Lent Deanery Newletter

ROSARY CIRCLE FOR PRIESTLY VOCATIONS:- There is a new ‘Rosary Circle Chart’ to encourage us all to pray for vocations to the Priesthood, especially in this up-coming month of May, the month of Our Lady. 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 May, 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. Thank you. Prayer for vocations to the Priesthood: ( Dropped in through the presbytery letter box, so a ‘thankyou’ to the courier) God our Father, look in love upon our homes, our families and our communities. Raise up from amongst us worthy priests to preach the Gospel to all people, to minister at your altar and care for your flock. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and make us faithful and inspiring witnesses to your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

The conclave:- Following on the death of a Pope, the Cardinals of the Church, as successors to the Apostles, will gather in conclave to elect from amongst themselves, the successor to St. Peter, who was the first Pope. We commend the Cardinals of the Church to your prayers as they prepare for the conclave, that guided by the Holy Spirit and in all humility of mind and heart, they may be obedient to the will of God the Father in the election of the next Pope Suggested reading: There are two useful articles in this weeks ‘Catholic World Report’ one is about the election of the Pope and a short history of the conclave, the other, perhaps closer to home, is about Carlo Acutis, the 15 year old who is to be canonized, the article will be of particular interest as it identifies something of the impact of mobile phones, social media, mental health and the thirst for God! Conclave Cooperation: The Cardinals, the Holy Spirit and You – Catholic World Report and Roadmap to Reality beautifully depicts the impact of St. Carlo Acutis – Catholic World Report

THANK YOU:- For your Easter offering, details of which will be available shortly, for the Easter cards, chocolate and other goodies! Thanks also to all those who helped with the Holy Week liturgies, especially the altar servers, the singers, musicians, readers, special ministers of Holy Communion, those who prepared things in the sacristy, the flower arrangers, and those who tidied and washed and cleaned the church the previous Saturday. Might I also take the opportunity to thank all those of you who help out in the life of the parish in so many varied and different ways, organising and running different things, whether that be the collectors, the coffee morning providers, ‘Mass & Meet’ the repository and card sellers, the flower arrangers, the parents who get their children in on time to serve Mass, the servers themselves, the welcomers, the readers and Special Ministers, the money counters, the gift aid organisers, the sacristans, the readers and Special Minister rota organiser, those who tidy up both in and around the church, the cleaners and of course the people that I will have forgotten to mention. Thanks also to those who have volunteered to take on a number of roles as we move forward with the Diocesan Pastoral Plan; just to reassure you, we will gather together those who have offered to help with the varying parochial needs. Again, many thanks, Fr. Ian

Divine Mercy Sunday (27/4/2025) Starting at 3pm at St Peter’s, Shoreham , with a Holy Hour of Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Confessions, followed by Benediction at 4.00pm. Further details email: adurvalley@abdiocese.org.uk.

Bishop Richard will celebrate Mass for the Repose of the Pope’s Soul at Arundel Cathedral at 11am on Sunday 27 April. To watch the Mass via livestream visit: www.abdiocese.org.uk/livestream Requiem Masses for Pope Francis have been arranged across the Deanery as follows: Tues 29th April, 9.15am, St John's, Tadworth ~~ Thursday 1 May at 9:30 St Ann’s, Banstead Fri 2nd May, 6pm, St Michael's, Ashtead (preceded by a Holy Hour from 5pm)

POPE FRANCIS R.I. P From Bishop Richard on hearing of the death of Pope Francis: " As we mourn the death of Pope Francis, we can also be deeply grateful for his life of service to the Universal Church. Bringing his experience of the Church in South America, informed and enlightened by his life as a member of the Society of Jesus, he called us all to simplicity of life, a renewed openness to the gift of mercy, a deeper understanding of the dignity of the human person and a respect and care for creation. The work of the Synod, that has marked the more recent years of his papacy, is sure to inform the life and mission of the Church in the proclamation of the Gospel; his faithful dedication, even as he lived with failing health, is an example to us all. May he rest in peace." Elected to the papacy in March 2013, Pope Francis was an unwavering advocate of the poor and marginalised. A powerful proponent for the value and sanctity of every human life, the Pope was vocal in his denouncement of human trafficking, which he referred to as a "global scourge". He designated February 8 as the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking and worked steadfastly to raise awareness of the illegal practice, promoting the work and mission of the Papal anti-trafficking charity, ‘The Santa Marta Group’, which operates internationally to end the criminal trade. Serving within an increasingly violent and polarised global landscape, Pope Francis worked tirelessly and vocally in the pursuit of peace, dispatching Vatican envoys across the world to deliver aid and spiritual support to people and communities in need, while urging governments and world leaders to bring an end to conflict and violence, particularly in the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan. Equally galvanising was the Pope's stance on Care for our Common Home, and his concern for environmental stewardship. In 2015 he published Laudato Si' - the first of two encyclical letters on the climate crisis - calling on people of all ages and backgrounds to redouble local, national, and international efforts to safeguard and protect the planet. Writing Laudate Deum in 2023 he reiterated the need for people across the world to act, highlighting that "there are no cultural changes without personal changes." Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him, may he rest in peace. Amen.

Adult formation / RCIA: The programme will continue on Monday 28 th April at 7 pm. when we will consider the First Easter, fulfilment of the Old Testament.

The third reading is likely to be on 25th April, although there has been mention of the reading being delayed. The Bishops of England and Wales have sent a pastoral message on the issue, copies are available at the entrances to the church. Additionally, Lord David Alton of Liverpool and Baroness Jane Campbell write: “Our nation stands at a crucial juncture regarding how we value human life, particularly the lives of people in the most vulnerable situations. If this significant proposal to introduce assisted suicide becomes law, thousands of individuals will be placed at risk in the coming years. Mounting evidence from the small number of places around the world that have legalised assisted suicide shows that these laws are incremental, the safeguards do not work, and that the changed law can have devastating consequences. It is therefore imperative that the Assisted Suicide Bill is defeated at Third Reading.” ‘Not Dead Yet UK’ a network of disabled people who oppose legalising assisted suicide, have sent out post cards for you to mail to your MP. The post card presents evidence-based reasons to oppose assisted suicide, urging MPs to oppose the Bill at the Third Reading. Please take a postcard, fill in the necessary details and post it off to your MP. THANK YOU. As has been said, purely in terms of economics, and to re-iterate the point, with a much lower than needed fertility rate in the UK, which in the longer term (20 to 30 years) will create a smaller revenue for HMRC with a smaller work force, the longevity of life which so many presently enjoy and the subsequent increasing medical costs with a tighter hold and additional expenses on the public purse, should this Bill succeed, then, just as has happened with the 1968 Abortion Act and the ‘safeguards’ the same will happen with this Bill.  The safeguards of the 1968 Abortion Act stipulated: “a pregnancy is terminated by a registered medical practitioner if two registered medical practitioners are of the opinion, formed in good faith….” (Abortion Act 1967 1967 CHAPTER 87 Paragraph 1:1 See:- Abortion Act 1967 ) a quick browse of the internet for the ‘morning after pill’ readily demonstrates that 2 medical practitioners ‘of good faith’ are no longer required; one therefore, has to ask, what will the ‘Assisted Dying Bill’ bring in 50 years’ time with ever tighter Government purse string and a significantly smaller tax contributing population? This Bill needs to be opposed for the common good of society at large and greater funding for palliative care through which pain can be very much managed in these Isles.

First Holy Communion and Confirmation programmes will continue as of 29th April; details will be available in the newsletter.