Newsletter 5th January 2025

EPIPHANY BLESSINGS: In addition to the information sheet and chalk available over the weekends Masses in our churches, the prayers are available on the website and blessed chalk from the Parish Office between 9am-1pm on weekdays.

TUESDAY CLUB IN OLI HALL: Meets every Tuesday weekly after the 12:30pm Mass in Our Lady Immaculate Parish Hall. All are very welcome to join us to meet friends old and new and enjoy plentiful refreshments.

SVP SPRINGFIELD: would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone who donated presents for our giving tree appeal for children. We were overwhelmed with your generosity as usual. In total we were able to provide a total of around 400 gifts. Thank you also to those who helped wrap over two days, and deliver food on Christmas Eve, and to all those drivers who helped everything get the families on time.

THE DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: led by Bp Alan, will be from Friday 18 July – Friday 25 July 2025. The flights will be Southend to Lourdes. Details, including how to book, will follow.

WALSINGHAM HOUSE TEAM 25/26: Applications are now open for the volunteer retreat team at Walsingham House. If you are in Yr13 or finishing university and enjoy working with young people, then a year on the retreat team could be the perfect next step. Live and work as part of a young Catholic Christian community, sharing your faith and helping to run retreats for the young people of Brentwood diocese. For more information then please see the website: www.bcys.net/whabbotswick/be-on-team/ or email clairebailey@brcdt.org

CAN YOU VOLUNTEER: at the St John Bosco Children’s Camp next summer? Applications are now open for anyone aged 17+ to volunteer for a week at the end of July 2025. From helping in the kitchen to running sports and other activities, your skills will mean that 100 children have a wonderful holiday. For most of the children, it is their only summer holiday. The Camp is a special work of Caritas Brentwood. More information - including training date and DBS requirements, along with volunteering FAQs - can all be found at www.boscocamp.co.uk. Applications for children to come to Camp will open in the spring.

APPLICATION FORMS FOR THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION 2025. This is now open to all in Yr 10 and above. A letter from Fr Martin for candidates and application forms are available at the back of the Churches and on the website. Deadline for applications to the Parish office is the 31st January.

ISLAM STUDY DAY AT GIDEA PARK: In 2025 we mark sixty years since the promulgation of Nostra Aetate, the inter-faith document of Vatican II. We are delighted to welcome Sidra Naeem, distinguished teacher and chair of Havering Interfaith, who will speak about Islam. The talk will take place on Saturday 18th January 2025 from 11.00am in the hall at the Catholic Church of Christ the Eternal High Priest, in Gidea Park. The talk will also be available by livestream free of charge at www.whatgoodnews.org and will be available subsequently on the same website. The church is close to Gidea Park station (Elizabeth Line). Please bring a packed lunch. Coffee available from 10.30am. Do join us.

WORD ON FIRE UK BIBLE CONFERENCE: Join Bishop Robert Barron and thousands of other Catholics from across the UK for Evangelisation & Culture: The Bible. Come to the Excel Centre in East London this February to gain a deeper appreciation of the Sacred Scriptures and their relevance to the Church’s mission today.
Date: Friday 21st - Saturday 22nd February 2025 at the Excel Centre, East London. Speakers Include: Bishop Robert Barron, N.T. Wright, Professor Tracey Rowland and more. For more information, costs and to register, please visit: //wordonfire.org/the-bible-event.

THE SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY: provides practical support where possible for those who need it. Are you, in need of help, or know someone who is? If so, contact us on 0207 7033030, 07936 579230 or via the Parish Office. All calls are completely confidential. If you would like to donate furniture or are in need, contact the SVP furniture project on 0330 0436474.

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

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

Mavis JENNINGS (RIP) Requiem Mass on Thursday 9th January 2025 at 12Noon in Our Lady Immaculate Church.

Shelia TURNER (RIP) Funeral Service on Friday 10th January 2025 at 12:30pm in Our Lady Immaculate Church.

Maureen PORTER (RIP) Requiem Mass on Tuesday 14th January 2025 at 1:30pm in Our Lady Immaculate Church.

Bridget LOWE (RIP) Requiem Mass in St Augustine of Canterbury Church to be confirmed.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND OF OUR PARISHES, (AND ALL WHO ARE SICK.)

Jennifer Bowman, 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 Mayo, Sarah & Henry McKeon, Monica McShane, Donny McColl, Grazia Paola, Christine Staines, Rose Turner, John Rees, Patrick Waters, Anja Welsh-Smyth, Gayle Williams & Shirley Willis.