The Nineteenth Sunday of the Year, 2021

St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More

Despite him miraculously feeding them, the people took offence ‘How can he say he came down from heaven?’ they ask. ‘we know who he is. He is Mary & Joseph’s son.’ Flesh and blood cannot grasp the mystery of God made man. Jesus said: ‘No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws hum’. God draws people to himslef; he tteaches so that they can believe in him.

Sadly, nowawdays many people reject Jesus as a miracle-worker or divine, but they are willing to accept and admire him on the level as a great moral teacher. However the great Christian apologist C S Lewis argues powerfully agains this conclusion:

‘I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would nt be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon, or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronising nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to … Now it seems to me obvious that he was neither a lunatic nor a fiend; and consequently, however strange, or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that he was and is God.’

ONGOING COVID SITUATION: Obviously this isi something that we are now learning to live with on a daily basis. To look after each other and care for each other is our repsonsibility. I encourage all to receive the vaccination. We will continue to be careful at Church, using face coverings, hand snitisation on entry and exit, written track & trace, Communion under one species the Body of Christ, also respecting each others space, ventilation in the church. Sunday Masses are: Vigil Mass Saturday at 6.00pm. Sunday Masses at 9.00am & 11.00am. PLEASE NOTE 10.00am Mass now discontinued. Please make every effor to join us if you can. If you can’t make Sunday, please come during the week at 10.00am.

Dear Friends in Christ, 18^th Sunday of the Year

I just want to say how wonderful it is to see that so many have returned to weekly Mass in the recent months. Obviously this Pandemic has taken its toll on many people’s lives. And for those of us who’ve had Coronavirus, it’s not very nice! But as we try to regain some kind of semblance of normality back in our lives once again, to see so many of you each week is really heartening. Never before in our lives have we experienced anything quite like this. And never before did we have to close our churches, not even during the war years. I know many people are still very nervous about venturing out, and even coming to church, but slowly and gradually as more and more people are vaccinated, hopefully this virus will diminish as we’re protected. As you know my main concern has always been your health and safety, and all the measures are in place at Church to continue to maintain this health and safety. May I thank the whole parish community for your understanding during these past 18 months, and also your loyalty to your parish, it’s truly wonderful to see! Also for your ongoing upkeep on the parish through your Weekly Offertory, this has helped to sustain the parish during this difficult time; admittedly our offertory has taken a severe nose-dive of the past 16 months. Let us, dear friends, now move onwards and upwards!

PARISHIONERS, PLEASE CAN YOU HELP US? As of next Friday 13^th August, the HSBC Bank in Loughton will be closing. As the Parish and Diocese use HSBC, it is going to be more difficult to pay in our Weekly Offering on a Weekly basis, as now we have to travel to Walthamstow. Deliveries will be less frequent. I would encourage our parishioners to begin giving online, through the various methods cited on the opposite page. Also, the bank is rather reluctant to take a lot of coinage these days. Obviously many of you use the Parish Gift Aid Scheme, and that is wonderful. But some who are giving online are not quoting their GA number, so it’s extremely difficult at times matching up your offering as Gift Aided, and therefore we lose the return Tax. Please would all parishioners kindly check your online giving and ensure that the GA number is cited. Thank you! Any queries to Fr. John or Maria Mosquera.

May God Bless You All

https://tse4.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.PksgenkNVMwF2XWxHkXnzgHaHp&pid=Api&P=0&w=300&h=300

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:

Donate

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. I am hoping to begin our programme in September, following a systematic instruction in all aspects of Catholicism. It would be wonderful to have a few people on the programme. Could you spread the word about please! If you want to know more about the programme please contact Fr. John at the Presbytery for more detials on Tel No: 020 8508 3492. Start Date for Programme: Thursday 9^th September 2021.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME: The programme will commence with a Parents’ Information Evening on Wednesday 15^th September at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall. The children’s programme will commence on Sunday 19^th September at 10.00, and the children will be formally presented as candidates of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist at the 11.00am Mass. Please put these dates in your diary. Thank you!

ALTAR SOCIETY: Please can we appeal to all parishioners for help to keep our church clean. During lockdown we have only asked a few a few deep cleans but now things will be changing, we desperately need your help to keep a weekly rota going. Cleaning is split between the altar, sanctuary, main church, front porch/library, choir loft brass ware and candle racks. The duties include dusting, sweeping, mopping, polishing, window/door cleaning, hoovering, linens and polishing. You can do as much or as little as you are able to do (1 hour at the most, per month) and all parishioners are invited to help, regardless of age or gender. To register your interest please contacts Sharon Fitzmaurice on 07854919207 or shazzafitzm@aol.com UNFORTUNATELY, THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE RESPONSE TO THIS REQUEST. IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE LET US KNOW. THANKS!

MASS INTENTIONS: There are plenty openings for Mass Intentions in the parish diary. If you would like a mass celebrated for a special intention; deceased family members; birthdays etc. Please complete Mass Intention envelope and return to the Presbytery as soon as possible please! Fr John will always try to accommodate the date you’ve requested. Thank you!

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/

A LEVEL RESULTS: Will come out this coming Tuesday 10^th August. Wishing all of our young people sincere well wishes and luck with their exam results; and of course, with their decisions about College & University for the future. Obviously this has been a difficult year with regards examinations, and talking to some of our young people, they had to work even harder for teacher assessments on their work. I pray that all our young people will get the required results they need to pursue their chosen subjects in the future. Also for those who sat GCSE’s this year, once again a difficult time. Hopefully you are able to continue with further A Level studies.

REQUIESCAT IN PACE: In your mercy please pray for the repose of the soul of Patricia Panagli, long time parishioners at St. Edmund’s, who passed away during the week. Her Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Thursday 19^th August at 1.00pm at St. Edmund’s. We extend our condolences to her family in this time of great loss.

BAPTISMS: It is now permissible once again to have Baptisms with larger groups of family & guests. Manifestly, there are many people who haven’t been able to have baptisms over the past 18 months. Kindly contact Fr. John to arrange your child’s baptism as soon as possible please. There is a Baptism Programme for first time parents.

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: It has always been a custom within the Roman Catholic Faith to have an Intention offered when celebrating Holy Mass. Intentions can be for all occasions: e.g. For a deceased member of a family; deceased anniversary mass; Birthday intention; Special Occasions; Get Well Mass; Success in exams; Special milestone anniversaries, Wedding, Ordination, Confirmation. In fact, you can offer a Mass for almost every occasion! There are Mass Intention envelopes and Special Mass Cards for all occasions in the Repository at the back of the Church. (Please complete Mass envelope and enclose your Mass Offering and drop off at the Presbytery); I will always try to accommodate the date you have requested, or the nearest date to it. It’s always beautiful to receive a Mass card from someone!

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

PROSPECTIVE MARRIAGES FOR 2022/23: If anyone is planning on getting married wihin the next 18 months, could you kindly make contact with the Church. As the Pandemic has delayed many marriages over the past 16 months, there is now a catch-up taking place, and many people have had to rescedule their weddings and receptions accordingly. For marriages abroad, we need at least nine months notice, as all the documentation has to be completed at least two months in advance of the wedding and sent abroad. There is also an Engaged Couple’s Marriage Prepraration Programme to complete; which is a requirement for Catholic Marriage. For those couples getting married in your own parish church, a six month notification is needed. There is now a new format for the Civil Registration of Marriage. There is no more signing of registers, this is now abrogated for a simpler form of signatures; but all of these procedures take time. So please notify the church in plenty of time for weddings. Thank you!

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

BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY:

Can you help please? During the pandemic, the work of the Brentwood Catholic Childrens Society (bccs) in counselling and supporting children and their families in need throughout the Diocese has greatly increased. During this time, bccs has been unable to run many of its fund-raising events to assist with the cost of supporting this vital work and income has dropped significantly as a result.

A major fund-raising event, called ‘bccs Relay 100’, has recently been launched by Bishop Alan on behalf of bccs which involves 100 legs and links every parish in the Diocese. Volunteers from each parish are invited to walk, run or jog one or more of these legs – each leg being a distance of several miles between two or three of their own and surrounding parishes. They will be in good company, because Bishop Alan has already completed one of the legs!

Here in Loughton, the Burrowes, Poulter and Jewell families have kindly agreed to walk some of these legs to represent our Parish in this cross-Diocese event and it would be much appreciated if many of us could sponsor them.

Our three volunteer families are aware, as we all are, of the many calls for support from worthwhile charities during these difficult times and may not wish to bother you unduly, but bccs as you know is an extremely worthwhile cause close to our hearts and we hope that you feel able to sponsor them.

You can do this in any of the following ways:

By offering your sponsor donation directly to them.

By donating through the website https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/Relay100

By sending your donation to bccs, Childcare House, Little Wheatley Chase, Rayleigh, SS6 9EH

By making your donation via on-line banking to Brentwood Catholic Childrens Society, account number 31094130 and sort code 40 13 22

Whichever way you choose, kindly mention our Parish and the name(s) of our volunteers who you are sponsoring? Also, if you are a tax payer, please confirm if you are willing for your donation to be Gift-Aided.

We know that bccs will be extremely grateful for whatever donation, large or small, you can offer to sponsor our Parish walkers in this important Diocese-wide fund-raising event. Thank you very much.

DIARY AUGUST 2021

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

Carmen Antaki, Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Brian Beveridge, Karl Britz, Carlos Camacho, Jane Downs, Steve Dalgliesh, Pat Fenn, Veronica Godsave, Bernadette Hall, Ann Hawkes, Claire Howes, Noel Johnson, Shaun Keel, Angela Long, Lilian Mothersole, John McKernan, Rosemary O’Rourke, Kathleen Pomeroy, Geraldine Taylor, Vera Taylor, Mary Witten, James Wright. And all our loved ones.

ANNIVERSARIES: For all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.

MASS INTENTIONS – AUGUST 2021

Sat 7^th	10.00am	Tom Swan RIP
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday: Confessions at 5.30pm*
Sat 7^th	6.00pm	Catrina Hamilton Int’s (Kathleen Faherty)
Sun 8^th	9.00am	Violet Hall RIP (Mrs M Cobelli)
Sun 8^th	11:00am	Peter Smith RIP (Paul Falco)
Mon 9^th	10.00am 10.30am	Felicity Corcoran Int’s (Kathleen Faherty) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Tues 10^th	10.00am	Maurice Onwkwar Int’s (N Hassan)
Wed 11^th	10.00am	Frank Westcott B’day Int’s (Pat & Margaret)
Thurs 12^th	10.00am 10.30am	Bridget Kinsella’s Int’s (Maree, Pat & Margaret) Holy Hour with Exposition of BL Sacrament
Fri 13^th	10.00am 10.30am	Breege & Michael Kerrane RIP (Mary) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Sat 14^th	10.00am	Ebert Fernando RIP (Christine Fernando)
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday Confessions 5.30pm*
Sat 14^th	6.00pm	David Staines B’day Int’s (Melinda Staines)
Sun 15^th	9.00am	People of the Parish
Sun 15^th	11:00am	Robert Taylor RIP (Eileen Lee)

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.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading : 1 Kings 19:4-8

Elijah went into the wilderness, a day’s journey, and sitting under a furze bush wished he were dead. ‘O Lord,’ he said ‘I have had enough. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.’ Then he lay down and went to sleep. But an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat.’ He looked round, and there at his head was a scone baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. But the angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat, or the journey will be too long for you.’ So he got up and ate and drank, and strengthened by that food he walked for forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

Responsive Psalm : Psalm 33(34):2-9