St. Martin’s Vicarage Upper Wellington Road Brighton BN2 3AN May 2024 My dear friends, Signs of growth are always encouraging and thus it is I open this by drawing your attention to the Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord when, along with others from the Wagner Group, seven of our family will make their adult affirmation of faith and be confirmed into the Church by the Bishop of Lewes. There is the traditional Ascension Day Mass in the School Playground (weather permitting) earlier in the day but as I have said this should only be used if it is critical. A further sign of growth will be when on Pentecost we admit five new communicant members into the Church on the great feast of Pentecost, the concluding celebration of the Easter Festival sometimes referred to as the Church’s Birthday. This neatly leads into the Celebration of our Dedication Festival on May 1st when there will be two Masses at Midday and in the evening. This year our Church is 149 years old and plans are well underway for next years celebration of the 150th. Going back to the signs of growth to which I have already referred, this brings me hope for our future development project as it is a tangible sign of the need of a new and manageable building to maintain the work of the old that will still remain a far larger and more noticeable witness to our presence next door. On domestic matters, I am sorry that we cannot offer celebrations around the first bank-holiday of the month: if you are able to come into the town on the 4th the Children’s Parade is a memorable experience and you will be able to cheer the school. The week of the second bank-holiday we hope to be able to offer the usual timetable but please do look at the website and Sunday Bulletin that may note changes necessary as it is Half-Term week. With my love and prayers,Fr. Trevor
St. Martin’s Vicarage Upper Wellington Road Brighton BN2 3AN April 2024 My dear friends, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! With this issue being published on the great feast of the Resurrection with the traditional and ancient words: Easter falling early this year and indeed encompassing the beginning of British Summer Time and the subsequent loss of an hour’s sleep, I think it fair to say that Easter leapt upon us. None the less I wish to say a huge thanks to those who helped prepare the Church Building for the Festival: with the size of S Martin’s this is a gargantuan task. Last month I asked for your prayers for our friends preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation on Ascension Day, (9th May 7.30pm should it not already be in all your diaries). This month I ask you to add to your prayers those preparing to receive Holy Communion for the first time at Pentecost; Maya, Reg, Stanley, Tavius and Tommy. These candidates and their supporters will be joining us on April 28th to experience a Sunday Mass that is not as familiar to them as are School Masses. On both occasions I would ask you to remember the ministry of welcome as of late single new worshippers sometimes have appeared to be left just that! The Fund Raising Group would not be happy if I didn’t mention the Jumble Sale on Saturday 20th and the preparation for it the afternoon before: I would add the reminder of tidying up after! Lastly remember that on April 7th Parish Mass is at 4pm when Lewes Road is open again after the Marathon! With my love and prayers,Fr. Trevor
St. Martin’s Vicarage Upper Wellington Road Brighton BN2 3AN March 2024 My dear friends, As we know in the early Church the season of Lent was the time when those to be admitted to the Church were prepared for their Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion that would take place during the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. The practice of Infant Baptism and the growth of the Church (leading to this celebration being held locally without the Bishop) leaves us today with the separate celebrations of the Sacraments and for most Admission to Holy Communion between. This year seven of our Parish Family began preparation for Confirmation , Please remember Billy, Cat, Delph, Ella, Joe, Meg and Toby regularly in your prayers and everyone write 7.30pm on May 9th in your diaries as Bishop Will will be presiding at the Wagner Group Ascension Day Mass here that night. Related to the ancient practice is that Lent is the time when we prepare to renew our Baptismal Promises at Easter. In ancient times this preparation was often made with public acts of penitence . Today the season is a good time to consider our use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation: remember all the priests are available if you wish to discuss a first use, or a renewal, of this Sacrament. Frs. Andrew, Nick and Robert join me in wishing you a Holy Week and Happy Easter. With my love and prayers,Fr. Trevor
St. Martin’s Vicarage Upper Wellington Road Brighton BN2 3AN February 2024 My dear friends, We were all aware of how short the Advent season was last year and many commented how with Christmass Eve on Advent 4 how quickly we arrived at the Holy Family and then with the Epiphany observed on Sunday 7th all was concluded within two weeks! With the early date of Easter and Half-Term incorporating Ash Wednesday the school community will have a much longer time to prepare for Lent. So as not to overlook them we shall be having a pancake celebration on the Friday before the holiday and with an INSET day on the first day after hold the Ashing Ceremonies one whole week after Ash Wednesday. Each year we speak of keeping a ‘Good Lent’ and how this season of spiritual preparation will deepen our joy as Easter dawns. There is, of course the age old custom of fasting symbolised in the giving up of some indulgence and how this can be linked with the equally laudable custom of Almsgiving, (ACS boxes will be available from the beginning of February). In more recent years it has become a tradition that our last thoughts are often helped by the taking on of some spiritual devotion, such as bible reading and one might hope attending an extra Mass in the week. As well as these I would stress the other Lenten Practice of weekly walking the Stations of the Cross: in Church this is held every Saturday at 10.30am leading in to Mass at the Station of the Resurrection. I mentioned School Pancakes: we decided that after last year’s poor take up of the Pancake Party invitation we would include them in a Parish Lunch Menu on the Sunday before Lent begins. Tickets are now on sale and I hope to see many of you there. With my love and prayers,Fr. Trevor
