St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More
The Pharisees and the Sadducees were both attracted and repelled by Jesus, and they couldn’t stop trying to catch him out. The aristocratic Sadducees scorned the middle-class Pharisees and their modern interpretation of the law. They had a narrow world view and were true conservatives, accepting only the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures (The Pentateuch) and rejecting any belief in the resurrection of the body or of any existence after death.
Under the Levirate law, if a Jewish man’s brother died childless, the man was supposed to marry the widow and provide and heir, so that the estate wouldn’t leave the family and the brother’s name would continue. The Sadducees, who were too clever by half, posed a scenario which they didn’t even believe would occur, hoping to force Jesus to renounce the resurrection or allow polyandry (a woman having more than one husband).
Jesus pointed out that the resurrection life and our current earthly existence are not to be compared. In heaven the relationship of a married couple will be transcended by an entirely new kind of relationship. As Christians, we don’t simply believe that after death we live on in some way; what we do believe is that on the last day our bodies will be raised incorruptible. This is our blessed hope and the very essence of what it meant to believe in the resurrection.
As Paul said, ‘…God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power’. Of course, this is a mystery, but one which through faith we can enter into and takes hold of in a way which can transform our lives. St Clement of Rome saw the truth of the resurrection built into nature’s cycle: Day and night give us examples of resurrection. The night sinks to sleep, the day rises; the day departs, the night comes on. ‘His namesake in Alexandria said of Christ, ‘He has turned our sunsets into dawn.
Dear Friends in Christ, 32nd Sunday of the Year 2022
CHRISTMAS EVENT FOR 2022: There will be a Grand Christmas Draw & Christmas Hampers. 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 Christmas 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. All Toiletries
If anyone wants to make a Cash Donation please mark it Christmas Fund, and please use your Gift Aid envelope so we can claim the Tax back on the Donation. Thank you! Box in ChurchPorch & Presbytery Porch for your gifts & offerings. AS YET ONLY A FEW ITEMS DONATED!
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!
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. 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.
May God Bless You All,
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.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE: In your mercy please pray for the repose of the soul of Fr Kieran Dodd RIP, 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 11.30am. 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 recently. We extend our condolences to her family in this time of great loss. Requiem Mass will take place on Tuesday 15th November at 12.15pm, with Cremation at 1.30pm at Forest Park Crematorium.
APPLICATIONS FOR RECEPTION PLACES AT ST JOHN FISHER CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL SEPTEMBER 2023: If there are any parents who wish to apply for a place for their child in Reception Class 2023, at St John Fisher Catholic Primary School, and need a Certificate of Catholic Practice signed, please see Fr John during the week November 14th – 18th. For some of you this will be the first time you have engaged in the admissions procedure. Hopefully by now you will have received notice from Essex Education Authority that your child is due to commence school next September 2023. You have to complete the County Form by the 15th January 2023. It’s so important that we support our local Catholic Primary School, which gives an excellent education to our children.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES: Continue on Sunday 6th November at 10.00am in the Parish Retreat. 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.
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
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 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: Sheila Quinn RIP, Jan Leach RIP, Anthony Orsini RIP, Joyce Gregory RIP, Pat Salter RIP, Maureen Finnegan RIP, Lucy Byrne-Ingle RIP, Doreen Wiltshire RIP, Terrence Callahan RIP, & All our Holy Souls. 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.
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!
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? “Enquirers’ Evening” on Tuesday 8th November 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 Meetings are monthly, usually the first Tuesday of each month. For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org
MASS INTENTIONS – NOVEMBER 2022
| Sat 5th | 10.00am | Sandy Sandhu RIP Holy Souls |
| Confessions 11am – 12NoonVigil 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) Anni Holy Souls |
| Sun 6th | 11:00am | Bernard John Gilley RIP (Eileen Ward) Anni Holy Souls |
| Mon 7th | 12.15pm | Carmen Antaki RIP (Frank Westcott) Holy Souls |
| Tues 8th | 12.15pm | Fr Kieran Dodd RIP (Frank Westcott) Holy Souls |
| Wed 9th | 10.00am | Michael DoBosh RIP (Celine Sullivan) Holy Souls |
| Thur 10th | 9.00am | Irene Olivelle RIP Birthday Remembrance (Joe Olivelle) Holy Souls |
| Fri 11th | 10.00am | Bridie Boyle RIP (Paul Boyle) Holy Souls |
| Sat 12th | 10.00am | Peter Martin RIP (Chris Draper – Catenians) Holy Souls |
| Confessions 11am – 12NoonVigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 12th | 6.00pm | People of the Parish |
| Sun 13th | 9.00am | Matt McLoughlin RIP (Veronica & Steve Short) Holy Souls |
| Sun 13th | 11:00am | Eugene & Ellen Carney RIP (C Knight) Holy Souls |
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
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading : 2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14
There were seven brothers who were arrested with their mother. The king tried to force them to taste pig’s flesh, which the Law forbids, by torturing them with whips and scourges. One of them, acting as spokesman for the others, said, ‘What are you trying to find out from us? We are prepared to die rather than break the laws of our ancestors.’
With his last breath the second brother exclaimed, ‘Inhuman fiend, you may discharge us from this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up, since it is for his laws that we die, to live again for ever.’
After him, they amused themselves with the third, who on being asked for his tongue promptly thrust it out and boldly held out his hands, with these honourable words, ‘It was heaven that gave me these limbs; for the sake of his laws I disdain them; from him I hope to receive them again.’ The king and his attendants were astounded at the young man’s courage and his utter indifference to suffering.
When this one was dead they subjected the fourth to the same savage torture. When he neared his end he cried, ‘Ours is the better choice, to meet death at men’s hands, yet relying on God’s promise that we shall be raised up by him; whereas for you there can be no resurrection, no new life.’
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 16(17):1,5-6,8,15
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips.
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
I kept my feet firmly in your paths;
there was no faltering in my steps.
I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
Guard me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
As for me, in my justice I shall see your face
and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory.
I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.
Second Reading : 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who has given us his love and, through his grace, such inexhaustible comfort and such sure hope, comfort you and strengthen you in everything good that you do or say.
Finally, brothers, pray for us; pray that the Lord’s message may spread quickly, and be received with honour as it was among you; and pray that we may be preserved from the interference of bigoted and evil people, for faith is not given to everyone. But the Lord is faithful, and he will give you strength and guard you from the evil one, and we, in the Lord, have every confidence that you are doing and will go on doing all that we tell you. May the Lord turn your hearts towards the love of God and the fortitude of Christ.
Gospel : Luke 20:27-38
Some Sadducees – those who say that there is no resurrection – approached Jesus and they put this question to him, ‘Master, we have it from Moses in writing, that if a man’s married brother dies childless, the man must marry the widow to raise up children for his brother. Well then, there were seven brothers. The first, having married a wife, died childless. The second and then the third married the widow. And the same with all seven, they died leaving no children. Finally the woman herself died. Now, at the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife since she had been married to all seven?’
Jesus replied, ‘The children of this world take wives and husbands, but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God. And Moses himself implies that the dead rise again, in the passage about the bush where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive.’
The Gospel of the Lord
St Edmund of Canterbury 