Category: Latest News

Three ministers were out in a boat on a lake fishing one fine afternoon, a Protestant minister, an Episcopalian priest and a newly-arrived Catholic priest. They were sitting out in the middle of the lake and the Protestant minister said he had to relieve himself, so he got out of the boat and walked across the water to shore, relieved himself behind a tree. Then walked back to the boat. The Episcopalian priest did the same thing. The Catholic priest thought to himself, if they can do it, so can I. So, he stepped out of the boat and started sinking. After saving him and bringing him back on the boat one minister commented: “We should have told him where the rocks are under the water!”

We will be commencing our second parish online Alpha Course for 11    consecutive Wednesdays, via Zoom, on Wednesday 9^th March.Alpha is an acclaimed international programme that explores the Christian faith and is aimed at anyone who wants to examine their faith more deeply and develop a closer personal relationship with Jesus. If you are interested and would like to know more please contact: [email protected] Before the first session you will need to set up Zoom (if not already done so) by going to ZOOM.US/TEST and joining a test meeting. All are welcome!

ENRICHING OUR CATHOLIC FAITH” – OUR LADY OF RANSOM (EASTBOURNE):  A series of talks  to enrich and deepen our    understanding of our faith. All are welcome to all or any of the talks.

–           Thursday, 17th Feb.  The simplicity of Prayer – speaker: John Kimberley

–           Thursday, 3rd March – Can War ever be Just?   – speaker: Fr Kevin.

–           Thursday, 17th March – The Second Vatican Council (reasons for and consequences) – speaker: to be confirmed

–           Thursday, 31st March – Making use of scripture in prayer. – speaker: Caroline Rother.

Sessions last an hour and start at 7.30pm in the Our Lady of Ransom Parish Hall (accessed via car park), – with a break halfway for refreshments.

There will be a Parish Meeting Sunday 13th February (Today) after Mass in St  Wilfrid’s Church Hall.  All welcome.

Mass at 11am on Thursday 24th February.  They have requested no gifts please.  If you would like to make a donation, there will be a box available for Macmillan Cancer Support.  Thank you.

The ashes of Edna Andrews will be buried in the Memorial Garden in St. George’s after the 10am mass on Thursday February 17th.

Synod – Parish Response

Thank you so much to everyone who recently took part in the Synod consultations, we estimate that over a third of our Church attending parishioners have provided responses either in the boxes at the back of church or through attending one or more of the eight meetings we have now held.  

All responses given in by 4th February have been submitted to the Diocese and those as well as all those provided after that date will be included in the Parish report to all Parishioners. We will provide a summary of responses as quickly as possible.

After that the more difficult  work starts – What action do we have to take locally?

As you may know, the Pilgrimage manages our Diocesan Pilgrimage, and takes around 700 people each year to Lourdes, of whom around 140 are Assisted Pilgrims who are frail, elderly, disabled or sick.  The Pilgrimage relies on the efforts of volunteers and generous donors to enable it to offer financial support to the Assisted Pilgrims who join us, and to some of those who will care for them whilst we are in Lourdes.  If you would like to support this appeal on-line please follow the instructions below:-

Go to the Arundel & Brighton Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage website using this link: A&B Lourdes Pilgrimage Website or the website  address https://www.abdiocese.org.uk/lourdes/home Click on the donate button on the right-hand side of the screen. Please then click on the donate button in the middle of the page and follow the instructions.  If you have any questions, please contact the A&B Lourdes Pilgrimage Office, either by email on [email protected] or call 01403 740110

Do you believe the Bible? Recently this article appeared in a cutting sent to me from America;

“Sometime before she died, someone had the audacity to ask St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa), “Why do you spend so much energy on the poor, the hungry, and the weeping of those in Calcutta?” She responded, “Jesus says the poor are the blessed ones. I take him at his word. I treat them as the royalty of God’s kingdom, because they are.” — To grow into becoming a Christian is, in no small part, to be converted into seeing the world as God sees it. It is to be given new eyes to look upon people and events from an eternally loving perspective. When that begins to happen, you begin to see that God has an opinion about how life should be lived, what Churches should be doing, and how people should act. You begin to see that the future belongs to those whom God blesses. They include the poor, the hungry, the hopeless, the damaged, and those whose only salvation is found in the God who comes to redeem.

We have an opening for a Facilities Officer who is able to carry out minor repairs and organise the process of obtaining quotes for more complex projects. If you are interested in undertaking this paid role please contact Jackie at [email protected] providing brief details of your availability and experience in relevant trades . Closing date for initial responses is Friday 18th February. Interviews will be held shortly after this time.