St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More
British Summertime ends; clocks go back one hour.
As sinners go, Zacchaeus was a ‘big fish’ – or maybe we should say a ‘big shark’. As a chief tax collector he was responsible for other tax collectors and was no doubt very experienced in the dark art of exploiting and cheating others. Tax collectors experienced much hatred and were seen as the scum of the earth, the lowest of the low. Ironically, the name Zacchaeus means ‘innocent’ or ‘pure’, but there was nothing pure and innocent about him. His wealth was the fruit of a corrupt tax system in which the Jewish tax collectors secures their own piece of the pie by charging further levy and skimming it off for themselves. They were literally getting wealthy on the backs of others.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Zacchaeus was as loathed and despised by the general public as a drug dealer might be today. Imagine, them, the shock and indignation that would be caused if Pope Francis invited himself to dine with a well-known drug dealer. Pandemonium would break out at the knowledge that the head of the Catholic Church was associating with such people. But what if our drug dealer gave his life to the Lord and became a Catholic?!
Zacchaeus’ conversion is dramatic and generous, reflecting Jesus’ goodness and generosity. His story teaches us that no one is beyond redemption, and that God’s grace and mercy reaches into the deepest and darkest of hearts. Remember, Jesus didn’t come to call the righteous but the unrighteous. He came to seek and save the lost, and the truth is that we’re all lost
The rich young man encountered the Lord and went away sad; the wealthy Zacchaeus encountered the Lord and went away filled with the joy of conversion. God works in amazing ways; those we think are far away from God are closer than we realise, and those we think are close to God may be farther away than we imagine.
Dear Friends in Jesus Christ, 31st Sunday of the Year
FEAST OF ALL SAINTS: 1st November, is a Holy Day of Obligation and has the same status as a Sunday. The Feast of All Saints commemorates all of those men and women who have gone before us marked with the sing of faith, which are now part of God’s Great Company. We are all aspiring to the same sanctity of life, which is ultimately achieved when we meet our maker face to face. Let us ask for the intercession of All the Saints. 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: THE 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 spare envelopes in the porch. Please complete your list of names and include your Mass Donation, and return the envelopes by the 2nd November All Souls Day. Please use your Gift Aid Number with your donation.
There will be three Masses that day 10.00am, 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.
ST PATRICK’S CEMETERY, LEYTONSTONE: November Mass for the Deceased will be celebrated on Monday 14th November at 11.30am All welcome! Many have deceased family buried at St Patrick’s Cemetery.
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS EVENT: Sunday 11th December after the 11am Mass. Please see attached in your Newsletter. If you can help in any way please see Fr John or Kelsey Howard. Gifts and items can be dropped off at the Presbytery, or left in the Porch of the Church.
May God Bless You All,
REQUIESCAT IN PACE: In your mercy please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr Kieran Dodd RIP, who passed away last Tuesday. As you known Fr Kieran was a good friend to us here in Loughton for many years, and loved coming to our parish. He celebrated his 90th Birthday this year and also his 60th Anniversary of Ordination. His Body will be received into SS Peter & Paul Church, High Road, Ilford on Wednesday 9th November at 7.00pm and his Requiem Mass will be celebrated by the Bishop on Thursday 10th November at 1130am. Please keep his family in your prayer at this time of great loss.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE: In your mercy please pray for the repose of the soul of Veronica Godsave RIP, who passed away this week. We extend our condolences to her family in this time of great loss. As yet there are no funeral arrangements.
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!
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES: Continue after the half-term break on Sunday 6th November at 10.00am in the Parish Retreat Room. It is imperative that all children attend each of the Communion Classes. The next Parents’ Meeting will take place on Wednesday 23rd November at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall. If you are unable to attend for some reason please contact Fr. John directly. Tel No: 0208 508 3492
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 Thursday 17th November at 10.30am
Please consult Website for the remainder of the Parish Newsletter
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.
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.
NOTE FOR OUR CONTEMPORARY MUSIC GROUP We will next be playing and singing at the 11am Mass on Sunday, 6th November. It was really good to see so many of our singers (and new ones too!) at our last Mass, and we hope you will all be able to come and sing again at this next Mass. Because of time restraints, we’ll not be having a practice during the week beforehand, but it would be appreciated if you could arrive before the Mass starts so that we can quickly run through the music and hymns. Thanks very much and we look forward to seeing you there in full force!
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
DIARY OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 2022
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH
Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Karl Britz, Carlos Camacho, Jane Downs, Steve Dalgliesh, Pat Fenn, 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: Phil Lawless RIP, Vi Clarke RIP, Neil Milward 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 to 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 post confirmation (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 – www.sioncommunity.org.uk
MASS INTENTIONS – OCTOBER – NOVEMBER 2022
| Sat 29th | 10.00am | Pina & Albert Martinelli RIP (Margaret Duffy) |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 29th | 6.00pm | Samia Masud Int’s (The Anthony Family) |
| Sun 30th | 9.00am | Jim Sullivan RIP (Celine Sullivan) |
| Sun 30th | 11:00am | Eladio Dizon Jnr RIP (Bacuetes Family) |
| Mon 31st | 10.00am | Anthony Michael Porter RIP (Munday Family) |
| Tues 1stNovemberAll Saints | 10.00am12.15pm2.00pm7.30pm | Olgierd Ciszkiewicz RIPDavid Stevens Int’s (Mills family)People of the ParishJohn Hogan RIP (The Ruiz Family) |
| Wed 2nd All Souls | 10.00am12.15pm7.30pm | Lucy McLay RIP (S & J Campbell) H/SoulsPeter Smith RIP (Paul Falco) Holy SoulsTeresita Herilla RIP (Bacuetes Fam) H/S |
| Thur 3rd | 10.00am | Peter Martin RIP (Chris Draper – Catenians) Holy Souls |
| Fri 4th | 10.00am | Vera Baker’s Int’s (Manley Family) Holy Souls |
| Sat 5th | 10.00am | Sandy Sandhu RIP Holy Souls |
| Vigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 5th | 6.00pm | Dorothy Goodbun RIP (Anthony Family) |
| Sun 6th | 9.00am | Lily Brennan RIP (Senan Pierce) Holy Souls |
| Sun 6th | 11:00am | Bernard John Gilley RIP (Eileen Ward) |
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
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: Wisdom 11:22-12:2
In your sight, Lord, the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales,
like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground.
Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things
and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent.
Yes, you love all that exists; you hold nothing of what you have made in abhorrence,
for had you hated anything, you would not have formed it.
And how, had you not willed it, could a thing persist,
how be conserved if not called forth by you?
You spare all things because all things are yours, Lord, lover of life,
you whose imperishable spirit is in all.
Little by little, therefore, you correct those who offend,
you admonish and remind them of how they have sinned,
so that they may abstain from evil and trust in you, Lord.
Responsive Psalm: Psalm 144(145):1-2,8-11,13b-14
I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.
I will give you glory, O God my king,
I will bless your name for ever.
I will bless you day after day
and praise your name for ever.
I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.
The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all,
compassionate to all his creatures.
I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.
All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign
and declare your might, O God.
I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.
The Lord is faithful in all his words
and loving in all his deeds.
The Lord supports all who fall
and raises all who are bowed down.
I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
We pray continually that our God will make you worthy of his call, and by his power fulfil all your desires for goodness and complete all that you have been doing through faith; because in this way the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
To turn now, brothers, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumour or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived.
Gospel: Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance: he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’
The Gospel of the lord
St Edmund of Canterbury 