Newsletter 30th March 2025

First Reading: Joshua 5:9a 10-12

Responsorial Psalm 34 "Taste and see that the Lord is good"

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

STATIONS OF THE CROSS DURING LENT:

Mondays at 7pm in Holy Name Church

Fridays at 12:30pm in Our Lady Immaculate Church

Fridays at 7pm in Blessed Sacrament Church

Saturdays at 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."

HOLY NAME LADIES' GROUP EASTER RAFFLE: to raise funds for any future needs in the Parish. Tickets will be on sale before and after all weekend Masses beginning this weekend. The draw will be on 13th April (Palm Sunday) after 10.30 Mass in Canon Wilson Hall.

FOODBANKS IN OUR CHURCHES DURING LENT: Our collection for foodbank items this Lenten season has begun. Thank you so much for your generosity this Lenten season, it helps directly those in need in the local community. For more information about items needed please see the leaflets in church or on our Parish website. In St Augustine we continue to support the Little Free Pantry.

LENTEN LECTURES : Continue on Monday evenings at 7pm in New Hall School - the talks are on the theme of "Pilgrims of Hope and Love of the Stranger." The next talk on the 31st March the talk is from the Servite Sisters on "Mary, Woman of Sorrows, Woman of Hope." It is in New Hall Barn, near to the southern exit, to the right of the main building. Refreshments provided. For more information see the Parish website.
At Brentwood Cathedral on Wednesday evenings there are talks beginning at 7:30pm on the theme of 'Those Who Believe Don't Leave.' This week on the 2nd April the speaker is Fr Stephen Morrison o.praem. on "Eucharistic Doctrine in Song: The ‘Lauda Sion’ of St Thomas Aquinas."

DEVOTIONS TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP: take place immediately following the 10:30 AM Mass on Saturday 12th April in Our Lady Immaculate Church. All welcome.

ST AUGUSTINE PRESBYTERY MEETING: There will be an update on the way forward with the Presbytery for all on Tuesday 8th April at 7:30pm. If you would like any items to be included on the agenda, please email the Parish Office.

HCPT GROUP 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 today after Mass and on the 6th April . Thanks in advance for your support!

LIBRARY UPDATE IN OLI: Thank you to those all who have donated books to the parish library recently! We have added a number of new books recently, including over 30 children’s books and some new books in the fiction section. Please feel free to borrow any books or CTS booklet, but do bring them back so that others can enjoy them, and remind children to bring back any books they borrow also. Any returned books or CTS booklets should go in the Book Return box in the library. If you wish to donate any books, please place these in the Book Return box as well, not directly on the shelves, as all books need to be catalogued, stamped and labelled before they are added to the library.

EASTER LILIES ENVELOPES AVAILABLE: to decorate our Churches for Easter in memory of loved ones. If you would like to make a donation in memory of a deceased loved one, please place in an envelope marked Easter Lilies and pass it to a Priest or the Parish Office. Many thanks for your generosity.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SCHEDULE FOR OUR CHURCHES: is now available in leaflets at the back of the Church or online via our website main page header.

THANK YOU FROM ROSE TURNER'S (RIP) FAMILY: We would like to thank everyone who sent cards & Mass cards to us at this difficult time.Thank you all who came to Mum's funeral, it was wonderful to see parishioners joining our family to celebrate her life.

KNIGHTS OF ST COLUMBA REFUGEE APPEAL: The Knights of St Columba continue to support the refugees based in Wethersfield. They have asked for support from parishioners in collecting the items below which can be left in the churches over the weekends of the 29/30th March and 5/6th April. Thank you in advance for your generosity. Men’s clothing for younger men (joggers, jeans, coats, trainers, hoodies, sweatshirts, jumpers, t-shirts, long-sleeve tops); no suits please - New underwear and socks only - Rucksacks - Notebooks, pens, and English learning books - Art supplies (drawing pencils and paper) • Playing cards and dominoes.

TUESDAY CLUB INVITE TO ALL: Looking for lively conversation, fellowship and a plentiful spread refreshments? Do come to Tuesday club in OLI Parish hall at 1pm in the Hall directly behind the Church after the 12:30pm Mass. All are warmly invited to join us, we here every week.

ROMFORD TALK: In a talk entitled ‘A richer table of God’s word’, Fr Adrian Graffy explains how after the Second Vatican Council readings from all parts of the Bible were arranged so that more abundant provision of Sacred Scripture is available to all at Mass. The talk will be at 7 pm (tea and coffee from 6.30 pm) on Wednesday 2nd April at the Catholic Church of Christ the Eternal High Priest, Gidea Park, RM2 6DH. The talk is also available via live stream on www.whatgoodnews.org.

SAINT JOHN PAYNE LENTEN SERVICE: Wednesday, 2nd April 2025, at 6:00 PM. The service will take place at St John Payne Catholic School, Patching Hall Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 4BS. For more information, please contact Katy Adams (Chaplain) at KAD@sjp.essex.sch.co.uk. We hope to see you there!

LENTEN REFLECTION AND SONG: at The Most Holy Redeemer, Billericay On Sunday 6th April at 5.30 pm. The Most Holy Redeemer Singers warmly invite you to join them for a programme of Anthems and Motets, together with readings appropriate to the Season of Lent.

UPCOMING JOB VACANCIES IN THE DIOCESE:
St Marys Catholic Primary school, Hornchurch - Headteacher.
For further details of these roles and other vacancies see https://www.dioceseofbrentwood...

THE SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY: The SVP provides practical help to those in need. If you or someone you know could use support, call us confidentially at 0207 7033030, 07936 579230, or contact the Parish Office. For furniture project donations or assistance, call 0330 0436474.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY AND ALL FAMILIES WHO MOURN.

Iroma Benzie RIP Requiem Mass to be arranged

Margaret Anthony RIP Requiem Mass to be arranged

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND OF OUR PARISHES, (AND ALL WHO ARE SICK.)Susan Ager, Maureen Byrne, Marie Callahan, Valerie Cummins, Doreen Cornish, Madeleine East, Troy Erickson, Marta Fevola, Mary Fletcher, Michael Hoare, Mike Healy, Shelia Hughes, John Grainger, Robert Godfrey, Connor Hickey, Maureen Leatherdale, Stuart Lucas, Margaret Lowrey, Anne Lowden, Maura Magee, Barry & Shelia Mayo, Sarah & Henry McKeon, Monica McShane, Donny McColl, Grazia Paola, Christine Staines, John Rees, Patrick Waters, Anja Welsh-Smyth, Gayle Williams, Shirley Willis.