St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More
The goal and purpose of the Christian life are to reveal the person of Jesus, in who the whole of God’s eternal design reached fulfilment and perfection. This is exactly the understanding that St. Peter comes to in today’s reading. Mere flesh and blood could not have opened his mind to this truth; he could never have figured it out by his natural ability. He received a revelation form God the Father, who opened his mind and his heart to humbly acknowledge Jesus as the Christ.
The word ‘Christ’ comes from the Greek translation of the Hebrew ‘Messiah’, which means ‘anointed’. In Israel those consecrated to God for a mission that he gave were anointed in his name. This was the case for kings, priests, and in rare instances, prophets. Through grace of revelation, St Peter understood that this was the name and title proper to Jesus. Jesus is Messiah, the Christ, the Lord’s Anointed, and he fulfilled the messianic hope of Israel in his threefold office of priest, prophet and King.
The Holy Spirit works in us, as he did in St Peter, so that we too can proclaim with heartfelt faith ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’ to the glory of God the Father. The sublime mystery of God made man is at the very heart of the faith which the apostles handed on to us: ‘That which was from the beginning, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life – the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal which was with the Father and was made manifesto us – that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to your so that you may have fellowship with us, and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
STAY ALERT: In listening to the daily Covid reports, there are still a high number of people who are contracting this awful disease. Please be as careful and attentive as you can. Protect yourselves and others. We will continue to employ the use of face masks at Mass each day; with hand sanitisation at entry and exit of the church; our track & trace system is still in place, but thankfully we have had no cases reported at church. Unfortunately, it appears that we have to live with Covid, and try to make the best of the situation we have; but always being protective of one another is important!
Dear Friends in Christ, 24th Sunday of the Year 2021
Last weekend we had the most people here at Mass since the Pandemic began back in March 2020. It was truly wonderful to see, and may I continue to encourage you all to share and celebrate in our weekend masses. We can only hope and pray that the Covid situation will not be too difficult over the autumn and winter period. That’s why we all need to continue to take care of ourselves and one another.
During this coming week we will have the first of our Parents’ Meetings for the First Holy Communion Programme on Wednesday 15th September at 7.30pm in the parish hall. As you’re aware, due to Covid we had to cancel last year’s programme. So this year, we will have two year groups 3 & 4. This is an Information evening, where parents are introduced to our Catechists, and all relevant information re the programme will be shared; I will also share with you some guidelines in preparation for the children’s first session on Sunday 19th September at 10.00am in the Parish Hall. (Enrolment Mass at 11am). The Golden Book which will be presented by you to your children costs £20. Please bring along your money for the book. The Catechists and I would like to encourage parents to join the sessions on a Sunday morning. It would be good for you to see how we teach the programme. Please pray for all the children this year.
PARISH FINANCES: During the Pandemic, over the past 19 months, you may be aware that the Parish Finances took a bit of a nosedive. Unfortunately, with a large number of people not attending church anymore there has been a dramatic reduction in income. Many parishioners signed up for online giving (details below); some joined the Gift Aid Scheme and give through monthly direct debit. I would like to encourage all parishioners to seriously think about your weekly offertory. This is your act of thanksgiving to Almighty God, and of course, is the main source of upkeep for the parish. There are spare Gift Aid application Forms in the Porch if you would like to join the scheme; you have to be a Tax Payer to join. Also, as we are having great difficulty in paying in our weekly offertory now, due to the HSBC bank closing, and many other branches not taking counter pay-in, can I recommend more parishioners going over to GA scheme through weekly/monthly direct debit, or online giving! This would be so helpful! Thank you for your generosity!
May God Bless You All
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 anyone else is interested in joining the RCIA Journey of Faith programme, please come along to the Presbytery at 7.30pm next Thursday. We had an introductory evening last Thursday; but it’s still not too late to join the programme. If you want to know more about the programme please contact Fr John, Tel No: 0208 508 3492 or Email: loughton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME: The programme will commence with a Parents’ Information Evening on Wednesday 15th September at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall. The children’s programme will commence on Sunday 19th 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: A very big thank you to all who joined us for the Grand Clean of the Church this weekend, your help was truly appreciated. If anyone else would like to join the Altar Society please contact Sharon Fitzmaurice on 07854919207 or shazzafitzm@aol.com It probably works out to about an hour a month, and you can do as much or as little as you wish; the more help we have the easier it is to keep the church really clean. Thanking you in anticipation!
LIVE-STREAMING IN THE PARISH: Literally from day one of the Pandemic we have live-streamed Mass in the Parish. It truly was a life-saver for many when the church was closed for nearly 5 months during last year. Hopefully with more and more returning to the weekly practice of faith once again, we will only be live-streaming the 11am Mass on Sunday’s now, encouraging our people to return to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist together. Weekday livestreaming will continue for the sick & housebound.
EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to generously donate items for the Foodbank. They 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: tinned soup, tinned spaghetti, tinned tomatoes, savoury crackers, sponge puddings, chocolate bars, small and medium bags of rice, snack bars and razors. Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/
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!
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
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: 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!
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.
WHY SUNDAY IS IMPORTANT TO CATHOLICS: Sunday is a day of life and glory. On that day, Christ, the life of the faithful, rose from the dead. We remember and celebrate this saving event in a special way on a Sunday. But more than that, the Crucified and Risen Christ comes to us in the celebration of the Mass. He speaks to us through the living word of the Sacred Scriptures. He feeds us, body and soul, with his own divine life in Holy Communion. He calls us out of our individual activities and isolation and gathers us together as His Church, a people set apart to give thanks and praise to Him. Sunday is the Day of the Lord, when we meet the Risen Christ and formed into a community of faith, hope and love by Holy Spirit.
TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL – SIXTH FORM:
We have limited places available in the following A Level subjects. If you would like to apply, please email sixthformadmissions@tchs.uk.net with a copy of your GCSE results.
Art, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Computer Science, Digital Media, Economics, English Language & Literature, English Literature, Film Studies, Food Tech, French, Geography, History, Maths & Further Maths, PE, Physics, Politics, Product Design (DT), Psychology, Sociology, Spanish, & Theatre Studies.
FROM THE VICARIATE FOR ADULT FORMATION
1. One of the new projects to help adult lay men and women deepen their understanding of the Catholic Faith is a series of online talks given by priests of our diocese. This is not a systematic course that one needs to commit to in order to benefit from but rather online talks that people can dip in and out of as they wish. I wonder if you would be kind enough to include this brief notice in your newsletter or bring these talks to the attention of your parish as you see fit:
THE THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTIONS are a series of talks for adults who want to grow in understanding and confidence when questioned or speaking about their Catholic Faith. The talks and discussion will take place on Zoom from 4.00 – 5.00 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon. The first talk is on the 19th September and will consider the question: “What is the relationship between faith and reason?” It will be given by Fr Mark Swires, the chaplain at the University of Essex. If you would like to join this discussion please email your name and a contact email address to adultformationvicariate@dioceseofbrentwood.org
For more information about The Thresholds of Hope Questions go to www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk
2. I would also like to draw your attention to another online project developed by Mauro Iannicelli that provides an accessible guide to the Bible for adults. Mauro is a committed Catholic layman in our diocese and has provided input for the Newham Deanery in the past. He is also willing to send to your parish 200+ course invitation A6 flyers, completely free of charge. Just drop him an email request for the flyers at mauro@comeandsee.org, or to ask him any questions about the course. I recommend this initiative to you and if you feel able to do so, to promote his course in your newsletter or elsewhere:
The YouTube Bible Timeline Course Do you feel the Bible is too big and too difficult to understand? Do you get lost with all the characters and stories? If so, this course aims to help you better understand the riches of the Bible in a simple and straightforward way. The course begins on Wednesday 29 Sept, 2021 at 7pm. For more information and to register go to www.comeandsee.org
SECONDARY SCHOOLS ADMISSIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 2022: Always in September, the parents of children who are in Year 6 at Primary School will receive notification of the Admissions procedure to take place in securing a place for your child in September 2022. Whichever school you chose for your child should always be made in light of the information given by the school, and not on hearsay from other parents. As Roman Catholics we have a moral obligation to support our Roman Catholic Schools, both Primary & Secondary. We are very fortunate to have a Primary School in our own Parish. Our Local Catholic Secondary School is Trinity in Woodford Green. This school is fed by nine parishes in the locality and we are number 4 on the list. The Prerequisites are very clear and are known by Catholics in our parishes. Your child must be a Baptised, practicing (weekly attendance) Roman Catholics; not just making an appearance a few weeks before applications are made. Every priest has the right to refuse the signing of a form if applications are made by non-practicing Catholics, or incorrect information has been submitted. This also applies to applications to other Christian Schools. Only if a school is not oversubscribed will a non-practicing Catholic’s application be considered. PLEASE ENSURE YOU READ ALL THE RELEVANT LITERATURE WITH REGARDS THE APPLICATIONS PROCESS. THANK YOU!
A REAL MOMENT OF SADNESS: It’s heart-breaking and makes me really sad, that many of our Confirmandi who received the Sacrament of Confirmation in June have not returned to Holy Mass since that day of celebration. It’s not only an insult to Almighty God, but makes a farce of attending the programme in the first place, and all the hard work that was put in by our Confirmation Catechists. If it meant so little, why on earth did you do it? Of all the things that I have to contend with in Pastoral Ministry, this is the thing that makes me really sad! I know many people are walking away from the practice of the faith, and many have not returned after Covid. But to be a Roman Catholic is not just about fulfilling our Sunday Obligation, but about the whole of our lives lived in the light of Christ Jesus. What has happened to personal integrity & honesty? SAD! SAD! SAD!
MASS INTENTIONS – SEPTEMBER 2021
| Sat 11th | 10.00am | Michael & Breege Kerrane RIP (Mary) |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday: Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 11th | 6.00pm | Jane & Stephen Barrett RIP (Margaret Hopkinson) |
| Sun 12th | 9.00am | Yvonne Grace RIP (O’Regan & Tuson Families) |
| Sun 12th | 11:00am | People of the Parish. |
| Mon 13th | 10.00am 10.30am | Ebert Fernando RIP (Christine Fernando) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament |
| Tues 14th | 10.00am | Maria & Joao Servo RIP, Modesta & Joaquim Alves RIP |
| Wed 15th | 10.00am | Irene Olivelle (sick) (Veronica, Margaret & Pat) |
| Thurs 16th | 10.00am 10.30am | Emma Syrett & Family (Ann Petch) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament |
| Fri 17th | 10.00am 10.30am | Tony Tyler RIP (M Ryan) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament |
| Sat 18th | 10.00am | Veronique Marc RIP (Mary Marc-Peterkin) |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday Confessions 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 18th | 6.00pm | Margaret & Frank Irving RIP (Margaret Hopkinson) |
| Sun 19th | 9.00am | Pat Pinagli RIP (John & Sue Campbell) |
| Sun 20th | 11:00am | Rose Smith RIP (Noreen Smith) |
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.
Parish Phone No: 0208 508 3492 Email: Loughton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: Isaiah 50:5-9
The Lord has opened my ear.
For my part, I made no resistance,
neither did I turn away.
I offered my back to those who struck me,
my cheeks to those who tore at my beard;
I did not cover my face
against insult and spittle.
The Lord comes to my help,
so that I am untouched by the insults.
So, too, I set my face like flint;
I know I shall not be shamed.
My vindicator is here at hand. Does anyone start proceedings against me?
Then let us go to court together.
Who thinks he has a case against me?
Let him approach me.
The Lord is coming to my help,
who will dare to condemn me?
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 114(116):1-6,8-9
I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.
I love the Lord for he has heard
the cry of my appeal;
for he turned his ear to me
in the day when I called him.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.
They surrounded me, the snares of death,
with the anguish of the tomb;
they caught me, sorrow and distress.
I called on the Lord’s name.
O Lord, my God, deliver me!
I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.
How gracious is the Lord, and just;
our God has compassion.
The Lord protects the simple hearts;
I was helpless so he saved me.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.
He has kept my soul from death,
my eyes from tears
and my feet from stumbling.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord
in the land of the living.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.
Second Reading: James 2:14-18
Take the case, my brothers, of someone who has never done a single good act but claims that he has faith. Will that faith save him? If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on, and one of you says to them, ‘I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty’, without giving them these bare necessities of life, then what good is that? Faith is like that: if good works do not go with it, it is quite dead.
This is the way to talk to people of that kind: ‘You say you have faith and I have good deeds; I will prove to you that I have faith by showing you my good deeds – now you prove to me that you have faith without any good deeds to show.’
Gospel: Mark 8:27-35
Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi. On the way he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say I am?’ And they told him. ‘John the Baptist,’ they said ‘others Elijah; others again, one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he asked ‘who do you say I am?’ Peter spoke up and said to him, ‘You are the Christ.’ And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man was destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again; and he said all this quite openly. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. But, turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said to him, ‘Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’
He called the people and his disciples to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.
Statement of Bishop Alan for Education Sunday, 2021
Please read out and/or make available to parishioners
during the weekend of the 11/12th September
Education Sunday is a day on which can we focus on the wonderful work that is done in Catholic schools up and down the country. The last year has been a challenging time for all, as we have had to face the full impact of the pandemic and find new ways to live and work. Only time will show the full impact of the days that our children have had to stay at home and try to study. There are, I fear, some areas of inequality in the provision of the pupils’ learning, which may impinge on their development for some time. Having said that however, I know that the schools in the diocese have worked tirelessly to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the children. On behalf of the diocese, I offer my deep gratitude to our Catholic schools for all that they have done and achieved during the pandemic.
When the Catholic hierarchy was re-established in the ninetieth century, one of the first actions was to establish schools to support the Catholic community and help them overcome the many obstacles, including illiteracy, in the way of so many people. In our times the call to make Education a priority has not diminished in any way. As your bishop I heed the call of Pope Leo XIII given over a hundred years ago when he called on the bishops of the world to carry on “making the young your chief care; press onward in every way your work; and cultivate with enthusiasm and hopefulness whatever good seeds you find: for God, who is rich in mercy will give the increase.”[1]
In recent times some of our schools have had to face hostile approaches from those who do not share our vision for Catholic education. They would want to influence the direction of travel for their own purposes rather than for the benefit of the children and young people in our Catholic schools. Pope Francis writes that “Education is an enterprise that demands cooperation on the part of all involved – the family, the school and social, cultural and religious institutions.”[2] A positive way of achieving this cooperation which, in turn, furthers the vision and tradition of those pioneers, is for our schools to work more closely together by joining Catholic Multi Academy Trusts (CMATs). Whilst this may be in line with thinking coming out of national Government it is also genuinely my firm belief that this is the best future for our schools. It is an opportunity for schools to work together actively and formally to shape the Catholic education system in their locality. It is this approach that will enable high standards of Catholic education to be maintained and where schools can contribute more widely as beacons of good practice in the local community. Indeed, where CMATs have been established in our diocese benefits have already been identified, including financial savings, greater inter-school support and renewal of the mission they share as Catholic schools.
As the pandemic recedes and a growing sense of normality returns, I know that we will be able to move forward collaboratively with the wonderful work of enabling our young people to reach their full potential. I encourage all associated with our Catholic schools, as Pope Francis has said, to “persevere with courage and tenacity”[3]. Once again, thank you to all who work in and support Catholic education whether as pupils, staff, governors or parents. I will keep you in my prayers and ask that you join me in praying for the flourishing of our Catholic School communities.
Yours in Christ and Mary,
Bishop Alan, sm
Bishop of Brentwood
[1] Spectata Fides p.6 1885
[2] Address of his Holiness Pope Francis to participants at the seminar “Education: the global compact”
[3] Ibid
St Edmund of Canterbury 