PARISH NEWS ARTICLES

Diocesan Pastoral Plan: Once again, our thanks to all those who have put forward their details to help with the changing landscape of the local church. Those details have now been collated and the ‘pro temp core group’ met during this last week to assist in identifying who might be ‘teamed’ with who, and matters progressed. Those who have offered to help will receive or will have received an e-mail acknowledging and thanking them for their assistance. Such a general e-mail will also include the names of the temporary ‘core team’ members, who have been delegated to contact those of you who have offered to help in the various arenas, so as to bring the differing skill sets and people together. This ‘phase’ will bring individuals together in a ‘group’ meeting which will have both a ‘social’ and ‘business’ element, the latter, in terms of what individuals are prepared to offer within the bounds of their broader responsibilities and commitments. On Tuesday there will be the first Deanery clergy meeting of the year and doubtless, there will be some ‘feedback’ on developments, expectations etc. Previous Updates------ Diocesan Pastoral Plan: Thanks to all those who have put forward their details to help with the changing landscape of the local church by filling in the forms, which are still available, should you be able to help in some way. Given the shortage of priests and the amalgamation of the Deaneries of the Diocese into single or ‘a moderated parish’, it is important that we are pro-active in assembling a ‘core team’ to take care of local administration but also to contribute to and be a model for effective evangelisation. The purpose of a ‘core team’ will be to help oversee and manage the different elements or strands of the local Church community and to liaise with local clergy and the other local ‘core teams’ and the priest administrator to best effect the proclamation of the Gospel and to support best pastoral practice. Having had a break after Christmas, Fr. Ian will now be looking more closely at the forms which have been returned, with a view to gathering a ‘core team’ together; obviously this is something which requires prayer and thought, so please keep this matter in both. Just to repeat, that concerned as we are to ‘cast our net wide’ in regard to how you might be able to support the changing local Church, if you have not filled in a form, requesting basic information about you and any manner you might be willing to help, please do so. Help in the life of the local Church, could be through prayer, liturgy (children’s especially), sacramental and catechetical preparation; support with parish social life and particular groups of people, such as the housebound, toddler, youth, men’ / women’s group, the ‘highly mortgaged group’ or perhaps your support could be more in terms of administration, property fabric and maintenance; please indicate any area you could help with. Many thanks. Yes, there is the immediate, but what about the longer term and bigger picture, encouraging vocation in the broadest sense to marriage, priesthood and religious life? As a community are we seminal in nurturing and encouraging all of our young in the love of God, in responding to His call (vocation) and in living their lives for Christ? If the harvest is to be reaped, we have to be the labourers. Put another way, what spiritual legacy will we leave the world? Diocesan Pastoral Plan: Our thanks to all those who have given time and thought towards our meeting this Sunday! It is hoped that we can outline something of the considerable change that has come about over the years in parochial life, not least, in terms of administrative demands, of which many people will be unaware! ‘What the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve’ however, we do need to look at and give consideration to a number of arenas with a view to forming a ‘core group’ of parishioners who will assist in overseeing the many elements of parish life, consequent, in part, on the decline in the number of priests. There may well be areas about which you have thoughts/ideas/ skills and abilities and other areas about which you are perhaps unaware or would not wish to be concerned or involved with and other things which are in between, besides! Essentially concerns are twofold, administrative and pastoral, you may have skills and aptitude in one area more so than another, but continued and further contribution to parish life in either area would be very much appreciated. The objective of our meeting this weekend is to be able to demonstrate the need for a core group / pastoral council to oversee the different ‘layers’ of parish life with a view to making both representation and contribution to the ‘moderated parish’ of the not too distant future. The different ‘layers’ will be responsible for different aspects of parish life, whether spiritual / liturgical, catechetical, pastoral (in a very broad sense), property maintenance, financial, administrative as well as other areas. Following the words of today’s second reading, we should be encouraged to use our variety of gifts in continuing to contribute ever more generously to the life of the Church, mindful of Mary’s words in the gospel ‘Do whatever He tells you.’ Growing the Church requires all kinds of talents, including yours, so do let your light shine, encouraging, supporting and being seminal in Her life in Dorking and surrounding areas. Previous news ------- Diocesan Pastoral Plan: Following on from the parish meeting on the 8th December, it would be helpful to have a gathering of persons who are concerned to further the discussion early in the New Year, with a view to enhancing the existing infrastructure. Given feedback on the day and the time, we will meet on Sunday 19th January after the 10.00 am Mass. To focus our thoughts and discussion, please have a look at the ‘buff coloured’ sheet / PDF (via e-mail) there is a non-exhaustive list of areas of concern (compiled by parishioners) for you to consider and perhaps make contribution, prior to the meeting. There may well be areas about which you have thoughts/ideas/ skills and abilities and other areas about which you are perhaps unaware or would not wish to be concerned or involved with and other things which are in between, besides! Essentially concerns are twofold, administrative and pastoral, you may have skills and aptitude in one area more so than another, but continued and further contribution to parish life in either area would be very much appreciated. The objective of a January meeting would be to be able to establish a core group / pastoral council to oversee the different elements of parish life with a view to making representation for the ‘moderated parish’. Growing the Church requires all kinds of talents, including yours, so do let your light shine, encouraging, supporting and being seminal in Her life in Dorking and surrounding areas.

The Bethlehem Nativity Group:- Bethlehem is in the West Bank, and as you will be aware, the conflicts in the Holy Land have deterred many, many people from visiting the holy sites, including the birth place of our Lord.  The Christian community of Bethlehem is now less than 20% of the population, who have been dependent for many generations on other Christians visiting and buying the goods which are uniquely offered by the Holy Land. ‘The Bethlehem Nativity Group’ is a small enterprise of Christian families in Bethlehem which endeavours to bring Holy Land gifts, particularly hand carved olive wood items, to us, here in the UK, Germany and America. They will be visiting St. Joseph’s parish on the weekend of 22nd-23rd February, offering olive wood carvings and other artifacts for sale. Items that you may purchase will go directly to supporting the Christians of Bethlehem, now, the few guardians of the Holy City. The presence of these families in Bethlehem, will hopefully enable the wider Church and Christian community to return unencumbered and make pilgrimage to the Holy Land, which is so often referred to as ‘the fifth gospel’. If you are thinking of gifts for First Holy Communion, Confirmation, weddings, those moving into a new home or the arrival of a baby, do think of buying from the Bethlehem families and supporting the at this frugal point in their lives. February 22nd-23rd. Many thanks.

Parish Youth Group:- A reminder that any young people of secondary school age are welcome to meet in the church hall on Friday afternoon from 4pm onwards. Tea and toast, or if the preference is for cheese pizza, will be available. An opportunity to meet informally, ask questions and have the opportunity to grow in faith, then to end the working week with the ‘Night Prayer of the Church’ at 5.45.

Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child:- Our thanks to all those of you who supported the collection last weekend which realised £184.50. Do, please continue to keep their work by your prayers and in any other way you can.

The Jubilee Year and Prayer The Holy Father has proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee Year, a sacred time of renewal, reflection, and grace celebrated every 25 years. With the theme “Pilgrims of Hope,” this Jubilee invites all Catholics to embark on a journey of faith and transformation. The Pope’s letter, announcing the Jubilee in 2022, can be found at: Letter of the Holy Father to H.E. Msgr. Rino Fisichella for the Jubilee 2025 (11 February 2022) | Francis The Jubilee Prayer  Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your Son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen

New Lectionary: Having had the new translation of the Scripture for the last few weeks, just to remind you that the readings in all liturgies will no longer be from the Jerusalem Bible but the ‘English Standard Version- Catholic Edition’ should you wish to acquire a copy, while we await both the Sunday and Weekday people’s versions of the Missal. There is a sample copy of the ‘people’s version of the Sunday readings’, available in the repository and copies can be ordered for you, however, for the weekday readings, that is, the daily missal, will not be available until April 2025.

Immediate Parish needs:- There are a number of practical and pastoral concerns which need to be attended to, aside from any pastoral plans! Church cleaning: At present there are two people cleaning the church each week, one of whom is in their 80’s, and, who, with all due respect, should be having a somewhat more relaxed time of life. I couple of groups of four people, cleaning the church every other week, would see the job done in less than an hour. If you can wield a broom, a dust pan and brush or even a vacuum cleaner, and could help, please let Fr. Ian know with some contact details. First Holy Communion catechetical assistance: at the present time we have no-one assisting with this, so help on a Thursday afternoon especially, from 3.30 to 5 pm would be very much appreciated. A DBS check, via the Diocesan Safeguarding Team would have to be undertaken, but the process should be much quicker now. Children’s liturgy at the 10 am Sunday Mass. A number of people have offered to help with this, so, it would be a good idea to meet and discuss what is involved and to ascertain people’s willingness to undertake such matters. SO, watch out for a date for a meeting, probably a Sunday morning, after the 10 am Mass. As has been said, we have not had a children’s liturgy for a number of months now, and it would be greatly appreciated by a number of parents. If you feel you would be able to help with this, then those who have assisted before, will surely be able to pass on something of their abilities and experience to help with this. Again, assistance with children’s liturgy would require DBS checks be made, something the Diocese would undertake for the parish..

Holy hour: This Thursday at 7 pm in the church there will be Eucharistic Adoration with the opportunity to reflect on the Gospel for the following Sunday, a time of silence and reflective music and finishing with praying the Rosary. Please feel free to attend for the whole hour or drop in as you are able The Gospel reflection will present some prompt questions as follows reflection. 'What does this tell us about God?' 'What does this tell us about ourselves?' 'What action is it calling us to take?' 'Who should we try to share it with?' After the 3rd reading of the scripture passage there will be a longer period of silence with one or two short periods of reflective music and prayer. The final 20 mins or so would be given to praying the Rosary.

Unto us a child is born, he is Christ, the Lord Wishing you all a Happy and Holy Christmas

Parish Christmas Buffet Lunch A big than you to all those who organised the lunch, the scribes, the shoppers, the cooks, chefs, waiters, waitresses, venue organisers and everyone who helped out in any way whatsoever.

CHRISTMAS OFFERING:- We take the opportunity to remind you that the collection at the Christmas Masses is your personal offering to Fr. Ian. This collection, along with the Easter Offering, is his major source of income for the year, through which he has to finance car depreciation and replacement, clothes, books, holiday etc. etc. As we now live in a ‘cashless society’ ( most people using bank cards and BACS ) any offering you might make in such a way, needs to be clearly annotated ‘Christmas Offering’ or ‘Fr. Ian, Christmas’ That said, there are ‘Christmas Offering’ envelopes available for cash or cheques as well, which are just as graciously accepted. In case you are going to be away over Christmas, you might like to use the ‘Christmas Offering’ envelopes which are readily available at the entrances to the church, these can be returned at any time. In whatever way you are able to contribute, we ask you to be as generous as you can. Many thanks.

Decorating the church for Christmas sometime between next Sunday lunchtime and 12 mid-day on 23rd Dec. We need a co-ordinator and some volunteers, pleas; especially those who can make Christmas trees look amazing! Christmas ‘post box’ is at the ‘back of the church’. Do check by both your first and surname, everyone can use the post box to send cards to one another within this voluntary system.

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES Mass times will be as follows: Tuesday 24th Dec: Morning Mass at 9.30 Vigil Mass for Christmas: 6.00 pm Carols and Readings: 11.30 p.m. Mid-Night Mass at 12.00 Mid-night Wednesday 25th CHRISTMAS DAY 'Dawn Mass' at 8.00 a.m. ' Mass of the Day' at 10.00 a.m. Thursday 26 th Mass for the Guild of St. Stephen (our Altar Servers) at 10.00 am  CHRISTMAS OFFERING:- We take the opportunity to remind you that the collection at the Christmas Masses is your personal offering to Fr. Ian. This collection, along with the Easter Offering, is his major source of income for the year, through which he has to finance car depreciation and replacement, clothes, books, holiday etc. etc. As we now live in a ‘cashless society’ ( most people using bank cards and BACS ) any offering you might make in such a way, needs to be clearly annotated ‘Christmas Offering’ or ‘Fr. Ian, Christmas’ That said, there are ‘Christmas Offering’ envelopes available for cash or cheques as well, which are just as graciously accepted. In case you are going to be away over Christmas, you might like to use the ‘Christmas Offering’ envelopes which are readily available at the entrances to the church, these can be returned at any time. In whatever way you are able to contribute, we ask you to be as generous as you can. Many thanks.

Missio Red Box (formerly the Association for the Propagation of the Faith) through which we can support the wider work of the Church, especially where there is much greater poverty, has unfortunately, since the COVID pandemic gone down considerably. If you would like a ‘red box’ to put your ‘shrapnel’ (small change in) please ask for one, your pennies, when put with others, makes a significant impact in other parts of the world. If you would be willing to help as a box collector (every 3 months or so) it would be very much appreciated. For further details please contact our parish co-ordinator / secretary text on 07968 084

Parish Christmas Buffet Lunch A big than you to all those who organised the lunch, the scribes, the shoppers, the cooks, chefs, waiters, waitresses, venue organisers and everyone who helped out in any way whatsoever.

New Lectionary The use of the new translation of the Scriptures starts this weekend, the First Sunday of Advent, 2024. A small leaflet, entitled ‘The New Lectionary Explained’ is available at the entrances to the church. All the prayers of the Mass will be as they have been over the last number of years, however, the translation of the readings in all liturgies will no longer be from the Jerusalem Bible but the ‘English Standard Version- Catholic Edition’ should you wish to acquire a copy, while we await both the Sunday and Weekday people’s versions of the Missal. There is a sample copy of the ‘people’s version of the Sunday readings’, available in the repository and copies can be ordered for you, however, for the weekday readings, that is, the daily missal, will not be available until April 2025. New Lectionary launching from 1st December, the First Sunday of Advent. A small leaflet, entitled ‘The New Lectionary Explained’ is available at the entrances to the church. A peoples version of the Sunday readings, is available, a sample copy can be found in the repository and copies can be ordered for you, however, for the weekday readings, that is, the daily missal, will not be available until April 2025. (Normally, there is a small discount if we are able to make a ‘bulk purchase’ i.e. 10 copies or more, so you’ll save a few pennies if the Sunday missal is ordered through the parish.)

Please find the latest important news and updates from the Deanery.

With Advent beginning next weekend, you are invited to bring any Advent wreathes along to be blessed at the beginning of Mass. There will be nothing complicated, other than to stand at the front of the sanctuary with your wreath which will be blessed with holy water, after which you’ll simply return to your seat.

Assisted Suicide Bill: The Catholic Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales have issued a statement, copies of which can be found at the church entrances and also at: Catholic Bishops of England, Wales, and Scotland unite in compassionate action to oppose Bill on assisted suicide - Catholic Bishops' Conference additionally, you can scan the QR code on the posters in the church. You’ll also find in the church postcards from ‘not dead yet’ to send to your MP requesting that they oppose the Bill, and you are encouraged to send the post card to your MP. In regard to the Church’s teaching on the sanctity of life do look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 2258 through to 2301, under ‘The Ten Commandments’. That we should have an informed conscience is found in paragraph 1783. There are copies of the Catechism in the parish library at the main entrance to the church. Remember that there will be powerful and highly resourced lobby groups which will be influencing media and promoting celebrities to push this culture of death along, rather than promoting a Gospel of Life! You may be aware that the Canadian Government were grateful to have ‘saved Can $26 million’ on their health care budget one year, by introducing assisted suicide. As you will note from our Bishops there is every ability to greatly improve palliative care, and this is one of the many things which should be promoted. We should also give thought to the manner in which dispositions towards abortion laws and their application have changed since 1968, and, in light of those changes, any considerations and pressures which could be brought to bear by 2080, when our First Holy Communion children will be grandparents who may well feel social pressures being imposed by then!! See also:- Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17 and Cardinal Nichols on ‘youtube’ at Cardinal calls for prayer to uphold the dignity of human life