Newsletter 7th January 2024 and Pastoral letter from the Bishop

SCHOOL ADMISSIONS - CERTIFICATE OF CATHOLIC PRACTICE FORMS: Fr Martin will be signing the ‘Certificate of Catholic Practice’ forms in Our Lady Immaculate Church Hall between 5:30pm - 6:30pm on Tuesday 9th January 2024.
Fr Martin will have the Certificate of Catholic Practice forms available, if families could please bring their child's baptism certificate with them.

HOLY NAME LADIES GROUP: will be meeting in the Canon Wilson Hall on Thursday 11th January at 7.30pm. New members are always welcome.

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

LATEST OLI 200 CLUB WINNERS:
10th December 23 M Healy
17th December 98 N Falk
24th December 139 M Wells
If you would like to join the 200 club please contact Ursula via the Parish Office.

A FIRE IN MY HEART - A CONVERSATION WITH BIBLICAL FRIENDS: On Saturday 3rd February from 11 am until 2 pm (coffee and refreshments at 10.30 am), at the church of Christ the Eternal High Priest in Gidea Park (RM2 6DH). Fr Adrian Graffy, Parish Priest and member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, will be in conversation with professor Nuria Calduch-Benages, secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and Carlos Castillo Mattasoglio, archbishop of Lima, Peru.
The event coordinator is Fr Javier Ruiz-Ortiz, vice-rector of Allen Hall. The speakers will be present in-person, but this free event is also live-streamed on www.whatgoodnews.org

If attending in person please book your place in advance at gideapark@brcdt.org The event is under the auspices of the Catholic Biblical Association of Great Britain.

BLESSING HOMES AT EPIPHANY: In addition to the information given out in Sunday's Masses, the prayers are available in the website and blessed chalk from the Parish Office between 9am-1pm.

BCYS SUMMER LOURDES YOUTH PILGRIMAGE: Bookings are now open online for the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service pilgrimage to Lourdes in July.

The week is spent serving the main Diocesan pilgrimage, assisting the elderly and infirm, alongside times of retreat, reconciliation, visiting the baths, taking part in the beautiful Processions, an afternoon in the mountains, party and social nights - all with other young Catholics from around our Diocese. The pilgrimage is open to all those in school year 10 – 13, with all those of school leaver age (18+) invited to join us as young leaders (subject to attending a training weekend). All details and applications can be found on the website www.bcys.net/events/sl24.

Please note the exact dates are yet to be confirmed, but will be in the week between 20th and 28th July 2024 at a cost of approximately £700. Bursary and grant funding is available from the Catenians, Jack Petchey, Canon Wilson Fund and BCYS, among others and we would be happy to share any more information on these, as well as fundraising ideas within your parishes or schools. Please do not be put off attending this trip due to cost.

FOR CURRENT VACANCIES IN BRENTWOOD DIOCESE: Across the schools and departments please see: https://www.dioceseofbrentwood...
New this week: Choral Director - Diocese of Brentwood Schools singing programme.

THE SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY: provides practical help and support where possible for those who need it. Are you lonely, in need of help, or do you know someone who is? If so, contact us on 07876 551150 to arrange a visit. 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.