RACIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY 2021: A TIME TO ACT
Webmaster • January 30, 2021
Ethnic minorities have suffered disproportionately from the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating a systemic problem with racial injustice in our society. This was dramatically brought home with the brutal killing of George Floyd and the reaction it provoked. As Pope Francis reflects: “instances of racism continue to shame us, for they show that our supposed social progress is not as real or definitive as we think.”
These shameful reminders of racism demand meaningful action to confront and dismantle sinful structures of injustice. Our brother Bishops in the USA remind us that: “all of us are in need of personal, ongoing conversion. Our churches and our civic and social institutions are in need of ongoing reform. If racism is confronted by addressing its causes and the injustice it produces, then healing can occur.”
Racism is a sin and a violation of human dignity in which we are all complicit. As Catholics we need to acknowledge and confront our own failings, as individuals and as a Church. Every single one of our parishes, schools and organisations has a responsibility to actively practise anti-racism in all aspects of our mission.
We need to address the lack of visible diversity at every level, so that people can see themselves, their race, their culture and their history in the Church’s life.
We need to engage suppliers and businesses from all parts of the community, seeking out those which promote diversity and inclusivity.
Most importantly we need to actively invite people from different ethnic communities to share their experiences and genuinely listen to their voices, however challenging this may be.
It is not enough to simply denounce racism. This is a time to act. In the words of the Holy Father: “This is a moment to dream big, to rethink our priorities — what we value, what we want, what we seek — and to commit to act in our daily life on what we have dreamed of. God asks us to dare to create something new.”
NOTES FOR PREACHERS
At the beginning of his public ministry Jesus outlines his Mission in the synagogue in Nazareth,
‘He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight,
to set the downtrodden free,
to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour’
His ministry was one of compassionate involvement, concern for the disadvantaged. Aware of obstacles, including those of the Law, which limited joy and fulfilment Jesus acted. He confronted, sometimes angrily, what undermined a person’s dignity.
The theme of Racial Justice Sunday 2021 is A Time to Act.
Racial issues and inequalities were identified nationally and internationally in 2020 generating awareness, emotion and outrage. In light of this Racial Justice Sunday 2021 is particularly significant.
Action is needed to further the cause of racial justice. What can we do?
In recent years Pope Francis has repeatedly used four verbs encouraging positive and direct action in relation to migrants and refugees, ‘Welcome, Protect, Promote and Integrate’. These same words are essential to advancing the cause of racial justice. None can be omitted, it is as necessary to have plans to Promote and Integrate as it is to Welcome.
Jesus’ sermon in the synagogue in Capernaum (today’s Gospel Mark 1:21-28) triggered a reaction from a member of the congregation. (It is always unnerving to have your sermon interrupted by someone who disagrees with your words). ‘What do you want with us?’ ‘Have you come to destroy us?’
The duty of the Prophet in speaking God’s words and so bringing God’s light into lives and situations is to enlighten, to encourage, sometimes to warn. To identify what action is needed to ensure that all God’s people know they are equally valued by society and the Church.
The plea of the psalmist today is ‘ …listen to his voice, harden not your hearts’. Racial Justice Sunday is a time to absorb fully this scriptural request.
Listening to the voice of God and the voice of the Church we learn of equal love for all.
Voices that discriminate unjustly, attitudes that undermine on the grounds of race must be opposed.
Voices of those who feel rejected or perpetually in second place must be listened to.
The dignity of all must be respected and promoted.
In the Church we proclaim that everyone of whatever racial origin should be Welcomed, Protected, Promoted and Integrated. What action is needed that this may be achieved?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
in your ministry
you were approached by people
of many different nations and cultures.
You listened to their cry for help,
treated them with love and compassion,
and brought them healing and wholeness.
In our own time may we provide
to all those who are suffer
the help that they need
and the care that they require.
May we respond to the invitation of the Holy Spirit
to dream of a world made new
where the poor are not forgotten
but are given the opportunity
to live and flourish
with good health and equal prospects.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Amen.
For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. We pray and ponder on these words, taken from the Divine Mercy Chaplet, remembering our witness of Christ’s suffering and death on Good Friday. This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. Starting at 3pm at St Peter’s, we will be observing a Holy Hour for Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Confessions, followed by Benediction at 4.00pm. Something in common with many people’s testimonies of faith, is how they only managed to connect to Jesus when they gave over the time to allow Him in. In our noisy, busy lives, we rarely have time to stop and listen to stillness. This Sunday could be the perfect opportunity for you. All are welcome.
Reflection for Divine Mercy Sunday from St Faustina’s Diary "I desire that the first Sunday after Easter be the Feast of Mercy...... tell the whole world of My great mercy; that whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment. Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy. ... My Heart rejoices in this title of Mercy. Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My hands are crowned with mercy." (Diary 300) "I am love and mercy itself. ... Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. ... My mercy is greater than your sins, and those of the entire world. ... I let My Sacred Heart be pierced with a lance, thus opening wide the source of mercy for you. Come then with trust to draw graces from this fountain. ... The graces of My mercy are drawn by the means of one vessel only, and that is trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive." A joyful Divine mercy Sunday. With my prayer. God bless you. Fr Graham.
It is easy to struggle with hope especially when we read the news. Yet hope is not merely a vague optimism. Hope is one of the three theological virtues of faith, hope and love. It is therefore much deeper than a feeling. It is a choice and a grace that comes from God. This is where I struggle. My feelings waiver but I must continually choose to hope in God and to trust in Him. Otherwise, we can be led to despair. As Bonhoeffer said "Anyone who knows Easter cannot despair”. This is where our hope is founded. The despair of the cross of Jesus, the darkness of the tomb and mourning - a darkness like no other. If this week ended there then there would be no hope. There is no real hope without Jesus. But this is the crucified and risen Jesus. God does not avoid pain and suffering or even the reality of death. He faces it head on in Jesus who is really God and a man. So, we have hope in Jesus because He changes and gives meaning and even hope in all that oppresses us including sin and evil. Without the crucified and risen Jesus, we are still condemned. This is also why the Divine Mercy Novena and chaplet is so powerful and meaningful to me. Saint Faustina was commissioned by Jesus to be His secretary of Mercy, to share this message around the world. The novena starts on Good Friday, from where all blessings flow. The concluding prayer speaks to me every time. It changes my despondency into hope. Please pray it and the Novena with me. Jesus is crucified and risen. To Him be glory for ever.
Divine Mercy Novena: starting on Good Friday We will begin The Divine Mercy Novena on Good Friday, nine days of prayer in preparation for the feast on Sunday 12th April. You can follow the Divine Mercy Novena using the leaflets we have in the church porch, or a good online resource is PrayMoreNovenas.com to get a daily novena prayer sent to your inbox or ask Patsy at patsydaniels@gmail.com to send you details. What is Divine Mercy Sunday? Jesus made a promise to us via St Faustina that the person who receives the Eucharist in a state of grace on the 8th day of the Octave of Easter (the Sunday after Easter) now known as Divine Mercy Sunday will have all sins and punishment forgiven, if he asks for It. This equates to a second baptism, as stated by Fr Chris Alar a Marian father at the Divine Mercy shrine in Massachusetts in this 3.5 minute video . He suggests we say the following words or something similar when we return to our bench after receiving Holy Communion: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, You promised St Faustina that the soul that has been to Confession [I have] and the soul that receives Holy Communion with trust in Divine Mercy [I have] will receive complete forgiveness of all sins and punishment. Lord, please give me this grace. Jesus I trust in You.” This feast incorporating this most generous of gifts was inaugurated by St John Paul Il in the year 2000 when he instituted Divine Mercy Sunday.
As last year we will come together as a united parish of Our Lady Queen of Peace to celebrate the Sacred Triduum. For practical reasons, the best place to do this is St Peter’s in Shoreham. I hope that people from all parts of the parish will want to be involved in the liturgy. We need welcomers, volunteers for feet washing, readers, servers, people to keep watch (on Thursday evening), and singers. I’d like to have a team of people fully representing our wonderful parish. If you can help (including offering lifts to fellow parishioners), please email the office or leave a message 01273 452654. All are welcome.
Last week we celebrated the Annunciation of the Lord. The moment when the Archangel visited Mary and greeted her with the words of the rosary. It is at this moment, after Mary's consent, that the Word became flesh - God with us in the womb of Mary. I wonder if Mary perceived that her simple and uncomplicated "yes" would lead to the events of Holy Week? Yes, she was scared at the sight and message of the Angel but this would fall into distant memory compared to her emotions during her Son's suffering and death. Mary heard the prophesy of Simeon and expected a "sword to pierce her own soul". This was it's fulfilment. She would not have left her Son's side, especially in death. When we give our consent to God's will in our life, when we renew our promises of baptism, we cannot envisage what being faithful to Jesus will mean for us either. Jesus calls us to pick up our cross daily and follow Him, step by step. We know where our final destination is but we do not know the route, only that there will be a Gethsemane, a betrayal, a crowd, a mocking and a Calvary for each of us. Persevere to the end through faith. Do we think that Mary, our heavenly Mother, will abandon us? Our sufferings cause a pain in the same heart of Mary as for her Divine Son, as each sin caused her Son to flinch in an inflicted wound. For love of us He died, for Love of us she follows. Try to keep Jesus and Mary company this Holy Week, especially the last Three Days. The Triduum is the climax of the year, the holiest of Holy Week. Come and see how much He loves you. With my prayer for you and a profound Holy Week. God bless you, Fr Graham.
The diocesan Chrism Mass will be celebrated at Arundel Cathedral by Bishop Gerard Bradley, Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark, on Wednesday 1 April. The Mass offers us an opportunity to come together as the diocesan family, gathering in faith and unity to celebrate the gift of the ministerial priesthood, and the life of grace that flows through the Sacraments of the Church. During this Mass, the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens are blessed, and the Oil of Chrism is consecrated. These are then distributed to parishes throughout the diocese for use in the sacraments during the coming year: the Oil of the Sick to bring healing and comfort to those who are ill; the Oil of Catechumens to strengthen catechumens preparing for Baptism; the sacred Chrism, used in Baptism and Confirmation, ordinations of priests and bishops, and the dedication of churches and altars.
Thank you to everyone who came to our Fatima day. The attendance numbers were much higher than previous years. Thank you to all parishioners who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, before, during and after the weekend. We had several comments from visitors noting how welcome they felt. Jerry, (one of the representatives from the WAF) wrote: Thank you very much for an inspiringly beautiful weekend at OLQP! I told the team that this was an edifying start of our year of visitations! It makes us continue to volunteer and spread the message of Our Lady at Fatima. I would like to extend again the invitation for a parish pilgrimage to Westminster Cathedral on Saturday, 31 October, from 12 noon to 5 pm. This will be the Culmination of the Cathedral Visitations in celebration of the Pontevedra Centenary, which began in May 2025. Ave Maria!
The Sacred Paschal Triduum (at St Peter’s, Shoreham) Maundy Thursday (2nd April 2026) 19.30 Mass of the Lord’s Supper Good Friday (3rd April 2026) 15.00 Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion Holy Saturday (4th April 2026) 20.30 The Solemn Vigil of Easter Easter Sunday masses across the parish (5th April) 09.00 Mass at St Peter’s 10.00 Mass at The Towers 11.00 Mass at Christ the King
Lenten Alms: Let the Children Live Some information about the second charity we are supporting this Lent: Many boys and girls in Medellín (Columbia) live in poverty, and in recent years their numbers have been swollen by an influx of Venezuelan children, forced by hunger to seek refuge in Colombia. They need food, shelter, medical care, catechesis, clothing, education, toys and recreation. It is our mission at Let The Children Live! to try to provide these for as many children as we can. Colombia receives very little aid from the UK. Your gift will benefit children there who are in great need. It will help to keep them alive, to make their lives worth living, and to build a better future. Unlike some charities, we never spend more than 5 pence in the pound on fund-raising. 1. £50 would provide lunch and a healthy snack for one child at Casa Walsingham for one month. 2. £25 would pay for one child's bus fares to and from Casa Walsingham for one month. 3. £10 would buy a school pack for one child of primary age