SEPTEMBER 29th – PARISH COMMUNITY DAY and BBQ
On Sunday 29th September after the Sunday masses, we are hosting a late summer BBQ alongside our Community Day in the Church hall.
Our community is busy, is inclusive and has a strong sense of belonging, so let’s show it and celebrate it on the 29th September. Come along, everyone is invited!
The volunteer community leaders will be around to tell you about their activities.
The BBQ and refreshments will be available after the Sunday masses.
We look forward to seeing you.
THE BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN’S SOCIETY
on Saturday 14th September there will be a sponsored walk held jointly with Woodford Parish for BCCS. It starts from The Becket Centre at St Thomas’s at 9.30am. To participate you just need to be there at 9.30am to register. Sponsorship forms can be obtained from Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com). It is great fun, dogs welcome, and it raises lots of money for BCCS, so they can do their wonderful work with young peoples’ emotional and mental health in the diocese, irrespective of their religion. You can read more about their work here:
FATHER FRANK
Fr Frank moves to his first appointment as Assistant Priest at St Mary, Mother of God in Hornchurch this weekend. Please keep him in your prayers as he begins ministry in his new parish. He leaves with the blessings and love of our parish.
CONFIRMATION
A reminder to the Confirmandi that there is a Confirmation meeting on the 11th Sept at 7:00-8:15pm. Our Confirmation Service will take place on the 18th September 7:00pm
GOVERNOR REQUEST
The trustees of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Multi Academy Trust are seeking governors to support the leadership of the schools they serve.
Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Multi Academy Trust consists of three Catholic schools
- St. Albans Catholic Academy in Harlow,
- St Luke’s Catholic Academy in Harlow
- St John Fisher Catholic Academy in Loughton
Active governance supports the Catholic community and Catholic education in a variety of ways, most importantly it can have a significant impact by raising the quality of educational provision in our schools, which in turn ensures our children have a rich and full life, growing as ambassadors our Catholic faith.
We are particularly seeking governors who can support the schools using their professional qualities, such as leadership and management, finance and HR.
Being a foundation governor in a Catholic school is very rewarding, and a great way to live out your faith and serve your local community. It is also an opportunity to learn new skills which can have a positive impact on your own learning and professional development.
If you are interested please email Clerk@ourladyoffatimatrust.essex.sch.uk to arrange a meeting, or visit our website https://www.ourladyoffatimatrust.essex.sch.uk/ for the governor application / nomination form.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
Dear Parents: It is wonderful that families in our parish our always enthusiastic about their children making their First Holy Communion. I am sure that many of us remember our own experience of First Communion; how special it is to receive Jesus into our lives in this unique and profound way. It is, of course, part of our own ongoing growth as Christians, as Children of God, and is the beginning of a lifetime of Communions – of being united with Jesus Christ who is our Lord and Saviour.
After a time of prayer and discernment, of accompanying our children in this parish and in others, and after speaking with our catechists, it has become apparent that our children would be better able to participate in this important time in their lives if we wait a year, making the time of formation year 4 (ages 8/9). The important thing we all need to learn as disciples is that Jesus calls us into a deep, loving friendship with him and that Holy Communion is something that helps that friendship grow. Current thinking is that waiting a year , allowing maturity to develop, will help that understanding of friendship and discipleship and will help our young people in the long term in their relationship with Christ.
The Communion programme will pause for a year this September and a new set of sessions will be developed to commence in 2025/2026 for children aged 8 years and upwards. This will take the form of six sessions around the theme of ‘meetings with Jesus.’ As always, families will be encouraged to supplement this by sharing their faith with their children at home. Resources will be made available to families to help with this. With every blessing.
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK
Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Karl Britz, Brenda Bryant, Bernadette Hall, Ann Hawkes, Claire Howes, Angela Long, Lilian Mothersole, John McKernan, Rosemary O’Rourke, Remy, Geraldine Taylor, James Wright, Pamela Gibson, Geraldine Stains, Linda Moriarty, Andrew Godsave, Victoria Leahy, Jean Collins, Barbara Searl and all our loved ones who are unwell.
MASS INTENTIONS ARE ON THE WEBSITE, BACK OF THE CHURCH NOTICE BOARD, AND IN THE OUTSIDE DISPLAY CASE.
Saturday 7th September
6:00pm Vigil Mass Maureen Orders RIP
(Molloy Family)
Sunday 8th September
9:00am Mass Violet Hall RIP
11:00am Mass People of the Parish
Monday 9th September
NO MASS
Tuesday 10th September
9:30am Mass Rachael Harding INTS
( Rosemary & Ian Johnson)
3pm FUNERAL- Agnes Howes RIP
Wednesday 11th September
9:30am Mass Pedro Perez RIP
(Anthony Family)
Thursday 12th September
Terry Weight RIP
9:30am Mass ( L. Weight)
Friday 13th September
9:30am Mass Mr Ebert Fernando RIP
(Christine Fernando)
Saturday 14th September
6:00pm Vigil Mass People of the Parish
Sunday 15th September
9:00am Mass Yvonne Grace RIP ( O’Regan and Tuson Family)
11:00am Mass L Weight- INTS Wedding Anniversary