Month: July 2020

Dear Friends in Christ                             

This is the fourth weekend that our Churches have been open for Sunday Masses. It was extremely encouraging to see a good number of parishioners at mass last weekend. We have put in place all the necessary measures required by the Government & Diocesan guidelines regarding Health & Safety. I would go so far as to say that you’re safer at Church than you are going shopping. From this weekend, it is a requirement to wear face coverings in shops and supermarkets; I would also strongly recommend that face coverings be worn within the Church. Obviously, it may be a little inconvenient, but it is not too much to ask to keep safe and well. 

 

We are very much creatures of habit, and because we have been away from the Church for nearly four months, its as easy to get out of the habit, as it is to get into the habit. This must be a conscious decision that we have to take. I think this lockdown has certainly focused the mind, and I would like to think that the whole aspect of faith should have featured largely in the values of our lives. Every day we should thank Almighty God we have escaped the scourge of this virus. But we can’t become complacent either; no one is invincible. It was wonderful to hear this week that the Scientists at Oxford have made a breakthrough in finding a vaccine. If the trials go well, there could be a vaccine by Christmas, to offer a ‘double help’ against the virus.  

 

I make a very special appeal to all our families to seriously consider coming back to the weekly practice of Holy Mass. Routine is important, especially for our children. The practice of our faith is not something that we just tag on to the rest of our lives, it is fundamental to who we are, and of course, eventually of what we become. Let us all make a very special effort to consider the importance of our faith, especially in these strange times. Life is not a dress rehearsal, we only pass this way but once, and we need to take every opportunity given to us in our relationship with God.     

 

I would strongly recommend that FACE COVERINGS be worn when you come to Church, not only to protect yourselves, but to protect others also!

 

FEELING A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE: About attending Sunday Mass; we have set up a Speaker outside the Church; and parishioners can practice Social distancing outside as well. Obviously if you attend as a family, you can sit closely together in the Church. Alternate benches have been blocked off, and with the wearing of Face Coverings we are complying with regulations.

 

UNABLE TO ATTEND SUNDAY MASS: If you are genuinely unable to attend one of the Sunday Masses, the Bishops Conference of England & Wales has strongly recommended that you make the extra special effort to attend one of the Weekday Mass, at present being celebrated daily at 10.00am. Please wear a Face Covering.

 

FOR THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE: For parishioners who are in the vulnerable age bracket 70 plus, (It’s your prerogative to attend Mass). Or if you have underlying health issues or are displaying symptoms of Corona virus PLEASE STAY AT HOME.

  

LIVESTREAMING:  We will continue to livestream all Masses from St. Edmund’s via the medium of Facebook & the Parish Website

 

THANK YOU: I would like to sincerely thank all those parishioners who have volunteered as Stewards, at our Sunday Masses, and for the hour of private prayer during the week. I’m truly grateful for your generosity of spirit and service to the whole parish community. It’s truly wonderful to see!  We have purchased special cleaning materials for the benches & surfaces, and the they are cleaned every time they are used by parishioners. If you would like to volunteer as a Steward, please contact Iain McLay Tel No: 07806 998187

 

YOUR 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:

https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/donations?parish=loughton  

Or you can use Parish Bank Account: Using Online Banking
HSBC Sort Code 40-13-22
Account Number: 11019651

Please put your name as reference and your Gift Aid number if you have one.

If you can set it up as a regular payment this would be excellent and save a lot

of time in the future. If you don’t have GIFT AID this is a good time to start, you can do this by e-mailing Maria Mosquera (mjm70@hotmail.com).
With continued thanks for your generosity.

 

Wishing You All A Blessed Week,

Fr. John

 

BAPTISMS IN THE PARISH: If you have a child due for Baptism please let me know as soon as possible. To avoid any disappointment with dates, contact the Presbytery to book your date. If you are first-time parents, you need to contact Sharon Chalk, who will organise a Baptismal Preparation of two sessions, and then I will come and visit you in your homes. Please don’t forget to collect your Baptismal Information Form. 

 

EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to donate items so generously for the Foodbank during the pandemic. Your donations of are needed as much as ever at the moment by people in our area who are struggling to put food on the table. Basic staple items are always welcome including the unbranded supermarket basic ranges which can make your generous donations go even further. This month they are in urgent need of the following items: tea bags (small/medium box), sponge puddings, tinned fruit, tinned meat pies/ham, instant mash, long life juice, tinned spaghetti, chocolate bars, washing up liquid, laundry tablets and shampoo.  Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

 

Lourdes in your Living Room – from Monday 27th to Friday 31st July enjoy an inspiring daily pilgrimage programme, with Mass at 10.30 each day, Morning Prayer (9am) and Night Prayer (9.30pm) as well as afternoon reflections (4.30pm) from Bishop Alan, Michael Barwick, Rev Paschal Uche and Fr Paul Keane, Stations of the Cross (Friday 5pm) and a Marian (“Torchlight”) procession with the Hail Mary prayed in over 40 languages (Thursday 8pm). Everything will be streamed on YouTube (BrentwoodCYS), and the full timetable and links are at www.bcys.net This pilgrimage for all ages includes special events for those aged 15-23, as well as a talent show for all on the Friday evening – if you are a musician, magician, singer or dancer, email info@bcys.net for details of how to send in your entertainment! 

Please keep the whole pilgrimage in your prayers – with 10 hours of pre-recorded content and 14 hours of live content it is a major undertaking, and we hope as many people as possible will benefit from it. There will shortly be a liturgy booklet online, which we will also send as a PDF to parishes early next week, so it can be shared prior to the pilgrimage.

 

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.

 

MASS INTENTIONS – JULY – AUGUST 2020

 

Sat 25th July	10.00am	Carmen Antaki B’day Ints (Veronica & Jo Johnson)
		Vigil Mass for Sunday: Church resumes regular Sunday Schedule
Sat 25th	6.00pm	Canon Brian O’Shea, Retirement. (Eddie & Mary; Steve, Teresa & Family)
Sun 26th	9.00am	People of the Parish
Sun 26th	11:00am	Int’s Tony Duff (M Ryan)
Mon 27th	10.00am	Rosemary O’Rourke (80th Birthday) (John O’Rourke)
Tues 28th	10.00am	Edward Pick RIP (Betty Brown)
Wed 29th	10.00am	Rosemary O’Rourke’s B’day Int’s (Pat & Margaret)
Thurs 30th	10.00am 7.00pm	Helen & John Molloy RIP HOLY HOUR with Exposition.
Fri 31st	10.00am  10.30am	Peter Smith RIP (Paul Falco) Holy Hour Exposition of the Bl. Sacrament
Sat 1st August	10.00am	Sr. Susan Asher Int’s
		Vigil Mass for Sunday
Sat 1st	6.00pm	Holy Souls
Sun 2nd	9.00am	People of the Parish
Sun 2nd	11:00am	Alice & Harold Kendal RIP

 

BOOKING MASSES: At present there are many openings for Mass Intentions. If you would like a Mass for a particular intention, please write your details on an envelope and post it through the letterbox at the presbytery. You can Gift Aid your intentions just put the GA number on envelope. Place your Mass offering in the envelope. Thank you!  

 

DIARY 2020

 

PUBLIC MASSES HAVE RESUMED ONCE AGAIN AT ST. EDMUND’S. WE ARE STRICTLY FOLLOWING GOVERNMENTAL & DIOCESAN GUIDELINES ON HEALTH & SAFETY. SOCIAL DISTANCING IS IN PLACE. PLEASE MAKE A SPECIAL EFFORT TO RETURN TO WEEKLY MASS WITH YOUR FAMILY. THANK YOU!

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH: 

Margaret Baldwin, Brian Beveridge, Jane Downs, Steve Dalgliesh, James Geller, Veronica Godsave, Bernadette Hall, Ann Hawkes, Claire Howes, Pamela Houghton, Shaun Keel, Angela Long, Lilian Mothersole, Sheila Murphy, John McKernan, Rosemary O’Rourke, Kathleen Pomeroy, Barbara Pope, Geraldine Taylor, Vera Taylor, Mary Witten, James Wright. And all our loved ones.

ANNIVERSARIES: Mary Cocklin RIP  For all our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.

 

OFFERTORY COLLECTION: With continued thanks for your Weekly Offering. If you would like to join the Gift Aid Scheme there are application forms in the Church Porch, or ask Fr. John for a form. If you forget your envelope, there are spares in the Porch. Thank you! 

 

THE SISTERS AT CHIGWELL CONVENT: Would be most grateful for your used postage stamps for their Missions. There is a Box in the Porch of the Church for the stamps. Especially all your Christmas Stamps. With many thanks!

 

ALL SACRAMENTAL PROGRAMMES & PARISH COURSES: Will cease until further notice. The First Holy Communion celebrations schedules for May have been postponed. No Funerals, only a graveside blessing. Memorial Masses to follow at a later stage

 

NO MASS INTENTION REQUESTS: Unfortunately there have been very few Mass Intention requests; therefore, there are many openings. If parishioners would like mass intentions for any occasion or anniversary, please put your request & mass offering in an envelope and drop off at the Presbytery as soon as possible. TY!

 

Dear Friends in Christ                   

Click here for newsletter: 16th Sunday of the Year 2020

Once again, it was truly wonderful to see some of our parishioners returning to Church for Sunday Mass. Manifestly, this has been a strange time over the past 16 weeks, as we’ve all had to adapt our lives accordingly. Many people are still very frightened to venture out too far from home; and some people think their invincible, and this virus will not touch them.  We cannot become complacent, and we should follow the Governmental guidelines. 

 

The Church has implemented all the required guidelines, both Governmental & Diocesan, plus all the Health & Safety requirements, and it is good to see that our parishioners have felt confident enough to return to Church. IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT FACE COVERING BE WORN AT MASS.  I would like to make a special appeal to our families, to seriously think about returning to Holy Mass. Obviously, your health and safety are our first and prime concern, but if we are all sensible and follow the guidelines, it will help us gain a little for confidence, not only in returning to Church, but to start doing all the things that we took for granted in the past.
I would have to say that the most important thing that this Pandemic has taught me, is that the most crucial things that matter in life are family, health & faith; these three, go- hand-in-hand. We have all had to re-evaluate and adapt our lives over the past months. It’s certainly given us all a lot of time to think and reflect on our relationship with the Lord Jesus has been given extra impetus. The greatest tragedy would be to not have joined the dots together and see what this pandemic hopefully must show us! Throughout the whole history of Creation and humanity, God has manifested himself in all sorts of different ways. Sometimes a dramatic ‘wake-up’ call is required! Calling people back to God is the recurrent theme that runs throughout the whole of the Bible. Often when people’s lives are consumed by the values of the world, it’s easy to forget the sacred.

My Dear Friends in Jesus Christ,

Two weeks ago, the Government gave the go ahead on the re-opening of Public Places of Worship after 14 weeks of lock down. To me personally this was truly wonderful and joyous news! Manifestly, the celebration of Daily Mass is the most important duty of any priest; leading people in faith through the holiness of the Sacraments.  I tried to the best of my ability, with the incredible help of a wonderful team of computer experts and helpers, to try and keep our parish connected through the medium of Social Media. We were able to livestream daily from day one of the lockdown. The amount of messaging, emails & phone calls from many of you, expressing gratitude, was truly humbling. This situation is unprecedented; none of us have ever experienced anything quite like it in our lifetimes.

 

This Pandemic has most definitely created an atmosphere of fear; and when we look around the world, we have seen many people succumb to the virus, with nearly six hundred thousand deaths. This is tragic! But many people have recovered from the virus, including myself. There are probably parishioners who have also had the virus during the past months. Yes, it’s unpleasant and can be very concerning if symptoms develop. The incredible response from the NHS and frontline workers has been amazing. I have witnessed firsthand, through visits to hospital to see parishioners, the sterling work of all those, who daily, look after the sick, to protect each one of us. I pray form them daily.

 

The one thing this Pandemic has taught me over the past 16 weeks is that the most important aspects of our lives can be reduced to three important areas; our family, our health & our faith. Without these we’re nothing! People have talked about the incredible experience of spending more time with family during this lockdown, and how it has increased their deep love and respect of quality time together. We have had to be reliant upon many of our own resources, and initiatives of working together as families. Personal Health can never be taken for granted. These past months have most definitely shown us that reality. We are grateful, as I stated, to the NHS for their incredible work of trying to keep us safe and well. Ultimately, it is our Faith that gives us the impetus to get up each day with hope and trust in God that he will protect us and help us through each day.

 

I would like to believe that during this Pandemic we have all had time to reflect on our relationship with Almighty God; and also at the same time, to have availed ourselves of the opportunity to keep in touch with the Lord, not only through personal and private prayer, but also through the livestreaming of daily & Sunday Masses. Routine is important in life and coming to Holy Mass is part of the Catholic routine; it’s habit forming. But sadly, it’s as easy to get out of a habit as it is to get into one.  

 

We have now opened our Church daily for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. We continue to live-stream for those who, through sickness or underlying health conditions cannot attend our Church. I appeal to all our parishioners, as a Community of Faith in this little pocket of the Lord’s vineyard, to make an extra special effort to return to Weekly Mass. We have complied with Government & Diocesan regulations with regards the re-opening of Churches. We have put in place all measures to ensure your health and safety. Social distancing regulations are being practiced. Hand sanitization, and Face Coverings are necessary while in Church. Families can sit close together in your family ‘bubble’. Please consider this Invitation to return to the regular practice of your faith.  I was never happier than two weeks ago when, for the first time in 14 weeks there was a small congregation present at Holy Mass; they were able to receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in Holy Communion once again.

 

I invited you to our Sunday Mass this weekend: Vigil Mass for Sunday, on Saturday 18th July at 6.00pm Sunday 19th July at, 9.00am & 11.00am. Please come as families; it will be truly wonderful to see you all once again. We have managed to put a loudspeaker outside the Church, for those who feel nervous being inside. I thank you all for your kindness over the past months; It’s been amazing!

 

With Love & Peace in Jesus Christ,        

Click here for newsletter: 15th Sunday of the Year 2020

Dear Friends in Christ                   

It was truly wonderful to see our parishioners back at Church last weekend, though be it in small numbers. But to have a congregation after 14 weeks made my heart surge! And as many parishioners said, it was wonderful to be able to go to Holy Communion once again. Our church is now open for Holy Mass on Sundays and during the week. We are upholding the Governmental and Diocesan guidelines of two-meter distancing; one meter plus with a face mask. Obviously, families can sit close together in Church. 

IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT FACE MASKS BE WORN THROUGHOUT THE MASS. 

Sanitising hand-gel is available as you enter the Church; Offertory Baskets and boxes are in place to receive your Weekly Offertory. Please make you way to your seats using the side aisles, and the direction of the Stewards. Please kindly move right into the benches towards the middle aisle. Doors and windows will be open to allow an air flow of ventilation.

There will be no Holy Water, no hymnbooks or Mass Books, no printed materials, no singing, no Prayers of Intercession; no sign of peace, there will be no reception of Holy Communion from the Chalice. 

Holy Communion should be taken in the hand, with arms fully extended and one hand placed on the top of the other; there will be a barrier of distance between the Priest & the Communicant. The Priest will be the only Minister of Holy Communion (he will wear face mask & Visor). When the Priest receives his Communion, he will audibly say The Body of Christ, to which everyone replies Amen. The Same with the Chalice & The Blood of Christ.  Stewards will assist in the approach for Holy Communion, ensuring social distancing. No words will be spoken as you receive Holy Communion. Please return to your seats by the side aisles.

 On leaving the Church at the end of Mass, please use the centre aisle; apart from the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, to which you will use the side aisle. I know and understand that these guidelines may appear a little awkward and complicated, until we get used to them; but your health and safety is of our prime importance.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today Jesus tells the parable of the Sower & the Seed; how the seed being the Word of God needs to flourish in the strong healthy soil of our lives of faith. But so often in life we can be distracted by the lures of the world; apathy and indifference where the seed has no depth of soil to grow. This imagery is powerfully strong. Let us ask the Lord to give each one of us what we need for that seed of faith to continue to become strong and fruitful in our own lives.

Click here for newsletter: 14th Sunday of the Year 2020

Dear Friends in Christ 

With the reopening this weekend of all public places of worship, there are stringent Governmental & Diocesan guidelines that we must follow; this is to ensure the health and safety of all parishioners who will use the Church. There will be a team of Stewards at each Weekend Mass to ensure a steady flow in and out of the church; they are there to assist and help you. Social distancing is of prime importance. 2 Meter distancing; one meter plus if you’re wearing a mask; families can sit close together; IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT MASKS BE WORN THROUGHOUT THE MASS.

Sanitising Hand Gel will be available as you enter the church; Offertory Baskets and boxes are available to receive your Weekly Offertory. Please make your way to your seats using the side aisles; and move right in on the benches. Doors and windows will be open for ventilation. There will be no Holy Water, no hymn books or Mass books, no singing; no sign of peace, no Prayers of Intercession, there will be no reception of Communion from the Chalice.

Holy Communion should be taken in the hand, with arms fully extended and one hand placed on the top of the other; there will be a barrier of distance between the Priest & the Communicant. The Priest will be the only Minister of Holy Communion (he will wear face mask & Visor). When the Priest receives his Communion, he will audibly say The Body of Christ, to which everyone replies Amen. The Same with the Chalice & The Blood of Christ. Stewards will assist in the approach for Holy Communion, ensuring social distancing. No words will be spoken as you receive Holy Communion. Please return to your seats by the side aisles.

On leaving the Church at the end of Mass, please use the centre aisle; apart from the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, to which you will use the side aisle. I know and understand that these guidelines may appear a little awkward and complicated, until we get used to them; but your health and safety is of our prime importance.

For parishioners who are in the vulnerable age bracket 70 plus; or if you have underlying health issues or are displaying symptoms of Corona virus; we will continue to live-stream the masses, both at the weekends and during the week; but it’s your prerogative to attend Holy Mass. Please note that the angle of the camera will have to change to a side-on view of the Altar. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE! Fr. John

Dear Friends in Jesus Christ, 

In the Gospel today Jesus calls us to himself; “come to me all you who are heavy-laden and I will give you rest; shoulder my yoke and learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls”. Jesus is our consolation and hope; it is in him and him alone, that we should put our faith and trust. He will never let us down, and will always be there when we call upon his holy name. Lord Jesus come to me!