Diocesan Pastoral Plan: -The Word Who is Life - You're Invited! Bishop Richard's Pastoral Plan is an invitation to everyone in the Diocese to live out the call, given to us in baptism, to spread the Good News of God's love in Jesus Christ. How do we best do this in the world of today? What are the unchanging treasures of the faith we bring to this mission? What changes will help us respond to the circumstances of our time and place? What gifts can you offer in all of this? Over the last few months, a team drawn from the nine existing parishes of the Epsom Deanery have been reflecting on how best to encourage and involve all parishioners in this task, which includes YOU. To that end, in the New Year, there will be a meeting in each of our parishes (St Joseph’s, Dorking: Sunday 25 th Jan, 11.30 am) to reflect on the journey so far and going forward. To help you, and us, prepare for these meetings, if you have not already done so, please pick up a “You’re Invited!” postcard and flyer. These give some sense of what we hope the Pastoral Plan will achieve as well as some consideration to how you might contribute to the changes getting underway. Please return the ‘postcards’ by Sunday 14th Dec. 2025 and make a note of the date for the meeting with Fr. Chris on Sunday 25th January after the 10 am Mass. Although the Pastoral Plan is light on the detail of how we go about fostering the Mission of the Church, this is because it leaves space for individual communities to decide on what their particular priorities are and how best to achieve them.
From SPUC on Friday last: “Today, the first (and only completed) grouping of amendments focused on coercion and pressure…… In Westminster, peers are clearly very unhappy with the Bill, and there are currently only two days left of committee stage in which to improve it (though this could change)….. But we cannot be complacent, and need to keep up the pressure on politicians to reject both bills. Please send letters to Peer asking them to oppose the Bill.” Please use the link:- Fight the Leadbeater bill - SPUC
Charity Christmas Cards Various charities, one of which is, ‘Aid to the Church in Need’ (a charity which particularly supports the persecuted Church) produce beautiful Christmas cards, with both Greek icons and Renaissance images of the Nativity, which are available for you to purchase in the narthex / lobby/ church porch. Purchasing their cards supports the persecuted Church and reminds all of us, that it is the Christmas Season into which we will be entering after Advent. P.S. when buying stamps for your Christmas cards, do ask for the ‘Christmas stamps’ in doing so, others, over-hearing your request, will be reminded of the reason for the season. Christmas cards & cribs This weekend, 29th November and next, 6th December, the parish ‘Christmas’ repository will be selling items in the parish hall after the Masses. If you don’t have a Christmas crib for the family this would be an opportunity to buy one to use as a ‘centre piece’ at home, perhaps adding figures to it, year by year. Your purchases will support the work of ‘Aid to the Church in Need’, their work in the Holy Land and those parts of the world where the Church is supressed.
Bishop Richard: “For many of us, when we think of Rome, we think of St Peter’s Basilica. In a Jubilee Year such as this, the entry through the Holy Door of St Peter’s is a high point of any pilgrimage. It is from the Apostolic Palace, next to St Peter’s , that the Holy Father makes his Angelus addresses and it is there that the public audiences take place, as well as significant celebrations in the life of the Church: canonisations, the inaugurations of new popes and the requiem Masses for deceased popes. Yet it is the Lateran Basilica, built originally by the Emperor Constantine, that is described as “the mother and head of all the churches of the City and the World.” It is the Cathedral Church of Rome, and popes lived in the Lateran Palace for hundreds of years. It is the Pope’s Cathedral, for he is the Bishop of Rome. It is for this reason that the whole Church celebrates this feast. It is a celebration of our unity with the Holy Father, the successor of St Peter.”
Please donate to our Family Fast Day parish collection to share God’s abundant gifts with our global neighbours as they find lasting solutions to poverty and climate challenges. Your generosity offers “signs of hope” in this Jubilee Year, helping build more water tanks in communities like Waré’s in Ethiopia where people have to walk for hours to get water. Use the CAFOD envelope in church, donate online at cafod.org.uk/envelope or call 0303 303 3030. You can also text CAFOD to 70560 to donate £10.
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 .
Catholics seeking guidance: In light of recent coverage, some references to help and guide: Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2277 Catechism of the Catholic Church - IntraText The Code of Canon Law: Code 227 Code of Canon Law - Book II - The People of God - Part I. (Cann. 208-329) The Code of Canon Law: Code 915 Code of Canon Law - Book IV - Function of the Church Liber (Cann. 879-958) followed by the commentary from the Pontifical Council for Legislative Text (24/06/2000) Declaration of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts which clearly outlines the responsibility of priests towards the People of God entrusted to their care.
Parish Plan: Following your generous response to our request for volunteers, it is now possible to put a little more detail on our parish plan. Currently the Core Team consists of Fr. Ian, Philip Cook (Chair), Colin & Ricki Hughes, Peter Briscoe, Keith Sargent, Rob Potter and Kathia Thornton. The aim is to have each member of the Core Team representing and liaising with the leaders of the various ministries within the parish. A key part of the Core Team’s role is to listen to those people actively engaged in ministry and to help bring ideas and thoughts to fruition, encouraging new ventures where opportunities exist. There is already a small team planning a relaunch of the Children’s Liturgy and a suitable candidate has been found to take on the position of Parish Secretary although it will take a little longer to confirm contractual details with the Diocese. We are especially grateful to a number people who have come forward offering to help with Health and Safety matters which take up an increasing amount of time. If you have any questions or suggestions, we would very much like to hear from you.