dying Bill and the ever increasing casualties of war. As Pope Leo says: "Human dignity does not depend on a person’s abilities, wealth, or position in life, nor on the right or wrong choices made; instead, it is a gift that precedes and transcends each person, endowed by God as an expression of his unfailing love.” MH, 50. Jesus has some things to say too, not least in today's Mass. We are not to fear anyone when we are asked for the reason for our faith. As much as God loves all His creation and knows each animal and bird, Jesus says humanity is of greater value than them all. We are stewards of creation and care for all created animals and things. But, human dignity is due to our being made in the image and likeness of God and, unlike animals and inanimate matter, each of us has an eternal soul. Decisions and choices not only affect our mortal life but our immortal life too. With my prayer for you all. God bless you.  Fr Graham

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. Please bring a packed lunch.