St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More
Two things dominate the human condition: war and fear. The opposite of war is peace; the opposite of fear is courage. Peace, as the Bishops at the Second Vatican Council taught us, is not just the absence of war but an inner tranquillity, the fruit of knowing that we are reconciled with God and justified by the blood of Christ. This peace transcends our understanding and can, if we let it, rule our hearts.
Jesus taught that two significant fruits of being his disciples would be peace and courage. We can know these two blessings in our lives in a real and tangible way. This must be true because Jesus promised: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid’. Well, that’s the teaching and there’s the promise, but what of the reality?
Even a cursory examination of our lives can bring to light not peace but an inner turmoil and not courage but timidity. So what is going on? Why is it like this? Jesus promises peace and tells us simply not to be afraid. Why isn’t this good enough and why doesn’t it work? Well, the truth is it is good enough and it does work – however, we play a part. Our faith isn’t magic; it’s faith. The key is the Holy Spirit: ‘But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you,’
But we can’t be reminded of what Jesus said unless we read the Scriptures. So there is a way in which our peace and courage has a relationship with our reading the Scripture. The Spirit counsels us to immerse ourselves in his life-giving Word. Remember this: ‘Bibles that are falling apart are often read by people whose lives are not.’ Now, that does not mean that those who read the Scriptures do not give in to fear or at times lose their peace, but, because they remind themselves frequently of what Jesus said, the Spirit is able to lead them back to peace. And give them courage.
Dear Friends in Christ, Sixth Sunday of Easter
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION MASSES: This Saturday our third and final group of Communicants received Jesus is the Holy Eucharist for the first time. This is a truly momentous occasion in all chidlren’s lives. Tomorrow, Sunday at the 11am Mass all three groups come together for their Going Forth Celebration Mass. May this be the first of many communions in the future lives of all our children. I encourage all of our parents to continue to bring your children to Holy Mass so that they can participate fully in the Eucharistic Celebration. If there are any of these boys or girls who would like to become Altar Servers, please see Fr John as soon as possible. As Roman Catholics the most important thing that we ever do is to attend the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. It helps us to grow in our lives of faith; it is the source of food for the journey of faith, and is the source and summit of all Christian devotion. Following the Mass the Commicants will have their own Communion Party in the Parish Hall.
My thanks once again to our dedicated Catechists, Kathryn Poulter & Elena Manara and their team of young helpers. Without their commitment and dedication we wouldn’t be able to run a Sacramental Programme. If there are any parents who would like to think about joining our Catechists Team please see Kathryn or Fr John
SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD: Takes place next Thursday 26th May, and is a Holy Day of Obligation, which has the same staus as a Sunday. Forty Days after the Resurrection the Lord Jesus bade his Disciples farewell and returned home to his righful place at the right hand of the Father. As we hear in the sacred scriptures, it was only his return to the Father that he could send us the gift of the Holy Spirit. On this feast we celebrate the life Jesus has won for us. He is Lord of life and has conquered sin, death and the tyranny of evil. He has secured for us an eternal and glorious inheritance in heaven, free from corruption, sin, death and suffering. There will be three masses on Ascension Thursday: 9.00am, 12.15pm & 7.30pm Please come and join us.
God Bless You All,
EXAMINATION TIME: I would like to commend all our GCSE & A Level Students to your prayers over the next few weeks as they prepare to sit their respective exams. This is an important time in their lives as they plan for the future. May all their efforts and study be rewarded over the next months. And may the Holy Spirit give them the guidance and strength to perform well in the exams.
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: Fr John’s Fortieth Anniversary of Ordination. Friday 8th July 2022. As this was unable to take place last year, due to the Pandemic, It has been rescheduled to this year, with a concelebrated Mass with Bishop Alan, Priests of the Diocese, Family & Visitors from all over the world, and of course, My Parish Family here at St. Edmund’s. If you can help in anyway whatsoever, please contact Fr John or Lorraine Leith. We will definitely need help on the day.
REDECORATION OF THE PARISH CHURCH: With the approval of the Diocese of Brentwood the work on the redecoration of the Church will commence soon. The outside of the Church will be started first on Monday 30th May, and then, from Monday 6th June for four weeks the inside of the Church. In advance I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. During the month of June during the week we will celebrate holy Mass in the Parish Hall. All of the Health & Safety protocols are being put in place in advance of the work commencing. We will be asking for some help on Friday afternoons or Saturday Morning to dust the benches in advance of Weekend Masses. Please help us if you can while the Church is being redecorated. Thank You!
ST BONAVENTURE HIGH SCHOOL: Alumni Event – 17th June 2022, 4.00pm-6.30pm. All former students and staff are welcome to attend – please help spread the word! Order a Ticket at: www.stbons.org/alumni – EMail any questions to alumni@stbons.org
BAPTISMS: If there are parents wishing to have their children baptised at St Edmund’s could you kindly contact Fr John as soon as possible. For first time parents there is a Baptismal Programme. Baptism takes place on either Saturday or Sunday at 12.30pm
CANDLE STAND: Sadly, I saw someone raiding the Candle Stand by Our Blessed Lady. Before I realised what had happened he was out of the church. He is about 40 years of age, tall and very thin. He rides a canary yellow Bicycle which is quite distinctive. I’ve seen him before; be careful of him.
AID FOR UKRAINE: The unspeakable acts of terror in the Ukraine are atrocious, many amounting to genocide. Our brothers and sisters there are experiencing terrible suffering as they struggle to defend their country and preserve their human rights and life itself. We are doing what we can from afar: assisting by the charity of our prayers and also with what practical means we can muster. Aid to the Church in Need is on the frontline of charitable assistance to Ukrainians. If you can help, you will find this link takes you to the ACN website where you can donate: https://acnuk.org/news/ukraine-charity-rolls-out-emergency-aid/
HELPING THOSE IN UKRAINE & UKRAINIAN REFUGEES: Caritas Brentwood are regularly updating information on their website, covering donations, prayer and welcoming those who are fleeing the Ukraine. You will find everything at: http//www.caritasbrentwood.org/Ukraine/
May God Bless You All This Coming Week,
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 and our donations are still needed desperately as more and more people in our community are finding it hard to make ends meet. They will be running their initiative to support families with food over the Easter holidays and these are the items we can help them with: UHT milk, long-life juice, tinned tomatoes, tinned meat, rice pudding, custard, packet noodles, instant mash, tinned spaghetti, tinned fruit, breakfast bars/ snack bars, jam, chocolate spread, sponge puddings, chocolate bars, bottled sauces (Ketchup/brown sauce), small jars of coffee, toilet roll, laundry powder/tablets, razors, shampoo/conditioner and washing up liquid. You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/
MASS INTENTIONS: Every day in the parish Holy Mass is offered for various intentions; these are usually at the request of you the parishioners. Most intentions are for deceased loved ones, anniversaries, etc. The origin of the Mass Stipend is very ancient, and goes back to making provision for the priest for one day, as they do not earn a salary as such. At present I only have about two weeks of Mass Intentions booked up. If any parishioner would like a mass intention for any occasion whatsoever, e.g. deceased, birthdays, anniversaries, sick, etc. please complete Mass Intention envelope in the Porch.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 7th June at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton, at 7.00pm, commencing with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Rosary in the Church. For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org
PARISH REPOSITORY: There is a lot of new stock in the repository. First Holy Communion gifts and items. A variety of Candles – large and small. Greetings Cards for all occasions. Mass Cards for deceased. Children’s books. There are also a number of CTS little books in a special stand on all sorts of different issues, the saints etc. There are Statues, rosaries, medals, bracelets. A Variety of Easter Cards. Teresa Wallace is happy to order anything your request; it usually takes about a week to arrive.
FROM OUR GIFT AID ORGANISER: If you are part of the Gift Aid scheme, you would have received your summary for tax purposes this week either in the post or via email. If you have not received a letter by Monday the 23rd May, please send me an email at abbie.akinfenwa@btinternet.com or text to 0775470934 with your name and gift aid number. Emails have been sent already. If you received a letter and are happy to receive an email next time, please send me your email address as this helps us save stationery, admin and postage costs. Thank you for your co-operation
CHILDREN’S SUNDAY LITURGY: Thank you for starting children’s Sunday Liturgy again. But we need more help. Parents, can you spare one Sunday every two months to help the children during the 11.00am Mass? We need more parents to join our lovely group. Please contact Mrs Elena Manara at e_vismara@yahoo.com Thank you and we hope to hear from you soon.
MAY THE MONTH OF MARY: The Church gives the Month of May to Our Blessed Lady. Devotion to Mary has always been part and parcel of the Roman Catholic tradition. I would encourage every family in the parish to pray at least a decade of the Rosary each day throughout the month of May. The Rosary is a very powerful prpayer, and it’s mysteries remind us not only what Our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ has won for us through his act of selfless love, but also the great example of Our Blessed Lady in her response to God’s Holy will to become the Mother of His Son.
JUBILEE JAMBOREE AT ST JOHN FISHER SCHOOL: On Saturday 11th June, from 2-5pm the St John Fisher Catholic Primary PTA will host our biggest event in years, the Jubilee Jamboree! With bouncy castles, fairground games, stalls, a petting zoo, sports day races, face painting, crafts and live performances, there is something for everyone! Enjoy a delicious afternoon tea, hot dogs, burgers and sweets, and cold drinks. Bring your family and friends, a picnic blanket, and settle down for an afternoon of traditional fun and games. Advance tickets cost just £1 for adults and children or £6 for children’s unlimited bouncing on the inflatables. Under 2s are free. Tickets on the door will cost £2 for the adults and £7 for the children. Please email us on sjfpta@outlook.com if you’d like to purchase some. The SJF Jubilee Jamboree is an event not to be missed so do come along and support our local school. We’d love to see you there!
NOTE TO OUR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC GROUP
We will be singing and playing at our next Mass, which is the 11am Mass on Sunday, 5th June (Pentecost Sunday). It would be appreciated if all our singers could be there by around 10.40am so that we can quickly run through the hymns before Mass starts. Thank you.
If there are any parishioners who would like to join our group, simply come along – you will be made very welcome!
PARISH SUMMER BALL: The 7th Epping Forest Scout Group Parents’ Committee will be hosting their Summer Ball on Saturday 25th June 2022 in the parish hall at St Edmunds Church. Tickets are £45pp and include a welcome drink followed by a three-course meal from your menu choice. There will be a fully licensed bar, plus the opportunity to win a bottle of Champagne or a cash prize in addition to our grand draw, offering you the chance to win one of our fabulous, donated prizes from local businesses. Dancing will continue until midnight to the live sounds provided by the wonderfully talented Adam Curto. This is our annual major fundraising event with all proceeds donated to the 7th Epping Forest Scout Group. Tickets will be on general sale after each Mass from Saturday 7th May. This event is always popular and now has limited availability tickets remaining. Should you require any further information, please speak to a member of the Parents’ Committee at the ticket stand in the car park after Mass.
DIARY MAY 2022
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH
Carmen Antaki, Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Karl Britz, Carlos Camacho, Jane Downs, Steve Dalgliesh, Pat Fenn, Veronica Godsave, Bernadette Hall, Ann Hawkes, Claire Howes, Jackie Ilines, Noel Johnson, Shaun Keel, Bridget Kinsella, Angela Long, Lilian Mothersole, John McKernan, Rosemary O’Rourke, Geraldine Taylor, Vera Taylor, Mary Witten, James Wright. And all our loved ones.
ANNIVERSARIES: Jim Kavanagh RIP Please pray for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.
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
SPECIAL APPEAL To all our parishioners who contribute to your parish weekly. Would you please consider to transferring your Weekly Offertory over to a Direct Debit. With the closing of the local HSBC Bank it has been quite difficult paying in the Offertory, and with many banks now only offering a machine deposit service. Please think about this request. Thank you!
PARISH FINANCES: 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.
PLEASE COLLECT YOUR GIFT AID BOXES THIS WEEKEND
BCYS YOUTH GATHER: 22nd – 23rd October, Mersea Island. Stay in cabins and try a brilliant range of outward bound activities from climbing high ropes, archery, zip wires and much more to keep you challenged and entertained, with guest speakers and workshops which will give you fresh insights into yourself, and your faith, by telling their stories. Open to all those in years 9 and above, book NOW at www.bcys.net/events
BOOKING FOR ALL THESE EVENTS – and all information, can be done online at www.bcys.net/events or you can email me with any questions.
THE DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: led by Bishop Alan, will take place from Sunday 24 – Friday 29 July in Lourdes. Brochures for the pilgrimage, which will include costs, will be available soon. For further information contact Cathy O’Connor: cathy@dioceseofbrentwood.org or 07813 710070.
IRREGULAR MARRIAGES: An Irregular 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
MASS INTENTIONS – MAY 2022
| Sat 21st | 9.00am12Noon | Fr Patrick Hayward Int’s (M Duffy)First Holy Communion Celebration |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 21st | 6.00pm | Elizabeth Quigley RIP (Veronica & Steve) |
| Sun 22nd | 9.00am | Philomena Joseph RIP (Doris DeSouza) |
| Sun 22nd | 11:00am | David Bloomfield RIP (The Munro Family)GOING FORTH MASS |
| Mon 23rd | 10.00am | Sarah & Peter McQuade RIP (M Duffy) |
| Tues 24th | 10.00am | Patrick Daly, Get well Int’s (Geraldine O’Donoghue) |
| Wed 25th | 10.00am | David Clancy RIP (Christine Perrett) |
| Thurs 26th AscensionDay | 9.00am12.15pm7.30pm | Valarie Tisi RIP (Ferdi & Diana Tisi & Family)Helen McLaughlin RIP (Michael & Gemma)Elizabeth Quigley RIP (The Ryan Family) |
| Fri 27th | 10.00am | Maurice Onokwai Int’s |
| Sat 28th | 9.00am | Edward Martin Duffy RIP (Margaret Duffy) |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 28th | 6.00pm | People of the Parish |
| Sun 29th | 9.00am | Martin Kendal RIP (Kendal Family) |
| Sun 29th | 11:00am | Sylvester Duff RIP ((M Ryan) |
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
The Brentwood Diocesan Trust Registered Charity No. 234092
6th Sunday of Easter
First Reading : Acts 15:1-2,22-29
Some men came down from Judaea and taught the brothers, ‘Unless you have yourselves circumcised in the tradition of Moses you cannot be saved.’ This led to disagreement, and after Paul and Barnabas had had a long argument with these men it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas and others of the church should go up to Jerusalem and discuss the problem with the apostles and elders.
Then the apostles and elders decided to choose delegates to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; the whole church concurred with this. They chose Judas known as Barsabbas and Silas, both leading men in the brotherhood, and gave them this letter to take with them:
‘The apostles and elders, your brothers, send greetings to the brothers of pagan birth in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. We hear that some of our members have disturbed you with their demands and have unsettled your minds. They acted without any authority from us; and so we have decided unanimously to elect delegates and to send them to you with Barnabas and Paul, men we highly respect who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accordingly we are sending you Judas and Silas, who will confirm by word of mouth what we have written in this letter. It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to saddle you with any burden beyond these essentials: you are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols; from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from fornication. Avoid these, and you will do what is right. Farewell.’
Responsive Psalm : Psalm 66(67):2-3,5-6,8
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples,
you guide the nations on earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
May God still give us his blessing
till the ends of the earth revere him.
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.
Second Reading : Apocalypse 21:10-14,22-23
In the spirit, the angel took me to the top of an enormous high mountain and showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven. It had all the radiant glory of God and glittered like some precious jewel of crystal-clear diamond. The walls of it were of a great height, and had twelve gates; at each of the twelve gates there was an angel, and over the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel; on the east there were three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. The city walls stood on twelve foundation stones, each one of which bore the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
I saw that there was no temple in the city since the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb were themselves the temple, and the city did not need the sun or the moon for light, since it was lit by the radiant glory of God and the Lamb was a lighted torch for it.
Gospel : John 14:23-29
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him and make our home with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words.
And my word is not my own:
it is the word of the one who sent me.
I have said these things to you while still with you;
but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all I have said to you.
Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you,
a peace the world cannot give,
this is my gift to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me say: I am going away, and shall return.
If you loved me you would have been glad to know that I am going to the Father,
for the Father is greater than I.
I have told you this now before it happens,
so that when it does happen you may believe.’
St Edmund of Canterbury 