Home Newsletters 27th Nov 2011

27th Nov 2011

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (B) 27.11.2011

Dear friends,

“Godof hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall besaved”, we say in response to Psalm 29. Approaching the darkesttime of the year, we look towards the coming of Christ, “The Lightof the world”. During Advent we prepare to celebrate the birth ofJesus and receive him at his second coming at the end of time. Whenwe prepare to receive a distinguished guest we make sure the home isclean and a worthy place for our visitor. Isaiah (63&64)prophesied that God will come to his people and that they will needto be cleansed and purified in heart, to be worthy to receive him.God sees that people have lost integrity by rebelling against Him,and they need to go through cleansing and purification of theirsouls, so as to be worthy to receive the Saviour. The final stage ofpreparation for Christ was St John the Baptist baptising people whowanted spiritual cleansing by repenting of their sins. By Baptismand the Sacrament of Penance we repent and are freed from our sins,and are then in a state of grace before God.

Thechildren, who will receive Christ in first Holy Communion next year,are now making their first Reconciliation. In this Sacrament offorgiveness, they receive the love of God in a special way and aretouched by Him who renews and purifies us. All of us need to realise we are frail human beings with faults andsins, and need to seek reconciliation and cleansing from our sins andtheir effects, from God. During Advent we hear St John the Baptistcall us to prepare a way for the Lord and make a straight path forhim to come into our life – we do this best by seeking andreceiving his forgiveness and peace in the Sacrament ofReconciliation.

Igreatly enjoyed my recent visit to Rome, staying at Palzzola, with 41priests who were celebrating 60^th, 50^th and40^th anniversaries of their priestly ordination. Thehighlight of our visit was the Holy Father’s audience on Wednesday,and the Mass and wonderful celebration at the Venerable EnglishCollege in the evening.

Maythe Lord give us a blessed and grace filled Advent. Fr John

ADVENT PREPARATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS

ST PETER’S SCHOOL ADVENT RECITAL will be held in our Church at 7pmon Monday, 28^th November.  Please support thechildren by attending this moving service in preparation forChristmas.  A collection will be taken up for the HandicappedChildren’s Pilgrimage Trust. It’s not necessaryto have a ticket. The evening is not really suitable for pre-schoolchildren.

AN ADVENT EVENING OF PRAYER AND REFLECTION will be held on Wednesday, 7^thDecember from 8.00 to 9.30pm in the Small Hall in the PastoralCentre.  The evening will be led by Sr. Nuala and the focus willbe on listening and receptivity to the Word of God, as Mary and theOld Testament prophets did. The evening will incorporate theuse of scripture, music/words and images.  Anyone who hasattended an evening of prayerful reflection led by Sr. Nuala willknow that the event promises to be very special and spirituallydeeply inspiring.  It would be great if as many as possiblecould make the event, as we take time out for our busy schedules tocontemplate the presence of God in our lives and prepareour souls for the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Wewill also have refreshments. 

ST PETER’S SCHOOL CHOIR & ORCHESTRA invite Senior Citizens tothe School for Advent Carols, followed by tea & mince pies onFriday 9^th December at 1.45pm. (Please do not arriveearlier). Contact Claire Wallis 658783 for transport

ADVENT PENANCE SERVICES in our Deanery,with visiting priests for Confessions, will be held at:

TheMost Holy Redeemer Church on Monday, 19^thDec 7.30pm

BrentwoodCathedral on Tuesday, 20^thDecember at 7.30pm

OurLady of Good Counsel, Wickford on Wednesday, 21^stDec. 7.30pm

OUR PARISH CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE is onSunday, 18^thDecember at 7pm. A collection will be taken for the BrentwoodCatholic Children’s Society.

BRENTWOOD DIOCESAN DIRECTORIES 2012 are available in the Church porch price£2.50. Please put money in “Paper Box”.

BRENTWOOD NEW copies of the current issues are now available free.

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

OFFERINGS THANK YOU for your very generous Offerings of £1636.16for our parish last weekend. Thank you for £63.84 in ourCAFOD Box for our CAFOD Project Connect2Rwanda.

BEEF– Brentwood Ecclesiastical Education Fund Pays for theeducation of men for the priesthood. There is a retiring collectionfor BEEF after all Masses next weekend 3^rd /4^thDecember, and the money is needed as we currently have seven studentsin formation at a cost of well over £100,000 per year. This includestheir tuition fees, accommodation and living costs. Cheques arepayable to Catholic Church Billericay and Gift Aid envelopesmay be used.

SPIRITUAL LIFE & WORSHIP

GIFTMASS At all Masses next weekend on 3^rd/4^thDecember, we invite boys and girls and adults to offer giftsfor needy children. The gifts will be shared between the Women’sRefuge at Basildon and the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society.Please label each gift with the words “boy or girl aged…” The Brentwood Children’s Society also needs store giftvouchers to help provide little extras for needy families, atChristmas and in the New Year.

TALK SON THE CATHOLIC FAITH We invite people interested in finding outabout our Catholic faith, becoming Catholic or returning to thepractice of their faith to a series of talks on Mondays from 8.00 to9.30pm. This week’s topic is “Advent”. If you are interested,please contact Fr John

ALTAR SERVERS There will be an MCs meeting on Friday 2^ndDecember in the Church at 6:30. It is important for all MCs toattend.  Please contact Mike, Sarah or Anne-Marie for moredetails. There will be a meal for the MCs in the High Street, afterthe meeting.  Please see Servers’ notice board for details.

A MASS FOR VOCATIONS atSt Basil the Great,Basildon, on Thursday 29^thDecember at 11.30am, followed by lunch for seminarians and thoseenquiring about vocation: for details please emailfrdominic@brentwoodvocations.org.We would also ask for your prayers for all our seminarians – David,Matthew, Nick, Patrick, Eamonn, Gary and Brendan – as well as thoseconsidering an application in 2012. For information about leaving alegacy to the Education Fund, please contact Fr Dominic by email oron 01268 553425

YOUTH MASS  Thanks to everyone who took part in last week’sYouth Mass celebrating National Youth Sunday.  The next YouthMass will take place at 5pm on Sunday 29^th January forwhich there will be a preparation meeting in the Lounge at 7pm onTuesday 17^th January.  Prior to that, the Youth MusicGroup will be taking part in the Parish Carol Service on Sunday 18^thDecember.  We wish all our young people a good Advent season anda great Christmas!

PYXES We ask any Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who havePyxes belonging to the Church to return them to the Sacristy as weare missing a number at the moment. Please do not put them throughthe letter box.

LOST PROPERTY A bunch of keys with a “Ford tag” on was left in theChurch after Mass last Saturday. Contact Father John if they belongto you,

BAPTISMCongratulations to the parents of Sophia Stagg who wasBaptised in our Church last Sunday. We pray that the Lord will helpthem to bring up their daughter in the knowledge and love of God.

FORTH COMING EVENTS & NEWS

COLLECTIONFOR THE HOMELESS The Parish Justice& Peace Group will collect items for the homeless duringDecember.  Non-perishable food, clean & in goodcondition men’s and woman’s clothing, men’s newsocks, towels, bedding & toiletries. A labelled boxfor items is in Church porch. If leaving bags please ensure theyare labelled ’for the homeless’. The goods will be delivered toHARP,The Southend Homeless Action Project, before Christmas.

HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE There will be a meeting on Tuesday 29thNovember at 8pm in room 3 of the Pastoral Centre. Everyone welcome.

YOUNG WIVES REUNION The next reunion will be held on Wednesday 7thDecember 9.30 am to 12.0 in the Lounge of the Pastoral Centre.Please come and join us for a cup of tea and mince pie.

ST PETER’S SCHOOL This week the children were delighted to see theboxes they had created as part of ’Operation Christmas Child’ beingloaded onto the van. This is a charity which brings joy into thelives of over 80 million under privileged children across the world.The children pack a shoebox full of goodies and it is sent tochildren who are in need in time for Christmas. Such a simple act canbring great joy and hope to children for whom Christmas gifts are anovelty and rarity. In school the children are busy carrying outother fund raising events for CAFOD, including cake sales, booksales, a Christmas bazaar and many other things. All proceeds will goto CAFOD.  As said by Mother Teresa, “We can do no greatthings, only small things with great love”.

FESTIVE MARKET at Brentwood Ursuline Convent High School on Saturday 3^rdDecember 11-2pm. Celebrating all things Christmas therewill be lots of stalls and activities to interest young and old. Come along for eats, treats and feats. 

A TAXING OFFER FOR CHRISTMAS The Inland Revenue will give ourParish an extra 25% to our Offertory giving this Christmas and everyfollowing Sunday. Just one condition has to be met. You mustbe a taxpayer, either from your employment, pension, or investments.Even better for those who are higher rate taxpayers, each year yourtax will be reduced by a similar 25% on the total of your annualOffertory giving. Advent is a time for thanks-is-in-giving andthis offer is one that surely we should accept with joy. For moredetails - please contact your Parish Gift Aid organiser Anna O’Keeffe01277 621506

NEW HELP SCHEME Agroup of volunteers has formed a scheme to help fellow parishionerswho need: transport to Mass; transport to doctor orhospital appointments; emergency help with collecting prescriptions,or shopping. The scheme operates from 1^st November andis co-ordinated by:

Grace Herbert (657550):Karen Millar (655033): Joan Forbes (655636)

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK AT HOME AND IN HOSPITAL:

BobBoon, Catherine Jewell, Michael Howlett, Dorothy Wheeler, BernardRegan, Irene Yarrow, Peter Bion, Peter Jagger, Marie Liddall,Patricia McGeown, Maeve Freeman, Anne Babb, Eileen Beard, EdithSnook, Patricia Murphy, Regina Barnes, Barbara Flynn, Maura Stone,Denzil Reeves, George Pritchard, Elizabeth Smith, Bridget Edwards,Maeve Walmsley, Mavis Reed, Jim &Diane Bowen, Pam De Keyser, Aileen Fleetwood, MaureenTravers, Patricia Nicholson, Maureen Tall, Dorothy Robertson, IsabelJasinska, Jacques Visser, Miriam Gregory, Delia Birch, MaureenPhillips, Isabella Butler,Pauline Wallace, Ann Hurcombe, Lily Warner, Janice Bignall, RuthGillespie, Sarah Stewart, ElsieJackson, Julie Bouchel, Julie Halstead, Marlene Hawkins, EileenMolloy, Kirsti Dennett, Margaret Sefton, Beryl Barr, Anne Cannon,Rhona Sullivan, Beryl Barclay, Debbie Dowds, Gertie Walsh, MaryKeilthy, Jean French, Kay McCabe, Mary Carr, Mary Shane, MichaelGlavin, John Nolan, Tommy Campbell, Erroll Newman, Francis Monk, LyleWheeler, Nick Ramsey, Michael Pierce, Jamie Taylor, Brian Mardle,Bryce Smith. Clergy: Bishop Michael Rowland, Fr John King, Fr JohnTaylor, Mgr Chris Brooks, Rev Warner Pidgeon. Children: JohnQuilligan, Mark Selwood, Savannah and Cayde Lewis, Helen Slattery,Daisy Locker & Grace.

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

Pleaseinform the priest if you or your relative is ill. It is veryimportant to inform a parish priest or hospital chaplain, so that thepriest may visit the sick and minister the Sacraments to them, athome, or in hospital.

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED RELATIVES & PARISHIONERS:

ROGERHILL RIP, husband of Agnes, who died at home on Tuesday, 15^thNovember. He will be received into our Church at 4.30pm on Thursday,1^st December. Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Friday,2^ndDecember, at 11am followed by interment at Great BursteadCemetery. Family flowers only please. Donations may be made forMacMillan Cancer Trust or The St Bart’s & London Charity. Mayhe rest in peace.

FRRICHARD ASHTON Who died on Thursday, 17^th November inBasildon Hospital. A Vigil Mass will be celebrated at St Basil’sChurch, Luncies Road, Basildon, on Monday 28^th November at7pm and the Requiem Mass will be at 11am on Tuesday 29^thto be followed by burial at Great Burstead Cemetery. Fr Dick servedas Parish Priest at Holy Trinity, Basildon, Our Lady and St Joseph,Stanford-le-Hope, Our Lady of Canvey and the English Martyrs, Canvey,and Assistant Priest in Barkingside, Westcliff, Collier Row, GideaPark and East Ham. He also spent time at Corpus Christi College andElm Park and served as Chaplain to Anchor House. May he rest inpeace.

ANNIVERSARIES: Alice Overs, Kathleen Knighton, Debbie Williams, Maisie Shotton,George Deverill. Clergy: Fr John Aydon, Fr Patrick Bennett, FrFrancis Branney, Fr James Hannon.

May they rest in peaceand rise in glory, and may the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, consoletheir bereaved families and friends.

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS

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

andby request to the priest at any time.

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 of THE DIVINEOFFICE: 1^st Sunday of Advent from Week 1

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

Total 822 (812): 6pm Mass 172 (166), 9am Mass 243 (265),

11amMass 266 (198), 5pm Mass 141 (183)

Pleasebow your head in the procession to Holy Communion, as the person infront of you is receiving the Body of Christ. This is a sign ofreverence for our Lord, whom we receive in Holy Communion.

MASS INTENTIONS All Masses have nowbeen booked up for this year.

BISHOP THOMAS’ PASTORAL LETTER Copiesare in the porch

REGISTERING IN OUR PARISH If you have moved into our parish please introduceyourself to Fr John and complete a Registration Form. If you havechanged address please inform the Parish Office.