St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More
Dear Friends in Christ 12th Sunday of the Year
Being caught in a storm at sea must be terrifying. The apostles in the Gospel today feel helpless and afraid; they awaken Jesus who stills the wind with one command and then questions his disciple: ‘Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?’ Such a situation is the moment most of us find our faith. In its truest sense, faith is at those moments a return to God, through reliance – a dependence that can bring deep relief, peace and humility. We give ourselves completely to God, acknowledging his might and our smallness. God fills us and we feel a ‘love divine’, all loves excelling, as the hymn tells us. ‘My moments of depression and despair turn out to be renewals, new beginnings,’ wrote Thomas Merton. Stuck or powerless, we turn to God for help, and so find him again. Is this why we sometimes suffer? Is suffering a reminder from God to come home?
Relying on God gives us a feeling of being protected and supported in life. In tough times, we rely upon Christ. Rather than making us feel unpleasantly small, these moments of great need paired with great faith make us feel wonderfully small! It is s relief to ‘let go and let God’.
ONGOING COVID PANDEMIC UPDATE: As predicted, the Government have extended this lockdown until the 19th July. People are feeling really frustrated by this extension; but health and safety are the major factors at play here. With the Delta variant spreading very rapidly up and down the country, the last thing the government want is another complete lockdown. Obviously, this will affect many people’s lives in all sorts of different ways. Once again, at the church we will maintain our social distancing, hand sanitisation, face coverings, track & trace, one way system in the church, complete sanitisation of the church after every service. Many parishioners have returned to the weekly practice of the faith, many haven’t, and yet I bumped into many in the supermarkets; and seen many out and about. If there are folks who have got out of the habit of coming to Mass regularly, I appeal to you think seriously about non-attendance and have a talk with yourselves. There have been many religious articles written about this; that there will be some who will not return to the church for whatever reasons, but please ask yourselves the important questions, can I live without God in my life? Can I truly live without the sacraments? And if you are parents, can I jeopardise my children’s spiritual faith journey if I abandon the practice of my faith? These are relevant and poignant questions that need to be asked!
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME 2021/2022: I have now completed the interviews with parents. I would like to thank all the parents that I was able to see this week regarding you children’s forthcoming First Holy Communion Programme. It was really nice to be able to meet up with you, and discuss the programme the children, hopefully, will begin in September. As you know, in light of the Covid Pandemic, we had to cancel this year’s programme; therefore there will be two years of children, Years 3 & 4. There should be about 25 children on the programme. Please keep the children and their families in your prayers.
FEAST OF SS. JOHN FISHER & THOMAS MORE: Tuesday 22nd June. The children from our Primary will join us through live streaming, and special crosses for all the children will be blessed at the end of Mass and then distributed to all the children at school.
May God Bless Your Week,
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
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: If you know of anyone who may be interested in learning more about the Roman Catholic Faith possibly with the view of receiving the Easter Sacraments in 2022, please contact Fr. John at the Presbytery on Tel No: 020 8508 3492. The programme usually commences in September. It would be wonderful to have a number of enquirers. We follow a systematic programme of instruction, covering all aspects of Catholicism, Doctrine, Scripture, Liturgy, Mariology, Catholic practices. Please spread the word about this programme. Thank you!
POSTPONEMENT OF JUBILEE: I have decided to postpone my 40th Anniversary of Ordination Jubilee celebrations until a later date. With ultimate restrictions not being lifted now until July 19th, it’s going to be impossible to do anything. I will celebrate a Jubilee Thanksgiving Mass on Sunday 11th July at 11am with only my Parish Family, this will be live streamed.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE: In you mercy please pray for thr epose of the soul of Violet Hall RIP, who passed away recently. Violet lived in St. Edmund’s Parish for nearly 70 years, and was our oldest parishionerS at 98 years. Condolences to her family. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Tuesday 22nd June at 1.00pm followed by Cremation at Forest Park Crematorium.
PARISH REPOSITORY: There are a large number of gifts and cards available in the Repository. There are rosaries, statues, medals, candles, special cards, prayer crosses, Anniversary Cards for all occasions, and many other items that would be suitable gifts for all occasions. Please leave your money in the basket provided. Thanks
EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to generously donate items for the Foodbank during these difficult times. The Foodbank are truly grateful for the generosity our parish has shown throughout the pandemic and our donations are still needed desperately as more and more people in our community are finding it hard to make ends meet. The Foodbank have asked for support with the following items: Long-life fruit juice, tinned tomatoes, instant mash, tinned fish, tinned peas, tinned carrots, tinned potatoes, small jars of instant coffee, small or medium bags of rice, sponge pudding, snack bars, chocolate bars, chocolate spread and savoury crackers Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/
IRREGULAR MARRIAGES: An irregualr marriage is one tht has taken place outside of the Catholic Church without dispensation. For example: Marriages in hotels, and secualr venues, on beaches or Las Vegas; marriage in a non Catholic Church without dispensation from the Bishop. These marriages are not recognised by the Catholic Church, and therefore are non sacramental & irregular. But there is a facility in the Church to recetify these situations called a Convalidation (this is a strictly private facility that is offered by the church). As marriage and family life is what I specialised in while studying Canon Law, if anyone wishes to speak to me confidentially please don’t hesitate to contact me: Tel No: 0208 508 3492
RETURNING TO THE WEEKLY PRACTICE OF THE FAITH: With so amny people having received their Vaccination against Covid, it would be wonderful to see many more return to the weekly practice of the faith. To be without the Sacrametns for usch a long period of time is unprecedented. It’s true that many people have just got out of the habit of going to Church, and live-streaming is not a subsititute for being together with the worhsipping community. Our Church’s opened last July 4th, and many parishioners have returned. To get back into the routine of regular practice is up to the individual, but if you have children, it is so important that this routine recommence once again. Children are guided by their parents, and if chidlren witness that this is not important to you, it will, sadly, not be important to them. There are so many challenges and threats to our lives of faith, on so many fronts these days, please don’t let Covid be another of them!
DIARY JUNE 2021
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH
Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Brian Beveridge, Karl Britz, Carlos Camacho, Jane Downs, Steve Dalgliesh, Pat Fenn, Veronica Godsave, Bernadette Hall, Violet Hall Ann Hawkes, Claire Howes, Pamela Houghton, Noel Johnson, Shaun Keel, Angela Long, Lilian Mothersole, Sheila Murphy, John McKernan, Rosemary O’Rourke, Kathleen Pomeroy, Geraldine Taylor, Vera Taylor, Collette Wenborn, Mary Witten, James Wright. And all our loved ones.
ANNIVERSARIES: Alice Bate RIP, Kazimierz Michalik RIPFor all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.
OFFERTORY COLLECTION: I would like to take this public opportunity of thanking every single member of this parish Community for your incredible support of the parish over the past 16 months of Pandemic. With the church remaining open and with online daily live streaming of Holy Mass, even during those four and half months of lockdown; in completing our Financial Returns to the Diocese, you will be delighted to know that we broke even this year. My thanks to Michael Manzi our Accountant, who looks after the Parish Accounts & Maria Mosquera who looks after the Parish Gift Aid Scheme; they have both done a truly wonderful job this year. 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!
SACRAMENTS CELEBRATED DURING ALERT LEVEL 4 RESTRICTIONS: In accordance with Government & Diocesan Guidelines, we are allowed to celebrate Funerals with 100 people present, strictly observing social distancing. 30 people are allowed to be present at a wedding. Baptisms: you are now allowed up to 30 persons at a Baptism; not too sure what the restrictions are for social event after though! These are really difficult times, and many couples were disappointed last year not being able to celebrate their marriages. We are hoping with the distribution of the vaccine, that things will change dramatically this year. If there are any couples who are thinking about getting married, please notify the parish immediately. Thank you. Obviously until restrictions are lifted all of the above applies for the foreseeable future.
MASS INTENTIONS – JUNE 2021
| Sat 19th | 10.00am | Pat Ata Int’s ( Bridget & Maree) |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday: Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 19th | 6.00pm | Kazimierz Michalik RIP (Ewa Michalik) |
| Sun 20th Sun 20th | 9.00am 10.00am | Tony Galcius RIP (John & Sue Campbell) People of the Parish |
| Sun 20th | 11:00am | Elizabeth Nkum RIP (Maria Fray) |
| Mon 21st | 10.00am 10.30am | Joe Burke RIPHoly Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament |
| Tues 22nd | 10.00am 1.00pm | Annie Ginty RIPRequiem Mass. Violet Hall RIP |
| Wed 23rd | 10.00am | Grace Rose Skinner Int’s (John O Rourke) |
| Thurs 24th | 10.00am 10.30am | Chinnamma Augustine RIPHoly Hour with Exposition of the Bl Sacrament |
| Fri 25th | 10.00am 10.30am | Peter Smith RIP (Paul Falco)Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament |
| Sat 26th | 10.00am | Ann Hawkes Int’s (Remy) |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday Confessions 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 26th | 6.00pm | Kazimierz Michalik RIP (Ewa Michalik) |
| Sun 27th Sun 27th | 9.00am 10.00am | Charles Hardy RIPPeople of the Parish |
| Sun 27th | 11:00am | Louise Esseiva RIP |
Please kindly be patient with your mass requests. I will try to accommodate your requested dates, but there have been a large number of requests recently and we celebrate masses in the order in which we receive them.
TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
First Reading : Job 38:1,8-11
From the heart of the tempest the Lord gave Job his answer. He said:
Who pent up the sea behind closed doors
when it leapt tumultuous out of the womb,
when I wrapped it in a robe of mist
and made black clouds its swaddling bands;
when I marked the bounds it was not to cross
and made it fast with a bolted gate?
Come thus far, I said, and no farther:
here your proud waves shall break.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 106(107):23-26,28-32
O give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures for ever.
Some sailed to the sea in ships
to trade on the mighty waters.
These men have seen the Lord’s deeds,
the wonders he does in the deep.
O give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures for ever.
For he spoke; he summoned the gale,
tossing the waves of the sea
up to heaven and back into the deep;
their souls melted away in their distress.
O give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures for ever.
Then they cried to the Lord in their need
and he rescued them from their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper:
all the waves of the sea were hushed.
O give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures for ever.
They rejoiced because of the calm
and he led them to the haven they desired.
Let them thank the Lord for his love,
for the wonders he does for men.
O give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures for ever.
Second Reading : 2 Corinthians 5:14-17
The love of Christ overwhelms us when we reflect that if one man has died for all, then all men should be dead; and the reason he died for all was so that living men should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised to life for them.
From now onwards, therefore, we do not judge anyone by the standards of the flesh. Even if we did once know Christ in the flesh, that is not how we know him now. And for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here.
Gospel : Mark 4:35-41
With the coming of evening, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us cross over to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind they took him, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. Then it began to blow a gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. But he was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, ‘Master, do you not care? We are going down!’ And he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet now! Be calm!’ And the wind dropped, and all was calm again. Then he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?’ They were filled with awe and said to one another, ‘Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.
St Edmund of Canterbury 