You are very welcome!
Thank you for taking the time to visit our parish website. We are a very active Catholic community, seeking to share the gospel values as revealed to us by our saviour Jesus Christ. If you find yourself in the area, please do call in and celebrate Holy Mass with us. Our parish priest, Canon John Griffiths is very keen to meet with visitors to the parish.
You are very welcome!
St Joseph's is the Catholic Parish Church for Dorking and surrounding villages in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
We are an active welcoming community, offering spiritual and pastoral support for everyone, helping each other to grow in knowledge and love of our Catholic faith. We hope that you find the information on our Parish and its activities useful.
Our Parish Mission Statement
Together with our Priest, we are united in our Catholic faith.
We pray to the Holy Spirit to guide us in our service of God and our
service of each other.
As a parish we strive to be a warm, welcoming and forward looking community.
Parish Halls
St Joseph’s is blessed with having two interconnecting halls, a large kitchen and toilet facilities.
Either one or other of these halls is available for hire either on a regular or one-off basis typically at a cost of £35 per hour.
Special dispensation to this charge is available at the discretion of the Parish Priest.
If you are interested in using this facility please contact us or by phone on 01306 882433.
Our latest parish weekly news, notices and events below
Download the parish Newsletter Here
By Webmaster
•
January 26, 2026
Bishop Richard will celebrate a Farewell Mass at 6.30pm this Friday, 30th January in Arundel Cathedral. All are welcome to attend. Please be mindful that parking around the cathedral is limited, so it is wiser to park in the town and allow 20 minutes or so, to walk up to the cathedral.
January 25, 2026
We hope to have a study group running on a Tuesday morning from 11 am for about an hour. The penitential season of Lent is an opportunity for us to be with our Lord in the wilderness and /or to journey with the people of Israel during their forty-year sojourn. The study group would hope to assist us in our prayer, penance and reflection.
By Webmaster
•
January 18, 2026
From THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE UNBORN CHILD:- After a two-year delay, the Government have finally published the official abortion statistics for 2023. The results are shocking but not surprising. There were 277,970 terminations recorded, an 11% increase on the year before. These are the highest numbers of abortions in the UK’s history, nearly 300,000 per year across all four nations - a figure never envisaged when the legislation was first passed. There is also a rise in pills by post abortions - 200,745 abortions involved taking both abortion drugs at home, 72% of the total. You can read our full press release here . These appalling figures come as peers are due to debate the biggest expansion of abortion since 1967 - allowing self-induced abortion up to birth. As you know, the House of Lords will debate Clause 191 to the Crime and Policing Bill in the coming weeks - either on 27th January or 2nd February. Amendments tabled at Committee Stage include removing Clause 191 from the Bill entirely, ending the pills by post policy, and mandatory investigations for underage abortions. Please write to members of the House of Lords and ask them to fight the extreme abortion up to birth amendment. We must work to stop these horrendous statistics rising still higher. If this change goes through, key protections for women and babies will be removed. Please use our tool to contact members of the House of Lords. It will generate a Peer at random for you to write to, and bring up an editable template. Please edit this template to put it in your own words, and to include your own concerns and experiences. Once you have finished your letter, it will be emailed to you to print off and send to the Peer by post . Alternatively, you can opt to send your message by email, though paper letters are always more impactful than emails. The SPUC tool can be found at:- Fight the latest attempts to decriminalise abortion - SPUC You can contact as many Peers as you are able to (but send the letters in separate envelopes).
January 25, 2026
We hope to have a study group running on a Tuesday morning from 11 am for about an hour. The penitential season of Lent is an opportunity for us to be with our Lord in the wilderness and /or to journey with the people of Israel during their forty-year sojourn. The study group would hope to assist us in our prayer, penance and reflection.
By Webmaster
•
January 18, 2026
If you would like to contribute to the food bank, the Food Bank Box is by the side door of the Church and is for contributions of appropriate products as listed, which are gratefully received. The box is emptied regularly and the products are delivered to the local Food Bank Depot, where they are labelled and St Josephs Parish is acknowledged. Should you wish to help with the Food Bank a few more people are needed to assist occasionally with the weekly collection when the regular collectors are away. Please see our own parish website under the heading ‘Churches Together in Dorking at: https://www.sjcc.org.uk/churches-together-dorking Volunteers would need to have their own transport to get the products to the actual food bank depot. Please let Maria know if you’re willing to help. For further details about the foodbank, please see their website at: Dorking Area Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis
By Webmaster
•
January 12, 2026
The Pastoral Plan – The Word Who is Life (From Fr. Chris Bergin):- “Bishop Richard’s appointment as the next Archbishop of Westminster means there are some immediate consequences for us regarding the implementation of the Pastoral Plan in the Epsom Deanery. Whilst some things, by Church Law, are put on hold until a new Bishop arrives – particularly any decision to combine the existing nine parishes into one new parish – other key elements of the Plan remain as important for us as ever; prayer, formation and mission continue to be the priorities that shape our pastoral life. Whilst the parishioner meetings around the nine parishes will not now go ahead as planned (as a significant factor in the planning for these – particularly the timetable – was the proposed changes to structure), the Parish Leadership Team will be working on proposals to enable us to continue our reflections on mission, to celebrate and develop co-operation between our parish communities, and continue to invite all parishioners to get involved. You’ll be able to hear more about this in the next Deanery newsletter which will be available next weekend, 17th/18th January.” Additionally, there's a piece on the Diocesan website about what happens (and doesn't happen) during sede vacante which may be of help: Sede Vacante: Next steps for the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton | News
By Webmaster
•
November 22, 2025
From SPUC:-The Bill has now passed to the House of Lords for further debate and scrutiny. It is entirely in the Lords’ power to substantially amend and even to reject the Bill. The Bill is now at the Committee stage and will be discussed in the Lords Chamber on the following Fridays: 14 November 21 November 5 December 12 December 9 January 2026 16 January 23 January 30 January 6 February 27 February 13 March 20 March 27 March 24 April Please send letters to Peer asking them to oppose the Bill.” Please use the link:- Fight the Leadbeater bill - SPUC
By Webmaster
•
October 5, 2025
If you have a Red Box (Mill Hill Missionaries) in your home which is not emptied by the parish collectors or if you would like a Red Box in your home to help the APF’s missionary work, please contact Louis McCulloch on 01306 899001 or louis.mcculloch1@gmail.com .
Fr. Ian Prayer requests: Please remember those who are sick in your daily prayers: please pray for our recently bereaved
By Webmaster
•
January 26, 2026
Bishop Richard will celebrate a Farewell Mass at 6.30pm this Friday, 30th January in Arundel Cathedral. All are welcome to attend. Please be mindful that parking around the cathedral is limited, so it is wiser to park in the town and allow 20 minutes or so, to walk up to the cathedral.
January 25, 2026
We hope to have a study group running on a Tuesday morning from 11 am for about an hour. The penitential season of Lent is an opportunity for us to be with our Lord in the wilderness and /or to journey with the people of Israel during their forty-year sojourn. The study group would hope to assist us in our prayer, penance and reflection.
By Webmaster
•
January 18, 2026
From THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE UNBORN CHILD:- After a two-year delay, the Government have finally published the official abortion statistics for 2023. The results are shocking but not surprising. There were 277,970 terminations recorded, an 11% increase on the year before. These are the highest numbers of abortions in the UK’s history, nearly 300,000 per year across all four nations - a figure never envisaged when the legislation was first passed. There is also a rise in pills by post abortions - 200,745 abortions involved taking both abortion drugs at home, 72% of the total. You can read our full press release here . These appalling figures come as peers are due to debate the biggest expansion of abortion since 1967 - allowing self-induced abortion up to birth. As you know, the House of Lords will debate Clause 191 to the Crime and Policing Bill in the coming weeks - either on 27th January or 2nd February. Amendments tabled at Committee Stage include removing Clause 191 from the Bill entirely, ending the pills by post policy, and mandatory investigations for underage abortions. Please write to members of the House of Lords and ask them to fight the extreme abortion up to birth amendment. We must work to stop these horrendous statistics rising still higher. If this change goes through, key protections for women and babies will be removed. Please use our tool to contact members of the House of Lords. It will generate a Peer at random for you to write to, and bring up an editable template. Please edit this template to put it in your own words, and to include your own concerns and experiences. Once you have finished your letter, it will be emailed to you to print off and send to the Peer by post . Alternatively, you can opt to send your message by email, though paper letters are always more impactful than emails. The SPUC tool can be found at:- Fight the latest attempts to decriminalise abortion - SPUC You can contact as many Peers as you are able to (but send the letters in separate envelopes).
December 27, 2025
Dear brothers and sisters, “Let us all rejoice in the Lord, for our Savior has been born in the world. Today, true peace has come down to us from heaven” (Entrance Antiphon, Christmas Mass during the Night). Thus sings the liturgy on Christmas night, and the announcement of Bethlehem resounds in the Church: the Child born of the Virgin Mary is Christ the Lord, sent by the Father to save us from sin and death. Indeed, he is our peace; he has conquered hatred and enmity through God’s merciful love. For this reason, “the Lord’s birth is the birth of peace” (Saint Leo the Great, Sermon 26). Jesus was born in a stable because there was no room for him in the inn. As soon as he was born, his mother Mary “wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger” (cf. Lk 2:7). The Son of God, through whom all things were created, was not welcomed, and a poor manger for animals was his crib. The eternal Word of the Father whom the heavens cannot contain chose to come into the world in this way. Out of love, he wanted to be born of a woman and so share our humanity; out of love, he accepted poverty and rejection, identifying himself with those who are discarded and excluded…………… Jesus Christ is our peace first of all because he frees us from sin, and also because he shows us the way to overcome conflicts — all conflicts, whether interpersonal or international. Without a heart freed from sin, a heart that has been forgiven, we cannot be men and women of peace or builders of peace. This is why Jesus was born in Bethlehem and died on the cross: to free us from sin. He is the Savior. With his grace, we can and must each do our part to reject hatred, violence and opposition, and to practice dialogue, peace and reconciliation. On this day of celebration, I wish to send a warm and fatherly greeting to all Christians, especially those living in the Middle East, whom I recently visited on my first Apostolic Journey. I listened to them as they expressed their fears and know well their sense of powerlessness before the power dynamics that overwhelm them. The Child born today in Bethlehem is the same Jesus who says: “In me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). From God let us ask for justice, peace and stability for Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Syria, trusting in these divine words: “The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust for ever” (Is 32:17). Let us entrust the entire European continent to the Prince of Peace, asking him to continue to inspire a spirit of community and cooperation, in fidelity to its Christian roots and history, and in solidarity with – and acceptance of – those in need. Let us pray in a particular way for the tormented people of Ukraine: may the clamour of weapons cease, and may the parties involved, with the support and commitment of the international community, find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue.
You are very welcome!
St Joseph's is the Catholic Parish Church for Dorking and surrounding villages in the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton.
We are an active welcoming community, offering spiritual and pastoral support for everyone, helping each other to grow in knowledge and love of our Catholic faith. We hope that you find the information on our Parish and its activities useful.
Our Parish Mission Statement
Together with our Priest, we are united in our Catholic faith.
We pray to the Holy Spirit to guide us in our service of God and our
service of each other.
As a parish we strive to be a warm, welcoming and forward looking community.
Parish Halls
St Joseph’s is blessed with having two interconnecting halls, a large kitchen and toilet facilities.
Either one or other of these halls is available for hire either on a regular or one-off basis typically at a cost of £35 per hour.
Special dispensation to this charge is available at the discretion of the Parish Priest.
If you are interested in using this facility please contact us or by phone on 01306 882433.
Please check the current newsletter for any changes to mass times
January 25, 2026
We hope to have a study group running on a Tuesday morning from 11 am for about an hour. The penitential season of Lent is an opportunity for us to be with our Lord in the wilderness and /or to journey with the people of Israel during their forty-year sojourn. The study group would hope to assist us in our prayer, penance and reflection.
By Webmaster
•
January 18, 2026
If you would like to contribute to the food bank, the Food Bank Box is by the side door of the Church and is for contributions of appropriate products as listed, which are gratefully received. The box is emptied regularly and the products are delivered to the local Food Bank Depot, where they are labelled and St Josephs Parish is acknowledged. Should you wish to help with the Food Bank a few more people are needed to assist occasionally with the weekly collection when the regular collectors are away. Please see our own parish website under the heading ‘Churches Together in Dorking at: https://www.sjcc.org.uk/churches-together-dorking Volunteers would need to have their own transport to get the products to the actual food bank depot. Please let Maria know if you’re willing to help. For further details about the foodbank, please see their website at: Dorking Area Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis
By Webmaster
•
January 12, 2026
The Pastoral Plan – The Word Who is Life (From Fr. Chris Bergin):- “Bishop Richard’s appointment as the next Archbishop of Westminster means there are some immediate consequences for us regarding the implementation of the Pastoral Plan in the Epsom Deanery. Whilst some things, by Church Law, are put on hold until a new Bishop arrives – particularly any decision to combine the existing nine parishes into one new parish – other key elements of the Plan remain as important for us as ever; prayer, formation and mission continue to be the priorities that shape our pastoral life. Whilst the parishioner meetings around the nine parishes will not now go ahead as planned (as a significant factor in the planning for these – particularly the timetable – was the proposed changes to structure), the Parish Leadership Team will be working on proposals to enable us to continue our reflections on mission, to celebrate and develop co-operation between our parish communities, and continue to invite all parishioners to get involved. You’ll be able to hear more about this in the next Deanery newsletter which will be available next weekend, 17th/18th January.” Additionally, there's a piece on the Diocesan website about what happens (and doesn't happen) during sede vacante which may be of help: Sede Vacante: Next steps for the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton | News
The Sacrament of Reconciliation / Confession
Available after the Saturday morning Mass and from 5.15 to 5.45 Saturday afternoon.
Each Saturday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & the Rosary follow on from Mass until 11.00am.
Our latest parish weekly news, notices and events
Keep informed about parish activities on a week by week basis. Our important activities can be seen featured below, and found on our Parish Newsletter - available online here, or in print at the back of the church.
Fr. Ian's Prayer requests:
Please remember those who are sick in your daily prayers.
If you would like to add someone to the list, please email the parish office through this link or email the parish direct (on the newsletter)
New Paragraph
January 25, 2026
We hope to have a study group running on a Tuesday morning from 11 am for about an hour. The penitential season of Lent is an opportunity for us to be with our Lord in the wilderness and /or to journey with the people of Israel during their forty-year sojourn. The study group would hope to assist us in our prayer, penance and reflection.
By Webmaster
•
January 18, 2026
If you would like to contribute to the food bank, the Food Bank Box is by the side door of the Church and is for contributions of appropriate products as listed, which are gratefully received. The box is emptied regularly and the products are delivered to the local Food Bank Depot, where they are labelled and St Josephs Parish is acknowledged. Should you wish to help with the Food Bank a few more people are needed to assist occasionally with the weekly collection when the regular collectors are away. Please see our own parish website under the heading ‘Churches Together in Dorking at: https://www.sjcc.org.uk/churches-together-dorking Volunteers would need to have their own transport to get the products to the actual food bank depot. Please let Maria know if you’re willing to help. For further details about the foodbank, please see their website at: Dorking Area Foodbank | Helping Local People in Crisis
By Webmaster
•
January 12, 2026
The Pastoral Plan – The Word Who is Life (From Fr. Chris Bergin):- “Bishop Richard’s appointment as the next Archbishop of Westminster means there are some immediate consequences for us regarding the implementation of the Pastoral Plan in the Epsom Deanery. Whilst some things, by Church Law, are put on hold until a new Bishop arrives – particularly any decision to combine the existing nine parishes into one new parish – other key elements of the Plan remain as important for us as ever; prayer, formation and mission continue to be the priorities that shape our pastoral life. Whilst the parishioner meetings around the nine parishes will not now go ahead as planned (as a significant factor in the planning for these – particularly the timetable – was the proposed changes to structure), the Parish Leadership Team will be working on proposals to enable us to continue our reflections on mission, to celebrate and develop co-operation between our parish communities, and continue to invite all parishioners to get involved. You’ll be able to hear more about this in the next Deanery newsletter which will be available next weekend, 17th/18th January.” Additionally, there's a piece on the Diocesan website about what happens (and doesn't happen) during sede vacante which may be of help: Sede Vacante: Next steps for the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton | News
By Webmaster
•
November 22, 2025
From SPUC:-The Bill has now passed to the House of Lords for further debate and scrutiny. It is entirely in the Lords’ power to substantially amend and even to reject the Bill. The Bill is now at the Committee stage and will be discussed in the Lords Chamber on the following Fridays: 14 November 21 November 5 December 12 December 9 January 2026 16 January 23 January 30 January 6 February 27 February 13 March 20 March 27 March 24 April Please send letters to Peer asking them to oppose the Bill.” Please use the link:- Fight the Leadbeater bill - SPUC
Latest News
Prayers of the Saints
Important Notices
By Webmaster
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January 26, 2026
Is something perhaps, which we take for granted in the church narthex, but which has been looked after and managed for many years by one person with assistance from others. Given the passage of time, it would be appreciated if a couple of people would assist in learning of how to manage and order items for the repository with a view to taking on the role in due time. If you would be willing to help withs, please e-mail the parish office with your details, which will then be passed on to the current manager. Many thanks.
By Webmaster
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January 25, 2026
CONFIRMATION PROGRAMME 2025 /2026 Just to keep this in our minds, the programme continues this Thursday 29th January at 7 pm in the small hall. This week we give thought to ‘Adam and Eve and all that’. Many thanks for being so prompt at our first meeting.
MASS & MEET
There is no Mass and Meet Lunch in January 2026 - The next event will be on Friday 6 February 2026 after middday Mass. All are welcome!
NEWS ADDITIONS, UPDATES & FEEDBACK
We encourage parishioners to submit articles or information that you feel appropriate for our news section. Please send details to the parish office through the link below.
By Webmaster
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January 26, 2026
Bishop Richard will celebrate a Farewell Mass at 6.30pm this Friday, 30th January in Arundel Cathedral. All are welcome to attend. Please be mindful that parking around the cathedral is limited, so it is wiser to park in the town and allow 20 minutes or so, to walk up to the cathedral.
By Webmaster
•
January 25, 2026
The programme is open to everyone, but especially those who wish to know more about the Catholic faith with a view to becoming a Catholic. This week, Monday 26th January, we will consider the call and the role of the Old Testament prophets, seeing how God builds an ever bigger and clearer picture of Himself for the people of Israel. We meet at 7.30 in the small hall.
By Webmaster
•
January 25, 2026
An informal opportunity for those interested in cars and transport to meet, share experiences and perhaps teach and learn something in the university of life. An inaugural meeting for anyone interested will take place on Friday 6th February at 7 pm in the small hall. Francis, a seasoned rallying mechanic will give an audio-visual presentation on rallying across central Europe and North Africa. Light beverages will be available.
By Webmaster
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January 25, 2026
If you haven’t already done so, but would still like to commit to praying a decade of the Rosary each day during January, then please do put your initial or a tick in one of the boxes on the ‘Rosary Circle’ chart in the church porch. The ‘Chart’ lists the 20 decades of the Rosary and a number of columns for people to put their initial or a tick in a box to indicate they will commit to praying the particular decade each day for the month of January, and hopefully, this will create a number of ‘circles’ praying for this intention. This is a very simple spiritual exercise many of us could join in with; at least 20 people praying one decade of the Rosary each day, so the whole of the Rosary is prayed for this particular intention, thus creating a ‘Rosary Circle’. Let it be said, however, that anyone can join the Rosary Circles at any time.
By Webmaster
•
January 26, 2026
Bishop Richard will celebrate a Farewell Mass at 6.30pm this Friday, 30th January in Arundel Cathedral. All are welcome to attend. Please be mindful that parking around the cathedral is limited, so it is wiser to park in the town and allow 20 minutes or so, to walk up to the cathedral.
By Webmaster
•
January 25, 2026
The programme is open to everyone, but especially those who wish to know more about the Catholic faith with a view to becoming a Catholic. This week, Monday 26th January, we will consider the call and the role of the Old Testament prophets, seeing how God builds an ever bigger and clearer picture of Himself for the people of Israel. We meet at 7.30 in the small hall.
By Webmaster
•
January 25, 2026
An informal opportunity for those interested in cars and transport to meet, share experiences and perhaps teach and learn something in the university of life. An inaugural meeting for anyone interested will take place on Friday 6th February at 7 pm in the small hall. Francis, a seasoned rallying mechanic will give an audio-visual presentation on rallying across central Europe and North Africa. Light beverages will be available.
Parish Events
OUR EVENTS CALENDAR
Remember to check our events calendar for all of the activities happening within the parish