SPUC Updates

Here at St. Joseph’s, Dorking on Saturday 14th June . There will be tea & coffee from 11 onwards in the hall. Further details to follow. The theme is ‘Christ our Eucharist’.

The programme will continue Monday week on the 2nd June at 7 pm . our subject on this occasion will be the Sacrament of Baptism. Everyone is welcome to attend (those under 18 need to have a parent or guardian with them).

Worth Abbey - 11 June 10am - 3.30pm annual day of reflection and friendship. Join us for Mass, time to pray together and the opportunity to talk to fellow grandparents, sharing your experience, joys and challenges of family life. To register your place, go to the Diocesan website at: https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/diocese/events and then follow the Grandparents’ Pilgrimage link. For more details contact Deacon Simon South, Marriage and Family Life Adviser E: simon.south@abdiocese.org.uk , M: 07415 306222

Some things people don’t want to hear while others think that such words should not be found in church newsletters, dispositions which intimate that faith and the practice thereof, is a private matter!! Not so, we have to be Christ in the world, to quote Mother Theresa of Calcutta, ‘Christ has only your eyes, your hands and your feet’. Amongst the ghastly realities of our land, is that there are well over two hundred thousand abortions each year, an ever-increasing number, against the backdrop of sex education policies of the last number of decades, clear indications that such education policies have failed and have had a profound impact on our national psyche. Might one suggest that consequent upon such a culture of death there are those who see human life, including their own, as being cheap, evidenced by the levels of knife crime, the unneeded provocation of mental health issues and suicides. Contrary to the mantra ‘We are not worthy’ of the cult film ‘Wayne’s World’ actually, we are all worthy of life! God has willed every one of us from all eternity, the identity of each of us, is that of a child of God and we are all precious in His sight. Unfortunately, the latest attack on life is upon us, with an amendment being tabled to the Crime and Policing Bill by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi; the following from the ‘Right to Life’ web site: “ An MP has tabled an amendment to a Government Bill that would change the law so it would no longer be illegal for women to perform their own abortions for any reason, and at any point up to and during birth. The amendment (NC1), tabled by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi to the Crime and Policing Bill, would likely lead to a significant increase in the number of women performing late-term abortions at home, endangering the lives of many more women. The proposed change to the law would also lead to an increased number of viable babies’ lives being ended well beyond the 24-week abortion time limit and beyond the point at which they would be able to survive outside the womb. Antoniazzi’s amendment does not outline circumstances in which it would continue to be an offence for a woman to perform her own abortion – the changes to the law would apply throughout all nine months of pregnancy and would not exclude sex-selective abortions .’ ( Abortion up to birth amendment tabled by Tonia Antoniazzi MP - “Biggest threat to unborn since 1967 ”) Please take action and contact your MP via the ‘Right to Life’ link:- Write to MP to stop abortion up to birth - Easy tool - No To Abortion Up To Birth campaign asking him or her to oppose the amendment. Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: - The Bill will further be debated on 13th June. Based solely on Parliamentary process various UK news channels reported that there are grave concerns about the Bill, one MP saying that if the Second Reading of the Bill last November showed Parliamentary debate at its best, the debate this time showed quite the opposite! Worth a read in such regard: Declaration “Dignitas Infinita” on Human Dignity (2 April 2024)

First Holy Communion will continue on Tuesday 3rd June, for the older children at 4.15 and for the younger ones on 5 th June Thursday, at 4 pm (the hall will be open from 3.30). A reminder that the First Holy Communion Mass will be at 12 noon on Sunday 8th June; this Mass will be in addition to the usual 8 and 10 am Masses. The following Saturday, 14th June, the children will be given their First Holy Communion certificates at the evening Mass and this will be followed by a ‘First Holy Communion Breakfast’ in the hall; you are welcome to join the children and their families for a cup of tea and ‘lite bite. Sacrament of Confirmation:- Please pray for the young people of our parish and deanery who were Confirmed by Bishop Richard at a Mass at Arundel Cathedral this weekend. We pray they will deepen in their love of God, mature in their faith and be true witnesses of Christ in the world, all the days of their lives.

For those of you who contribute through the ‘gift aid envelope system’ please collect your box for 2025/26 (with your name on it) from the sacristy.  Gift Aid Declaration for 2024/25 : A message from Penny, our Gift Aid Co-ordinator: I will be emailing everybody with GiftWise their statement for the past tax year. Patricia Wrightson will be printing the remainder and sending them out in post. Many thanks.

There is a second collection this weekend for the missionary endeavour of the Diocese, which also assists the work of the Diocese of Chulacanas, Peru.

ROSARY CIRCLE FOR PRIESTLY VOCATIONS If you haven’t already done so, but would still like to commit to praying a decade of the Rosary each day during May, then please do put your initial or a tick in one of the boxes on the ‘Rosary Circle’ chart in the church porch. Our thanks to all those who have ‘signed up’ already to be part of the ‘Rosary Circles’. So as to keep this spiritual exercise in our minds and hearts, the first Sunday of each month is a ‘sign up’ weekend, when people can recommit to this by 'signing up again' or indeed take up this prayerful activity. Let it be said, however, that anyone can join the Rosary Circles at any time, so, even if you haven’t done so thus far, please be encouraged to do so. Details of how to be involved are on the notice in the church porch. 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

Mass and Meet Lunch :- on Friday 6 June after midday Mass. Summer menu of Homemade Quiche and salad, fresh baked bread and cheese followed by cake and coffee/tea. All are welcome! "