Dear Parishioner,
This is just to update you on my reflections on the last year and plans for the future.
Since our last annual parish meeting we have been blessed with the gift of the Year of the Eucharist from our late Pope John Paul II. It has been a time of great graces (in which Pope John Paul offered his life for the church and the world), and the fruits of this year will not be realised for many years to come.
I am sure that at the beginning of this millennium the call to holiness (for the young and mature in years), the increased threat to human life (in the womb, the elderly or terminally ill) and the pressures on marriage and family life are dependent upon these graces of this Eucharistic year. We should continue in our efforts to learn more about the mass, attend mass more frequently and increase in our reverence at mass. In doing so we shall grow in our knowledge and love of He who is both the Victim of the sacrifice and the one who offers it. We shall at the same time be growing as a parish.
This is evident from this year's reports from parish groups and from my own reflection over the year. I could list many things that have marked out the year but will mention only a few.
Our sacramental life is the key to our life as a parish. Without it we become a club - and that is something we should never be! The number of confessions is increasing. We need to receive Christ with pure hearts - free from grave sin. The anointing mass in Advent with the SVP was very special. I am pleased at the rise in devotions especially the rosary, Eucharistic Adoration and the parish morning of recollection - but these are small beginnings.
Catechetical formation has changed a little this year and I am grateful to those who have adapted well. I believe the changes have been good for those who receive the instruction and also for the life of the parish. We should be looking to involve more people and for more parishioners to share in them. The Confirmation preparation will be changing from next September. We hold deanery wedding preparation days in the parish.
The highlight of the year was the number of adult baptisms and receptions (8) at Easter this year. God continues to show us that he is calling people to life and he uses weak instruments like us to show his glory. I am grateful to them for giving us the privilege of sharing their initiation into the life of Christ and for their catechists and sponsors. People are increasingly asking about faith and how to deepen their faith. We must look to see how we can best respond to this essential aspect of our charism given at baptism - to teach!
A great sadness to me was the loss of the 8am Sunday mass at Our Lady of Lourdes. It still saddens me that this has happened and we have lost people to other parishes because of it. I will continue to review this situation every year as the cluster and deanery situation changes. I am sure that the hard decisions that we make now are only the beginning and other parishes will follow shortly. We had little choice than to act when we did as masses at Rottingdean and Woodingdean clashed. We relied upon Fr Jack and we are not allowed to rely on retired priests. I can now celebrate all the Sunday masses and I am only permitted to say 3 such masses. Bishop Kieran gave St. Patrick's the pledge of a Sunday mass, I must be loyal to him. This has affected all the masses in the parish.
The school continues to be a blessing to the parish and we owe a great deal to it. The parish also contributes an enormous amount of time and money to maintaining this relationship. Mrs Prior, the governors and all the staff and pupils should be congratulated. There is now a weekly rosary group in the school and we invite new parents to special evenings to help them get involved in school and parish life.
I am grateful to Ed and Fiona taking on the Gift Aid for Rottingdean and Woodingdean respectively and would like to thank Nelius, Don and Jack for all the work they have given to both churches over the years. We still have a lot to do and fundraising will play a bigger part of the life of the parish as essential works need to be done on Eastfield and Our Lady of Lourdes church. We need to examine how we give and how much we give to God and his Church in order for the fabric and the mission of the church to be maintained. Please give thought to this and see Ed Curtis.
It is still my intention to ask Bishop Kieran to make Rottingdean with Woodingdean one parish. He has given me permission to start the process. This will not affect us in practice - the diocese already treats us as one parish, but it will secure its future. This year there will be 4 or 5 priests retiring in the diocese and only one is to be ordained. Presently, there are 3 priests in our deanery who are not in good health!
We are privileged to have St Martha's convent and the Sisters in the parish. The refurbishment of the convent will provide a great opportunity for us to welcome many visitors to Rottingdean. We must always be welcoming in all that we do - at mass, in social gatherings and in our life. We may be ministering to angels unknowingly!
Likewise we should encourage people to join the various groups that already exist in the parish and to start new ones. It is with this in mind that I intend to enlarge the parish team into a Parish Support Group (consisting of the co-ordinators of all activities in the whole parish) and a Parish Advisory Group (consisting of 6-8 people from the whole parish). This should encourage more involvement, communication and delegation.
The death of Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict XVI reminds me of words from both. At World Youth Days John Paul called young people to be "saints of the new millennium". We should all live up to this. Benedict XVI has asked as to not be afraid and to "open wide the doors to Christ". Let us open the doors of faith for others too. This should be our mandate built upon Jesus' commission to preach, teach and baptise. We should have this in mind in everything we do.
Thank you for all that you do in the life of the parish and the building up of the Kingdom of God. I remember you all at mass everyday.
Thank you to all who support me in my ministry and for your many kindnesses to my family. Please pray for us and remember me in your masses and prayers. May Our Lady pray for you all and God bless you.
Fr Graham