Home Newsletters 27th Feb 2011

27th Feb 2011

Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time A 27 February 2011

LENT

Stations of the Cross and Mass will be prayed every Friday in Lent at 7.30pm. Part of the Centenary calendar had monthly First Friday Masses organised by various parish groups. During the Friday evenings of Lent we will have Mass for our various Parish groups and strongly encourage those involved in the different ministries or groups in our Parish to attend their Mass as follows:

March LENT Masses at 7.30pm on the Fridays of Lent

11th Eucharistic Ministers & Readers

18th Justice and Peace & CAFOD

25th Parish Prayer Groups

April

1st Pastoral Development Group/ Parish Council

8th Parish Choirs

15th Faith Formation Groups

Lent Reconciliation Service will be on Wednesday 6^th April at 8pm

Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster, will be giving a Lenten Lecture on Wednesday 16^th March, at 7.30pm in Brentwood Cathedral. This inaugural lecture is on “Living our Catholic faith in a Secular Age”. Entry free. Everybody very welcome.

Annual Lenten Spirituality Day- The Road to Jerusalem- ‘Jesus resolutely took the road to Jerusalem’. Saturday 26^th March 10.00am -3.30pm at Cathedral Conference Centre, Brentwood with Fr Denis McBride, CSsR. Cost £10 per person. Call 01277 265255 or email arefm@dioceseofbrentwood.org

EIGHTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME A 27^th February 2011

Dear Friends,

“Set your hearts on the kingdom of God first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given to you as well”(Matt. 6:24-34). Jesus spoke about the human heart many times, and the good and bad that comes from it. He highlighted the heart as centre of love, attraction and emotional commitment in a person “Where a person’s heart is, there is their treasure”. In the New Testament, he instructed people to keep the great Commandment of the Old Testament, given by God to Moses, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul, mind and will, and love your neighbour as yourself”. Today he tells us to make God the centre of love in our life, so that we may have a sense of contentment and fulfilment, as we recognise that God alone meets our deepest needs. St Augustine said, “Our hearts are not at rest until they rest in you, O Lord”. The unconditional love of God is the answer to our insecurities, and fulfils our deepest needs and heartfelt desires.

St Augustine also said, “give me someone who loves me and s/he will understand me”. If we truly love God, we will understand and be able to see his plan being worked out in our lives. If we do not love God, we will not understand him in the light of faith, and we will feel him to be remote or distant, and not involved in our life. When we love and trust God, we will find him present to us in adversity, weakness or illness, for he is always there for us. So, we can make our own Psalm 61 today, “Take refuge in God all you people. Trust in him at all times, Pour out your hearts before him”. We have mysteries, questions and problems with our faith, but the solution to all of them is to be found in knowing that we are deeply loved by God and that he calls us to love him in return. We love him by keeping his commandments and in that way we honour him, and do what is best for others. By choosing to live in the love of God and keeping his commandments, we live according to the design and will of our Heavenly Father and Creator. That is the way to a fulfilled life and it prepares us for the reward of eternal glory.

Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, the 9^th March. Easter is really late this year, but it does have the advantage of giving us the opportunity to do something extra for Lent in more favourable weather conditions and with the longer evenings. I encourage people to make a special effort to practice and grow in faith during the season of Lent.

May God bless you and strengthen your trust in him. Fr John

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

OFFERINGS We thank you for your very generous Offerings of £1597.35 last weekend, and £41.85 for our CAFOD Parish Project Connect2Rwanda.

CAFOD Do something different to raise money for CAFOD. Register now for the 2011 110ft abseil down Harlow Water Tower on 30^th April/1^st May. Organised by the Harlow Tye Rotary Club in conjunction with Dukes Barn Outdoor Adventure Organisation. For details and registration form contact email brentwood@cafod.org.uk or phone Joanna on 020 8502 9722

GIFT AID ENVELOPES for the new tax year will be distributed at all Masses on the weekend of 5th/6th March?

SPIRITUAL LIFE & WORSHIP

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS We have five adults in our Monday evening course on the Catholic faith year in our parish, preparing for reception into the Church and the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion at Easter. They are Julie Callis, Neil Duller, David Ford, Stephen McBurney and Rossella Provenzano. Their first Ceremony was held in our Church on Sunday, 30^th January. Last Wednesday they had the Signing Ceremony at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, Wickford. Their next step forward and celebration will be at Brentwood Cathedral at 2.30pm, on the first Sunday of Lent, 13 March, when the will be presented to our Bishop at the Rite of Election with those in our Diocese who are preparing for the Sacraments

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS The March rota will be distributed by e-mail this weekend and hard copies will be placed in the Church porch on Tuesday.

ALTAR SERVERS For all new servers and those who have been serving for one year there will be a meeting on Sunday 6th March from 3pm - 4:30pm.  Please ensure you attend, as this will provide refresher training and give you some new ideas for serving.

YOUTH MASS   Our next Youth Mass is on Saturday 26th March at 6pm.  All young parishioners in Year 8 and above are invited to attend a preparation meeting for this Mass in the Lounge from 7-8pm on Tuesday 15th March.

JOURNEY IN FAITH FOR YOUTH (JIFFY) GROUP the next meeting is on Saturday 5^th March at 2.30 pm in the Lounge.  The theme is New Life and children are asked to bring signs of new life e.g. bulbs sprouting, blossom, etc.

CONFIRMATION will be celebrated in our Parish by Bishop Thomas at the 11am Mass on Sunday, 20^th March. The next meeting for young people will be on Sunday, 6^th March at 12 noon.

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER This year’s service will be held at The Christian Link, Queens Park Avenue, Billericay on Friday 4^th March at 10.30am. The theme which has been prepared by the women of Chile is: “How many loaves have you?” Please come and pray for the world.

AFTERNOON OF RECOLLECTION FOR WOMEN at Our Lady of Ransom Church, Rayleigh on Monday 14^th March 2 – 4pm. Fr. Stewart Foster will give the Meditations and will be available to hear Confessions.

SUNG LATIN MASS (Extraordinary Form) will be celebrated at St Margaret’s Convent Chapel, Bethell Avenue, Canning Town, London E16 4JU at 6pm every Sunday, beginning on the 1^st Sunday of Lent, 13^th March 2011.

For further details please contact Father Stewart Foster (0207 476 2084).

FORTHCOMING EVENTS & NEWS

NEWS FROM ST PETER’S SCHOOL The week before half term, the children reflected upon the miracle of Lourdes and the message Bernadette received at the grotto. They thought about the responsibility Bernadette had at such a young age and the courage she must have possessed in order to carry through the wishes of Mary. They also heard the Hail Mary read in Latin and sang the beautiful hymn, ‘As I kneel before you’ which reminds us that we can lay our wishes and desires in front of Mary, our Mother, and she listens to us. It is delightful  to know that two of our Parishioners visited our twin school in Blaauwbosch last week. They stayed in the orphanage and worked closely with the children and staff. It is lovely to see such solidarity and commitment. 

HCPT GROUP 718, consisting of pupils from St John Payne School, present ’Up Late with 718,’ an evening of entertainment in aid of the group’s travel to help care for disabled children in Lourdes at Easter. This is on Thursday 3rd March at 7.30pm. Tickets priced £5 adults, £3.50 under 16s are available from David Silver 01376 513580 or email dsilver24@hotmail.com

FAIRTRADE

Meet the Producer Tour Regarding the Fairtrade event in St Mary Magdalen on Saturday 5th March we have been advised we will have a different producer due to Visa problems with the arrangements for Massatoma Mounkoro’s visit. However, a lot of work has gone on in the past few days to get a replacement. The presentation will now be made by John Kabyetsiza, a producer from the Fruits of the Nile, Ugandan Dried Fruit Company. There will also be refreshments, Traidcraft stall and bunting design.

Fairtrade fortnight Café at Christ Church Liz Fisher, our Fair-Trade coordinator is delighted to announce that we will be in the [Christ] Church Car Park on the following dates: March 8th and 9th from 8.30 - 9.15am - serving pancakes (particularly Tuesday), toast (with chocolate spread) and Geobars, tea and coffee. Also, on the afternoons of March 9th, 10th and 11th from 2.45 – 3.45pm we will serve fairly traded tea, coffee, juices, chocolate and cake in the car park. We would love to see you there.

NEWS FROM THE BASS FAMILY IN NEW ZEALAND The Bass family lived in our parish for many years and emigrated to Christchurch, New Zealand about seven years ago. We have received an e-mail from them following the terrible earthquake, saying all is well with them, but not all their friends have been so fortunate. A copy of the e-mail can be seen in the church notice board.

CATHOLIC SINGLES, an organisation which helps single adult Catholics of all ages meet, either one to one or through social events. Tel: 0161 941 3498 or visit www.catholicsingles.org.uk or email info@catholicsingles.org.uk

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK AT HOME AND IN HOSPITAL:

Lilian Cox, Marjorie Martin, Maureen Boon, Bernard Regan, Marie Liddall, Dorothy Wheeler, Irene Yarrow, Jacques Visser, Peter Bion, Ken Brook, Maura Stone, Pam De Keyser, Denzil Reeves, Aileen Fleetwood, Philip Parks, Sarah Stewart, Isabel Jasinska, Eileen Beard, Mavis Reed, Delia Birch, Maureen Travers, Isabella Butler, Barbara Flynn, Margaret Williams, Miriam Gregory, Ruth Gillespie, Marie Bristow & Regina Barnes, Marlene Hawkins, Elizabeth Smith, Rhona Sullivan, Lily Warner, Mary Carr, George & Julia Pritchard, Pauline Wallace, Jim & Diane Bowen, Dorothy Robertson, Jill Field, Maureen Phillips, Patricia Nicholson, Bridget Edwards, Maureen Tall, Bridget Stevens, Debbie Dowds, Elsie Jackson, Ann Hurcombe, Kay McCabe, Eileen Molloy, Gertie Walsh, Beryl Barclay, Kirsti Dennett, Anne Cannon, Mary Shane, Margaret Sefton, Julie Bouchel, Julie Halstead, Mary Keilthy, Jean French, Michael Glavin, Brian Mardle, Bryce Smith, Tommy Campbell, Tony Wilkinson, John Nolan, Lyle Wheeler, Michael Pierce, Erroll Newman, Jamie Taylor, Nick Ramsey, Francis Monk. Clergy: Bishop Michael Evans, Bishop Michael Rowland, Mgr Chris Brooks, Fr David Papworth, Fr Dick Ashton, Rev Warner Pidgeon. Children: Daisy Locker, Savannah & Cayde Lewis, Helen Slattery, Mark Selwood and Grace. May the healing power of the Holy Spirit come down upon them.

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED RELATIVES & PARISHIONERS:

BERNARD YARROW RIP, father of John and Diana, who died on Sunday 20^th February in Basildon Hospital. His body will be received into our Church on Monday 7^th March at 4.30pm. Requiem Mass will be celebrated in our Church at 10am on Tuesday 8^th March followed by burial at Great Burstead Cemetery. We offer our sympathy and prayers to his family. May he rest in peace.

ANNIVERSARIES: Gertrude Bradshaw, Vittoria Clayton, Imelda Kirk, Olga Wilson, Joyce Cannon, Mary Tang.

Clergy: Mgr Canon Patrick O’Donnell, Fr David Chapman, Fr John Wall,

Fr Brian Galvin, Fr Francis Hastings, Fr Malachy Kelly.

May they rest in peace and rise in glory, and may the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, console their bereaved families and friends.

UNDERSTANDING THE REVISED MASS TEXTS Tuesday 8^th March, 7.30pm at Cathedral Conference Centre, Brentwood with Martin Foster, Depart. of Christian Life &Worship, Bishops’ Conference of England &Wales. Cost £5 per person. Call 01277 265255 or email arefm@dioceseofbrentwood.org

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

MASS ATTENDANCE SUNDAY 20^th February 2011 (previous week)

Total 719 (834): 6pm Mass 184 (186) 9am Mass 177 (243),

11am Mass 225 (270), 5pm Mass 133 (135)

11AM CHOIR NEEDS NEW MEMBERS urgently. If you enjoy singing or are interested in playing for this Mass then please contact Kathy Underhill (626661) or Miriam Parker (658485)...don’t delay...pick up the phone!

Alternative parish e-mail address: parishpriestbillericay@gmail.com