St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More
Parish Newsletter
3rd December 2023
First Sunday of Advent
Parish Priest: Fr Adrian Lowe
Parish Phone: 0208 508 3492/ E-mail: loughton@brcdt.org
The Brentwood Diocesan Trust Registered Charity No. 234092
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK
Edgar Azzopardi, Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Karl Britz, Brenda Bryant, Jane Downs, Pat Fenn, Bernadette Hall, Ann Hawkes, Claire Howes, Les Langan, Angela Long, Lilian Mothersole, John McKernan, Rosemary O’Rourke, Remy, Geraldine Taylor, Vera Taylor, James Wright, Pamela Gibson, Martha D’Souza, Peggy Howes, Geraldine Stains, Linda Moriarty, Andrew Godsave and all our loved ones who are unwell.
Advent 2024: During Advent on Monday 11th December 7pm in the Church hall retreat room upstairs at 7pm, we have the opportunity to develop our relationship with God. John Fitzmaurice, who has led retreats and is trained in Ignatian prayers, will guide us through an evening of advent prayer. It will strengthen our relationship with God using imagination according to the techniques of St. Ignatius. All are welcome.
Wednesday 13 December at 7pm, Reconciliation. Three priests will be available to hear confessions.
CAFOD ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CRISIS APPEAL Donate to CAFOD’s Israeli-Palestinian Crisis Appeal at cafod.org.uk/ipc or call 0303 303 3030 to support those affected and get funds to local trusted experts in Gaza and southern Israel who have been working alongside communities helping those most in need.
READERS WANTED: Julie Callander is putting together a volunteer Rota for people to read at the weekend Masses. If you are interested and can help Fr Adrian please email: Julie.Callander@hotmail.com or phone: 07834088661
REPOSITORY: Christmas cards are now available to purchase in the Repository. We operate a cash only policy at this present time.
Fr. Adrian has kindly agreed for the Xmas Repository stall to be set up in the hall for 12 noon on Sunday 3rd December, when the Grand Prize Draw with Xmas Hampers takes place.
We always welcome any help on Sundays to cover the Masses and at these events. Please see Steve and Teresa if you would be able to offer any help on a rota basis.
CHRISTMAS HAMPERS: Join us for Coffee, Cake & Carols from
12:00 Noon on Sunday 3rd December, 2023 in the Parish Hall for our annual Grand Prize Draw with Christmas Hampers.
Suggestions for Grand Prize Draw donations are:
Laptop Computer, Smart TV, Other Electrical Goods, Restaurant Vouchers, Beauty Vouchers, Theatre Vouchers, Hotel Vouchers, Department Store Vouchers, also, popular Smart Tech Wearables such as: FitBits, Garmins, AirPods, Beats. Last year we were able to put together 40 luxury Christmas hampers. Each one full of indulgent festive foods. We will keep you updated via the parish newsletter with the requested items needed to make sure again, this year our luxury hampers are as abundant and indulgent as the Christmas season deserves.
CANCELLATION OF CHARITY CHRISTMAS CONCERT AT ST EDMUND’S
Due to extenuating unforeseen personal circumstances Kathleen and Rahim have made the extremely difficult decision to cancel this event which was scheduled for 16th December at St Edmund’s. All tickets have been refunded automatically and Kathleen and Rahim would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.
NATIVITY REHEARSALS
Rehearsals for the Christmas Eve Mass Nativity, will be on the 10th and 17th December 2023 after the 11am Mass. If your child would like a part, please stay behind on these dates after 11am Mass.
Should you have any queries please contact Sam O’Connor or Danielle King.
BAPTISMS: If there are parents wishing to have their children baptised at
St. Edmund’s please could you kindly contact your parish priest Fr Adrian Lowe as soon as possible. For first time parents there is a Baptismal Programme run by Mrs Sharon Chalk. Baptisms take place on Saturdays at 12.30pm
PARISH NEWSLETTER:
If you would like to receive the Parish Newsletter via E-mail each week, please contact Iain McLay bloggeriain@gmail.com this gives an extended version of the weekly bulletin. The Parish Newsletter can also be obtained and downloaded from the Parish website. They are always published on a Saturday Morning.
HELP SUPPORT THE EPPING FOREST FOODBANK THIS CHRISTMAS!
Every year as well as basic food parcels the Foodbank also provides Christmas hampers to help spread joy and happiness over Christmas, providing relief for individuals and families. The aim with the hampers is to provide the essential non-perishables for a Christmas dinner alongside some goodies such as chocolates and crackers.
Last year they provided food parcels to over 800 people during December, this year so far they have seen a 38% rise in demand for their service. It is estimated that 1,000 people could need to use the service during this December, numbers never seen before at the Foodbank. It is predicted that this is going to be a continuous increase, as they are already facing record breaking numbers every month.
The Foodbank is reaching out to the local community for any help they can give, so if you are able to support them, one way to do this over the next few weeks is to drop an item or two into our plastic collection boxes (in Father Adrian’s garage), we will then do the rest and deliver it to the Foodbank. For inspiration, the Top 10 items they need are: Batter mix, tinned potatoes, tinned carrots & peas, stuffing and gravy, tinned custard, hot chocolate, savoury crackers, Christmas pudding, chocolates, mince pies.
Thank you everyone for your support.
IN CASES OF EMERGENCY: If there is no answer from the parish phone and you are seeking a priest in an 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.
DO YOU ENJOY PLAYING SCRABBLE?
Would you like to join a Scrabble group just starting in Epping?
Meeting monthly, times can be mutually arranged.
Please telephone 01992 575017 if interested.
APPEAL FOR READING GLASSES: Miss Harding, Head of Year 10 at Trinity Catholic High School, is appealing for old reading or prescription glasses that can be recycled to help her mother’s charity work in Jamaica, where she organises free eye clinics for those who need glasses but cannot afford them. If you can help please drop the glasses off in the box labelled “Glasses for Trinity” in Father Adrian’s Garage.
RE TEACHER STARTING AT LOCAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL (TCHS)
Seeking Monday-Friday Accomodation
Term Time Room to Rent from January 2024
Priest Reference Available
Contact John 07708188108
VACANCIES TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
- Teacher of Computing, Temporary, P/T 0.4TE, Immediate start
- Cover Co-ordinator and HR Administrator, 36 hours, Immediate start
- Inclusions Co ordinator, 36 hours, Immediate start
- Teacher of English, F/T, Jan 24
- Teacher of Theology and Philosophy, F/T ASAP
Contact: www.tchs.org.uk
MASS INTENTIONS – FROM 2nd December 2023
| Vigil Mass for SundayNote: Mass on Thursday 7th is at 9:00am | |||
| Sat 2nd | 9.30am6:00pm | Fiona Kennedy- RIP ( Monica Maycraft)People of the Parish | |
| Sun 3rd | 9:30am | Fr Francis Coveney INTS ( Brian Carter) | |
| Sun 3rd | 11:00am | Renee Ordonez – Healing ( Bacani & Kelly Family)Dennis Randall RIP ( Maria Randall) | |
| Mon 4th | 9.30am | Dennis Randall RIP ( Maria Randall) | |
| Tues 5th | 9.30am | No Mass | |
| Wed 6th | 9.30am | Erol Ata- RIP ( Frank Westcott) | |
| Thur 7th | 9.00am | Bridie Flannery INTS ( Paul & Mary Molloy) | |
| Fri 8th | 9.30am | Ann Hawkes INTS ( Pat & Margaret) | |
| Sat 9th | 9.30am | Fred & Tracy Quinn INTS ( Kathy & Mark Munro) | |
| Confessions 5:30-6:00pm or by appointmentVigil Mass for Sunday | |||
| Sat 9th | 6.00pm | People of the Parish | |
| Sun 10th | 9.00am | David Bloomfield RIP-2nd Anniv ( Geraldine Bloomfield) | |
| Sun 10th | 11:00am | Ellen & Eugene Carney RIP ( Catherine Knight) | |