Home Newsletters 23rd Oct 2011

23rd Oct 2011

THIRTIETHSUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME A 23.10.2011

DearParishioners,

On being asked, “Whichis the greatest commandment of the law?” Jesus answered, “Youmust love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,and with all your mind. You must love your neighbour as yourself”(Matt. 22:34-40). Jesus combines the two great commandments of OldTestament law gives them to us as the two hingesfor right relationship with God and people.

Love is more than goodfeelings; it is a decision and commitment, and people who show thegreat love are those who make greatest sacrifices. Jesus showed thatlove by laying down his life to save not only his friends but alsohis enemies. St Paul’s great hymn to love, names the qualitieswhich make for the happiness of others and gives glory to God. Hesays, ‘Love is always being patient and kind; it is never boastfulor conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offenceand it is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’ssins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, totrust, hope and endure whatever comes’ (1Cor. 13). Living thesequalities daily makes the one who loves more human and holy. Lovefrees people from fear and ill will; heals past hurts, and purges usfrom the venom which poisons people’s lives, relationships,families and communities.

God’s law in the OldTestament is the foundation of the moral law which Christ gives inthe Gospel. The reading from Exodus 22:20-26 is particularlypertinent, as it challenges us Christians to live according to ahigher standard, than that which seems to be all too common. Itfocuses on the way we should deal with strangers, the bereaved, thepoor, exploited and homeless and the outcasts of society. To makemoral decisions, we need to ask, “What does God ask or want me todo in this situation?” Jesus said, “if you do good to those whodo good to you or love those who love you, what reward can you expect– even pagans do that much?”

May God give usthe grace to love in a pure and self-sacrificing way. Fr John

DALE FARM - A STATEMENT FROMBISHOP THOMAS

I have been visitingTravellers around the diocese and especially the Dale Farm site forquite a number of years and have frequently celebrated Massthere. Just over three weeks ago the Bishop of Chelmsford joinedme on a pastoral visit to Dale Farm.  After our visit we issueda statement and at the same time wrote to the Leader of BasildonCouncil offering to negotiate between the Travellers and theCouncil.  However, our offer was not taken up.  Yesterdaymorning, Wednesday, we both issued the following statement:

As Church Leadersour approach has always been that there should be a just and peacefulresolution to the situation at Dale Farm.  Now that the nextphase has been reached,  we would urge the same peacefulapproach.  Confrontation and violence only breed furtherhardship and distress and are not the answer to the presentcircumstances.

We wouldencourage the families at Dale Farm and the Local Authority to moveforward in a spirit of dignity and restraint.  In the meantime,we are keeping all those affected by the current and distressingsituation very much in our prayers at this difficult time.

I want to pay high tribute to Fr DanMason and Sr Catherine who have spent a great deal of time on thesite and given wonderful pastoral care to The Travellers.

BLAAUWBOSCH A COLLECTION FOR CHRISTMAS

Wewill be having a retiring collection for our twinned parish on Sunday30^th October. Father Jose, the new ParishPriest writes

“Asyou know well this Parish is one of the poorest in the diocese. Mostof the young people are infected by Aids, and every week we have 3 or4 funerals, most of them young mothers or young men. We try toconsole and support the children and families as much as we canthanks to the generous support of your Parish. CHRISTMAS IS VERYIMPORTANT FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES. So any little help ismost welcome in order to bring happiness to the children forChristmas. We give them food parcels and clothes. Sometimes littleones cannot go to school because they don’t have a document toidentify themselves; it is vital we help pay for Identity Document.

Thankyou for your financial help and prayers. May God bless you.

Fr. Jose Jesus Ossa T

WHAT’SON THIS WEEK

OFFERINGSTHANK YOU for your very generous Offerings of £1632.94 for our parish last weekend. Thank you for £104.03 in ourCAFOD Box for our CAFOD Project Connect2Rwanda.

THE RETIRING COLLECTION next weekend will be forour twinned parish of Blaauwbosch in the Diocese ofDundee, South Africa. Cheques are payable to “Catholic ChurchBillericay” and Gift Aid envelopes may be used.

“YOUNGWIVES” Reunion – thank you, to all who attended lastWednesday. The raffle raised £45 for our CAFOD ParishProject in Rwanda.

MACMILLANCOFFEE MORNING on 7 October made over £750 and some ofthis will be matched by Barclays Bank so we should hit £1000!Thanks to all who helped make this morning such a success: theladies setting up on Thursday night, all who helped on the day makingtea, selling cakes and raffle tickets, collecting Gift Aid donations,and selling cakes and plants at St Peter’s school. Thank you forthe donations for the raffles and especially the delicious andcreative cakes that have now become the highlight and focus of theday. Thanks to all of you who came along and helped make thisimportant fundraising event such a friendly and good community event.Fiona & Deirdre

SPIRITUAL LIFE &WORSHIP

TALKS ON THECATHOLIC FAITH We invite people interested in finding out aboutour Catholic faith, becoming Catholic or returning to the practice oftheir faith to a series of talks on Mondays from 8.00 to 9.30pm. Nomeeting this week, as it is school half term. Next meeting willbe on Monday 31^st October at 8.00pm. If you areinterested, contact Fr John

YOUTHMASS  Our next Youth Mass will take place at 5pm on Sunday 20thNovember when we will be celebrating National Youth Sunday.  Toplan for this there will be a preparation meeting from 7pmto 8pm on Tuesday 8th November in the Lounge. We encourage all our young parishioners in Year 8 and above toattend.  A Facebook page has been created to communicate withour young people for our Youth Masses.  Please search "TheMost Holy Redeemer, Billericay Youth Mass Group" and ask tojoin.

THE BISHOPS OFENGLAND AND WALES’ letter asking Catholics to do penance onFridays throughout the year, by abstaining from meat, by fasting, bypraying and giving alms for the needy is available in the porch.

PRAISE & WORSHIPEVENING at SION Community, Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood, willtake place this month on Sunday, 30^thOctober. As this is the eve of All Hallows it will be a Night ofLight Praise, consisting of 6.45pm - Adoration (quiet prayer),7.30pm - Entering into the Night of Light, 7.45pm-Reposing of theBlessed Sacrament, Praise & Worship till 8.45pm.

BRESAutumn Lecture -Wednesday16^thNovember 7.30pm: “TheCondition of England Question: What Catholics might make of theevents of August 2011.” TheLecture will be given by Lord DavidAlton ofLiverpool at Cathedral House, Brentwood. email: marycronin@dioceseofbrentwood.org   Tel:220455   

LONDON MARTHON 2012 BrentwoodCatholic Children’s Society has Gold Bond places for runnerson 22^nd April2012.  If you are an experienced runner or someone who wouldvalue the opportunity to participate in this renowned event contactSarah Kendall on 01268 784544 / skendall@childcareuk.orgor visit www.childcareuk.org.  Closing date for completed applications is Friday 28^thOctober.  If you have been lucky to secure your own runningplace through the ballot, we invite you to join us and run forBrentwood Catholic Children’s Society.  The London Marathon isa unique opportunity to raise much needed funds for the Children’sSociety and perhaps achieve a lifetime ambition!

FORTHCOMING EVENTS &NEWS

PARISH GIFT DAY & BAZAAR- Saturday 26th November Preparations have begun for this year’s Gift Day & Bazaar,and we are asking for your help in donating items for thevarious stalls.  Unlike previous years there will not be weeksdedicated to donating specific items, please donate whatyou can, when you can from the following list - Toys in verygood and complete condition; Bottles of Wine; Chocolate;MacDonald’s/Party Bag Toys for Lucky Dip; Groceries (remember buyone get one free offers); Unused & New Gifts and Toiletries; CD’s& DVD’s (material suitable for family viewing).  Weare NOT collecting books, second hand goods, clothes or videos. Please place items in the donation box in Church Porch. Manythanks Deirdre 650978 and Sian 07815085614.

NEW HELP SCHEME A group of volunteers has formeda scheme to help fellow parishioners who need: transport to Mass;transport to doctor or hospital appointments; emergency help withshopping or collecting prescriptions. The scheme will operate from1^st November and will be co-ordinated by:

Grace Herbert (657550): Karen Millar (655033): JoanForbes (655636)

BARCO-ORDINATOR Aftersome years as bar coordinator on the Hall Management Committee, EricaLeake has had to give up this position, so we are looking forsomeone to replace her. If you are interested would you please phoneErika on 01277 655050 and she will let you what the job entails."

VILLAERICAPOETRYGROUP.Weareagroupofparishionersandothers,whoenjoypoetry,andhavearelaxedmonthlymeetingtoreadpoemswelike,withaglassofwineand nibblestohelpthingsalong. Newmembersarealwayswelcome.Thenextmeetingisat8pmonTuesday25^thOctober,at4ChepstowClose,andthetopicistheLiverpoolPoets. DetailsfromRos01277652662.

LADIES PAMPER AND SHOPPING EVENING to be held byThe Friends of St Peter’s on 11th November 7-10pm in the Main Hall ofthe Pastoral Centre. A fantastic range of stalls selling gifts,accessories, food items, clothing, children’s items - a perfectopportunity to buy for Christmas!  A variety of therapies arebeing offered; eyelash extensions, Shellac, Minx, manicures,pedicures, threading, facials and make-overs! Entry is £3 andtreatments start at £5. To pre-book your treatments, call KellyMorris on 07921390398.

REGISTERING IN OUR PARISH If you have moved intoour parish please introduce yourself to Fr John and complete aRegistration Form. If you have changed address please inform theParish Office.

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK AT HOME AND IN HOSPITAL:

Catherine Jewell, Maeve Freeman, Dorothy Wheeler, PeterBion, Irene Yarrow, Anne Babb, Marie Liddall, Patricia McGeown, PatMurphy, Maura Stone, Maeve Walmsley, Bridget Edwards, Bernard Regan,George Pritchard, Elizabeth Smith, Barbara Flynn, Mavis Reed, DenzilReeves, Ken Brook, Pam De Keyser, Patricia Nicholson, IsabelJasinska, Jacques Visser, Eileen Beard, Maureen Travers, DorothyRobertson, Maureen Phillips, AileenFleetwood, Delia Birch, Miriam Gregory, Lily Warner, Janice Bignall,Ann Hurcombe, Maureen Tall, Regina Barnes, Isabella Butler, Jim& Diane Bowen, Ruth Gillespie, Sarah Stewart,Elsie Jackson, Marlene Hawkins, Pauline Wallace, JulieHalstead, Julie Bouchel, Kirsti Dennett, Margaret Sefton, EileenMolloy, Rhona Sullivan, Debbie Dowds, Mary Keilthy, Gertie Walsh,Jean French, Mary Carr, Anne Cannon, Kay McCabe, Mary Shane, BerylBarclay, Michael Pierce, John Nolan, Michael Glavin, Francis Monk,Erroll Newman, Nick Ramsey, Brian Mardle, Tommy Campbell, LyleWheeler, Jamie Taylor, Bryce Smith. Clergy: Fr John King, Fr DickAshton, Bishop Michael Rowland, Fr John Taylor, Mgr Chris Brooks, RevWarner Pidgeon. Children: John Quilligan, Mark Selwood, Savannah &Cayde Lewis, Helen Slattery, Daisy Locker & Grace.

May the healing power of the Holy Spirit come downupon them at this time.

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED RELATIVES &PARISHIONERS:

ANNIVERSARIES: Malcolm Hinder, Michael Wilkins,Dorothy Driscoll, Harry Lockwood, Ethel Adams, Jim Tobin, WinnieWatts, Gladys O’Rourke, Charles Freeman, Patrick McCarthy, PatrickLydon. Clergy: Mgr Daniel Shanahan, Fr George Seadman, FrStephen Wyatt, Fr William Loveland.

May they rest in peace and rise in glory, and may theHoly Spirit, the Comforter, console their bereaved families andfriends

CARS DAMAGED IN CHURCH CAR PARK Anyone whodamaged cars in the Church car park on leaving 9am Mass on Sunday2 October and 11am Mass on Sunday 9 October can obtain details ofthe owners of those cars through the parish office, without anyquestions being asked.

LOST& FOUND A parishioner wishes to thank most sincerely theperson who found a sum of money he lost in the Church car park afterMass last Sunday evening and handed in to the Parish Priest. He waspleased to have it back a few hours later. It shows, some good thingsdo happen in our car park!

VOLUNTEERSGARDENER NEEDED We need some volunteers to cut the grass at thefront of the Church and the Priest’s House. We will be mostgrateful to anyone who volunteers to take on this task – lawnmowerprovided.

MASSTIMES AND INTENTIONS

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE Saturday 11am – 12 noon &5 - 5.30pm

andat any time by request to the priest

ADORATION & PRAYER BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

TUESDAYS 9.15am - 10.15am & 10.45am -11.15am

SATURDAYS 11.00am – 12 noon & 5.00pm - 5.30 pm

PSALMS FOR THE DIVINE OFFICE for 30^thWeek, are from Week 2

Pleaseuse the Cards with the new text of the Mass at all Masses.

MASS ATTENDANCE SUNDAY 16^thOctober 2011 (previousweek)

Total 818 (860): 6pm Mass 172 (166),9am Mass 230 (269),

11am Mass 289 (258),5pm Mass 127 (167)

Please bow in the procession to Holy Communion, asthe person in front of

you is receiving the Body of Christ. This is a signof reverence for our Lord,

whom we truly receive in Holy Communion.

MASSINTENTIONS All weekend Masseshave now been booked up until the end of the year, and weekday Massesare being booked up fast.