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6th March 2011

Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time A 6 March 2011

LENT & PREPARING FOR EASTER

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held in Church on the Fridays of Lent from 9.15 - 10.15am and after the 10.15am Mass until 12 noon, as well as the usual times on Tuesdays and Saturdays. We need to have people in Church during these times. Please put your name on the rota in Church if you can offer half an hour on Friday. Morning Mass will be at 10.15am on the Fridays of Lent.

Stations of the Cross and Mass will be prayed every Friday in Lent at 7.30pm. During our Centenary year we had First Friday Masses for parish groups. On the Friday evenings of Lent we will have Mass for our various Parish groups and ask all involved in different ministries or groups to attend their Mass as follows:

LENT Masses at 7.30pm on the Fridays of Lent

March 11th Eucharistic Ministers & Readers

18th Justice and Peace & CAFOD

25th Parish Prayer Groups

April 1st Pastoral Development Group/ Parish Council

8th Parish Choirs & Musicians

15th Faith Formation Groups & Catechists

PRAYER “Lord, teach us to Pray” Sr Cammilla, from Abbotswick, the Diocesan House of Prayer, will give two talks on Prayer and lead people in prayer at the Pastoral Centre on Tuesday, 22 & 29 March from 8.00 to 9.15pm. All parishioners are welcome and especially those in prayer groups.

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

NINTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME A 6^th March 2011

Dear Friends,

Jesus said, “It is not those who say to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21-27). All relationships require commitment and reliability, for they can not survive on just words or lip service. For the preservation and development of good relationships within family and with others it is necessary “to sacrifice our time, our possessions and ourselves” (Prayer of the St Vincent DePaul Society). To fulfil our destiny, we need to sacrifice our self-centred desires and inclinations to sustain and develop our relationship with God and others. Sometimes we hear it said, “she or he would do anything for others”, we too must be prepared to make sacrifices by putting God’s will and the needs of others before our own. Jesus gave us the supreme example in this regard when he said, “I have come, not to do my own will, but to do the will of him who sent me”. Out of love for sinful people and in faithfulness to the will of his Father, he sacrificed his life on the Cross to save us from sin and bring us to eternal life with God.

Lent starts this week, on Ash Wednesday, with the wearing of ashes on our forehead to show we are committed to give up a self-centred way of living. This expresses our commitment to be open to God’s grace and grow in his love by giving our time to him. The first principle of Lent is to pray in private and at Mass so as to give glory to God our Creator and Father, for the good of our souls and which makes us a holy people.

The second principle in Lent is fasting to discipline our body and life. This may involve giving up food or drink, sweets or luxuries, shopping or some indulgence with which we might tend to pamper ourselves. It can be a sacrifice for us to go without something we like for Lent, but it is a way of identifying with Christ, who went without food for forty days in the desert. By making sacrifices and acts of self-discipline we train ourselves to grow closer to Christ and become more like him.

Third principle for Lent is alms giving for the good of our neighbour. We can give time and attention to people confined to their homes or in need of visits, practical help or a listening ear. We can help by sharing money or goods with people in need, at home or abroad. What we do not need or use can be great benefit to those who are in real need.

May Christ bless us with the desire and strength to grow in his love, and love of others by making some sacrifices during Lent. Fr John

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

OFFERINGS We thank you for your very generous Offerings of £1736.49 last weekend, and £32.20 for our CAFOD Parish Project Connect2Rwanda.

100 CLUB The draw for February was won by Eileen Nuttall who received a cheque for £100 and £100 was donated to Smile Train a charity which gives free cleft surgery to desperate children who get, not just a new smile but a new life.

OFFERTORY & GIFT AID ENVELOPES for the new tax year will be distributed at all Masses this weekend. If you wish to join the Offertory or Gift Aid Scheme to help our Parish, please speak to an organiser in the Church porch.

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 next step forward and celebration will be at Brentwood Cathedral at 2.30pm, on the first Sunday of Lent, 13th March, when they will be presented to our Bishop at the Rite of Election with all in our Diocese who are preparing for these Sacraments

ALTAR SERVERS meeting this Sunday, 6th March, from 3pm - 4:30pm for all servers. 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.

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

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).

An Invitation to attend/set up new Prayer Groups in the parish 

We are looking for people who are interested in attending or setting up new prayer groups in the parish to contact the Parish Office indicating your name, telephone number/email address and whether you would be available to attend a prayer group either during a week day morning or during the evening.  There is already a proposal for a new prayer group either on a Wednesday or a Thursday evening which could include opening hymns, scriptural reflections, intercessory prayers, rosary or a devotion of your choice and concluding with hymns.  We would of course follow the meeting with coffee and a chat!  We would meet fortnightly.  If you are interested please send in your details to the Parish Office or email: office@mostholyredeemer.org.uk 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS & NEWS

BLAAUWBOSCH Two of our parishioners, Barbara Hodges and Angela Moreton, recently spent a week in our twin parish of Blaauwbosch, in South Africa. Barbara was accompanied by Fr.Anthony and Fr.Jesus (the new parish priest in Blaauwbosch) in visiting several of the homes that are benefiting directly from support from our parish. She was able to see the creche, and the feeding scheme, both of which are financially supported by our parish, via the St.Vincent de Paul Society in Blaauwbosch. Angela was mainly based in Sisizakele Primary School, which is twinned via a British Council programme with St. Peter’s School, and was able to observe a selection of lessons, as well as teaching class music lessons, and initiating several groups of Zulu-speaking children into the delights of English country dancing! St. Peter’s has sent significant financial support to Sisizakele during the last few years, though the school is still greatly lacking in basic equipment and resources, with 1500 children on role, and classes of around 50 children. It is hoped to have an evening presentation of this trip in the near future.

ST PETER’S SCHOOL This week the children heard about the tradition of Mardi Gras and how it is marked across the globe. They also thought about Shrove Tuesday and its relevance in their lives. During assembly time they were given the opportunity to consider how they will prepare for Easter during the Lenten period, either through prayer, penitence, a form of giving or self denial. Next week, the children will receive ashes during a short service held at school.

2 Learning Support Assistants are required to support two pupils with medical needs, position 1, 10am – 1pm (weekly) and position 2, 1 – 3.15pm weekly. Details on notice board or contact the school office on 01277 653770.

20s GROUP We are a group in our 20s who meet on a monthly basis for prayer and a drink/pub quiz afterwards. It would be great if you would join us at 8pm on the 2nd Thursday of every month in the Pastoral Centre for some fellowship and fun. For more details contact Anne-Marie annemarierainsford@yahoo.co.uk

FAIRTRADE fortnight Café at Christ Church on: 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 fairly traded tea, coffee, juices, chocolate and cake will be served in the car park.

AUCTION held by The Marillac League of Friends on Saturday 12^th March. Viewing 9.15am, Bidding starts 10am. At The Marillac Hall, Eagle Way, Warley. Free parking in Ford’s car park opposite. Your support is appreciated.

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK AT HOME AND IN HOSPITAL:

Marie Bristow, Marjorie Martin, Lilian Cox, Bernard Regan, Marie Liddall, Irene Yarrow, Dorothy Wheeler, Jacques Visser, Peter Bion, Maura Stone, Ken Brook, Pam De Keyser, Denzil Reeves, Aileen Fleetwood, Philip Parks, Regina Barnes, Sarah Stewart, Isabel Jasinska, Eileen Beard, Delia Birch, Mavis Reed, Maureen Travers, Barbara Flynn, Margaret Williams, Miriam Gregory, Ruth Gillespie, Marlene Hawkins, Elizabeth Smith, Rhona Sullivan, Lily Warner, Mary Carr, George & Julia Pritchard, Pauline Wallace, Jim & Diane Bowen, Dorothy Robertson, Isabella Butler, Jill Field, Maureen Phillips, Patricia Nicholson, Bridget Edwards, Maureen Tall, Mary de Souza, Debbie Dowds, Elsie Jackson, Ann Hurcombe, Kirsti Dennett, Kay McCabe, Eileen Molloy, Gertie Walsh, Beryl Barclay, Anne Cannon, Julie Halstead, Julie Bouchel, Mary Shane, Margaret Sefton, Mary Keilthy, Jean French, Tony Wilkinson, Brian Mardle, Michael Glavin, Tommy Campbell, Michael Pierce, John Nolan, Lyle Wheeler, Erroll Newman, Jamie Taylor, Francis Monk, Nick Ramsey, Bryce Smith. 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.

MRS MAUREEN BOON RIP, wife of Bob and mother of James and Katie, who died at home on Thursday, 3^rd March. Details of the Funeral arrangements will be put up in the Church porch as soon as they are finalised.

ANNIVERSARIES: Ian Glen, Jessie Lane, Margaret Geoghegan and Elizabeth Lillywhite. Clergy: Canon Joseph Whitfield, Fr Thomas Lawton, Fr John Gordon, Fr Edmund Meyer and Fr Maurice Roche.

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 ENGLISH 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

TUESDAYS (not this week)

SATURDAYS 11.00am – 12.00 noon & 5.00 – 5.30 pm

MASS ATTENDANCE SUNDAY 27^th February 2011 (previous week)

Total 854 (719): 6pm Mass 156 (184) 9am Mass 247 (177),

11am Mass 278 (225), 5pm Mass 173 (133)

BOOKLETS FOR LENT ON SALE IN THE CHURCH PORCH

Bible Alive which gives daily Gospel reflections for Lent, price £1.95

Walk with Me – A Lenten Journey of Prayer, price £1

My Day by Day which gives daily Bible texts for Lent, price £1

Stations of the Cross and many other booklets for Lent

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