Month: December 2020

Dear Friends in Christ              

We have just celebrated the Birth of the Lord into our lives once again this Christmas. An unprecedented year for all of us worldwide. The decisions to limit our access to family and loved ones over this Christmas period has been truly painful for many. Over the past week I have been contacted by so many parishioners who have contracted Covid-19, the stress an anxiety they felt was palpable, especially for their families this Christmas. People are confused and sometimes very angry at all the restrictions being imposed. But ultimately at the end of the day, Health & Safety of everyone is the main concern. Ensuring that we can provide safe homes, safe churches and safe environments for one and all. Manifestly, it is going to take some months before a vaccine can be distributed to the whole Nation, and in the meantime, we must do the best we can to remain responsible in our conduct and daily living. Jesus, Hope for Humanity was born for each one of us! That reality has never changed! 

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY: Today is the feast day of the Holy Family, but also every family’s feast day, since the Holy Family is the patron and model of all Christian families. Today should be a huge family feast, since it is devoted entirely to the Holy Family as a model for the Christian family life. As Rev. Edward Sutfin states: “The children must learn to see in their father the foster-father St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother as the perfect model for their own mother. The lesson to be learned is both practical and theoretical, in that the children must learn how to obey and to love their parents in thought, word and action, just as Christ was obedient to Mary and Joseph. Helping mother in the kitchen and in the housework and helping father in his odd jobs about the home thus take on a new significance by being performed in a Christ-like spirit.”

May I wish all our families of this Parish of St. Edmund of Canterbury a wonderful Feast Day. May the Holy Family of Nazareth inspire you always! All families will receive a general Special Blessing at the end of each Mass today!

My Dear Friends,

I would like to take this public opportunity of thanking the whole parish community for your ongoing support of our parish, not just this Christmas, but during the whole of this Pandemic since last March. We have all been challenged and tested to the limits. The first lockdown for fourteen weeks & then for another four weeks in November, certainly has taken its toll on the spirit of all people. It was very hard celebrating Holy Mass every day in an empty Church. Now we are in the situation of varients in the virus, which has perpetuated the spread of the virus, especially in London & the South East. Obviously, health & safety have always been at the top of the list of priorities. As a parish community we have endeavoured to ensure the safety of all of our parishioners. I would like to single out one parsihioner Iain McLay, who has been truly wonderful in everyhting that he has done over the past nine months in assisting myself and the whole parish community to ensure the smooth running of our parish daily & weekend celebrations of the Holy Eucharist.  His enthusiasm, and commitment in ensuring that we have complied with all the requirements necessary has been of great benefit to the whole community. Thank you Iain. 

Grateful thanks to all the Stewards who have been so faithful in their service to the parish Community, during the weekeday hour of private prayer, and at all the weekend masses, with the cleansing of the church after each service. Without your help we would have had to suspend masses. Also thanks to the new Stewards who volunteered for the additional masses over Chrsitmas.

Thank you to the ladies who decorated the Church for Christmas, as you have seen they did a wonderful job, unders difficult circumstances. The fact that we have been able to carry on doing the things we are accustomed to doing prior to the Pandemic, is a great tribute to one and all.  My hearfelt thanks to all parishieorns who dontated Poinsettias in remembrance of deceased loved ones to decorate the Church for Christmas, there was an incredible response.

On a personal note note I would like to thank all of those who have sent Christmas greetings cards and gifts. I truly appreciate you thoughfulness and geneoristy. Also for your Christmas Offertory during these difficult times. I wish you and all your loved ones the ongoing beautify of this Chrsitmas Season, and a Very Happy, Healthy & Blessed New Year for 2021.

Wish Love & the Season’s Blessings 

THANKING THE WHOLE PARISH COMMUNITY: I was completely overwhelmed by the incredible response from the whole parish community to the GRAND DRAW that we organised in place of our Annual Parish Bazaar. You truly embraced the spirit of the Draw by your generosity in not only supplying gifts and items for the Draw, but also in the sale of Draw Tickets over the past few weeks. During these difficult times, and it is a real tribute to the whole community in working together for the ongoing support of the parish. My grateful thanks to our Bazaar Committee for the innovation of making up Christmas Hampers as prizes; we had 45 different Christmas hampers and 12 larger prizes.  I don’t have a final figure, but I believe we have raised approximately £4,000.00, which is truly wonderful! Congratulations to the whole parish community. 

ELECTRONIC CHRISTMAS OFFERING: This year, as always, envelopes will be available for us to make our Christmas Offering, which, as you know, is an opportunity in every Catholic Church for parishioners to make a Christmas gift to their Parish Priest. This year our Christmas Offering can also be made electronically. We just need to transfer the money to the parish account with the reference ‘Xmas offering’. Any questions please ask Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com). The details of the bank account are:

Sort Code: 40-13-22

Account Number: 11019651

Account Name: Catholic Church Loughton St Edmund

EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to generously donate items for the Foodbank during these difficult times. The Foodbank are truly grateful for the generosity our parish has shown throughout the pandemic and our donations are still needed desperately as more and more people in our community are finding it hard to make ends meet. Basic staple items are always welcome including the unbranded supermarket basic ranges which can make your generous donations go even further. Currently they are in urgent need of the following items: tinned fruit, tinned ham, tinned carrots, sponge puddings, chocolate bars, Nutella, toilet rolls (2 or 4 pack), washing up liquid, laundry tablets/powder and shower gel. Thank you! You can also keep up to date with 

the Foodbank via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

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!

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: 

Donate

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.

God Bless You All      Fr. John 

ST. JOHN FISHER CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL: (School Applications for September 2021) will not be offering any on-site tours to view our school this year. Instead we have prepared a virtual tour. Please visit our school website on www.st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk (our admissions page is under the Statutory Info section). The virtual tour will give parents the opportunity to see what the school is like. Admissions opened on the Essex website on 9^th November 2020, and the closing date is 15^th January 2021.  We ask parents to complete a supplementary form, also obtainable from the admissions page, (especially if they wish to be considered under criteria 2 or 3 of the admissions policy) and can be returned directly to the school. If you need further information, please contact Mrs McGrenra on tmcgrenra@st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk.

DIOCESAN YEAR BOOK: Is now available for purchase from the Parish Repository. It cost £2.80.  It really is worth investing in a Yearbook, as it gives all the latest details of parishes, priests’ addresses, statistics, general information about the Catholic Faith and the Church. PLEASE BUY ONE!

FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN: Our Annual Altar Servers Mass at 11.00am Saturday 26^th December. Even though our servers have been unable to serve during this Pandemic, we will still celebrate together. I ask all of our Altar Servers to kindly wear their Albs and Medals and sit with your families. Some of our Senior Servers will receive their Silver Medals for serving here in the Parish for the past ten years. Sincere Congratulations!

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION FOR CONFIRMATION & HOLY COMMUNION 2021: If there are young people 14 years upwards who desire to enrol for Sacrament of Confirmation, could you personally write to Fr. John by 31^st December.  For those Year 3 children whose parents wish them to prepare for the Sacrament of Holy Communion please contact Fr. John also by the 31^st December. Probably, both programmes will have to be conducted via Zoom.  PS: Please note that candidates for both sacraments should be attending weekly Mass. The Church opened last July, and this past week for Public Masses. If you are not practicing your faith please don’t waste our time!  Sacramental Preparation is a very serious act of faith and makes no sense whatsoever if you’re not attending Holy Mass.    

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: Our RCIA programme continues Thursday 7^th January 2021 at 8.00pm unfortunately, due to the latest Government guidelines we cannot meet together in the Presbytery; therefore, there will be a Zoom meeting. Theme: The Sacrament of Confirmation – Sacrament of Mission.  Please pray for our enquirers. This programme is a systematic study of all aspects of the Roman Catholic Faith, with the view of the enquirer deciding to receive the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation & the Holy Eucharist.

THE YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH

The 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as patron of the universal church was celebrated on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception this month.

In honour of that anniversary, Pope Francis declared this liturgical year to be dedicated to St. Joseph through his apostolic letter Patris Corde (“With a Father’s Heart”).

What a gift to the universal Catholic Church to have a year dedicated to the fatherhood of St. Joseph!

In Pope Francis’ apostolic letter, he expounds upon the qualities of St. Joseph’s fatherhood and how his fatherhood was an icon of God, the Father’s heart for us, his children. During this Advent season and during this Year of St. Joseph, may our hearts be led to reflect upon the Father through the fatherhood of St. Joseph.

St. Joseph is a beloved father. St. Joseph placed himself at the service of his vocation as husband and father. “He turned his human vocation to domestic love into a superhuman oblation of himself, his heart and all his abilities, a loved placed at the service of the Messiah who was growing to maturity in his home” (PC, 1). 

St. Joseph is a tender and loving father. Through St. Joseph’s fatherhood, Jesus saw the tender love of God. Joseph taught him how to walk and offered him his loving embrace when he fell. Joseph teaches us to tenderly look upon our falls, weaknesses, and poverties. “The evil one makes us see and condemn our frailty, whereas the Spirit brings it to light with tender love. Tenderness is the best way to touch the frailty within us” (PC, 2).

St. Joseph is an obedient father. In every message from the Father, St. Joseph did what was asked of him. “In every situation, Joseph declared his own ‘fiat’, like those of Mary at the Annunciation and Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane” (PC, 3).

St. Joseph is an accepting father. Joseph trusted in the angel’s words to him and lovingly accepted Jesus as his own son. He provided a protective home for Mary and Jesus and accepted his call to be a husband to Mary and a father to the Son of God, even when he believed himself unworthy to do so. “Joseph’s attitude encourages us to accept and welcome others as they are, without exception, and to show special concern for the weak, for God chooses what is weak” (PC, 4).

St. Joseph is a creatively courageous father. God entrusted the Holy Family to Joseph and worked through his creative courage to guide and protect the Holy Family. “Arriving in Bethlehem and finding no lodging where Mary could give birth, Joseph took a stable and, best he could, turned it into a welcoming home for the Son of God come into the world” (PC, 5). 

St. Joseph is a working father. Work is a means of participating in the work of salvation. Joseph’s work as a carpenter provided a means for the Holy Family to thrive and to remain hidden in Bethlehem. Joseph taught this work to Jesus. “St. Joseph’s work reminds us that God himself, in becoming man, did not disdain work” (PC, 6).

St. Joseph is a father in the shadows. St. Joseph’s fatherhood was a hidden fatherhood that he had to learn how to live. “Fathers are not born but made. A man does not become a father simply by bringing a child into the world, but by taking up the responsibility to care for that child. Whenever a man accepts responsibility for the life of another, in some way he becomes a father to that person” (PC, 7).

At the conclusion of the apostolic letter, Pope Francis echoes the words of Pope St. John Paul II’s teaching on the spousal meaning of the body – when a man or a woman makes a fruitful gift of self, they fulfil the very meaning of their being and existence – when he writes of St. Joseph’s giving the gift of self to Mary and Jesus. “Joseph found happiness not in mere self-sacrifice but in self-gift… Every true vocation is born of the gift of oneself, which is a fruit of mature sacrifice” (PC, 7).

During this year of St. Joseph, may he guide your heart to live a life of fruitful self-giving! 

St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church,

Pray for us.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Brian Beveridge, Karl Britz, Jane Downs, Steve Dalgliesh, Pat Fenn,  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 Walstow, Mary Witten, James Wright. And all our loved ones.

ANNIVERSARIES: Peggy McGillycuddy RIP, Helen Munro RIP and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescat in Pace.

MASS INTENTIONS – DECEMBER 2020 – JANUARY 2021

Sat 26th St. Stephen	10.00am	Jean Moffatt Int’s (N Ironside & M Duffy)
		Vigil Mass for Sunday: Church resumes regular Sunday Schedule
Sat 26th	6.00pm	Sr. Raphael’s Int’s (Maureen Perry)
Sun 27th Holy Family	9.00am10.00am	Karen, David & Neil Emslie Int’s (M Duffy)People of the Parish
Sun 27th      Holy Family	11:00am	Kitty Mulvaney RIP (Eileen Lee)
Mon 28th	10.00am	Sarah & Peter McQuade RIP (M Duffy)
Tues 29th	10.00am	Margaret Whelen RIP (Nancy Hands)
Wed 30th	10.00am	Frances & Sam Murray & Family Int’s (Margaret Duffy)
Thurs 31st	10.00am	Joan Bright RIP (Private Donor)
Fri 1st Jan New Year’s Day	11.00am	Dec’d relatives of those who donated Poinsettias for Christmas. Requiescant in Pace
Sat 2nd	11.00am	Vera Watt RIP (Pat & Margaret)
		Vigil Mass for Sunday
Sat 2nd	6.00pm	Rosemary Mahoney RIP (Bill & Helen Walsh)
Sun 3rd	9.00am10.00am	Christine Slisz RIP Stefan & Jacqui Slisz)People of the Parish
Sun 3rd	11:00am	Nell Hayes Int’s (Maureen Perry)

PLEASE BOOK ANNIVERSARY MASSES IN ADVANCE. THANK YOU

Dear Friends in Christ                              

A week in the life of this Pandemic can change everything! Because of the incredible surge in cases in London and the South East, including many parts of Essex, the Government have elevated our locality to Tier 3. Manifestly, many people have not been adhering to the guidelines and hence we have a spike in cases, and an increase of deaths once again. Obviously, this situation is very disturbing, but health and safety for one and all should be our top priority. Here at the Church we have continued to employ the strict Governmental and Diocesan guidelines: Social Distancing, Hand Sanitisation, Wearing Face Coverings, and Stewards to help parishioners, one-way system in the Church. In fact, I would have to say it’s probably safer coming to church than going to the supermarket or a restaurant. But we all must still be vigilant.  In Tier 3 the status quo remains; daily and weekend masses will be celebrated at the Parish Church. 

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: Focuses on the role of Our Blessed Lady in the whole of God’s plan of Salvation. In the beautiful Gospel of the Annunciation we see the encounter with God’s messenger, the Angel Gabriel. The very young girl Mary, whose life had always been oriented to God, has, in that moment of revelation the greatest request ever made of any human being, to become the Mother of the Sone of God. In her humility, and even realising the implications and consequences of saying yes, she gives her ‘Fiat’ her personal ‘Yes’ to God; thus, changing the whole course of human history. Mary becomes a model of faith, and a model of the Church, which is why Our Blessed Lady is held in the highest esteem and reverence. As we journey with Mary & Joseph to Bethlehem once again, in these last few days before Christmas, let us pray for that same faith that enables them to humbly respond to God’s holy will

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus!

PARISH GRAND DRAW 2020: On this final Sunday of our Holy Advent Season, I would like to take this opportunity of expressing my heartfelt thanks to the whole parish community during this very difficult year for your incredible support in replacing our Annual Parish Bazaar with a Parish Grand Draw. Your generosity and kindness have been incredible; words cannot express how proud I feel of this wonderful parish family. As you know, we are not a Parish that has many fund-raising activities throughout the year, and in this Year of Pandemic, everyone’s lives have been tested and challenged in so many ways. But the incredible thing is that you always come up trumps! (no pun intended). 

I would like to thank all those parishioners who kindly donated prizes, and food stuffs to make up so many wonderful hampers, (I think we have nearly twenty hampers). To all those who donated bottles of wines and spirits, the hampers a laden with wonderful goodies. To Cribbs, our local Funeral Director who donated a 43-inch Smart Colour Television as our top prize, to the many parishioners who donated Money gifts. To our Bazaar Committee for working so hard in making up the various Hampers over the past couple of weeks. And last by now means least, you our parishioners who have been so admirable in your purchases of Draw Tickets. As a Parish during this Pandemic we have tried to the best of our ability to maintain some semblance of normality, as hard as that has been; and our coming together in response to this Grand Draw has been a wonderful effort on the part of the whole parish community. THANK YOU!

THE GRAND DRAW: will take place after the 11.00am Mass on Sunday Morning. Please let us have your Draw Tickets today! All the Prizes are being stored in the Parish Hall. I would encourage all parishioners to kindly collect their prizes before Christmas, especially Hampers, as these will add to your Christmas family celebrations at home. Please contact Fr. John for your prize. A List of prize-winners will be published on the Parish Website (names only).   

ELECTRONIC GRAND DRAW TICKETS: You can also purchase the tickets electronically. You just need to email your request for tickets to Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com) and transfer the money to the parish account with the reference including the term ‘Raffle Tix’. We will then put the equivalent number of tickets, with your name on, into the live draw. The details of the Parish Bank Account are: 

Sort Code: 40-13-22
Account Number: 11019651
Account Name: Catholic Church Loughton St Edmund

ADVANCED NOTICE FOR CHRISTMAS MASSES

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS: Due to Governmental guidelines on social distancing, at present we are only able to accommodate 125 persons maximum at each mass. Chrstimas tends to be a time of year when more people make a visit to Church.  In a bid to cope with numbers, I will add some additional masses. There will be no children’s mass this year; and I would ask all parishioerns to seriously think about masses they attend. Please don’t all turn up for the first mass, because we will have to turn away parishioerns once we have reached our capacity of 125. 

Christmas Eve Masses: 5.00pm, 7.00pm, 8.30pm & 10.00pm

Christmas Day Masses: 8.00am, 9.00am, 10.00am & 11.00am

For our older parishioners, those in poor health and for families, it may be useful to have some certainty about the seating at these Christmas services. Therefore, there will be some seats at each service that can be booked in advance. To do that you must send an email to Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com) stating which mass and for how many people. Your request must be made by Sunday 20^th December and will be confirmed by email.

ELECTRONIC CHRISTMAS OFFERING: This year, as always, envelopes will be available for us to make our Christmas Offering, which, as you know, is an opportunity in every Catholic Church for parishioners to make a Christmas gift to their Parish Priest. This year our Christmas Offering can also be made electronically. We just need to transfer the money to the parish account with the reference ‘Xmas offering’. Any questions please ask Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com). The details of the bank account are:

Sort Code: 40-13-22

Account Number: 11019651

Account Name: Catholic Church Loughton St Edmund

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION FOR CONFIRMATION & HOLY COMMUNION 2021: If there are young people 14 years upwards who desire to enrol for Sacrament of Confirmation, could you personally write to Fr. John by 31^st December.  For those Year 3 children whose parents wish them to prepare for the Sacrament of Holy Communion please contact Fr. John also by the 31^st December. Probably, both programmes will have to be conducted via Zoom.  PS: Please note that candidates for both sacraments should be attending weekly Mass. The Church opened last July, and this past week for Public Masses. If you are not practicing your faith please don’t waste our time!  Sacramental Preparation is a very serious act of faith and makes no sense whatsoever if you’re not attending Holy Mass.    

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: Our RCIA programme continues Thursday 7^th January 2021 at 8.00pm unfortunately, due to the latest Government guidelines we cannot meet together in the Presbytery; therefore, there will be a Zoom meeting. Theme: The Sacrament of Confirmation – Sacrament of Mission.  Please pray for our enquirers. This programme is a systematic study of all aspects of the Roman Catholic Faith, with the view of the enquirer deciding to receive the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation & the Holy Eucharist.

and necessary with this virus being so virulent. We have good health & safety procedures in place at church.  

KEEPING OUR CHURCH CLEAN DURING THE PANDEMIC: In compliance with Governmental & Diocesan guidelines, our church is sanitised after every Mass. I’m truly grateful to our Stewards who are helping with this process each week.   

CAN YOU HELP? This is an appeal to any parishioner, who would be willing to give half an hour or so For the Grand Christmas Clean on Tuesday 22^nd December. We will commence at 9.30am. Please contact Sharon Fitzmaurice if you’re able to help. Thanking you in anticipation.  

EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to generously donate items for the Foodbank during these difficult times. The Foodbank are truly grateful for the generosity our parish has shown throughout the pandemic and our donations are still needed desperately as more and more people in our community are finding it hard to make ends meet. Basic staple items are always welcome including the unbranded supermarket basic ranges which can make your generous donations go even further. Currently they are in urgent need of the following items: tinned fruit, tinned ham, tinned carrots, sponge puddings, chocolate bars, Nutella, toilet rolls (2 or 4 pack), washing up liquid, laundry tablets/powder and shower gel. Thank you! You can also keep up to date with 

the Foodbank via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

PARISH REPOSITORY: Because the Church has been on lockdown over the past month, we have already entered into the Holy Advent Season. I would like to draw your attention to all the wonderful new Christmas stock that we have in our Parish Repository. There are a variety of Religious Christmas Cards, Candles, Bambino figurines, a large number of Cribs; Advent Colanders (even though we are in December I would still invest in a Religious Advent Calendar for your children). There are Christmas Mass Cards; and a variety of other religious cards for all occasions. There are Children’s Religious Christmas Books, (lovely gifts for the stocking). There are beautiful statues of Our Blessed Lady; Rosaries, medals, prayer cards. Please take some time to have a look at all the wonderful stock before or after Mass on the weekend. The Church is also open between 10.30am – 11.30am daily; there is a money box available for the proceeds of your purchase. This is emptied daily.

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: 

Donate

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

God Bless You All      Fr. John 

ST. JOHN FISHER CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL: (School Applications for September 2021) will not be offering any on-site tours to view our school this year. Instead we have prepared a virtual tour. Please visit our school website on www.st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk (our admissions page is under the Statutory Info section). The virtual tour will give parents the opportunity to see what the school is like.

Admissions open on the Essex website on 9^th November 2020, and the closing date is 15^th January 2021.  We ask parents to complete a supplementary form, also obtainable from the admissions page, (especially if they wish to be considered under criteria 2 or 3 of the admissions policy) and can be returned directly to the school. If you need further information, please contact Mrs McGrenra on tmcgrenra@st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk.

DIOCESAN YEAR BOOK: Is now available for purchase from the Parish Repository. It cost £2.80.  It really is worth investing in a Yearbook, as it gives all the latest details of parishes, priests’ addresses, statistics, general information about the Catholic Faith and the Church. PLEASE BUY ONE!

FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN: Our Annual Altar Servers Mass at 11.00am Saturday 26^th December. Even though our servers have been unable to serve during this Pandemic, we will still celebrate together. I ask all of our Altar Servers to kindly wear their Albs and Medals and sit with your families. Some of our Senior Servers will receive their Silver Medals for serving here in the Parisih for the past ten years. Sincere Congratulations! 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SEMINARIANS: At the Pontifical North American College. This will be the first year in 15 years we haven’t had the seminarians with us. Unfortunately, due to the Pandemic, they are unable to leave the Lazio Region for Christmas; no travelling abroad. They will have their Christmas celebrations at the College itself. Let us keep them in our prayers, especially being so far from home at this special time of the year

WELCOME HOME: To Frank Westcott, who has just completed his first term at St. Mary’s College, Oscott. We have five seminarians at Oscott; please keep them in your prayers as they prepare for the Priesthood for our Diocese of Brentwood. 

POINSETTIAS: This is an appeal for some Poinsettias to help decorate the Church for Christmas. If you would like to donate a Poinsettia in remembrance of a deceased loved one, please leave it off at the Church as soon as possible. Please also leave the name of the person you would like to be remembered. The Poinsettias will help to decorate the Crib in the Church, and the Sanctuary area. With sincere and grateful thanks.   

CHRISTMAS CRIB: I would like to thank Teresa Wallace for nurturing the idea; and Iain McLay & Martin Laffey for spending many hours kindly building the new Crib. Next weekend 12^th/13^th December we will unveil the Crib to give the parish and the local community the opportunity to see the beautiful Nativity scene.  I truly believe this year we need to have visible signs of the true meaning of Christmas in our lives. Parents please bring you children to the Crib; explain to them the significance of a Crib. If you have a Crib in your homes, please put it in a prominent place, where the whole family can see it. You can do something special with the children over these next weeks, by introducing new figures into the Crib every few days. This will help the children really understand the true meaning of Christmas, and of course on Christmas Day putting the Baby Jesus into the manger.

CATHOLIC CHIDLREN’S SOCIETY: CRIB COLLECTION Each year all the Crib offerings go to the CCS. This year especially when fund-raising has been at a minimum. Please be generous in your giving. Both Cribs will remain until the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, 2^nd February. Thank you! 

DIARY 2020 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH 

Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Brian Beveridge, Karl Britz, Jane Downs, Steve Dalgliesh, Pat Fenn,  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 Walstow, Mary Witten, James Wright. And all our loved ones.

ANNIVERSARIES: For all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescat in Pace.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION: £532.64 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! 

MASS INTENTIONS – DECEMBER 2020

Sat 19th	10.00am	Edward Duffy RIP (M Duffy)
		Vigil Mass for Sunday: Church resumes regular Sunday Schedule
Sat 19th	6.00pm	Lilian & Scottt Driess RIP (Boddy Family)
Sun 20th	9.00am	Peter McQuade RIP (M Duffy)
Sun 20th	10.00am	People of the Parish
Sun 20th	11:00am	Pietro & Luigia Tisi RIP & Odila & Albert Maton RIP (Diana & Ferdi Tisi)
Mon 21st	10.00am	P C Joseph RIP (Kumar Family)
Tues 22nd	10.00am	Mary Walstow’s Int’s (Pat & Margaret)
Wed 23rd	10.00am	John & Rosemary O’Rourke (Pat & Margaret)
Thurs 24th Christmas Eve	5.00pm	People of the Parish
Thurs 24th Christmas Eve	7.00pm	Taylor Family Int’s (Eileen Lee)
Thurs 24th Christmas Eve	8.30pm	Tony Dixon RIP & Nancy Dixon Int’s
Thurs 24th Christmas Eve	10.00pm	John & Mary Harvey RIP (Fr. John)
Fri 25th Christmas Day	8.00am	Kay & Harry Thein RIP (B Thein)
Fri 25th Christmas Day	9.00am	Doreen Wiltshire RIP (M Caffrey)
Fri 25th Christmas Day	10.00am	Karl & Margaret Britz RIP (K Britz)
Fri 25th Christmas Day	11.00am	Peter Smith RIP (Paul Falco)
Sat 26th                 St. Stephen	11.00am	Jean Moffatt Int’s (N Ironside & M Duffy)
		Vigil Mass for Sunday
Sat 26th	6.00pm	Sr. Raphael’s Int’s (Maureen Perry
Sun 27th	9.00am	Karen, David & Neil Emslie RIP (M Duffy)
Sun 27th	10.00am	People of the Parish
Sun 27th	11:00am	Kitty Mulvaney RIP (Eileen Lee)

Dear Friends in Christ,              

As we rapidly approach the Birth of the Christ-child once again, I would like to take this opportunity of sending you all my annual Christmas Greetings. What a year this has been; none of us could have imagined this time last Christmas that the whole world would have had to face a Pandemic. It is totally unprecedented, and we have really nothing to compare it with. It has been challenging in so many ways, and we have had to change our mindset and our ways of life to ensure health and safety for all. Sadly, many have died throughout the world and in our own country. But hopefully there is light on the horizon with the new vaccines being produced.

For me, the hardest part of this Pandemic was the closure of our churches for formal worship. As you know I have live-streamed Holy Mass every day during the lockdowns on both occasions. But to celebrate Mass in an empty Church was heart-breaking. Thank the Lord we’ve had the technology to be able to live-stream, and this has kept many people connected. But nothing whatsoever can replace the physical presence at Holy Mass and being able to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. At present the challenges continue. I really do hope and pray that we have all had the time and opportunity to access the most important values of our lives during these past nine months of Pandemic.  For me, family, health & faith go hand in hand. One of the downsides of this Pandemic, even though our Churches opened last July for public worship, and again last week; many people have not returned to the weekly practice of faith. I find this really sad! Personally, I cannot live my life daily without the Lord being key and central to everything I do and strive to be. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thanking so many people who have kindly volunteered their services during these difficult times. For our Stewards who have been faithful each week ensuring the safety of parishioners and the sanitation of our church after each Mass. To the Altar Society who continue to ensure cleanliness of the Altar and Sanctuary, the Sacred Vessels, and linens. To all those parishioners who have been so generous this year in providing Gifts and items for the Christmas Grand Draw. Also, to everyone for your ongoing support and upkeep of the parish financially. It’s been a tough year for all of us. May 2021 prove to be a brighter, hopefully and happier year!      

With Love & Peace to You All  

                       

TIMES OF SERVICES & MASSES OVER CHRISTMAS 2020

Monday 14th Dec	10.00am	St. Edmund’s
Tuesday 15th Dec	10.00am	St. Edmund’s
Wednesday 16th Dec	10.00am	St. Edmund’s
Thursday 17th Dec	10.00am	St. Edmund’s
Friday 18th Dec	10.00am	St. Edmund’s
HOLY HOUR	10.30am	St. Edmund’s
Saturday 19th   Dec	10.00am	St. Edmund’s

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Saturday  19th   Dec	6.00pm	St. Edmund’s
Sunday    20th    Dec	9.00am	St. Edmund’s
Sunday    20th   Dec	10.00am	St. Edmund’s
Sunday    20th    Dec	11.00am	St. Edmund’s

CHRISTMAS EVE 

THURSDAY 24th December	5.00pm	St. Edmund’s
	7.00pm	St. Edmund’s
	8.30pm	St. Edmund’s
	10.00pm	St. Edmund’s

CHRISTMAS DAY

FRIDAY 25th December	8.00am	St. Edmund’s
	9.00am	St. Edmund’s
	10.00am	St. Edmund’s
	11.00am	St. Edmund’s. (Family Mass)

FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN

Saturday 26th Dec

11.00am Family Mass

Enrolment into the Altar Servers Mass Guild of  St. Stephen

NEW YEAR’S DAY MASS

Friday 1st January 2021

11.00am

Mass All welcome!

Your Christmas Offertory is your Personal Gift to your Parish Priest and makes up the major part of his salary throughout the year!   Please use your Gift Aid envelopes

ADVANCED NOTICE FOR CHRISTMAS MASSES

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS: Due to Governmental guidelines on social distancing, at present we are only able to accommodate 125 persons maximum at each mass. Chrstimas tends to be a time of year when more people make a visit to Church.  In a bid to cope with numbers, I will add some additional masses. There will be no children’s mass this year; and I would ask all parishioerns to seriously think about masses they attend. Please don’t all turn up for the first mass, because we will have to turn away parishioerns once we have reached our capacity of 125. 

Christmas Eve Masses: 5.00pm, 7.00pm, 8.30pm & 10.00pm

Christmas Day Masses: 8.00am, 9.00am, 10.00am & 11.00am

For our older parishioners, those in poor health and for families, it may be useful to have some certainty about the seating at these Christmas services. Therefore, there will be some seats at each service that can be booked in advance. To do that you must send an email to Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com) stating which mass and for how many people. Your request must be made by Sunday 20^th December and will be confirmed by email.

ELECTRONIC CHRISTMAS OFFERING: This year, as always, envelopes will be available for us to make our Christmas Offering, which, as you know, is an opportunity in every Catholic Church for parishioners to make a Christmas gift to their Parish Priest, which forms the major part of their salary. This year our Christmas Offering can also be made electronically. We just need to transfer the money to the parish account with the reference ‘Xmas offering’. Any questions please ask Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com). The details of the bank account are:

Sort Code: 40-13-22

Account Number: 11019651

Account Name: Catholic Church Loughton St Edmund.

St. Edmund of Canterbury

and

St. Thomas More

CHRISTMAS 2020

Dear Friends in Christ                        

As we continue in our Advent Journey, the reopening of our Churches once again is a moment of great joy. In these unprecedented times to be denied access to the Sacraments has been one of the greatest challenges to the faithful people of God. But even more tragic is that despite reopening our churches once again on two occasions now, many people have not returned to the formal practice of faith. I perfectly understand that many people are fearful of this Pandemic, and there are many who isolate who are vulnerable; but at the same time people are going out shopping, and socialising in restaurants and coffee bars. All our churches follow the strictest of rules from the Government and Diocesan guidelines. I was informed recently that there are many who cannot even be bothered to join in the Weekly celebration anymore on Social Media. This really breaks my heart! Most priests these days feel completely helpless in what to do in trying to encourage the faithful to return to the practice of faith. There are always consequences to all our actions, no matter how great or small, whether we see them now or in the future; but Eternal Life is offered to everyone, and it doesn’t start when we take our last breath, it’s rooted in the here and now. As a priest of Jesus Christ I have always tried to do my best in leading people to Christ; but it is Jesus who does the inviting to share in his life, and hopefully in our positive response the transformation of our lives of faith becomes manifest.  

This Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday – meaning Rejoice), is truly a wonderful opportunity for all of us to review our lives, and especially our preparation for that Birth of Jesus Christ into our lives again at Christmas. The Christmas celebration is not just an opportunity to make an annual token appearance at one of the Christmas Masses, it’s an invitation to renew and really make commitment to Jesus Christ, born for us as Saviour. Never before in our lives have we needed that Hope only he can bring, especially during these past nine months of Pandemic. Hopefully we have been able to recognise that it ultimately God who is in complete control!

ADVANCED NOTICE FOR CHRISTMAS MASSES

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS: Due to Governmental guidelines on social distancing, at present we are only able to accommodate 125 persons maximum at each mass. Chrstimas tends to be a time of year when more people make a visit to Church.  In a bid to cope with numbers, I will add some additional masses. There will be no children’s mass this year; and I would ask all parishioerns to seriously think about masses they attend. Please don’t all turn up for the first mass, because we will have to turn away parishioerns once we have reached our capacity of 125. 

Christmas Eve Masses: 5.00pm, 7.00pm, 8.30pm & 10.00pm

Christmas Day Masses: 8.00am, 9.00am, 10.00am & 11.00am

For our older parishioners, those in poor health and for families, it may be useful to have some certainty about the seating at these Christmas services. Therefore, there will be some seats at each service that can be booked in advance. To do that you must send an email to Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com) stating which mass and for how many people. Your request must be made by Sunday 20^th December and will be confirmed by email.

ELECTRONIC CHRISTMAS OFFERING: This year, as always, envelopes will be available for us to make our Christmas Offering, which, as you know, is an opportunity in every Catholic Church for parishioners to make a Christmas gift to their Parish Priest. This year our Christmas Offering can also be made electronically. We just need to transfer the money to the parish account with the reference ‘Xmas offering’. Any questions please ask Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com). The details of the bank account are:

Sort Code: 40-13-22

Account Number: 11019651

Account Name: Catholic Church Loughton St Edmund

PARISH GRAND DRAW 2020: This is our final week for purchasing Grand Draw Tickets. There are plenty of Books of Raffle Tickets available, and if you couldn’t obtain any last week, may I appeal to your generosity in taking some books of tickets today. The monies and counterfoils need to be returned as soon as possible, as the Grand Draw will take place after the 11.00am next Sunday 20^th December. Purchase of tickets may also be done online, please follow directions below.  If there are any parishioners who would be able to offer Prizes, Money Prizes, Gifts both big & small, everything will be gratefully received. With the Christmas food items we have been able to make up several Hampers. Please drop off anything you may have to the Presbytery as soon as possible.  I want to thank the whole parish community for your incredible generosity; even during these difficult times, you have responded incredibly THANK YOU! The Winners of the Grand Draw Prizes will be published immediately on the Parish Website, through the Email distribution and on Face Book. Hopefully we will be able to contact all winners immediately to collect your prizes before Christmas.  I would like to personally thank Cribbs Funeral Directors for kindly donating our top prize a 43-inch Colour Smart Television.  Final Appeal for some Restaurant Vouchers please. 

THANK YOU: To our Bazaar Committee members who have been making up the various Christmas Hampers this week. Obviously, if you still have Christmas food gifts to donate these are gratefully received.  Bottles of wine, Bottles of Prosecco, boxes of biscuits, Shortbread, Boxes of mince pies, Jars of jam & marmalade, Jars of pickles, Jars of coffee, Tea, Christmas Puddings, Christmas Cakes, Boxes of Chocolates & Sweets, Candy Canes, Selection Boxes, Chocolate Oranges, Bags of Crisps, Popcorn Crackers for Cheese, Box of Dates, Turkish Delight, Christmas Nuts (Walnuts, hazelnuts, Brazilnuts). Etc.   

GRAND CHRISTMAS DRAW TICKETS: No matter how big or small gift items are, everything will be used this year.  GRAND DRAW TICKETS WILL GO OUT AGAIN THIS WEEKEND 12^th / 13^th DECEMBER, please take as many as you can. We have also worked out a Scheme for donating Online (see below). The Draw will take place on Sunday 19^th December after the 11.00am Mass. PERHAPS WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE SPENT AT A BAZAAAR YOU COULD SPEND ON GRAND DRAW TICKETS. This is our only annual Fund-raiser.

ELECTRONIC GRAND DRAW TICKETS: 

The traditional paper Grand Draw Tickets will be available again after every mass this weekend 12^th/13^th December. The Grand Draw will take place on Sunday 19th December after the 11.00am Mass. This year, because of the Covid-19 crisis, you can also purchase the tickets electronically. You just need to email your request for tickets to Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com) and transfer the money to the parish account with the reference including the term ‘Raffle Tix’. We will then put the equivalent number of tickets, with your name on, into the live draw. The tickets are in books of 5, £5 for a book. The details of the Parish Bank Account are: 

Sort Code: 40-13-22
Account Number: 11019651

Account Name: Catholic Church Loughton St Edmund

Thanking you all so much for your ongoing generosity! 

KEEPING OUR CHURCH CLEAN DURING THE PANDEMIC: In compliance with Governmental & Diocesan guidelines, our church is sanitised after every Mass. I’m truly grateful to our Stewards who are helping with this process each week.   

CAN YOU HELP? This is an appeal to any parishioner, who would be willing to give half an hour or so For the Grand Christmas Clean on Tuesday 22^nd December. We will commence at 9.30am. Please contact Sharon Fitzmaurice if you’re able to help. Thanking you in anticipation.  

EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to generously donate items for the Foodbank during these difficult times. The Foodbank are truly grateful for the generosity our parish has shown throughout the pandemic and our donations are still needed desperately as more and more people in our community are finding it hard to make ends meet. Basic staple items are always welcome including the unbranded supermarket basic ranges which can make your generous donations go even further. Currently they are in urgent need of the following items: tinned fruit, tinned ham, tinned carrots, sponge puddings, chocolate bars, Nutella, toilet rolls (2 or 4 pack), washing up liquid, laundry tablets/powder and shower gel. Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

PARISH REPOSITORY: Because the Church has been on lockdown over the past month, we have already entered into the Holy Advent Season. I would like to draw your attention to all the wonderful new Christmas stock that we have in our Parish Repository. There are a variety of Religious Christmas Cards, Candles, Bambino figurines, a large number of Cribs; Advent Colanders (even though we are in December I would still invest in a Religious Advent Calendar for your children). There are Christmas Mass Cards; and a variety of other religious cards for all occasions. There are Children’s Religious Christmas Books, (lovely gifts for the stocking). There are beautiful statues of Our Blessed Lady; Rosaries, medals, prayer cards. Please take some time to have a look at all the wonderful stock before or after Mass on the weekend. The Church is also open between 10.30am – 11.30am daily; there is a money box available for the proceeds of your purchase. This is emptied daily.  

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: 

Donate

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.

God Bless You All     

Fr. John 

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: Our RCIA programme continues on Thursday 3^rd December at 8.00pm unfortunately, due to the latest Government guidelines we cannot meet together in the Presbytery; therefore, there will be a Zoom meeting. Theme: Eucharist 2 – The need to worship God in Christs and through the Holy Spirit. Please pray for our enquirers. This programme is a systematic study of all aspects of the Roman Catholic Faith, with the view of the enquirer deciding to receive the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation & the Holy Eucharist.

and necessary with this virus being so virulent. We have good health & safety procedures in place at church.  

CHRISTMAS CRIB: When you come to Holy Mass this weekend you will notice that we have built a brand new Crib outside the Church. I would like to thank Teresa Wallace for nurturing the idea; and Iain McLay & Martin Laffey for spending many hours kindly building the new Crib. Next weekend 12^th/13^th December we will unveil the Crib to give the parish and the local community the opportunity to see the beautiful Nativity scene.  I truly believe this year we need to have visible signs of the true meaning of Christmas in our lives. Parents please bring you children to the Crib; explain to them the significance of a Crib. If you have a Crib in your homes, please put it in a prominent place, where the whole family can see it. You can do something special with the children over these next weeks, by introducing new figures into the Crib every few days. This will help the children really understand the true meaning of Christmas, and of course on Christmas Day putting the Baby Jesus into the manger. 

CATHOLIC CHIDLREN’S SOCIETY: CRIB COLLECTION Each year all the Crib offerings go to the CCS. This year especially when fund-raising has been at a minimum. Please be generous in your giving. Thank you!

DIARY 2020 

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH 

Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Brian Beveridge, Karl Britz, Jane Downs, Steve Dalgliesh, Pat Fenn,  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 Walstow, Mary Witten, James Wright. And all our loved ones.

ANNIVERSARIES: Helen Kay RIP, and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescat 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!

ST. JOHN FISHER CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL: (School Applications for September 2021) will not be offering any on-site tours to view our school this year. Instead we have prepared a virtual tour. Please visit our school website on www.st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk (our admissions page is under the Statutory Info section). The virtual tour will give parents the opportunity to see what the school is like.

Admissions open on the Essex website on 9^th November 2020, and the closing date is 15^th January 2021.  We ask parents to complete a supplementary form, also obtainable from the admissions page, (especially if they wish to be considered under criteria 2 or 3 of the admissions policy) and can be returned directly to the school. If you need further information, please contact Mrs McGrenra on tmcgrenra@st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk.

DIOCESAN YEAR BOOK: Is now available for purchase from the Parish Repository. It cost £2.80.  It really is worth investing in a Year Book, as it gives all the latest details of parishes, priests’ addresses, statistics, general information about the Catholic Faith and the Church. PLEASE BUY ONE!

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION FOR CONFIRMATION & HOLY COMMUNION 2021: If there are young people 14 years upwards who desire to enrol for Sacrament of Confirmation, could you personally write to Fr. John by 31^st December.  For those Year 3 children whose parents wish them to prepare for the Sacrament of Holy Communion please contact Fr. John also by the 31^st December. Probably, both programmes will have to be conducted via Zoom.  PS: Please note that candidates for both sacraments should be attending weekly Mass. The Church opened last July, and this past week for Public Masses. If you are not practicing your faith please don’t waste our time!  Sacramental Preparation is a very serious act of faith and makes no sense whatsoever if you’re not attending Holy Mass.    

MASS INTENTIONS – DECEMBER 2020

Sat 12th	10.00am	Florence & Carmelo Gargano RIP (Frank Westcott)
		Vigil Mass for Sunday: Church resumes regular Sunday Schedule
Sat 12th	6.00pm	James Macnaboe RIP (Bill & Helen Walsh)
Sun 13th	9.00am10.00am	People of the ParishEdward & Rita Silwa RIP (Boddy Family)
Sun 13th	11:00am	Eugene & Ellen Carney RIP (Catherine Knight)
Mon 14th	10.00am	Fr. Patrick Hayward B’day Int’s (M Duffy)
Tues 15th	10.00am	John H Harvey RIP (Fr. John)
Wed 16th	10.00am	Aoife Hogan RIP (21st B’day), (Frank, Sue, Jack & Ryan)
Thurs 17th	10.00am	Michael & Breege Kerrane RIP (Mary)
Fri 18th	10.00am 10.30am	Eileen Christie RIP (Monica Maycraft)Holy Hour Exposition of the Bl. Sacrament
Sat 19th	10.00am	Edward Duffy RIP (M Duffy)
		Vigil Mass for Sunday
Sat 19th	6.00pm	Lilian & Scott Driess RIP (Boddy Family)
Sun 20th	9.00am10.00am	Peter McQuade RIP (M Duffy)People of the Parish
Sun 20th	11:00am	Pietro & Luigia Tisi RIP & Odila & Albert Maton RIP (Diana & Ferdi Tisi)

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.

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS: Due to Governmental guidelines on social distancing, at present we are only able to accommodate 125 persons maximum at each mass. Chrstimas tends to be a time of year when more people make a visit to Church.  In a bid to cope with numbers, I will add some additional masses. There will be no children’s mass this year; and I would ask all parishioners to seriously think about masses they attend. Please don’t all turn up for the first mass, because we will have to turn away parishioners once we have reached our capacity of 125. 

Christmas Eve Masses: 5.00pm, 7.00pm, 8.30pm & 10.00pm

Christmas Day Masses: 8.00am, 9.00am, 10.00am & 11.00am

For our older parishioners, those in poor health and for families, it may be useful to have some certainty about the seating at these Christmas services. Therefore, there will be some seats at each service that can be booked in advance. To do that you must send an email to Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com) stating which mass and for how many people. Your request must be made by Sunday 20^th December and will be confirmed by email.

ELECTRONIC CHRISTMAS OFFERING: This year, as always, envelopes will be available for us to make our Christmas Offering, which, as you know, is an opportunity in every Catholic Church for parishioners to make a Christmas gift to their Parish Priest, which forms the major part of their salary. This year our Christmas Offering can also be made electronically. We just need to transfer the money to the parish account with the reference ‘Xmas offering’. Any questions please ask Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com). The details of the bank account are:

Sort Code: 40-13-22

Account Number: 11019651

Account Name: Catholic Church Loughton St Edmund.

Please make a very special effort to come and celebrate with us this Christmas. We really do need the presence of the Lord in our lives at this challenging and trying time!

With Love & Christmas Peace to you all

Rev Canon John J Harvey

Dear Friends in Christ

As we opened our Church this week once again after the lockdown, it is truly wonderful to be able to gather again as a Community of Faith. I have had so many comments from parishioners over many weeks, how much they have missed coming together to celebrate faith through the Holy Eucharist. Nothing whatsoever can take the place of being present at the celebration of Holy Mass, and to receive Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. I truly believe that now, more than any other time; we really need our faith and Jesus Christ to be the centre of our lives. 

We have embarked on our Advent Journey; and as we lite the second candle, which represent faith, often known as the ‘Bethlehem Candle’, it is a reminder of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. The Faith that Our Blessed Lady & St Joseph had in God’s providence and making provision for them for the birth of Jesus is undoubted. Each one of us should pray for that same faith during this Holy Season. Once again, think about the different ways you can prepare for the Birth of Jesus into your lives again this Christmas. Some examples of things we can do in preparation: Be faithful to daily prayer; read St. Luke’s or St Mathew’s Infancy Narratives at the beginning of each of the Gospels; have some spiritual reading available; attend an additional Mass or two during the week; try to celebrate the Sacrament of Confession; donate to the Food Bank; Keep in touch with elderly relatives and neighbours; try to perform an act of charity every day; be charitable and kind to one another; and many more things you can do. 

ATTENDING WEEKEND MASSES: As we are in Tier 2 in our locality, we must continue to follow the Governmental and Diocesan guidelines about Social Distancing, wearing Face Coverings, Hand Sanitisation. I once again thank all our parishioners who have kindly volunteered to act as Stewards at all our Masses and with the sensitisation of the church after each mass. After all masses this weekend Iain McLay will be present with his clipboard, asking for additional volunteers for the Christmas Masses. If you could assist with this, we would be most grateful. Thanking you in anticipation!

ADVANCED NOTICE FOR CHRISTMAS MASSES

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS: Due to Governmental guidelines on social distancing, at present we are only able to accommodate 125 persons maximum at each mass. Chrstimas tends to be a time of year when more people make a visit to Church.  In a bid to cope with numbers, I will add some additional masses. There will be no children’s mass this year; and I would ask all parishioerns to seriously think about masses they attend. Please don’t all turn up for the first mass, because we will have to turn away parishioerns once we have reached our capacity of 125. 

Christmas Eve Masses: 5.00pm, 7.00pm, 8.30pm & 10.00pm

Christmas Day Masses: 8.00am, 9.00am, 10.00am & 11.00am

For our older parishioners, those in poor health and for families, it may be useful to have some certainty about the seating at these Christmas services. Therefore, there will be some seats at each service that can be booked in advance. To do that you must send an email to Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com) stating which mass and for how many people. Your request must be made by Sunday 20^th December and will be confirmed by email.

ELECTRONIC CHRISTMAS OFFERING: This year, as always, envelopes will be available for us to make our Christmas Offering, which, as you know, is an opportunity in every Catholic Church for parishioners to make a Christmas gift to their Parish Priest. This year our Christmas Offering can also be made electronically. We just need to transfer the money to the parish account with the reference ‘Xmas offering’. Any questions please ask Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com). The details of the bank account are:

Sort Code: 40-13-22

Account Number: 11019651

Account Name: Catholic Church Loughton St Edmund

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION FOR CONFIRMATION & HOLY COMMUNION 2021: If there are young people 14 years upwards who desire to enrol for Sacrament of Confirmation, could you personally write to Fr. John by 31^st December.  For those Year 3 children whose parents wish them to prepare for the Sacrament of Holy Communion please contact Fr. John also by the 31^st December. Probably, both programmes will have to be conducted via Zoom.  PS: Please note that candidates for both sacraments should be attending weekly Mass. The Church opened last July, and this past week for Public Masses. If you are not practicing your faith please don’t waste our time!  Sacramental Preparation is a very serious act of faith and makes no sense whatsoever if you’re not attending Holy Mass.

GRAND CHRISTMAS DRAW 2020

As we have just come out of our second ‘lockdown’, this is our first weekend together once again. It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate Holy Mass with the Community of Faith. As you know there is No Annual Parish Bazaar this year.  But we have been organising a Parish GRAND DRAW. I would like to thank most sincerely all those who have donated gifts and items for the Draw. We still need some larger Prizes: Money Prizes, Colour Television, I Pad, Kindle, X Box, Crate of Wine, Restaurant Vouchers, Various Hampers (large & small), Large Bottle of Champagne, Large Bottle of Whiskey/Brandy, Health Spa Treatment, Theatre Vouchers, Set of Crystal Glasses, Men’s / Ladies Watches, M & S Gift Cards. If you can donate a Prize please contact Fr. John. Tel No: 020 8508 3492  

CHRISTMAS HAMPERS: Regarding the request for Christmas good items and sweets for Hampers, I’m grateful to one and all for your donations. But please still continue to donate: Bottles of wine, Bottles of Prosecco, boxes of biscuits, Shortbread, Boxes of mince pies, Jars of jam & marmalade, Jars of pickles, Jars of coffee, Tea, Christmas Puddings, Christmas Cakes, Boxes of Chocolates & Sweets, Candy Canes, Selection Boxes, Chocolate Oranges, Bags of Crisps, Popcorn Crackers for Cheese, Box of Dates, Turkish Delight, Christmas Nuts (Walnuts, hazelnuts, Brazilnuts). Etc. This week we are going to start to make up some of the Christmas Hampers. There are boxes to receive your gifts and items in the Porch of the Church, Fr. John’s Garage, & at the Presbytery Front Door. Thanking you in anticipation.

GRAND CHRISTMAS DRAW TICKETS: No matter how big or small gift items are everything will be used this year.  GRAND DRAW TICKETS WILL GO OUT THIS WEEKEND 5^TH/6^TH DECEMBER, please take as many as you can. We have also worked out a Scheme for donating Online (see below). The Draw will take place on Sunday 19^th December after the 11.00am Mass. PERHAPS WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE SPENT AT A BAZAAAR YOU COULD SPEND ON GRAND DRAW TICKETS. This is our only annual Fund-raiser.

ELECTRONIC GRAND DRAW TICKETS: 

The traditional paper Grand Draw Tickets will be available after every mass this weekend 5^th/6^th and next weekend 12^th/13^th December. The Grand Draw will take place on Sunday 19th December after the 11.00am Mass. This year, because of the Covid-19 crisis, you can also purchase the tickets electronically. You just need to email your request for tickets to Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com) and transfer the money to the parish account with the reference including the term ‘Raffle Tix’. We will then put the equivalent number of tickets, with your name on, into the live draw. The tickets are in books of 5, £5 for a book. The details of the Parish Bank Account are: 

Sort Code: 40-13-22
Account Number: 11019651
Account Name: Catholic Church Loughton St Edmund

Thanking you all so much for your ongoing generosity!    

PARISH REPOSITORY: Because the Church has been on lockdown over the past month, we have already entered into the Holy Advent Season. I would like to draw your attention to all the wonderful new Christmas stock that we have in our Parish Repository. There are a variety of Religious Christmas Cards, Candles, Bambino figurines, a large number of Cribs; Advent Colanders (even though we are in December I would still invest in a Religious Advent Calendar for your children). There are Christmas Mass Cards; and a variety of other religious cards for all occasions. There are Children’s Religious Christmas Books, (lovely gifts for the stocking). There are beautiful statues of Our Blessed Lady; Rosaries, medals, prayer cards. Please take some time to have a look at all the wonderful stock before or after Mass on the weekend. The Church is also open between 10.30am – 11.30am daily; there is a money box available for the proceeds of your purchase. This is emptied daily.

WEEKLY OFFERTORY OF THANKSGIVING TO GOD: 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.

God Bless You All      Fr. John 

ST. JOHN FISHER CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL: (School Applications for September 2021) will not be offering any on-site tours to view our school this year. Instead we have prepared a virtual tour. Please visit our school website on www.st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk (our admissions page is under the Statutory Info section). The virtual tour will give parents the opportunity to see what the school is like.

Admissions open on the Essex website on 9^th November 2020, and the closing date is 15^th January 2021.  We ask parents to complete a supplementary form, also obtainable from the admissions page, (especially if they wish to be considered under criteria 2 or 3 of the admissions policy) and can be returned directly to the school. If you need further information, please contact Mrs McGrenra on tmcgrenra@st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk.

CHRISTMAS CRIB: When you come to Holy Mass this weekend you will notice that we have built a  brand new Crib outside the Church. I would like to thank Teresa Wallace for nurturing the idea; and Iain McLay & Martin Laffey for spending many hours kindly building the new Crib. Next weekend 12^th/13^th December we will unveil the Crib to give the parish and the local community the opportunity to see the beautiful Nativity scene.  I truly believe this year we need to have visible signs of the true meaning of Christmas in our lives. Parents please bring you children to the Crib; explain to them the significance of a Crib. If you have a Crib in your homes, please put it in a prominent place, where the whole family can see it. You can do something special with the children over these next weeks, by introducing new figures into the Crib every few days. This will help the children really understand the true meaning of Christmas, and of course on Christmas Day putting the Baby Jesus into the manger. 

CATHOLIC CHIDLREN’S SOCIETY: CRIB COLLECTION Each year all the Crib offerings go to the CCS. This year especially when fund-raising has been at a minimum. Please be generous in your giving. Thank you!  

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: Our RCIA programme continues on Thursday 3^rd December at 8.00pm unfortunately, due to the latest Government guidelines we cannot meet together in the Presbytery; therefore, there will be a Zoom meeting. Theme: Eucharist 2 – The need to worship God in Christs and through the Holy Spirit. Please pray for our enquirers. This programme is a systematic study of all aspects of the Roman Catholic Faith, with the view of the enquirer deciding to receive the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation & the Holy Eucharist.

and necessary with this virus being so virulent. We have good health & safety procedures in place at church.  

DIOCESAN YEAR BOOK: Is now available for purchase from the Parish Repository. It cost £2.80.  It really is worth investing in a Year Book, as it gives all the latest details of parishes, priests’ addresses, statistics, general information about the Catholic Faith and the Church. PLEASE BUY ONE!

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.

KEEPING OUR CHURCH CLEAN DURING THE PANDEMIC: In compliance with Governmental & Diocesan guidelines, our church is sanitised after every Mass. I’m truly grateful to our Stewards who are helping with this process each week.   

CAN YOU HELP? This is an appeal to any parishioner, who would be willing to give half an hour or so for the Grand Christmas Clean on Tuesday 22^nd December at 12Noon.  Please contact Sharon Fitzmaurice if you’re able to help. Thanking you in anticipation. 

EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to generously donate items for the Foodbank during these difficult times. The Foodbank are truly grateful for the generosity our parish has shown throughout the pandemic and our donations are still needed desperately as more and more people in our community are finding it hard to make ends meet. Basic staple items are always welcome including the unbranded supermarket basic ranges which can make your generous donations go even further. Currently they are in urgent need of the following items: tinned fruit, tinned ham, tinned carrots, sponge puddings, chocolate bars, Nutella, toilet rolls (2 or 4 pack), washing up liquid, laundry tablets/powder and shower gel. Thank you! You can also keep up to date with 

the Foodbank via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

DIARY 2020

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH 

Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Brian Beveridge, Karl Britz, 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 Walstow, Mary Witten, James Wright. And all our loved ones.

ANNIVERSARIES: Nancy Burgess RIP, and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescat in Pace.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION: NO OFFERTORY. 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! 

MASS INTENTIONS – DECEMBER 2020

MASS WILL BE TRANSMITTED DAILY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

Sat 5th	10.00am	Andrew & Catherine Tucker RIP (Mills Family)
		Vigil Mass for Sunday: Church resumes regular Sunday Schedule
Sat 5th	6.00pm	Sapper Raymond Marchant RIP (Pat Marchant)
Sun 6th	9.00am10.00am	People of the ParishMargaret McLaughlin RIP Peter & Christine Burrowes)
Sun 6th	11:00am	Peter Smith RIP ((Paul Falco)
Mon 7th	10.00am	Thomas & Mary Lamb RIP (M Duffy)
Tues 9th	10.00am	Bernard Gilley RIP (Veronica & Steve Short)
Wed 10th	10.00am	Eileen & George Whatmore RIP, Jose & John Leonard RIP (M Duffy)
Thurs 11th	10.00am	Ann Hawkes B’day Ints. (Pat, Margaret & Remy)
Fri 12th	10.00am 10.30am	Peter Smith RIP (Paul Falco)Holy Hour Exposition of the Bl. Sacrament
Sat 13th	10.00am	Florence & Carmelo Gargano RIP (Frank Westcott)
		Vigil Mass for Sunday
Sat 13th	6.00pm	James Macnaboe RIP (Bill & Helen Walsh)
Sun 14th	9.00am10.00am	People of the ParishEdward & Rita Silwa RIP (Boddy Family)
Sun 14th	11:00am	Eugene & Ellen Carney RIP (Catherine Knight)

Please consult the Newsletter for Christmas Masses