OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE

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

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.

I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord. Everyone who believes in me shall never die. According to the Gospels, Jesus raised three people from the dead during his ministry, demonstrating his authority over life and death. These specific miracles are the raising of Jairus's daughter, the widow's son at Nain, and Lazarus of Bethany. Jairus's Daughter (Mark 5:21-43): Jesus raised a 12-year-old girl immediately after her death, telling mourners she was only sleeping. This occurred in the home of Jairus, a synagogue leader in Capernaum, living a long way away from Jerusalem. The Widow's Son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17): Jesus interrupted a funeral procession, moved by compassion for the widow, and commanded her only son to wake. This occurred approximately 6 miles southeast of Nazareth, located a long way away from Jerusalem. Lazarus of Bethany (John 11:1-44): Jesus raised Lazarus after he had been dead for four days, demonstrating his power even after decomposition had begun. This occurred in Bethany, a small village about two miles from Jerusalem, right under the noses of Jewish authorities. Some people who witnessed the raising of Lazarus reported it to the Pharisees and when Caiaphas hears this ‘from that day on they made plans to put him to death.’ Why did the Jewish authorities decide this? Caiaphas said ‘it is better for you that one man should die for the people not that a whole nation should perish.’ Ironically Caiaphas is correct, without the death of Jesus there is no resurrection and only by the resurrection can all be saved. With my prayers,  Deacon Simon

Please note the times below:

5 Apr Easter Egg Raffle and Easter Egg Hunt at St Peter’s 23 Apr Afternoon Tea for St George’s Day at St Peter’s

We have had a few important events in our parish over the last week, notably the World Day of Prayer, the WAF visitation and the Healing Service. I felt immensely proud of the teamwork, welcome and hospitality, and prayer of parishioners

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession, Penance) assures us of the forgiveness of God. We might think that we can go to God directly ourselves, and we can and should. But, when we make a daily confession like this, we are asking for God to forgive us, just as we do at the beginning of Mass. When we go to sacramental confession with a Priest, we celebrate the power and fruits of Jesus' death and resurrection. Jesus said to Peter that we can be assured of our forgiveness in this sacrament and He gave authority to priests to do so in HIS name. Only God can forgive sins. If we are sorry, do not want to commit the sin again and intend to do so, then we are REALLY forgiven. Just as at our baptism our souls are washed clean in the blood of Jesus. We are given new life. We should try to go to confession regularly, for venial sins and especially grave sins. God is waiting to pour His mercy into our hearts.

Last Sunday we saw how the Samaritan woman at the well grew in faith by believing in Jesus. Today, the man born blind has a similar journey of faith except he didn't see Jesus at all until after Jesus had given him sight. As before, Jesus knew everything about this man. He knew (contrary to Jewish thought) that neither he nor his parents had sinned and that sin was not the cause of his birth blindness. The glory of God was to come about through his blindness, some saliva, mud and spring water. Jesus is always ready to come to our aid and get His hands dirty! What had this man to lose except to go and wash in the clean, living ritual waters? His cleansing revealed something about Jesus and himself. That Jesus is the spring of living water that, as the Messiah, washes the dirt of sin that clings to the soul. Also, that obedience to faith brings clear sight - not of the things of this world but of the spirit. Everyone, even his parents, were too afraid to say publicly who Jesus was and what He had done. We still are. We are afraid of the repercussions from friends, family, society and even the law. Only the healed man who was blind was willing to speak of Jesus' divinity and say "I believe" and worship Him. It didn't win him any friends, only salvation. Obedience to faith brings healing. God does not see as we see. God looks at the heart. Let us increasingly look from the heart rather than with the eyes of the body and see as God sees. With my prayer for you each day and for all mothers. May God bless you.  Fr Graham