St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More
The Old Testament saw wealth as a blessing from God, a sign of divine generosity. It was not wrong to have wealth: it was something good, to be received with thanksgiving. . Nevertheless, the prophets also taught that it carried obligations. Recognising the source of their blessings, the rich had to imitate divine generosity. The rich man in the parable was guilty not of being rich but rather of being an untrustworthy steward of his possessions. He failed to acknowledge the source of his blessings and to imitate the divine generosity towards him by sharing with those in need. He was oblivious to the need of Lazarus, who ‘desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table’, and never comforted him by satisfying his hunger. The rich man’s self-absorption with pursuing pleasure made him totally indifferent to the needs of others. Keeping all the good things for himself, he refused to share them. He singularly failed to listen to the prophets.
In the developing world our brothers and sisters have immense needs. Jesus came to ‘preach the good news to the poor. How can we fail to lay greater emphasis on the Church’s preferential option for the poor and the outcast? Indeed, it has to be said that a commitment to justice and peace in a world like ours, marked by so many conflicts and economic inequalities, compels us to raise our voice on behalf of the poor. Thus, in the spirit of the book of Leviticus, we shout out loud on behalf of all the poor in the world.
The call for justice for the world’s poor is ever pressing, and as yet there has been no lasting solution offered for the debt many nations find themselves in. We cannot, like the rich man, simply ignore the needs of the poor. We must raise our voices on their behalf. Consider this: the world’s military spending is now over $1.2 trillion. 2.5 per cent of the global GDP. Even if 1 percent of it were directed towards development, the world would be much closer to achieving the simple goal that billions of people don’t go to bed hungry and have clean drinking water.
Dear Friends in Jesus Christ, 26th Sunday of the Year
Did the mini-budget help you? Listening to radio and TV reports, it really doesn’t sound very promising unless you’re very rich. Also the rise in interest rates will affect those with mortgages. Obviously certain concessions have been made with regard to Utilities, but we are still going to be paying over the usual amounts that we have been accustomed to. Sadly, some people will be put in the position of making the decisions as to ‘heat or eat’! 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. We all need to wrap up really well; living in Canada taught me how to layer clothing, which really makes a difference. 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!
REQIESCANT IN PACE: In your mercy please pray for the repose of the souls of John Hogan RIP (Father of Frank Hogan) who passed away recently; Requiem Mass Friday 14th October at 12Noon Our Lady of Grace & St Teresa, Chingford. Lucy McLay RIP (Mother of Iain McLay) The Requiem Mass will take place at St Edmund’s on Thursday 13th October at 12.15pm. The Body will be received into the Church on Wednesday 12th October at 4.30pm. Also John Cocklin RIP (Father of Ann Cocklin) who passed away recently. Please also remember Canon Pat Sammon RIP Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Wanstead, who passed away recently. His Requiem Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes on Thursday 29th September at 11.30am. Solemn reception into the Church on Wednesday 28th September at 7.00pm with sung Vespers with the Chapter of Canons. We extend our sincere condolences to all these families at this time of the great loss of loves ones.
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. Please join us!
May God Bless You All
GREATEST SADNESS OF ALL: Sadly, after the Pandemic, many families have not returned to the weekly practice of faith. I really believed that the Pandemic would have focused people’s lives to the most important priorities, and that the practice of faith would have been up there at the top of the list. Unfortunately, this didn’t happen; if anything, some people completely have given up on the life of faith. People can find all sorts of excuses as to why they don’t practice their faith, but the bottom line is, if you want to do something you’ll do it! One day, everyone will need the Church at some time, time passes very quickly; don’t leave it too late!
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION FOR 2022/23: Continues on Sunday 25th September at 10.00am in the Parish Retreat Room. It is imperative that all children attend each of the Communion Classes. If you are unable to attend for some reason please contact Fr. John. 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.
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 31st October to make the application. Signing of Certificate of Catholic Practice will take place from Monday 10th October until Friday 14th October. (PLEASE PHONE FOR APPOINTMENT) If you are making an application to Davenant Foundation School, I will need a copy of the Form which states the practice of your faith – Weekly / Fortnightly / Monthly / Occasionally. Thank You!
TRINITY 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.
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
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
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
BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC YOUTH SERVICE: BCYS Youth Mass Thursday 6th October, Brentwood Cathedral. Commencing at 6.00pm for Pizza, we are delighted to be joined by Fr Paschal Uche and others to share their Vocations Stories and answer your questions before we begin the Mass at 7.30pm where Fr Paschal will be preaching. Open to all those in Years 9 and above, no booking necessary.
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: Giovanni Venturoli 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
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 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) |
| Mon 26th | 9.00am | Lucja Grzywniak RIP (Margo Edwards) |
| Tues 27th | 10.00am | Agnes & Colin Lamb RIP (Margaret Duffy) |
| Wed 28th | 10.00am | Carmen Antaki RIP (R & I Johnson) |
| Thur 29th | 9.00am | Rob Brazier RIP |
| Fri 30th | 10.00am | In Thanksgiving Monica Maycraft |
| Sat 1st October | 10.00am | Mariel Navarra-DeGuia (Bacuetes Family) |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 1st | 6.00pm | Isabel Coronado RIP (Anthony Family) |
| Sun 2nd | 9.00am | Luigi, Rosina & Giovanni RIP (Mrs Cobelli) |
| Sun 2nd | 11:00am | Charles Alan Frost RIP (Martin Frost) |
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
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading : Amos 6:1,4-7
The almighty Lord says this:
Woe to those ensconced so snugly in Zion
and to those who feel so safe on the mountain of Samaria,
those famous men of this first of nations
to whom the House of Israel goes as client.
Lying on ivory beds
and sprawling on their divans,
they dine on lambs from the flock,
and stall-fattened veal;
they bawl to the sound of the harp,
they invent new instruments of music like David,
they drink wine by the bowlful,
and use the finest oil for anointing themselves,
but about the ruin of Joseph they do not care at all.
That is why they will be the first to be exiled;
the sprawlers’ revelry is over.
Responsive Psalm : Psalm 145(146):7-10
My soul, give praise to the Lord.
It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets prisoners free.
My soul, give praise to the Lord.
It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down.
It is the Lord who loves the just,
the Lord, who protects the stranger.
My soul, give praise to the Lord.
The Lord upholds the widow and orphan
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
Zion’s God, from age to age.
My soul, give praise to the Lord.
Second Reading : 1 Timothy 6:11-16
As a man dedicated to God, you must aim to be saintly and religious, filled with faith and love, patient and gentle. Fight the good fight of the faith and win for yourself the eternal life to which you were called when you made your profession and spoke up for the truth in front of many witnesses. Now, before God the source of all life and before Christ, who spoke up as a witness for the truth in front of Pontius Pilate, I put to you the duty of doing all that you have been told, with no faults or failures, until the Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who at the due time will be revealed
by God, the blessed and only Ruler of all,
the King of kings and the Lord of lords,
who alone is immortal,
whose home is in inaccessible light,
whom no man has seen and no man is able to see:
to him be honour and everlasting power. Amen.
Gospel : Luke 16:19-31
Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.” “My son,” Abraham replied “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to stop anyone, if he wanted to, crossing from our side to yours, and to stop any crossing from your side to ours.”
‘The rich man replied, “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too.” “They have Moses and the prophets,” said Abraham “let them listen to them.” “Ah no, father Abraham,” said the rich man “but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Then Abraham said to him, “If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.”’
St Edmund of Canterbury 