Twenty-First Sunday of the Year, 2021

St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More

The disciples could be slow on the uptake; they could be dull and passive, and they often misunderstood and missed the point. Today, however, they are spot on and show that they have indeed understood what Jesus was teaching. In fact, so clear and crisp is their grasp of Jesus’ teaching on the Eucharist that many turned back and no longer followed him. In fact, as if in unison they declared in protest, “This is intolerable language; how could anyone accept it?”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church sheds light on this reaction: ‘The first announcement of the Eucharist divided the disciples, just as the announcement of the Passion scandalised them: ‘This is a hard saying, who can listen to is?’ The Eucharist and the Cross are stumbling blocks. It is the same mystery and it never ceases to be an occasion of division. ‘Will you also go away?’ The Lord’s question echoes through the ages, as a loving invitation to discover that only he has the words of eternal life and that to receive in faith the gift of the Eucharist is to receive the Lord himself.’ (CCC. 1336).

The Holy Spirit helps us comprehend the miracle of the Eucharist. Perhaps we receive the Eucharist week after week without pondering and reflecting on the awesome privilege it is to receive Christ in this way? What is truly shocking and scandalous about the Eucharist is that the gift held out to us is that of the whole Christ. The body and blood, soul and divinity of Our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ, is truly, really and substantially made present to us. In other words, Jesus is made real and present in the most full and complete sense. Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist is substantial in that he himself in wholly and entirely present. What a gift! What a blessing! What a grace!

COVID UPDATE: This week our 16 & 17 year olds are being encoruaged to take up the vaccination against Covid. As the schools prepare to open up at the beginning of September this is a wonderful opportunity for our young people to protect themselves against this terrible virus. I truly believe we all have a moral responsbility to protect each other and the more people who have the jab the safer we will feel.

Dear Friends in Christ, 21^st Sunday of the Year

Once again it was very heartening to see so many of our parishioners returning to weekly mass. I remember when we opened last year one parishioner had said to me the thing she missed most of all was being present with the community week by week, and receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. To be deprived of so great a gift was almost too much to bear. The Eucharist is our weekly life source; we are nourished & fed by the Lord Jesus himself. The Eucharist strengthens our faith, empowers us to bear witness to Christ in our daily lives.

Unfortunately, this terrible Pandemic has taken its toll on many people’s lives in all sorts of different ways. There are still a lot of people who are very apprehensive and sacred about venturing out and mixing with people once again. We have all lost nearly 18 months of our lives through this terrible disease; and tragically, many have lost loved ones. But with more and more being vaccinated there is some hope for the future. Trying to regain some semblance of normality in our everyday existence is the aspiration of everyone. If we are all sensible and aware of each other this can probably be achieved.

I would like to invite all of our parishioners to return to the weekly practice of faith. As most of you know by now we have taken all measures possible to protect everyone who attends weekly mass. Your health & safety are of supreme importance. Thankfully, we haven’t had one single case cited through the attending of weekly mass. Being united together in faith was the wish of the Lord Jesus, ‘that they all be one’. Please ponder and reflect on these sentiments.

PARISH WEEKLY OFFERTORY: Last week our local HSBC Bank closed for the last time. The parish and diocese bank with HSBC and our account has been transferred to Walthamstow. Could I encourage our parishioners to seriously think about your weekly offertory and going on to a direct debit scheme? Please remember to quote your Gift Aid number when you set up the direct debit. My thanks to all those who have already done this! You can also give online, details on the opposite page. As I have already mentioned our weekly offertory has taken a dramatic hit over the past 18 months. Thank you to all parishioners who give so generously each week to keep the parish afloat.

May God Bless You All This 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:

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: Grand Church Clean on Saturday 11^th September at 9.30am PLEASE COME AND HELP US FOR AN HOUR OR SO!

Please can we appeal to all parishioners for help to keep our church clean? During lockdown we have only asked for 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

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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/

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.

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 17 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!

GARDENING: Is there any parishioner/s who would be willing to cut the hedge in the front garden of the presbytery for me; also trim some of the shrubs and bushes along the path leading to the church, I’d be truly grateful. There is a hedge trimmer in the garage at the back of the Presbytery.

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

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

FR JOHN CAN HELP YOU, AS THIS WAS HIS AREA OF SPECIALITY WHEN STUDYING CANON LAW.

MASS INTENTIONS – AUGUST 2021

Sat 21^st	10.00am	David Faud RIP B’day Anni ( The Rooney Family)
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday: Confessions at 5.30pm*
Sat 21^st	6.00pm	Martin Duffy RIP 2^nd Anni (Sarah Duffy)
Sun 22^nd	9.00am	For sick family members (Peter Wright)
Sun 22^nd	11:00am	Thanksgiving B’d Int’s (Melinda Staines)
Mon 23^rd	10.00am 10.30am	COMMUNION SERVICE Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Tues 24^th	10.00am	COMMUNION SERVICE
Wed 25^th	10.00am	COMMUNION SERVICE
Thurs 26^th	10.00am 10.30am	COMMUNION SERVICE Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Fri 27^th	10.00am 10.30am	COMMUNION SERVICE Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Sat 28^th	10.00am	COMMUNION SERVICE
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday Confessions 5.30pm*
Sat 28^th	6.00pm	Nicanor Rey Zulueta RIP (Melinda Staines)
Sun 29^th	9.00am	For the Int’s of Anne-Marie & Ian Kendal on their 25^th Wedding Anniversary
Sun 29^th	11:00am	People of the Parish

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.

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading : Joshua 24:1-2,15-18

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem; then he called the elders, leaders, judges and scribes of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. Then Joshua said to all the people, ‘If you will not serve the Lord, choose today whom you wish to serve, whether the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are now living. As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord.’

The people answered, ‘We have no intention of deserting the Lord and serving other gods! Was it not the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors out of the land of Egypt, the house of slavery, who worked those great wonders before our eyes and preserved us all along the way we travelled and among all the peoples through whom we journeyed? What is more, the Lord drove all those peoples out before us, as well as the Amorites who used to live in this country. We too will serve the Lord, for he is our God.’

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33(34):2-3,16-23