2009 Advent Proclaimer

The Parish Proclaimer Advent 2009

Cathedral Parish of Our Lady & St. Philip Howard, Arundel, West Sussex Published November 2009

All about the Parish

Rev. Canon Tim Madeley - Dean Rev. Mr. David Clifton - Deacon

Rev. Malcolm King - Priest in Residence Mrs Louise Sharp - Parish Secretary*

Cathedral House, Parson’s Hill, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9AY

Tel: 01903 882 297 Fax: 01903 885 335 Email: aruncath1@aol.com

Web: www.arundelcathedral.org

* Louise works for the Parish: 9am – 12 noon, Monday – Friday Cathedral Mass Times

Sunday

9.30am Family Mass on the third Sunday of the month;

Weekdays

10am

Saturday

11am

Saturday Sunday Thursday

Saturday

11.15am

Children’s Liturgy available other Sundays.

Cathedral Choir.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Saturday: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass.

Benediction.

Convent of the Poor Clares at Crossbush Mass Times 5.30pm Vespers.

6.15pm Vigil Mass (entry at 6pm).

4pm 5pm

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

Vespers and Benediction.

8.30am Mass - for Mass times on other weekdays please call the

Convent the night before on 01903 882 536.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Cathedral: Convent :

10.30am (otherwise by appointment.

Before/after the Saturday 6.15pm Mass.

Front cover illustration courtesy of www.catholictradition.org

Advent Reflection by

Canon Tim

Earlier this month I went to ‘Britain’s Interactive Museum of Popular Music’ at the O2 (formerly the Millennium Dome). Here the visitor can experience Pop culture from the early 1950’s to the present day. The museum prides itself on its modern interactive displays which although take some getting used to, eventually allows you to take part in personal singing and dancing routines and viewing the vast arrange of memorabilia from each of the decades covered. However, the museum lacked one essential element – apart from listening to general music in each of areas, there was no opportunity to listen to particular tracks. Surely the trappings of the music industry are very interesting but they are incidental to the actual achievements of the musicians and singers in question.

This has got me thinking about the Advent season we are just entering. It would be very easy to get enwrapped in the trappings of the season, advent candles, wreaths, pre Christmas concerts, carol services etc without really giving time to prepare for the coming of Christ.

This core belief of the season is vital and can be sustained by personal reflection, spiritual renewal, scripture reading, going to Mass a bit more, going to confession etc. So as a community and as individuals, let’s make this holy season really count.

ARTICLES FOR THE LENT ISSUE OF THE PROCLAIMER: 29 JANUARY 2010 Email to aruncath1@aol.com or post to Cathedral House, Parson’s Hill, Arundel, West Sussex BN18 9AY

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Guild of St. Stephen Diocesan Mass

by Graham Monet & Colin Swanton

Bishop Kieran presided at a Mass for altar servers on Saturday 10 October – the first time that a Guild of St. Stephen Diocesan Mass had been held in the Cathedral for many years. Around a hundred servers from around the diocese attended, including twelve of our own, and were among a congregation of over 250 people. During the service, Brian Rimmer, one of our servers, and six from Peacehaven were enrolled into the Guild of St. Stephen, which helps to develop high standards in, and deepen understanding of, serving in the liturgy. The Mass was organised by Father Dominic O’Hara, the Director of the Guild, from Bognor Parish, who concelebrated the Mass with three other priests including our own Canon Tim. Bishop Kieran made all the altar servers feel welcome and reminded them that whenever they were serving they were not serving the altar but serving God. Both in his homily and in his final words after the Mass he told them that as servers they do so much and do not always realise just how much they do.

The Mass was timely in as much as this past year has seen a sudden increase in young people wanting to serve in the Cathedral. Some twelve children now serve regularly – most at the 9.30 Mass, three at the 11.15 Mass and one at the Vigil Mass at Crossbush Convent. Some have already been enrolled into the Guild – six months’ regular attendance being one criteria – and the more recent newcomers will have to wait a little longer before they are eligible for enrolment.

Weekday morning Masses are now served by four of our older parishioners, including George Fishpool on Mondays. George has served at the Cathedral, on and off, for some seventy years now and still has many memories of serving as a child when attendance at three Masses on one Sunday or on a Feast Day were often expected – together with setting up and clearing away afterwards. Something, I am sure, the young servers did not always relish on Christmas Day with unopened presents waiting for them at home!

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About the Guild of St. Stephen from http://guildofststephen.all-catholic.net

The Guild of St. Stephen is an International Organisation of Altar Servers founded in England in 1904 by Father Hamilton McDonald when he formed a Society of Altar Servers at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in London. In 1905, Pope Pius X gave his approbation to the Canonical establishment of the Guild at Westminster Cathedral and in 1906, the Sacred Congregation of Rites made the Guild an Archconfraternity prima primaria enabling all the Parish branches to be linked with it. The Guild spread, and in 1934, Pope Pius XI enabled all Guilds of Altar Servers throughout the British Commonwealth to be affiliated with the Archconfraternity at Westminster.

A confraternity is a sort of club, or society, for people who are interested in the same things and want to do these together. The Church uses the word 'confraternity' as the official name for societies set up in a Parish. We often use another, easier, word instead of 'confraternity' Guild. An Archconfraternity is a Guild, which has been given special power by the Church authorities in Rome. It has special privileges and facilities. Because it is an Archconfraternity it can allow other guilds to share in those privileges and facilities.

The main Archconfraternity is based in Westminster Cathedral, in London. It has many Guilds in Parishes across Great Britain and elsewhere affiliated to it.

What about St. Stephen, who was he? Stephen's name means "crown," and he was the first disciple of Jesus to receive the martyr's crown. Stephen was a deacon in the early Christian Church. The apostles had found that they needed helpers to look after the care of the widows and the poor. So they ordained seven deacons, and Stephen is the most famous of the group.

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God worked many miracles through Stephen and he spoke with such wisdom and grace that many of his hearers became followers of Jesus. The enemies of the Church of Jesus were furious to see how successful Stephen's preaching was. At last, they laid a plot for him. They could not answer his wise argument, so they got men to lie about him, saying that he had spoken sinfully against God. Stephen faced that great assembly of enemies without fear. In fact, the Holy Bible says that his face looked like the face of an angel.

Stephen spoke about Jesus, showing that He is the Saviour, God had promised to send. He scolded his enemies for not having believed in Jesus. At that, they rose up in great anger and shouted at him. But Stephen looked up to Heaven and said that he saw the heavens opening and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. His hearers plugged their ears and refused to listen to another word. They dragged Stephen outside the city of Jerusalem and stoned him to death. Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then he fell to his knees and begged God not to punish his enemies for killing him. After such an expression of love, the holy martyr went to his heavenly reward. Saint Stephen's feastday is on 26 December.

Reproduced by kind permission of Michael O’Leary, the Guild’s Honorary Secretary +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Relics - a person’s experience of St. Thérèse

by Melinda Heathcote

Slivers of the True Cross miraculously surviving for over 2,000 years, bits of bones or chopped off fingers or worse from the bodies of dead saints – the idea of relics was a puzzle to me – brought up in the Protestant tradition - the whole thing looked like infamous Catholic superstition and idol-worship. What possible use could these bits of bone be? How could something so mundane have miraculous (magical?) powers? Did Saint Thérèse herself – a down to earth and practical person by all accounts – really want pieces of her bones traipsed around the country in a golden casket, people queuing to touch the outer plastic casing – even the casket itself considered too precious for the hoi polloi to rub their grubby fingers on?

St. Thérèse, having lived, loved and suffered for a short but intense 24 years in late 19th century France, had written an autobiography intended only for her family and the Carmelite nuns she shared her life with. After her death this book was published and eventually translated into hundreds of languages and many millions of copies sold, a spiritual bestseller called The Story of a Soul – her inner struggles and joys, very beautiful and touching in her

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simplicity of spirit and childlike trust of God and love for Him, millions of people have been inspired and comforted by the Little Way she describes her path to Heaven, a little obscure life lived wholly and simply for Jesus. St. Thérèse had said that after her death she would shower “roses” on earth, that is blessings, on all who asked for them, and many miracles have been ascribed to her.

I’d read this book several years before and felt St. Thérèse to be a true heroine, unnoticed by the world around she had borne great inner suffering with enormous courage, not to mention the dreadful last illness unalleviated by modern or even contemporary drugs. I definitely wanted to find out if these relics had any significance, if any reality of the young woman and her life was attached to them.

Open to all possibilities therefore, four of us ladies set off for Aylesford Carmelite Priory in Kent one grey October morning. Ignoring the heavy clouds and threatening downpour and the realisation that God did not mean to bless our day’s outing with blue skies and sunshine, our aim was to arrive as early as possible to avoid crowded car parks and get good seats for the Mass.

Perhaps the weather itself had kept some people away, certainly the walk to view the relics, housed in a chapel at the Priory, was virtually empty of the queues allowed for in its length.

Clutching my long stemmed white fake rose [£2} and not quite sure what to do with it I found myself facing the actual casket. It seemed rather small and frankly uninteresting in itself. Imitating the people in front I ran my hand over the plastic cover but received no electric shock of joy, no moment of revelation. I tried really hard to imagine the actual bones contained in the box and link this thought with the Saint herself, but imagination failed, it eluded me. So there we were but where was St. Thérèse?

At Aylesford the big public services are held in the open air, and I watched the sky anxiously.

The sun did once peep through – at the moment when the relics were brought out beside the main altar at the beginning of the Mass. Thereafter the rain held off but that was about all one

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could say for the weather. During the Afternoon Service of Farewell as the relics were about to be taken to London, it broke through and drenched us all. In her book Saint Thérèse mentions that the weather often mirrored her inner state – on one particularly sad day it rained hard. I had somehow expected sunshine to bless us all gathered to honour our Saint. I tried to resist thinking its absence a sign of heavenly displeasure.

A column studded with (real) roses decorated the altar. After Mass my friend indicated that it would be nice to have one of these to take home as a memento as we’d left our fake ones in the chapel, and nothing daunted me as I joined in what was the nearest thing I have ever been into a rugby scrum, to get near and eventually grab some of these roses. How I emerged without injury was perhaps the main miracle of the day.

So what was the point of it all? Was it pointing the way to a reality beyond nice weather and spiritual feelings? St. Thérèse herself suffered during her last illness a long drawn out spiritual dryness, heaven was shut out from her inner vision, heaven that had always been there before her she could no longer see. All was grey – and yet she loved, believed and offered all this to Jesus knowing that the consolations of this world were not important, that she could and would manage without any of them – only wanting to be in His Love. So was that was the lesson of 11 October? The grey skies, the fake flowers, the plastic covered casket, the fight for a stub of rose, the driving rain, the long drive home? To ask for nothing, not even to know that it had all be worth it? Yes I think so – this must be what offering oneself means – no assurances, no congratulations, no thanks, no warm glow of satisfaction at having done the Right Thing, true giving must mean doing without all that.

A hard lesson from St. Thérèse, and one which will no doubt take me a long time to learn: “to love, without the help of anything on earth”!

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In Memoriam

By Mary Corbyn and Anne Brearley-Smith.

As some of you will have read in the newsletter a few weeks ago, the names of all those who appear in our Parish Register of Deaths are now recorded in a special book displayed in the Cathedral.

At present, the list is restricted to those who have died since about 1962 (just before our Church was designated as a Cathedral) but, during the course of the next year, we do hope to go further back in history – at least to the time the Church was built.

Do take the opportunity to look at the display if you can... or browse through it, and if, by any chance you notice any mistakes, please bring them to our attention. In compiling the In Memorium book, we found plenty of scope for error; occasionally, the original records were incomplete, or unclear - not to mention in Latin! Any corrections found to be necessary will be introduced at the same time as an annual up-date is carried out, probably just before the Feast of All Souls each year.

We hope that it will be welcomed by the families of all whose names appear in the book, and of interest to other parishioners and visitors alike. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

By Deacon David

Thank you to all those who came to our Supper/Dance in October and to the wonderful Caws Brothers who made the evening so enjoyable.

A total of £740 was raised during the evening.

With other funds collected from jars and from visitors to the Cathedral this means that we are in a position to send £1,200 to Bishop Francis in time for Christmas. This is wonderful news.

Our next event will be the Annual Quiz scheduled for early February.

Please continue to support this Parish Charity.

Sardhana’s gratitude is immense.

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Parish People: Graham Rodmell

by Colin Swanton

Graham is the second of the recently nominated new members of the Parish Core Team.

Married for nearly forty years, Graham and his wife Pauline have three children – a son and two daughters – and two grandchildren. New to the Parish (they moved to Bury around two years ago, after twenty years in Tunbridge Wells), Graham sees service on the Parish Core Team as a means of being constructively ‘involved’ in Parish affairs - something he likes to do wherever they live.

In his working life, following admission as a solicitor in 1959, Graham held a number of appointments in the local government service from 1959 to 1967, and then worked until 1975 with City of London law firm Simmons & Simmons, specialising in public and administrative law.

From 1976 to 1996, Graham was employed in the Legal Department of the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC), the UK Government’s bilateral development finance institution, which made direct investments in mainly private sector joint ventures to aid the development of emerging economies in Africa, Asia and Central/South America, helping to reduce poverty in poor countries. From 1987, Graham was General Counsel with responsibility also for the corporate secretariat. The CDC, now known as CDC Group plc, operates today as an emerging markets fund of funds investor, increasing capital flows to markets where there is great need. Since 1996, Graham has ceased to be a practising solicitor and set up his consultancy in legal and development matters which involved extensive UK and overseas government contacts and has included work on corporate governance and the combat of corruption. Until his retirement this summer, most of his time was spent working for the UK chapter of Transparency International, the international NGO with its secretariat office in Berlin and around 95 overseas chapters.

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With all the foreign travel that Graham had to do during his working life he has attended Mass in many different countries with different languages and cultures. He feels that he could offer an irregular series to the Proclaimer of the things that have happened to him whilst he has attended Mass abroad – mostly amusing! Aside from his work, Graham has been a school governor for 16 years, has organised two choirs and music to support the liturgy, and was a member of the Tonbridge Philharmonic Choir.

Graham recognises the responsibilities that Arundel, a relatively small Parish, has with the maintenance of a large cathedral church that is also a great tourist attraction, and he will be exploring whether it might be possible to improve outreach to visitors. As to where his skills would fit in he could not say but his work with charities in the past, he felt sure, would help him. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Cathedral Gift Shop There’s an incredibly wide range of Christmas gifts, keepsakes and greeting cards to choose from at the Cathedral Gift Shop to give within the family and to neighbours or friends alike.

Advent calendars - Advent candles - Nativity Crib Sets - Christmas Story Books for children - Christmas Wreaths - Crystal Lights - Christmas Tree Decorations Musical Globes - Framed Pictures - Wall Plaques - Religious Statues Rosaries - Religious books to suit all ages - and much more!

Also available from the Gift Shop are a wide range of Christmas Cards themed from the Cathedral’s stained glass windows designed either by the clergy (like the above in packs of 6) or by Patricia Burton, local parishioner. There are a host of other religious themed cards. During winter the Gift Shop is open from Monday - Saturday, 10.30 - 12 noon.

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Children’s Christmas NATIVITY WORD SCRAMBLE All the following words come from the Christmas Story. Can you unscramble them?*

1. STRA

7. JPHOES

13. MSHESAI

2. MAGREN

8. JSSEU

14. BSARTALAH

3. MYAR

9. KIGSN

15. SHEDSPERH

4. SEPHE

10. LATSBE

16. FESANNIERCKN

5. DOEYKN

11. GEBLAIR

17. MRYHR

6. AEGLN

12. NIPREEKEN

18. METEHBEHL

* Answers will appear in next issue!

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Fun and Games CHRISTMAS CRACKER JOKES What do Santa’s elves learn in school?

The elf-abet!

How different is the Christmas alphabet to the normal alphabet?

The Chrismas alphabet has no ‘L’ in it!

What Christmas carol is a favourite for parents?

Silent Night!

What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?

Frost bite!

Why should you be careful this Christmas?

There are mince spies around!

How does Good King Wenceslas like his pizza?

Deep and crisp and even!

What did the cow say on Christmas morning?

Mooey Christmas!

Why does Father Christmas have 3 gardens?

So that he can hoe, hoe, hoe!

CHRISTMAS COMPETITION Write a special Christmas Poem with the chance to win a Book Token!

Open to anyone aged between 7 - 12 years old.

Please ask your parent to send it to our address (found on the inside front cover of this magazine) for us to receive by Friday. 18 December 2009.

You must include your name, address and age with your poem so that we know who you are and you judged fairly! The winner will receive a Book Token and his/her Christmas Poem published in our weekly newsletter and website. Best of luck!!

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Proclaimer Crossword Puzzle 6

by Chris Dinham

CLUES ACROSS

CLUES DOWN

1 Despair or gloom (9) 9 Residence of royal people (6) 10 The fall guy (9) 11 Jetty; landing place; seaside walk out to sea (4) 12 Famous London statue (4) 15 Animal used to hunt rats and rabbits (6) 17 Moderately dark red colour (6) 18 Girl’s name (6) 19 Distances downwards (6) 22 Alcoholic drink (4) 23 Carry; undego (4) 25 Contented; settled (9) 26 Scottish soccer team (6) 29 Have a good time! (9)

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2 Tax on goods (6) 3 Soldier who digs (6) 4 Early grub in a fly’s life (6) 5 Length or spread (4) 6 Floor surface cover for some gymnasts (3) 7 He may refuse to become a soldier (8) 8 Brave and bold (8) 13 Relish; indulge (8) 14 Noisy brawl (5) 15 Information returned on an experiment (8) 16 Descriptive of something safe and sound (8) 19 Gadget or appliance (6) 20 Rather have (6) 21 Straight; open (6) 24 Ceremonial staff of office (4) 25 So, or thus (often in brackets) (3)

Keep taking THE TABLET!

The Exciting Growth of Ecumenism - Chapter 2

by Michael Winters

You may remember that in my article in the Harvest 2009 edition of The Parish Proclaimer I was writing about how I was becoming increasingly excited at the growth of ecumenism. But now, the Holy Father has capped my story by announcing that he was opening up a route for Anglicans to become members of the (Roman) Catholic Church, while still retaining many (most?) of their Anglican practices.

As you would expect, The Tablet (24.10.09) gives a balanced précis of what had been announced and then goes on to provide us with the initial reactions of a good number of well-known individuals. In other newspapers and periodicals the reactions have generally been low-key and ‘neutral’, although inevitably there have been accusations of ‘poaching’.

A fundamental question at the start - who made the first move? Was it the Pope who approached a group of dissenting Anglicans, or did they get in touch with him? Answer - it seems that for a number of years (some say for as long as 25 years) groups of Anglicans have been asking the Vatican to find a way in which they could become in full communion with the Church. Recently a particularly large group called the “Traditional Anglican Communion” have made this request and this may have been the trigger for the Pope’s response. They are said to number up to 400,000, including perhaps 50 bishops. In England there are 18 Parishes which are possibly thinking of transferring. Incidentally this group is active in many countries, particularly in Australia and the USA. The Vatican has specifically denied that this ‘route’ is intended solely for this group. To quote The Tablet, “On this occasion, the Vatican is focusing on groups of dissenting Anglicans possibly entire Parishes and even Dioceses." The aim may well be to allow Anglican Parishes to remain together under their minister as they make the transition collectively.

The second fundamental question is ‘Why are these groups of Anglicans wanting to make this move as a group?’ The answer seems to be in three parts. First they are increasingly unhappy with changes introduced into the Anglican community, particularly in relation to women priests and gay bishops. Secondly, there are many aspects of their religious life that they would like to retain, such as married priests, their liturgy and the greater voice and involvement of the laity in the life of the church. Finally, they are aware that a number of small churches exists, which are in full communion with Rome and yet retain modest differences from the practices of Rome, these being of the same importance as those which they themselves would like to retain.

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What, you may ask, has been the reaction of the public to all this? Well, the issue of 24 October 2009 was where it was first announced and there the situation was explained quite warmly and from various viewpoints. In the next week’s issue (31.10.09), the letters page was more critical, sometimes quite sharply. Finally in the issue of 7.11.09, while there were no letters on the subject, there were some reflective and well thought-out articles which were generally supportive.

How should we, as ordinary members of the Parish, react to all this? Personally, I very much welcome this initiative, first because it will enable a group of mutually supporting Christians to find a more attractive spiritual environment within which to practise their faith, and secondly because I believe that we ourselves have something to learn from them in the practice of our faith. In particular, the two features they would wish to bring with them and which I find particularly attractive are (a) the greater involvement of the laity in the life of the church and (b) the acceptance of, indeed the welcoming of, married clergy.

On this latter point, I believe that the Church restricts and damages itself by requiring (with a few exceptions) all members of the clergy to be celibate. (St Peter was married!) By definition celibate clergy have no experience of continuing intimate togetherness or parenthood fundamental characteristics of all civilised society. This means that the church misses out all round.

We, the laity, do not really have the benefit of experienced spiritual guidance in this quite demanding area, and the higher echelons of the church, whether at national episcopal level or at the centre in Rome, have no-one speaking with personal authority on this subject. I believe that this restriction should be removed, and I know that some of the clergy think so too.

It is understood that, as in previous cases, married Anglican priests will be allowed to be re-ordained and become married Catholic priests. However, the more interesting outstanding point is whether, within this group, celibate priests will be allowed to marry and yet remain as priests. Similarly will a bishop within this group be permitted to ordain a man who is already married? We shall just have to wait and see!

POST SCRIPT Today is Friday, 13 November, the last day for me to submit my script to the Editor. I have just received my copy of The Tablet dated tomorrow 14th November (!). It gives details of the new ‘route’ for dissenting Anglicans, together with several articles on the subject. I will be brief, and just mention the decisions regarding the two main features which the Anglicans involved wish to retain...

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A. The greater involvement by the laity. Agreed. Each group is required to have its ‘council’.

These may be directly compared with our Parish Councils. They are, however, required instead of being merely strongly recommended, and this will be a continuing obligation.

B. Married clergy partially agreed. No females. Existing male clergy may be re-ordained as married Catholic clergy. No future ordination of married males. Existing celibate clergy cease being priests if they marry. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A Stitch in Time... in the Congo!

By Brian Parkinson

During 2007/8 we sent c.30 sewing machines - nearly all non-electric Singers - via the St. Joseph’s African Aid programme to the Congo. This was through Fr. Robert Hamilton, the Principal of the Josephites - you may recall that Fr. Robert is an old friend of Fr. Peter Rogers.

As you can see from the photos below, courtesy of the SJAA Newsletter, they are being put to good use enabling the local community to open yet another dressmaking school as well as to plan the setting up of social centres where women can meet and possibly learn a trade.

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John The Voice - A Saint for Advent

By Mary Corbyn

Also known as the Precursor, Forerunner, Herald, Prophet, Messenger – and Baptist, John is the curtain-raiser for the Great Christian Drama and is surely, then, the undisputed Saint for Advent. In the Church’s calendar, John’s Feast-day is celebrated on 24 June but, unlike most of the known saints, it is his birthday that is commemorated, although on another day – 29 August that marks his death by beheading while a prisoner in the house of King Herod. John’s birthday, then, is to be regarded as of great importance; the child of elderly parents, Elizabeth and Zechariah, he is the first witness (while yet unborn) of the incarnation, as told in St. Luke’s Gospel for the fourth Sunday of Advent: Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said: “of all women you are the most blessed and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Luke 1: 41-42) Eight days after the birth of their son, his parents astonished the relatives gathered for the ceremony of circumcision and naming by declaring that he is to be named John – contrary to the custom of naming a son after his father. Luke relates that: ‘The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.’

(Luke 1: 80) Nothing is known of John’s wilderness years although one tradition suggests that he joined a group of Essenes who practised rigorous Judaism and an ascetic lifestyle until: ‘the Word of God came to John, son of Zecharaiah, in the wilderness.’ He went into all the regions around Jordan proclaiming a repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness; Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” (Luke 3: 2-4) The Office of Readings for the Birthday of John the Baptist includes part of a sermon preached

by St. Augustine: ‘John marks the frontier between the Old and New Testaments.’ The Lord speaks of him as a boundary line: ‘the law and the prophets are valid until John the Baptist.’

He represents the Old Testament and at the same time introduces the New. Later in the same sermon he writes: ‘John was a voice, but in the beginning the Lord was the Word. John was a voice for a time; But Christ, who in the beginning was the Word, is the Word in eternity.’

(Part of Sermon 293)

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St Philip’s Catholic Primary School News

By Margaret Fraher, Headteacher

For the younger members of our school community, this is probably the most exciting term – and for the older members, the most hectic! As in so many walks of life, the preparation for Christmas begins as the November evenings draw in. The children have drawing competitions to enter, choir rehearsals to attend, play lines to learn and parties to plan. Most importantly, in the midst of all the excitement and glitter-filled classrooms, there is the actual meaning of Christmas for us all to think about. In our daily prayers, we prepare the children for the weeks ahead helping them to remember the real meaning of Christmas and the preparations to celebrate it.

The children’s journey through the Christmas Story starts with the lighting of our Advent candles in the school assembly. We then come together with our family of Deanery schools – St Mary’s in Bognor, St Richard’s in Chichester and St Philip Howard – to celebrate Advent in the Cathedral which is always packed with children and their families. It is a very powerful reminder to us all of the importance of the community spirit and togetherness at this time of year and is a true family occasion in all senses.

Each year we display our full-sized stable and manger that have pride of place in our school hall, alongside our giant Christmas tree that is covered with the children’s own decorations and prayer dedications. The sight of these two Christmas symbols evokes emotions and memories in us all. The school is a very special place to be during Advent, and the presence of children in our lives at this time is a timely reminder of the birth of Jesus and of the true Christmas message. It is a time of waiting and preparation for us all. Amidst the Advent events, our First Holy Communion children will be making their Sacrament of Reconciliation on 19 December in the Cathedral. Please pray for them and their families. Our Key Stage 2 children will have the opportunity to pray and reflect in our Advent Penitential Service and participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. With best wishes for a very happy and peaceful Christmas from all the children, staff and governors at St Philip’s.

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Parish Diary DECEMBER Saturday 5

11.30am Arun Choral Society set-up and rehearsal.

7.00pm Arun Choral Society Carol Concert with local schools.

Tickets available from www.arunchoralsociety.co.uk or through the ACS Box Office telephone 01798 812481.

Saturday 12

11.30am Arun Choral Society set-up and rehearsal.

7.00pm Arun Choral Society Carol Concert with local schools.

Tickets available from www.arunchoralsociety.co.uk or through the ACS Box Office telephone 01798 812481.

Tuesday 8

SOLEMNITY: THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY 10.00am Mass in the Cathedral 7.45pm Mass in the Castle Chapel (with Fr. Bruno Clifton)

Wednesday 9

3.00pm Great Ballard School Carol Service

Thursday 10

10.00am Mass in the Fitzalan Chapel

Saturday 12

11.30am Arun Choral Society set-up and rehearsal 7.00pm Arun Choral Society Carol Concert with local schools.

Tickets available from www.arunchoralsociety.co.uk or through the ACS Box Office telephone 01798 812481.

Monday 14

7.00pm Chichester Voices perform Handel’s ‘Messiah’. For tickets see www.chichestervoices.org.uk or call 01243 264836

Wednesday 16

2.00pm St Philip’s School End of Term Service

Thursday 17

7.30pm Service of Reconciliation

Friday 18

7.30pm ‘Friends of Arundel Cathedral’ Christmas Concert. Tickets £7.50, under 16’s free from 01903 884567 or from Castle Chocolates in Tarrant Street 20

Saturday 19

2-5.00pm Advent Workshop & Christingle Service in St. Mary’s Hall see weekly newsletter for details

Thursday 24

Cathedral closes at dusk, re-opens at 10.30pm for: 11.00pm Carols & readings 11.30pm Midnight Mass with Bishop Kieran Conry

Friday 25

SOLEMNITY: CHRISTMAS DAY: THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 9.30am Family Mass with Bishop Kieran Conry 11.15am Sung Mass

Saturday 26

FEAST: ST STEPHEN, DEACON & PROTO-MARTYR OF THE CHURCH 10.00am Mass followed by Confessions and Benediction

Sunday 27

FEAST: THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH Vigil Mass at the Convent of the Poor Clares Saturday at 6.15pm Masses at 9.30 & 11.15am in the Cathedral

JANUARY Friday 1

SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD; OCTAVE DAY OF CHRISTMAS 10.00am Mass

Sunday 3

SOLEMNITY: THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Vigil Mass at the Convent of the Poor Clares Saturday at 6.15pm Masses at 9.30 & 11.15am in the Cathedral

Sunday 10

FEAST: THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD Vigil Mass at the Convent of the Poor Clares Saturday at 6.15pm Masses at 9.30 & 11.15am in the Cathedral

Thursday 14

7.30pm First Holy Communion Parent’s Meeting, St Mary’s Hall

FEBRUARY Thursday 4

7.30pm First Holy Communion Parent’s Meeting, St Mary’s Hall

Thursday 11

10.00am Mass in the Fitzalan Chapel 21

Parish Notice Board

INSPIRING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR GIFTS

From the Editor

Visit the Cathedral Gift Shop and see for yourself... we stock a superb range of quality gifts and merchandise. The shop is situated in the North Transept by The Shrine to St. Philip Howard.

Open Mon - Sat, 10.30am - 12 noon

Now that we have a new look to our magazine we are really keen to have more features that will be of interest to parishioners.

See Page 11 in the Advent Parish Proclaimer for more information.

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011 Join hundreds of thousands of young people gathering together in Madrid, Spain for four days in August 2011, final dates to be confirmed.

The Diocese is planning a huge trip to join in this unique event held every three years. To register your interest please contact Lucy Jardine on 01293 651162 or lucy.jardine@dabnet.or Also visit www.yaab.co.uk/world-youth-day

PARISH BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE The names of all those who are recorded in the Parish Register of Deaths, from the time when the Cathedral was designated (1965), are on display in a special ‘In Memoriam’ book at St Wilfrid’s Chapel.

GIFT AID SCHEME 2008/09 REPORT FROM ANDREW B-S £ £ 30,550 (28,100) Total parish contribution Recovered tax 7,970 (7,280) Total benefit to the parish 38,520 (35,380) ‘Gift-aiders’ have done it again, beating the previous year’s by a handsome margin. £7,790 from the Inland Revenue was paid into our Parish account in September. More recently, Gift-aiders responded generously to the kneeler appeal to the tune of £4,175. In due course, this will attract its own refund of tax, bringing the total to circa £5,250. Thank you.

Whether it’s a recent visit to an interesting church (or cathedral) on a recent trip, your experience at Lourdes or a similar overseas location, or indeed any other interest you’d like to share with the rest of us, please email me!

Alex Clouter rite4u@mac.com

CONGRATULATIONS to Mrs Ann Tivey who has won a £15 book voucher in the Prize Crossword 5 Competiton.

CROSSWORD 5 SOLUTION: Across 1. Miscellany; 7. Due; 8 Gallivant; 9.

Sleet; 10. Credit; 13. Ripples; 14. Lip; 15. Ice; 17 Longest; 20. Margot; 21. Rates; 24 Transpose; 25. Cud; 26. Excellence Down: 1. Magical; 2. Silver plated; 3. Elixir; 4. Load; 5. Nuts; 6. Petty: 7. Dressing gown; 11. Tinge; 12. Spasm; 16. Extreme; 18. Tassel; 19 Brace; 22. Styx; 23. Pale

Congratulations & Commemorations

Baptisms 25 October 2009 - Lilly-Belle Louise Catton Strugnell

Marriages None

Deaths 29 August 2009 - David Patrick McCarthy (63 years old) 29 September 2009 - Helen Mary Rosenfield (57 years old) 6 October 2009 - Harry Gosnall (86 years old) 24 October 2009 - Provost Bernard David Thom (80 years old)

Views expressed in The Parish Proclaimer are not necessarily the views of The Catholic Church, the Catholic Diocese of Arundel & Brighton, its affiliated companies and charities, employees thereof or persons otherwise associated directly or indirectly.

All material is provided by Cathedral parishioners and published in good faith, without guarantee.

The Arundel and Brighton Diocesan Trust is a Registered Charity - No. 252878

The Parish Proclaimer has been compiled by Alexander Clouter, a parishioner who happens to be a wordsmith and designer all wrapped into one!

Advent Wreath Prayer To be prayed at the lighting of each candle every day during Advent.

Week One: The first candle is lit, and left burning during prayer throughout the first week Let us pray.

Stir up Thy might, we beg Thee, O Lord, and come, so that we may escape through Thy protection and be saved by Thy help from the dangers that threaten us because of our sins.

Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

Week Two: 2 candles are lit on the second Sunday and allowed to burn during prayer each day: Let us pray.

O Lord, stir up our hearts that we may prepare for Thy only begotten Son, that through His coming we may be made worthy to serve Thee with pure souls.

Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Week Three: 3 candles, including the rose candle, are lit on Gaudete, the third Sunday, and during that week. The following prayer is said: Let us pray.

We humbly beg Thee, O Lord, to listen to our prayers; and by the grace of Thy coming bring light into our darkened minds.

Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

Week Four: 4 candles are lit on the fourth Sunday and allowed to burn as before. The prayer said during the fourth week is: Let us pray.

Stir up Thy might, we pray Thee, O Lord, and come; rescue us through Thy great strength so that salvation, which has been hindered by our sins, may be hastened by the grace of Thy gentle mercy.

Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.