St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More
Why should we pray? Today’s Gospel recounts Jesus’ parable about the impatient judge, who was constantly being bothered by a widow pestering him for justice. If that judge will answer the woman’s need just to get rid of her and get some peace, Jesus tells us, will not our heavenly Father answer the prayers we make to him?
Even since the age of Enlightenment in the eighteenth century, people of a philosophical bent have questioned the value of prayer, and especially intercessory prayer. It is said, for example, that the German poet Goethe never prayed because he argued that the world was set on its course anyway. Of course, god knows what we are going to ask him in advance of our asking. But the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that God ‘is the Lord of the universe, whose order he established, and which remains wholly subject to him and at this disposal. He is mater of history, governing hearts and events in keeping with his will….’ (para 269). God did not create the world and then leave it to its own devices! He has assured us through the Scriptures that he will change events as a result of our prayers. The world is not just a machine ticking over like a watch. It is more a unity, directed by an infinite mind which we call God. So, we must keep praying, as Paul says, ‘at all times’, that is when things are good and when things are bad.
Of course, prayer can be frustrating. Sometimes our prayers never seem to be answered. But God may be leading us to the virtue of perseverance, in Greek bupomoné, which we might translate as ‘stickability’. Christian faith teaches us the virtue of fidelity even in difficult times. We also have help from others in our prayer. Out reading from Exodus tells us the beautiful story of Moses being helped to pray by Aaron and Hur holding up his arms. The Church has a role in encouraging our prayers, by giving us the right prayer to say, and by giving us pastors and Christian friends who can help us and guide us as we grow in stickability. Don’t give up!
PRAY AS YOU CAN, NOT AS YOU CAN’T
Dear Friends in Jesus Christ, 29th Sunday of the Year
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!
CHRISTMAS EVENT FOR 2022: Upon consultation with the Bazaar Committee, and in light of economic difficulties for everyone this year, we have decided to progress the same as last year with a Grand Christmas Draw & Christmas Hampers. We investigated the possibility of a Christmas Market, but there were so few interested. We’ll stick to what we know! Obviously, this also takes some organising as well, and if there are any volunteers who can help us, we would be most grateful. Event will be on Sunday 11th December after 11am Mass, with Cake Stall & Refreshments & Grand Chrismas Draw.
We would like to appeal to your incredible generosity once again for donations of indulgent foods and drinks to create a fabulous selection of luxury Christmas Hampers. Items for a Grand Christmas Draw would be a Flat Screen TV, Laptop, Other New Electrical Goods, Crate of Wine, Theatre Vouchers, Restaurant Vouchers, Hotel Vouchers, National Trust Annual Family Membership, Department Store Vouchers, Fitbits, Air Pods, Beats Headphones.
SUGGESTED HAMPER DONATIONS: Luxury Brand Christmas Cakes & Puddings, Bottles of Champagne, Spirits, Port & Wine. Tinned meats – Gammon Ham, Potted Duck, and Pates. Tinned Fish – Salmon, Dressed Crab & Lobster, Jars of Fruit in Syrup, Jars of Pickles, Chutneys & Olives. Festive Jams or Berry Preserves. Festive Marmalades, Jars of Honey, Tea & Coffee, Hot Chocolate. Dried Fruit & Nuts. Biscotti, Ginger Snaps & Shortbread, boxes of Chocolates & Truffles,, Turkish Delight. Panettone, Mince Pies, Stollen. Biscuits and Crackers for Cheese. Bottles of Live Oil, Balsamic Vinegar & Marinades, Dried Stuffing Mixes. Boxes of Table Crackers
If any parishioners would be willing to donate suitable wicker hamper style baskets, these will help us present our Christmas Hampers in the traditional way. Thanking you all in anticipation of your generosity!
God Bless You All & Have a Blessed Week,
PARISH UTILITIES: Thankfully, the weather has been pretty mild up to now. 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!
SECONDARY SCHOOL ADMISSIONS: I’m extremely grateful to all the parents who came this week for the signing of Certificate of Catholic Practice for entry into Trinity Catholic High School next September 2023. Your County Form to Chelmsford has to be completed online; and your application has to be submitted to the school by 31st October. If there are any problems please speak to Fr. John
REQIESCAT IN PACE: 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
FEAST OF ALL SAINTS: 1st November, is a Holy Day of Obligation and has the same status as a Sunday. There will be four masses. 10.00am, 12.15pm & 7.30pm at St Edmund’s. And 2.00pm at St John Fisher School (Parents are also welcome to this mass at school).
NOVEMBER: Month of Holy Souls. It is customary throughout the Month of November to remember our deceased loved ones in a very special way. If there are any parishioners who would like to present a November Deceased List of names, there are special envelopes in your newsletters and also in the porch. Please complete your list of names and include your Mass Donation, and return the November Deceased Envelopes by the 2nd November, All Souls Day. There will be three Masses that day 10am, 12.15pm & 7.30pm. Holy Mass will be offered daily for the repose of all of our Holy Souls. And at the end of our weekday masses a decade of Rosary & Prayers for the deceased will be recited.
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION FOR 2022/23: Continues on Sunday 16th 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.
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. 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.
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 blessings
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: Maureen Epsom RIP, Emily Rose Courtney 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.
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/
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
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.
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!
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.
If there are children who no longer serve at St Edmund’s, would you kindly return your Alb & Cincture as soon as possible please
REGISTERING AT THE PARISH: It’s always important top have details of all of our parishioners. There are Parish Registration Forms in the Porch of the Church. Please complete and return to the Presbytery.
VACANCY – Cemetery Director. The Administrators of the Secular Clergy Common Fund are looking to appoint a Cemetery Director to be responsible for the direct management and strategic oversight of St Mary’s Cemetery NW10 5NU and St Patrick’s Cemetery E11 4HL. Salary: £45,000 – £50,000 depending on experience. Job Type: Full time, permanent Monday to Friday (35 hours a week). For an informal discussion regarding the role please contact Angela Rowe, Secretary at secretary@secularclergy.org.uk / call 07537 185800
CATECHIST TRAINING AND RESOURCES DAY – 5th November, 10.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m. at Sacred Heart of Mary School, Upminster. Open to any First Holy Communion and Confirmation Catechists, as well as those leading Youth Groups, Children’s Liturgy or similar! A range of fantastic workshops and keynote speech from David Wells. There will also be a session for any young catechists looking to develop their faith postconfirmation (16+). For all information and to book, please visit www.bcys.net/events/catechistday2022
LEADERSHIP VACANCIES IN DIOCESAN SCHOOLS: Details of all positions can be found at the following link https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/departments/education /vacancies/school-vacancies/
A TIME OF RETREAT AND REFLECTION Bookings have now open for this SILENT RETREAT in Brentwood. The theme is ‘My Lord and my God’ with a call to a renewed intimacy with Jesus. The guest speaker is Fr Martin Boland. Dates: Friday 4th-Sunday 6th November. To book, go to the events’ page of the Sion Community website – http://www.sioncommunity.org.uk
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading : Exodus 17:8-13
The Amalekites came and attacked Israel at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, ‘Pick out men for yourself, and tomorrow morning march out to engage Amalek. I, meanwhile, will stand on the hilltop, the staff of God in my hand.’ Joshua did as Moses told him and marched out to engage Amalek, while Moses and Aaron and Hur went up to the top of the hill. As long as Moses kept his arms raised, Israel had the advantage; when he let his arms fall, the advantage went to Amalek. But Moses’ arms grew heavy, so they took a stone and put it under him and on this he sat, Aaron and Hur supporting his arms, one on one side, one on the other; and his arms remained firm till sunset. With the edge of the sword Joshua cut down Amalek and his people.
Responsive Psalm : Psalm 120(121)
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains;
from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord
who made heaven and earth.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
May he never allow you to stumble!
Let him sleep not, your guard.
No, he sleeps not nor slumbers,
Israel’s guard.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The Lord is your guard and your shade;
at your right side he stands.
By day the sun shall not smite you
nor the moon in the night.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
The Lord will guard you from evil,
he will guard your soul.
The Lord will guard your going and coming
both now and for ever.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Second Reading : 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
You must keep to what you have been taught and know to be true; remember who your teachers were, and how, ever since you were a child, you have known the holy scriptures – from these you can learn the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work.
Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead, I put this duty to you, in the name of his Appearing and of his kingdom: proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience – but do all with patience and with the intention of teaching.
Gospel : Luke 18:1-8
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain town’ he said ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.”’
And the Lord said ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?
St Edmund of Canterbury 