Home Newsletters 2007 Newsletters 8 July 2007

8 July 2007

SEA SUNDAY

Today is Sea Sunday, when the Church remembers all those who live and work at sea. It is worth pausing for a moment to consider how important seafarers are to our standard of living:

• 90 per cent of world trade travels by sea

• 95 per cent of all goods imported into the UK come by sea

• 150,000 merchant ships arrive in British ports each year

At this very moment there are hundreds of thousands of seafarers working on ships crossing vast expanses of ocean to bring us the goods we use and consume every day. Many of these men are feeling lonely, tired and spiritually deprived. Typically recruited from poorer countries where wages are lower, seafarers spend up to 12 months at a time away from their families and friends on the high seas.

On arriving in UK ports, these men are welcomed by port Chaplains and ship visitors of the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS) in the name of Christ, regardless of their creed or nationality. They are visited onboard their ships or taken to well-equipped centres, and their pastoral and practical needs are provided for and they are given the opportunity to phone home.

You are asked to pray for seafarers and those who minister to them on your behalf. Envelopes are available in the Church porch if you wish to make a donation to the work of AOS,

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY YEAR C 8^th July 2007

My dear People,

Jesus said “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest” (Lk.10:1-20). Jesus uses the word harvest to describe the people of the world. He has come to bring people into the love of God and save them from sin and condemnation. He does this through those he sends out to spread his word, and bring people healing for the ills of mind, body and spirit. He sees the need for people to hear a call or vocation from God to work amongst others and bring them his love and saving word. He first did this through his disciples, and wants others to come after them and continue this work of salvation and grace. He asks us to pray that many more will be given a call or vocation to be messengers of God to others. That is why we should pray that at least a member of our own family or community be given a call or vocation to the priesthood or religious life.

“The seventy two disciples came back to the Lord rejoicing”. Jesus sent them out to the towns and places he himself was to visit. By preaching the Gospel and calling people to repent of their sins the disciples prepared people to receive Christ. The miracles, signs and wonders they worked, in healing the sick and freeing people from evil confirmed the word they preached. They could not have imagined God working through them in such powerful ways and they rejoiced at all that happened during their mission. St Paul lists joy between love and peace, as a fruit of the Holy Spirit’s action in a person’s life. Our scripture readings are filled with joy at the way God works through and for his people.

We need to ask ourselves: “What is my mission or purpose in life and where do I find my joy?” God has a purpose for each of us, which involves; loving God, loving our neighbour and loving ourselves. To love God, we need to know and do his will, and recognise the vocation and grace he is giving us. In loving our neighbour, we will want to serve others by using the gifts God has given to us to work for their happiness. Loving ourselves is not engaging in self-centredness, but correctly seeks to protect the life and dignity God has given us. We do this to give him glory, so that his grace may work and his purposes be fulfilled in and through us. Since God first loved us, we should love him and seek to do his will, as the disciples did. By following Christ’s command, the disciples were amazed at the wonderful things God did through them. If we do his will, then we too will have the joy of seeing God’s power at work in our lives and touching others. “Lord, help us to listen to your word and carry out your will in our daily life, so that we may serve your people and give you glory and honour in our work”.

May the Lord help us to listen to his Word and follow his call. Fr John

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (C) SEA SUNDAY 8th July
12.30pm	Baptisms:	Daniel Edwin Heath
		Daisy Kitty Rose Paul
MONDAY	Brownies 6 pm Guides 7.30 pm
TUESDAY	Brownies 6 pm
	Churches Together in Billericay - United Reform Church 8pm
	SVP 9 pm (Lounge)
THURSDAY	Church Cleaners 9.45 am
	Padre Pio Prayer Group 11am (Lounge)
	Choir Practice: 7pm: 11am choir
	Youth SVP 5 pm (Lounge)
FRIDAY	Mothers’ Prayer Group 9.45 am (Room 2)
	Youth Club 7 – 9 pm
SATURDAY	Sacrament of Penance 11 to 11.45 am & 5 to 5.30pm
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (C) 15th July
	Church Parade at the 11 am Mass
12.30	Baptisms:	Tomasz Czyzynska
		Marco Tedesco

OFFERINGS We thank you for your generous Offerings of £1497.67 to support our Parish last weekend, £559.10 for the second collection for Day for Life and £81.77 for our Parish CAFOD Project in Africa.

THE MUSTARD SEEDS YOGA CLUB meets on Monday Mornings and Thursday evenings in the Small Hall of the Pastoral Centre. Sessions will re-commence in September. New members always welcome. If you would like to join or for more information telephone Mhairi Shuttlewood on 01277 654124. All proceeds from the Club go to our CAFOD Parish Project.

CAN YOU HELP? A parishioner living in Bootham Road would like a lift to

9 am or 11 am Sunday Mass. Please see Fr. John is you can help.

WELCOMERS Copies of the new rota covering are in the Church porch.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

SPIRITUAL:

THE DIOCESAN DEAF SERVICE is celebrating a Signed Mass in our Church on July 14^th at the 6 pm Mass. Fr. David Clemens will celebrate the Mass and people who are deaf will sign the readings. All are welcome, hearing, hard of hearing and deaf. For details contact Sr. Margaret Duffy on 020 8504 0406, Minicom 020 8504 0407 or email: bpds@dioceseofbrentwood.org.

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 HOUSE YOUTH WEEKEND RETREAT from 13^th – 15^th July for young people in school year 9–13 to relax and unwind at the end of term. Come and spend the weekend in the company of friends centred on the theme “Come, rest in the Lord.” The retreat will be the usual blend of faith and fun, and will include a barbecue. Cost just £25. Application forms available on www.bcys.net or call 01277 265286.

AFTERNOON OF RECOLLECTION FOR WOMEN at Our Lady of Ransom Church, Rayleigh, Monday 16^th July 2 – 4 pm. Details on notice board.

PRIESTHOOD ENQUIRY EVENING at St. Therese of Lisieux, High Lane, Stansted, for men aged 16 years and over who wish to find out more about a call to the Catholic Priesthood. See poster on notice board for full details.

ESSEX RECUSANT SOCIETY On Saturday, 14th July we have an outing to Stock. Meet at the Catholic Church of Our Lady and St. Joseph in Stock at 2.30 pm. The afternoon includes a presentation on the history of the parish by Bishop Thomas McMahon and hopefully a tour of sites of Catholic interest in the village. All welcome. For details please contact Isobel Parks on 01268 289678.

YOUTH MASS On Saturday 15th September Fr Dominic Howarth will be visiting our Parish to celebrate the Youth Mass that evening at 6pm.  As this is a special visit by the Diocesan Youth Chaplin it would be great if as many young people from our Parish as possible could attend this Mass.  Moreover, it would be very appropriate if those who are going to Lourdes this year and indeed those from previous Lourdes trips could attend and renew their acquaintances with Fr Dominic.  After the Mass there will be a social event in the Parish Hall to which all our young people are invited.

MEETINGS, SOCIAL & OTHER MATTERS

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2008 Application forms, for parents who would like their children to receive First Reconciliation/First Holy Communion in 2007-2008, are now available in the Church porch.  Please complete and return to the Priest’s House by the weekend of July 15th.  If you weren’t able to attend the Parents’ Introductory Meeting last week, please contact Ron Atkins (656978)

HALL MANAGEMENT AGM & MEETING Tuesday 17^th July at 8 pm in Room 3 of the Pastoral Centre. All parishioners are welcome to attend.

THE CAFOD GARDEN PARTY will be held at the home of Agnes & Roger Hill, Mountain Ash, London Road, on Sunday July 29^th at 1.30 pm. Raffle, stalls, Bring & Buy, 100 Club Draw. Tickets on sale soon £8, include Buffet and dessert with a complimentary glass of Pimms. The bar will be open. All parishioners are warmly invited to this enjoyable parish occasion – proceeds to CAFOD.

HOLIDAY BIBLE CLUB takes place from Tuesday 21st August to Friday 24th August. Children aged 4-11 on the 31^st August 2007 are invited to attend. Forms are available in the Church Porch. We need parents of children to help– just one morning makes a big difference. Youth helpers are invaluable to the running of Bible Club and we would like as many as possible to help this year. Please contact Gail Childs on 01277 650503 if you can help or with any queries.

SUNFLOWER SOCIAL CLUB Sunday Lunch is booked for 15^th July at Burstead Golf Club, meet at 12.45. Pimms and Strawberries Afternoon is on Wednesday 25^th July at Georgie’s house. The next meeting is on 2^nd August.

CAFOD Young Volunteer   - Project in Ethiopia 2007 – Andy Lewis, an RS teacher at St John Payne School (Chelmsford) and long-time Youth Service member, has been chosen to visit Northern Ethiopia this summer for 6 weeks teaching English. He will work at a school run by the Daughters of Charity providing care and education for street children and vulnerable young women.  Both financial and practical help (stationery, books, etc) would be gratefully received in advance of this project. For more information please visit www.justgiving.com/ethiopia07 or make contact through SJP School, Patching Hall Lane, Chelmsford CM1 4BS , Tel:   01245 256030.

THE LEAGUE OF FRIENDS OF MARILLAC, Eagle Way, Warley, are holding a BOOT SALE on Saturday, 14^th July from 7 am. Car £8, Commercial £10. Free parking in Ford’s car park. Your support is greatly appreciated.

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK AT HOME & IN HOSPITAL:

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

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

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED RELATIVES & PARISHIONERS:

THOMAS EUSEBIO COELHO RIP, father of Jennifer Fernandes, who died on 25^th June in Nairobi, Kenya. His Funeral was celebrated at The Consolata Shrine at Nairobi.

Anniversaries: Mary Humphreys, Molly McDonald and Patrick Leamy.

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.

CRY SPONSORED WALK - IN MEMORY OF JAMES PATTERSON

On Sunday 15th July Gill, Peter, Catherine & Melanie, (James’s wife) take part in the first annual sponsored walk to raise awareness and funds for CRY. (Cardiac Risk in the Young) On 7th July CRY Patron Kathryn Harries will walk along the Thames path, across all the bridges from Hampton Court to Tower Bridge over a period of 24 hours. On 15th July, we will join Kathryn crossing the eight bridges from Westminster to Tower Bridge. The eight bridges each signify one of the "fit and healthy" young people (35 and Under) who die each week from undiagnosed genetic heart condition. CRY (www.c-r-y.org.uk) is a charity set up in 1995 to raise awareness of conditions which can lead to young sudden cardiac death. With our help they hope to raise £30,000 for their vital work, which includes CRY’s national screening programme, raising awareness, medical research, counselling and supporting affected families, funding for medical equipment and their fast track expert cardiac pathology service for bereaved families.  There are sponsor forms on the notice board or you can telephone (01277 656597) or email to bengypatters@Yahoo.co.uk and we will add your names to the list of sponsors. Cheques are payable to CRY. You can contribute online through  www.justgiving.com then sponsor a friend - Melanie Patterson.

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS

SATURDAY	6.00 pm			Terry Lewis RIP (Anniv)
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (C) SEA SUNDAY
8th July 2007		9.00 am		James Patterson RIP (Warren)
	11.00 am			Frances Bundock RIP (Woodham)
	5.00 pm			The People of our Parish
MONDAY	St. Augustine Zhao Rong, Priest & Martyr
	9.15 am			Vera Gilbertson RIP (Wheeler)
TUESDAY	10.15 am			Michael Glavin’s intentions (Waters)
WEDNESDAY	St. Benedict, Abbot & Patron of Europe
	9.15 am			Paul Kenny RIP
	11.30 am			Year 5 Mass at St. Peter’s School
THURSDAY	9.15 am			Maurice Mullins RIP (recently)
FRIDAY	St. Henry, Holy Roman Emperor
	9.15 am			Peter Finnigan RIP
SATURDAY Sacrament of Penance 11 to 11.45 am & 5 to 5.30pm
Signed Mass	6.00 pm			Wilfred Nicholson RIP Anniv (Bewick)
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (C)
15th July 2007		9.00 am		Vera Kelley RIP
		11.00 am		P J Lamey RIP (Mills)
		5.00 pm		The People of our Parish

MASS ATTENDANCE on Sunday 1^st July, 2007 (previous week)

Total 766 (699): 6pm Mass 138 (131), 9am Mass 179 (218),

11am Mass 320 (240), 5pm Mass 129 (110).

ADORATION & EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

TUESDAYS 9.30am to 10.15am & 10.45am to 11.15am

SATURDAYS 11 to 11.45am & 5 to 5.30 pm

FOOTPATH: Some kerbstones have risen on the edge of the footpath by the side of the Church. These hazardous areas are covered with tape and cones, to ensure that people do not trip up on the footpath.