St. Martin’s Vicarage

Upper Wellington Road

Brighton

BN2 3AN

May 2024

My dear friends,

Signs of growth are always encouraging and thus it is I open this by drawing your attention to the Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord when, along with others from the Wagner Group, seven of our family will make their adult affirmation of faith and be confirmed into the Church by the Bishop of Lewes. There is the traditional Ascension Day Mass in the School Playground (weather permitting) earlier in the day but as I have said this should only be used if it is critical.

A further sign of growth will be when on Pentecost we admit five new communicant members into the Church on the great feast of Pentecost, the concluding celebration of the Easter Festival sometimes referred to as the Church’s Birthday.

This neatly leads into the Celebration of our Dedication Festival on May 1st when there will be two Masses at Midday and in the evening. This year our Church is 149 years old and plans are well underway for next years celebration of the 150th.

Going back to the signs of growth to which I have already referred, this brings me hope for our future development project as it is a tangible sign of the need of a new and manageable building to maintain the work of the old that will still remain a far larger and more noticeable witness to our presence next door.

On domestic matters, I am sorry that we cannot offer celebrations around the first bank-holiday of the month: if you are able to come into the town on the 4th the Children’s Parade is a memorable experience and you will be able to cheer the school. The week of the second bank-holiday we hope to be able to offer the usual timetable but please do look at the website and Sunday Bulletin that may note changes necessary as it is Half-Term week.

With my love and prayers,

Fr. Trevor