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

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.

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”?

Please be sure to get this date into your diary now!

Placing four candles on green fronds has become a symbol of Advent in many Christian homes. The Directory on Popular Piety & the Liturgy n.98 says: “The Advent wreath, with the progressive lighting of its four candles, Sunday after Sunday, until the Solemnity of Christmas, is a recollection of the various stages of salvation history prior to Christ’s coming, and a symbol of the prophetic light gradually illuminating the long night prior to the rising of the Sun of justice (cf. Malachi 3:20; Luke 1:78).”  The wreath can be the focal point of the home during the journey of Advent, with the lighting of the candles incorporated into a family meal. This simple Advent tradition can create fond, long-lasting memories of family Christmases by reflecting together on the true meaning of the celebration.