Home Newsletters 1st April 2012

1st April 2012

THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST            1^st April 2012

“My dear People,

“His state was divine, yet Christ Jesus did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as all men are” (Philippians 2:6-11). St Paul writes on the divine and human nature of Christ, who humbled himself and sacrificed his glory by suffering death on a Cross. The church takes us into the popularity and passing glory of Christ, on Palm Sunday. In Holy Week we enter his passion and being glorified on the Cross on Good Friday. Christ the Lamb of God, takes away the sins of the world, through his suffering, death and resurrection, so that God can offer eternal life to all who have faith in his Son. 

Bishop Thomas will celebrate the Chrism Mass with the priests of our Diocese in Brentwood Cathedral, on Wednesday at 7pm. During this Mass, the priests will renew their ordination commitment and Oils will be blessed. The Oil of Baptism to prepare children and adults for Baptism. The Oil of Chrism to anoint people at Baptism and seal them with the gift of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation. It will also be used to ordain priests in Holy Orders, and consecrate Churches and Altars. 

The Mass of The Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday, is a remembrance of Christ changing bread and wine into his Body and Blood. The washing of feet shows his humble service in giving us a New Commandment, to “love one another as I have loved you”. At the end of Mass we process to the Altar of Repose and the Church stays open to midnight as we pray, with Jesus in his terrible Agony in the Garden.

On Holy Saturday at the Easter Vigil, and on Easter Sunday, we celebrate Christ’s resurrection and triumph over suffering and death, and welcome new members into the Church Do make a special effort to attend and take part in the Holy Week & Easter Services, whether you are at home or away.  This is the most important and holiest week in the Christian year, when we celebrate God’s great love for us and the saving grace he offers us through Christ, our Saviour, who was crucified.  

May Christ’s suffering and death touch our hearts and minds. Fr John  

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

OFFERINGS THANK YOU for your generous Offerings £1702.02 (of which £1236.40 was gift aided) for our Parish last weekend, and for £56.19 in the CAFOD Box for our Parish CAFOD Project Connect2Rwanda. Thank you so much for the £100 donation towards the replacement of the heaters in our Church

THANK YOU to the Mustard Seeds Yoga Group for their generous donation of £400 to our Parish CAFOD project and to the Mother & Toddler Group for their donation of £100 to parish funds.

THE COLLECTION AT THE GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES WILL BE FOR THE CHRISTIAN HOLY PLACES & PEOPLE IN THE HOLY LAND.  Gift Aid envelope may be used.   Please make cheques payable to ‘Catholic Church Billericay’

WELCOMER’S ROTA for April – June 2012 is now in the Church Porch.

LENT, HOLY WEEK & EASTER SERVICES 2012

PARISH MASS BOOK PASSION (PALM) (Year B)

Page 177 BEGINNING OF MASS Page 183 COLLECT & READINGS   

Page 12 THE CREED      Page 14   PREPARATION OF GIFTS 

Page 15 PREFACE DIALOGUE   Page 59   PREFACE 

Page 16 HOLY, HOLY,         Page 25   EUCHARISTIC PRAYER 3

Page 43 COMMUNION RITE         Page 190 PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Prayers for use before Mass and after Holy Communion are inside the front and back cover of The Parish Mass Book 

SERVICE OF PENANCE IN LENT with Confessions 

Brentwood, Cathedral Parish, Monday 2^nd April at 7.30pm

CHRISM MASS at Brentwood Cathedral on Wednesday 4^th April 7 pm

MAUNDY THURSDAY 5^th April

Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7.30 pm

Watching & Prayer at the Altar of Repose until Midnight

GOOD FRIDAY 6^th April

CHILDREN’S SERVICE at 10am We ask parents & children in Year 3 and above to read together at the Service, and the younger children to read prayers.  We will have a rehearsal in the Church on Wednesday 4 April at 12 noon. If you wish to take part, contact Carla Marshall on 07702219058, email Carla.mars@tesco.net

PROCESSION OF WITNESS with members of Billericay Christian Churches starts at 11.30am at the Methodist Church, Western Road, Billericay and ends with a Service in our Church 12.00 noon.

Solemn Commemoration of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ 3.00 pm

Stations of the Cross 7.30 pm

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE & Confession after daily Mass in Holy Week.  On Holy Saturday from 11.00 am to 12 noon and 5.00 to 5.30 pm

HOLY SATURDAY 7^th April

THE EASTER VIGIL & FIRST MASS OF EASTER   8.00 pm

EASTER SUNDAY 8^th April Masses: 9.00 am, 11.00 am & 5.00 pm

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

NEW SUNDAY MISSALS are on sale in the repository.

WE PRAY FOR OUR SICK AT HOME AND IN HOSPITAL:

Gerry Ryan, Rebecca Lightfoot, Ruth Gillespie, Bernard Regan, Joseph McCreanor, Peter Jagger, Rhona Sullivan, Maura Stone, Dorothy Wheeler, Michael Howlett, Peter Bion, Michael Glavin, Bob Boon, Jacques Visser, Barbara Flynn, Mary Wilding, Marie Liddall, Beryl Barr, Isabel Jasinska, Aileen Fleetwood, Regina Barnes, Anne Babb, Isabella Butler, Eileen Beard, Mavis Reed, Maeve Freeman, Bridget Edwards, Maureen Tall, Delia Birch, Elizabeth Smith, Patricia McGeown, Patricia Nicholson, Pam De Keyser, Maeve Walmsley, Jim & Diane Bowen, Dorothy Robertson, Debbie Dowds, Maureen Travers, Ann Hurcombe, Mary Carr, Pauline Wallace, Kay McCabe, Maureen Phillips, Edith Snook, Marlene Hawkins, Kirsti Dennett, Janice Bignall, Eileen Molloy, Julie Bouchel, Elsie Jackson, Julie Halstead, Lily Warner, Gertie Walsh, Margaret Sefton, Mary Keilthy, Sarah Stewart, Beryl Barclay, Jean French, Anne Cannon, Mary Shane, John Nolan, George Pritchard, Denzil Reeves, Tommy Campbell, Erroll Newman, Michael Pierce, Jamie Taylor, Lyle Wheeler, Francis Monk, Nick Ramsey, Bryce Smith, Brian Mardle. Clergy: Fr Conrad Smith, Bishop Michael Rowland, Fr Andrew Dorricott, 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. 

ILL IN HOSPITAL If you or a relative is going into hospital please contact a priest or the Catholic Priest at the hospital. It is essential for anyone who is ill at home or in hospital to receive the Sacrament for the Sick and Holy Communion.  

WE PRAY FOR OUR DECEASED RELATIVES & PARISHIONERS:

MRS MIRIAM GREGORY RIP, formerly of Albion Court who died on Friday, 16^th March at Winifred Dell House, Warley, on Friday, 16^th March. Requiem Mass will be celebrated at English Martyrs Church, Hornchurch, on Tuesday 3^rd April at 10.30am. May she rest in peace. 

MRS VERA HARVEY RIP, mother of Noel McNab, who died on Friday, 23^rd March. Mrs Harvey often came to help at the Parish Bible Club. Requiem Mass will be celebrated in Scotland on Tuesday next. May she rest in peace.

Anniversaries Ellen Dowden, Jean Fernando, Patricia O’Rourke, Angela Scott, Maud Price, Honey Hansen, Joyce Gamble, Henry Gully 

Clergy: Pope John Paul II, Fr Thomas Adkins, Fr Ronald Roberts, Canon Charles Loughran . May they rest in peace and rise in glory, and may the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, console their bereaved families.

BAPTISM Congratulations to the parents of Madison Rimmer who was Baptised in our Church last Sunday. We pray that the Lord will help them to bring up their child in the knowledge and love of God. 

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

SPIRITUAL LIFE & WORSHIP

PARISH MISSION We will have a short Parish Mission conducted by Fr Jim McManus CSsR from Saturday 28^th April to Thursday 3^rd May 2012.

Weekday Masses will be at 7am & 10.15am from Monday to Thursday 

There will be a seminar in the Hall at 11am each day after Mass

There will be a Service of Healing on Monday at 7.30pm 

There will be a Service of Reconciliation on Tuesday at 7.30pm

There will be a Celebration of the Word of God on Wednesday at 7.30pm

The Celebration of a Family Mass will end the Mission on Thursday at 7.30pm

CONFIRMATION will be celebrated in our parish on Pentecost Sunday, 27^th May. Next session is on Sunday 15^th April 3.30pm in the Pastoral Centre.

TALKS ON THE CATHOLIC FAITH  Please pray for: Catherine Read, who is preparing for Confirmation, and Trevor Hall, Paula Hollingworth, Heidi Theobald and Peter Yaxley, who are preparing for the Sacraments and Reception in the Church at Easter.

YOUTH MASS Thanks to everyone who took part in last Sunday’s Youth Mass.  In particular, it was great to see so many Confirmation candidates there.  The final Youth Mass of the current academic year will take place at 5pm on Sunday 13^th May when will be praying for success in forthcoming exams.  We encourage all our young people to attend this Mass, especially the Confirmation candidates and the Year 13s for whom it will be their final Youth Mass after many years of great participation.  There will be a preparation meeting for the Mass at 7pm in the Lounge on Tuesday 24^th April.

OASIS OF PEACE MARIAN PRAYER DAY  Saturday April 28th at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Epping, from 10.30 am to 4pm Led by Rev. Father Brian McGrath, OFM.  Includes Mass, Adoration, Rosary, Confession, Talks, testimonies and discussion.  Please bring packed lunch – drinks provided

HELP SCHEME to help parishioners needing: transport to Mass; transport to doctor or hospital appointments; emergency help to collect prescriptions or shopping. The scheme is co-ordinated by: Grace Herbert (657550): Karen Millar (655033): Joan Forbes (655636). We would appreciate if people using the Help Scheme could be responsible for parking fees and make a donation to the Church to help cover petrol costs as some drivers have had a lot of expense.

READERS AT WEEKDAY MORNING MASSES There is 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, fill in your own name if willing and able to read.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS & NEWS

PARISH PASTORAL CENTRE Thanks to Andy Stow for volunteering to be Bar Co-ordinator, the bar will now be available for functions in the centre. Anyone who is prepared to help behind the bar on an occasional basis, please contact Andy on 01277 625020. (Helpers must be at least 18 years old). Thank you also to Erika Crasto who has looked after the bar for the last 4 years.
Part-time caretaker wanted to work with and for the Hall Janitor. The work involves unlocking and locking up the Parish Pastoral Centre at weekends, some days mid-week & when the janitor is on holiday and other caretaking work as required at £10 per hour. Details from Maria (01277 631805 or 07966 163431)

FLOWER LADIES coffee morning on Thursday 12^th April, 10am at Flat 41 Hawkley Court, Chapel Street.  Parking is available behind the flats.  If unable to attend please let Teresa Hinder know which dates you are not available for flower arranging.  The new members who have shown interest are most welcome.

ST PETER’S SCHOOL This week each class in the school has acted out one of the Stations of the Cross. This has then been shared with the whole school. By doing this the children have come to see that the Easter story is still a living story that we are all part of and which has not yet ended. By participating in these re-enactments it has helped us know that through Jesus there is light in the darkness and we can move nearer to God and his grace. We are now looking forward to the Easter holidays for a well-earned break!

A DIFFERENT TAKE ON THE OLYMPICS  Enjoy live theatre, sport? Then you can look forward to a hugely enjoyable evening on Tuesday 17th April at 7.30 pm at Emmanuel Church.  The professional Riding Lights Theatre Company will present Monsieur de Coubertin’s Magnificent Opymlic Feat, where you will learn about the origins of the modern Olympics —with added laughter, food for thought and perhaps a gospel message.  See the poster and fliers in the Porch. 

WALK FOR WATER with CAFOD this Lent – 2 ½ mile leisurely walk plus trail for children, around Hanningfield Reservoir on Friday 13^th April to show solidarity with the 783,000 people who don’t have access to clean water and sanitation. Suggested £5 donation per adult, children free. Meet at the visitor centre (Hawkswood Road, Downham, Essex CM11 1WT) from 1.30 pm for a 2pm start. No need to book, just turn up or phone the CAFOD Brentwood office on 020 8502 9722 with any queries.

CHILDCARE - BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S SOCIETY Andrew Dickens, one of our parishioners, is running the London Marathon in April in aid of Childcare. If you would like to sponsor him to reach his £1,500 target please go to www.justgiving.com/Andrew-Dickens-marathon

 MASS INTENTIONS & TIMES FOR HOLY WEEK

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

                                                       and by request to the priest at any time.

ADORATION & PRAYER BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT 

TUESDAYS 9.15am to 10.15am & 10.45am to 11.15am 

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

THE DIVINE OFFICE PSALMS are from Week 2 for Holy Week 

MASS ATTENDANCE SUNDAY 25^th March 2012 (Previous Week)

Total 817 (795):    6pm Mass 212 (137), 9am Mass 196 (249), 

11am Mass 180 (281), 5pm Mass 229 (128)

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