Fr. Aaron Writes 3rd July 2022

Dear Friends,

Extremely Important!!! Sunday Morning Mass Schedule – THIS WEEK on Sunday we will revert back to two Masses,

at 9:15am and 11:15am. Children’s liturgy will be celebrated during the 9:15am Mass and there will be refreshments after

Mass. Please fill up the church from the front and use all available spaces.

Church Access Issues – This weekend, please be aware that Albion Way and Springfield Road will be closed off to traffic

between 10:30am and 12:30pm. This will have a serious effect on parishioners attending Mass on Sunday morning. This

is all due to a Children’s Parade taking place. So, please be prepared to walk or cycle, or drive to park in Waitrose or Swan

Walk or elsewhere. We did not get any notice of this from the Council until this week, so I am somewhat frustrated that

we could not voice how this would affect access, particularly for the elderly, to St John’s at our busiest time.

Car Park Courtesy – Aware of the issue of limited car parking on a Sunday between the two Sunday Masses, please could

9:15am Mass goers remove their cars from the car park straight after Mass,ratherthan leave them while they go shopping

or attend another activity, as this blocks access and limits parking for the 11:15am Mass.

First Holy Communion – Congratulations to the children who received Jesus in Holy Communion for the first time last

Saturday. The children will receive their certificates at any Sunday Mass they attend over the weekend of 9th/10th July. My

thanks go to all those who helped make the celebrations go so well.

The Sacrament of Confirmation – Please pray for our young people as they get ready to celebrate their Anointing and

Sealing with the Holy Spirit this weekend. We look forward to Bishop Richard coming to administer the Sacrament on

Sunday at 3pm.

Parish Picnic – On Sunday 24th July, after the 11:15am Mass, we will go for a Parish Picnic in Horsham Park. All are

welcome to join us from 12:30pm. Please bring games and food and drink for us to join in and share.

Contactless Card Machine – This is now fixed to the wall by the notice board and St Anthony. You can make your cashless

donations/offertory there on your way in or out.

Fr Nick Harden – was ordained to the Priesthood for our Diocese on Saturday at Arundel Cathedral. We send him our

prayers and warmest congratulations - he has been appointed to St Dunstan’s, Woking.

Fr Christopher Morris – Congratulations also to Fr Christopher who was ordained last Thursday. It is such a joy to

participate in Ordinations. Please pray for him and all the newly ordained, as they begin their ministry. Hopefully, Fr

Christopher will celebrate Mass for us sometime in July.

Father Martin Thompson – We welcome him to our parish this weekend – he is visiting from Albania.

Canon Tony Churchill – will be staying with me in the Presbytery for a while from mid- August as he retires and waits to

move in to his retirement flat.

6pm Vigil Mass – It has been a while since I have celebrated the evening Mass. I haven’t abandoned ship! With all my

extra duties outside the parish, in the deanery,the diocese and beyond, I have found that these extra events and meetings

have been taking place on Saturdays, meaning it has been difficult to get back to Horsham for Mass. I thank you for your

patience and I thank all the visiting priests for helping out.

The Parish Fayre - In response to the Stewardship drive during Lent, when we called for more volunteers in parish

ministries, there will be a Parish Fayre of Volunteers on the weekend of 16/17th of July. There will be manned stalls with

information on how to join the various ministries and volunteer roles in our parish. Do pop in and see how you can help

the parish!

With every prayer and good wish,

Fr Aaron