Dear Friends in Christ
As we continue with this second lockdown, we heard this week that over fifty thousand people from the UK have lost their lives to this terrible disease. But we also heard that there is some hope on the horizon, with the possibility of a vaccine that could start to be given very soon. This has been a tortuous year, and everyone’s lives have been affected by this Pandemic. Keeping safe is fundamentally at the heart of everyone’s lives. We should all be aware of each other in preventing the spread of this disease. All the restrictions, no matter how difficult they are, are in place to preserve life. Please continue to be vigilant!
During this lockdown, I will continue to livestream Holy Mass at 10.00am each day Monday – Saturday. There will be a Vigil Mass at 6.00pm on Saturday evening, and 11.00am on Sunday morning. Each day Monday – Friday we will livestream the recitation of the Holy Rosary for the ending of this Pandemic. We do this in conjunction with all parishes up and down the country, united in faith and prayer.
SIGNS OF HOPE: There are certainly seeds of hope for the future in the new vaccine. But we also must have things to look forward to; Christmas looms fast upon us. It’s always a wonderful time for families; children get excited, and hopefully as Catholic Christians we share this faith with all around us. This is one of the reasons I decided to continue in our preparations for Christmas with a Grand Draw. I know it would have been impossible to have our annual parish Bazaar, but to do something special in preparation for Christmas shows some semblance of life carrying on, despite the difficult circumstance s we all face. Please be supportive of our Grand Draw this year.
FEAST OF ST. EDMUND OF CANTERBURY: Patronal Feast. Monday 16th November. St. Edmund of Abingdon, also known as Edmund Rich (circa 1174 – 1240) Appointed Archbishop of Canterbury 1233. Died 1240 Soisy-Bouy, France. Buried Pontigny Abbey, Burgundy, France. St. Edmund was an extremely holy man, and was canonised 1246. He is the Patron Saint of our parish here in Loughton. We ask his intercession on Monday 16th for all our intentions.
PARISH BAZAAR THIS YEAR? With the uncertainty regarding the Covid 19 Pandemic, I have made an executive decision not to have our annual Parish Bazaar this year. Instead, it would be good to have a ‘Big Grand Draw’ with good prizes, (about 20 prizes). If anyone would like to donate good prizes for the Draw these will be gratefully accepted. Money Prizes, Colour Television, I Pad, Kindle, X Box, Crate of Wine, Restaurant Vouchers, Various Hampers (large & small), Large Bottle of Champagne, Large Bottle of Whiskey/Brandy, Health Spa Treatment, Theatre Vouchers, Set of Crystal Glasses, Men’s / Ladies Watches, M & S Gift Cards. Obviously, it would be good to know in advance so we can publish a list of prizes. If you can donate a really good prize, please speak to Fr. John. Tel No: 020 8508 3492
CHRISTMAS HAMPERS: Some of our Bazaar Committee Members have suggested that we make up some beautiful Christmas hampers. If parishioners are not in a position to be able to contribute one of the larger prizes, if you could contribute items for hampers this would be wonderful: Bottles of wine, Bottles of Prosecco, boxes of biscuits, Shortbread, Boxes of mince pies, Jars of jam & marmalade, Jars of pickles, Jars of coffee, Tea, Christmas Puddings, Christmas Cakes, Boxes of Chocolates & Sweets, Candy Canes, Selection Boxes, Chocolate Oranges, Bags of Crisps, Popcorn Crackers for Cheese, Box of Dates, Turkish Delight, Christmas Nuts (Walnuts, hazelnuts, Brazilnuts). Etc. Depending on how much we get in, we’ll make as many hampers as possible! During the week, you can leave items in the box in the porch 10.30am – 11.30am; also I will leave a box at the Presbytery Front Door, and one in my Garage at the back of the Presbytery. Thanking you all in anticipation.
GRAND CHRISTMAS DRAW: This is an additional appeal for GRAND DRAW PRIZES OR MONEY DONATION PRIZES. We need lots of good prizes. Could anyone donate a Colour TV? (See list in previous notice, page 2) Also, we hope to make up as many Christmas Hampers as possible with Christmas goodies; also toiletries to make up Toiletry hampers. No matter how small an offering, it will be used this year. GRAND DRAW TICKETS WILL GO OUT ON THE WEEKEND 5TH/6TH DECEMBER. The Draw will take place on Sunday 19th December after the 11.00am Mass. Perhaps what you would have spent if we had had a Bazaar, you can spend on Draw Tickets. As you know this is our only Fund Raiser each year.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: Our RCIA programme continues this week on Thursday 15th October at 8.00pm unfortunately, due to the latest Government guidelines we cannot meet together in the presbytery; therefore, there will be a Zoom meeting. Theme: The Sacrament of Reconciliation. Please pray for our enquirers. This programme is a systematic study of all aspects of the Roman Catholic Faith, with the view of the enquirer deciding to receive the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation & the Holy Eucharist.
WEEKLY OFFERTORY: My sincere thanks to those who are making their weekly contribution of Gift Aid envelopes and through the banking system that has been set up through the Diocese whereby your Offertory can be paid directly into the Parish Account, details below:
Or you can use Parish Bank Account: Using Online Banking
HSBC Sort Code 40-13-22
Account Number: 11019651
Please put your name as reference and your Gift Aid number if you have one. If you can set it up as a regular payment this would be excellent and save a lot of time in the future. If you don’t have GIFT AID this is a good time to start, you can do this by e-mailing Maria Mosquera (mjm70@hotmail.com).
With continued thanks for your generosity.
God Bless You All Fr. John
WEEKLY OFFERTORY: During this lockdown, there are no public masses and therefore no income at the weekends. Many of you are using the online giving scheme, and direct debit scheme (details above). Also, please feel free to drop off your Offertory Envelope through the Presbytery letterbox. I would like to thank the whole parish community for your ongoing financial support of the parish during these lockdowns; as we all know, the bills still keep coming in. Please try to keep your Offertory envelopes up to date. Thank you!
LEAVING WINDOWS OPEN: It may feel a little uncomfortable at times in colder weather. But Government guidelines state that there should be plenty of ventilation in enclosed spaces. Some windows and the doors will remain open in the Church during Sunday Mass. Please dress accordingly, with warm topcoat, gloves and scarf. Keeping everyone safe is our top priority!
THANK YOU: I would like to sincerely thank all those parishioners who have volunteered as Stewards, at our Sunday Masses, and for the hour of private prayer during the week. I’m truly grateful for your generosity of spirit and service to the whole parish community. It’s truly wonderful to see! We have purchased special cleaning materials for the benches & surfaces, and they are cleaned every time they are used by parishioners. If you would like to volunteer as a Steward, please contact Iain McLay Tel No: 07806 998187
ST. JOHN FISHER CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL: (School Applications for September 2021) will not be offering any on-site tours to view our school this year. Instead we have prepared a virtual tour. Please visit our school website on www.st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk (our admissions page is under the Statutory Info section). The virtual tour will give parents the opportunity to see what the school is like.
Admissions open on the Essex website on 9th November 2020, and the closing date is 15th January 2021. We ask parents to complete a supplementary form, also obtainable from the admissions page, (especially if they wish to be considered under criteria 2 or 3 of the admissions policy) and can be returned directly to the school. If you need further information, please contact Mrs McGrenra on tmcgrenra@st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk.
Why do we pray the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy?
So, how did it all start?
God’s mercy is proclaimed in the Bible in the New and Old Testament. In 1930s Jesus appeared to St Faustina Kowalska, a simple Polish nun, and asked her to proclaim God’s mercy. Jesus’ words: “[…] I desire that the whole world know My infinite mercy. I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy.” – (Diary, 687)*
Why the image?
Jesus ordered St Faustina to paint a picture, as she saw Jesus, and with the words “Jesus I trust in you” written on the image. As St Faustina could not paint, her spiritual director enlisted a professional painter to paint the image. The Lord said: “ […] I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and then throughout the world. I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over its enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory.” — (Diary, 47-48)*
Why pray the Chaplet?
Jesus instructed St Faustina to pray for the whole world and especially for the sinners in the words of what we now know as the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. Jesus said to St Faustina: “My daughter, encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given to you. It pleases Me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet […]” – (Diary, 1541)* and “The Lord’s Promise: The souls that say this chaplet will be embraced by My mercy during their lifetime and especially at the hour of their death.” – (Diary, 754)*
Why 3 o’clock?
This is the hour at which our Lord died. In his appearances Jesus said to St Faustina: “At three o’clock, implore My mercy […] and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, […]. This is the hour of great mercy for the whole world. […]. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of me in virtue of My Passion…” – (Diary, 1320)*
You can download an official Divine Mercy app by Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. You will find there more information about the Divine Mercy message, about St Faustina as well as the prayers associated with the Divine Mercy.
If you would like to know more or get more involved, please, contact Edie via our parish WhatsApp group or via our parish website page.
*All the citations come from St Faustina’s Diary Marian Press, Stockbridge, MA 01263, 2005
THE SISTERS AT CHIGWELL CONVENT: Would be most grateful for
your used postage stamps for their Missions. There is a Box in the Porch of the Church for the stamps. Especially all your Christmas Stamps. With many thanks!
MASS INTENTION REQUESTS: Unfortunately, there have been very few Mass Intention requests; therefore, there are many openings. If parishioners would like mass intentions for any occasion or anniversary, please put your request & mass offering in an envelope and drop off at the Presbytery as soon as possible. Thank you!
NATIONAL YOUTH SUNDAY: 22nd November. Next weekend is the Feast of Christ the King, and the weekend where we especially honour and celebrate the place of young people. St John Paul II said, “In the Church of today, you are the hope of tomorrow” and Pope Francis speaks about the “creativity and audacity” of the young. Since March our Brentwood Catholic Youth Service has offered online opportunities for prayer and service, in wonderful ways, and reaching thousands of people. To discover more – including a series of short videos where young people share their experience of the BCYS – go to www.bcys.net. Donations: This year, in addition to lost retreat income, the lack of congregations at Mass will dramatically affect the second collection that usually takes place – please give a donation to support the BCYS via the website www.bcys.net/donate or post a cheque to “Brentwood Catholic Youth Service” through the presbytery letterbox and we will pass it on.
PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS: Due to Governmental guidelines on social distancing, at present we are only able to accommodate 125 persons maximum at each mass. Chrstimas tends to be a time of year when more people make a visit to Church. In a bid to cope with numbers, I will add some additional masses. There will be no children’s mass this year; and I would ask all parishioerns to seriously think about masses they attend. Please don’t all turn up for the first mass, because we will have to turn away parishioerns once we have reached our capacity of 125.
Christmas Eve Masses: 5.00pm, 7.00pm, 8.30pm & 10.00pm
Chretismas Day Masses: 9.00am, 10.00am & 11.00am
DIARY 2020
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH
Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Brian Beveridge, Karl Britz, Jane Downs, Steve Dalgliesh, James Geller, Veronica Godsave, Bernadette Hall, Ann Hawkes, Claire Howes, Pamela Houghton, Shaun Keel, Angela Long, Lilian Mothersole, Sheila Murphy, John McKernan, Rosemary O’Rourke, Kathleen Pomeroy, Barbara Pope, Geraldine Taylor, Vera Taylor, Mary Walstow, Mary Witten, James Wright. And all our loved ones.
ANNIVERSARIES: We pray for all our Holy Souls, and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.
OFFERTORY COLLECTION: No Offertory. With continued thanks for your Weekly Offering. If you would like to join the Gift Aid Scheme, there are application forms in the Church Porch or ask Fr. John for a form. If you forget your envelope, there are spares in the Porch. Thank you!
BAPTISMS: We have been given permission to resume the Baptism of infants in our churches. At present all baptism have been suspended until after 2nd December, and then, once again we will have to review the situation in accord with Government guidelines. Manifestly, this is very distressing to families who really want to celebrate this beautiful sacrament. I really don’t know how long this situation will continue, but the most important thing is that your baby is baptised. If this is your first child Sharon Chalk, our Baptism Catechist will meet with you, and go through the whole process of Baptism
MASS INTENTIONS – NOVEMBER 2020
NO PUBLIC MASSES. MASS WILL BE TRANSMITTED
DAILY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
| Sat 14th | 10.00am | Breda Dolan RIP (Laura McCrory) / All Holy Souls |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday: Church resumes regular Sunday Schedule | ||
| Sat 14th | 6.00pm | Margaret Russell RIP (John & Sue Campbell) / All Holy Souls |
| Sun 15th | No 9.00am or 10.00am Masses | |
| Sun 15th | 11:00am | John McDowell RIP ((Gunn Family) H/S |
| Mon 16th | 10.00am | Sam Farrugia RIP / All Holy Souls |
| Tues 17th | 10.00am | Rachael Harding’s Int’s (Rosemary & Ian Johnson. / All Holy Souls |
| Wed 18th | 10.00am | Breege & Michael Kerrane RIP (Mary) All Holy Souls |
| Thurs 19th | 10.00am | Jhana Ruth Marc-Peterkin (Mary Marc-Peterkin) / All Holy Souls |
| Fri 20th | 10.00am 10.30am | Peter Smith RIP (Paul Falco) / Holy SoulsHoly Hour Exposition of the Bl. Sacrament |
| Sat 21st | 10.00am | Joan Taylor RIP (Gunn Family) / All Holy Souls |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday | ||
| Sat 21st | 6.00pm | David Jeffreys RIP (Barbara Jeffreys) /All Holy Souls |
| Sun 22nd | No 9.00am or 10.00am Masses | |
| Sun 22nd | 11:00am | Karl & Margaret Britz RIP (K Britz) All Holy Souls |
BOOKING MASSES: At present there are many openings for Mass Intentions. If you would like a Mass for a particular intention, please write your details on an envelope and post it through the letterbox at the presbytery. You can Gift Aid your intentions just put the GA number on envelope. Place your Mass offering in the envelope. Thank you!
IN CASES OF EMERGENCY: Tuesday is usually Fr. John’s Day Off. In Cases of emergency please call one of the local parishes, either in Epping – Tel: 01992 572516, or the St. Thomas of Canterbury Friary at Woodford Green – Tel: 020 8504 1688. This would also apply if Fr. John is away for a few days break or on Retreat. All the local funeral directors have a contact number for Fr. John if a funeral needs to be arranged in his absence.
St Edmund of Canterbury 