Saint George

Parish life

Hangleton and West Blatchington Foodbank operates out of the parish hall at St George's, independently of the parish, providing short-term food aid. Confirmation preparation takes place at Sacred Heart Church in conjunction with other Catholic communities in Hove. Confirmation usually takes place later in the summer term at Arundel Cathedral together with other candidates from the wider parish. The parish holds an annual Mass for the Sick, usually around the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, when the Sacrament of the Sick is offered.

The parish holds a Penitential Service during Advent and Lent, usually on the afternoon of the 3rd or 4th Sunday of Advent and on Palm Sunday. For children under seven, the parish offers a short preparation course for parents and, where possible, Godparents, normally over two evenings. Marriage preparation is carried out partly with a parish priest and partly through a marriage preparation course, together with other engaged couples and led by married couples. The pastoral team includes a representative sent by the SVP and a representative sent by St Mary's school.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Families of children in Year 3 or above who are baptised in the Catholic Church, or preparing to be baptised, are eligible for the First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion programme. Young people are normally eligible to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation from Year 9. Confirmation preparation begins informally, with candidates encouraged to attend Sunday Mass regularly and take an active role in parish life. Adults who have been baptised but not yet confirmed are invited to join the RCIA.

The parish asks to be informed if someone is going into hospital, so it can pass the information to the hospital chaplaincy team for pastoral and spiritual support. Baptisms can be celebrated during Sunday Mass or at another time, usually on a Saturday or Sunday. For children over seven, baptism preparation involves the child and parents, normally through the First Holy Communion programme or, if in Year 8 or above, the Confirmation programme. Couples wishing to get married in the parish, as well as those living in the parish but marrying elsewhere, should contact the parish priest as early as possible.

The Diocese normally requires at least one year's notice for marriage. Families often arrange a parish Memorial Mass for the deceased, particularly if the funeral was family-only or not a Requiem Mass, and an Anniversary Mass is also not uncommon.

The local deanery provides bereavement support, contactable by email. The Bereavement Journey is a six-week course provided in many locations and online on Zoom, designed for people of all faiths with a final session adding a Christian perspective. The website At A Loss may help in finding services and resources for bereavement.