St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More
‘Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of glory may come in.’ (Ps.24:7)
In the processional hymn which celebrates the Ark of the Covenant entering Jerusalem’s temple, the Psalmist leads us in joyful prayer and praise. For the Jews, the Ark was the seat of God; it was where the Lord dwelt. The worshippers cry for the grates to open so that the Lord of hosts can enter in. We echo this cry on the Feast of Christ the King; we who worship the Father in spirit and truth acknowledge Jesus’ rightful place on the throne of glory, at his Father’s right hand.
Jesus is the Son, the King, the Lord, the Alpha and the Omega, the One who overcame the deadliest foes: sin, Satan and death. John records the eternal hymn of praise of the four living creatures, capturing the glory, honour, worship and praise which are due to Jesus, the Servant King, because he laid down his life only to take iti up again: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.’ Jesus is truly enthroned as King as we longingly await for the full unveiling and realisation of the kingdom: ‘…until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.’
We are loiving in the age of the Church; the end times have been a reality since Jesus ascended into heaven. When he comes again in glory, sin, death and corruption will be overthrown entirely: ‘When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him (the Father) who put all things under him, that God may be everything to everyone.’
The kingship and lordship of Jesus underpin our faith. Today, as the liturgical year draws to a close, we prepare to celebrate once more the coming of the King of Kings who laid aside his majesty and glory to humble himself by being born, not in regal comfort, but in a lowly stable.
Dear Friends in Christ, 33rd Sunday of the Year
Today is the grate Solemnity of Christ the King and marks the final week in the Church’s liturgical year. We proclaim the Kingship of Christ crucified, as he reigns from the Cross and triumphs over sin and death. We are invited to share in his new life, which we call our Catholic Christian Faith. The New Liturgical Year commences next weekend with the First Sunday of Advent – we move into Year C – the year of Luke.
NATIONAL YOUTH SUNDAY: 21st November 2021. Is now World Youth Sunday. The Theme this year is Witness. The Lord calls us to 1) Stand Up – Jesus us calls us to not be afraid, and even if we fall or fail, to stand up and know he is with us. 2) You are appointed – You are called and chosen to do a specific job or mission. Jesus sees our particular gifts and talents and calls us to use them. But he also chooses us because he loves us. 3) Go as a witness –The disciples were first-hand witnesses of Jesus’ work on earth and were sent out by Jesus to share the good news. As witnesses of Jesus’ light and love at work in our lives today, we are also sent out to share it!
GRAND DRAW TICKETS: My dear friends, this weekend we will be distributing Grand Draw Tickets for the Grand Draw & Christmas Hampers. Once again I appeal to your generosity in taking as many books of Tickets as you can. As this is our only fund-raising even of the year please be generous in your response. The Grand Draw will take place on Sunday 12th December after the 11am Mass. We will be having a Coffee Morning at the same time, so we ask all of our parishioners to join us on this occasion.
GRAND DRAW PRIZES: My grateful thanks to those who have donated Christmas food items, bottles etc for the hampers. Could I make a special appeal to everyone for some Luxury Grand Draw Prizes, we really want to make this Draw worthwhile. Some ideas for the Grand Draw are Flat Screen TV, Laptop, Other New Electrical Goods, Restaurant Vouchers, Hotel Vouchers, National Trust Family Memberships, Crate of Wine, and Department Store Vouchers. Also Smart Tech Wearables: Fit Bits, Garmins, Air Pods, Beats, Echo & Alexa Devices, (with Black Friday approaching you may be able to get some real bargains as prizes). You can leave off prizes and Hamper items at the Presbytery anytime. There are boxes to receive gifts and items in the porch of the church, Fr John’s Garage (Big Red Box), Presbytery Front Door (Big Red Box). My thanks to those who have already
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 PLEASE BE GENEROUS IN YOUR
Account Number: 11019651 GIFT TO GOD & HIS CHURCH
PARISH FINANACES: As you can appreciate, during this pandemic the parish income took a severe hit, and we are still not back at the same levels as we were prior to 2020. My sincere and grateful thanks to those who have signed up for online giving and Gift Aid, this is helping. Many parishioners have not returned to the regular practice of faith, and many Gift Aid boxes were not collected this year. Please consider your weekly offertory to God.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS The Presbytery at 7.30pm next session on Thursday 2nd December Theme: The Sacraments – The Sacrament of Reconciliation – Confession. If you want to know more about the programme, and the whole RCIA process, please contact Fr John, Tel No: 0208 508 3492 or Email: loughton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME: The Children’s Programme will resume again on Sunday 21st November at 10.00am. Our Theme this week is Listening. Parents’ Meeting – Wednesday 1st December at 7.30pm. Thank you! Please pray for all our children preparing for the sacraments. This is truly a wonderful moment of time in their lives.
OFFICE CHAIRS: Would any parishioners have a couple of redundant Office Chairs for our parish office. Just the simple swivel chairs; unfortunately the ones we have seen better days and are on their last legs. If you have please contact Fr. John directly at the Presbytery Tel No: 020 8508 3492. Thanking you in anticipation!
REPOSITORY: Available this weekend, a large selection of Religious Christmas Cards, (please think about sending religious cards, signifying the true meaning of Christmas). Advent Calendars, Christmas Candles, Cribs, and other Christmas Items. All items are marked with prices, and there is a box available for the proceeds of your items. Thank you!
ST JOHN FISHER CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, LOUGHTON P PRIMARY SCHOOL ADMISSIONS: As your parish school, St John Fisher provide a distinctively Catholic education for your children. St John Fisher is an excellent School where we teach your children, in accordance with our Mission Statement – “The love of God helps us all to live, learn, and grow to be a happy, caring and welcoming community.” St John Fisher school is a place filled with love of learning. It is a place where, as a Catholic community, we celebrate the successes of our children in all areas of school life through our distinctive curriculum.
Visits to the school are warmly welcomed and encouraged. Please do see for yourself the excellent education and enhanced learning environment we provide. We welcome mid-year applications.
Visits are held every Monday at 9.30 am, with the Headteacher. Mr Kendal. Please contact the school on 0208 508 6315 or email:
admissions@st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk to arrange a visit.
For admission to the school’s Reception Class, September 2022 please apply by 15th January 2022.
ALTAR SOCIETY: 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! The Grand Christmas Clean will tak place on Tuesday 21st December at 9.30am. Please join us if you can for an hour or so to prepare the Church for our Christmas Masses.
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/
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 take place on Zoom from 4.00 – 5.00 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon.
The next talk will be on the 21st November and the question being explored is, Why should we listen to the Church? Fr Stephen Morrison O Praem, Chelmsford, will consider this question.
For more information about The Thresholds of Hope Questions go to www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk
ADVENT CAROL SERVICE: You are warmly invited to join us at Walsingham House at Abbotswick for our annual Advent Carol Service on Sunday 12th December. We will have Christmas carols both classic and contemporary performed by our incredibly talented BCYS musicians, accompanied with readings from scripture and Christmas poems & stories. This year we are running two concerts, at 3pm or 7pm, however there will be limited capacity at each event and this will be dependent on any current Government restrictions or social distancing, in place at the time. Tickets are £10 and the money will go towards supporting our pilgrimages to Lourdes. To book your place please contact Joe Beattie, Walsingham House manager on josephbeattie@dioceseofbrentwood.org or 01277 373 959.
BCYS SUMMER LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: 2022: 23rd – 30th July 2022.
Applications are now open for our summer pilgrimage to Lourdes for those in Years 11-13, with those of school leaver age (18+) invited to join us as young leaders. This is one of our most popular events and after a 2 year gap we are excited to be returning next year. The week is spent travelling alongside the main Diocesan pilgrimage as we assist the elderly and infirm with going to Masses and services, as well as visiting shops and cafes within the town. For those travelling with the BCYS the week will also include a retreat, reconciliation service, as well as social events and a party. Please see www.bcys.net/events/sl22/ for more information including visas, vaccinations and how to apply.
A SUNDAY EVENING PARISH YOUTH MASS: We’ve had a couole of these popular and enjoyable Masses over the past few years and hopefully we’ll be able to organise one, possibly in the New Year. The idea would be that you could get involved with the music and the readings and make it your own celebration. Hopefully, we will also have a social gathering in the hall afterwards
PARISH ALTAR SERVERS: It had taken a number of years to build up a good team of Altar Servers. Sadly, since the Pandemic, many have not returned to serving at the Altar. As a matter of courtesy I would be sincerely grateful to know if you have any intention of returning to the regular practice of Altar Serving? If you have no intention of serving anymore more it would be good to know; and also, if you could kindly return your albs, laundered please. I really feel saddened by this, as this is a most truly wonderful ministry for our young pepople to participate in. If there are any other young pepople in the parish who would liike to start serving, could you let Fr John know as soon as possible.
IRREGULAR MARRIAGES: An Irregualr Marriage is one that 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
GRAND CHRISTMAS DRAW & CHRISTMAS HAMPERS
As we’re now into the month of November, I would like to appeal to all of our parishioners to participate in our only fund-rising event of the year. As you are well aware, since the Pandemic our finances have dropped considerably, as many people are not attending church anymore. The Bazaar Committee believe that the Grand Christmas Draw & Hampers, which was such a great success last year, can be repeated again this year. Manifestly, we are wholly dependent on your generosity. No matter how great or small a gift or item may be it will be gratefully received.
Some ideas for the Grand Draw are Flat Screen TV, Laptop, Other New Electrical Goods, Restaurant Vouchers, Hotel Vouchers, National Trust Family Memberships, Crate of Wine, and Department Store Vouchers. Also Smart Tech Wearables: Fit Bits, Garmins, Air Pods, Beats.
Suggested Hamper Donations: Luxury Brand Christmas Cakes & Christmas Puddings; Bottles of Champagne, Prosecco, Spirits, Port & Wine; Tinned Meats – Gammon Ham, Potted Duck Pates; Tinned Fish – Salmon, Dressed Crab & Lobster; Jars of Fruit in Syrup; Jars of Pickles, Chutneys & Olives; Festive Marmalades; Tea & Coffee, Hot Chocolate. Biscotti, Ginger Snaps & Shortbread. Diced Fruit & Nuts; Chocolate Nut selections. Sweetmeats – Turkish Delight. Biscuits & Crackers for Cheese. Boxes of Luxury Chocolates & truffles.
There are boxes in the Porch of the church, at the Presbytery front door & in Fr John’s Garage to receive your gifs and items, and or course you can always drop off personally at the Presbytery throughout the week. If there are any parishioners who would like to donate ‘Money Gifts’ these will be gratefully received. Also, if anyone has any gift baskets you could let us have, these will be good to make up the Christmas Hampers. If you can, please help us once again this year. This is the whole parish working together. The Grand Draw will take place on Sunday 12th December in the Parish Hall at about 12.30pm there will be refreshments available.
GRAND DRAW TICKETS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED THIS WEEKEND
PLEASE BE GENEROUS IN YOUR RESPONSE IN TAKING THEM
KINDLY RETURN ALL COUNTERFLOILS & MONIES BY
SUNDAY THE 12th DECEMBER. THANK YOU!
DIARY NOVEMBER 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: Dr Douglas St.John Murphy RIP, Eileen Hills RIP, Please for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, ALL OF OUR HOLY SOULS. Requiescant in Pace.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE: In your mercy please pray for the repose of the soul of Dr Brian Beveridge, who passed away this week. We extend our sincere condolences to his wife Vicky and their family in this time of great loss. May he rest in peace.
MASS INTENTIONS – NOVEMBER 2021
| Sat 20th | 10.00am | NO MORNING MASS |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday: Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 20th | 6.00pm | Martin Boyle RIP (Paul Boyle) HOLY SOULS |
| Sun 21st | 9.00am | Noel Anderson RIP (Pover Family) HOLY SOULS |
| Sun 21st | 11:00am | Margaret Mary & Karl Joseph Britz RIP (Karl Jude Britz) ALL HOLY SOULS |
| Mon 22nd | 10.00am | John Metcalf 90th B’day (Margaret Duffy) HOLY SOULS |
| Tues 23rd | 10.00am | Ron Bryant RIP (B’day Anni) (B Bryant) HOLY SOULS |
| Wed 24th | 10.00am | PC Joseph RIP (Kumar Family) HOLY SOULS |
| Thurs 25th | 10.00am | Laurent Giordmaina RIP (Pauline & Barry Hatch) HOLY SOULS |
| Fri 26th | 10.00am10.30am | Nancy Burgess RIP (M Abbs) HOLY SOULSHoly Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament |
| Sat 27th | 10.00am | Yvonne Poulter RIP (Poulter Family) HOLY SOULS |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday Confessions 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 27th | 6.00pm | Thomas Berry RIP (Stephanie Hemsworth)HOLY SOULS |
| Sun 28th | 9.00am | Miguel & Carmen Ruiz B’day Ints (Ruiz Family) HOLY SOULS |
| Sun 28th | 11:00am | Buddy Oriel RIP (Bacuetes Family) HOLY SOULS |
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
Christ the King – Solemnity
First Reading: Daniel 7:13-14
I gazed into the visions of the night.
And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven,
one like a son of man.
He came to the one of great age
and was led into his presence.
On him was conferred sovereignty,
glory and kingship,
and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty
which shall never pass away,
nor will his empire ever be destroyed.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 92(93):1-2,5
The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.
The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed;
the Lord has robed himself with might,
he has girded himself with power.
The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.
The world you made firm, not to be moved;
your throne has stood firm from of old.
From all eternity, O Lord, you are.
The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.
Truly your decrees are to be trusted.
Holiness is fitting to your house,
O Lord, until the end of time.
The Lord is king, with majesty enrobed.
Second Reading: Apocalypse 1:5-8
Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the First-Born from the dead, the Ruler of the kings of the earth. He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a line of kings, priests to serve his God and Father; to him, then, be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. It is he who is coming on the clouds; everyone will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the races of the earth will mourn over him. This is the truth. Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega’ says the Lord God, who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.
Gospel : John 18:33-37
‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Pilate asked. Jesus replied, ‘Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others spoken to you about me?’ Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me: what have you done?’ Jesus replied, ‘Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this kind.’ ‘So you are a king then?’ said Pilate. ‘It is you who say it’ answered Jesus. ‘Yes, I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.’
THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD
St Edmund of Canterbury 