St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More
Many of the things Jesus said are simple and clear but some are confusing and hard to understand. Take for example, today’s Gospel in which the Lord talks about ‘hating’ mother, father, and family. We know that Jesus cannot mean ‘hate’ in the sense of loathe, despise and wilfully harm them. Indeed the fourth commandment is, ‘Honour your father and mother.’ No, Jesus doesn’t mean ‘hate’ in the conventional definition of the term, but rather he means ‘love less’. He is adopting a form of Jewish exaggeration in order to drive home a point. We do this in our own language with hyperbole. When we are very hungry we might say, ‘I could eat a horse – on the other hand, halfway through eating the horse we realise we are not as hungry as we first thought! We stretch language to breaking points to get across what we want to say.
Jesus counsels us to take very seriously the call to be a disciple – rather in the same way that a builder evaluates his ability to finish a building project before he embarks upon It., and a general considers the odds of victory before going into battle. We do this often in our own lives. We are not daft or silly when it comes to evaluating what is involved in a project or a new job or new hobby. We estimate cost; we weigh up odds and take calculated risks based on the information and data we have. In the same way Jesus wants us to stare the cost of following him in the face and either rejects it or accepts it and embrace it. To follow Jesus is to be led by him.
If we want God to lead, we must be willing to follow. We find strength, happiness and Joy in finding the way in which God is going and going that way too. Which way is God going? God always invites us to take up the cross – as Jesus took up his cross – and follow him. The cross is laid on us all. The way of the cross begins with the call to abandon our attachments to this world. Our Old self has to die in order for the new self, the new creation, to shine forth in our lives.
Dear Friends in Jesus Christ,
This week we will have a new Prime Minister; their first and most urgent action will be to look at the terrible increase in all utilities. The incredible increase in Gas & Electricity is going to profoundly affect all of us come October, and then reviewed again in January. As I have been sharing with you over the past weeks, having such large buildings are going to be difficult to light and heat this winter. I read in Holland they had opted to close some of the Churches for the winter months as they are unable to afford the utilities. I truly pray to God that this never happens here. We are going to try and have some additional fundraising social events to raise funds for the utilities. I ask the whole parish community to support these events please!
COFFEE MORNING ON SUNDAY: After the 11.00am Mass, this will be a social opportunity for parishioners to meet and also support our efforts in deepening our Community awareness. If any parishioners would be able to bring along some homemade cakes or biscuits these would be gratefully accepted. All funds raised will go towards the increasing utility bills. We hope to have regular Coffee Mornings this year.
SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMISSIONS: Just a head’s up, especially to those Year Six parents who will be considering Secondary School places for their children in September 2023. According to the Brentwood Diocesan guidelines a very strict Admissions Criteria is in place, and if parents and children are not practicing their faith, e.g. weekly attendance at Holy Mass, they will not be eligible for a school place in our schools next September. All families are very aware of these facts, and it’s no use just making an appearance a couple of times prior to a Certificate of Catholic Practice being signed. Everyone has had years to prepare for this moment. Parents will be notified by Essex Education Authority as to when you have to make your application for Secondary School places. You will usually have until the end of October to make the application
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? “Enquirers’ Evening” 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. Our guest speaker will be Bishop Alan Williams. Bishop of Brentwood Diocese. Meetings are monthly, usually the first Tuesday of each month. For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: The Journey of Faith talks will commence on Thursday 8th September at 8.00pm in the Parish Presbytery. This is a systematic programme of Instruction in the Roman Catholic Faith. If you know of anyone who may be interested in learning a little more about the Roman Catholic faith possibly with the view of being received into full-communion with the Church at Easter 2023, please see Fr. John as soon as possible. Tel No: 020 8508 3492
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SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION FOR 2022/23: The First Holy Communion Programme commences this week with the Parents’ Meeting on Wednesday 7th September at 7.30pm in the parish hall; and the children meet for the first time on Sunday 11th September at 10.00am in the Parish Hall. At the 11.00am Mass all the children will be presented by their parents as Candidates for the Sacraments. Pre-requisites:- You are members of this Parish, and you are practicing Roman Catholics, attending weekly Mass! We are using a new Programme this year and the children’s work book will cost £8.00, Parents please bring money along to the meeting.
Vacancy for School Business Manager at St John Fisher Catholic Primary, Loughton. St John Fisher Catholic Primary is seeking to appoint an experienced and well organised School Business Manager. Monday to Friday 9.30am to 2.30pm – 20hpw, Term Time + Non Pupil Days. For more information and to receive a copy of the job description please email finance@st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk
Vacancy for Mid-day Assistant at St Antony’s Catholic School, Woodford from September 2022. For more information and to apply, please visit the vacancies section of school website
https://www.stantonyscatholicps.co.uk/vacancies/
NOTE FOR OUR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC GROUP: We’ll be singing and playing at the 11am Mass on Sunday, 4th September and it would be appreciated if all our singers and musicians could be there by around 10.40am to run through the hymns and music before Mass starts. Hopefully you are all now back from holiday, so it would be nice to have a large number of you there! Any singer or musician in the Parish who may like to join us would be made very welcome – simply come along!
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 07854919207 or shazzafitzm@aol.com or Fr John. 0208 508 3492 We hope to have A Big Clean once a month, if you can help please come along for half an hour. Thank you! Next Big Clean Friday 16th September at 8.30am
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
ALTAR SERVERS: Recently we had over 30 children make their First Holy Communion. A couple of them have already started Altar Serving. I would like to make an appeal to the whole parish community for some more children to volunteer to become Altar Servers. It is a wonderful way of serving God and the community. Just speak to Fr John directly and he will arrange for training and for you to receive and Alb & Cincture
REQUESTED MASS INTENTIONS: At present, I have very few requested Mass Intentions. If any parishioner wishes to have a Mass celebrated for deceased relatives, anniversary masses, birthday masses, special intentions, for someone who maybe sick, or for any other special occasion, please make your request with the mass envelopes provided in the Porch of the Church, place your Mass Offering in the envelope and drop it off at the Presbytery.
RELICS OF ST BERNADETTE OF LOURDES COMING TO UK: The Churches & Cathedrals hosting St Bernadette’s Relics have a fixed capacity for vistors. To ensure the comfort and safety of pligrims, visitors will be asked to register to attend with a dedicated timeslot. In the diocese of Bretnwood there are two dates and two venues. The Cathedral arriving 11am 16/10/2022 Departing 12Noon 17/10/2022. Our Lady of Lourdes Wanstead: Arrive 10am 18th/10/2022. Depart: 9am 19/10/2022
SICK & HOUSEBOUND: We are now permitted to resume the visitation of the Sick & Housebound. If there is anyone in the parish who would like a visit at home, or to receive Holy Communion regularly at home, please contact Fr. John on Tel No: 020 8508 3492
DIARY AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 2022
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH
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, Remy, Geraldine Taylor, Vera Taylor, Mary Witten, James Wright. And all our loved ones.
ANNIVERSARIES: Vera Copeman 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.
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/ hiccups
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/
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: Our Parish Gift Aid Organiser is Abbie Akinfenwa – abbie.akinfenwa@btinternet.com or text to 0775470934 with your name and gift aid number. I would encourage all parishioners to join the Parish Gift Aid Scheme. If you are a Tax Payer, it’s a really painless process, all we need is you name and address, there are Gift Aid Application Forms in the Porch of the Church, and Abbie can give you all the help you need re information. We are able to claim back 25 pence in every pound donated to the church, when you use you envelopes or pay by Standing Order. Please think about joining, and thanks to those who already belong!
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.
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. The Foodbank have asked for support with the following items: pasta sauce, rice pudding, jam, tinned fruit, snack / breakfast bars, chocolate bars, shower gel, toilet roll and deodorant. URGENTLY NEEDED: Small jars of coffee, washing up liquid, sponge pudding desserts and instant mash. Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/
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.
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
MASS INTENTIONS – SEPTEMBER 2022
| Sat 3rd | 10.00am | Teresita Alix RIP (Jane Bacuetes) |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 3rd | 6.00pm | Kathleen & Bernard Harvey RIP (Margaret Hopkinson) |
| Sun 4th | 9.00am | Jim Sullivan RIP (Nancy Hands) |
| Sun 4th | 11:00am | Esther Mulholland RIP (Mark & Kathy Munro) |
| Mon 5th | 10.00am | Int’s of the Power Family (Ray Kearney) |
| Tues 6th | 10.00am | Fr Guy Brinkworth SJ RIP (Arthur Catterall) |
| Wed 7th | 10.00am | Carmen Antaki RIP (Frank Westcott) |
| Thurs 8th | 10.00am | Joseph Oliver Snr. RIP (Jackie Taylor) |
| Fri 9th | 10.00am | In Thanksgiving (Teresa Fabbri) |
| Sat 10th | 10.00am | Int’s of Maree Kavangh |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 10th | 6.00pm | Teresa Faud B’day Int’s (Fr John) |
| Sun 11th | 9.00am | Yvonne Grace RIP (The O’Regans & Tusons) |
| Sun 11th | 11:00am | Luke & Chaarlie Conlon RIP (Susan Monaghan) |
Please kindly put your Mass requests in early for anniversaries etc., this is to avoid any disappointment if a particular date has already been booked,
Parish Phone No: 0208 508 3492 Email: loughton@dioceseofbrentwood.org
The Brentwood Diocesan Trust Registered Charity No. 234092
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: Wisdom 9:13-18
What man indeed can know the intentions of God?
Who can divine the will of the Lord?
The reasonings of mortals are unsure
and our intentions unstable;
for a perishable body presses down the soul,
and this tent of clay weighs down the teeming mind.
It is hard enough for us to work out what is on earth,
laborious to know what lies within our reach;
who, then, can discover what is in the heavens?
As for your intention, who could have learnt it, had you not granted Wisdom
and sent your holy spirit from above?
Thus have the paths of those on earth been straightened
and men been taught what pleases you,
and saved, by Wisdom.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 89(90):3-6,12-14,17
O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.
You turn men back to dust
and say: ‘Go back, sons of men.’
To your eyes a thousand years
are like yesterday, come and gone,
no more than a watch in the night.
O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.
You sweep men away like a dream,
like the grass which springs up in the morning.
In the morning it springs up and flowers:
by evening it withers and fades.
O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.
Make us know the shortness of our life
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever?
Show pity to your servants.
O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.
In the morning, fill us with your love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Let the favour of the Lord be upon us:
give success to the work of our hands.
O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.
Second Reading : Philemon 9-10,12-17
This is Paul writing, an old man now and, what is more, still a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for a child of mine, whose father I became while wearing these chains: I mean Onesimus. I am sending him back to you, and with him – I could say – a part of my own self. I should have liked to keep him with me; he could have been a substitute for you, to help me while I am in the chains that the Good News has brought me. However, I did not want to do anything without your consent; it would have been forcing your act of kindness, which should be spontaneous. I know you have been deprived of Onesimus for a time, but it was only so that you could have him back for ever, not as a slave any more, but something much better than a slave, a dear brother; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, as a blood-brother as well as a brother in the Lord. So if all that we have in common means anything to you, welcome him as you would me.
Gospel : Luke 14:25-33
Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them. ‘If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
‘And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it? Otherwise, if he laid the foundation and then found himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers would all start making fun of him and saying, “Here is a man who started to build and was unable to finish.” Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand men he could stand up to the other who advanced against him with twenty thousand? If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.’
St Edmund of Canterbury 