Fr. Aaron Writes 19th March 2023

Fr Aaron writes…

This weekend we celebrate the Fourth Sunday of the Holy Season of Lent, known as Laetare Sunday – may I begin by wishing all mothers a very Happy and Blessed Mothering Sunday! May we all give thanks to God and ask blessings on our dear mothers. May those who have gone to their rest enjoy eternal peace.

The tradition of celebrating Mothering Sunday comes from the old custom of visiting your mother church where you became a child of the Church, a child of Christ whose body the Church is. In so doing, one remembers their baptism day. This is a lovely tradition we could return to in some way – remembering the moment of our spiritual adoption as God’s children, as ones in whom God is ‘well pleased’.

A remembrance of Mary is also appropriate as the Mother of the Church, as she journeys with us with her maternal care and intercession.

This Sunday acts as a refreshment ‘pit stop’ on our Lenten journey, as we are in the final stretch towards Holy Week. May we celebrate this day with joy, in appreciation of the gifts and graces we receive from God made manifest in one another.

First Holy Communion Session – We will meet at 12:30pm on Saturday in the church to continue the next phase of preparation for Holy Communion, which will take place in May.

Stations of the Cross – will take place on Fridays throughout Lent. There will be a celebration of the Way of the Cross at 11:15am and at 7pm.

Lent Parish Confessions – Visiting priests from the Deanery will be available to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation for us on Thursday 23rd March at 7pm in the church.

Lent Reconciliation in the Deanery –

Billingshurst          Saturday 18th March        7.00 pm

Henfield                 Monday 20th March          7.00 pm

Horsham               Thursday 23rd March        7.00 pm

Horley                    Monday 27th March           7.00 pm

Crawley                 Tuesday 28th March          11.00 am & 6.00pm-9.00pm

East Grinstead     Monday 3rd April                 7.30 pm

West Grinstead    Tuesday 4th April                7.00 pm

Altar and Confessional Swap – Canon Tim Madeley will celebrate our Saturday morning Mass this weekend and will hear confessions afterwards. I will do the same at Billingshurst.

World Youth Day 2023 Lisbon – The deadline for applications is March 31st, but do not leave your application to the last minute! If you would like to come and have not indicated this to me yet - do speak to me and also register with the Diocese! Details are on the diocesan website. We will continue our fundraising for the participants through various events. Search for “Diocese of Arundel and Brighton World Youth Day Lisbon 2023”.

Parish Pilgrimage to Rome, Assisi and Sorrento (late September/early October) – A number of parishioners have already registered their interest with the Parish Office; if you would like to come, please do the same.

With every prayer and good wish.

Fr Aaron