Solemnity of Corpus Christi 2022
Today we celebrate the sacrament which is the source and summit of the Christian life. This phrase ‘source and summit’ is a rather awesome one, isn’t it? It is as if in the blessed Eucharist is contained the entire spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Passover Lamb. The great St. Irenaeus put it so beautifully when he said many centuries ago ‘Our way of thinking is attuned to the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn confirms our way of thinking.’ What does it mean to have our way of thinking attuned to the Eucharist?
Our word Eucharist has its roots in the Greek words eucharistein and eulogein, which recall the Jewish blessing – especially during a meal – of God’s works of creation, redemption and sanctification. At the very heart then, of the Eucharist is a celebration of praise and thanksgiving at which Christ is made real and present. This is why, on entering a church where the Eucharist is in the Tabernacle, we acknowledge the real presence of Christ and genuflect in adoration.
We must continue to cultivate a genuine sense of Eucharistic wonder and awe. As we allow the Holy Spirit to work within us, he helps us grow in awareness of the fat that it is truly Christ himself whom we are receiving
This understanding that Christ is real and present in the Eucharist cannot be apprehended by the senses but only by faith, and our faith relies on God’s authority, for it was Jesus himself who said: This is my body, which is given for you.’ The eminent Church father St. Cyril said, ‘Do not doubt whether this is true but rather receive the words of the Saviour in faith, for since he is the truth, he cannot lie.’ The Eucharist is our greatest gift; it is our richest blessing and most cherished treasure. Nothing in the Christian life compares to it for in the Eucharist is Christ himself, the ‘Godhead here in hiding’.
Dear Friends in Christ, Corpus Christi 2022
In this most wonderful Solemnity of Corpus Christi, we celebrate in the Miracle of the Mass, the great gift that Jesus gave to the Apostles at the Last Supper and, which he continues to give to us for all time, His Body & Blood, Soul and Divinity. In faith, we gather each week to celebrate this most wondrous gift. In fulfilling our Sunday Obligation to worship with the Faith Community, we become more like our Divine Master. In living the Christian life we are striving to emulate Jesus Christ in all things. It is the Eucharist which gives us the strength and courage to continue to bear witness to Christ, through the holiness of our lives. Jesus feeds us with his very presence so we can grow in his likeness! Let us always love and respect this priceless gift of his Body & Blood!
REDECORATION OF THE CHURCH: As you can see we are making great progress with the redecoration of our Parish Church. The nice clean, fresh & bright colours will certainly enhance the beauty of our simple church. It is hoped that the inside of the Church should be completed before the end of June. Weekday masses Monday –Saturday will be celebrated at 10.00am in the Parish Hall (except for Wednesday it will be at 9.30am). On Saturday mornings 18th 25th June; & 2nd July, between 9.00am – 10.00am. I appeal to the whole Parish to assist and help in dusting & cleaning the benches and generally cleaning and vacuuming the church in advance of the weekend masses. The contracting company have assured me that a general clean of the church will take place on Friday afternoon, but obviously, dust tends to settle overnight. I apppeal for as much help as possible please; just come along to the church! Many hands make light work!
ORDINATION OF REV DAMIAN WADE: Please pray for the Intentions of Rev Damian Wade who will be Ordained to the Sacred Priesthood next Saturday 25th June at SS Peter & Paul Catholic Church Ilford. Fr Damian is the first priest to be ordained from Ireland for the past 45 years. He will take up his new assignment at the beginning of September. Also please keep in your prayers our own Frank Westcott, training for the Priesthood at St. Mary College, Oscott. He has just completed the second year of his four year Programme of Seminary Formation. Please God Frank will be ordained a Deacon this time next year.
May God Bless You All,
RUBY JUBILEE INVITATION. DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: Fr John’s Fortieth Anniversary of Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood – (postponed from last year due to the Pandemic) – Mass of Thanksgiving on Friday 8th July at 7.00pm. It will be a concelebrated Mass with Bishop Alan and Priests from the diocese and outside of the diocese; family & visitors from different parts of the world, and of course you my Parish Family here at St. Edmund’s. This will be followed by a Reception in the Marquee erected in the Church Car Park. If you can help in anyway whatsoever, please contact Fr John or Lorraine Leith. We will definitely need help on the day. My thanks to those who have already volunteered their help.
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION FOR 2022/23: The First Holy Communion Programme for 2022/23 will commence in September. In advance of this I would like to meet with the Parents of children eligible for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist (Commencing September Year 3). Pre-requisites:- You are members of this Parish, and you are practicing Roman Catholics, attending weekly Mass! If you’re not practicing please don’t waste my time and yours. I have an extremely busy month ahead of me, so I would ask parents to contact me immediately with regards a meeting to discuss the Sacramental Programme. Tel 0208 508 3492 Meetings will conclude on Friday 24th June, Thank you!
WEEKLY OFFERTORY: Last weekend you gave £253.45 I am consciously aware that many people are experiencing great hardships with finances of late. But this is the lowest the Weekly Offertory has ever been in the 20 years I have been here. I have never publicly spoken about money in my 40+ years of priesthood, and I don’t want to now. But I am just alerting the whole parish community to think about your Weekly Offertory to God. The survival of any parish church and its community is holily sufficient on the generosity of the Faithful, so therefore you weekly Offertory Gift, provides for the upkeep of the Church and all the other buildings. As you know I have not asked for any support for the works that we are having done at present: – with redecoration of the Parish Hall, the Parish Church, and the entrance to the presbytery (which is in a dangerous condition). These will be paid for from the sale proceeds of St Thomas More site. Please think seriously about your Offertory, and also if you don’t belong already, think about the Parish Gift Aid Scheme, which affords us 25pence in the pound from the Inland Revenue. Mrs Abbie Akinfenwa is our Gift Aid Organiser.
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/
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.
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. 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.
EXAMINATION TIME: I would like to commend all our GCSE & A Level Students to your prayers over the next few weeks as they 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.
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.
DIARY JUNE 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: Patrick Murphy RIP, Alice Bate 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:
Donate
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.
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.
CAN YOU HELP? We are desperately in need of additional help for the Altar Society; over the past year or so, we’ve lost a number of our regular helpers who clean the church. If you are able to give an hour or so every month to help keep our Church beautifully clean and tidy, this is all we ask. If you’re able to help please contact Sharon Fitzmaurice or Fr John,
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
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
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 after the summer holidays on Tuesday 6th September at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton, at 7.00pm, commencing with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Rosary in the Church. Meetings are monthly, usually the first Tuesday of each month. For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org
MASS INTENTIONS – JUNE 2022
| Sat 18th | 10.00am | Holy Souls RIP |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 18th | 6.00pm | Barbara Chalk RIP (Monica Maycraft) |
| Sun 19th | 9.00am | Martin Kendal RIP (Anthony Family) |
| Sun 19th | 11:00am | Dr Jim Sainsbury RIP (The Tisi Family) |
| Mon 20th | 10.00am | Holy Souls RIP |
| Tues 21st | 10.00am | Teresa Collins RIP |
| Wed 22nd | 10.00am | Angela Smith RIP |
| Thurs 23rd | 10.00am | Mary Burton B’day Ints. (M Maycraft) |
| Fri 24th | 10.00am | Aida Carlos RIP (Cecile Kelly) |
| Sat 25th | 9.30am | Martin Laffey’s Int’s (Remy) |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 25th | 6.00pm | |
| Sun 26th | 9.00am | People of the Parish |
| Sun 26th | 11:00am | Mercedes Turner RIP (Bacuetes Family) |
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
Corpus Christi – Solemnity
First Reading: Genesis 14:18-20
Melchizedek king of Salem brought bread and wine; he was a priest of God Most High. He pronounced this blessing:
‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, creator of heaven and earth,
and blessed be God Most High for handing over your enemies to you.’
And Abram gave him a tithe of everything.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 109(110):1-4
You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.
The Lord’s revelation to my Master:
‘Sit on my right:
your foes I will put beneath your feet.’
You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.
The Lord will wield from Zion
your sceptre of power:
rule in the midst of all your foes.
You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.
A prince from the day of your birth
on the holy mountains;
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.
You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.
The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change.
‘You are a priest for ever,
a priest like Melchizedek of old.’
You are a priest for ever, a priest like Melchizedek of old.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
This is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you: that on the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me.’ In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.’ Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death.
Gospel : Luke 9:11-17
Jesus made the crowds welcome and talked to them about the kingdom of God; and he cured those who were in need of healing.
It was late afternoon when the Twelve came to him and said, ‘Send the people away, and they can go to the villages and farms round about to find lodging and food; for we are in a lonely place here.’ He replied, ‘Give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we are to go ourselves and buy food for all these people.’ For there were about five thousand men. But he said to his disciples, ‘Get them to sit down in parties of about fifty.’ They did so and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven, and said the blessing over them; then he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute among the crowd. They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the scraps remaining were collected they filled twelve baskets
The Gospel of the Lord.
St Edmund of Canterbury 