Tickets for our Big Christmas Raffle will be on sale after Masses on Sundays during November in the Lady Chapel. The draw will take place during the Coffee Morning on the first Friday of December. Any donated prizes will be very welcome.
Campaigns
Church campaigns, needs and good causes
Christmas Raffle
Proposal to Decriminalise Abortion
Abortion decriminalisation debate on 23rd October
At present abortion remains a criminal act unless certain conditions are met. Although these conditions have been liberally interpreted they still provide some important protections both for women and for their babies. There is now a campaign to take abortion completely out of criminal law, at least to the point when the baby can survive outside the womb. There will be a Parliamentary debate on this on 23rd October. It is important that our MPs are aware of our concerns and the basis for them as soon as possible.
For further information on the implications and how you can respond see: www.weybridgedeanery.org/giving-witness-priority.html
St Mary of the Angels Essential Building Works
You may remember that in June we informed you all that we were making an application for Heritage Lottery Funding, with a view to carrying out major repair work to the church building.
Regrettably, our application was unsuccessful, as it did not provide sufficient “value for money” to “the people and communities” beyond our own community, despite all we do to support so many worthwhile causes here and abroad.
However, even without the Lottery funding, we need to press on with plans to repair the roof structure, windows, walls and rainwater goods, and seek best advice from persons experienced in restoring Grade II Listed churches. We must bear the cost of fees and building work ourselves, whatever that might amount to – and it will involve very considerable expense. The best estimate obtained to replace the main roof covering alone is in excess of £122,000. As we do not have sufficient funds to cover that, we will inevitably have to overdraw our bank account and make a concerted effort to save and raise money, over a period of years, to repay the deficit. However, we do have almost £19,000 in a reserve fund for emergencies, which we can utilise, and we await repayment of money from our insurers, following the copper roof work and dry rot problem; we are still owed around £10,700 from them. We are, therefore, in a position financially to at least begin the process of engaging professionals to develop a project of renovation: initially to the external fabric of the church, to keep it wind and watertight, and then, hopefully, to improve the interior.
It is important to me as your Parish Priest that you are kept advised of progress and consulted for your views when appropriate, so it is likely that this topic will be making a regular appearance in our newsletter and on our website for you all. Even at this early stage I want to record my huge gratitude to Jim McClean, who is constantly working away in the background looking after these not inconsiderable projects. To him, and to members of the Finance Committee, thank you!
The Word Who is Life – Towards 2030
Update on the Word Who Is Life – see Word Who Is Life page linking all relevant content.
The meeting, last week, of the diocesan priests with the bishop, was a positive and hopeful occasion. Changes at diocesan level concerning lay officers and appointments are to take place and a few parishes will move deaneries (creating 12, rather than 13, deaneries; but this doesn’t affect us). In the next 7 years, as priests retire and die, the sharing-out of priests and parishes will gradually moderate and change, so that by 2030 a new look will be in place. What this actually means for us, here, Bishop Richard will explain at the meeting on Thursday 8th November, Chatsmore School, at 7.00pm – to which I hope lots of you will come. If you have questions, do ask – but, at this stage, I may not yet be able to answer them!
See this link for the bishop’s thoughts: www.dabnet.org/news/view/33
The Diocesan Vision: Planning for 2030
These meetings are open to all in each Deanery and the plans will be presented by the Bishop, assisted by a team of advisers. The Worthing Deanery meeting will be held at Chatsmore Catholic High School on Thursday 8th November at 7pm.
Please try and come!
ALSO: Bishop Richard will be launching the Diocesan Pastoral Plan on 18th September to clergy and staff, and then deanery by deanery to everyone else. You will be able to view a brief video on the website from 18th September outlining the basic details of the plan. Please note that, to facilitate Fr Terry’s attendance at a meeting for priests on 18th, Mass will be at the earlier time of 8.30am.
Find more information on our Word Who is Life Page: http://www.stmaryoftheangels.org.uk/the-word-who-is-life
Worthing Catholic Alpha
Alpha is run all around the globe, and creates opportunities for conversation, with each session focusing on a different fundamental question about faith. You will find a welcome, food, a talk, good conversation and friendship. You can find more information at http://alpha.org/catholic-context/home
Our next Alpha course starts with a no-obligation taster session on Friday 28 September at 7 p.m. in The Barn, English Martyr’s Church, Goring, BN12 4UH.
Alpha is a fantastic opportunity to explore questions about life and explore the Christian faith in a friendly and open environment.
There will be a free buffet and a short talk entitled “Is there more to life than this?”
All are welcome. For more information contact Mary on 01903 506599/07889 065356 or email info@worthingalpha.com.
Big Need for Parishioners To Volunteer for Church Cleaning
Once again, we continue to be in great need, particularly from younger adults. If you could possibly just give 1 – 2 hours of your time every 4 weeks, you would help keep our church in good shape. Currently we have so few doing so much; many of us well into senior years! Please call Teresa Turner at 01903 211396. We are immensely grateful to the team who so faithfully and so diligently do what they can at the moment – but they do need help!
Urgent Need for Parishioners to Join Our Cleaning Team
We continue to need younger adults, and particularly people to work with our Thursday and Friday morning team.
If you could possibly just give 1 – 2 hours of your time every 4 weeks, you would help keep our church in good shape. Currently we have so few doing so much; many of us well into senior years! Please call Teresa Turner at 01903 211396.
We are immensely grateful to the team who so faithfully and so diligently do what they can at the moment – but they do need help!
theASCENT
theASCENT – Discipleship Process for Young People
This October, theASCENT will be launching at Worth Abbey with the support of the diocese.
It’s a three-year discipleship process involving three weekend residentials a year and weekly online group sessions. It’s open to anyone about to go into year 10, 11, or 12 and it’s designed to take people with a real interest in their faith and to help them to make a deeper commitment and to explore who God created them to be, while making a few friends and hopefully having some fun in the process.
For more details, or to apply, visit theascentuk.co.uk or contact Jack.Regan@dabnet.org