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Sunday 16th November 2025, 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time C.

“Behold the Day is Coming”

Later this week, marks my 1st anniversary as your Parish Priest. I hope that we will have many more years together, even as the first stage of implementing the Diocesan Pastoral Plan begins on 1st Sunday of Advent. At the Anticipated (or Vigil) Mass of that Sunday, we cease to be the Parish of St Joan of Arc, Farnham and become the ‘Community of St Joan of Arc, Farnham’ in the new ‘Guildford Catholic Parish’. I am one of the Parish Priests of the new parish, with particular care of the community of St Joan of Arc, Farnham. On Day One, we may not see any significant change, and for now, our Mass schedule remains the same. I think, though, that by now everyone understands that, in time, the liturgical and pastoral provision will need to adapt to the changing circumstances, particularly in the Guildford Catholic Parish, in the Diocese of Arundel & Brighton, and throughout Western Europe.

As time moves onwards, it seems likely I will have some shared responsibility for a wider pastoral profile in the new Parish and certainly, here in Farnham, we can expect to have a closer relationship with the communities of Holy Family, Heath End and Holy Angels, Ash. Each community member should consider how they contribute to the liturgical, pastoral, administrative and spiritual life of the community of St Joan of Arc, not seeing our Church merely as a ‘service provider’ where we come and take but see our community as a place where we come and offer service of our brothers and sisters in spiritual and material need.

As a priest, we want my focus on celebrating the Mass and confecting the Eucharist, absolving the sinner, and anointing the seriously ill. More than ever, it is the role of every parishioner to play their part, ensuring everything is ready for worship, the estate is fit for mission, and the needs of the community are met. As St Paul says, we encourage you in the Lord Jesus to do our work quietly and earn our spiritual living. Fr. Simon.