As of Thursday 5 Nov – the Government has imposed lockdown on our churches – up to and including 2 December. Please click on the link at the bottom of this page for the corresponding statement from the Bishops Conference.
Thus, during this period, sadly our church will only be open for private prayer – on Wednesdays from 11.15am until 12.45pm, with Confessions available from 11.30am – Noon as normal on Wednesdays.
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Fr Spinelli writes….(this is a version of Fr Aaron’s weekly message for St John’s news sheet, adapted slightly for West Grinstead)
Dear Parishioners, I am writing to confirm that from last Thursday at Midnight, all public common acts of worship are to be suspended until the 2nd December. This is a huge disappointment and sadness for a lot of us, as the Catholic Church in England and Wales has created and maintained a safe Covid secure environment in its churches for people to gather, worship and pray. Our fundamental human right to worship has been worryingly curtailed again. The Church hierarchy, together with all faith and religious leaders continue to make representations to the government. As Cardinal Nichols and Archbishop McMahon state in their statement, “It is important to recognise that these Regulations are not an attack on religious belief. However, they do demonstrate a fundamental lack of understanding of the essential contribution made by faith communities to the well-being, resilience and health of our society”.
What does this all mean for our community at St John’s?
I will celebrate Holy Mass at St John’s without a congregation daily at 10am – this will be live-streamed through our parish website.
St John’s will open for private prayer from 10:30am – 6pm every day. I will hear confessions on Friday and Saturdays from 10:30am until the last penitent. Adoration will continue at St John’s on Tuesdays from 10:30am until 2pm and on Fridays from 7pm to 9pm. I may extend the Tuesday Adoration hours if more volunteers sign up to watch.
The above opening times are different for West Grinstead: please see their Website – as above, at the top of this posting.
I will be available during this period if for any reason you need to contact me or visit – I am a key worker – the parish emergency phone has now been re-established: 07566 277227. This is the best way to contact me via call or text. However the parish office at St John’s will be open from 10:30 – 12:30.
I will hold you all in my prayers during this second ‘exile’ from the Holy Eucharist. I will bring your intentions to the Altar of God at every Mass I celebrate.
Let us pray for each especially the sick, housebound and isolated and most especially for those who face their final journey to God. Let us use the times for private prayer in church to remain connected to the Eucharistic Lord and to pray for the strength and grace to get through this period. St John’s Church is open as an oasis for you to be refreshed by the Lord. Do use this opportunity to grow closer to He who is our life.
Please check our parish social media for updates and for other news and initiatives during this lockdown:
Twitter: @catholichorsham
Facebook Page: St John the Evangelist – The Catholic Parish of Horsham
Instagram: catholichorsham
With my prayers for the weeks ahead – keep firm in the Faith!
Your Parish Priest, Father Aaron.
Other notices
Remembrance Sunday – the 10am Mass at St John’s on Sunday will be offered as a Requiem for the Dead of all Wars and for peace between peoples.
Month of the Holy Souls – I will also offer a Mass at St John’s for all the Bereaved in our parish on Wednesday 25th November at 7pm.
School Forms for St John’s and St Robert’s – Fr Aaron will make himself available for these to be signed on Monday 16th, Monday 23rd and Monday 30th November in the Presbytery at St John’s between 4:30pm – 5:30pm.
Parish Office – The Parish Office at St John’s will be open this coming week from 10:30am – 12:30pm
Parish Foodbank – The St John’s Share Shop – This will remain open each day when the church is open. Please continue to donate food, toiletries and baby goods. There has been a significant take up of this. Please share this initiative with anyone you may know who might need some extra help.
Fr Aaron
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St John the Evangelist,Horsham offers live streaming on its website, and via Facebook. Just click on this website link and scroll down to the live link: https://www.stjohnshorsham.com
There is live streaming throughout the day, and especially at 12 Noon each day from the National Catholic Shrine at Walsingham (our ‘big sister’ Marian Shrine): http://www.walsingham.org.uk/live-stream
Live Mass is also streamed from St Mary of the Angels, Worthing at 10.30am SUNDAY & 10.00am Weekdays (7.30pm Wednesdays). Go to: https://www.stmaryoftheangels.org.uk/catholic-mass-online/
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An Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as being already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
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Daily Readings – please click on: https://www.stjohnshorsham.com/team
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Please remember the sick and housebound in your prayers at this time: Sick clergy of the Diocese including Fr Stephen Purnell, Fr. Ray Blake, Fr Peter Andrews, Reverend Canon Colin Wolczak, Sr Zita. Ann O’Donoghue, Patrick Brennan, Sheila Budgen, Callum, John Challis, Maya Connolly, Jim Chambers, Sharon Chambers, Justine, Shane Fahy, Aila Figura, Joshua Hayter, Norbert & Patricia Mallet, George Peach, Paschal Radford, John Burke, Glynis Taylor, Charlotte Walker, Sue Batstone, Sharon Bean, Laura Rawlinson (Walshe), Michela Urbanelli, Liz Burridge, Nigel Nicoll.
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To view or download Bishop Richard’s latest Podcast: – https://vimeo.com/476226958
Please click on the following for the Horsham and West Grinstead 2020 SVP report and appeal poster, noting that where the poster mentions ‘Parish Office’ and ‘… bucket’, it is referring to St John’s Horsham, rather than West Grinstead!:
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Press release for English Marian Shrines
Radio Maria England presents its new series on ENGLISH MARIAN SHRINES.
Catholic internet radio station, RADIO MARIA ENGLAND, recently launched its new autumn schedule. Among its new programmes is ENGLISH MARIAN SHRINES. Presenter, Lucia Watson, introduces various holy Marian Shrines in our country. Yes, you’ve heard of Lourdes, yes you’ve heard of Walsingham, but DID YOU KNOW of the many other shrines scattered throughout our country?
Tune in for our broadcasts: Sun 18:30, Tue 16:30, Sat 02:30, Sat 20:30 Duration: 30 minutes
11.10.20 Shrine of Our Lady of Grace, Ipswich – Fr. John Thackray and Jean Johnson. They share the dramatic story of our Lady of Grace and the connection with the Italian town of Nettuno.
18.10.20 Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary & St Dominic, Haverstock Hill, London – Lynne Leeder and Fr Toby Lees. Listen to the history of the shrine, the addition of the Mysteries of Light Garden and the exciting plan they have for the future of the Parish.
25.10.20 Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden, Harlesden, London– Fr Stephen Willis. Find out why the parishioners would donate golden wedding rings to the parish and how the statue (which was made out of the oak tree in the garden of the parish) was crowned by Cardinal Griffin at Wembley Stadium, in front of 94000 people.
1.11.20 Shrine of Our Lady of Doncaster- Pauline Allan who is the Guardian of the Shrine. Ever wondered what the job of a Guardian of the Shrine entails? Pauline tells us about its amazing garden, and how they aim to bring back the importance of pilgrimage to this Shrine.
8.11.20 Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation, West Grinstead- Geoff Callister. He usually gives the pilgrims various talks about the Shrine. Tune in to listen to some interesting facts about the secret chapel located in the Priest’s House.
Listen online via our website or through the Radio Maria World Family app, or alternatively via DAB+ in Greater London or DAB in Cambridgeshire and the surrounding areas:
https://radiomariaengland.uk/how-to-listen-to-us/
Email: info@radiomariaengland.uk
Website: www.RadioMariaEngland.UK
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/radiomariaengland
Instagram: @radiomariaengland
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