St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More
Today’s readings about our call to be astute, even canny disciples. The Parable of the dishonest Steward is difficult for us to understand because we are unfamiliar with the business practices of the time. Stewards worked to make the maximum profit for their masters. An accepted way of making more money for the master was the practice of charging clients a high interest rate for goods supplied but not yet paid for. But since charging high interest (usury) was against the law, it could not be shown as such in the accounts. Instead, it had to be disguised as extra good’s supplied.
The steward had wasted his mater’s property and not acted in his mater’s best interests. Faced with dismissal, he immediately set about currying favour with his master’s clients in the hope that, remembering how he had saved them a great deal of money, they would later welcome him. He reduced their bills by removing the disguised high interest charge. Her thereby deprived his master of the extra profit and, at the same time, put the clients in debt to him. His master, recognising how shrewdly he had acted – even though it had been at his expense – praised the steward for his astuteness.
By telling his hearers this parable Jesus wanted them to draw the conclusion that they too should use their money shrewdly. However, the use of money in the kingdom of God is very different from in the world. In the world, money is tainted. It seduces and blinds. It has a way of enslaving us so that all our energies go into becoming richer, even at the expense of others. In the world the use of money is always for our material benefit and advantage.
In the kingdom of God, however, the shrewd use of money is for the furthering of the kingdom by doing good to others especially the needy. This always brings blessings. When we share our possessions, which are on loan from God, with those in need, we are given the treasure of heaven as our inalienable possession. It is through being generous and kind to others that we become astute Disciples of Christ – for in doing this we store up treasure in heaven, where no thief can destroy or steal.
Dear Friends in Jesus Christ,
This past week has seen an incredible outpouring of love and sympathy on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; also, the welcoming of the New King, Charles III. Watching the arrival of the Coffin & cortege at Buckingham Palace last Tuesday was very moving; and her removal to Central Hall Westminster, where she has been lying ‘In State’ has allowed thousands of people to pay their final respects. On Monday 19th September at 11.00 there will be a Funeral Service at Westminster Abbey for the Her Majesty. It is a public holiday; therefore, it will give everyone the opportunity in their homes and around London to pay their final respects.
I will celebrate a Requiem Mass on Monday morning 19th September at 10.00am, giving everyone an opportunity to pray for the repose of the soul of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Mass should finish about 10.30, giving adequate time to return home and watch the Funeral Service on the television. May Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Rest in Peace, and Rise in Glory!
As the temperature slowly begins to drop with the advent of autumn, we are all concerned about heating and lighting our homes this winter. It is hoped that a certain amount of assistance will be given by the government. Hopefully we will find out more about this assistance this week from the new Prime Minister. 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 pray 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!
SPECIAL COFFEE MORNING: After the 11.00am Mass, on Sunday 2nd October. I have a special announcement to make at the 11.00am Mass that day. The Coffee Morning 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 now go towards the increasing costs of utility bills. We hope to have regular Coffee Mornings this year.
May God Bless You All
REQUIESCAT IN PACE: In your mercy please pray for the repose of the soul of Canon Patrick Sammon, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish Parish, Wanstead, who passed away on Friday. We extend our condolences to his family and parish family,, at this time of great loss
Also, Carmen Antaki, late of this parish, the Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday 22nd September at St Edmund’s. at 12.15pm We extend our condolences to her family in this time of loss
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION FOR 2022/23: On Sunday the children will meet for the second time for their classes which will take place in the Parish Retreat at 10.00am. It is important that the children are present for each class, as each session will help them clearly understand all the different parts of the Holy Mass
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 have until 31st October to make the application.
TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL: Prospective Year 7 Open Evening on Wednesday 28th September 6pm – 8pm/ Dr Paul Doherty will be speaking at 6.00pm & 7.00pm. Parents, please kindly attend Open Evenings before you complete your Essex County Form.
CAN YOU HELP WITH CHURCH CLEANING? 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! Sadly, only 3 people turned up last Friday morning.
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
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? “Enquirers’ Evening” on Tuesday 4th October 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 Fr Damian Wade – newly Ordained. Meetings are monthly, usually the first Tuesday of each month. For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR OUR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC GROUP
We will be singing and playing at our next 11am Mass on Sunday, 2nd October.
Beforehand, though, we have decided to reintroduce our informal monthly practices (which we held before the pandemic) and our first one will be held on Thursday, 29th September between 7pm and 8pm in the choir loft at St. Edmund’s.
We encourage all our regular singers and musicians to come to this practice and we’d particularly like to welcome any new children, young adults and families in our Parish who might consider joining our group as a musician and/or singer. Don’t worry – you don’t need to sing like a nightingale or have any grades to play instruments (!) – this means that we’d welcome everyone who would simply like to be part of our friendly group.
With anticipated thanks and we look forward to seeing you all on the 29th September and at the Mass on the 2nd October.
DIARY 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: Joseph Olivelle RIP, Gerard Pampellonne 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
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: The Journey of Faith talks on Thursday 22nd 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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MASS INTENTIONS – SEPTEMBER 2022
| Sat 17th | 10.00am | Carmen Antaki RIP (Pat & Margaret) |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 17th | 6.00pm | Thanksgiving (Ewa Michalik) |
| Sun 18th | 9.00am | Jim Sullivan RIP (Susan Monaghan) |
| Sun 18th | 11:00am | Michael Bullock RIP (Steven Bullock) |
| Mon 19th | 10.00am | Requiem Mass for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Requiescat in Pace |
| Tues 20th | 10.00am | Rose Elizabeth Smith RIP (Noreen Smith) |
| Wed 21st | 10.00am | Peter Smith RIP (Paul Falco) |
| Thur 22nd | 12.15pm | Requiem Mass for Carmen Antaki RIP |
| Fri 23rd | 10.00am | In Thanksgiving Teresa Fabbri |
| Sat 24th | 10.00am | Richard Griffin (M Ryan) |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 24th | 6.00pm | Peter & Michael Holly RIP (Rooney Family) |
| Sun 25th | 9.00am | Dennis Randall RIP (Randall Family) |
| Sun 25th | 11:00am | Gerard Pampellonne RIP (Anni) (Kathleen Pampellonne) |
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
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading : Amos 8:4-7
Listen to this, you who trample on the needy
and try to suppress the poor people of the country,
you who say, ‘When will New Moon be over
so that we can sell our corn,
and sabbath, so that we can market our wheat?
Then by lowering the bushel, raising the shekel,
by swindling and tampering with the scales,
we can buy up the poor for money,
and the needy for a pair of sandals,
and get a price even for the sweepings of the wheat.’
The Lord swears it by the pride of Jacob,
‘Never will I forget a single thing you have done.’
Responsive Psalm : Psalm 112(113):1-2,4-8
Praise the Lord, who raises the poor.
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
praise the name of the Lord!
May the name of the Lord be blessed
both now and for evermore!
Praise the Lord, who raises the poor.
!
High above all nations is the Lord,
above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God,
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down,
to look down upon heaven and earth?
Praise the Lord, who raises the poor.
From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the dungheap he raises the poor
to set him in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
Praise the Lord, who raises the poor.
Second Reading : 1 Timothy 2:1-8
My advice is that, first of all, there should be prayers offered for everyone – petitions, intercessions and thanksgiving – and especially for kings and others in authority, so that we may be able to live religious and reverent lives in peace and quiet. To do this is right, and will please God our saviour: he wants everyone to be saved and reach full knowledge of the truth. For there is only one God, and there is only one mediator between God and mankind, himself a man, Christ Jesus, who sacrificed himself as a ransom for them all. He is the evidence of this, sent at the appointed time, and I have been named a herald and apostle of it and – I am telling the truth and no lie – a teacher of the faith and the truth to the pagans.
In every place, then, I want the men to lift their hands up reverently in prayer, with no anger or argument.
Gospel : Luke 16:1-13
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘There was a rich man and he had a steward denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, “What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer.” Then the steward said to himself, “Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes.”
Then he called his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, “How much do you owe my master?” “One hundred measures of oil” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond; sit down straight away and write fifty.” To another he said, “And you, sir, how much do you owe?” “One hundred measures of wheat” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond and write eighty.”
‘The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.
‘And so I tell you this: use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?
‘No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.’
THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD
St Edmund of Canterbury 