St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More
Dear Friends in Christ THIS IS HOLY WEEK Palm Sunday 2023
We are about to embark upon our Holy Week 2022. Thank God we are able to gather with some semblance of normality once again for our Holy Week Services, journeying with Our Blessed Lord and accompanying Him in faith and love, through his Pasion & Death, and, to share in the triumph of resurrection Faith on East Easter Day.
Our Palm Sunday celebration reminds us of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the Holy City, to cries of ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’. This, of course, is overshadowed by the religious authorities and crowds, who in a few days’ time will be baying for his blood with the words, ‘Crucify him, crucify him!’ This Palm Sunday sets the scene for the rest of our Holy Week.
THE SACRED TRIDUUM: The three Holy Days – are seen as one continuous celebration of faith. On Holy Thursday we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper where the institution of the Holy Eucharist took place; the eternal gift the Lord gave to the Apostles on the night before he died. He journey’s to Gethsemane where he prays to the Father. The arrest takes place in the garden; and the Apostles flee in fear.
Good Friday: this sacred and solemn day calls to mind, the cruel treatment of Jesus, the scourging at the pillar, the crowning with thorns, his condemnation through false evidence brought against him. Pilate washes his hands of Jesus, and he begins the journey up the Hill of Calvary to his brutal Crucifixion & Death.
Holy Saturday: Commences with the silence of the Tomb. And yet God raises Jesus out of death. We celebrate the first Mass of Easter at our Vigil celebration. Jesus triumphs over sin and death and invites us to share in the New Life of Resurrection faith.
My Dear Friends in Christ, Palm Sunday 2022
As we enter into the Greatest Week of the Church’s liturgical year, we accompany the Lord Jesus in the days ahead, journeying with him to Jerusalem, the Holy City, to the beauty of the Last Supper & the Lord’s great witness of Service through the Washing of Feet, to the giving of the first Eucharist. His betrayal by Judas, and his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. The denial by Peter; the orchestrated and mock trial. His eventual condemnation to death by Pilate; and the horrendous nature of death by Crucifixion. But of course for the Christian this is not the end of the story. Easter Resurrection is our joy and hope. A New Life will begin – the Church was born – and here we are over two thousand years later still celebrating this great event of faith. PLEASE MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE A PART OF OUR HOLY WEEK CELEBRATIONS.
PARISH LENTEN PENITENTIAL SERVICE: Traditionally, part of our spiritual preparation for Easter would be to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This year on Tuesday 4th April we will have our Penance Service at 7.30pm. There will be visiting priests to help celebrate the Sacrament of Confession; also a Polish priest to accommodate our Polish parishioners. Please can I appeal to all of our parishioners to make a very special effort this year and join us for the Penance Service and receive God’s merciful and loving forgiveness! There is no greater feeling than to be free from the burdens of sin. If you haven’t celebrated the Sacrament for a long time, please make a very special effort this year. What more fitting gift to the Lord for Easter!
NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS: This Weekend we welcome 4 priest for the Pontifical North American College, they are all completing Degree and Doctoral Studies at the Post Graduate House. Fr Aaron Kelly will be with us throughout Holy Week; please extend them your usual welcome. The Seminarians will celebrate Holy Week ‘In house’ this year, but 6 of them will be arriving on Easter Monday. May I make an appeal to your generosity? Could I ask for some desserts please? My experience through the years is that they all like desserts, especially home-made apple pies, Trifles, etc. Also as you can appreciate they like a drink as well. If anyone has any spare bottles of Whiskey, Gin, Port or Wine, these will certainly not be wasted. I sincerely hope you don’t mind me asking. Thanking you in anticipation
Wishing you A Blessed Holy Week,
YOUR PERSONAL EASTER OFFERTORY TO FR JOHN:
ELECTRONIC EASTER OFFERING: This year, as always, envelopes will be available for us to make our Easter Offering, which, as you know, is an opportunity in every Catholic Church for parishioners to make an Easter gift to their Parish Priest, which goes to make up their salary for the Year. This year our Easter Offering can also be made electronically. We just need to transfer the money to the parish account with the reference ‘Easter Offering’; please also quote you Gift Aid Number. Any questions please ask Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com). The details of the bank account are:
Sort Code: 40-13-22
Account Number: 11019651 ‘EASTER OFFERING’ + Gift Aid Number
Account Name: Catholic Church Loughton St Edmund
EASTER LILIES: It has always been a tradition at Easter to decorate the Church with lilies. If you would like to support us this year in sponsoring lilies in remembrance of your deceased loved ones, please complete the insert in your parish newsletter and return it to the Presbytery with your donation no later than Thursday 6th April. Your contribution will help to defray the costs of the lilies, and is a beautiful tribute to your deceased loved ones. A list of all the names will be posted in the porch of the Church. Thank you!
BIG CHURCH CLEAN FOR HOLY WEEK & EASTER: There will be a Big Church Clean for Easter on Thursday 6th April from 10.00am onwards. If you can come for an half an hour or so to assist with the cleaning of the Church, all volunteers will be most welcome. Please! Please! Please! We need your help. Thank you!
ALTAR SERVERS: Could I make a special appeal to all of our Altar Servers to come and help us with all the Holy Week ceremonies, especially the Sacred Triduum Service of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, The Good Friday Passion of Our Lord, and the Easter Vigil Sacred Liturgy. There will be plenty to do at all these ceremonies. This is truly a wonderful experience for Altar Servers to participate in the Greatest Week of the Church’s Liturgical Year. Please ensure that your Alb is washed and ironed for Holy Week
STATIONS OF THE CROSS: The traditional devotion during the Lenten Season. I would encourage all our parishioners to attend the Stations of the Cross on Palm Sunday afternoon at 5.00pm with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. This beautiful devotion follows the last journey of Jesus on Good Friday to Calvary. There will be Special Stations of the Cross for Children on Good Friday at 11.00am
CHURCH PARKING: Could we please encourage all our able-bodied parishioners to consider using the public car park when coming to Mass, particularly on Sunday. Although you need to get a ticket to place on your dashboard, parking on a Sunday is free for two hours. A few occasions have arisen recently when disabled parishioners and those who have difficulty walking have been unable to park in the Church car park and they have either struggled to walk from the public car park, or have simply had to go home. We are sure you will agree that we need to ensure that our less-able parishioners will always have room to park close to the Church. We should also make allowance for space in the Church car park for drivers who are bringing disabled parishioners to Mass and also of course making sure that there is always access for emergency vehicles. Your consideration will be much appreciated. Thank you.
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 struggling during this cost of living crisis. The Foodbank have asked for support with the following items: sponge pudding desserts, custard, juice, tinned meat, noodles, snack bars, small chocolate bars, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, toilet roll and deodorant. Please place any donations in the dedicated plastic boxes in the garage. Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: I commend to your prayers Elina & Ksenija Kalinan who will be baptised and received into dull communion in the Roman Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil at 8.00pm Easter Saturday 8th April. Please come and support Elina & Ksenija on this very special occasion, celebrating the First Mass of Resurrection. If you want to know more about the RCIA (Joureny of Faith) Programme, please contact Fr John on Tel No: 020 8508 3492
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES: The next session for our children will take place on Sunday 23rd April at 10.00am in the Parish Retreat. Our grateful thanks to the children & their Catechists who prepared them for lead our Parish Mass last Sunday. It would be truly wonderful to have some of our young children and teenagers reading at our 11.00am Mass. If there are any young people interested please see Fr. John r Kathryn Poulter. This week the children will focus on the Last Supper.
READERS & EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: Thank you to those who contacted Julie to resume your Eucharistic Ministry. Julie Callender, has sent out the Ministers’ Rota, but there may need to be a few adjustments. Julie’s ‘phone numbers are 07834 088661 (mobile – preferred) and 020 8502 3854 (land line) and her email is julie.callander@hotmail.com READERS: We are in need of some new Readers at our weekend and weekday masses. We’ve contacted our former Readers, but it would be good to have some new readers especially some young readers Please contact Julie or Fr John
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.
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 run by Mrs Sharon Chalk. Baptisms take place on either Saturday or Sunday at 12.30pm
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!
PLEASE COLLECT YOUR GIFT AID BOXES OF ENVELOPES
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2023 Join Bishop Alan in Lourdes from Monday 24th to Saturday 29th July. We can support those with medical needs. For further information, please ‘phone Tangney Tours on 01732 886 666 or book online: Brentwood Lourdes – Lourdes – Tangney Tours (tangneytours.com)
ESCORTED PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK SHRINE, IRELAND on 29th May 2023, led by Bishop Alan Williams. £699.00 per person, sharing; single supplement £150.00. Price includes flight, all transfers, 4 nights in Knock House Hotel with full board. All entertainment and excursions included. Day trips to Westport, Ballintubber Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Fr. Peyton Centre & National Museum. Contact Patricia on 01268 762278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
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.
IN CASES OF EMERGENCY: Tuesday is usually Fr. John’s Day Off. In cases of emergency please call one of the local parishes, either in Epping – Tel: 01992 572516, or the St. Thomas of Canterbury Friary at Woodford Green – Tel: 020 8504 1688. This would also apply if Fr. John is away for a few days break or on Retreat. All the local funeral directors have a contact number for Fr. John if a funeral needs to be arranged in his absence.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH
Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Karl Britz, Brenda Bryant, Carlos Camacho, Jane Downs, Steve Dalgliesh, Pat Fenn, Bernadette Hall, Ann Hawkes, Claire Howes, Noel Johnson, Shaun Keel, Bridget Kinsella, Angela Long, Lilian Mothersole, John McKernan, Rosemary O’Rourke, Remy, Geraldine Taylor, Vera Taylor, Mary & Steve 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.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE: In your mercy please pray for the repose of the soul of Bernadette Mary Euesden RIP, late of this parish, who died recently. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Monday 3rd April at 12.15pm and Cremation at Forest Park Crematorium at 2.00pm. We extend our condolences to her husband and her family at this time of great loss.
HOLY WEEK VISITIATION TO THE SICK & HOUSEBOUND: Fr John will be making pastoral visit s and bringing Holy Communion to the Sick & Housebound during this Holy Week.
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
PARISH REPOSITORY: There is a lot of new stock in the repository. Mass Cards for all occasions. Children’s books. Rosaries, medals, holy picture cards, candles, baptismal gifts, and many more items. NEW: There are a variety of New Easter Cards. 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.
MASS INTENTIONS – HOLY WEEK – APRIL 2023
| Sat 1stAPRIL | 10.00am | Maureen & John Bloomfield RIP (Brenda Bryant) |
| Confessions 11am – 12Noon or on demandVigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 1st | 6.00pm | Kathy & John Forwood Int’s (G Taylor) |
| Sun 2nd | 9.00am | Sheila Tremble RIP (Tremble Family) |
| Sun 2nd | 11:00am5.00pm | People of the ParishStations of Cross & Exposition of Bl Sac |
| Mon 3rd | 10.00am 12.15pm | Safe delivery of 1st Gt Grandchild (Maureen WrightREQUIEM MASS Bernadette Euesden RIP |
| Tues 4th | 10.00am7.30pm | Mary Harvey RIP (Anni) Fr. JohnParish Penitential Service (Visiting Clergy) |
| Wed 5th | 9.00am11.00am | Modesta Borges RIP (Adelaide & Family)CHRISM MASS (Brentwood Cathedral) THE SACRED TRIDUUM |
| Thur 6th | 9.00am8.00pm | Tenebrae (Office of Readings & Morning Prayer)MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPPERJohn Barton RIP |
| Fri 7th | 9.00am11.00am3.00pm7.00pm | Tenebrae (Office of Readings & Morning Prayer) Children’s Stations of the CrossTHE PASSION OF OUR LORDStations of the Cross |
| Sat 8th | 9.00am10.00am | Tenebrae (Office of Readings & Morning Prayer)Confessions until 11am (Fr Aaron Kelly) |
| Confessions 11am – 12Noon or on demandVigil Mass for Sunday. Confessions at 5.30pm | ||
| Sat 8th | 8.00pm | EASTER VIGIL Resurrection of the LordJohn & Mary Harvey RIP (Fr. John) |
| Sun 9th | 9.00am | Int’s of Rosemary Johnson (Iain Johnson) |
| Sun 9th | 11:00am | Peter Smith RIP (Paul Falco) |
Resurrexit sicut Dixit
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
St Edmund of Canterbury 