OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE

Bishop-elect Stephen shared this message for diocesan parishes on 2 July 2026: Dear friends in the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton, dear brothers and sisters, I’m so happy to be appointed as your new bishop, and I am really looking forward to meeting you and getting to know the Diocese – the priests and deacons, those in consecrated life, all the lay faithful, and so many others. I’m really looking forward to visiting our parishes and schools, and all the other communities that make up our Diocese. I’m just sorry that I can’t get back to be with you at this time because we have our diaconal ordination in Rome this weekend. As you can imagine, the news came as a complete surprise to me. The first thing I did after being told on Tuesday morning was to visit St Peter’s Basilica. I prayed at the tombs of St Peter and St John Paul II for you all and offered Mass for the Diocese. There are many challenges ahead, but I am full of hope. I’ve seen so many times what God can do when people pray and work together, and when they put their trust in him. If we listen to one another, and to the Lord, then he will show us the way forward. You have been very blessed to have Archbishop Richard with you over these years. I keep being told what a wonderful diocese it is and how lucky I am to be going there! Which I certainly am. I want to thank Canon Jonathan Martin as well, for looking after things so well in this interim period. Let’s pray for each other, and for our Diocese. Please pray for me and for my intentions. I put all my trust in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in his Church, and in his mother Mary. His love is so powerful. There is so much to be grateful for, and so much to do. I pray that we can grow in holiness together, be of service to those around us, and help all people to know the love and mercy of Jesus Christ and the message of the Gospel. With every blessing, Fr Stephen Fr Stephen’s Biography Fr Stephen Wang was born in London in 1966 and grew up in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. He read Theology and Religious Studies at Cambridge University from 1986 to 1989, before undertaking priestly formation at the Venerable English College in Rome from 1992 to 1997. Ordained on 3 January 1998, he worked in parish ministry in Dollis Hill, London, from 1997 to 2001. From 2001 to 2005 he studied for a PhD on the subject of human happiness at Cambridge University, assisting at Fisher House Chaplaincy, based at the University, for two years. He lectured in Philosophy and Theology at Allen Hall seminary in Chelsea from 2005 to 2013 and was Dean of Studies from 2009 to 2013. During this time, he was also a visiting priest at Wormwood Scrubs Prison, White City, and a confessor at Notting Hill Carmel, a cloistered convent of Carmelite nuns located in St Charles Square. From 2013 to 2021, Fr Stephen served as Senior University Chaplain in the Diocese of Westminster and was Catholic Chaplain at The London School of Economics. In 2014, a group of young people led by Fr Stephen developed ‘Sycamore’, a video-based Catholic faith formation programme that explores the Christian faith through short films and guided discussion. Designed to make Christianity more accessible, Sycamore is now used by Catholic parishes, schools, and university chaplaincies across the world. Following three years as Vocations Director for Westminster Diocese, Fr Stephen was appointed Rector of the Venerable English College in 2021, where he served for five years.

Do you have an old mobile phone surplus to your needs? If so, please consider donating it to a parish in Ghana. My close friend Fr. Gregory from Ghana is in the UK supplying holiday cover. He re-purposes mobile phones, giving them to people in remote parts of Ghana so they can make contact in an emergency, (spiritual or physical). Battery condition does not matter but they should have the sim card removed and be reset to factory default which wipes them clean, (I can help with this).  I can collect them from St. Peters Shoreham, Christ the King Steyning or The Towers between now and September 6th. Many thanks Deacon Simon.

The new Parish Leadership Team (PLTe) met recently and developed two potential Vision Statements for our new Parish, from which another was developed, (using a Large Language Model), that amalgamated the two. Here are the three candidate Vision statements. Please read them and pray over them, asking the Holy Spirit to help us discern which of the three is most in tune with the Pastoral Plan and best for the new Parish. Statement 1 Our vision is to be a vibrant, joyful, Christ-centred Catholic parish where all are made welcome, find a place to belong, grow in faith and work together with other faith communities to make a difference through our new parish. Statement 2 Our vision is to be a family of churches and communities where everyone is welcome: • Inspired by God’s message of compassion, love, and inclusion of all with Christ at the centre; • Caring for the vulnerable and those in need; • Building a sense of shared community, growing in faith, and nurturing each other’s talents. Statement 3 (created by amalgamating the above two statements) Our vision is to be a vibrant, joyful, Christ-centred Catholic family of churches and communities where everyone is welcome and finds a place to belong. Inspired by God’s message of love, compassion, and radical inclusion, we grow together in faith, nurture each other’s talents, and care for the vulnerable. Moving forward as a new parish, we seek to collaborate with other faith communities to build a deeply shared community, working together to make a difference for all.

Next weekend ( 1-2 August 2026 ) we welcome Fr Emmanuel Mbeh MHM to give a Red Box Appeal. Thank you to parishioners who already give to Missio, the Pope’s charity for World Mission. Your generous donations either through the Red Box or Direct Debit support the Church around the World where it is young or in need. There will not be a second collection as the appeal is for membership to the Red Box scheme. Please keep the work of Missio and the Mill Hill Missionaries in your prayers. To find out more: www.missio.org.uk .

Despite all the difficulties that people face, there is a hunger for truth, for meaning, for beauty, and it’s leading many of them to Jesus, to the Bible, to the Mass, and to the Church. The real question is this: are we ready to welcome them and to lead them deeper in their journey of faith?

A parish relies on so many people to thrive. Many volunteers give time and energy behind the scenes to ensure we are a safe and welcoming parish. We will be inviting you over the next few months to consider being part of this team of parishioners. But volunteering is not really the right word. It would be better to see it as service - service to God. We can show our love for God in many ways. Parishioners have commented that when they serve God and the Church in this way, they relish the extra time with Jesus in the Church, and it becomes a prayer and a blessing not a burden. We all grow closer to Jesus when we serve Him.

Bishop-Elect Stephen will be ordained and installed as Bishop of Arundel & Brighton in our Cathedral on 19th October, the solemnity of St Philip Howard. It will be good to have a Bishop to shepherd and lead us after several months wait. A Bishop, like any vocation, is not ordained for himself, for his own good. In fact, all of the baptised are called to service and to engage in the spiritual struggle which will always involve difficulties or suffering. So we pray for Bishop-Elect Stephen. Jesus describes discovering the Kingdom of God as like finding a treasure or expensive pearl that we hide so that we can buy it for ourselves. This might seem selfish but we do not know what the finder does having bought it. A hidden treasure and pearl are useless and die with the purchaser. Jesus has died and risen so that the treasure of the Gospel may be proclaimed until the end of time. Likewise, all the 5000 who were fed by the miracle of the 5 loaves and 2 fish were "satisfied". Is that where it ended? What did they do after witnessing and being part of a miracle? Jesus has died and risen for us but not just for us. Our faith, our parish, is not just for us. We cannot hide the great treasure of Jesus, the Mass, confession, prayer, community - life with God. We are called to show it and lead others to Him. It doesn't end with us being "satisfied". I pray that our parish is so in love with Jesus that meeting us will be encountering Jesus and people will leave everything to follow Him. My prayer for you all and all visitors to our parish. God bless you.  Fr Graham

Now that the Bill will be voted on again on 11 September it is essential to contact your MP to urge that they vote against the Bill, even if you contacted them last year. Dr Dominic Whitehouse (consultant in End of Life Care) will explain what the current position is on 5 August from 7 to 8.45pm in the Hall at St Michael’s Catholic Church, 19 Hayling Rise, Worthing, BN13 3AL. All welcome.

Stella Maris, the Catholic charity supporting seafarers, is seeking volunteers to join our Ship Visiting team at Shoreham Port. As a volunteer ship visitor, you will accompany the Port Chaplain or experienced volunteers in visiting merchant ships, offering a warm welcome, practical support, and a listening ear to seafarers from around the world. This is a rewarding opportunity to live out the Church's mission to people of the sea and make a real difference to those who are often far from home.  No previous experience is necessary, and full training will be provided by the Port Chaplain. For more information, please contact Luke Phillips at luke.phillips@stellamarismail.org .