A Parish of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH
Holy Mass
Weekdays Tuesday - Friday 09.30
Saturday Vigil Mass 18.00, Sunday 09.00 & 11.00
Reconciliation available Saturday 17.00-17.30
Please check our weekly newsletter for any changes to the schedule
Advent & Christmas at Sacred Heart 2025
Advent Evening Prayer on Sunday 7th Dec., 14th Dec., & 21st Dec at 15.30
Parish Christmas Bazaar Saturday 6th December 10.00 -13.00
Parish Advent Carol Service Sunday 21st December 18.00
Christmas Eve Wednesday 24th December
Children's Crib Service 16.30 (N.B this is not a Mass)
First Mass of Christmas (Vigil) 18.00
Carols before Midnight Mass 11.30
Midnight Mass
Christmas Day Thursday 25th December
Mass of Christmas Day at 09.00 & 11.00
The Word Who is Life: The Call to Mission Continuing to Develop Our Response . . . . . . Background As many of you already know, over several years, Bishop Richard has met with clergy and parishioners to reflect on the opportunities and challenges our Church is facing and how best to respond to them. He then published The Word Who Is Life — our Diocesan Pastoral Plan — which was then presented to everyone in the Diocese (there are synopsis’ still available in the church narthex). Locally, as part of this Plan, the nine parishes that today make up the present Epsom Deanery will come together to form a New Single Parish at some point in 2026. The central message of the Pastoral Plan is “ The Call to Mission ” — inviting all of us to help to shape our parishes into strong, lively, and welcoming communities. What’s happening now So what is happening now? Here in Epsom Deanery, a team formed from clergy and parishioners from EVERY parish has been discussing how we should respond to this The Call to Mission . One of the first things the team asked itself was how to get everyone involved. To that end, a meeting is planned in the New Year in each of our existing parishes to share information of what the Pastoral Plan means, how any necessary changes will be decided, and to get the participation of all communities in shaping what our response will be. For our Sacred Heart community this meeting will take place at 19.30 on Wednesday 21st January - Please put the date in your diary today! What we are now asking of you The Pastoral Plan is a call to all parishioners, and we know that our communities are blessed with many different gifts. That is why your participation is needed even before this meeting take place. On your way out of church today, you are asked to take a “ You’re Invited! ” POSTCARD and a FLYER which outline how we are shaping our response to this call and what we can expect to be different over the coming months and years. For example, one of the goals is a wider expansion of parishioner leadership, participation, and engagement. Another goal is for our parishes to work more closely with one another and with our schools. Both postcards and flyers include QR codes or a link to a website where you can find more information to help you make your contribution: in particular, we are asking you to get involved by helping us to identify: Opportunities, Challenges, and any Questions . There are several ways for you to share your thoughts: You can fill in one of the “You’re invited!” postcards and return it before Sunday 14th December You can use the online form whose address you will find on the flyer Or, if you prefer, you can email directly to epsomdeanerynewsletter@gmail.com
Please be sure to put these dates into your diary now!
CAFOD is once again encouraging people to “swap the socks for something special this Christmas,” giving a World Gift that will delight loved ones and help families and communities around the world to thrive. CAFOD’s World Gifts are ethical presents that make a real difference - from their Winter Warmth gift helping families stay safe through cold weather, to their Super Soup Kitchens supporting local partners providing meals for those in need, every gift brings hope where it’s needed most. Each World Gift comes with a card to give to your loved one, showing how their gift is changing lives. You can also add extra festive joy with the charity's stocking fillers, from chocolates to devotional items, and even some adorable cuddly toys! Find out more from CAFOD’s brochure available in the narthex
These collections provide income to the Parish for the support of clergy and may be Gift Aided. Any cheques should be made payable to the ‘Sacred Heart Parish.’ Cheques made out personally to Fr Daryl are ‘direct gifts’ and cannot be received into Parish Funds or Gift Aided. You will find a supply of Gift Aid envelopes for this collection in the church narthex.
Welcome to the Parish of the Sacred Heart
The Parish of the Sacred Heart is an active Roman Catholic community within the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton for those living in the environs of Cobham, Stoke D’Abernon and Oxshott. Comprised of people from all walks of life, from different age groups and diverse cultures the Parish is an active community offering spiritual and pastoral support in the Catholic tradition. If you are thinking about coming to live in the area or are already in residence you are very welcome to join our community you can be assured of a welcome, being offered a wide range of spiritual and educational support. We also run a thriving Sunday school providing Religious Education for children from four to fourteen years of age and provides preparation for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation.
LIVESTREAM STATUS: Normal - please check newsletter for Mass times
Quote of the week
"The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives
fully is
prepared to die at any time - Author unknown
Parish News
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Parish News
Our very latest news updates and information about Parish activities.
The Word Who is Life: The Call to Mission Continuing to Develop Our Response . . . . . . Background As many of you already know, over several years, Bishop Richard has met with clergy and parishioners to reflect on the opportunities and challenges our Church is facing and how best to respond to them. He then published The Word Who Is Life — our Diocesan Pastoral Plan — which was then presented to everyone in the Diocese (there are synopsis’ still available in the church narthex). Locally, as part of this Plan, the nine parishes that today make up the present Epsom Deanery will come together to form a New Single Parish at some point in 2026. The central message of the Pastoral Plan is “ The Call to Mission ” — inviting all of us to help to shape our parishes into strong, lively, and welcoming communities. What’s happening now So what is happening now? Here in Epsom Deanery, a team formed from clergy and parishioners from EVERY parish has been discussing how we should respond to this The Call to Mission . One of the first things the team asked itself was how to get everyone involved. To that end, a meeting is planned in the New Year in each of our existing parishes to share information of what the Pastoral Plan means, how any necessary changes will be decided, and to get the participation of all communities in shaping what our response will be. For our Sacred Heart community this meeting will take place at 19.30 on Wednesday 21st January - Please put the date in your diary today! What we are now asking of you The Pastoral Plan is a call to all parishioners, and we know that our communities are blessed with many different gifts. That is why your participation is needed even before this meeting take place. On your way out of church today, you are asked to take a “ You’re Invited! ” POSTCARD and a FLYER which outline how we are shaping our response to this call and what we can expect to be different over the coming months and years. For example, one of the goals is a wider expansion of parishioner leadership, participation, and engagement. Another goal is for our parishes to work more closely with one another and with our schools. Both postcards and flyers include QR codes or a link to a website where you can find more information to help you make your contribution: in particular, we are asking you to get involved by helping us to identify: Opportunities, Challenges, and any Questions . There are several ways for you to share your thoughts: You can fill in one of the “You’re invited!” postcards and return it before Sunday 14th December You can use the online form whose address you will find on the flyer Or, if you prefer, you can email directly to epsomdeanerynewsletter@gmail.com
CAFOD is once again encouraging people to “swap the socks for something special this Christmas,” giving a World Gift that will delight loved ones and help families and communities around the world to thrive. CAFOD’s World Gifts are ethical presents that make a real difference - from their Winter Warmth gift helping families stay safe through cold weather, to their Super Soup Kitchens supporting local partners providing meals for those in need, every gift brings hope where it’s needed most. Each World Gift comes with a card to give to your loved one, showing how their gift is changing lives. You can also add extra festive joy with the charity's stocking fillers, from chocolates to devotional items, and even some adorable cuddly toys! Find out more from CAFOD’s brochure available in the narthex
This week Pope Leo concluded his Apostolic Journey to Türkiye and Lebanon on Tuesday. Bringing the 6-day apostolic visit to a close, he said: “We hope to involve the entire Middle East in [a] spirit of fraternity and commitment to peace, including those who currently consider themselves enemies.” Reflecting on the three days he spent in Lebanon, Pope Leo referenced the country’s rich spiritual heritage and the resilience of its people, noting the deep veneration for the Blessed Virgin Mary shared by both Christians and Muslims. Addressing the ongoing challenges facing the country, he expressed solidarity with victims of the Beirut port explosion in 2020: “I carry with me the pain" he said, “and the thirst for truth and justice, of so many families, [and] an entire country.” Calling for an end to hostilities, he added: “We must recognise that armed struggle brings no benefit. While weapons are lethal, negotiation, mediation and dialogue are constructive. Let us all choose peace as a way, not just as a goal!” The Pope invoked the words of St John Paul II: “Lebanon is more than a country; it is a message! Let us learn to work together and hope together, so that this may become a reality.”
All little girls named Lucy must be disappointed when they first try to find out what there is to know about their patron. Older books will have details of a small number of traditions. Newer books will have a long paragraph showing that there is little basis in history for these traditions. The single fact survives that a disappointed suitor accused Lucy of being a Christian, and she was executed in Syracuse, Sicily, in the year 304. But it is also true that her name is in the Eucharistic Prayer, places are named after her, a popular song has her name as its title, and down through the ages many thousands of little girls have been proud of their name Lucy. One can easily imagine what a young Christian woman had to contend with in pagan Sicily in the year 300. Just think about today’s pleasure-at-all-costs society and the many barriers this presents against leading a good Christian life. To be pure before marriage was an ancient Roman ideal, rarely found, but not to be condemned. To decide to exclude marriage altogether, however, was too much. She must have something sinister to hide, so the tongues wagged. Lucy knew of the heroism of earlier virgin martyrs. She remained faithful to their example and to the example of the carpenter, whom she knew to be the Son of God. She is the patroness of eyesight.
Parish Priest Notices
Important items highlighted by Fr. Daryl. These will contain news elements & important requests
As the number of parishioners using the ‘Dona’ electronic giving machine at the rear of the church has been steadily growing, the Parish Finance Committee has decided that a second machine should be available to reduce the queuing that sometimes takes place whilst waiting to access the terminal. When the second terminal arrives we will be positioning both terminals half way down the two side aisles, this will assist access and ‘unblock the exit at the end of Masses. Of course, parishioners do not have to wait until the end of our Masses to use the terminals - after arrival and before taking seats?
Traditionally the month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in purgatory. The Church commemorates all her faithful children who have departed this life, but have not yet attained the joys of heaven. St Paul warns us that we must not be ignorant concerning the dead, nor sorrowful, “even as others who have no hope . . . . for the Lord himself shall come down from heaven . . . . and the dead who are in Christ shall rise.” The Church has always taught us to pray for those who have gone into eternity. Even in the Old Testament prayers and alms were offered for the souls of the dead by those who thought “well and religiously concerning the resurrection.” It was believed that “they who had fallen asleep with godliness had great grace laid up for them” and that “it is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.” We know that a defiled soul cannot enter into heaven. As usual Parishioners who have taken the time to complete a ‘Dead List’ for any family or friends who have died since last November will now be able to ‘look up’ the names in our Parish Book of the Dead; which will be placed on the sanctuary throughout November. Each weekend during November one of our Masses will be celebrated for the Holy Souls
Please be sure to put these dates into your diary now!
These collections provide income to the Parish for the support of clergy and may be Gift Aided. Any cheques should be made payable to the ‘Sacred Heart Parish.’ Cheques made out personally to Fr Daryl are ‘direct gifts’ and cannot be received into Parish Funds or Gift Aided. You will find a supply of Gift Aid envelopes for this collection in the church narthex.
After hearing the beautiful images of the lion and the lamb, the cow and the bear, and the child and the snake living together in peace in the first reading today, the Gospel passage about John the Baptist may seem jarring, or even off-putting. Then again, the words and actions of John the Baptist, whenever he shows up in the Gospels, are always strong, direct, and challenging. Sometimes people don’t want to hear his directness - or his challenges. John was on fire with the urgency that we turn our lives around. He was asking folks to repent of whatever in their lives was keeping them from living in God’s way of justice and peace. He gladly baptized those who acknowledged their sins, but he had little patience for false repentance, especially coming from religious leaders like the Pharisees and Sadducees. It didn’t matter to him who someone was, what family they came from, or what their religious background was - he wanted to see the fruits of their repentance. John was a New Testament version of the Old Testament prophets: fiery, passionate characters who un settled the rich and powerful but offered hope and consolation to those willing to be honest about their shortcomings. As we prepare ourselves for Christmas, John is a valuable guide. His urgency to evaluate how we live in this world and how we need to change is hard to ignore. We have work to do before Christmas that doesn’t involve planning the perfect party or finding the perfect gift. Our work now is to acknowledge what we need to change, ask forgiveness, and get back to doing God’s work. Questions of the week Who in your life is on fire for justice and repentance? What can you learn from them? What can you do this coming week to “prepare the way of the Lord”?
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OUR DIAMOND JUBILEE - VIEW THE GALLERY
PRAY FOR OUR BISHOP RICHARD MOTH
As a Parish we encourage our community to pray for our shepherd, Bishop Richard as he leads our Diocese.
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Bishop Richard - News & Podcasts
Saturday 11th October, 10.00 - 13.00 at St Dunstan’s Catholic Church, Shaftesbury Road, Woking GU22 7DT. Curious about spiritual direction? It’s not about being told what to do, but about having someone walk alongside you as you listen for God’s voice in the middle of daily life. Spiritual direction is a gentle space to grow in your relationship with God, to notice where God is already at work, and to be encouraged in faith, hope and love. The diocese has a network of trained spiritual directors so please join us for tea/coffee from 10.00, a short talk at 10.30 with time for questions, then try a 10 - 15 minute taster session with trained A&B Diocese spiritual directors. Free; all welcome.
The Diocese is gathering on Saturday 20th September (10.00-16.30) to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Hope, the 60th Anniversary of the Diocese, and our continuing mission in these present times. The celebration will be taking place at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, which has a capacity for 1,200 people to attend. We have a number of guest speakers scheduled to inspire and uplift us during the day; topics covered include: • Communities of Hope - Michelle Moran (Sion Community) • Scriptures of Hope - Dai Woolridge (Bible Society) • Missionaries of Hope – Rev. Greg Bakker (Church Mission Society) We will also be joined by the ‘One Hope Project,’ a Catholic Worship Collective who will assist us with our music and those involved in our diocesan Schools Singing Programme will also be with us for the day. Families are encouraged to attend, as there will be a special ‘youth stream,’ allowing the younger members of our communities to engage with the virtue of hope in a way that is meaningful for them. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will also be available throughout the day. The day will finish with Mass. Tickets have been allocated proportionally to each parish according to Mass attendance; Sacred Heart Parish has 11. The festival is free to attend, members of the Parish attending are asked to travel by coach, leaving from the Sacred Heart (the cost of this is covered). Those people with disabilities/access issues will be able to travel independently and parking for this will be available on site. If you would like to receive one of our Parish tickets to attend please get in touch with the Parish Office within the next two weeks (by 13.00 Monday 11th August) - first come first served (no additional tickets available).
Bishop Richard - A talk on Mary leading us to Her Son
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Vocations
Are you feeling increasingly compelled to spend time with Jesus? Do you find that your time is spent seeking him and all things connected with him?
