11th Dec 2011

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT  (B)                                         11.12.2011

Dear friends,

 “The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken; proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to those in prison” (Is.61:1-11).  Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would bring good news, heal people’s hurts and give them and peace. This was joyful news during the heart-breaking exile in Babylon, for God would bring people back to Jerusalem, their spiritual home, with joy.  On this Rejoicing or Gaudete Sunday in Advent, believers have the joy of looking forward to celebrating our Saviour’s birthday. Our Saviour, will lead people with joy not to the city of Jerusalem in the Holy Land, but to our spiritual home with God, in this world and the next.  

God sent St John the Baptist as his messenger, to prepare the way for the Saviour. “John came as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through him” (John 1:6-28).  St John wrote parts of his Gospel as if he were a lawyer presenting evidence to prove his case that Jesus is the Saviour and he called the Baptist as his first witness. Subsequently he presented our Lord’s works and the Holy Spirit as additional witnesses to Jesus as the Saviour of the world (see John Chapters 5-8). God did not abandon his people but sent Jesus the Good Shepherd, to restore them to right relationship with God and each other. This is the cause of our rejoicing on this Sunday, and it gives us faith, hope and new life in Christ. 

On Monday, 19^th December, we celebrate our Advent Reconciliation Service and the Sacrament of Penance.  In community we examine our consciences and look at our sins to receive God’s forgiveness. Some people may be anxious that they have not been for a long time, but what is important is for us to receive God’s grace, not the little or great we confess. If you have not been to this Sacrament for some time, the best way to prepare for Christmas is to open your heart to the Lord’s grace of forgiveness, which frees us from sin and guilt, and gives us the joy of a new and fresh start in the life of grace.  May God bless you.   Fr John

ADVENT PREPARATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS

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

The Most Holy Redeemer Church, Billericay on Monday, 19 Dec 7.30pm  

Brentwood Cathedral on Tuesday, 20^th December at 7.30pm 

Our Lady of Good Counsel, Wickford on Wednesday, 21^st Dec. 7.30pm

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS Please put your name on the lists placed in the Church porch if you can Minister at Christmas.

USHERS & WELCOMERS Please put your name on the list in the porch if you can help at the Christmas Masses.

OUR PARISH CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE will be at 7pm on Sunday, 18 December. We hope many parishioners will attend this service and take part in congregational singing in preparation for Christmas. Hot snacks, mince pies, mulled wine and soft drinks will be served in the Hall afterwards.  There will be a collection taken for the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society

THE TREE OF ANGELS  From next weekend, you are invited to put one of the angels provided on the tree in memory of a loved one or to hang it on your own tree at home.  Donations for the angels should be placed in the “Crib Offerings” collection box and all will be sent to The Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society.  

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

BRENTWOOD NEWS copies of the current issues are now available free

A TAXING OFFER FOR CHRISTMAS The Inland Revenue will give our Parish an extra 25% to our Offertory giving this Christmas and every following Sunday. Just one condition has to be met. You must be a taxpayer, either from your employment, pension, or investments. Even better for those who are higher rate taxpayers, each year your tax will be reduced by a similar 25% on the total of your annual Offertory giving. Advent is a time for thanks-is-in-giving and this offer is one that surely we should accept with joy. For more details - please contact your Parish Gift Aid organiser Anna O’Keeffe 01277 621506 

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (B)			11th December 2011
Retiring collection for St. Vincent de Paul Society at all Masses
12.30pm	Baptisms:	Sofia Elizabeth Hall
MONDAY	Guides 7.30pm
	RCIA 8 pm (Room 2)
TUESDAY	Coffee & Tea in the Lounge after Mass
	Brownies 6pm
	SVP 9pm (Lounge)
WEDNESDAY	Church Cleaners 9.45am
	Brownies 5.30pm
THURSDAY	Mother & Toddler Group 1pm (Hall)
	Choir practices:  9am Choir: 8pm
FRIDAY	Mothers’ Prayers Group 9.45am (Room 2)
SATURDAY	Sacrament of Penance 11am-12 noon & 5.00 - 5.30pm
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (B)			18th December 2011
Parish Carol Service 7pm

OFFERINGS THANK YOU for your very generous Offerings of £1602.42 for our parish last weekend and for the £28.67 in our CAFOD Box for our Parish Cafod Project Connect2Rwanda.

GIVE A CHRISTMAS GIFT from CAFOD’s WORLD GIFTS booklet, which will make a big difference to people in developing nations 

THANK YOU to the Mustard Seeds Yoga Group for their generous donation of £400 to our Parish CAFOD project and for the £30 donated to the project at the Young Wives Reunion. 

Our retiring collection last weekend for the Brentwood Ecclesiastical Education Fund (BEEF) for training young men for the priesthood, raised £993.47.  Thank you for your generosity.

RETIRING COLLECTION this weekend is for the ST. VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY.  Members of our Parish SVP faithfully visit infirm and housebound people weekly and assist people with shopping and hospital visits, and help those in need. Gift Aid envelopes may be used. Cheques are payable to “Catholic Church Billericay”.  

THANK YOU to everyone that supported Little Haven by buying cakes after the Children’s Mass last weekend. £145.67 was raised for the hospice.  

SPIRITUAL LIFE & WORSHIP

CONFIRMATION 2012.  Confirmation will be celebrated in our parish on Pentecost Sunday, 27^th May 2012.  Candidates should be in School Year 10 or above.  Application forms are in the Church porch and should be completed and returned to the Priest’s House.  Preparation begins in January.

TALKS ON THE CATHOLIC FAITH We invite people interested in finding out about our Catholic faith, becoming Catholic or returning to the practice of their faith to a series of talks on Mondays from 8.00 to 9.30pm. Next meeting Monday 12^th December, will be the Christmas Social get together.

ADVENT AFTERNOON OF RECOLLECTION given by Fr Stewart Foster at Our Lady of Ransom, London Hill, Rayleigh, on Monday 12^th December 2pm-4pm.  All women are invited to this quiet time of prayer.

A MASS FOR VOCATIONS  at St Basil the Great,Basildon, on Thursday 29^th December at 11.30am, followed by lunch for seminarians and those enquiring about vocation: for details email frdominic@brentwoodvocations.org. We ask your prayers for our seminarians: David, Matthew, Nick, Patrick, Eamonn, Gary and Brendan, as well as those considering applying in 2012. Contact Fr Dominic by email or on 01268 553425 for information about leaving a legacy to the Brentwood Ecclesiastical Education Fund, for training of men for the priesthood. 

BAPTISM BOOKLETS Parents who have had their children baptised in this Parish in recent years would have received a booklet entitled “My Life in Christ”.  This booklet includes First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion sections which can be updated once your child has received these sacraments.

BAPTISM Congratulations to the parents of Daniel Sanders and Yasmin Oldham who were Baptised in our Church last Sunday. We pray that the Lord will help them to bring up their children in the knowledge and love of God. 

Red Votive 24 hour Candles and good selection of distinctly Christian Christmas cards are available in the Repository in the Church porch.

MASS INTENTIONS All Masses have now been booked up for this year. 

BISHOP THOMAS’ PASTORAL LETTER Copies are in the porch

CATHOLIC CALENDARS are in the Church porch and the side door – Please take one. 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS & NEWS

COLLECTION FOR THE HOMELESS Thank you for all the donations of clothing which has been delivered to the Southend Homeless Action Project in Southend.  We would still like donations of non-perishable food. A labelled box for items is in Church porch.  Thank you – Justice & Peace Group.

ST PETER’S SCHOOL This week the older children were able to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation in school. Fr John & Fr Dan held a short service and then ministered the Sacrament to the children. Beforehand children thought about how great the gift of Reconciliation is and how we must try to open up our hearts to it and its many possibilities, especially in preparing for Christmas. Pope John Paul said, “Reconciliation creates a new being by letting us pass from one mode of existence to another and opens up the possibility of Reconciliation not only with God, but with our brothers and sisters too”’. Elsewhere in school children are industrious in their efforts to raise a record amount of money for CAFOD. Activities include; afternoon tea & gingerbread sale. The forthcoming events are: a Christmas Bazaar and Book Sale. We are hoping to exceed last year’s total!

BAR CO-ORDINATOR The Hall Management Committee need a volunteer to be responsible for buying stock & organising people to serve behind the bar at functions in the Pastoral Centre. At present there are approximately 6 functions per year. For further information please phone Erika on 01277 655050.

FLOWER LADIES  To keep the flower rota rotating as older members may have to retire in the future, we need to think ahead and train younger members to take over.  Please give it some thought. Contact Teresa Hinder on 01277 652573

PROPERTY AND RISK INSURANCE If you are involved in this and can offer some assistance to our Parish, please contact Fr John. 

FRIENDS OF CHAUVIGNY ANNUAL FUN QUIZ Ray Keilthy, David and Patricia Clark will be hosting the Annual Quiz on Saturday, January 21st 2012, in the Canon Roche Hall.  Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm.  Come with your friends and make up a table of 6-8, or we can put you on a table.  Tickets are £5. Bring your own drinks, glasses and nibbles. This is a very popular quiz so book early to avoid disappointment!  Your contact is Patricia on 01277 625448.

PIANO TUITION available, weekdays (4-7pm), by Tom Rodgers (one of our organists).  Reasonable rates; willing to travel, accepts students at home. All ages welcome! Please call 07861 734192 or email tom@tomrodgers-music.net.

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK AT HOME AND IN HOSPITAL:

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

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

This year some of our parishioners who were regular attending Mass at the weekend have become ill or housebound.  Fr John we would like to hear about parishioners in this situation who are not on our home Communion rota.  We also ask people to inform a parish priest or hospital chaplain if you or your relative is ill at home or in hospital. It is most important that sick receive the Sacraments and are ministered to, at home, or in hospital. 

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED RELATIVES & PARISHIONERS:

ANNIVERSARIES: Geoffrey Monks, Ivy Griffiths, Ivan Andrews, Marie Norton, Thomas Card, Bernard Walmsley. Clergy: Fr Geoffrey Pye, Fr George Carolan, Fr William Evers, Fr Francis Kerrigan, Fr Gerard Kerr. May they rest in peace and rise in glory, and may the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, console their bereaved families and friends.

NEW HELP SCHEME A group of volunteers has formed a scheme to help fellow parishioners who need: transport to Mass; transport to doctor or hospital appointments; emergency help with collecting prescriptions, or shopping. The scheme operates from 1^st November and is co-ordinated by:

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

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

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS

SATURDAY	6.00 pm	Frank Woodward RIP
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT B               Rejoicing or “Gaudete” Sunday
11th Dec 2011	9.00 am	Louise Reeves RIP
	11.00 am	Andrew Cannon RIP
	5.00 pm	People of the Parish
MONDAY	9.15 am	Stanley Pollard RIP
TUESDAY	St Lucy, Virgin & Martyr
	10.15 am	Lucy Goodswen & Lucy Stone RIP (Anniv)
	2.00 pm	School Mass at St. Peter’s
WEDNESDAY	St John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor
	9.15 am	In Thanksgiving
THURSDAY	9.15 am	Alice Townsend RIP (McBurney)
FRIDAY	9.15 am	Wilfred & Margaret Stevens RIP
SATURDAY	6.00 pm	Alana Boyce RIP
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT B   Day of Prayer for Expectant Mothers
18th Dec 2011	9.00 am        Kathleen Whelton & Sean Horgan RIP (Ann)
	11.00 am	Mary Josephine & James Mills RIP
	5.00 pm	People of the Parish

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

                                                   and by 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 DIVINE OFFICE:   3^rd Sunday of Advent from Week 3  

MASS ATTENDANCE SUNDAY 4^th December 2011 (previous week)

Total 815 (763):    6pm Mass 162 (167), 9am Mass 261 (240), 

                            11am Mass 259 (266), 5pm Mass 133 (141)

PARISH MASS BOOK pages for 3^rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Page 7 BEGINNING OF THE MASS       Page 8 Penitential Act A  

Page 87 THE COLLECT & READINGS

Page 11 THE CREED               Page 14 PREPARATION OF GIFTS

Page 89 PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS

Page 15 PREFACE DIALOGUE   Page 51 PREFACE 1 OF ADVENT

Page 25 HOLY, HOLY & EUCHARISTIC PRAYER 2

Page 43 THE COMMUNION RITE

Page 89 PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Pages 46 CONCLUDING PRAYERS