St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More
Every good parent teaches their child to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ from an early age. Ungrateful children are unpleasant creatures but what they need is training and forming in this necessary social etiquette. Thanks and gratitude expressed bestows dignity on both the giver and the receiver. Without it a warm and generous gift or service falls on barren, hard ground.
There’s much to learn from today’s Gospel story. We don’t know the grateful leper’s name, just that he was a Samaritan and was one of the 10 Jesus healed and restored to health; in fact, the only one gracious enough to return and thank the Lord. In first-century Israel the term ‘leprosy’ covered any number of skin diseases and was understood to be a curse from God as a form of punishment, so lepers were thoroughly ostracized.
Jesus always broke through social prohibitions and repressive injunctions in order to heal and serve the person. The lepers Jesus encountered in today’s Gospel comprised of Jews (Galileans) and Samaritans. Through the suffering of their disease, they discovered fraternity and friendship, breaking down the barrier or dividing hostility that ordinarily separated non-Jew from Gentile. Under the restriction of the Torah, lepers had to avoid social contact with the general population and relied on handouts in order to survive.
Jesus gave a command – the Torah required that healed lepers show themselves to the priests, whose responsibility was to judge whether the ‘outcast’ should be permitted to return to society. Their obedience was richly rewarded as we known – all 10 were miraculously healed. However, in a rather jarring moment in Jesus’ life, we learn only the Samaritan returned to express his heartfelt thanks.
God has healed us and restored us in so many ways. We can strive to be like the grateful leper for he is a model of discipleship. His heart was full of praise, adoration worship and thanks.
Dear Friends in Jesus Christ, 28th Sunday of the Year
CONGRATULATIONS: I would like to personally congratulate Ferdi Tisi & Iain McLay, who both received the Papal Bene Merenti award last weekend. The Bene Merenti is given by the Pope to individuals who have freely served the parish community over a long period of time. Ferdi Tisi: – started the Contemporary Music Group nearly fifty years ago. He served as a Governor at St John Fisher School for 30 years. He worked with the Seventh Epping Forest Uniform Group for many years. Also is the Gift Aid Co-ordinator for the Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society for 25 years. Iain McLay: – ran our Parish Youth Service every Sunday Evening for over twenty Years. Was a member of the SVP organising the annual Christmas Day Dinner for those who would be by themselves. And during the Covid Pandemic has looked after all of us; organising the church and rotas to ensure health and safety was maintained by all; ensuring that the weekly parish newsletter was distributed via email. For both of them, these incredible acts of service still continue today. On behalf of the parish I thank both of them for their Service to God & our Church.
PARISH UTILITIES: May I make an appeal to the whole parish community to kindly remember in your weekly offertory, and especially during this autumn and winter, the use of the utilities in our very big buildings. We are now all on the receiving end of larger Utility Bills. I’m sure we’re all being very careful with the usage of heating and lighting. I don’t think this is something that is going to go away!
DAILY MASS AT ST EDMUND’S: I would like to make this special appeal, especially to those who may be retired, to think seriously about attending one or more of our daily masses at 10.00am Monday – Saturday. Daily Mass is truly a wonderful gift that is offered in nearly every parish. I get saddened sometimes as to how few people attend our weekday masses. We teach that the Holy Mass is the ‘source & summit’ of our Catholic Lives of faith. There is no greater gift that Christ gave us before his Passion, Death & Resurrection. Please think seriously about attending an additional Mass during the week; the Lord will afford you many graces and blessing
May God Bless You All,
SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMISSIONS: 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. You 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 an 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! Parents, please kindly attend Open Evenings before you complete your Essex County Form.
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. Requiem Mass on Wednesday 19th October at 12.15pm with Cremation at Forest Park Crematorium at 1.30pm
WHAT CHRISTMAS EVENT THIS YEAR? It would be really wonderful to hold a Special Christmas event within the life of the parish once again. Covid put pay to the last couple of years. But if there are parishioners interested in helping us organise a Christmas Fayre or Christmas Market? Please let Fr John know or Kelsey Howard know. We want to try something new this year. Also, all the proceeds will go towards the paying of Utility Bills this winter for the all of the very big buildings we have. Hopefully by next weekend we will have a firm and definite decision as to the event itself. So please watch this space. In advance of all this could we start appealing for Prizes for a Grand Draw which will go hand in hand with the Fayre or Market. A Smart Colour TV & any other luxury Items. X Box & Games for Consul. Crate of Wine. Christmas Hampers. Restaurant Vouchers. Etc.
PARISH CHRISTMAS EVENT SATURDAY 10TH DECEMBER
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION FOR 2022/23: Continues on Sunday 9th October 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.
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 half 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 Next Big Clean on Tuesday 11th October at 10.30am
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.
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
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.
DIARY OCTOBER 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: 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.
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/
PASTORAL LETTER ON ST BERNADETTE
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We have a special visitor in our diocese next week: St Bernadette of Lourdes. Having travelled through the Channel Tunnel, and after some weeks of visiting various parts of England and Wales, the relics of St Bernadette will come to us. She will be at Brentwood Cathedral next Sunday and Monday morning, and then, at Our Lady of Lourdes, Wanstead, in East London, from Tuesday to Wednesday. This has never happened before.
St Bernadette was only fourteen years old when a beautiful lady, dressed in white, with a blue girdle and carrying a rosary, appeared to her in a grotto by the bank of the River Gave. During eighteen apparitions, the lady said three things to her. She asked Bernadette to pray for sinners. She told her to go to the parish priests and tell them that ‘people should come in procession to the grotto and build a chapel here.’ And, finally, the beautiful lady revealed who she was: ‘I am the Immaculate Conception.’
To begin with, no one believed Bernadette but, over time, both the priests and the townspeople became convinced. Why? Because of the clear sincerity and goodness of St Bernadette. She asked nothing for herself, continued to live simply, and chose to disappear into a convent. Throughout she was an example of prayer and humility. At the same time, Lourdes was becoming a place of pilgrimage where many were experiencing conversion and the sick great care. Lourdes remains a shrine of great love and service.
St Bernadette can be an example to us. She shows us the beauty of faith and trust in the Lord. We can ask her to pray for us. We do not need to be close to her relics to learn from her and seek her prayers. But her relics are a powerful reminder of the truth of this woman’s life and God, in his kindness, has often particularly blessed us when we come close to the shrines of the saints. Having come to us, it would be beautiful for us to go to Bernadette, whether at Brentwood or Wanstead.
There is another particular reason why we may want to venerate the relics of St Bernadette. The patroness of our diocese is Our Lady of Lourdes. For us, Lourdes is not a faraway place but our spiritual home from which we can draw much inspiration in East London and Essex. Every year, I lead a diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes at the end of July. It is my hope that the visit of the relics of St Bernadette will inspire many of us to join this pilgrimage and go to Lourdes as Our Lady hoped.
A wonderful website has been created for this national tour of the relics. Simply go to St Bernadette.org.uk. There you will find much more information. After the difficulties of the pandemic and with much to concern us both nationally and internationally, let us seek the prayers of St Bernadette and place our trust in the loving concern of that beautiful lady, the Immaculate Conception.
+Alan, sm
Bishop of Brentwood
RELICS OF ST BERNADETTE OF LOURDES COMING TO UK: The Churches & Cathedrals hosting St Bernadette’s Relics have a fixed capacity for visitors. To ensure the comfort and safety of pilgrims, visitors will be asked to register to attend with a dedicated timeslot. In the diocese of Brentwood there are two dates and two venues.
Brentwood Cathedral Arriving 11am 16/10/2022 Departing 12Noon 17/10/2022.
Special Mass for all at 6.30pm 16/10/2022
Our Lady of Lourdes Wanstead: Arrive 10am 18/10/2022. Depart: 9am 19/10/2022 . Special Mass celebrated by Bishop Alan on Tuesday 18th October at 7.30pm All welcome!
MASS INTENTIONS – OCTOBER 2022
| Sat 8th | 10.00am | David Sweeney RIP (M Ryan) |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 8th | 6.00pm | People of the Parish |
| Sun 9th | 9.00am | Jim Sullivan RIP (John & Sue Campbell) |
| Sun 9th | 11:00am | John Hogan RIP (Fr John) |
| Mon 10th | 10.00am | Stephanie Argyrenis RIP (Eileen Lee) |
| Tues 11th | 10.00am | Anthony Michael Porter RIP (Munday Family) |
| Wed 12th | 10.00am | Peter Smith RIP (Paul Falco) |
| Thur 13th | 12.15pm | Requiem Mass Lucy McLay RIP |
| Fri 14th | 10.00am | Canon Pat Sammon RIP (PoulterFamily) |
| Sat 15th | 10.00am | Doris Antil (sick) (Munday Family) |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 15th | 6.00pm | Elizabeth McEvoy RIP (Sheehy Family) |
| Sun 16th | 9.00am | Matt McLoughlin RIP (Celine Sullivan) |
| Sun 16th | 11:00am | David Sweeney (E Griffin) |
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
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading : 2 Kings 5:14-17
Naaman the leper went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, as Elisha had told him to do. And his flesh became clean once more like the flesh of a little child.
Returning to Elisha with his whole escort, he went in and stood before him. ‘Now I know’ he said ‘that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. Now, please, accept a present from your servant.’
But Elisha replied, ‘As the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will accept nothing.’ Naaman pressed him to accept, but he refused.
Then Naaman said, ‘Since your answer is “No,” allow your servant to be given as much earth as two mules may carry, because your servant will no longer offer holocaust or sacrifice to any god except the Lord.’
Responsive Psalm : Psalm 97(98):1-4
The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.
Sing a new song to the Lord
for he has worked wonders.
His right hand and his holy arm
have brought salvation.
The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.
The Lord has made known his salvation;
has shown his justice to the nations.
He has remembered his truth and love
for the house of Israel.
The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations
.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth,
ring out your joy.
The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.
Second Reading : 2 Timothy 2:8-13
Remember the Good News that I carry, ‘Jesus Christ risen from the dead, sprung from the race of David’; it is on account of this that I have my own hardships to bear, even to being chained like a criminal – but they cannot chain up God’s news. So I bear it all for the sake of those who are chosen, so that in the end they may have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus and the eternal glory that comes with it.
Here is a saying that you can rely on:
If we have died with him, then we shall live with him.
If we hold firm, then we shall reign with him.
If we disown him, then he will disown us.
We may be unfaithful, but he is always faithful,
for he cannot disown his own self.
Gospel : Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.
St Edmund of Canterbury 