The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . We are now eagerly looking forward to the ordination of Fr Stephen Wang as the sixth bishop of Arundel & Brighton. The ordination will take place at Arundel Cathedral on Monday 19th October (the feast of our patron St Philip Howard). We look forward to working with him in the mission of proclaiming the Gospel. No doubt his ‘in-tray’ is going to be rather full to begin with, but we can expect, in due course, to his thoughts on the priorities for the Diocese and in particular on the Pastoral Plan. Also at more or less the same time Fr Charles Howell will be leaving the area to undertake a sabbatical. Our Diocesan Administrator (Canon Jonathan Martin) has explained to us that there is no plan for a priest to be appointed to Effingham and Fetcham and that the Deanery Clergy will need to work out together how pastoral provision should be offered to these communities, and indeed all the communities in the area. Although we have not yet been formally re-constituted as one single parish, served by all the priests together, we have been encouraged to think and plan in this way. This is what is meant by the concept, rooted in Canon Law, that the clergy serve in solidum. Simply put, this means that all the priests are individually and collectively responsible for the pastoral life of all, working with our deacons and lay faithful. The clergy together become the Parish Priest, or perhaps better put, the parish priests. The benefit of working together in this way is that it promotes an approach that builds collaboration and support, and where the gifts and talents of each are offered in service to the whole area. This willingness to think across the board has been evident in the discussions that the clergy have been having in the past three months about pastoral provision and the generous sense that we, and the people in our communities, should share the impact of change. As thoughts about Sunday (including Saturday vigils) Mass timings began, it seemed both sensible and wise to acknowledge that, at some point in the not-too-distant future, some of our priests will be moving into a well-earned retirement (though no dates have yet been mentioned). The clergy’s task, then, was to draft a schedule of Masses for the area that was capable of being served by eight priests (it is hoped that there will continue to be retired priests able to offer supply on occasion but this cannot be relied upon).  Finally, rather than make the changes piecemeal - some this Autumn, and then more in the next couple of years - it was decided that the whole schedule should be worked now. The new Sunday schedule (due to commence on the first weekend of Advent this year 5/6 December) will be announced next weekend.

Pope Leo appointed Fr Stephen Wang as sixth bishop of our Diocese on 2nd July. In a video recorded recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnVi7K8bWJE  Bishop-elect Stephen offers a simple, practical introduction to prayer. “Prayer is wonderful,” he says, “prayer is so important, but prayer can be hard as well. How many times have people come up to me as a priest and said, ‘Father, I want to pray, but I don’t know how to start. I don’t know what to do, and I feel a bit stuck…’ “I remember the first time I prayed as an adult, I didn’t really know what to do, but I was in my bedroom. I closed my door. I sat on the edge of my bed and… just talked to God and said something like, ‘Dear God, I’m not sure if you're there. I hope you’re listening. These are the things on my heart, on my mind…’”

The Diocese has updated its admissions policy so that, if a Catholic school is oversubscribed, Catholic applicants may be ranked using a ‘Certificate of Catholic Practice.’ These certificate are issued by a Parish Priest to confirm that a child comes from a Catholic family regularly attending Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation over a substantial period. Catholic families are encouraged to be actively involved in the life of the Parish as part of their own and their child’s faith journey, rather than solely for the purpose of securing a school place. Therefore those who will be applying for their child to have a place in a Catholic Secondary School in September 2028 (and beyond) will need to bring along a passport sized photograph of their child to obtain a ‘Celebrating Attendance at Mass' card from the Parish Office. To celebrate attendance, these cards will need to be stamped after each Sunday Mass (including the Saturday Vigil), starting with the Holy Day of All Saints on Sunday, 1st November, and continuing for one year.

New Drivers Needed

OUR PARISH SUPPORTS THE COBHAM AREA FOODBANK Please can you help local people in crisis by purchasing items on the list below and placing them in the Foodbank’s collection point in the narthex when to come to Mass at the weekend? 

The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . Another full week again for Fr D as another set of parents (Tuesday evening) and candidates (Saturday morning) sessions for our First Reconciliation Programme took place . . . . . Also this week, on Wednesday evening, another meeting of what Fr D calls the ‘Shadow (New) Parish Pastoral Team’ took place at St Anne’s, Banstead. At the meeting the clergy present presented their agreed plan on the distribution of the celebration of Masses for the Parish. As reported earlier in the Summer the communities of Effingham and Fetcham will, from November, be left without a resident priest as Fr Charles Howell is leaving to go off on a sabbatical and will not be replaced. Our local clergy had in fact already started getting together to discuss the provision of Mass across the area under the new Pastoral Plan (with meetings in June, July and September) and the news concerning Fr Charles demonstrated how important and timely these discussions were. Whilst there are many aspects of our pastoral life that will need to be considered in the coming months, an important issue that needs addressing early is that of Sunday Mass times. The Mass is the greatest prayer that our Catholic community offers together; practically, for many people, it’s an important weekly moment of contact, albeit often brief, with a priest. As thoughts concerning this began it was important to acknowledge that, in the not too distant future at least two of our priests will move into well-earned retirement, and that this should be factored in. The task was to work on a schedule of Sunday Masses that could be served by eight priests; and after prayer and reflection together, to factor in a little breathing space to allow cover for holidays, retreats, pilgrimage and sickness. It was hoped that there would still be the possibility of retired priests being able to supply but this is not something that can be relied upon. The clergy were also bearing in mind, and trying to include in the schedule, the greatly valued connection between people, place, and priest. Please do pray for bishop-elect Stephen, Fr Charles and each other; that guided by the Holy Spirit, we have the strength and courage to look to the future with confidence as Change Is Coming . . . . . .

The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . A busy week around The Presbytery as Fr D has been attempting to chase up various diocesan people, works contractors, and doctors for various reasons . . . . Pope Leo dedicated his Wednesday General Audience to the dignity of the human person, urging Christians to defend it in every circumstance with “the light and strength of the Gospel.” Continuing his series of reflections on the Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, the Pope said that recognition of fundamental human rights represents one of the most important achievements in human history. However, he warned, humanity’s journey towards the full recognition of human dignity remains incomplete, since old and new contradictions continue to obstruct it. Quoting his recent encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, on safeguarding the human person in the age of Artificial Intelligence, the Pope stressed that every human being is “planned and willed by God” for communion with Him, with others and with creation.  “Human dignity does not depend on a person’s abilities, wealth or position in life, nor on the right or wrong choices made,” he said. “Instead, it is a gift that precedes and transcends each person, endowed by God as an expression of His unfailing love.” Christ, he added, reveals the ultimate foundation of this dignity by revealing humanity to itself and making known to us our highest calling . . . .

The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . After a reasonably quiet August things really sped up very quickly after Bank Holiday Monday . . . . . . . After Morning Prayer, Mass, and Exposition on Tuesday morning Fr D shot off in the car to Notre Dame School where he celebrated Mass for all the staff during their ‘in set day.’ When he got back home he spent time preparing for his first meeting in the evening with the parents of this year’s First Reconciliation and First Eucharist children. This year we have seventeen children who are about to commence their preparations to receive these two great Sacraments during this academic year (Reconciliation, Saturday 28th November 11.00; and Eucharist, Sunday 13th June, 11.00). On Wednesday Fr D was off early, up to London for a day watching cricket with friends. This trip takes place usually once a year. Rain delayed the start and later in the afternoon bad light stopped play; but Fr D was very happy with the play that he did get to see! Following Morning Prayer and Mass on Thursday Fr D managed a ‘catch-up’ with Sarah in the Parish Office having missed her for much of the week. He was also preparing for a meeting in the afternoon. When the time of the meeting came around he joined the rest of the clergy of the Epsom Deanery as they finalised the plans they have been making for the future provision of Masses in the Epsom area now that Fr Charles (Effingham and Fetcham) is going off on sabbatical and not being replaced by another priest - this will be a permanent loss of a priest in the Deanery and the local clergy have been asked to develop a plan to deal with the situation. After the meeting had taken place Fr D was delighted with the progress that had been achieved (he actually said to Fr Tony Churchill that he thought that he had died and gone to heaven but nobody had told him - such was the unanimity of the clergy about the plan!). The clergy will now present the plan to the ‘Parish Leadership Team’ when they meet later in September before announcing it in all the Parishes at the beginning of October.  Having celebrated Morning Prayer and Mass on Friday morning, Fr D again shot off in the car to Notre Dame School where he celebrated Mass for the senior school at the beginning of their new school year. He was expecting our electrician to come for several small works around the parish plant but this had to be cancelled owing to larger project over running - the appointment will be re-arranged for a later date . . . . .

The issue of Assisted Suicide will return to the Houses of Parliament this month, following the failure of MP Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to make it through the necessary legislative stages in time to become law. A new Private Member’s Bill, which is broadly identical to Kim Leadbeater’s 2024 legislation, was reintroduced to Parliament by Labour MP Lauren Edwards in June, with Members of Parliament facing a vitally important vote next Friday (11th) which will determine whether Assisted Suicide moves closer to becoming law, or is rejected. The Catholic Church teaches that every human life from conception to natural death is sacred, with the dignity and value of each person central to an effective moral vision for society. Assisted Suicide is strongly opposed by the Church with bishops across Scotland, England & Wales calling for better provision and funding for palliative care which aims to manage pain and other symptoms, looking after a person’s emotional, practical, and psychological needs while supporting their loved ones. Speaking in July, Prime Minister Andy Burnham (who plans to abstain from September’s vote) suggested it would be difficult to implement Assisted Suicide before social and palliative care were improved. Hospices face significant financial pressures currently, with the UK Government providing around a third of the sector’s running costs and local fundraising teams expected to make up the shortfall. MP Lauren Edwards’ Bill arrives at a time when the wider National Health Service (NHS) is in crisis. Patients are facing increasing delays in seeing General Practitioners (GPs), with long waiting lists for treatment and support services – not least for mental health. The strong arguments being made in favour of Assisted Suicide don’t answer the right question; we must protect and improve the provision of ethical end-of-life care. The vote next Friday can be won. As the previous assisted suicide bill passed the House of Commons by a small margin, only twelve MPs need to change their minds for the revived suicide bill to be defeated at its second reading. A number of MPs have already expressed reservations about bringing it back or forcing it through parliament. The Prime Minister has now said that the debate should wait until palliative and social care are properly funded. Mounting evidence from the small number of places around the world that have legalised assisted suicide show that safeguards do not work, and that changing the law can have devastating consequences. If assisted suicide becomes law, thousands of individuals will be placed at risk for years to come. One of the most effective ways to persuade MPs to oppose this dangerous bill is through physical letters or postcards from constituents asking them to vote NO to the bill.  PLEASE TAKE A POSTCARD FROM THE NARTHEX THIS WEEKEND AND MAKE A POINT OF SENDING IT TO OUR LOCAL MP TO INFORM HIM OF YOUR IMPLACABLE RESISTANCE TO THIS MEASURE.