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18 Feb 2007

 SEVENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR (C) 18^th FEBRUARY 2007

CAFOD & LENT

CAFOD - livesimply Tired of a world of consumerism and hype? Want to live simply, sustainably and in solidarity with people who are poor? Then get involved with livesimply - and get ready for change. Our faith tells us that God calls us to examine our lives, to reach our own full human potential and enable others to reach theirs. It’s time to put that faith into action. So why not take a livesimply promise like the 99% challenge, which asks us to live on 99% of our income and to think about the difference the other 1% could make to someone living in extreme poverty. Please take a direct debit form from the back of the church or use the envelopes provided. For more information, please also visit: http://www.cafod.org.uk/get_involved/livesimply/

LENT FAST DAY – Friday, 2^nd March 2007

"You are changing our lives and I hope you will continue this support - not only to us but to other poor people. In return I will continue sharing what I have learned with the people around me." Salud Relatado, Botongan, Philippines.
Through CAFOD’s support of the local parish’s development programme, Salud’s extended family has benefited from improved agricultural techniques that have boosted family income, from an ’animal bank’ and from learning about herbal medicines to treat family illnesses. Envelopes will be given out after all Masses next weekend. Please take an envelope home and help CAFOD support poor communities by sharing what you can. Cheques should be payable to “Catholic Church Billericay”. Gift aid envelopes may be used or you can complete the gift aid form on the CAFOD envelope.Thank you

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR (C) 18^th February 2007

My dear People,

“What you measure out is what you will be given back” (Luke 6: 27-38).

Jesus sums up, in these words, the reward we can expect to receive, or lose, due to the way we treat others. Today’s Gospel develops Christ’s teaching for Christian living given in The Beatitudes. Compassionate is the key word in today’s readings. It means to suffer with another or to put one’s self in another’s place. Jesus was compassionate and stood in our place and took our sufferings on himself. He sacrificed his will and life to do this, out of love for us. He wanted to save us from self-centred ways of thinking and acting(sin) and through his sufferings, death and resurrection bring us to share in the life and glory of God’s kingdom.

LENT begins this week on Ash Wednesday. In this season we are called to get into training with Christ through prayer, fasting and giving alms to help the needy. The Church calls us to look at Christ in temptation in the desert. We see that he refused to use power to dominate others for good; he chose not to feed his own body or ego by working miracles; and did not presume to trust in God to save him from foolish actions.

We should not waste Lent but treat it as a holy or precious time, when Christ calls us to follow him and grow closer to him. Each of us should have a simple plan for Lent, not to do something big or extra-ordinary, but to do some ordinary things well. Pray each day, and parents do pray with your children, and if possible together as a family – “Grace” before meals could be a small but important start! Read a little passage from a Gospel daily, or use Bible Alive or Lent Extra or some other form of spiritual reading. We can strengthen our faith and relationship with God and with the Christian community by giving a little more time and attention to God. We can grow in love for people, especially those who are our nearest and dearest, by bringing them to God in prayer and asking him to bless them. We can attend Mass on a weekday as well as on Sunday, in that way we share more fully in Christ’s sacrifice of himself for us. Only by following Christ’s example can we grow in compassion and love, and then be able to show his compassion and love to those who most need it.

May the Holy Spirit help us to walk with Jesus during Lent. Fr John

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR (C) 18th February 2007
MONDAY	Funeral Service for Mrs. Terry Holben RIP 10.30 am
	Brownies 6 pm Guides 7.30 pm
	RCIA 8 pm (Room 2)
TUESDAY	Brownies 6 pm
	Pastoral Development Group 8 pm (Room 3)
	SVP 9 pm (Lounge)
ASH WEDNESDAY (A day of fast and abstinence)
	Masses 10.30 am & 8 pm
THURSDAY	Padre Pio Prayer Group 11 am (Lounge)
	Youth SVP 5 pm (Lounge)
	Choir Practice: 7pm: 11am choir No 9am choir practice
FRIDAY	Mothers’ Prayer Group 9.45 am (Room 2)
SATURDAY	First Holy Communion preparation 9.20 am
	Sacrament of Penance 11 – 11.45 am & 5 – 5.30pm
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (C) 25th February 2007

MASS ATTENDANCE on 11^th February 2007

(previous week) Total 726 (721): 6pm Mass 137 (147)

9am Mass 215 (199), 11am Mass 212 (268), 5pm Mass 162 (157).

OFFERINGS We thank you for your generous Offerings of £1763.49 last weekend and £24.32 for CAFOD.

THE 100 CLUB draws for January and February were won by Mr and Mrs B Dixon, and Mr M Evans who received cheques for £100. At the same time £100 has been donated to "Oblates of Mary Immaculate" to be used by Fr Tom Murphy for his work with the poor in Brazil (there are 250,000 people in his parish), and £100 has been donated to "Hives Save Lives, Africa". By providing better equipment and training, beekeeping in Uganda can provide a viable income  for people surviving on 60p a day.

LADY PARISHIONER urgently needs 3 bedroom house to rent in Billericay mid/end March. Please contact the Priest’s House, if you can help.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

SPIRITUAL:

CONFIRMATION will be celebrated in our Parish on Trinity Sunday, 3^rd June, for those currently in Year 10 or above. Application forms are available in the Church porch. Completed forms should be posted through the Priest’s House letterbox in an envelope marked “Confirmation” as soon as possible.

TALKS ON THE CATHOLIC FAITH We invite people who are 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 from 8 to 9pm in Room 2 of the Pastoral Centre. Attendance at these talks does not imply commitment. If you are interested, you will be most welcome. The next meeting is on Monday, 19^th February, at 8 pm and the theme is “Anointing of the Sick”.

WORSHIP & PRAYER GROUP meeting on Tuesday 27^th February at 8 pm. Enquiries to Mike Sinnott on 01277 626252.

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER This Annual inter-Church event will be held at Christ Church, Perry Street, on Friday 2^nd March at 10.30 am. The theme is “United Under God’s Tent” and has been prepared by the women of Paraguay. Please come – men, women and children – and join in our prayers around the world. This is the 75^th anniversary of Christian women throughout the world organising a day of prayer for all. As usual, a crèche will be provided.

LENT TALKS will take place at 8 pm in Brentwood Cathedral Parish Hall on Wednesdays 28^th February (The Book of Genesis), 14^th March (the Gospel of Luke) and 21^st March (the Acts of the Apostles).

LENTEN SPIRITUALITY MORNING 2007 led by Fr Christopher O’Donnell O.Carm is on Saturday 24^th February 9.30am – 12 noon in Cathedral House, Brentwood. Fr. O’Donnell is a professor of Spirituality, an experienced retreat director and author. The cost of the Morning is £5 waged and £3 unwaged.

JUSTICE & PEACE PAX CHRISTI Ash Wednesday Liturgy of repentance and resistance to nuclear weapons at the Ministry of Defence, Whitehall. Liturgy begins at 3pm in Embankment Gardens, off Horseguards Avenue. Anyone interested, please phone Joan Giorgi on 653840.

DEANERY MUSIC DAY Saturday, 17^th March Brentwood Cathedral Song School. Fee £5including coffee, bring a packed lunch. For details, contact: Shirley Timmins 01277 219944 or www.brentwood-music.org.uk/deanery.htm.

MEETINGS, SOCIAL & OTHER MATTERS

NEWS FROM ST. PETER’S – Admissions. Closing date for applications whether online or paper is 26^th February 2007. If your child is due to start school in September 2007 (born between 01/09/2002 - 31/08/2003)  please ensure that you have completed a Common Application form (CAF) which is due in to Essex County Council by 26^th February, and  a Supplementary form (SIF) available from the school office.  If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to speak to the office who will be happy to help you.

ST. PATRICK’S CEILIDH NIGHT Saturday 17^th March featuring the popular Most Unexpected Ceilidh Band in the Canon Roche Centre at 8pm.  Nibbles, Licensed Bar available. For tickets which cost £5, please call 01277 889279 or visit: www.stpatricksnight.co.uk  Proceeds will go to offset the Parish debt.

A TASTE OF FAIRTRADE  As part of Fairtrade Fortnight (26th February to 11th March) Fairtrade refreshments will be served in The Billericay Reading Rooms in the High Street on Saturday, 3rd March from 9am to 1pm - no charge but donations accepted.  There will be a Fairtade stall, a raffle and a display of information about Fairtrade.  All welcome.

VILLA ERICA POETRY READING GROUP meets Tuesday, 20^th February 8 pm at 79 Mountnessing Road. We will read Sonnets by poets as diverse as William Shakespeare, John Donne, Pablo Neruda, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Ernest Dowson and Christina Rossetti, to name but a few - have a look at http://www.sonnets.org/ for inspiration! Space can be limited as meetings take place in houses of those who like to read or just listen to poetry. Please phone 01277 656978 to let the host know if you are coming.

THE BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY 15^th Annual Sponsored Walk on 19^th May. There will be walks in each Deanery going to Brentwood Cathedral or, where this is impractical, circular walks are being arranged. We need prospective walkers and Parish Representatives to liaise with the Deanery Walks Organiser and the Parish. Please support the vulnerable children of the Diocese. If you are already a Parish Representative please contact the Society so that we can update our records accordingly. Any enquiries or offers of help please contact Laura Williams or John Logue on 01268 784544.

THE CHOIR FOR ALL SEASONS presents “Especially for You”, an evening of musical dedications. Saturday 24^th March 8 pm at Emmanuel Church. Tickets from Presence, High Street, or telephone 01277 656935 or 632120.

CHARITY ABSEIL Have you ever wondered about the strange building on the M11 in Harlow. Now’s your chance to have a bird’s eye view from the top of this Water Tower. CAFOD has places in the annual Charity Abseil run by the Rotary Club of Harlow Tye on the weekend of 5th and 6th May 2007.  We would like to have someone from this and every parish in the Diocese to takepart and help raise vital funds, through sponsorship, for CAFOD’s lifesaving projects overseas.  You have to be over 16, but there is no age limit!  For more details contact the CAFOD Brentwood Office on 0208 502 9722 or email brentwood@cafod.org.uk

PILGRIMAGE TO LISIEUX 2007  Sunday, 30^th September to Thursday, 4^th October. The pilgrimage, organised by Fr Julian,  will be present for the Feast of St Therese of Lisieux on 1^st October. Cost (Half Board) £300 (sharing rooms), travel by luxury coach, staying at Hotel de la Place (single room suppl.£20 per night/Insurance £20). Visits to the Bayeux Tapestry, Normandy, and a local Cider Farm and Cheese Making Farm. On the return we will stop at the City Europe Shopping Centre in Calais. Application Forms are now available - £75 non-returnable deposit to be paid by the end of March. For an application form please telephone the Basildon Team Ministry Office on 01268 553425.

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK AT HOME & IN HOSPITAL:

Conrad Grant, Helen Butler, Linda O’Boyle, Bridget Stevens, Sarah Stewart, Cath Jewell, Barbara Flynn, Julia Buckley, Isabel Jasinska, Jean Fernando, Frances Bundock, Jim, Joan & Diane Bowen, Jimmy Perkins, George Perry, Theresa Bolton, Daniel Guppy, Vera Gilbertson, Patricia Nicholson, Mary Donaldson, Nick Hogg, Sally Goodman, Frieda Barter, Philip Parks, Sheila Mortner, Ruth Gillespie, Louise & Denzil Reeves, Pauline Wallace, Rose Walmsley, Julie Bouchel, Julie Halstead, Maureen Travers, Beryl Barclay, Maureen Tall, Margaret Hunter, Marie Norton, Richard Norton, Jill Field, Anne Cannon, Betty Page, Debbie Dowds, Margaret Sefton, Lilian Cox, John Andrews, Dorothy Robertson, Ann Talbot, Nora Sheridan, Tony Jowers, Ron Morton, Calixto Velez, George Deverill, Jackie Dodd, Lyle Wheeler, Stephanie Dore, Simon De Freitas, Kirsti Dennett, Joanne Hayes, Bishop Michael Rowland, Fr Brian O’Higgins, Fr John McKeon, and children Thomas Durell, Daisy Locker and Luke Boy.

May the healing power of the Holy Spirit come down upon them.

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED RELATIVES & PARISHIONERS:

Mrs Norah Mary Teresa Holben RIP who died on Monday 5^th February in Basildon Hospital. Her Funeral Service will be celebrated in our Church on Monday, 19^th February at 10.30 am followed by burial at Great Burstead.

ANNIVERSARIES:

Canon Aloysius Roche, Tommy Mains, Charles Hand, Iset Harper, Joseph Morley & Catherine Moyne.

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.

THE BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC YOUTH SERVICE invite young people of Year 9+ to join us for a friendly, fun evening that will challenge the way we look at Lent. The evening runs from 7.30 – 9.30 pm and will be held in the following venues and dates: Contact sarah@bcys.net or call 01277 265286.

Friday 23^rd February: Conference Room, Cathedral House, Brentwood

Friday 2^nd March: St. Teresa of Lisieux, Colchester.

Friday 9^th March: St. Francis of Assisi Church, South Woodford

Friday 16^th March: Our Lady of Christians & St. Helen, Westcliff-on-Sea

Friday 23^rd March: St. Edmund of Canterbury, Loughton.

LENT LITERATURE ON SALE IN THE CHURCH PORCH:

Bible Alive, which gives daily Gospel reflections for Lent, price £2.

Lent Extra, a Lent & Easter magazine for all the family with a

Children’s Lent Poster inside, price £1.

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS

SATURDAY	6.00 pm		Tommy Mains RIP (Anniv)
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR (C) A Day of prayer for the Unemployed
18th February 2007		9.00 am	Frank Finnigan RIP (Anniv)
	11.00 am		Walter Pinnington RIP (Anniv)
	5.00 pm		The People of our Parish
MONDAY	9.15 am		Mrs. Theresa King RIP
	10.30 am		Mrs. Terry Holben RIP Funeral Service
TUESDAY	Shrove Tuesday
	10.15 am		Sean O’Connell’s intentions (Talbot)
ASH WEDNESDAY - A Day of Fasting from food & Abstinence from meat
	9.15 am		Ashes Service at St. Peter’s School
	10.30 am		Giselda Yarrow RIP (Diffley)
	8.00 pm		Owen Walsh RIP (Wolahan)
THURSDAY	The Chair of St. Peter
	9.15 am		Linda O’Boyle’s intentions (Johnson)
FRIDAY in Lent	10.15 am		Johanna & William Lidlow RIP (Anniv)
	7.30 pm		Stations of the Cross and Mass
SATURDAY		Sacrament of Penance 11 - 11.45 am & 5 – 5.30pm
	6.00 pm		Regina Krug RIP (Catenians)
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (C)
25th February 2007		9.00 am	Peter Lennon RIP (McHugh)
		11.00 am	The People of our Parish
		5.00 pm	James McCarthy RIP

ADORATION & EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

TUESDAY 9.30am to 10.15am & 10.45am to 11.15am

FRIDAYS OF LENT 9.15am to 12 noon (Mass from 10.15 to 10.45)

SATURDAY 11 – 11.45 am & 5 – 5.30 pm

We need people to commit to half an hour period of prayer in the Church on the Friday mornings of Lent. Please put your name on the sheet in Church.

LENT begins on Ash Wednesday, 21^st February. On the Fridays of Lent morning

Mass will be at 10.15 am followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS at the start of 7.30 pm Mass on Fridays of Lent.