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
St. Martin’s Vicarage Upper Wellington Road Brighton BN2 3AN January 2024 My dear friends, The first edition of the 2024 series is being published slightly later than usual in that, as has been said before, the season of Advent being so short , the fourth week of December was in fact the Christmass Octave. Reflecting on that, I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who rose to the challenge of decorating the Church in effect—twice! We were blessed with many visitors over the festival which is always a joy: though I did find myself wondering if this might have been a result of the unhelpful and untrue social media statement that appeared in November. While the redevelopment plan will occupy much of our attention and time this coming year, we must ensure at all times that this does not impinge on our mission. This will be guaranteed if we constantly remind ourselves that ‘The Church’ is not a building but the People of God called to witness and share their faith, church buildings being a gift of God to strengthen this calling. New Year is always a time for resolutions! Having written about church buildings as God’s gift to strengthen mission, that mission is not timed to one and a half hours on one day a week. As we launch into the new civic year there is a change to the normal time of Mass on a Wednesday to 12noon: this will facilitate School Worship on Wednesdays to be at the same time as on other days at 1.30pm. The sad thing is that on several occasions no one turns up for Mass on a Wednesday and while on this theme the Church is only regularly opened for visitors outside of worship on a Friday: I hope we might have volunteers to change both of these situations. On behalf of Fr. Andrew, Fr Nick and Fr. Robert I take this opportunity to wish you all health and happiness throughout the year! With my love and prayers,Fr. Trevor
St. Martin’s Vicarage Upper Wellington Road Brighton BN2 3AN December 2023 My dear friends, It will be a joy to welcome Fr. Robert and Paula Norbury into the S Martin’s family on Advent Sunday. As I told the congregation two weeks ago Father is continuing his vocations and chaplaincy work for the Diocese yet will be sharing his sacramental ministry with us. I have included him on the Sunday rotas but as yet have to have a conversation as to how much we shall see of him in the week. I know you will make them both welcome. The details of the principal acts of worship before and during the Christmass Festival are listed on the back page: there are however two more I would draw your attention to. The first being Wednesday 6th at 9.15am when we shall be celebrating the School Christingle Service and the second being Friday 15th at 2pm when this term concludes with our Carol Service. I would also encourage you to support the PTA’s Christmass Fayre that will take place in School on Friday 8th December at 3.30pm. On that Day , the Solemnity of Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception, there will be a said Mass here at 11am and then the Wagner Cell of the Holy House is coming together for a Solemn Mass at S Paul’s at 7pm. Christmass Eve falling on a Sunday enables us to better spiritually prepare as we gather in the morning for the Mass of Advent IV. The Church decorating will have begun the day before but I am sure you will understand why there will not be the usual social gathering after Mass that day. On behalf of Fr. Andrew, Fr Nick and Fr. Robert I take this opportunity to wish you all a blessed Christmass! With my love and prayers,Fr. Trevor
St. Martin’s Vicarage Upper Wellington Road Brighton BN2 3AN November 2023 My dear friends, The clocks having gone back on the Sunday this issue is published will see me looking forward to Spring. However with the days shortening the timetables need adjusting. While the Wagner Group gathers at S Barnabas’ Hove to celebrate the great Feast of All Saints, there will be a said Mass here at the regular time of 12.30. The next day, All Souls Day, the Solemn Mass will be sung at 12noon with a further said Mass as the later time of 7pm to enable as many people as possible to attend on the day. To the contrary, this year S Martin’s Day falls on a Saturday and therefore the Mass will be at 12noon and this ensures that as a Parish Family we can worship together on our patron’s festival. A Parish Family it will be, as I am grateful to Mrs Joshi for encouraging the school choir to be present with us. We also look forward to welcoming the Archdeacon of Chichester (the Venerable Luke Irvine-Capel) as our preacher and also our great friend Deacon Rebecca Swyer. Having written of the Parish Family I am reminded that the 2024 Diary was published a couple of weeks ago, if you have not picked up your copy please remember to do so and also to transfer the events into your personal diaries. This was finalised after the Fund Raising Group met to finalise the plans for the Winter Wonderland to take place at the beginning of next month: with some exciting innovations and tweaks, it thus promises to be an enjoyable (and hopeful rewarding) day, please everyone support us at this event. With my love and prayers,Fr. Trevor
