Pastoral Letter from Bishop Richard January 2025
Webmaster • January 10, 2025
PASTORAL LETTER
for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
12th January 2025
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The Preface of today’s Mass offers us a clear reminder that the Lord Jesus has been sent by the Father to bring good news to the poor. Jesus, the Word made Flesh, God-with-us, was born among us so that all may have life. The good news of Salvation is, therefore, the message that the Church is tasked to bring to the whole world.
Just as the Holy Spirit was present at Jesus’ baptism by John, “declaring Him” the Son of the Father, so the Holy Spirit dwells in those who are baptised, guiding the mission that is given to us all through our baptism – our sharing in the mission of the whole Church.
We are called to nothing less than living every moment of life caught up, as it were, in the love that exists between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Baptism brings us to life lived in the love of the Blessed Trinity. It opens for us the way to a relationship with God, in and through Christ, so close that nothing, as St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans, can separate us from this love. Just as Isaiah states in the first reading today, the Lord gathers us in His arms, carries us close to Him and cares for us with the greatest gentleness.
Baptism opens for us the way to the other Sacraments, most especially the Eucharist. Let us not forget that there is nothing more wonderful in this life than our meeting with the Lord in the Eucharist, as he nourishes us with Himself – He who is the Bread of Life.
All is gift: life in the love of the Blessed Trinity, closeness to the person of Jesus, the abiding presence in our lives of the Holy Spirit who prompts our actions and prays within us when we cannot find the words. So much is given that we cannot fully describe its wonder. As Jesus reminds us, to those who are given much, much is expected.
How, then, are we called to respond to God’s gift? As Christ offered Himself, must we not offer ourselves to be the Lord’s instruments in bringing good news to the poor?
As the Church we must witness to the good news in an ever-changing world and each and every living stone in the spiritual house that is the Church must take their place in this mission.
In this Jubilee Year, the Holy Father has called us to be Pilgrims of Hope. Our Hope is the Kingdom to which we look forward and it is this Hope, grounded in Faith and expressed also in Love, that is the Christian’s Mission – our gift to the world. It is nothing less than the proclamation of the Kingdom of Christ Himself.
This year is also the 60th Anniversary of our Diocese – surely a favourable time for us all to pray for increased openness to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our commitment to share the Good News of the Kingdom.
This call to mission is at the very heart of our Diocesan Pastoral Plan. Since Easter last year, conversations have been taking place in each of our present deaneries, setting our communities on the path to new expression, to a renewed journey of prayer, formation and mission that we may truly live as communities of saints – living in Hope, Faith and Love in proclamation of Christ Who is our Way.
There is much in these conversations, it is true, that is about structure. While this is necessary, we must not allow ourselves to be absorbed solely in these matters. The renewal of our parish structures is for the very purpose of enabling us all – lay faithful, religious, deacons, priests and bishop – to take our proper place in the great mission that the Lord has given to us.
Ever-deeper conversation and sharing across our communities, together with a sharing of resources will, in time, open the way to renewed mission as our focus shifts to greater cooperation and effectiveness in the proclamation of the Good News.
The new model of parish will enable us to live as “communities of communities” – bringing strength and renewed life as communities join together in prayer, in formation and in the mission that will develop from these foundations.
These initial steps may not always be easy. We must learn to work together in new ways and I take this opportunity to thank those priests who have accepted the leadership role of moderator. I ask everyone to allow them the time and give them and the clergy teams the support they will need for these early stages in this new way of living out our mission.
There will be much work ahead, especially for moderators and the clergy and lay faithful who will be called to serve on leadership teams. Let us all come together in our “communities of communities” for prayer, formation and the renewed mission for the world the Lord calls us to serve.
With every Blessing,
We are honoured to be the first parish in 2026 to host a visit of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, along with the Relics of Saints Jacinta and Francisco. This is a wonderful opportunity to have an insight into Fatima. There will be mass, rosary, meditation, confessions, divine mercy, films and items to buy. 9.45am until 4.45pm (please bring a packed lunch; tea & coffee will be available). To learn more, email: patsydaniels@gmail.com , or see poster/flyers in the porch. If you are able to help on the day please speak to Fr Graham or email the office.
SVP Cake Sale: Sunday 1st March, CTK Cuthman Room (after 11am mass) All proceeds to our local SVP, supporting the elderly, homeless, refugees and those struggling financially in our area. See poster for details.
You are warmly invited to have some soup and bread in aid of ACN. Please contact elareeves57@gmail.com if you would like to come. We hope to do more.
Throughout Lent, please bring your personal prayer intentions to our Prayer Boxes (both at St Peter’s and CTK). At St Peter’s, we already have the Prayer Tree, located in the Divine Mercy Chapel, which is regularly used by parishioners and visitors throughout the day. We have added a Prayer Box here, and one at CTK (next to the votive candles). You are warmly invited to write your personal prayer intentions on a small card and place them in the Prayer Box. If you are unable to get to church, you can email them to the office for inclusion, or via the contact form on our website. The names and intentions placed in the Prayer Boxes and on the Prayer Tree will be offered at the First Friday Mass, united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After this Mass, the Prayer Box will be refreshed for the following month. Please note that these prayer intentions will remain private. They will not be read aloud. The aim is to ensure that our intentions remain current and meaningful
We are hosting this year’s service at St Peter’s, which has been prepared by the women of Nigeria and the theme is " I will give you rest, come..." The service will be followed by light refreshments in the Parish Room afterwards. All are welcome.
"Lent is the perfect time to work on our prayer lives!" Not my words but an invitation from another. Perfectly true though. The words are echoed by Pope Leo XIV in his Lenten Message for this year. Pope Leo goes on to reflect on the power of the words we speak, that can bring peace or harm: “I would like to invite you to a very practical and frequently unappreciated form of abstinence: that of refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbour.” It is always tempting to retaliate when someone hurts us or provokes us. We know where the temptations come from! Jesus shows us how to respond. Not only by His answers to the devil in the wilderness but also by the way He accepts His passion and cross. Sometimes words, sometimes silence, never harmful. Jesus trusts in His Heavenly Father, the authority of the Word of God and primacy of the worship of God. Jesus knows that everything has been put into His hands. That He will undo the disobedience of Adam by His obedience to God's will. He knows that through His death and resurrection grace will always outdo sin and death. When we are tempted to say a word that might harm or hurt, remember the words that were thrown at Jesus as He carried His cross and the silence that absorbed them. Abstinence is about the love of God and His authority over our bodies and souls. It draws our attention away from self and to a deeper and real relationship with God and our neighbour - be them friend or stranger. With my daily prayer for you this Lent. May God bless you. Fr Graham
We have spoken about preparing for Lent. We will be reminded about prayer, fasting and alms giving on Ash Wednesday by Jesus in the Gospel for the day. Alms giving is often misunderstood. It is not just about giving to charity but about justice. To give to those in need is to give them their right to live, to eat, to drink, to have somewhere to sleep, to be without fear. It is also for ourselves. As we grow in spiritual discipline we know we need forgiveness from God and others. The practise of alms giving is an act of love and love cancels many a sin. Our Lenten Alms collections and donations will be distributed equally between our local SVP project at St Charles Borromeo and also Let the Children Live, a priest helping Columbian street children, see here . Collections throughout Lent.
The singer is a local man who has visited St Peter’s before as Elvis. He is exceptional and we can promise you a great evening. Refreshments will be available to purchase at the event. It will be a great night and if you like Elvis’ music you really will not be disappointed. Tickets are £12.00 each. If you are interested, please email Liz Matthews at the school – office@stpetersshoreham.co.uk and advise how many tickets you would like.
Adur Valley Catenians Quiz Night in aid of 'Safe in Sussex', a women's refuge from domestic abuse Saturday 28th February, 6.30 for 7.00pm , at The Towers Buffet Supper / Licenced Bar / Raffle / Prizes for the winners / Teams of 4-6 people / £12.50 per person / £8.50 under 18s. Tickets from: info@adurvalleycatenians.co.uk . Or call Adrian on 07976-913774.
Tuesday 19th to Thursday 21st May 2026 . Full cost including meals and transport by coach will be £300. 25 rooms have been booked with a few spare ones to go. Friends from local parishes will be most welcome to join us. However, we must have definite names by Thursday 19th February at the latest. Please contact parish office for more information. 01903 785901.