Home Newsletters 7th Nov 2010

7th Nov 2010

THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY YEAR C 7 November 2010

PRAYING FOR & REMEMBERING OUR DEAD

We pray for and remember our deceased parishioners, relatives and friends at Mass every day during November. The Book of Remembrance and Register of our Dead will be placed at the altar during November.

SERVICE IN GREAT BURSTEAD CEMETERY

This Sunday, 7^th November at 3 pm we have a Service in Great Burstead Cemetery and prayers at the graves of parishioners, who sleep in hope of the resurrection of the dead and sharing the glory of the risen Christ.

PRAYER LIST FOR THE DEAD IN NOVEMBER

Parishioners can have the names of their deceased relatives, friends and parishioners placed at the altar for remembrance in prayer at daily Mass during November. Please use one of the forms in the Church porch and return it to the Presbytery, with any offerings for Masses for the Dead in the Holy Souls envelopes, which are provided for this purpose.

MASS FOR PARISHIONERS WHO DIED DURING THE PAST YEAR will be celebrated on Friday 19^th November at 7.30pm. Relatives and friends of those who have died, and parishioners are invited to the Mass.

THANKSGIVING MASS FOR POPE BENEDICT’S VISIT

The Parishes of our Deanery will gather at the Brentwood Cathedral on Friday next, 12^th November at 7.30 pm, to offer a Mass of Thanksgiving, for Pope Benedict’s very successful visit to the UK in September. Bishop Thomas will preside at the Mass, which will be followed by refreshments. Each parish will bring its Parish Banner, and the Candle blessed by the Pope at Hyde Park.

THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY Ordinary Time (C) 7th November 2010

Dear Friends,

In response to Psalm 16 we say, “I shall be filled when I awake with the sight of your glory, O Lord”. To see God in glory in heaven, we call ‘the beatific vision’, should be the desire of every Christian. St Paul says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him” (I Corinthians 2:9). During November we celebrate the saints, people who have died and now see God in Heaven. In Catholic tradition we pray in private and at Mass for the souls of those who are still on their way to God, that through Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross they may be purified or purged from the effects of sin and be made worthy to enter into the presence of the all Holy God. Jesus’ final words as he died on the Cross were, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit”(Luke 23:46). Every Christian should want to entrust his or her soul into God’s hands at their last moment, and wish to be supported by the ministry of the Church and the prayers of family and friends in doing that. St Augustine, before his conversion, lived a sinful life, believing that things which were opposed to God would satisfy his deepest needs. Following his conversion, Augustine understood that our deepest needs can only be fulfilled by being in the presence of God. Then he wrote, ‘Our hearts are not at rest, until they rest in you, O Lord’.

Christian life and teaching directs us to the hope of sharing in the glory of Christ’s resurrection. In the Eucharistic Prayer at every Mass we ‘remember the sufferings, death and resurrection of Christ’ through which people are saved from sin and death, and brought to eternal life with God. Our reading from 2 Maccabees 7:1-14, speaks of the seven brothers who suffered terrible tortures in the presence of their mother, and were put to death because they remained faithful to the one true God. In their sufferings they had hope and faith in the resurrection of the dead, which God would offer to people through the sufferings, death and resurrection of Christ. In the midst of persecution, they were sustained by the vision of God and the hope of being raised up to eternal life. They could understand God’s plan, and they regarded turning away from him as choosing death and rejecting eternal life.

All of us need to question from time to time, “Why did God make me, why am I here and where am I going”. We are here because God has created us and loves us, and has given us a purpose in life. He wants us to grow in love and knowledge of him as we journey through life, so that we may see him face to face in glory, and be perfectly united with him in a holy communion of love in heaven. All this can happen by turning to Christ our Saviour, who speaks to us and gives himself to us in the Mass. There we share in his redeeming sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins, which was offered for all people at the Last Supper and on the Cross.

May the Lord let the light of his glory shine upon us. Fr John

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY OF YEAR C 7th November 2010
Children’s Mass at 11am followed by refreshments in the Hall
Presentation of Icon to First Reconciliation children at all Masses
Service & Prayers for the dead in Great Burstead Cemetery 3.00 pm
MONDAY	Yoga 1st Session 10am - 2nd Session 12pm (Small Hall)
	Chair Yoga 2pm (Small Hall)
	Guides 7.30pm
	RCIA Talks on the Catholic Faith 8pm (Room 2)
TUESDAY	Coffee in the Lounge after 10.15am Mass
	Brownies 6pm
	Youth Mass Preparation 7pm (Lounge)
	Pastoral Development Group meeting 8pm (Room 3)
	SVP 9pm (Lounge)
WEDNESDAY	Brownies 5.30pm
THURSDAY	Church Cleaners 9.45am
	Padre Pio Prayer Group 11am (Lounge)
	Choir practice: 11am Choir: 6.30 – 7.30pm Fauré Requiem Rehearsal: 7.30pm
FRIDAY	Mothers’ Prayer Group 9.45am (Room 2)
	Youth Club 7pm
SATURDAY	Sacrament of Penance 11.00am – 12 noon & 5.00 – 5.30pm
	Scratch Requiem 7.45pm followed by Refreshments
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF YEAR C 14th November 2010
Retiring collection for The Brentwood Ecclesiastical Education Fund

OFFERINGS Thank you for your very generous Offerings of £1677.32 for our parish last weekend and £29.34 for CAFOD. Information will be handed out this weekend giving details of our Parish CAFOD Project in Rwanda.

OUR RETIRING COLLECTION next weekend is for The Brentwood Ecclesiastical Education Fund, which pays for the training of men for the priesthood in our Diocese. Cheques payable to Catholic Church Billericay. Offerings can be gift-aided using the special envelopes or those in the porch.

100 CLUB The winners of the September & October draws were Mrs S Barry and Mr J Adshead, each receives £100 and £100 each will be donated to Francis Family Helper Centre & The Francis Taylor Family Centre - charities involved in the welfare of poverty stricken children in Uganda and Kenya.

SPIRITUAL LIFE & WORSHIP

CONFIRMATION. Application forms are in the Church porch and should be completed and returned to the Priest’s House this week. Candidates should be in School Year 10 or above. Confirmation will be celebrated by Bishop Thomas in the course of his visit to our Parish next year. Details of preparation meetings soon.

JOURNEY IN FAITH FOR YOUTH (JIFFY) Meeting for children in non-Catholic Primary Schools on 20th November in the Lounge of the Pastoral Centre at 2.30 p.m.  The theme is Advent and Christmas, and the children need to bring some tinsel, cones, ribbon, etc to decorate a wreath.

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. Next meeting Monday 8^th November 8.00pm and the theme is “God the Holy Spirit”.

NEW ALTAR SERVERS We invite applications from those who wish to become altar servers. You should be in School Year 4 or older and have received your First Holy Communion. Training sessions for new servers will commence on Saturday 13th November in the Church 4 – 5pm. It is intended that there will be 4 further training session after that on the 20^th & 27th November & 4th December. You are expected to attend all training sessions. Servers are required to serve regularly. Application forms are in the Church Porch – please return them to the Priest’s House.

There will be a meeting of ALL Altar Servers on Saturday 27th November at 3pm in the Church. Father John would like everyone to attend but if you cannot please contact Mike Sinnott on 01277 626252 or email mike.sinnott@tiscali.co.uk.

YOUTH MASS Our next Youth Mass is on Sunday 21st November at 5pm when we will celebrate National Youth Sunday. There will be a preparation meeting from 7 – 8pm on Tuesday 9th November in the Lounge for those young people in Year 8 and above who would like to take part in this Mass. Please try to attend.

THE ESSEX RECUSANT SOCIETY meets at 2.30pm on Saturday 20 November at The Grange, Queens Road, Brentwood. Dr. Simon Johnson, archivist at Downside Abbey, will speak on a subject connected with his research into the history of the English College, Lisbon. The title is, ’Covert Operations: the life and labours of John Shepherd, 1705-1761.’ For more details contact Miss Isobel Parks on 01268 289678.

APF MISSION BOXES Please leave your envelopes at The Priest’s House. Telephone: Jac 622158 or Barbara 659941 for assistance.

YOUTH CLUB application forms are in the Church Porch

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

PARISH GIFT DAY & BAZAAR Saturday, 27^th November Preparations have begun for this years Gift Day/Bazaar, and we ask you to donate items for the various stalls. There will not be weeks dedicated to donating specific items, please just donate what you can, when you can from the following list:  Toys in very good and complete condition; Bottles of Wine; Chocolate items ; MacDonalds/Party Bag Toys for Lucky Dip; Groceries (remember the buy one get one free offers); Unused & New Gifts and Toiletries; CD’s & DVD’s (only suitable for family viewing).  We are NOT collecting Books, Videos, Second Hand goods or Clothes.  Please place any items in the donations box in Church Porch.  Grand Draw tickets will be given out this weekend, so please take your envelope as you leave Mass. Deirdre 650978 and Sian 07815085614.

GIFT AID Mid-year letters are being given out in the church porch at all Masses this weekend. Please could all Gift Aid donors (standing orders and envelopes) collect their letter.  Remaining letters will need to be delivered, so please help volunteers by picking up your letter as you leave. If you are not in the Gift Aid Scheme, please join and let the taxman increase your offertory donation by 28%.  For every £10 given, the parish receives an additional £2.80 at no cost to you.  If you are a taxpayer, please complete a Gift Aid declaration available in the Church porch. There is no minimum donation or requirement to pledge an amount for the year or to donate every week.   For details please ask one of the organisers in the porch, or call Anna O’Keeffe on 01277 621506.

MHR 2010 CENTENARY NEWS

Fr John and Mark Nuttall are scheduled to broadcast on the BBC Essex Breakfast show this Sunday (7^th). They will be reflecting on our Centenary year and then reviewing the Sunday newspapers between 8:10 and 8:30am. If you can’t listen live then you can hear it again via the BBC iPlayer at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio/bbc_radio_essex

Centenary ‘Scratch’ performance of Fauré’s Requiem in our Church at 7.45pm next Saturday (13^th) when members of

choirs, local choral societies & other singers will come together

to join in the performance. Audience tickets are now on sale

at £5, Concessions £2.50 - includes light refreshments in the Parish Pastoral Centre after the performance (Contact Kathy

Underhill on 626661). All proceeds are for Centenary charities.

Centenary Ball Photos – orders have arrived. Please

collect from Parish Office weekday mornings (not Thursday)

Still time to view and order from Parish Office as above.

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK AT HOME AND IN HOSPITAL:

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

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

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED RELATIVES & PARISHIONERS:

ANNIVERSARIES: Jack Burns, Mary Puckrin, Deacon Norman Wiseman, Ernest Lazaro, Ethel Reason, Len Reason, Amy Moore, John McCrone.

Clergy: Cardinal John Carmel Heenan, Deacon Norman Wiseman, Fr William Philpot, Canon Denis Petry.

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.

COFFEE MORNING on Thursday,11^th November at the home of Bette McHugh, 7 Ridgeway, from 10am – 1pm. There will be a Raffle, Table Sale, and home baking. Proceeds will be used to buy essential food for starving children in Mwingi, South Africa. All welcome to come along.

SUNFLOWER CLUB There is a Share-a-Plate meal at Georgie’s house at 5.30pm on Wednesday, 10^th November. The next meeting is on 2^nd December at 7.30pm.

THE COMMEMORATIVE SOUVENIR BOOK OF POPE BENEDICT’S VISIT Copies are in the Church Porch at a cost of £3.50. It includes photographs and the texts of His Holiness’ Homilies and the speeches of the important dignitaries he met.

“FAITH TODAY” is a new magazine launched in collaboration with the Bishops of England and Wales. This month it is available free of charge in the Church porch.

MASS TIMES & INTENTIONS THIS WEEK

SATURDAY	6.00pm	Catherine Price RIP (Anniv)
THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY of Ordinary Time (C)
7th Nov 2010	9.00am	Genevieve Lawton RIP (Anniv)
	11.00am	Jack Foley RIP
	5.00pm	The People of our Parish
MONDAY	9.15am	Deacon Norman Wiseman RIP (Anniv)
TUESDAY	The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
	10.15am	Norman Pearce RIP
	2.15pm	St Peter’s School Class 3M Mass
WEDNESDAY	St Leo the Great, Priest & Doctor
	9.15am	John McCrone RIP (Anniv)
THURSDAY	St Martin of Tours, Bishop
	9.15am	James Patterson RIP
FRIDAY	St Josaphat, Bishop & Martyr
	9.15am	Patricia O’Rourke RIP
Brentwood Cathedral	7.30pm	Brentwood Deanery Mass in Thanksgiving for Pope Benedict’s visit to England
SATURDAY Sacrament of Penance 11.00am - 12 noon & 5.00 - 5.30pm
	6.00pm	Maria Pawlowska & Bronia RIP
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY Ordinary Time (C) Remembrance Sunday
14th Nov 2010	9.00am	The Dead of the Two World Wars RIP
	11.00am	Joanne Hayes RIP (Anniv)
	5.00pm	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

MASS ATTENDANCE 31^st October (last week) Total 788 (798): 6pm Mass 154 (178), 9am Mass 244 (221), 11am Mass 263 (246), 5pm Mass 127 (153)

REVIEW OF MASS TIMES Our Diocese is presently reviewing the number and times of Sunday Masses in parishes. In this process we have been told that the number of our weekend Masses should be reduced from 4 to 3. There will be a consultation with parishioners on this in the next few weeks. The changes are due to come into effect on the First Sunday of Lent.