Newsletter 3rd March 2024

STATIONS OF THE CROSS DURING LENT:

• Mondays 7pm in Holy Name Church

• Fridays 12:30pm in Our Lady Immaculate Church

Fridays 7pm in Blessed Sacrament Church (CM1 2DU)

• Saturdays 11:30am in St Augustine of Canterbury Church.

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

LENTEN LUNCHES AT OUR LADY IMMACULATE: During Lent on Fridays at 1pm there will be light lunch (soup, bread, and a drink) in our Lady Immaculate Church Hall at 1pm after Stations of the Cross in the Church. All are welcome and all donations are to the Mary's Meals

FOODBANK IN OUR LADY IMMACULATE AND HOLY NAME DURING LENT: The yearly collection for food bank items continues this weekend. Thank you so much for your generosity this Lenten season, it really helps those in the local community. For more information about items needed please see the leaflets in church or on our Parish website at: https://www.chelmsfordcatholic....

LENTEN TALKS IN BRENTWOOD CATHEDRAL: Every Wednesday at 7:30pm during Lent there are series of talks based on the recent Synod on Synodality which took place in Rome last October. This weeks talk on 6th March is from Mr Austen Ivereigh, Roman Catholic Journalist, Biographer of Pope Francis; Writer and speaker on Church affairs. The final Talk next week will be by Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, appointed delegate at the Synod this year.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL FUNDRAISER: On Saturday 9th March between 8am -10:30am in St Augustine's Church there will be a buy and sell fundraiser to raise funds to support all the work the SVP do across our communities. It is £10 for a table to sell items and £1 entry. For more information please contact Anna via the Parish Office. Last weekends sale raised £108.80 Many thanks to helpers and stallholders. Spread the word to your friends and family so attendance from members of public will be greater at this upcoming Saturday's event.

HOLY NAME LADIES GROUP: are holding an Easter raffle to raise funds towards the BCYS Pilgrimage to Lourdes in the autumn. Tickets will be sold before/after all weekend Masses from Sat 2nd March to Sunday 24th March, when the draw will take place. It would be lovely to help the Youth of our Parish to go on this Pilgrimage. Thank you.

THE CANONESSES OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE: are recruiting a couple/two adults to support the nine elderly sisters who live in the main house. The role is residential in a two bedroom bungalow, adjacent to the main home in Colchester. Precise role, and salary are dependent on the skills of the successful applicants. For further information please contact: crssuk@canonesses.co.uk

HCPT GROUP 26 RAFFLE: There will be a raffle at St Augustine's Church to raise funds to take disabled and disadvantaged children to Lourdes at Easter. You can buy raffle tickets (cash only) after mass on 3rd March and 10th March. Thanks in advance for your support!

THE CAFOD LENT SOUP LUNCH IS BACK AT HOLY NAME: All are welcome to have a simple lunch of soup and bread whilst offering a donation to CAFOD so they can help feed others less fortunate. We look forward to seeing you at 12.30pm Wednesday 13th March in the Canon Wilson Hall (back of Holy Name). Any queries, please contact Fiona Bellamy via the Parish Office.

BCYS YOUTH MASS: Thursday 7th March, 6pm in Brentwood ntwood Cathedral. Beginning with pizza and refreshments in the Parish Hall, followed by Stations of the Cross in the Cathedral before Mass is celebrated at 7:30pm. Everyone is very welcome. If your child would like a place on the Chelmsford minibus, please let the Parish office know by lunchtime on Wednesday 6th March.

APOSTOLATE OF THE ROSARY OF CRUCIFIXION: All are welcome to join members of the Apostolate of the Rosary of Crucifixion and Fr Paschal for their Lenten retreat in Our Lady Immaculate Church on Saturday 9th March between 1:30pm - 5:30pm. There are posters and leaflets in the back of the churches with further information.
Schedule for the retreat:
Confessions and Prayers: 1:30pm - 2:15pm
The Holy Rosary of Crucifixion: 1:30pm - 2:15pm
Traditional prayers and Litanies: 2:15pm - 2:30pm
Lenten talk (1) Sr Mary Ursula: 2:30pm - 2:50pm
Divine mercy prayers and Chaplet: 2:55pm - 3:15pm
Holy Mass: 3:15pm - 4:00pm
Lenten talk (2) Fr Paschal Uche: 4:00pm - 4:20pm
Silent Adoration: 4:30pm - 5:00pm
Benediction: 5:00pm with the church closing at 5:30pm.

VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD: The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 5th March at Brentwood Cathedral. The speaker will be Deacon Frank Westcott. For further information contact Fr Mark Swires at vocprom@brcdt.org

EASTER LILIES IN ST AUGUSTINE: to decorate the Church for Easter in memory of loved ones. If you would like to make a donation ( suggested donation of £ 4.00 ) in memory of a deceased loved one, please place in an envelope marked Easter Lilies and pass to Cath Lyons. We will have a collection after Mass on the 17th March. Many thanks for your generosity.

SOCIETY OF THE PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN: Are encouraging Catholics to write to their MP's to vote to build a world free from abortion. For more information see: https://www.spuc.org.uk/Articl...

DONATIONS OF FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLOTHING: If you, or any family members, have any First Holy Communion clothing that is in good condition and no longer needed, please consider donating it for it to be loved and used again. We will offer the clothing to our First Holy Communion children from all three parishes, to borrow or to keep for a voluntary charity donation. This will help reduce our impact on the environment, raise money for a good cause and help families when the cost of everything is soaring. Please put donations on a hanger so we can hang them to keep them nice, and either drop them at the Priory or at Holy Name church. Thank you!

FOR CURRENT VACANCIES IN BRENTWOOD DIOCESE: Please see: https://www.dioceseofbrentwood...

THE SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY: provides practical help and support where possible for those who need it. Are you, in need of help, or know someone who is? If so, contact us on 07876 551150. All calls are completely confidential.

HOSPITAL AND SICK VISITS: If you or a member of your family go into hospital, or are sick and housebound, please inform the Parish Office so a priest or the Legion of Mary can visit you.