Saint Theresa of Lisieux

Parish life

The community of St George & St Theresa serves Southwick, Portslade, Hangleton and West Blatchington. The parish pastoral team is a group of parishioners appointed to help plan events and reflect on the mission of the parish. The pastoral team includes a representative sent by the SVP and a representative sent by St Mary's school.

Confirmation preparation takes place at Sacred Heart Church in conjunction with other Catholic communities in Hove. Confirmation usually takes place at Arundel Cathedral together with candidates from the wider parish. A Penitential Service is held during Advent and Lent. Marriage preparation includes a course led by married couples together with other engaged couples.

Hangleton and West Blatchington Foodbank operates out of the parish hall at St George's, independently of the parish. An annual Mass for the Sick is held, usually around the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, when the Sacrament of the Sick is offered.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Families of children in Year 3 or above who are baptised Catholic, or preparing to be, may join the First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion preparation 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. Once commitment to parish life is established, candidates are invited to formal confirmation preparation beginning in the spring term.

Adults who have been baptised but not yet confirmed are invited to join the RCIA. The parish asks to be informed when someone is going into hospital so it can pass the information to the hospital chaplaincy team for pastoral and spiritual support. For children under seven, the parish offers a short baptism preparation course for parents and, where possible, Godparents, normally over two evenings. Baptisms can be celebrated during Sunday Mass or at another time, usually on a Saturday or Sunday.

Couples wishing to marry in the parish, as well as couples 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 to mark the first anniversary 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 the final session adding a Christian perspective.