Author: Geoff Callister

Queen Elizabeth II Requiescat in Pace

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has paid tribute to Her Majesty The Queen.

“Even in my sorrow, shared with so many around the world, I am filled with an immense sense of gratitude for the gift to the world that has been the life of Queen Elizabeth II.

“At this time, we pray for the repose of the soul of Her Majesty. We do so with confidence, because the Christian faith marked every day of her life and activity.”

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FOR FORTHCOMING MASSES AT WEST GRINSTEAD:

Please see St Gabriel’s website, which IS now our joint website for weekly parish matters: https://stgabrielsbillingshurst.org.uk

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For Events, Pilgrimage and History matters, however, our website will remain as at this one – ie: http://www.consolation.org.uk

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Most recent Govt Update – 19 January 2021:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-from-2-december

Singing, chanting and the use of musical instruments

COVID-19 spreads from person to person through small droplets, aerosols and through direct contact. Singing, playing some musical instruments, shouting and physical activity increases the risk of transmission through small droplets and aerosols. Safeguards should be put in place to minimise opportunities for the virus to spread.

• Where singing or chanting is essential to an act of worship, this should be limited to one person wherever possible. Exceptionally, where it is essential to the service, up to three individuals should be permitted to do so. Strict social distancing should be observed.
• Communal singing should not take place. This applies even if social distancing is being observed or face coverings are used.

You can ALSO access up to date COVID-19 guidance for parishes on the Bishops’ Conference website.

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FOR FORTHCOMING MASSES AT WEST GRINSTEAD:

Please see St Gabriel’s website, which IS now our joint website for weekly parish matters: https://stgabrielsbillingshurst.org.uk

For Events, Pilgrimage and History matters, however, our website will remain as at this one – ie: http://www.consolation.org.uk

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St Gabriels Billingshurst – Sunday at 10.30:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoGj75ew6tu744_6tFK9WNQ

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

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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LATEST CORONAVIRUS ADVICE from the Bishops Conference as of Thursday 14 Jan – for church services:                                                          

Guidance for Communal Worship during England’s COVID-19 Lockdown

From Tuesday, 5 January 2021, a lockdown will be in force for England to curb the transmission of the virus. Catholic churches in England can remain open for communal worship such as the celebration of Mass providing the necessary steps are taken to keep people safe.

You can access up to date COVID-19 guidance for parishes on the Bishops’ Conference website.

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FOR FORTHCOMING MASSES AT WEST GRINSTEAD:

Please see St Gabriel’s website, which IS now our joint website for weekly parish matters: https://stgabrielsbillingshurst.org.uk

For Events, Pilgrimage and History matters, however, our website will remain as at this one – ie: http://www.consolation.org.uk

✠      ✠      ✠

St Gabriels Billingshurst – Sunday at 10.30:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoGj75ew6tu744_6tFK9WNQ

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

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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To view or download Bishop Richard’s latest Podcast:– https://vimeo.com/498288125

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LATEST CORONAVIRUS ADVICE from the Bishops Conference as of Thursday 14 Jan – for church services:                                                          

Guidance for Communal Worship during England’s COVID-19 Lockdown

From Tuesday, 5 January 2021, a lockdown will be in force for England to curb the transmission of the virus. Catholic churches in England can remain open for communal worship such as the celebration of Mass providing the necessary steps are taken to keep people safe.

You can access up to date COVID-19 guidance for parishes on the Bishops’ Conference website.

✠      ✠      ✠

FOR FORTHCOMING MASSES AT WEST GRINSTEAD:

Please see St Gabriel’s web address, which IS now our joint website for weekly parish matters: https://stgabrielsbillingshurst.org.uk

For Events, Pilgrimage and History matters, however, our website will remain as at this one – ie: http://www.consolation.org.uk

✠      ✠      ✠

St Gabriels Billingshurst – Sunday at 10.30:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoGj75ew6tu744_6tFK9WNQ

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

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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To view or download Bishop Richard’s latest Podcast:– https://vimeo.com/498288125

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LATEST CORONAVIRUS ADVICE from the Diocese / Bishops Conference as of Wednesday 13 Jan – for church services:                                                          

• England has entered a new period of lockdown with people encouraged to work from home wherever possible and schools and colleges closed. The Government’s Places of Worship Guidance was updated on 11th January and can be found here.‍The general approach of the guidance is an extension of the previous rules in place under Tier 4 in December. However, it has been amended to reflect the new national restrictions. These restrictions:
  • require people to stay at home, except for specific purposes;
  • prevent people gathering with those they do not live with, except for specific purposes;
  • ·require certain businesses to close.

  ‍‍Attending a place of worship is one of the very few legal exemptions that allow larger numbers to gather in the same venue.

  ‍To keep everyone safe, where places of worship choose to open it is crucial that those attending comply with the law and COVID-19 Secure guidance. The following activities should not take place at the present time:

  1) Baptisms or other ceremonies which mark significant life cycle moments but which do not take place as an established part of normal communal worship (with the exception of commemorative events that celebrate the life of a person who has died – see the detailed guidance on this in the full document).

  2) Prayer or study groups in person.

  3) Lifestyle and leisure/recreational groups such as craft groups or exercise groups.

  4) Amateur choir practice or group bell ringing.

  5) Tourism and shops contained within the place of worship.

  ‍In addition to this summary, there are other key changes:

  1) Revised wording on weddings to highlight the consideration that is required from those participating about whether the circumstance is exceptional in order to proceed at this time.

  2) National guidance strongly suggests that singing should only take place where it is essential to the act of worship. Since every effort should be made not to lengthen the time for Mass unnecessarily, it will be appropriate for the time being not to have music at Mass or any other liturgy. This includes recorded music, if it extends the time taken for the celebration.

  You can access up to date COVID-19 guidance for parishes on the Bishops’ Conference website.

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FOR FORTHCOMING MASSES AT WEST GRINSTEAD:

Please see St Gabriel’s web address, which IS now our joint website for weekly parish matters: https://stgabrielsbillingshurst.org.uk

For Events, Pilgrimage and History matters, however, our website will remain as at this one – ie: http://www.consolation.org.uk

✠      ✠      ✠

St Gabriels Billingshurst – Sunday at 10.30:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoGj75ew6tu744_6tFK9WNQ

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

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.

✠      ✠      ✠

Daily Readings – please click on: https://www.stjohnshorsham.com/team

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To view or download Bishop Richard’s latest Podcast:– https://vimeo.com/498288125

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LATEST CORONAVIRUS ADVICE from the Government – as of Monday 11 Jan – for church services:                                                          Singing, chanting and the use of musical instruments

• Where singing or chanting is essential to an act of worship, this should be limited to one person wherever possible. Exceptionally, where it is essential to the service, up to three individuals should be permitted to do so. Strict social distancing should be observed and the use of Plexi-glass screens should be considered to protect worshippers, and each other.
• Communal singing should not take place. This applies even if social distancing is being observed or face coverings are used.                 FROM:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-from-2-december

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FORTHCOMING MASSES AT WEST GRINSTEAD:

Sunday 10th Jan – 11.00am Mass, AND PLEASE NOTE THIS WILL REMAIN AS THE NEW SUNDAY MASS TIME, now that canon tim celebrates mass at billingshurst, ahead of ours:

The Baptism of The Lord. Mass Intention: Pro Populo

Wednesday 13 January – Mass at 12 Noon, with Confessions at 11.30

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Please see St Gabriel’s web address, which IS now our joint website for weekly parish matters: https://stgabrielsbillingshurst.org.uk

For Events, Pilgrimage and History matters, however, our website will remain as at this one – ie: http://www.consolation.org.uk

✠      ✠      ✠

St Gabriels Billingshurst – Sunday at 10.30:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoGj75ew6tu744_6tFK9WNQ

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

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.

✠      ✠      ✠

Daily Readings – please click on: https://www.stjohnshorsham.com/team

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To view or download Bishop Richard’s latest Podcast:– https://vimeo.com/498288125

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LATEST CORONAVIRUS ADVICE from the bishops conference – as of Tuesday 5 Jan:

Guidance for Communal Worship during England’s COVID-19 Lockdown

FORTHCOMING MASSES AT WEST GRINSTEAD:

Sunday 10th Jan – 11.00am Mass, AND PLEASE NOTE THIS WILL REMAIN AS THE NEW SUNDAY MASS TIME, now that canon tim celebrates mass at billingshurst, ahead of ours:

The Baptism of The Lord. Mass Intention: Pro Populo

Wednesday 13 January – Mass at 12 Noon, with Confessions at 11.30

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Please see St Gabriel’s web address, which IS now our joint website for weekly parish matters: https://stgabrielsbillingshurst.org.uk

For Events, Pilgrimage and History matters, however, our website will remain as at this one – ie: http://www.consolation.org.uk

✠      ✠      ✠

St Gabriels Billingshurst – Sunday at 10.30:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoGj75ew6tu744_6tFK9WNQ

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

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.

✠      ✠      ✠

Daily Readings – please click on: https://www.stjohnshorsham.com/team

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To view or download Bishop Richard’s latest Podcast:– https://vimeo.com/498288125

✠

LATEST CORONAVIRUS ADVICE from the bishops conference – as of Tuesday 5 Jan:

Guidance for Communal Worship during England’s COVID-19 Lockdown

FORTHCOMING MASSES AT WEST GRINSTEAD:

Sunday 10th Jan – 11.00am Mass, AND PLEASE NOTE THIS WILL REMAIN AS THE NEW SUNDAY MASS TIME, now that canon tim celebrates mass at billingshurst, ahead of ours:

The Baptism of The Lord. Mass Intention: Pro Populo

Wednesday 13 January – Mass at 12 Noon, with Confessions at 11.30

✠      ✠      ✠

Please see St Gabriel’s web address, which IS now our joint website for weekly parish matters: https://stgabrielsbillingshurst.org.uk

For Events, Pilgrimage and History matters, however, our website will remain as at this one – ie: http://www.consolation.org.uk

✠      ✠      ✠

St Gabriels Billingshurst – Sunday at 10.30:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoGj75ew6tu744_6tFK9WNQ

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

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.

✠      ✠      ✠

Daily Readings – please click on: https://www.stjohnshorsham.com/team

✠      ✠      ✠

To view or download Bishop Richard’s latest Podcast:– https://vimeo.com/498288125

✠

LATEST CORONAVIRUS ADVICE from the bishops conference – as of Tuesday 5 Jan:

Guidance for Communal Worship during England’s COVID-19 Lockdown

FORTHCOMING MASSES AT WEST GRINSTEAD:

Sunday 10th Jan – 11.00am Mass, AND PLEASE NOTE THIS WILL REMAIN AS THE NEW SUNDAY MASS TIME, now that canon tim celebrates mass at billingshurst, ahead of ours:

The Baptism of The Lord. Mass Intention: Pro Populo

Wednesday 13 January – Mass at 12 Noon, with Confessions at 11.30

✠      ✠      ✠

Please see St Gabriel’s web address, which IS now our joint website for weekly parish matters: https://stgabrielsbillingshurst.org.uk

For Events, Pilgrimage and History matters, however, our website will remain as at this one – ie: http://www.consolation.org.uk

✠      ✠      ✠

St Gabriels Billingshurst – Sunday at 10.30:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoGj75ew6tu744_6tFK9WNQ

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

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.

✠      ✠      ✠

Daily Readings – please click on: https://www.stjohnshorsham.com/team

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To view or download Bishop Richard’s latest Podcast:– 

LATEST CORONAVIRUS ADVICE from the bishops conference – as of Tuesday 5 Jan:

Guidance for Communal Worship during England’s COVID-19 Lockdown

FORTHCOMING MASSES AT WEST GRINSTEAD:

Wed 6th Jan – Mass 12 Noon: The Epiphany of the Lord. Mass Intention: Vocations to the Priesthood in our Diocese.  PLEASE NOTE THIS WILL BE THE FINAL MASS THAT FR AARON WILL CELEBRATE WITH US

Sunday 10th Jan – 11.00am Mass, AND PLEASE NOTE THIS WILL REMAIN AS THE NEW SUNDAY MASS TIME, now that canon tim celebrates mass at billingshurst, ahead of ours:

The Baptism of The Lord. Mass Intention: The new, joint Missions at Billingshurst and West Grinstead

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THE FUTURE: Bishop Richard recently announced that from 10th January 2021, the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation and St. Francis will be joined onto Billingshurst Parish. This will mean adaptations in both churches for the celebration of Mass. Starting on Sunday 10th January, Mass at St Gabriel’s, Billingshurst will be at 9.30am and the Mass at the Shrine in West Grinstead will be at 11am. These times will be evaluated after Easter to see if any modification is needed. The weekday timetable will be Masses at Billingshurst on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at 9.30am and on Thursday at 7pm – and Mass at West Grinstead continuing on Wednesdays at 12 noon. We look forward to working with the good people of St Gabriel’s and through the intercession of Our Lady, St Francis and St Gabriel, celebrating together our Catholic faith.

We wish to thank Fr Aaron most sincerely for his exemplary ministry with us here, at the Shrine. When restrictions allow, we very much hope to celebrate such an uplifting, supporting and spiritually enriching period  for us. Fr Aaron’s last Mass with us will be on Wednesday 6 January at Midday on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. 

Please also make a note of St Gabriel’s web address, which will become our joint website for weekly parish matters: https://stgabrielsbillingshurst.org.uk

For Events, Pilgrimage and History matters, however, our website will remain as at this one – ie: http://www.consolation.org.uk

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Deacon Seamus is retiring after fourteen highly successful years of dedicated service at West Grinstead. We give grateful thanks for his long and devoted service to the Lord and to our Mission. There will be an opportunity to thank him properly in the New Year, once restrictions allow.  Deo Gratias!

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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

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.

✠      ✠      ✠

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. Patrick Brennan, Sheila Budgen, Callum, John Challis, Maya Connolly, Jim Chambers, Viv Griffiths, Justine, Shane Fahy, Aila Figura, Joshua Hayter, Norbert & Patricia Mallet, George Peach, Paschal Radford, John Burke, Glynis Taylor, Charlotte Walker, Sharon Bean, Laura Rawlinson (Walshe), Liz Burridge, Nigel Nicoll.