Fr. Aaron Writes :23rd January 2022

Webmaster • January 22, 2022


Dear Friends,


Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Theme for 2022 - “We saw His star in the East” – As we celebrate this special week for prayer for the Unity of Christians, I draw your attention to this year’s theme for prayer and reflection and I also encourage parishioners to join other Christians at the joint service at St Mary’s in the Causeway this Sunday evening at 6pm. 


The story of the Magi visiting the Holy Family in Bethlehem is one very familiar to us. The Magi have sometimes been seen as a symbol of the world’s diversity – different religions and cultures – that comes to pay homage to the Christ-child. The story might therefore represent the unity of all created that God desires.


The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2022 has been prepared by the churches of the Middle East, the history of which was, and still is, characterised by conflict and strife, tainted with blood and darkened by injustice and oppression. The Christians of the Middle East offer these resources conscious that the world shares many of the travails and much of the difficulties that it experiences, and yearns for a light to lead the way to the Saviour who is the light that overcomes darkness.

Serving the Gospel today requires a commitment to the human being, especially the poorest, the weakest and those marginalised. It requires from the churches transparency and accountability in dealing with the world, and with each other. This means churches need to cooperate to provide relief to the afflicted, to welcome the displaced, to relieve the burdened, and to build a just and honest society. This is a call for churches to work together so that young people can build a good future according to God’s heart, a future in which all human beings can experience life, peace, justice, and love.


To find prayer resources and other information, please visit the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland website: www.cabinet.org.uk




First Holy Communion Preparation – our Programme for 2022 was launched last weekend. The Programme will prepare your children for First Confession and for First Holy Communion. You will find all the information you need, including the application form and timetable, on our website. You can also pick up an application form from the back of the Church or from the Parish Office. The window for submitting applications closes on Sunday 6th February, so please get your completed form back to the Parish Office as soon as possible. I look forward to welcoming you and your children to the Programme.


It is an expectation from me that the children with their families practice the Catholic Faith and attend Holy Mass on Sundays, know the basic prayers such as the Sign of the Cross, Hail Mary and the Our Father before joining the program.




10am Mass this Sunday – This Mass will be particularly busy this weekend as there will be a number of babies and children celebrating the Rite of Welcome into the Church as part of their preparations for Baptism. There will also be three children making their First Holy Communion. So, you may want to consider attending a less busy Mass at 8:30am or 11:30am this week.



A Prayer for the Synod – We are invited to pray this prayer as we continue the listening phase of the Synod of Bishops.


We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name. 

With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it. 

We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions. 

Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right. 

All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.



Synod of Bishops on Synodality – I would warmly encourage as many of you to join in our parish meetings that continue this week. There have been very stimulating contributions and discussions in all three groups. Do come and bring a friend, we want to hear your views and opinions!


Please note anyone can submit their own contributions to the diocese, the parish meeting facilitators will submit a parish contribution.


The meetings will take place in the hall on the following dates:


Sunday 23rd January, meeting after 11:30am Mass at 12:45pm. Monday evening 24th , meeting at 7pm. Friday 28th, meeting after the 12 Noon Mass at 12:45pm.


The basic question for us to prayerfully consider: “What is the Holy Spirit saying to our Church today?”.



The topics for consideration over the three week ‘Listening Phase’ are Communion, Participation and Mission. The practice of living as a synodal church means:

  • The conversations lead to conversion to Christ and commitment to active participation in the Mission given by Christ – Communion
  • The people of God talk with one another and listen to one another about questions that matter – Participation
  • The communion exists for a common purpose; mission flows naturally from the experience of communion – Mission.


These gatherings will not only feed into Synod of Bishops meeting with Pope Francis but will assist us all in our parish mission, ministry and outreach as we come out of the pandemic and consider the existence of our parish in the future for future generations!


Seminarian Barnabas Mercer – is with us until the beginning of February. Do in take the opportunity to invite him out for a meal or a coffee, it will be good for him to meet as many parishioners as possible.


Parish Pastoral Council (PPC): Thank you to those who have kindly agreed to serve on the new Parish Pastoral Council. I have asked Mike Newman to be Chairman of the PPC, we will convene and inaugurate the new Parish Council in February once the Synod Meetings are concluded.


In Memoriam – Please pray for Laurie Harding RIP. We keep Nuala and all the family in our prayers at this sad time. Laurie’s Requiem Mass will take place on Friday 28th January at 10am here at St. John’s.



With my very best wishes and prayers for you all.


Fr Aaron

POPE LEO XIV WRITES Sunday 20th July

By Webmaster • July 20, 2025
The Holy Father is currently giving a cycle of catechesis on the theme of Hope in this Jubilee Year. Anyone struggling at the moment to connect with Jesus, our Hope, may find power in this extract from one of his recent reflections, given on 25th June. Dear brothers and sisters, Today we will again consider the healings of Jesus as a sign of hope. In Him, there is a strength that we too can experience when we enter into a relationship with His Person. A very widespread ailment of our time is the fatigue of living: reality seems to us to be too complex, burdensome, difficult to face. And so we switch off, we fall asleep, in the delusion that, upon waking, things will be different. But reality has to be faced, and together with Jesus, we can do it well. At times we feel blocked by the judgment of those who claim to put labels on others. It seems to me that these situations can find an answer in a passage from the Gospel of Mark, where two stories intertwine: that of the twelve-year-old girl, who is sick in bed and is dying; and that of a woman who has been bleeding for precisely twelve years, and seeks out Jesus in order to be healed (cf. Mk 5:21-43). This woman, with great courage, made the decision that would change her life: everyone continued to tell her to keep her distance, to keep out of view. They had condemned her to stay hidden and isolated. At times, we too can be victims of the judgment of others, who presume to put a robe on us that is not our own. And then we suffer, and cannot come out of it. That woman embarks on the path of salvation when the faith that Jesus can heal her germinates: so, she finds the strength to come out and go in search of him. She wants to reach out and at least touch his garment. Around Jesus there is a large crowd, and therefore many people were touching him, and yet nothing happens to them. Instead, when this woman touches Jesus, she is healed. Where does the difference lie? In his commentary on this point of the text, Saint Augustine says – in Jesus’ name – “The crowd jostles, faith touches” (Sermon 243, 2, 2). It is thus: every time we perform an act of faith addressed to Jesus, contact is established with Him, and immediately his grace comes out from Him. At times we are unaware of it, but in a secret and real way, grace reaches us and gradually transforms our life from within.  Perhaps today too, many people approach Jesus in a superficial way, without truly believing in his power. We walk the surfaces of our churches, but maybe our heart is elsewhere! This woman, silent and anonymous, conquers her fears, touches the heart of Jesus with her hands, considered unclean because of her illness. And she is immediately healed. Jesus says to her: “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace” (Mk 5:34).

Fr Tristan Writes 29th June 2025

By Webmaster • June 28, 2025
NEXT WEEKEND (5TH-6TH JULY) ORDINATIONS & MISSIONARY APPEAL - Next weekend will see the Ordination of Gary Carter and Scott Coleman to the Priesthood at Arundel Cathedral. The Ordination Mass will take place on Saturday 5th at 12noon, and will be livestreamed. The ordination of new priests is a moment of rejoicing for the whole Church, and I am sure we will all pray very hard for soon-to-be Fathers Gary and Scott as they begin a lifetime of ministry here in the diocese. All things being equal, they will also be the last priestly ordinations for at least three years in the diocese: a reminder to pray for more vocations! As Vocations Director, I will be busy elsewhere over the Ordination weekend, but I am delighted that the weekend Masses will be covered in the parish by the Missionaries of Africa (the 'White Fathers'), in the person of Bishop John MacWilliam, former Bishop of Laghouat, Algeria. Bishop MacWilliam has strong ties to our deanery, having been educated at Worth. I am sure that you will all give him a warm welcome, and contribute generously to the work of the Missionaries across 24 countries across the African Continent. The Missionaries state on their website: "Our aim is to proclaim the Gospel to the peoples of the African world. Because of its origins, our Society has always had a particular interest in making contact with and understanding Muslims and the Islamic world. All people everywhere are considered by God to be his children. But how can they know that unless someone tells them? ... God needs those who are sent to accept his mission and go! We share this relationship of children of God with those who have never heard, or those who have not understood, or those who have forgotten. We do not impose our beliefs, nor do we despise cultures other than our own. Instead, we offer to share with others the best we have, what is most important in our lives, what makes sense of our lives. We have received freely and must give freely. It would be selfish to refuse to share.... First we speak, but actions speak louder than words..... In Africa, this often means parish work, building up Small Christian Communities, working with the Media, involvement in Justice and Peace issues, inter-religious encounter, care for the environment, agriculture, seminary training both for ourselves and for the various dioceses, education and social welfare. The Missionaries of Africa aim to work in partnership with the local Church in Africa…and above all else, to help build up the leadership of the Churches.”

Bishop Richard's weekly reflection - 29th June

By Webmaster • June 28, 2025
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, As we celebrate the solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul, I invite you all to join me in prayer for Pope Leo, that he continues to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit in his task as shepherd of the flock entrusted to him. As our Holy Father, he brings particular gifts to the Church through his experience in Peru, where he served with some of the priests of our own Diocese; his times of leadership of the Augustinian Friars, and his service in the Dicastery for Bishops. He comes to the Petrine Office at a difficult time for the world. Let us join him in fervent prayer for peace – for which he has called so many times in these first weeks of his papacy. With him, and in the spirit of his predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, let us continue to strive for justice and promote the dignity of every person at every moment of life. St Peter, our first Pope, could not have imagined the steps he would be called to take in the service of the Lord. This is true of Pope Leo and, indeed, of every one of us. The life that is given to us in baptism – life lived in the love of the Holy Trinity – calls us to follow the Lord Himself, wherever he may lead us. As His disciples, we are called to learn from Him, to grow ever closer to Him, to be always faithful in our witness to Him. This is what it means to be a Pilgrim of Hope, for we journey towards the One who died and rose from the dead that we might have life – and whose first gift after the Resurrection was the gift of peace. As Pilgrims of Hope, may we – with Pope Leo – strive to share that gift with the world.  With every blessing,

Bishop Richard's weekly reflection - 15th June

By Webmaster • June 16, 2025
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus speaks with clarity of the Father, Himself as the Son, and the Holy Spirit. His words express the unity that exists between the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. The Holy Spirit will speak what comes from the Son, who has all that belongs to the Father. We express this in the Creed when we speak about the Holy Spirit coming from the Father and the Son. The mystery of the Trinity is about relationships – the relationships that exist between Father, Son and Spirit, one God. The wonder of God, existing eternally – as we hear in the First Reading this Sunday – pours love into our hearts, as St Paul reminds us. It is truly wonderful for us to reflect that, through our baptism, we are brought to live our lives in the love that exists in the Trinity. We are enabled to live in relationship with a God who is all love and whose love we see and experience as it is lived between Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As we rejoice in our relationship with the one God, three Persons, let us recall that it is God who gives us life and, in the coming days, pray very especially for respect for life in our own society as those in parliament prepare to vote on the “Assisted Dying Bill”. If you have not written to your MP, there is still time. May I thank all those who have written, for such action is a powerful witness to the wonder of life, given us by God. With every blessing,

A message from Fr Xavier

By Webmaster • June 6, 2025
Farewell and goodbye can often evoke feelings of sentiment, sadness, and departure, but they also mark an occasion of joy and the renewal of hope. We must trust in ourselves to move from the ordinary into the extraordinary, from this moment here in Horsham to every corner of the world. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to be available to all who wish to collaborate, share, and grow together. As I say goodbye, I carry with me all the cherished memories of your loving care, comforting hugs, and unwavering support. I thank you from the bottom of my heart, knowing that you will be there for me, even as I embark on my ministry and face times of need. A special thanks to Fr. Tristan for your kindness—you have made this year a memorable one for me. The portrayal of Pentecost in the Gospel is a vibrant and powerful image of the early church, awakened as an active missionary community. The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles, with tongues of fire alighting on their heads, breathing new life into this group. The transformation is nothing short of radical: once fearful and hiding in the upper room, they are now emboldened, inspired to go into the marketplaces and boldly proclaim the crucified Christ they believe in. They are no longer the trembling individuals they once were. They have been changed, transformed into a new creation—enthusiastic, eloquent, and with a profound sense of their vocation. The first Pentecost was indeed a striking and exciting moment in the life of the Church. However, the coming of the Holy Spirit is not a singular event confined to the Church’s foundation. The gift of the Holy Spirit, which was given at Pentecost, is still available to the worshipping community here in Horsham, provided we are open and willing to receive it. The Holy Spirit works through human beings like ourselves, depending on our willingness to respond to His promptings. This feast day offers us an excellent opportunity to reflect on how we are using the gifts God has entrusted to us. While our gifts may not always be as spectacular as those that amazed the onlookers at the first Pentecost, their value is no less significant. What matters most is how we use our talents for the benefit of others—whether we are a patient father, a loving mother, a good listener, a generous giver, or someone who takes time for the elderly and the needy. Let us all pray together: "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love." My contact details: Fr. Xavier Amirdasamy, PP and VF. St. Joseph’s RC Church, THIRUVALLUVAR NAGAR, LALGUDI S.O. TRICHY Dt-621702. Tamil Nadu, South India.  Mobile and WhatsApp +919443247835, Email xasun@yahoo.com.

NEW WEEKDAY MASS TIMES FROM MONDAY 16TH JUNE

By Webmaster • May 30, 2025
Our ‘normal’ weekday Mass times will be changing from Monday 16th June, once Fr Xavier departs. The new schedule will be as follows: Monday - 12 noon, Tuesday - 7:30 in the morning, Wednesday – no Mass, Thursday – 12 noon, Friday – 12 noon. Occasionally, we may find we need to alter a ‘normal’ weekday Mass time, so please continue to check the weekly Mass times that are published in our Newsletter and on the website.

THIS WEEKEND’S SECOND COLLECTION

By Webmaster • May 30, 2025
THIS WEEKEND’S SECOND COLLECTION - is for World Communications Day, which supports the Church’s apostolate in the mass media. The theme for this year, chosen by the late Pope Francis, is ‘Share with gentleness the hope that is in your hearts.’ (cf. 1 Peter 3:15-16) You can donate via the baskets or the card machines at the back of the church. Please note that this is not a Gift Aid-eligible collection. Thank you for your generosity.

Fr Tristan Writes 1st May 2025

By Webmaster • May 30, 2025
When Jesus ascended into heaven, he vanished from the Apostles' sight, and they spent a short while gazing into heaven. But as they looked up two men in white robes appeared before them and asked them what they were doing. 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?' (Acts 1:11) It was a rhetorical question, and one that we could pose of ourselves. 'Looking into heaven' is clearly a good thing to do! After all, it is where Christ, risen from the dead, and now ascended, has taken His seat to reign. Indeed, St Paul tells the Colossians to keep gazing in his direction: 'If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.' (Col 3:1-2) After the Ascension, our lives must surely be ones of contemplation, constantly putting before ourselves the face of Jesus, and the mystery of His death and Resurrection for us, and the glory to which he calls us.  However, still the angelic figures in Acts ask the Apostles 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?' The reason why is given immediately, when they add: 'This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.' (Acts 1:11) The concern of these heavenly messengers is that the Apostles do not think that Jesus's story is now complete. In fact, He will return to earth, just as He had taught them before, from the throne of the Father, as Judge of humanity (cf. Mt 25:31ff). We should never for a moment live our lives as if Jesus's story is done and dusted. In fact, like the disciples, apart from gazing into heaven, we need to keep our eyes open to observe the world around us in the here and now. The disciples are not to rest on their laurels having witnessed the Ascension. Instead, they must go straight to Jerusalem and take up the task the Lord left them to spread His Gospel. In order to do this, they will need the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (cf. Acts 1:5) The Holy Spirit, far from making them 'other worldly' - members of a sect who will no longer be concerned with the world's affairs - actually sends them into the world in a new way. We are constantly being called and empowered by the same Spirit to do likewise. In the face of great changes in our local church at this time, as we prepare to become one parish with the other communities of our diocese, we will also need to invoke the Holy Spirit's help, and Jesus's presence within us, bringing heaven and earth together. We will need both contemplation and action.

Fr Tristan Writes 25th April 2025

By Webmaster • May 25, 2025
This Thursday sees the great feast of the Ascension (a Holy Day of Obligation, and there will be two Masses in the parish to help you attend!) Jesus's return to the Father marked a profound turning point for the Apostles, when they entered a new phase in their discipleship. After forty days of being with them in his newly risen way of being, He instructed them to "stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high". And so began nine days of intense prayer and rejoicing together, until the day of Pentecost when that promised power - in the form of Jesus' Holy Spirit - would come upon them and remain with them, sending them out into the city streets, and into the world, manifested at last as the Church. This nine days of prayer is the pattern for the liturgical period between Ascension and Pentecost, known as the 'Novena'. Traditionally, we pray each day for a different gift of the Holy Spirit to be given to us, empowering us to live our vocation. You can easily find the full formula of prayer to use online, but here's a brief version, just in case it is useful. Happy Novena! Prayer for each day: "Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your divine love. Send forth your spirit and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who has taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may always be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen." Intention for Day 1 (Friday after Ascension) For the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit Day 2 (Saturday after Ascension) For the gift of Holy Fear Day 3 (7th Sunday of Easter) For the gift of Piety Day 4 (Monday) For the gift of Fortitude Day 5 (Tuesday) For the gift of Knowledge Day 6 (Wednesday) For the gift of Understanding Day 7 (Thursday) For the gift of Counsel  Day 8 (Friday) For the gift of Wisdom Day 9 (Saturday) For the fruits of the Holy Spirit

AN IMPORTANT DATE FOR YOUR DIARIES: FR XAVIER IS LEAVING

By Webmaster • May 17, 2025
After the best part of two wonderful years with us, Fr Xavier will be returning to his home diocese in India in mid-June. On Friday 30th May we will hold a special Thanksgiving Mass for him, at which Bishop Richard and priests from across the Deanery will be present. The Mass will start at 6pm and will be followed by a Party in the Hall from 7:30pm. We hope to see as many of you there as possible, to give Fr Xavier a memorable send-off! Please bring a dish to share, savoury or sweet. We’d love the food you bring to be representative of the various cultural communities that make up our wonderful parish family! Drinks will be provided.