July 2021 – St Edmund of Canterbury, Loughton

The Eighteenth Sunday of the Year, 2021

St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More

This weekend we will continue listening to the Bread of life Discource from St. John’s Gospel. One of the famous ‘I am’ statements by Jesus: “I am the bread of life” confirms who Jesus is ‘the anointed one of God’. Jesus uses the analogy of Moses who gave the chosen people of God Manna in the desert for their bread. Jesus states that we should work for food that lasts, that gives life; and of course this is the eternal gift of his Body & Blood, that sustains us on the pligrim journey of life and faith. For us Catholics, it is the Eucharist that is the Sacrament of Unity. It is Jesus Christ who calls us to share in his life, but it is up to each one of us to make a personal response; no one can do this for us. But once we respond, we cannot look back.

The greatest challenge of the age in which we live with regards our faith, is a sense of indifference that has permeated the world and society. How to contend with indifference is extrmely difficult. Many have lost that sense of awe and wonder of God & Jesus Christ. It just doesn’t impinge upon their lives. This slow and gradual erosion of the sacred really changes people’s lives. All it takes is one person to stop practicing their faith, and before long it could be the end of the line of generations of Catholics. Within a genration the knowledge of faith and practice disappears; and in a secular society the likelihood of recapturing that is quite remote!

ONGOING COVID SITUATION: Every day we’re being presented with new numbers of people contracting the Delta variant. Over the past week the numbers have gone up and down. But there are still a lot of people with this awful disease. We need to continue to be vigilant and aware and senstive to each other. At church I encoruage all of our parishiioners to continue to wear a face covereing. There will be hand sanitisers on entry and exit of the church. Please be sensistive to social distancing in the church. We are still obliged to track & trace (but thankfully, we have never had a case through the church). Communion will be given under one species, the body of Christ. As of next weekend Masses will be: Vigil Mass Saturday Evening at 6.00pm Suinday Masses – 9.00am & 11.00am. Please note the 10.00am mass will discontinue. With thanks to you all for your understanding.

Dear Friends in Christ, 18^th Sunday of the Year

As we have entered into the holiday season of the year. I would like to wish all of our families a happy holiday. I hope you will be able to take a break and possibly get away for a while. For many of us, it’s been nearly two years since we’ve had a break. Everyone needs that special time away to recharge batteries. Have a good rest and relaxation. With the lifting of restrictions, people may even be able to get abroad. Continue to keep safe and well. Although we are nearly 88% vaccinated here in UK, it’s not the same in Europe.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: If you know of anyone who may be interested in learning more about the Roman Catholic Faith possibly with the view of receiving the Easter Sacraments in 2022. I am hoping to begin our programme in September, following a systematic instruction in all aspects of Catholicism. It would be wonderful to have a few people on the programme. Could you spread the word about please! If you want to know more about the programme please contact Fr. John at the Presbytery for more detials on Tel No: 020 8508 3492. Start Date for Programme: Thursday 9^th September 2021.

ALTAR SOCIETY: Please can we appeal to all parishioners for help to keep our church clean. During lockdown we have only asked a few a few deep cleans but now things will be changing, we desperately need your help to keep a weekly rota going. Cleaning is split between the altar, sanctuary, main church, front porch/library, choir loft brass ware and candle racks. The duties include dusting, sweeping, mopping, polishing, window/door cleaning, hoovering, linens and polishing. You can do as much or as little as you are able to do (1 hour at the most, per month) and all parishioners are invited to help, regardless of age or gender. To register your interest please contacts Sharon Fitzmaurice on 07854919207 or shazzafitzm@aol.com THERE WAS NO RESPONSE LAST WEEKEND; CAN I MAKE AN IMPASSIONED APPEAL THIS WEEKEND. THANK YOU!

MASS INTENTIONS: There are plenty openings for Mass Intentions in the parish diary. If you would like a mass celebrated for a special intention; deceased family members; birthdays etc. Please complete Mass Intention envelope and return to the Presbytery as soon as possible please! Fr John will always try to accommodate the date you’ve requested. Thank you!

WEEKLY OFFERTORY: £634.28 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

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME: Thank to all parents I’ve seen whose children from years 3 & 4 will commence their First Holy Communion preparation in September. Please remember that you should be attending weekly Mass. The programme will commence with a Parents’ Information Evening on Wednesday 15^th September at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall. The children’s programme will commence on Sunday 19^th September at 10.00, and the children will be formally presented as candidates of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist at the 11.00am Mass. Please put these dates in your diary. Thank you!

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. The Foodbank have asked for support with the following items: Long-life fruit juice, tinned tomatoes, instant mash, tinned fish, tinned peas, tinned carrots, tinned potatoes, small jars of instant coffee, small or medium bags of rice, sponge pudding, snack bars, chocolate bars, chocolate spread and savoury crackers Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

OFFERTORY COLLECTION: As of 16th August, The local HSBC bank will be closing. This is the Bank the Diocese uses for all parishes. Obviously, it’s going to be difficult from now on. It’s going to be very difficult with coinage. Could I appeal to the whole Parish Community to seriously think about Gift Aid Scheme, or the online giving scheme? PLEASE NOTE: Many parishioners are not quoting their GA number in the online giving. WE NEED THE NUMBER OTHERWISE WE CANNOT CLAIM ON YOUR OFFERTORY DONATION.

DIARY AUGUST 2021

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

Carmen Antaki, Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Brian Beveridge, Karl Britz, Carlos Camacho, Jane Downs, Steve Dalgliesh, Pat Fenn, Veronica Godsave, Bernadette Hall, Ann Hawkes, Claire Howes, Noel Johnson, Shaun Keel, Angela Long, Lilian Mothersole, John McKernan, Rosemary O’Rourke, Kathleen Pomeroy, Geraldine Taylor, Vera Taylor, Mary Witten, James Wright. And all our loved ones.

ANNIVERSARIES: Mary Cocklin RIP, and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.

SACRAMENTS CELEBRATED DURING ALERT LEVEL 4 RESTRICTIONS: In accordance with Government & Diocesan Guidelines, we are allowed to celebrate Funerals with 100 people present, strictly observing social distancing. 30 people are allowed to be present at a wedding. Baptisms: you are now allowed up to 30 persons at a Baptism; not too sure what the restrictions are for social event after though! These are really difficult times, and many couples were disappointed last year not being able to celebrate their marriages. We are hoping with the distribution of the vaccine, that things will change dramatically this year. If there are any couples who are thinking about getting married, please notify the parish immediately. Thank you. Obviously until restrictions are lifted all of the above applies for the foreseeable future.

MASS INTENTIONS: It has always been a custom within the Roman Catholic Faith to have an Intention offered when celebrating Holy Mass. Intentions can be for all occasions: e.g. For a deceased member of a family; deceased anniversary mass; Birthday intention; Special Occasions; Get Well Mass; Success in exams; Special milestone anniversaries, Wedding, Ordination, Confirmation. In fact, you can offer a Mass for almost every occasion! There are Mass Intention envelopes and Special Mass Cards for all occasions in the Repository at the back of the Church. (Please complete Mass envelope and enclose your Mass Offering and drop off at the Presbytery); I will always try to accommodate the date you have requested, or the nearest date to it. It’s always beautiful to receive a Mass card from someone!

RECEIVING SACRAMENTS: Recently, 48 of our young people received the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is a milestone in a young person’s life. Sadly I haven’t seen many of them since the day they were Confirmed. This Sacrament of commitment and mission is about these young people assuming a certain amount of mature responsibility in their own Faith Journey. It’s not just about stamping the Sacramental Passport; I had it said to me recently, I quote “my parents said to me if I got Confirmed, I don’t have to go to church anymore.” This is not only an insult to the young person, but even more so, an insult to Almighty God. If faith means so little, why would you go through a Sacramental Programme knowing that you would walk away from the practice of that faith? This is a really serious issue, and not something to be dismissed lightly. I ask everyone to think seriously about what it means to be really committed in your life of faith! Life is not a dress rehearsal, it’s the real thing every day; and there can be so many missed opportunities!

IRREGULAR MARRIAGES: An irregualr marriage is one tht has taken place outside of the Catholic Church without dispensation. For example: Marriages in hotels, and secualr venues, on beaches or Las Vegas; marriage in a non Catholic Church without dispensation from the Bishop. These marriages are not recognised by the Catholic Church, and therefore are non sacramental & irregular. But there is a facility in the Church to recetify these situations called a Convalidation (this is a strictly private facility that is offered by the church). As marriage and family life is what I specialised in while studying Canon Law, if anyone wishes to speak to me confidentially please don’t hesitate to contact me: Tel No: 0208 508 3492

PARISH REPOSITORY: There are a large number of gifts and cards available in the Repository. There are rosaries, statues, medals, candles, special cards, prayer crosses, Anniversary Cards for all occasions, and many other items that would be suitable gifts for all occasions. Please leave your money in the basket provided. Thanks

THOSE WHO USE PARISH GIFT AID: continues thanks to all who use the Gift Aid Scheme. I would encourage everyone to sign up for this scheme. If you are a Tax Payer, all we need is your name and address. There are forms in the Porch. Also could I make an appeal on behalf of our organiser to those who do not have their Gift Aid number on their Bank reference. Could you address this as soon as possible please? It will help to save a lot of time when we have to enter details onto the Gift Aid system. Also there are many who are making standing orders, but are not registered on the Gift Aid Scheme. It would be really good to register, if you need help contact Maria Mosquera.

MASS INTENTIONS – JULY / AUGUST 2021

Sat 31^st	10.00am	Peter Smith RIP (Paul Falco)
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday: Confessions at 5.30pm*
Sat 31^st	6.00pm	Loy Phillips Int’s (Kathleen Faherty)
Sun 1^stAug Sun 1^st	9.00am 10.00am	Violet Hall RIP (Mrs Short) Fr John’s 40^th Anni Int’s (J & K Forwood)
Sun 1^st	11:00am	People of the Parish
Mon 2^nd	10.00am 10.30am	Sarah McQuade RIP (Margaret Duffy) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Tues 3^rd	10.00am	Jenny Chilton Higgins Int’s (Kathleen Faherty)
Wed 4^th	10.00am	Olga Nogueira B’day Int’s (Pat & Margaret)
Thurs 5^th	10.00am	Violet Hall RIP (Mrs Short)
Fri 6^th	10.00am 10.30am	Maureen Tilsey B’day Int’s (Pat & Margaret) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Sat 7^th	10.00am	Tom Swan RIP
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday Confessions 5.30pm*
Sat 7^th	6.00pm	Catrina Hamilton Int’s (Kathleen Faherty)
Sun 8^th	9.00am	Violet Hall RIP (Mrs M Cobelli) PLEASE NOTE: NO 10am MASS
Sun 8^th	11:00am	People of the Parish

Please kindly be patient with your mass requests. I will try to accommodate your requested dates, but there have been a large number of requests recently and we celebrate masses in the order in which we receive them.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading : Exodus 16:2-4,12-15

The whole community of the sons of Israel began to complain against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness and said to them, ‘Why did we not die at the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we were able to sit down to pans of meat and could eat bread to our heart’s content! As it is, you have brought us to this wilderness to starve this whole company to death!’

Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Now I will rain down bread for you from the heavens. Each day the people are to go out and gather the day’s portion; I propose to test them in this way to see whether they will follow my law or not.

‘I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel. Say this to them, “Between the two evenings you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have bread to your heart’s content. Then you will learn that I, the Lord, am your God.”’

And so it came about: quails flew up in the evening, and they covered the camp; in the morning there was a coating of dew all round the camp. When the coating of dew lifted, there on the surface of the desert was a thing delicate, powdery, as fine as hoarfrost on the ground. When they saw this, the sons of Israel said to one another, ‘What is that?’ not knowing what it was. ‘That’ said Moses to them ‘is the bread the Lord gives you to eat.’

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 77(78):3-4,23-25,54

The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

The things we have heard and understood,

the things our fathers have told us,

these we will not hide from their children

but will tell them to the next generation:

The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

the glories of the Lord and his might

and the marvellous deeds he has done,

Yet he commanded the clouds above

and opened the gates of heaven.

He rained down manna for their food,

and gave them bread from heaven.

The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

Mere men ate the bread of angels.

He sent them abundance of food;

So he brought them to his holy land,

to the mountain which his right hand had won.

The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

Second Reading : Ephesians 4:17,20-24

I want to urge you in the name of the Lord, not to go on living the aimless kind of life that pagans live. Now that is hardly the way you have learnt from Christ, unless you failed to hear him properly when you were taught what the truth is in Jesus. You must give up your old way of life; you must put aside your old self, which gets corrupted by following illusory desires. Your mind must be renewed by a spiritual revolution so that you can put on the new self that has been created in God’s way, in the goodness and holiness of the truth.

Gospel : John 6:24-35

When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into boats and crossed to Capernaum to look for Jesus. When they found him on the other side, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’

Jesus answered:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs

but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat.

Do not work for food that cannot last,

but work for food that endures to eternal life,

the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you,

for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.’

Then they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to do the works that God wants?’ Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent.’ So they said, ‘What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers had manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ Jesus answered:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven,

it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven,

the true bread;

for the bread of God

is that which comes down from heaven

and gives life to the world.’

‘Sir,’ they said ‘give us that bread always.’ Jesus answered:

‘I am the bread of life.

He who comes to me will never be hungry;

he who believes in me will never thirst.

THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

The Seventeenth Sunday of the Year, 2021

St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More

https://anchor.fm/st-edmunds-loughton/episodes/The-Seventeenth-Sunday-of-the-Year–2021-e1519ul

In the Gospel today we see the beginning of the Bread of Life Discourse in St. John Chapter 6. This beautiful discource is an absolute masterpiece in Jesus’ teaching on the Holy Eucharist. It is set within the context of the feeding of the Five Thousand. Jesus not only provides off the spiritual hunger of the people who want to hear what he has to say, but in their moment of phnysical hunger through the miracle gives them bread to eat. It is a prelude to the giving of himself completely for the sake of the whole of humanity, in that one sacrificial act on the altar of the cross. Jesus dies once and for all ofr the whole of humanity, and in his resurrection, his triumph over sisn and death he offers us the Bread of Life – His Body & His Blood – the eternal gift for all time. Jesus cannot die anymore, and therfore, evey Eucharist, through the miracle of the Mass, he is truly present in the species of Bread & Wine. This is why we talk about the real presence, and, is why we honour and reverence the Holy Eucharist.

LIFTING OF RESTRICTIONS: The past week has seen the lifting of many restrictions. Unfortunately, the Covid case numbers continue to rise with nearly forty thousand daily. A high percentage of people have now been vaccinated, and hopefully this will keep many people out of hospital. But this is still a very serious situation. I truly believe we have to be very sensitive to one another. Although the wearing of face-coverings is now optional, I would strongly recommend our parishioners to continue to wear your face mask in church for mass. I will continue to wear a face covering for the distribution of Holy Communion. Hopefully when things start to improve we will be able to disregard them. Hand sanitisation will be available on entry and exit from the church. All church benches are now open, but please be sensitive to social distancing. (In The Blessed Sacrament Chapel we have retained alternate bench seating for people who may feel uncomfortable with every bench open). We are still obliged to keep a record of who attended through track & trace. The additional 10am Mass will discontinue from Sunday 8^th August. Weekend Masses will be: Saturday Vigil Mass at 6pm. Sunday Masses 9.00am & 11.00am.

Dear Friends in Christ, 17^th Sunday of the Year

I would like to make a really impassioned plea to the whole parish community to return to the full time practice of faith. When we opened the church again on 4^th July 2020 many were apprehensive about returning. But with nearly who whole population having received the Covid jab, life to a certain extent is a little easier. I see many people out shopping and at eating establishments in town. The precautionary measures that we have taken at the church over the past 16 months has for the most part, exceeded that of many shops and other establishments. Manifestly, your health and safety have always been our priority. I feel we have done an excellent job, and I thank all of our stewards for their incredible work, especially over the past year. I have seen many people coming to our car park with children for uniform groups, obviously your commitment to your children’s activities is important, but your commitment to God through the weekly practice of faith is even more important. I feel really aggrieved that so many of our young people who were Confirmed a couple of months ago, and their families, have not been back to church since the Confirmation. In truth, this makes a real farce of the Sacrament of Confirmation, and is insulting to Almighty God. But of course, we all stand-alone before God at the end of life. There are no excuses at the final judgement! A rhetorical question we can ask ourselves is, am I practicing Catholic or not? The ‘Salvation of Souls’ is fundamentally at the heart of these sentiments!

God Bless You All,

TO VIEW PHOTOS FROM 40^th ANNIVERSARY
I’m extremely grateful to Steven Pover, who took photographs throughout the ceremony. To access the gallery, use the following case-sensitive password:
Gallery Password: QJXK4xJUuw
Use the following 4-digit PIN to download photos: Download PIN: 8613
This collection will be online until: Expiry: 31st October, 2021
If the View Photos button does not work, copy and paste this URL into your browser’s address bar:
https://stephenpoverphotography.pixieset.com/frjohn40thanniversarycelebrationmass/
Stephen Pover Photography
http://www.stephenpoverphotography.com
Questions? Contact stephen@stephenpoverphotography.com

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

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR GRANPARENTS & THE ELDERLY:

Pope Francis has instituted this day of Grandparents & the Elderly. Identifying with the more senior members of our society, He says: “The whole Church, is close to you – to us, and cares about you, loves you and does not want to leave you alone!” The theme “I am with you always” comes from the Gospel of Matthew 28:30. The Pope says we should cherish the elderly and recognise that there’s no retirement age from the work of proclaiming the Gospel and handing down tradition to grandchildren.

VICARIATE FOR ADULT FORMATION: Have produced a leaflet entitled ‘The Journey Home’ – Returning to Sunday Mass and the Practice of our Faith. Sunday is the Day of the Lord. It is on this day that we meet the Risen Christ and we are formed into a community of faith, hope and love by the power of His Holy Spirit. All of us have an opportunity to reflect honestly on the practice of our faith and to take the decision to make the journey home to the Celebration of Sunday Mass. The welcome will be assured and warm because it there that Christ waits for us and invites us into his life. For more information about Sunday Mass, please got to the Parish Website for up to date information or contact your Parish Priest. Please visit the new Thresholds of Hope website at: www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk

OFFERTORY COLLECTION: £385.36 my ongoing thanks to the whole parish community for your weekly financial support! As you can see our Weekly Offertory bears no comparison to prior Pandemic income; many parishioners have signed up for the online giving and Gift Aid Scheme. I would like to encourage this even more. My thanks to Michael Manzi our Accountant, who looks after the Parish Accounts & Maria Mosquera who looks after the Parish Gift Aid Scheme; they have both done a truly wonderful job this year. 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. Thanks!

RECEIVING SACRAMENTS: Recently, 48 of our young people received the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is a milestone in a young person’s life. Sadly I haven’t seen many of them since the day they were Confirmed. This Sacrament of commitment and mission is about these young people assuming a certain amount of mature responsibility in their own Faith Journey. It’s not just about stamping the Sacramental Passport; I had it said to me recently, I quote “my parents said to me if I got Confirmed, I don’t have to go to church anymore.” This is not only an insult to the young person, but even more so, an insult to Almighty God. If faith means so little, why would you go through a Sacramental Programme knowing that you would walk away from the practice of that faith? This is a really serious issue, and not something to be dismissed lightly. I ask everyone to think seriously about what it means to be really committed in your life of faith! Life is not a dress rehearsal, it’s the real thing every day; and there can be so many missed opportunities!

RETURNING TO THE WEEKLY PRACTICE OF THE FAITH: With so many people having received their Vaccination against Covid, it would be wonderful to see many more return to the weekly practice of the faith. To be without the Sacrametns for such a long period of time is unprecedented. It’s true that many people have just got out of the habit of going to Church, and live-streaming is not a subsititute for being together with the worhsipping community. Our Church’s opened last July 4^th, and many parishioners have returned. To get back into the routine of regular practice is up to the individual, but if you have children, it is so important that this routine recommence once again. Children are guided by their parents, and if chidlren witness that this is not important to you, it will, sadly, not be important to them. There are so many challenges and threats to our lives of faith, on so many fronts these days, please don’t let Covid be another of them!

PARISH MASS TIMES: Please always consult your Parish newsletter for the times & intentions of the Mases throughout the week. As of the weekend 7^th/8^th August, weekend masses will be celebrated for the Vigil on Saturday evening at 6.00pm & Sunday Morning at 9.00am & 11.00am. Hopefully we will be able to sing again; even though I do strongly recommend for the time being the wearing of face coverings. I thank the whole parish community for being so understanding during this Pandemic, and for the maintenance of Social Distancing. If we can continue to be sensitive to each other’s fears; and respect everyone’s social space. Thank you very much. Fr. John

THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS – NOT A HOLIDAY FROM GOD: As our schools close for the summer recess, it is important for all of us to have a well-earned rest. Many people haven’t been able to get away for probably well over a year, and many ‘staycations’ will take place this summer. It is important to remember that as much as we all need a break, that our holidays are never a holiday from God. Wherever we go we take the Lord with us; and I’ve always believed that it’s wonderful exploring new places and new churches when we are away. Unfortunately, as yet I haven’t been able to find a substitute to be able to get away; so it looks like I’ll be around over the summer again this year! The new regulations for substitute priests in parishes, because of the pandemic, make it almost impossible to find someone.

DIARY JUNE 2021

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

ANNIVERSARIES: Mary Cocklin RIP, and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.

MASS INTENTIONS – JULY / AUGUST 2021

Sat 24^th	9.00am	Breege & Michael Kerrane RIP (Mary)
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday: Confessions at 5.30pm*
Sat 24^th	6.00pm	Daria Kohls – B’day Int’s (K Faherty)
Sun 25^th Sun 25^th	9.00am 10.00am	People of the Parish Jack Kuss Int’s (John McMorrow)
Sun 25^th	11:00am	Patrick Spratt RIP
Mon 26^th	10.00am 10.30am	Pat & Margaret B’d Ints (Veronica & Steve) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Tues 27^th	10.00am	Rosemary O’Rourke (B’day) Pat & Margaret.
Wed 28^th	10.00am	Jennie Kennelly RIP (John O’Rourke)
Thurs 29^th	10.00am	Xanthe Hasan Int’s (Kathleen Faherty)
Fri 30^th	10.00am 10.30am	Tricia Brennan RIP (Kathleen Pampellonne) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Sat 31^st	10.00am	Peter Smith RIP (Paul Falco)
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday Confessions 5.30pm*
Sat 31^st	6.00pm	Loy Phillips Int’s (Kathleen Faherty)
Sun 1^stAug Sun 1^st	9.00am 10.00am	People of the Parish Fr John’s 40^th Anni Int’s (J & K Forwood)
Sun 1^st	11:00am	People of the Parish

REQUIESCAT IN PACE: In your mercy please pray for the repose of the soul of Colette Wenborn, who passed away this week. Her Requiem Mass will take place on Friday 30th July at 2.00pm. And interment will take place at Chigwell cemetery at 3.30pm. Our condolences to her family in this time of great loss!

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading : 2 Kings 4:42-44

A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing Elisha, the man of God, bread from the first-fruits, twenty barley loaves and fresh grain in the ear.’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’, Elisha said. But his servant replied, ‘How can I serve this to a hundred men?’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’ he insisted ‘for the Lord says this, “They will eat and have some left over.”’ He served them; they ate and had some left over, as the Lord had said.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 144(145):10-11,15-18

You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.

All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,

and your friends shall repeat their blessing.

They shall speak of the glory of your reign

and declare your might, O God.

You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.

The eyes of all creatures look to you

and you give them their food in due time.

You open wide your hand,

grant the desires of all who live.

You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.

The Lord is just in all his ways

and loving in all his deeds.

He is close to all who call him,

who call on him from their hearts.

You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.

Second Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

Gospel : John 6:1-15

Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee – or of Tiberias – and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover.

Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, ‘Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ‘There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, ‘Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.’ So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, ‘This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself

THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

The Sixteenth Sunday of the Year, 2021

St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More

LIFTING OF RESTRICTIONS: There has been so much on the news over the past week about the lifting of restrictions on Monday 19^th July. But we have also seen an incredible upsurge in Coronavirus cases with this Delta variant, which remains worrying. It is recommended that on public Transport that face-coverings should continue to be worn, not only to protect ourselves, but also other people. Obviously, face coverings can sometimes be uncomfortable. I think we all have to be very sensitive to one another as we slowly try to resume some semblance of normality in our lives once again. Some people have been so frightened over the past 16 months that they have barely ventured out of their homes. But as the Prime Minister & Government Ministers now keep telling us, this is something that we are all going to have to live with for the foreseeable future. We will continue to provide hand sanitiser as you enter and leave the church. Face coverings are recommended (Fr John will wear a face covering to distribute Holy Communion). Holy Communion will continue to be given under the species of the Body of Christ only. (No chalice). We will remove the alternate bench prevention tape as of next weekend. The 10.00am Mass will only continue until the end of the month Just being sensible and respectful to one another is the best way forward in this ongoing Pandemic.

Sadly, many people have not returned to the practice of their faith after these past 16 months, even though the Church opened on 4^th July 2021. Although live streaming has been a life-saver during the Pandemic, it is not a substitute for Mass; nothing can ever replace being actually present at Holy Mass and receiving the Lord Jesus in Holy Communion. Live-streaming should now be for the sick and housebound, and we will probably live stream one Sunday Mass in future. Manifestly, there will possibly be a number of parishioners who will not return to the practice of faith, this is unfortunate, and of course, it affects children especially, as there is no regular routine in the practice of the faith. Please think seriously about all these issues. The ‘Salvation of Souls’ is fundamentally at the heart of these sentiments!

Dear Friends in Christ, 16^th Sunday of the Year

First and foremost I would like to thank the whole parish community for such a wonderful Thanksgiving Mass last Sunday, as I celebrated 40 years of Sacred Priesthood. Words cannot express my gratitude to Almighty God for these past forty years, and I felt very humbled to be able to express that gratitude through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. After the past sixteen months, with our masses curtailed and shortened, it was incredible to celebrate a ‘full mass’ once again; and with the Choir being able to sing the various hymns, motets and parts of the mass certainly filled my heart with great joy. My thanks to Msgr Kevin Hale for preaching a wonderful homily, which I have published in this week’s Newsletter online. hearts that say thank you clip art | Lazy Daisy Designs ...

My thanks to all those parishioners who sent in gifts and greetings cards. I was a little overwhelmed as I sat down last Sunday evening reading all the cards. Your kindness and generosity is overwhelming! I absolutely loved the beautiful Papal Blessing presented at the end of the Thanksgiving Mass; it will have a place of honour in my Office.

As we were unable to have a fuller celebration with all my guests, family & friends from all over the world, hopefully next year within the twelve month period, which is how long a Jubilee lasts, we can gather together and have another beautiful Mass & Reception. Once again thank you to the whole parish community. I felt very humble last Sunday, and very fortunate and happy to be your Pastor. As I said at the end of Mass in thanksgiving to God for the gift of Priesthood: “Not to us Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory.” (Psalm 115 v.1).

May God Bless You All,

I’m extremely grateful to Steven Pover, who took photographs throughout the ceremony.

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FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME 2021/2022: If as yet, you haven’t returned your enrolment form for your child’s First Holy Communion Programme commencing in September, could you kindly do so immediately! This year children from years 3 & 4 will share the programme together. Please pray for the children. I do now expect to see the children with their families at Holy Mass at the weekends; attending Mass is not an optional extra, it is part of our commitment in faith to Jesus Christ.

ALTAR SOCIETY: Please can we appeal to all parishioners for help to keep our church clean. During lockdown we have only asked a few a few deep cleans but now things will be changing, we desperately need your help to keep a weekly rota going. Cleaning is split between the altar, santurary, main church, front porch/library, choir loft brass ware and candle racks. The duties include dusting, sweeping, mopping, polishing, window/door cleaning, hoovering, linens and polishing. You can do as much or as little as you are able to do (1 hour at the most, per month) and all parishioners are invited to help, regardless of age or gender. To register your interest please contact Sharon Fitzmaurice on 07854919207 or shazzafitzm@aol.com THERE WAS NO RESPONSE LAST WEEKEND; CAN I MAKE AN IMPASSIONED APPEAL THIS WEEKEND. THANK YOU!

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OFFERTORY COLLECTION: £529.05. My ongoing thanks to the whole parish community for your weekly financial support! As you can see our Weekly Offertory bears no comparison to prior Pandemic income; many parishioners have signed up for the online giving and Gift Aid Scheme. I would like to encourage this even more. My thanks to Michael Manzi our Accountant, who looks after the Parish Accounts & Maria Mosquera who looks after the Parish Gift Aid Scheme; they have both done a truly wonderful job this year. 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. Thanks!

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. The Foodbank have asked for support with the following items: Long-life fruit juice, tinned tomatoes, instant mash, tinned fish, tinned peas, tinned carrots, tinned potatoes, small jars of instant coffee, small or medium bags of rice, sponge pudding, snack bars, chocolate bars, chocolate spread and savoury crackers Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

DIARY JUNE 2021

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

ANNIVERSARIES: Mary Cocklin RIP, June Happe RIP, Mary Moriarty RIP, and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.

RECEIVING SACRAMENTS: Recently, 48 of our young people received the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is a milestone in a young person’s life. Sadly I haven’t seen many of them since the day they were Confirmed. This Sacrament of commitment and mission is about these young people assuming a certain amount of mature responsibility in their own Faith Journey. It’s not just about stamping the Sacramental Passport; I had it said to me recently, I quote “my parents said to me if I got Confirmed, I don’t have to go to church anymore.” This is not only an insult to the young person, but even more so, an insult to Almighty God. If faith means so little, why would you go through a Sacramental Programme knowing that you would walk away from the practice of that faith? This is a really serious issue, and not something to be dismissed lightly. I ask everyone to think seriously about what it means to be really committed in your life of faith! Life is not a dress rehearsal, it’s the real thing every day; and there can be so many missed opportunities!

MASS INTENTIONS – JULY 2021

Sat 17^th	9.00am	Ordination to the Priesthood of Anthony Grant (The Laffey Family)
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday: Confessions at 5.30pm*
Sat 17^th	6.00pm	John O’Reilly RIP
Sun 18^th Sun 18^th	9.00am 10.00am	Kate & Tom Dennison RIP (Margaret Duffy) People of the Parish
Sun 18^th	11:00am	Tony Duff RIP(Anni) (M Ryan)
Mon 19^th	10.00am 10.30am	Norbert Widera RIP (Fr. John) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Tues 20^th	10.00am	The McCann Family (The Kendals)
Wed 21^st	10.00am	Ann Campbell (B’day Ints) Brenda Bryant
Thurs 22nd	10.00am 10.30am	Rebecca Casey Int’s (Kathleen Faherty) Holy Hour with Exposition of the Bl Sacrament
Fri 23^rd	10.00am 10.30am	Violet Hall RIP (Mrs Short) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Sat 24^th	9.00am	Breege & Michael Kerrane RIP (Mary)
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday Confessions 5.30pm*
Sat 24^th	6.00pm	Daria Kohls – B’day Int’s (K Faherty)
Sun 25^th Sun 25^th	9.00am 10.00am	People of the Parish Jack Kuss Int’s (John McMorrow)
Sun 25^th	11:00am	Patrick Spratt RIP

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading : Jeremiah 23:1-6

‘Doom for the shepherds who allow the flock of my pasture to be destroyed and scattered – it is the Lord who speaks! This, therefore, is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds in charge of my people: You have let my flock be scattered and go wandering and have not taken care of them.

Right, I will take care of you for your misdeeds – it is the Lord who speaks! But the remnant of my flock I myself will gather from all the countries where I have dispersed them, and will bring them back to their pastures: they shall be fruitful and increase in numbers. I will raise up shepherds to look after them and pasture them; no fear, no terror for them any more; not one shall be lost – it is the Lord who speaks!

‘See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks –

when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David,

who will reign as true king and be wise,

practising honesty and integrity in the land.

In his days Judah will be saved

and Israel dwell in confidence.

And this is the name he will be called:

The-Lord-our-integrity.’

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 22(23)

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I shall want.

Fresh and green are the pastures

where he gives me repose.

Near restful waters he leads me,

to revive my drooping spirit.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

He guides me along the right path;

he is true to his name.

If I should walk in the valley of darkness

no evil would I fear.

You are there with your crook and your staff;

with these you give me comfort.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

You have prepared a banquet for me

in the sight of my foes.

My head you have anointed with oil;

my cup is overflowing.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me

all the days of my life.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell

for ever and ever.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

Second Reading : Ephesians 2:13-18

In Christ Jesus, you that used to be so far apart from us have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. For he is the peace between us, and has made the two into one and broken down the barrier which used to keep them apart, actually destroying in his own person the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law. This was to create one single New Man in himself out of the two of them and by restoring peace through the cross, to unite them both in a single Body and reconcile them with God: in his own person he killed the hostility. Later he came to bring the good news of peace, peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near at hand. Through him, both of us have in the one Spirit our way to come to the Father.

Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length. The Gospel of the Lord.

HOMILY PREACHED BY MONSIGNOR KEVIN W HALE

John Canon Harvey—Fortieth Anniversary Mass

When Fr John asked me to preach on this anniversary, my first reaction was to think it would be better had he asked someone who has known him longer and better than I. And then I reflected that actually I have known him since I was sixteen when we shared a room on my first visit to Lourdes, that he was present at my Ordination in 1984, that I succeeded him as assistant priest in Colchester in 1990 and have shared many of the highs and lows of priestly life these past forty years; so perhaps I am well placed perhaps to say something significant on this great anniversary of his ordination.

We all know what the prefect priest is, and we all want the perfect Parish Priest. A recent survey disclosed that the perfect priest preaches exactly seven minutes. He condemns sin, but never upsets anyone. He works from 8am until midnight and is also church caretaker. He makes £70 a week, wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a good car, and gives about £50 each week to the poor. He is 29 years old and has fifty years experience. He has a burning desire to work with teenagers and spends all of his time with senior citizens. He makes 15 calls daily and visits the sick in hospital, and is always in the Parish Office. If you don’t know any priest like that, don’t worry, he doesn’t exist because there is only one perfect priest—Jesus Christ—and he has allowed us weak and frail human beings to have a participation in His eternal priesthood.

Let us think back to that moment forty years years ago, in St Bede’s, Chadwell Heath, when Bishop Thomas McMahon, laid his hands upon Fr John’s head, in a gesture that goes back to the beginning of the Church when the Apostles did the very same when they Ordained their fellow-workers, conferring on them the power and authority Jesus had given them. It was the moment when Christ took possession of Fr John and said to him: You belong to me. He also said: You are now under the protection of my Heart. You are to be kept safely in the palm of my hands, stay in my hands and give me yours. Because you see, the hands of a priest are something very important. That is why as part of the Rite of Ordination, they are anointed with Chrism, to signify that they are being set-apart. That, in a sense, these hands no longer belong exclusively to yourself, but they are surrendered, consecrated for the service of the salvation of souls. Fr John gave The Lord his hands; so that they could belong exclusively to Him; so that they can be put at the service of the world, not for taking, but for giving, for being the means whereby God’s divine touch can reach the world.

From that moment those hands are to be used only for good: they are to pour the water in Baptism; to anoint souls in Confirmation and the sick and suffering; to invoke the Holy Spirit over the offerings at Mass and feed His people on the Bread of Life; and, to raise his hand in absolution, remembering at the same time that he is a recipient of the divine mercy.

But for all our frailties, the people of God have never ceased putting their trust in the power of God at work through our ministry. the ministry of Fr John. Today my mind also goes back to the retreat for priest which we made in the village of Ars in 2017. It was the home of famous Curé: St John Vianney. I recall some words he spoke of the priesthood as if incapable of understanding the greatness of the gift and task entrusted to him, a mere human creature:

Oh, how great is the priest! … If he realised what he is, he would die… God obeys him: he utters a few words and the Lord descends from heaven at his voice, to be contained within a small host…Explaining to his parishioners the importance of the Sacraments, he would say: Without the Sacrament of Holy Orders, we would not have the Lord. Who put him there in that tabernacle? The priest. Who welcomed your soul at the beginning of your life? The priest. Who feeds your soul and gives it strength for its journey? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, bathing it one last time in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest, always the priest. And if a soul should happen to die [as a result of sin], who will raise it up, who will restore its calm and peace? Again, the priest… After God, the priest is everything! … Only in heaven will he fully realise what he is.

These words that welled-up from the priestly heart of the Saint, might sound excessive nowadays. Yet they reveal the high esteem in which he held the sacrament of the priesthood. He seemed overwhelmed by a boundless sense of responsibility, and all of us priests have that same sense, no less today than on the day of our Ordination.

St Benedict—on whose feast Fr John was Ordained—is very strong and direct in what he says to his monks about the duty they have to seek holiness.

In his Rule, St Benedict says: Just because he is a priest, he may not therefore forget the obedience and discipline of the rule, but must make more and more progress toward God.(RB 62.4) All of us are called to holiness, but the holiness expected of the priest derives from the fact that he is the custodian of the mysteries of God, mysteries he handles every day at the Altar, and for which he must one day give an account of his stewardship. St Norbert puts it rather bluntly: Take care, oh Priest, lest what was said to Christ on the cross be said to you: He saved others, himself he cannot save!

That is why the main thing Fr John would ask of you today—and I do so on his behalf—is to pray earnestly for him daily. Pray for more priest, that there will be a priests to take his place one day so that the people of God may be feed and nourished on Jesus, the Bread of Eternal life. And as we pray we also thank. On behalf of the Bishop and our Diocese I thank Father John for everything he has done and continues to do, wearing a number of different hats, he has served the Church with fidelity and generosity these forty years.

When the mother of St John Paul II died, when he was only eight years old, he went to the Shrine of the Jasna Gora and said to Mary: Now you will be my Mother. When as priests we no longer have our earthly mothers at our side, we know that we have the Mother of Our Lord assisting us. I know Fr John has a love for Our Blessed Mother. She has a special love for him, because she can see in him the image of her Son. We therefore go to her and commend the ministry of Fr John to her continued care and motherly help, that he and all priests, may be ever more faithful icons of the face of her Divine Son, Jesus Christ.

Msgr Kevin W Hale VG

Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Leigh-on-Sea

The Fifteenth Sunday of the Year, 2021

St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More

Fr. John’s Fortieth Anniversary of Priesthood

My Dear Friends in Christ, $C:\Users\User3\Downloads\a34a9225-0dbf-4411-b816-60e3fba15c3a (1).JPG$

Today, as I celebrate my 40^th Anniversary of Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ, I give heartfelt thanks to Almighty God for calling me to this great gift. I have had 40 wonderful years of serving the Lord through his people in our Diocese of Brentwood. I have served in several parishes and have met some truly wonderful faith filled people through those years. It has been an honour and privilege to have celebrated the Sacraments with thousands of people. Words cannot express my joy!

I thank my dear parents, Mary & John RIP, now with God, who were my first teachers of the faith; all my siblings and their families for their support and encouragement through the years. I thank Bishop Thomas McMahon who ordained me a Priest, for his kindness and support to me always. For Bishop Alan who has shown such great kindness and trust in me. I thank all the priests whom I served with in various parishes, and all the people whom I was honoured to serve. I humbly thank the people of St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More Parish, where I have served as a priest for the past 19 years; the longest period of time that I have ever lived anywhere. You have always been kindness itself, and I have learnt so much from you. It has been a real joy to watch the parish grow, to see the children I baptised grow into faithful young men and women, and to be able to celebrate the Eucharist with you, is, of course the greatest privilege of all.

Unfortunately, due to the restrictions of the Pandemic, there is no big celebration. But for me, to celebrate the Holy Eucharist with you is the greatest gift of all, and I’m honoured to do this at the 11am Mass which is my Thanksgiving to God for these 40 Years of Priesthood. If you can join us it would be wonderful. Mass will also be livestreamed.

Dear Friends in Christ, 15^th Sunday of the Year

On this Day of Jubilee, I would like to thank Monsignor Kevin Hale, our Vicar General and one of my oldest friends, for kindly joining us for this celebration and preaching at Holy Mass. Also my grateful thanks for the many Anniversary Cards that I have received, you are extremely thoughtful! As we have had to postpone the bigger celebrations, and as a Jubilee lasts for a year, I am hoping to have an open larger gathering next year at the same time, probably Friday 8^th July 2022 at 7.00pm. Obviously, with the Pandemic this year, so many people’s plans and celebrations were scuppered. Let us pray that we will be able to resume some semblance of ‘normality’ again from 19^th July.

I would like to say a special thank you to all those who have helped over the past 16 months, Iain McLay and all of our stewards, who have faithfully worked so hard at all of our masses and opening of church during the week. For Sharon Fitzmaurice & members of the Altar Society ensuring that our church is kept tidy and clean. For Veronica Short and her helpers for ensuring that the Church linen was kept beautifully clean. For David Knott, Robert Hatt & our Altar Servers, for faithfully serving at the Altar each week. For our Readers & Eucharistic Ministers, for fulfilling their ministries during this Pandemic. Finally I would like to thank my Housekeeper Josie Sison, for everything she does in looking after me throughout the year, I’m truly grateful!

END OF SCHOOL YEAR, ST JOHN FISHER: Next Friday 16^th July, our children at St. John Fisher School will break up for the summer holidays. I would like to thank Mr Mike Ross and all his staff for everything they have done throughout the past 16 months during the Pandemic. It has not been an easy task running a school and ensuring that our children benefit from as much education as was possible when they were studying at home. There were many challenges for everyone. You will be happy to know that we appointed a new Deputy Headteacher recently who will begin in September. But it is with sadness that we have to say farewell to our Headteacher Mike Ross, who will finish at the end of this term. Mike is taking some time out of teaching. We wish him every happiness and success in the future, and assure him of our prayers. Also we say farewell to Mrs Liz Laycell who will be retiring at the end of term, thank you for all you have done for St. John Fisher School.

May God Bless You All,

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FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME 2021/2022: If as yet, you haven’t returned your enrolment form for your child’s First Holy Communion Programme commencing in September, could you kindly do so immediately! I have waited two weeks for forms to be returned so that I can order the Study Books. I presume if you haven’t returned forms by Monday you do not wish your child enrolled in the programme. Also a copy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate will be required at the Information Evening in September. This year children form years 3 & 4 will share the programme together. Please pray for the children. I do now expect to see the children with their families at Holy Mass at the weekends; attending Mass is not an optional extra, it is part of our commitment in faith to Jesus Christ.

ALTAR SOCIETY: Please can we appeal to all parishioners for help to keep our church clean. During lockdown we have only asked a few a few deep cleans but now things will be changing, we desperately need your help to keep a weekly rota going. Cleaning is split between the altar, santurary, main church, front porch/library, choir loft brass ware and candle racks. The duties include dusting, sweeping, mopping, polishing, window/door cleaning, hoovering, linens and polishing. You can do as much or as little as you are able to do (1 hour at the most, per month) and all parishioners are invited to help, regardless of age or gender. To register your interest please contact Sharon Fitzmaurice on 07854919207 or shazzafitzm@aol.com

OFFERTORY COLLECTION: £398.45 My ongoing thanks to the whole parish community for your weekly financial support! As you can see our Weekly Offertory bears no comparison to prior Pandemic income; many parishioners have signed up for the online giving and Gift Aid Scheme. I would like to encourage this even more. My thanks to Michael Manzi our Accountant, who looks after the Parish Accounts & Maria Mosquera who looks after the Parish Gift Aid Scheme; they have both done a truly wonderful job this year. 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. Thanks!

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. The Foodbank have asked for support with the following items: Long-life fruit juice, tinned tomatoes, instant mash, tinned fish, tinned peas, tinned carrots, tinned potatoes, small jars of instant coffee, small or medium bags of rice, sponge pudding, snack bars, chocolate bars, chocolate spread and savoury crackers Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

DIARY JUNE 2021

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

ANNIVERSARIES: Mary Cocklin RIP, June Happe RIP, Mary Moriarty RIP, and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.

RECEIVING SACRAMENTS: Recently, 48 of our young people received the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is a milestone in a young person’s life. Sadly I haven’t seen many of them since the day they were Confirmed. This Sacrament of commitment and mission is about these young people assuming a certain amount of mature responsibility in their own Faith Journey. It’s not just about stamping the Sacramental Passport; I had it said to me recently, I quote “my parents said to me if I got Confirmed, I don’t have to go to church anymore.” This is not only an insult to the young person, but even more so, an insult to Almighty God. If faith means so little, why would you go through a Sacramental Programme knowing that you would walk away from the practice of that faith? This is a really serious issue, and not something to be dismissed lightly. I ask everyone to think seriously about what it means to be really committed in your life of faith! Life is not a dress rehearsal, it’s the real thing every day; and there can be so many missed opportunities!

NEWS OF DIOCESE:

Retirements: As of the end of August there are 5 retirments – Canon Martin O’Connor; Fr Jean-Claude Selvini; Fr Frank Jackson; Fr. John Touhy; Fr Gerry Gostling.

Parish Priests:

Fr Seaon Connelly From Manor Park to Chadwell Heath

Fr Joseph Whisstock From Halstead to Frinton/Harwich

Fr Jijo George From From Canning Town to Springfield

Fr John Victor Drabeesan From Walthamstow St G. to Manor Park

Fr Sabu Pariyadan JCJ From Springfield to Basildon, Holy Trinity

Together with Fr Saji Thomas Puthuparambil

RCJ ( Kerela)

Fr Daniel Kelly From Basildon Holy Trinity to Royal Docks

Fr Michael Halsall (Ord) To Upminister

Fr Rick Fernandez From Basildon Holy Trinity to Lexden

Fr Rob Page (Ord) Appointed PP of Hainault in addition to

Clayhall.

Assistant Priests:

Fr. Michael Barwick Newly Ordained to Walthamstow, St. George

Fr Tony Gran New;y Ordianed to Canning Town

Fr David Pearce From Dagenham HF to Basildon St Basil’s

Fr Tarciziu Erdes From Romania to Hainault

Parochial Administrator

Fr Felix Adiele Broomfield Chaplain to Halstead

RETURNING TO THE WEEKLY PRACTICE OF THE FAITH: With so many people having received their Vaccination against Covid, it would be wonderful to see many more return to the weekly practice of the faith. To be without the Sacrametns for usch a long period of time is unprecedented. It’s true that many people have just got out of the habit of going to Church, and live-streaming is not a subsititute for being together with the worhsipping community. Our Church’s opened last July 4^th, and many parishioners have returned. To get back into the routine of regular practice is up to the individual, but if you have children, it is so important that this routine recommence once again. Children are guided by their parents, and if chidlren witness that this is not important to you, it will, sadly, not be important to them. There are so many challenges and threats to our lives of faith, on so many fronts these days, please don’t let Covid be another of them!

MASS INTENTIONS – JULY 2021

Sat 10^th	9.00am	Veronica Short B’day. (Pat & Margaret)
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday: Confessions at 5.30pm*
Sat 10^th	6.00pm	Joan Dowding RIP
Sun 11^th Sun 11^th	9.00am 10.00am	People of the Parish Austin O’Dowd RIP
Sun 11^th	11:00am	Fr. John’s Int’s 40^th Anniversary of Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood
Mon 12^th	10.00am 10.30am	Kate & Joe Duffy RIP (Margaret Duffy) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Tues 13^th	10.00am	Eileen Murphy RIP (Rosemary Ward)
Wed 14^th	10.00am	Sean O’Shea RIP (John Kelly)
Thurs 15^th	10.00am 10.30am	Peter Smith RIP (Paul Falco) Holy Hour with Exposition of the Bl Sacrament
Fri 16^th	10.00am 10.30am	Anthony Rattigan RIP (Maureen Rattigan) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Sat 17^th	9.00am	Ordination to the Priesthood of Anthony Grant (The Laffey Family)
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday Confessions 5.30pm*
Sat 17^th	6.00pm	John O’Reilly RIP
Sun 18^th Sun 18^th	9.00am 10.00am	Kate & Tom Dennison RIP (Margaret Duffy) People of the Parish
Sun 18^th	11:00am	Tony Duff RIP(Anni) (M Ryan)

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading : Amos 7:12-15

Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, said to Amos, ‘Go away, seer;’ get back to the land of Judah; earn your bread there, do your prophesying there. We want no more prophesying in Bethel; this is the royal sanctuary, the national temple.’ ‘I was no prophet, neither did I belong to any of the brotherhoods of prophets,’ Amos replied to Amaziah ‘I was a shepherd, and looked after sycamores: but it was the Lord who took me from herding the flock, and the Lord who said, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”’

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 84(85):9-14 (Sun15)

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,

a voice that speaks of peace,

peace for his people.

His help is near for those who fear him

and his glory will dwell in our land.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;

justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth

and justice look down from heaven.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

The Lord will make us prosper

and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him

and peace shall follow his steps.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

Second Reading : Ephesians 1:3-14

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ.

Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ,

to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence,

determining that we should become his adopted sons, through Jesus Christ

for his own kind purposes, to make us praise the glory of his grace,

his free gift to us in the Beloved, in whom, through his blood, we gain our

freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.

Such is the richness of the gracewhich he has showered on us

in all wisdom and insight.

He has let us know the mystery of his purpose,

the hidden plan he so kindly made in Christ from the beginning

to act upon when the times had run their course to the end:

that he would bring everything together under Christ, as head,

everything in the heavens and everything on earth.

Gospel : Mark 6:7-13

Jesus made a tour round the villages, teaching. Then he summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs giving them authority over the unclean spirits. And he instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no haversack, no coppers for their purses. They were to wear sandals but, he added, ‘Do not take a spare tunic.’ And he said to them, ‘If you enter a house anywhere, stay there until you leave the district. And if any place does not welcome you and people refuse to listen to you, as you walk away shake off the dust from under your feet as a sign to them.’ So they set off to preach repentance; and they cast out many devils, and anointed many sick people with oil and cured them.

The Fourteenth Sunday of the Year, 2021

St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More

As they listened to Jesus preaching and teaching in the Synagogue the people are amazed at his knowledge. But then they start to question where he got his knowledge, and they result to saying, “Isn’t this the Carpenter’s Son? Isn’t Mary his mother? Don’t we know his relations? Their questions were leading them to explore the greatest mystery of life: who was Jesus of Nazareth? Sadly, their line of questioning did not lead to faith because they ‘took offence at him’. What a shame, because their minds were beginning to entertain the mystery of the Incarnation – God made man – one of the most fundamental aspects of the panorama of Christian revelation. Just as we need to cultivate a sense of Eucharistic awe, so too we need to nurture a sense of incarnational awe. Of course, the key to this mystery is faith: but to understand, we must first believe. Our minds in themselves are not capable of grasping the incarnation. St Thomas Aquinas said: ‘By the Divine Nature, Christ is simple. By his human nature, he is complex.’

RUBY JUBILEE OF ORDINATION TO THE SACRED PRIESTHOOD

Next Sunday 11^th July, I will be celebrating my 40^th Anniversary to the Sacred Priesthood. Sadly, due to Covid restrictions I have had to postpone the Jubilee celebrations until a later date, possibly the same time next year. Originally, I had many people travelling from different parts of the world, lots of family & friends, and of course my parish family. But health & safety in these precarious times is of supreme importance. I will celebrate the 11am Mass on the 11^th July as a Thanksgiving Mass, and for me, this is the most important thing that I can do as a priest. Monsignor Kevin Hale, our Vicar General, and one of my oldest friends, will be preaching at the Mass. Sue Farrow our Choir Director and Choir members will sing at the Mass. I sincerely hope that you may be able to attend the Mass, even with limited spaces, there will be seating also outside the Church; and we have a speaker that can transmit outside. In humility, I ask for your continued prayers as I celebrate this great milestone, and I thank God for the Gift of the Priesthood.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION: Last weekend’s Offertory £454.78. My ongoing thanks to the whole parish community for your weekly financial support! As you can see our Weekly Offertory bears no comparison to prior Pandemic income; many parishioners have signed up for the online giving and Gift Aid Scheme. I would like to encourage this even more. My thanks to Michael Manzi our Accountant, who looks after the Parish Accounts & Maria Mosquera who looks after the Parish Gift Aid Scheme; they have both done a truly wonderful job this year. 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. Thanks!

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME 2021/2022: I have completed the interviews with parents. I would like to thank all the parents that I was able to see you regarding your child’s forthcoming First Holy Communion Programme. It was really nice to be able to meet up with you, and discuss the programme the children, hopefully, will begin in September. As you know, in light of the Covid Pandemic, we had to cancel this year’s programme; therefore there will be two years of children, Years 3 & 4. There should be about 30 children on the programme. Please keep the children and their families in your prayers. COULD YOU KINDLY RETURN YOUR CHILD’S ENROLMENT FORM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE PLEASE AS BOOKS HAVE TO BE ORDERED.

May God Bless Your Week,

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

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS: If you know of anyone who may be interested in learning more about the Roman Catholic Faith possibly with the view of receiving the Easter Sacraments in 2022, please contact Fr. John at the Presbytery on Tel No: 020 8508 3492. The programme usually commences in September. It would be wonderful to have a number of enquirers. We follow a systematic programme of instruction, covering all aspects of Catholicism, Doctrine, Scripture, Liturgy, Mariology, Catholic practices. Please spread the word about this programme. Thank you!

https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.zRYAgGz0fbi3vZJXnfmY0wHaJ4&pid=Api&P=0&w=300&h=300

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. The Foodbank have asked for support with the following items: Long-life fruit juice, tinned tomatoes, instant mash, tinned fish, tinned peas, tinned carrots, tinned potatoes, small jars of instant coffee, small or medium bags of rice, sponge pudding, snack bars, chocolate bars, chocolate spread and savoury crackers Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

RETURNING TO THE WEEKLY PRACTICE OF THE FAITH: With so amny people having received their Vaccination against Covid, it would be wonderful to see many more return to the weekly practice of the faith. To be without the Sacrametns for usch a long period of time is unprecedented. It’s true that many people have just got out of the habit of going to Church, and live-streaming is not a subsititute for being together with the worhsipping community. Our Church’s opened last July 4^th, and many parishioners have returned. To get back into the routine of regular practice is up to the individual, but if you have children, it is so important that this routine recommence once again. Children are guided by their parents, and if chidlren witness that this is not important to you, it will, sadly, not be important to them. There are so many challenges and threats to our lives of faith, on so many fronts these days, please don’t let Covid be another of them!

DIARY JUNE 2021

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

ANNIVERSARIES: Alan West RIP, Marie Dawson RIP, and for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.

RECEIVING SACRAMENTS: Recently, 48 of our young people received the Sacrament of Confirmation. This is a milestone in a young person’s life. Sadly I haven’t seen many of them since the day they were confirmed. This Sacrament of commitment and mission is about these young people assuming a certain amount of mature responsibility in their own Faith Journey. It’s not just about stamping the Sacramental Passport; I had it said to me recently, I quote: “my parents said to me if I got Confirmed, I don’t have to go to church anymore.” This is not only an insult to the young person, but even more so, an insult to Almighty God. If faith means so little, why would you go through a Sacramental Programme knowing that you would walk away from the practice of that faith? This is a really serious issue, and not something to be dismissed lightly. I ask everyone to think seriously about what it means to be really committed in your life of faith! Life is not a dress rehearsal, it’s the real thing every day; and there can be so many missed opportunities!

MASS INTENTIONS – JULY 2021

Sat 3rd	10.00am	Mary Burton B’day Int’s (Monica Maycraft)
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday: Confessions at 5.30pm*
Sat 3^rd	6.00pm	Sheila Murphy RIP (Rooney Family)
Sun 4^thSun 4^th	9.00am 10.00am	People of the Parish Gerard Pampellonne RIP ( K Pampellone)
Sun 4^th	11:00am	Charles Frost RIP (Martin Frost)
Mon 5^th	10.00am 10.30am	Violet Hall RIP (Maureen Perry) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Tues 6^th	10.00am	Kathleen Daly RIP
Wed 7^th	10.00am	Sheila Murphy RIP (Hornett Family)
Thurs 8^th	10.00am 10.30am	Private Int. (Maureen Perry)Holy Hour with Exposition of the Bl Sacrament
Fri 9^th	10.00am 10.30am	Margaret Mullaney B’day Ints (M Maycraft) Holy Hour with Exposition of Bl. Sacrament
Sat 10^th	9.00am	Veronica Short B’day. (Pat & Margaret)
		*Vigil Mass for Sunday Confessions 5.30pm*
Sat 10^th	6.00pm	Joan Dowding RIP
Sun 11^thSun 11^th	9.00am 10.00am	People of the ParishAustin O’Dowd RIP
Sun 11^th	11:00am	Fr. John’s Int’s 40^th Anniversary of Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

First Reading : Ezekiel 2:2-5

The spirit came into me and made me stand up, and I heard the Lord speaking to me. He said, ‘Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to the rebels who have turned against me. Till now they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me. The sons are defiant and obstinate; I am sending you to them, to say, “The Lord says this.” Whether they listen or not, this set of rebels shall know there is a prophet among them.’

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 122(123)

Our eyes are on the Lord till he shows us his mercy.

To you have I lifted up my eyes,

you who dwell in the heavens;

my eyes, like the eyes of slaves

on the hand of their lords.

Our eyes are on the Lord till he shows us his mercy.

Like the eyes of a servant

on the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes are on the Lord our God

till he show us his mercy.

Our eyes are on the Lord till he shows us his mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

We are filled with contempt.

Indeed all too full is our soul

with the scorn of the rich,

with the proud man’s disdain.

Our eyes are on the Lord till he shows us his mercy.

Second Reading : 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

In view of the extraordinary nature of these revelations, to stop me from getting too proud I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to beat me and stop me from getting too proud! About this thing, I have pleaded with the Lord three times for it to leave me, but he has said, ‘My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness.’ So I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me, and that is why I am quite content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.

Gospel : Mark 6:1-6

Jesus went to his home town and his disciples accompanied him. With the coming of the Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, ‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?’ And they would not accept him. And Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house’; and he could work no miracle there, though he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD.