Home Newsletters 2007 Newsletters 27th May 2007

27th May 2007

 PENTECOST SUNDAY (C) 27^th MAY 2007

Our Blessed Sacrament Procession will be on Sunday, 10^th June at 3pm. In the procession, we will follow Christ who is present in Holy Communion. We ask children, who will have recently received Christ in their first Holy Communion, to lead the Procession, in their first Holy Communion outfits, with their families. Please meet in the Pastoral Centre at 2.45pm.

The Going Forth Mass for the First Holy Communion will be on Sunday, 17^th June at 11 am. The children will be presented with their Certificates and a social celebration will follow immediately in the Hall

FIRST COMMUNIONS IN 2008: There will be a meeting on Tuesday 19^th June at 8pm in the Hall, for parents who wish their children to be prepared for First Reconciliation & Holy Communion in 2008. Children should be in year 3 and above in September.

PRAYER FOR THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created: and you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, taught the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation, through Christ Our Lord.”

PENTECOST SUNDAY (C) 27^th MAY 2007

My dear People,

“No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit”(1Cor.12: 3-13). The apostles were silent and afraid to witness the life, sufferings, death and resurrection of Jesus until they received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and freed from fear, they went out into the city to preach the Gospel and called people to repent of their sins and be Baptised. Over 3,000 people were influenced by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, to repent of their sins and be Baptised. Neither we, nor anyone else, can profess or acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Saviour unless we are influenced by the Holy Spirit and given the gift of faith.

Next Sunday eighteen of our young parishioners will receive the Holy Spirit in a special way in the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Holy Spirit gives them gifts of wisdom and understanding, right judgement and courage, knowledge and reverence for God, and wonder and awe in his presence. We pray for our young people as they grow towards adulthood, that they will use these gifts to make the right choices in life. The Holy Spirit protects our dignity and relationship with God and people, and he gives us wisdom to make important decisions correctly. In Confirmation, He seals and marks us as children of God with a mission to be witnesses to his presence in the world. We should always remember that Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, whom the Father will send you. Many people in our parish suffer greatly through the break down of relationships or bereavement. The Holy Spirit, who lives in our community and our hearts, is there to comfort, console and strengthen us in these times. We should turn to him for help to get through our hurt and find healing and peace.

Since we are loved by God this places on us the responsibility to love him and our neighbour in return. Jesus’ great commandment, given at the Last Supper, was to love God and our neighbour unconditionally, as Christ loved us. The Holy Spirit living in our hearts is a Spirit of love, and he empowers us to love God and our neighbour in a way that surpasses our own feeble efforts. To be Confirmed is to be strengthened, and in this Sacrament of Confirmation the Holy Spirit strengthens us with his power, so that we are able to live and love, as God wants.

May you be filled with the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit of God.

I wish you and your families a very blessed and joyful Pentecost. Fr John

CONFIRMATION will be celebrated in our Parish next Sunday, 3^rd June at 11 am Mass. We have 18 young people for Confirmation. We ask parishioners who normally attend 11 am Mass to try to attend another Mass next weekend. Please pray for our young people who will be Confirmed so that they will grow in the wisdom, power and love of God.

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK AT HOME & IN HOSPITAL:

Vera Gilbertson, Linda O’Boyle, Ann & Keith Talbot, Sally Goodman, Helen Butler, Sarah Stewart, Bridget Stevens, Barbara Flynn, Stephanie Dore, Tony Robinson, Julia Buckley, Isabel Jasinska, Jim, Joan & Diane Bowen, Jean Fernando, Betty Page, Jimmy Perkins, George Perry, Philip Parks, Jill Field, Theresa Bolton, Simon De Freitas, Patricia Nicholson, Pauline Wallace, Louise & Denzil Reeves, Marie Norton, Sheila Mortner, Ruth Gillespie, Rose Walmsley, Maureen Travers, Julie Bouchel, Debbie Dowds, Maureen Tall, Lilian Cox, Julie Halstead, Beryl Barclay, Jackie Dodd, Nora Sheridan, Dorothy Robertson, Anne Cannon, Margaret Sefton, Joanne Hayes, Kirsti Dennett, Richard Norton, John Andrews, Ron Morton, Daniel Guppy, Lyle Wheeler, George Deverill; children Luke Boy, Thomas Durell, Daisy Locker and Holly Chambers: Fr Gerry Hughes, Fr Brian O’Higgins, Bishop Michael Rowland and Fr Conrad Smith who is on sick leave. May the Holy Spirit come down upon them.

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED RELATIVES & PARISHIONERS:

Anniversaries: Mabel Christie, Hermine Crisp, Brenda Cannon, Robert Beat, and Jean Nuttall

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.

FRANCES BUNDOCK RIP

A letter has been received from St. Luke’s Hospice. “Thank you to everyone at The Most Holy Redeemer Church and to Frances’ friends and neighbours for making us feel so welcome at her Funeral Mass and their support for our work within our community. Frances was clearly a very special lady and our staff were particularly touched by her and felt very privileged to care for her during her illness.” Thanks also to all parishioners who attended the Mass. The sum of £345 was donated to the Hospice in her memory.

“THE WORLD CAN’T WAIT” Join the CAFOD Coach. A group of CAFOD supporters will be travelling to London from this area on Saturday June 2nd to take part in a mass rally prior to the G8 summit in Germany.  They will be sending the message to the G8 leaders that ’it’s time to act’ .This anti-poverty message is crucial at a time when aid levels to the poorest nations of the world are stagnant and time is running out to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The coach will be stopping at Southend, Benfleet, Wickford, Billericay  and  Brentwood. For more details contact Irene on 01268 770206 or 07910 478978. Visit   www.cafod.org.uk/june2   for details of the event.

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

PENTECOST SUNDAY 27th May 2007
12.30 pm	Baptisms:		Alice Lazarus & Joseph Dunbar
	School Half-term week
MONDAY	Bank Holiday – Mass at 10.30 am today
TUESDAY	SVP 9 pm (Lounge)
WEDNESDAY	Mass for the McCann family & Madeline 7.30pm
	Life in the Spirit Prayer Group 8 pm (Room 2)
THURSDAY	Church Cleaners 9.45 am
	Padre Pio Prayer Group 11 am (Lounge)
	Youth SVP 5 pm (Lounge)
	Choir Practice: 7pm: 11am choir 8pm: 9am choir
FRIDAY	Mothers’ Prayer Group 9.45 am (Room 2)
	Confirmation Penitential Service & Rehearsal 7.30–9.30 pm
SATURDAY	Sacrament of Penance 11 – 11.30 & 5-5.30pm
12 noon	Baptisms: Aine Booroff & Kieran O’Connor
TRINITY SUNDAY 3rd June 2007
	11am	Confirmation Mass

OFFERINGS We thank you for your generous Offerings of £1,538.12 to support our Parish last weekend and £1,518.64 for CAFOD DARFUR Appeal.

Thank you to the Mustards Seed Yoga Group who donated £600 for our CAFOD Parish Project in Africa. Donations for this project go into the Cafod box in the Church and support ongoing development in Africa.

DARFUR APPEAL The ongoing crisis in Darfur, Sudan, is getting much worse and has now spread into neighbouring Chad. As the number of people in desperate need increases, CAFOD along with the Disasters Emergency Committee must help them. This conflict is one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises in a decade, in which more than 200,000 people have been killed to date. We thank you for the £1518.64 donated for this crisis in the retiring collection last weekend to assist CAFOD’s help to people in this conflict zone. Anyone who still wishes to contribute using a special Gift Aid envelope or the envelopes in the porch for Gift Aid and marking it “Darfur”. Cheques should be made payable to “Catholic Church Billericay” and will be forwarded to CAFOD.

Copies of Annual Parish Income & Expenditure Account for 2006/7 are in the Church porch.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

SPIRITUAL:

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. If interested contact Fr John

WALSINGHAM PILGRIMAGE Saturday, 2nd June. Travel by coach from from the Cathedral, at 8 am, cost £15.  Mass will be celebrated at 12 noon by Bishop Thomas in the Chapel of Reconciliation. Following Vespers and Benediction at 2.30 pm there will be a procession to the village and a visit to the Anglican Shrine and grounds.  To book a place on the coach please phone Lorna Harper at Cathedral Clergy House on 01277 265235.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES Monday 23^rd – Saturday 28^th July 2007, led by Bishop Thomas. Nurses and helpers wanted to join our existing team in Lourdes. We need you to befriend, help assist sick and elderly pilgrims during their stay in Lourdes. Details from Mrs Cathy O’Connor 01206 501146.

20th ANNIVERSARY OF OPENING OF ABBOTSWICK Parishioners are invited to a day of celebration on Saturday 9^th June 10.30 am – 3pm at the Diocesan House of Prayer. If you would like to attend, please contact Sr Camilla on 01277 373959, so that numbers for lunch can be confirmed.

“THE CHRIST” – an open-air play will be held at Wintershall Estate in Surrey from Tuesday 26^th June – Saturday 30^th June. This production is designed for all ages and brings to life the remarkable events surrounding the life of Christ. Leaflets, including booking forms and prices, are in the Church porch. If there is enough interest, we will arrange coach travel, £9 each, on Saturday, 30^th June. If you are interested, please contact Kirstin De Freitas on 01268 542530 as soon as possible so that the booking can be made. (Visit: www.wintershall-estate.com)

DEANERY DAY FOR FIRST COMMUNION CATECHISTS: Sister Nuala Gannon will be leading a day for Catechists on Saturday, 23^rd June from 10am to 12.30 pm in the Parish Hall at Brentwood Cathedral.  Details from 01277 265289

PRAYER & PRAISE On the last Sunday of every month from 7-30 to 9pm there is an evening of Prayer and Praise at the Sion Community, Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood. All are welcome. The next evening is on Sunday, 27^th May.

A Date for you Diary: The CAFOD Garden Party is on Sunday July 29th.

MARILLAC HOSPITAL will be holding their Summer Fayre on Saturday 2^nd June from 11 am in the grounds at Eagle Way, Warley. Free parking in Ford’s.

MEETINGS, SOCIAL & OTHER MATTERS

FOR BETTER & BETTER: A MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT COURSE: A six week practical course giving married couples the means to build and maintain a healthy marriage.  The course starts with an introductory session and meal on Thursday, 7th June at 7.15 p.m. for 7.30 p.m. in the Brentwood Cathedral Parish Hall. Contact Lisa McCready on lisamccready@mac.com or 216788 to register

BRENTWOOD CATHEDRAL CHORISTERS Applications for auditions are invited for choristers (boys 8-10 years; girls 8-16 years) for September.  The Cathedral Choir will provide training for two girl chorister choirs in addition to the existing boy choir choristers. Rehearsals mid-week for Church services at the Cathedral in term time and for the principle Feasts of Easter & Christmas. Details on 01277-265288; email music@dioceseofbrentwood.org. Closing date 8.6.2007

5^th CHANTRY BROWNIES On 4^th June our Brownies will be taking part in a Marathon in their own brownie style of course! This will involve 26 laps of the car park, 26 skips in 26 items of clothes! The girls have chosen to give all sponsorship money to children with Leukemia in memory of their friend Jack and the young leaders’ friend Emily who both succumbed to the illness last year. Please give generously if approached, or leave donations at the Priest’s house.

AYLESFORD YOUTH FESTIVAL Saturday 7^th July 10.30am – 8 pm. We invite all young people (of year 8+ - 12/13 year olds +) to join us at our 3^rd Annual Youth Festival. The day is an opportunity to meet other Catholic Young People in an atmosphere of fun and friendship, and work with them in workshops including sports, drama, music, street-dance, sign language, drumming, and art!  This is an ideal day for confirmation groups, youth clubs and school groups or individuals wishing to get involved!  Application forms and details of how to bring a group, or how to book yourself on to the Diocesan Youth Service coach (leaving from Stratford, Romford and Brentwood – coach cost £10) are available on www.bcys.net or call Sarah Barber on 01277 265286.  The cost of the day is £8.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2007, THANK-YOU: The parents, children and catechists of this year’s Communion programme would like to thank Mrs Moreton and the choir children who sang at our Communion masses. Their involvement is always appreciated and many people remarked on the lovely singing. Thank you also to the altar servers who assisted Father John. Communion Photographs will be available to buy or order following the Blessed Sacrament Procession and during the children’s final preparation session on Saturday 16^th June (9.30-11am).

COOK WANTED for Brentwood Cathedral Clergy House to provide lunches from Monday to Friday for 2/3 people.10 hours a week @ £7.50 per hour.  Cordon Bleu cooking not required!!  Please contact Father Bill Nix on 265235

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS

SATURDAY	6.00 pm		Nuala Woodward RIP
PENTECOST SUNDAY (C) Day of Prayer for the Church
27th May 2007		9.00 am	David Herd RIP (Kelley)
	11.00 am		Frank & Dorothy Johnson RIP (Anniv)
	5.00 pm		The People of our Parish
MONDAY	8th Week Year 1 Breviary: Psalms for Monday week 4
Note Mass time	10.30 am		Matthias McGrath RIP (An)
TUESDAY	10.15 am		David Barry RIP (Fullbrook)
WEDNESDAY	The Visitation of Our Lady
	9.15 am		Canon Aloysius Roche RIP
	7.30 pm		McCann Family & their child Madeline
THURSDAY Dedication of Cathedral of St Mary & St Helen, Brentwood
	9.15 am		Brenda Cannon RIP (1st Anniv)
FRIDAY	St. Justin, Martyr
	9.15 am		James Patterson RIP (Spurling)
SATURDAY Sacrament of Penance 11 – 11.30 am & 5 to 5.30pm
	6.00 pm		Margaret Daniel’s intentions (Bewick)
THE MOST HOLY TRINITY (C)
3rd June 2007		9.00 am	Jean Nuttall RIP (1st Anniv)
Confirmation Mass		11.00 am	Kathleen & Patrick Torney RIP
		5.00 pm	The People of our Parish

MASS ATTENDANCE on Sunday 20^th May 2007 (previous week)

Total 723 (726): 6pm Mass 190 (113), 9am Mass 188 (208),

11am Mass 205 (247), 5pm Mass 140 (158).

ADORATION & EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

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

SATURDAY 11 – 11.30 am & 5.00 to 5.30 pm

READERS New rotas are in the Church porch.