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This week’s newsletter

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY OF YEAR C 29^th August 2010

Dear Parishioners,

Last Sunday Jesus told us we can enter heaven only by the narrow gate. Today he offers us the key to that gate – humility. Jesus says simply and directly, “every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:1.7-14). If we want to succeed in a real sense we should not be worried about our own position. Rather, we should be concentrating on what is happening to our neighbours, especially those who are poor and powerless. They cannot give us anything of worldly value in return. We are asked to become givers without counting the cost.

Pride meant as a self-exaltation has always been recognised as a big obstacle on the road to virtue. It prevents us from listening to the Lord (Ecclesiasticus 3:17-20.28-29). Self-exaltation began when our first parents tried to make themselves into "little gods". This attitude led to the whole sad human history when a man wanted to put himself in God’s place.

Jesus warns that self-exaltation will block the way to heaven. On the other hand, humility restores the soul and rebuilds lives. Jesus tells us that the way forward is by getting outside of ourselves and concentrating on the needs of others. If we follow him, we discover the mystery of his love lived out among whose who are poor in any worldly sense.

Lord Jesus, teach me to be humble in everything. Set me free from attitudes, which discriminate against others because of class, education or race. Grant me to be comfortable in all company and to see all men and women as my brothers and sisters.

Today’s Sunday is my last in your Parish. Thank you very much for your kindness and friendship. You still remain in my prayers. May God’s love fill your hearts with hope and courage and may Almighty God bless and protect you all. Fr. Dariusz.

WHAT’S ON IN OUR PARISH THIS WEEK:

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY OF YEAR C			29th August 2010
12.30 pm	Baptisms:	Lily & Louise Donovan
MONDAY	BANK HOLIDAY – Mass at 10.30 am
TUESDAY	SVP 9 pm (Lounge)
THURSDAY	Church Cleaning 9.45 am
	Padre Pio Prayer Group 11am (Lounge)
	Sunflower Club 7.30pm (Room 3)
	SVP District Meeting 8 pm (Lounge)
	Parish Choir Rehearsal 8.15pm
SATURDAY	Sacrament of Penance 11 – 12 noon & 5 – 5.30pm
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF YEAR C			5th Sept. 2010
Family Mass at 11am Retiring collection for Pakistan Flood Disaster
12.45 pm	Baptism:	Olivia Gallagher
6.30 pm	Reception of the body of Terry Cregg RIP

WE PRAY FOR ALL OUR SICK AT HOME & IN HOSPITAL

The names of our sick parishioners have been put in the petitions book and will be brought up to the altar at the Offertory Procession at our Masses this week. May the healing power of the Holy Spirit come down upon them.

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED RELATIVES & PARISHIONERS:

TERRY CREGG RIP, husband of Gladys, who died on Tuesday, 24^th August at Leonard Lodge Care Home, Hutton. His body will be received into our Church on Sunday, 5^th September at 6.30 pm. Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 1.30pm on Monday, 6^th September followed by a private burial service at Great Burstead Cemetery. The family invite those attending the Mass to The Ivory Rooms for a reception. Family flowers only please but donations may be made to the Little Haven Children’s Hospice. May he rest in peace.

JOHN GUPPY RIP, who lived in our parish for many years, died in Spain, where he more recently lived, last Thursday. May he rest in peace.

Anniversaries: Teresa Ellerby, Kathleen Warner, Vincent Bunce, Eileen Wilks and James Patterson. Clergy: Canon John Sloane, Canon John Wash, Canon Cyril Shepherd and Fr Patrick Cavanagh.

May they rest in peace and rise in glory, and may the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, console their bereaved families and friends at this time.

ANVIL TRUST – 20^th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service at Christ Church, Perry Street, on Saturday 4^th September at 3 pm. Refreshments afterwards

September if you are shopping in the store.

ESSEX RECUSANT SOCIETY next meeting is on Saturday 4^th September, 2.30pm at The Grange, 93 Queens Rd, Brentwood.

CAFOD - PAKISTAN FLOODS APPEAL - 13 Aid Agencies are working together and have so far reached 23,000 people - but so many more need our help now and to recover in the long term. With your support, our partners can provide emergency kits including plastic sheeting, blankets & water and life-saving medicines. Next weekend, 4/5^th September there will be a retiring collection after all Masses. Cheques are payable to “Catholic Church Billericay”. Please be as generous as you can to help those in desperate need.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS The September rota will be distributed electronically over this coming weekend and hard copies will be in the Church porch on Monday evening.

PAPAL VISIT Everyone who applied to attend the papal visit events has been successful. Could you please now make your payment. Cheques should be made payable to Catholic Church, Billericay and posted through the door of the Priest’s House in an envelope marked ’Papal Visit’ and giving your name. Payment for Hyde Park is now £5 per person but does NOT include a Travelcard.  For those going to Birmingham it is £25 (no concessions) and please note that there may be a significant amount of walking to/ from the coach - up to 2 miles each way and possibly over muddy and uneven terrain.  There are still no further details regarding travel arrangements etc.

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY - Childcare has been chosen by Waitrose Billericay store as one of the three community good causes from 1^st September under the company’s Community Matters Fund. This scheme gives each branch £1,000 to share out between three local good causes each month. Customers vote for their preferred cause using a green token each time they shop and the money each cause is given is directly proportional to the tokens they receive. Please support our diocesan children’s charity during

BAPTISMS Congratulations to the parents of Samuel Hencher and Luca Hernandez - Baptised in our Church. We pray that the Lord will help them to bring up their child in the knowledge and love of God.

WEDDINGS: Our Congratulations and best wishes to Daniel Raja & Melissa Hava and Jake Fisk & Katherine Bull who were married in our Church. We wish them a long, blessed and very happy marriage

Important MHR 2010 CENTENARY Dates

Friday 10^th September - 8pm - Centenary Lecture 10^th to 19^th September - Centenary Exhibition

Mon 13^th September - 7:30pm - Main Centenary Mass

Sat 25^th September - Parish Choir sing the 6pm Mass in Westminster Cathedral - It is hoped to run coaches

Sat 16^th October - MHR 2010 Centenary Ball

Ticket application forms in the Church foyer

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS

SATURDAY	6.00 pm	Michael John Murphy RIP
TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY OF YEAR C
29th August 2010	9.00 am	Teresa Ellerby RIP
	11.00 am	Allan McHugh RIP (Anniv)
	5.00 pm	The People of our Parish
MONDAY	Ss. Margart Clitherow, Anne Line & Margaret Ward, Martyrs
	10.30 am	Quentin & Valerie Hall’s ints
TUESDAY	St. Aidan, Bishop
	9.15 am	Margaret Flynn RIP
WEDNESDAY	St. Sebbi , King of the East Saxons
	9.15 am	Mary & Christopher Roche RIP
THURSDAY	9.15 am	James Patterson RIP (Anniv)
	7.30 pm	SVP District Conference Mass
FRIDAY	St. Gregory the Great, Priest & Doctor
	9.15 am	Deacon Norman Wiseman RIP
SATURDAY Sacrament of Penance 11.00am - 12 noon & 5.00 - 5.30pm
	6.00 pm	Hans Strub RIP
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF YEAR C
5th Sept. 2010	9.00 am	Joan Murphy RIP
	11.00 am	Lucienne Chauveau RIP (Diffley)
	5.00 pm	The People of our Parish

ADORATION & PRAYER BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

TUESDAY 9.15am to 10.15am & 10.45am to 11.15am

SATURDAY 11.00am – 12.00 noon & 5.00 – 5.30 pm

MORNING PRAYER WILL BE RECITED IN THE CHURCH EACH WEEKDAY 15 MINUTES BEFORE MASS BEGINS.

MASS ATTENDANCE 22^nd August (last week) Total 515(542): 6pm Mass 119 (148), 9am Mass 141 (125), 11am Mass 162 (167), 5pm Mass 93 (102)

OFFERINGS We thank you for your generous Offerings of £1420.22 for our Parish last weekend and £37.03 for our CAFOD Parish Project.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION & RECONCILIATION PREPARATION Enrolment will be at all Masses on 11/12^th September.

TALKS ON THE CATHOLIC FAITH We invite people interested in finding out about our faith, becoming Catholic or returning to the practice of their faith to a series of talks on Monday evenings. If you are interested in these talks, which start in September, please contact Fr John.