Home Newsletters 19th Feb 2012

19th Feb 2012

SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME B       19^th February 2012

Dear Friends,

Jesus said to the paralysed man “Your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:11-12). Sin is a word people do not like to use today as it implies judgement of behaviour.  Many think that making judgements or being judgemental is the greatest sin of our time. Jesus recognised sin as a state of mind, thought or action which is offensive to God and harms a person or human dignity.  He recognised the reality of sin and saw it as something to be confessed and forgiven.  One of the gifts he gave to his apostles was the power to forgive people’s sins; he said, “those whose sins you forgive they are forgiven and those whose sins you retain (do not forgive) are retained”.

In the Catholic Church we believe, the power to forgive sins has been passed down by the apostles and their successors to bishops and priests in our time. The Lord gives us grace to restore and renew our relationship with him and one another. Through grace and forgiveness, we are created anew in his image and likeness. Lent is a season of grace, during which the Lord calls us to reject sin and repent, by expressing sorrow and contrition for our sins.

Lent starts this week on Ash Wednesday. In Lent, Christ calls us to join him in a spiritual journey, in which we recognise the existence of sin in our life. In Lent he calls us to pray so that we may become holy through being purified of sins by God’s grace.  In Lent we fast and abstain from certain things so that our will power will grow stronger and we will be able with God’s grace to resist the temptations of the Devil.  In Lent we grow in generosity by giving alms and helping those in need, by sharing the gifts we have already received from God.  St James tells us that giving alms to help those in need “covers up a multitude of sins”.

I spent last week on a pre-Lent retreat with the priests of our Diocese at Chigwell.  Lent is a retreat for the whole Church when we try with God’s help to see our lives as they are, with our faults and sins, and by confessing them, hear the Lord tell us, “Your sins are forgiven. Go in peace”.  

May the Lord bless us with a good Lent. Fr John

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

OFFERINGS THANK YOU for your generous Offerings of £1685.35 for our Parish last weekend and for £85.20 in the CAFOD Box for our Parish CAFOD Project Connect2Rwanda. Thank-you to the Parishioner who generously donated £500 towards the cost of the new heaters.

100 CLUB draw for January was won by Mr C O’Rourke, who will receive a cheque for £100 and a further £100 will be donated to “Children of the Andes”, a charity caring for vulnerable children enabling them to break free from poverty, educating them and giving them a brighter future.

NEW SUNDAY MISSALS are on sale in the repository.

BRENTWOOD DIOCESAN DIRECTORIES 2012 price £2

There are prayers for use before Mass and after Holy Communion, inside the front and back covers of The Parish Mass Book

Do visit www.sacredspace.ie for reflection, meditation and prayer on the daily scriptures read in Church.L

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 on the Fridays of Lent and first Fridays of the month we will celebrate Mass for various groups in the parish at 7.30pm. All parishioners are encouraged and invited to attend these Masses, but we ask the members of the groups and organisations concerned to make a special effort to attend their Mass. 

MASSES ON FRIDAYS OF LENT at 7.30pm

24^th Feb  Eucharistic Ministers & Readers

2^nd March   Justice and Peace & CAFOD

9^th March      Parish Choirs and Musicians

16^th March Parish Prayer Groups

23^rd March PDG & Parish Council, 

30^th March     Faith Formation Groups & Parish Catechists

MASSES ON FIRST FRIDAYS OF THE MONTH at 7.30pm

4^th May      Cleaners, flower arrangers & Repository & Refreshment team

8^th June       Messengers, Newsletter folders & Welcomers

6^th July        Altar Servers

7^th Sept        Confirmation Reunion Mass and Youth 

5^th Oct          SVP

2^nd Nov         Holy Souls

7^th Dec          Finance, Premises & Gift Aid

BRENTWOOD CATHEDRAL LENTEN LECTURES 2012

7^th March at 7.30 pm Fr Christopher Jamison OSB, writer, broadcaster and former Abbot of Worth: The Real Big Brother: monks, religion and the media
14^th March at 7.30 pm Rev. Peter Judd, Dean of Chelmsford Cathedral: Huts or Temples: The Church as a Sacred Space 

21^st March at 7.30 pm Fr James Mackay, assistant priest at Brentwood Cathedral: Male and Female he created them: a meditation on human relationships in God’s plan of salvation.  All lectures are free. Everybody very welcome

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 

Faith Today - £1.95, Faith Alive - FREE

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK AT HOME AND IN HOSPITAL:

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

We ask parishioners or their families to let us know if they are ill at home or in hospital, so that the priest may visit and minister the sacraments to them.

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED RELATIVES & PARISHIONERS:

STANLEY KALISKI RIP, who died on Saturday, 4^th February.  Funeral arrangements pending.

Anniversaries: Charles Hand, Iset Harper, Bernard Yarrow, Joseph Morley, Paul Moyne, Margaret Hunter, Catherine Moyne, Helen Butler, Conrad Grant

Clergy: Canon Aloysius Roche, Fr Thomas O’Connor, Fr Archibald O’Brien, Deacon Sidney Lewis, Fr Gerard Murphy  May they rest in peace and rise in glory, and may the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, console their families.

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 is co-ordinated by:

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

REGISTRATION IN OUR PARISH If you moved into our parish recently, please complete a Registration Form and hand it in to the Priest’s House. If you moved within the parish please either Email: office@mostholyredeemer.org.uk or tel 01277 624891 with your details.

SPIRITUAL LIFE & WORSHIP

CONFIRMATION will be celebrated in our parish on Pentecost Sunday, 27^th May. Next session is on Sunday 19^th February 3.30pm in the Pastoral Centre.

TALKS ON THE CATHOLIC FAITH for people interested in finding out about our faith or becoming Catholic continues on Monday 20^th February at 8pm in Room 2 of the Pastoral Centre. The theme will be: Lent. All are welcome.

READERS AT WEEKDAY MORNING MASSES in our Parish make an important contribution to Parish life, helping to minister the word to the daily congregation. People are sometimes hesitant to come forward to read as they are not sure whether someone else is already expecting to read at a particular Mass.  Starting from next weekend, there will be a sign-in sheet on the table in the nave where whoever is going to read at a particular weekday morning Mass can fill in their name. You can then see, on arrival at Mass, whether there is already a Reader; if not, you could fill in your own name if willing and able to read.

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER  Friday, 2^nd March 2012 This annual inter-Church Service will be held in our Church at 10.30am.  Please come and support this global act of prayer. The theme is “Let Justice Prevail”.  Davina Bolt from our Diocesan Justice & Peace Commission is our Speaker.  Refreshments will be served in the Pastoral Centre after the Service.  A crèche is available.  Our Parish Help Scheme will organise transport. Contact Grace Herbert (Tel: 657550)

Practical Engagement in Justice and Peace. A training day to be held on Saturday 10^th March at Amigo Hall, St George’s Cathedral, Southwark SE1 from 10am to 4pm. There will be workshops led by members of Cafod, Pax Christi and others. Tea, coffee and soup provided or you can bring your own lunch. To book your place call 020 7928 9742 or email office@southwarkjandp.co.uk 

BRES Annual Spirituality Morning -28^th March 9.30-12.00 at Cathedral House, Brentwood. Fr Chris O’Donnell, O.Carm  theologian and author will speak about the Year of Faith entitled: “Living Faith living Prayer”.  Cost: £5  Contact: Tel. 01277 265285 email: marycronin@dioceseofbrentwood.org

LOURDES  Our Lady Help of Christians & St Helens-Westcliff-on-sea Parish is planning a LOURDES pilgrimage to join the Brentwood Diocesan Pilgrimage July 22^nd-27^th  2012.  Departs London City Airport, staying at the 4* Hotel Grand Hotel Moderne (Closest Hotel to the Sanctuary)  only 50 meters to St. Josephs gates)Full board en suite facilities to all rooms.£649 per person (based on 2 sharing) Discounted child fares. Single room supplements apply. Home for the opening ceremony of Olympic Games. Spiritual Director Fr. Joseph Whisstock. Telephone Sue Baillie 07979746707 for further details.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS & NEWS

PARISH HELP SCHEME The next meeting is on Thursday 23rd February at 8pm in the lounge

HALL MANAGEMENT MEETING on Tuesday 28th February at 8pm in Room 3 of the Pastoral Centre. Everyone welcome.

CAMPION SCHOOL JUBILEE MASS for former students and staff, followed by ‘Night of the Round Tables’ Celebration Dinner to help us celebrate 50 years of the School.  Saturday 21st April at 7.30 pm in the Main Hall.  Mass will be celebrated at 6.30 pm in the Jubilee Hall, Fr Andrew Headon is the main celebrant. For tickets (£30 each) please contact Mrs Noddings (01708 452332 ext 223).  I hope you can join us and that you will tell anyone else you are in contact with who are ‘friends of Campion’ in order to make this a really special evening.

YOUTH CLUB application forms are now in the Church Porch.  New volunteers are needed to help with the running of the Youth Club from September.  If you can help, please email mostholyredeemer.youthclub@yahoo.co.uk 

ESSEX POLICE CHOIR are singing at a Charity Concert at the United Reform Church, Chapel Street, on Saturday, March 10^th at 7.30pm. Tickets £8 on the door or tel: 01245 328235. Proceeds to The Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline.

YOUNG WIVES REUNION is on Wednesday 29^th February from 9.30 – 12.30.  Please come along and catch up with “old”? friends.

CATHOLIC SINGLES is 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 

CHURCH CLEANERS meet on Wednesdays and Thursdays on alternate weeks.  Both groups are in need of more help.  If you can spend an hour or so once a fortnight, please contact the Parish Office for details. 01277 624891.

WOOL APPEAL The Sunflower Club is collecting wool for Charity. Please telephone Jac Topple 01277 622158 if you have any wool to offer.

AFTERNOON OF RECOLLECTION FOR WOMEN – a time of quiet prayer with meditations and confessions heard by Fr Stewart Foster.  This day will be held at Our Lady of Ransom Church, London Hill, Rayleigh on Monday 20th February 2pm-4pm and will also include Holy Rosary and Benediction.

Our Church is open daily from 7.30am to 8.00pm for prayer.  It is a sacred place where we can be at home with God and he with us, alone and in silence

MASS TIMES AND INTENTIONS THIS WEEK

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 

FRIDAYS 9.15am - 10.15am & 10.45am - 12 noon

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

THE DIVINE OFFICE PSALMS are from Week 3 for Ordinary Time 

MASS ATTENDANCE SUNDAY 12^th February 2012 (Previous Week)

Total 691 (451):    6pm Mass 166 (161), 9am Mass 189 (50), 

11am Mass 199 (150), 5pm Mass 137 (90)

PARISH MASS BOOK for THE 7^TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME

Page 7 THE BEGINNING OF MASS  Page 139 COLLECT & READINGS   

Page 11 THE CREED               Page 14   PREPARATION OF GIFTS 

Page 15 PREFACE DIALOGUE         Page 55   PREFACE 3 FOR SUNDAY       

Page 16 HOLY, HOLY,               Page 24   EUCHARISTIC PRAYER 2

Page 43 COMMUNION RITE      Page 141 PRAYER AFTER COMMUNIO