Home Newsletters 5th September 2010

5th September 2010

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY YEAR C 5^th September 2010

MHR 2010 CENTENARY NEWS

September Events - all are welcome!

Friday 10^th September - 8pm - Centenary Lecture in the Large Hall on the History of the Parish, delivered by Fr Stewart Foster, Diocesan Archivist and Historian.

Refreshments will be available from 7:30pm onwards.

10^th to 19^th September - Centenary Exhibition

in the Small Hall. This will contain many items from the past hundred years of Catholic life in Billericay, with the centrepiece being “The St John Payne Vestment.”

The opening times will be as follows: -

First Opening: 9pm on Friday 10^th September

(following the Centenary Lecture)

Weekdays: 10am to 12 Noon & 7pm to 9pm

(pm opening on 13^th follows Evg Mass)

Saturdays: 12 Noon to 5:30pm

Sundays: An hour after each Mass

(finishing at 1pm on 19^th Sept)

Mon 13^th Sept - 7:30pm - Main Centenary Mass in the Church concelebrated by Bishop Thomas and many former MHR clergy. All parishioners are encouraged to attend this Mass. Early arrival is advised, as the Church is likely to be full. We expect our car park to be

busy and ask parishioners to park in the car parks in the

High Street. The Mass will be followed by a Social

Celebration in our Pastoral Centre.

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY Ordinary Time C 5^th Sept 2010

Dear Parishioners,

Paul’s communication to Philemon, urging him to take back his former slave, Onesimus, who had deserted him to follow the itinerant preacher, continues the theme of humility. Philemon’s position was indeed very difficult. He would have been under considerable pressure from his social equals to punish his slave rather than reward him with his freedom.

Jesus is a demanding friend, pointing out lofty ideas and objectives should we wish to call him our friend. To take up our cross is to embrace humility and to follow Christ means to accept the hardships of our Christian witness, as well as its immeasurable joys.

We live in a society where the right thing to do is no longer viewed as something from God or something that is communal. For some centuries now the individual self is put before all else, and morality is very much limited to what a person thinks at a particular time.

The highlight of the Pope’s visit this month is the beatification of John Cardinal Newman who is a model for the believer in our age. He continually called upon his listeners to value the primacy of conscience, the law of God that is written deep within our souls. Listening to this voice of God within us will help us realise that all of life’s values ultimately come from the Lord who gives life.

We are not sure what Philemon did with Onesimus when he returned to him, but we trust that he listened to his conscience; informed by his faith in the Good News he received from Paul. Let us in preparation for the Holy Father’s visit to these shores; redouble our efforts in adhering to the voice of God who speaks to each one of us through the scriptures and in the silence of our heart.

Lord and Master of life, may the Visit of Peter’s successor, Pope Benedict, inspire a new springtime of hope and renewal in the Church in our country, and give us always the courage to be faithful to you and true to ourselves. Paul

Dear Parishioners,

I hope everyone had a good and happy holiday. We are most grateful to Fr Dariusz for coming to our Parish for the holiday season. He enjoys being here for the month of August, to celebrate Mass and the other services, and meeting and visiting parishioners in their homes. On Tuesday, he returned to Poland, where he lectures in Philosophy at the University in Lublin.

I ask everyone to make a special effort to attend our Parish Centenary Lecture, and visit the exhibition, and our Centenary Mass

We also have the joy of welcoming, His Holiness Pope Benedict, to the country a look forward to the celebrations of at Westminster Cathedral and Hyde Park on the Saturday 18^th of September, and the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman at Birmingham on Sunday.

May the Lord especially bless us and our country in these extraordinary celebrations of faith and grace at this time. Fr John

PAPAL VISIT Could those people who have not yet paid for the papal visit please make payment as soon as possible. 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 £5 per person and for those going to Birmingham it is £25 (no concessions).  There are still no further details regarding travel arrangements or timings but it has been suggested that entry and exit from both events could be very time consuming and that the departure for Birmingham will be very early (before 4am).  Papal packs are now available for collection for those people who have paid. Please contact John Kelk on 01277 652662 for a convenient time to collect.

“MAGNIFICAT” – A PRAYER BOOK FOR THE PAPAL VISIT is in the Church Porch and at the side door. It contains the texts and liturgies and articles to explain the context and background to the other parts of the visit. A suggested donation for the book is £2,which should be placed in paper box in the Church porch

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK AT HOME AND IN HOSPITAL:

Peter Bion, Tony Foley, Nick Hogg, Kay McCabe, Irene Yarrow, John Brentnall, Mary Carr, Sean Brown, Margaret Williams, Eileen Molloy, Lily Warner, Ann Hurcombe, Maura Stone, Pam De Keyser, Sarah Stewart, Beryl Barclay, Denzil Reeves, Delia Birch, Isabel Jasinska, Jill Field, Marie Bristow & Regina Barnes, Pierce & Marie Norton, Ken Brook, Mavis Reed, Michael Glavin, Rhona Sullivan, Patricia Nicholson, Barbara Flynn, Maureen Phillips, George & Julia Pritchard, Dorothy Robertson, Maureen Tall, Jim & Diane Bowen, Pauline Wallace, Aileen Fleetwood, Maureen Travers, Elizabeth Smith, Isabella Butler, Marlene Hawkins, Debbie Dowds, Elsie Jackson, Eileen Beard, Kirsti Dennett, Bridget Edwards, Ruth Gillespie, Bridget Stevens, Lilian Cox, Anne Cannon, Jean French, Julie Halstead, Mary Keilthy, Margaret Sefton, Julie Bouchel, Gertie Walsh, Mary Shane, Philip Parks, Tony Wilkinson, Tommy Campbell, Michael Pierce, Jamie Taylor, Bryce Smith, Erroll Newman, Francis Monk, Brian Mardle, Lyle Wheeler. Clergy: Bishop Michael Rowland, Fr Dick Ashton Mgr Chris Brooks, Conrad Smith, Fr David Papworth, Fr Rev Warner Pidgeon. Children: Marilena Gant, Oliver Hegedus, Savannah & Cayde Lewis, Daisy Locker, Mark Selwood, Sarah Townhill, Helen Slattery, Annie Boon & Grace and Baby Edward Cunado.

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.

ANNIVERSARIES: Kenneth McGann, Jimmy Perkins, Ron Chitty, Violet Woodrow, Ray Edwards, Annie Rogers.

Clergy: Mgr Michael Wilson, Fr Charles Johnson.

Arthur Awcock, Ellen Aiken, Mary Bowditch, Arthur Sparke, Frances Bundock and Bob Candler

May they rest in peace and rise in glory and may the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, strengthen and console their families all who mourn for them.

BAPTISMS Congratulations to the parents of Lilly & Louise Donovan on the Baptism of their children in our Church on Sunday, 4^th July. We pray that the Lord will help them to bring up their children in the knowledge and love of God.

RUBY WEDDING Congratulations to Angela and David Mullen who celebrate their Ruby Wedding Anniversary this weekend.

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

OFFERINGS Thank you for your generous Offerings of £1524.17 for our parish last weekend, and £55.40 for our CAFOD Project in Africa.

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. This 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.

SPIRITUAL LIFE & WORSHIP

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, the Introductory evening is on Monday next, 6^th September at 8pm.

ALTAR SERVERS Thank you to the servers that have indicated their willingness to serve at the Centenary Mass on Monday 13^th September. All servers must attend the practice, which is on Tuesday 7^th September at 7.30pm in the church.

YOUTH MASS Our next Youth Mass is on Saturday 2nd October at 6pm when Fr Dan Mason, the new Brentwood Diocesan Youth Chaplain, will be with us. There will be a preparation meeting in the Lounge of the Pastoral Centre from 7pm to 8pm on Tuesday 21st September. All those in Year 8 and above are most welcome to attend. Please do your best to be there!

MASS AT WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL As part of our 2010 celebrations we are planning to run a coach for those parishioners who wish to travel to Westminster Cathedral for the 6pm Mass on Saturday 25^th September. The cost for the return journey is expected to be £15 per person and we will be leaving our Church at 11am, returning straight after the Mass - back in Billericay before 9pm. Fr John hopes to concelebrate the Mass and the singing will be by the Parish Choir. If you are interested in a place on the coach, please put you name on the list in the back of the church.  [If we have sufficient numbers, we might run a second coach leaving later in the afternoon for those who don’t want to enjoy the whole day in London. If you are interested in this, please tick the box on the sheet]

The Commission for Justice & Social Responsibility (CJSR) Annual Conference Saturday, 25^th September in Cathedral Hall, Brentwood from 10am – 1pm.  The keynote speaker is Fr Nicholas King, SJ whose talk will focus on Matthew 25:vs 35-37 and how this relates to the two main areas of CJSR’s work: Marriage & Family Life and Social Justice.  For details contact 01277 265290.  All welcome.

ECUMENICAL STUDY DAY ON THE REFORMATION will take place at Brentwood Cathedral Hall on Saturday 16^th October 10.30am-3pm. There is no charge for this event, and a buffet lunch is provided. Book your place by contacting cef@dioceseofbrentwood.org or call 01277 265289.

JOB VACANCY at St Peter’s Primary School, Billericay: An administrative post has become available at school. The hours are from 8:30-4:30pm each day during term time. Closing date for applications is Friday 10 September. Further details are available from the school office on 01277-653770.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

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

FLOWER LADIES Coffee Morning Thursday 16^th September 10am at the new address Flat 41, Hawkley Court, Chapel St – parking available behind the flats. Let Teresa know if you are unable to attend – new members welcome.

BOOT SALE held by "The League of Friends at the Marillac”, will take place at Eagle Way, Warley on Saturday 11th September from 7am. Car £8, Commercial £12.  Sellers line up in adjacent Ford car park from 6am. Free parking for all buyers in Ford car park. Your support is greatly appreciated."

JAZZ AND PICNIC AT ABBOTSWICK GARDENS on Saturday 25th September 2010. A fundraising event for everyone to enjoy. Details to follow on the events page of www.abbotswick.org.

THE ESSEX RECUSANT SOCIETY, which promotes the study of Post-Reformation Catholic History in Essex & East London, invites young people aged 16-30 to write a 300 word outline for an article on a Catholic History topic. The successful applicant will receive £100 in book tokens and have the completed article published in the 2011 edition of South Eastern Catholic History. Please send applications to the Secretary, Miss Isobel Parks, Magdalene Lodge, Wash Road, Laindon, Basildon, Essex, SS15 4AZ. For further information please phone 01268 289678." Closing date 30^th November.

SUNFLOWER CLUB There will be a meal at Victor’s Pub at 12.30 on 15^th September and there will be a dinner at Marie’s house on 23^rd September at 6pm. Georgie.

More MHR 2010 CENTENARY NEWS

Sat 16^th October - MHR 2010 Centenary Ball

Tickets on are still on sale! Please use the application forms in the Church foyer and return as soon as possible as there is a strict limit of 140 tickets available and they are running out!

Don’t forget there is some excellent MHR 2010 memorabilia on sale in the Repository including Centenary candles and the Centenary CD.

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS

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 29^th August (last week) Total 583 (515): 6pm Mass 134 (119), 9am Mass 146 (141), 11am Mass 210 (162), 5pm Mass 93 (93)

WELCOMERS Copies of the rota are in the Church porch.

Copies of CTB News are in the Church Porch. As well as other news, it has

details of how you can help with the Essex Country Fair on 11/12^th September.

YOUTH CLUB application forms are in the Church Porch.