St Edmund of Canterbury, Loughton

St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More

Sex grabs our attention. It also sells most things: magazines, newspapers, cars, boats, jewellery, – you name it; sexual imagery is used to promote it and persuade us to buy it. And it’s not just aimed at men, but women just as much. We’re sexual beings and sexuality, let’s be honest, plays an integral part of our lives. There is, however, a notion that Christians are easily scandalised and shocked by all things sexual, and indignant towards those who fall from grace in this area.

The idea of the religious prude is firmly stuck in literature and culture. Interestingly, the early manuscripts of St John’s Gospel don’t carry today’s incident of the woman caught in adultery. It’s missing from our oldest and most reliable Greek manuscripts and seems to have been unknown to the early Greek Fathers, since they didn’t comment on it. The earliest specific reference to it is found in the third-century writing on Church discipline called Didascalia. 

Why this happened we cannot be sure. Some scholars believe that it reads incredibly like a Lucan narrative. Dealing as it does with sin and mercy – and with a woman! Others suggest that Jesus’ response was so shocking, the forgiveness so radical, his compassion and mercy so scandalous, that it was thought best to remove it from the canon altogether.

Interestingly, St Jerome tried to have the Song of Songs removed from Scripture because of the danger of erotic interpretation of what is in essence a love song and allegory for Christ’s love for his bride, the Church. Thankfully, common sense prevailed for both these events, and we revere them as Sacred Scripture, divinely inspired and given to teach us the way of salvation. In his encounter with the woman caught in adultery Jesus is full of compassion, kindness and mercy but also firm and clear that she must strive with all her heart and soul not to sin in this way. 

“Has no one condemned you?” “No one sir!”

“Neither do I condemn you, go away and sin no more!”

My Dear Friends in Christ,         5^th Sunday of Lent 2022

Today marks the beginning of Passiontide. You will notice that all of the Statues and Crucifix have been covered with Lenten Purple. It is where we start to prepare earnestly to enter into our Holy Week – the greatest week of the church’s liturgical year.  Manifestly, Lent has been a time of Prayer, Fasting and Works of Charity. But it is also penitential, meaning that each one of us is trying to rid ourselves of the of sin, and the barriers that can often create divisions between ourselves and Almighty God.  Jesus gave us a Sacrament to assist and help us in this area of human frailty within our lives. Like the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the Father is always looking out for his son; – God is looking out for us also. He sees us while we are still ‘long way off’, and he runs to meet us with joy and love, and merciful forgiveness. There is more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner. 

PARISH LENTEN PENITENTIAL SERVICE: Traditionally, part of our spiritual preparation for Easter would be to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This year on Tuesday 12^th April we will have our Penance Service at 8.00pm. There will be visiting priests to help celebrate the Sacrament of Confession; also a Polish priest to accommodate our Polish parishioners. Please can I appeal to all of our parishioners to make a very special effort this year and join us for the Penance Service and receive God’s merciful and loving forgiveness! There is no greater feeling than to be free from the burdens of sin. Unfortunately due to Covid over the past two years we missed out on our Penance Service. Even more reason this year to celebrate the Sacrament. 

NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS: It is my real joy to welcome back once again Deacons and Seminarians from the Pontifical North American College who will be with us for Palm Sunday weekend, Holy Week & Easter. There will be ten students during that period, not all at the same time, but we will have six with us for the Triduum & Easter. You are always so kind to them when they’re here.  Can I make an appeal to your generosity? My housekeeper is truly wonderful feeding these boys; but could I ask for some desserts. My experience through the years is that they all love desserts, especially home-made desserts, apple pies, trifles, etc. also as you can appreciate they like a drink as well; if anyone has any spare bottles of Whiskey, Gin or Port, it would not be wasted. I hope you don’t mind me asking! Thanking you in anticipation.

    May God Bless You All, 

AID FOR UKRAINE: We have begun Lent this year conscious of the unspeakable acts of terror in the Ukraine. Our brothers and sisters there are experiencing terrible suffering as they struggle to defend their country and preserve their human rights and life itself. We are doing what we can from afar: assisting by the charity of our prayers and also with what practical means we can muster. Aid to the Church in Need is on the frontline of charitable assistance to Ukrainians. If you can help, you will find this link takes you to the ACN website where you can donate: https://acnuk.org/news/ukraine-charity-rolls-out-emergency-aid/

HELPING THOSE IN UKRAINE & UKRAINIAN REFUGEES: Caritas Brentwood are regularly updating information on their website, covering donations, prayer and welcoming those who are fleeing the Ukraine. You will find everything at: http//www.caritasbrentwood.org/Ukraine/

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: Fr John’s Fortieth Anniversary of Ordination. Friday 8^th July 2022.  As this was unable to take place last year, due to the Pandemic. It has been rescheduled to this year, with concelebrated Mass with Bishop Alan, Priests of the Diocese, Family & Visitors from all over the world, and of course, My Parish Family here at St. Edmund’s. My thanks to those who have volunteered and agreed to help. Planning Meeting Wednesday 6^th April at 7.30pm in the Retreat. If anyone else wishes to join the meeting please just turn up. 

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC GROUP: We will be playing and singing at the 11am Mass on Sunday 3^rd April, which will be the fifth Sunday of Lent. It would be good if many of our singers could be there – a great way to start Lent!   Any parishioners who may consider joining us would be made very welcome. Simply come along.   Also, we’d like to spend some more time in practicing, so we’d really appreciate you coming along early at about 10.10am before Mass. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you.  

ARE YOU INTERSTED IN A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 5^th April at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton, at 7.00pm. The speaker will be Msgr Kevin Hale. For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org

EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to generously donate items for the Foodbank. They are truly grateful for the generosity our parish has shown and our donations are still needed desperately as more and more people in our community are finding it hard to make ends meet. They will be running their initiative to support families with food over the Easter holidays and these are the items we can help them with: UHT milk, long-life juice, tinned tomatoes, tinned meat, rice pudding, custard, packet noodles, instant mash, tinned spaghetti, tinned fruit, breakfast bars/ snack bars, jam, chocolate spread, sponge puddings, chocolate bars, bottled sauces (Ketchup/brown sauce), small jars of coffee, toilet roll, laundry powder/tablets, razors, shampoo/conditioner and washing up liquid. You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

MASS INTENTIONS: Every day in the parish Holy Mass is offered for various intentions; these are usually at the request of you the parishioners. Most intentions are for deceased loved ones, anniversaries, etc. The origin of the Mass Stipend is very ancient, and goes back to making provision for the priest for one day, as they do not earn a salary as such. At present I only have about two weeks of Mass Intentions booked up. If any parishioner would like a mass intention for any occasion whatsoever, e.g. deceased, birthdays, anniversaries, sick, etc. please complete Mass Intention envelope in the Porch.

DIARY FEBRUARY – MARCH 2022

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

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

ANNIVERSARIES: Mary Harvey RIP, Peggy Davies RIP.  Please pray for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.

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: 

Or you can use Parish Bank Account: Using Online Banking
HSBC Sort Code 40-13-22 PLEASE BE GENEROUS IN YOUR
Account Number: 11019651 GIFT TO GOD & HIS CHURCH

SPECIAL APPEAL To all our parishioners who contribute to your parish weekly. Would you please consider to transferring your Weekly Offertory over to a Direct Debit. With the closing of the local HSBC Bank it has been quite difficult paying in the Offertory, and with many banks now only offering a machine deposit service. Please think about this request. Thank you! 

PARISH FINANCES: As you can appreciate, during this pandemic the parish income took a severe hit, and we are still not back at the same levels as we were prior to 2020. My sincere and grateful thanks to those who have signed up for online giving and Gift Aid, this is helping. Many parishioners have not returned to the regular practice of faith, and many Gift Aid boxes were not collected this year. Please consider your weekly offertory to God.

PLEASE COLLECT YOUR GIFT AID BOXES THIS WEEKEND

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: The traditional devotion during the Lenten Season. I would encourage all our parishioners to attend the Stations of the Cross either on Fridays at 10.30am or Sundays at 5.00pm. This beautiful devotion follows the last journey made by Jesus on Good Friday to Calvary.   

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS I commend to your prayers Neil MacKinnon & Mark Shelton who are at the final stages of preparation to be received into full communion in the Roman Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. If you want to know more about the RCIA (Journey of Faith) programme, please contact Fr John, 

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham – 28th May 2022: Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham as we celebrate the Year of the Family ‘Hearing and Doing the Word of God’. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House. If you would like to come we would need to organise a Parish pilgrimage from the Church.

PARISH REPOSITORY: There is a lot of new stock in the repository. A variety of Candles – large and small. Greetings Cards for all occasions. Mass Cards for deceased. Children’s books about Lent. There are also a number of CTS little books in a special stand on all sorts of different issues, the saints etc. There are Statues, rosaries, medals, bracelets. A Variety of Easter Cards. Teresa Wallace is happy to order anything your request; it usually takes about a week to arrive.

BCYS YOUTH MASS: Thursday 7^th April, Brentwood Cathedral. Come along from 6pm for pizza; FOLLOWED BY Stations of the Cross in the Cathedral for Lent, before Youth Mass starts at 7.30pm. Open to all those in years 9 and above, no booking necessary. (YOUTH MASS takes place on the First Thursday of every month and groups are always welcome! Please let us know in advance if you wish to bring a group, if you are able, so that we can have an idea how much pizza to order! Any groups are always welcome!)

BCYS SUMMER LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: 23rd – 30th July 2022. Assist pilgrims going to Masses and services, shops and cafes of the beautiful French town, join in social time together, take part in retreats, reconciliation service, visit the baths, the stunning mountain town of Gavarnie, enjoy social nights, party and experience the amazing Lourdes processions. The cost is £625 for the week, and is open to all those in school year 11 and above (funding and grant opportunities are available). For more information and to book you can visit www.bcys.net/events/sl22 – applications close Sunday 20^th February

BCYS YOUTH GATHER: 22nd – 23rd October, Mersea Island. Stay in cabins and try a brilliant range of outward bound activities from climbing high ropes, archery, zip wires and much more to keep you challenged and entertained, with guest speakers and workshops which will give you fresh insights into yourself, and your faith, by telling their stories. Open to all those in years 9 and above, book NOW at www.bcys.net/events

BOOKING FOR ALL THESE EVENTS – and all information, can be done online at www.bcys.net/events or you can email me with any questions.

THE DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: led by Bishop Alan, will take place from Sunday 24 – Friday 29 July in Lourdes. Brochures for the pilgrimage, which will include costs, will be available soon. For further information contact Cathy O’Connor: cathy@dioceseofbrentwood.org or 07813 710070.

IRREGULAR MARRIAGES: An Irregualr Marriage is one that 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

A SUNDAY EVENING PARISH YOUTH MASS: We’ve had a couple of these popular and enjoyable Masses over the past few years and hopefully we’ll be able to organise one, possibly in the New Year. The idea would be that you could get involved with the music and the readings and make it your own celebration. Hopefully, we will also have a social gathering in the hall afterwards 

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY LITURGY: Thank you for starting children’s Sunday Liturgy again. But we need more help. Parents, can you spare one Sunday every two months to help the children during the 11.00am Mass? We need more parents to join our lovely group. Please contact Mrs Elena Manara at e_vismara@yahoo.com Thank you and we hope to hear from you soon. 

Class Teacher vacancy KS2/1/EYFS  at St John Fisher, Loughton.

The Governors of St John Fisher Catholic Primary School wish to appoint an excellent, enthusiastic, and caring classroom teacher to join our successful team.Visits to the school are warmly welcomed and encouraged. The closing date for application is Closing date for Applications:  25^th April 2022 with interviews 3^rd April.  Please email finance@st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk or alternatively call 02085086135. For further details please visit https://www.st-johnfisher.essex.sch.uk/

MASS INTENTIONS – APRIL 2022

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. 

Parish Phone No: 0208 508 3492  Email: loughton@dioceseofbrentwood.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust     Registered Charity No. 234092

5th Sunday of Lent

First Reading : Isaiah 43:16-21

Thus says the Lord,

who made a way through the sea,

a path in the great waters;

who put chariots and horse in the field

and a powerful army

which lay there never to rise again,

snuffed out, put out like a wick:

No need to recall the past,

no need to think about what was done before.

See, I am doing a new deed,

even now it comes to light; can you not see it?

Yes, I am making a road in the wilderness,

paths in the wilds.

The wild beasts will honour me,

jackals and ostriches,

because I am putting water in the wilderness

(rivers in the wild)

to give my chosen people drink.

The people I have formed for myself

will sing my praises.

Responsive Psalm : Psalm 125(126)

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,

  it seemed like a dream.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter,

  on our lips there were songs.

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels

  the Lord worked for them!’

What marvels the Lord worked for us!

  Indeed we were glad.

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage

  as streams in dry land.

Those who are sowing in tears

  will sing when they reap.

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

They go out, they go out, full of tears,

  carrying seed for the sowing:

they come back, they come back, full of song,

  carrying their sheaves.

What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

Second Reading : Philippians 3:8-14

I believe nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For him I have accepted the loss of everything, and I look on everything as so much rubbish if only I can have Christ and be given a place in him. I am no longer trying for perfection by my own efforts, the perfection that comes from the Law, but I want only the perfection that comes through faith in Christ, and is from God and based on faith. All I want is to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to share his sufferings by reproducing the pattern of his death. That is the way I can hope to take my place in the resurrection of the dead. Not that I have become perfect yet: I have not yet won, but I am still running, trying to capture the prize for which Christ Jesus captured me. I can assure you my brothers, I am far from thinking that I have already won. All I can say is that I forget the past and I strain ahead for what is still to come; I am racing for the finish, for the prize to which God calls us upwards to receive in Christ Jesus.

Gospel : John 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.

  The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’ They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then he bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and do not sin any more.’

Lilies at Easter 2022

Every year at Easter we remember 

our deceased loved one by decorating 

the Church with White Lilies. 

If you would like to have a stem of lilies placed in 

the arrangements throughout the Easter Season, 

in memory of a deceased loved one, relatives or friends.

Please complete this form below and return to the 

Presbytery in an envelope by Maundy Thursday 14^th  

April 2022

…………………………………………………………………

St. Edmund of Canterbury: _________

Names: of those remembered: (Please print clearly)

………………………………        ………………………………

………………………………        ………………………………

………………………………        ………………………………

……………………………….        .……………………………..

Amount enclosed     £……………… Gift Aid No:……………..

From:……………………………………………………

ALL DONATIONS CAN BE GIFT AIDED

Please Use Your Spare Gift Aid Envelopes

Dear Friends in Christ:               Preparing for Holy Week 2022   

As we are about to prepare for Holy Week 2022, It is truly wonderful to see that some semblance of normality has returned to everyday life once again. It is truly heartening to see many of our parishioners have returned to the practice of the faith and Sunday Mass. But I would still like to encourage everyone to make that extra special effort to return to Church. As Holy Week approaches, what more beautiful time of the year to enter into the beauty of Our Lord’s Paschal Mystery! 

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and marks the beginning of our Holy Week 2022. We will travel with the Lord Jesus on his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, with the cries of ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’, as they lay their palm branches before him. We also must remember this same crowd in a few days’ time will be baying for his blood with cries of ‘crucify him, crucify him’! 

THE TRIDUUM OF THE LORD The most powerful liturgy that we experience during the church’s liturgical year. I encourage you all to participate fully in these most wonderful celebrations of the Lord’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. We share together the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Good Friday Liturgy, and the Easter Vigil, as one continuous celebration of Salvation History. 

WELCOME: On behalf of the whole parish I would like to welcome a number of deacons and Seminarians from the Pontifical North American College, who will be with us throughout our Holy Week. It’s truly wonderful to welcome the Seminarians back once again after a two year hiatus. There will be various Seminarians with us over the Palm Sunday, Holy Week & Easter Weekend. Please extend them your usual hospitable welcome. 

CAN YOU HELP?: This is where I appeal to your generosity of spirit; having a good number of students, could I ask for some help with desserts? Home-made apple pies, etc. Most of them have a sweet tooth and really enjoy English Desserts. Also most of them drink Wine, Whisky & Gin, if you have any spare bottles at home, these would be gratefully received. Thank you! I look forward to sharing with you this Holy Week 2022,       May God Bless You All,     

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES FOR HOLY WEEK 2022

PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION:  9^th / 10^th April 

  6.00 p.m. St. Edmund’s.   Blessing of Palms (Sat. 9^th April)

  9.00 a.m. St. Edmund’s.   Blessing of Palms (Sun 10^th April)

 11.00 a.m St. Edmund’s.   Blessing of Palms     . .. 

  5.00 p.m. St. Edmund’s.   Stations of Cross and Benediction

MONDAY 11^th April

  10.00 a.m. St. Edmund’s.   Confessions after Mass

TUESDAY 12^th April  

 10.00 a.m. St. Edmund’s Confessions after Mass 

  8.00pm Penance Service – With visiting priests for confessions

WEDNESDAY 13^th April

  9.00 a m St. Edmund’s

11.00 a m  CHRISM MASS – Brentwood Cathedral, All welcome! 

THE TRIDUUM

MAUNDY THURSDAY 14^th April

  9.00 a.m. St. Edmund’s, Morning Prayer, Tenebrae /Confessions

  8.00 p.m. MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER   St. Edmund’s 

Watching until midnight with Night Prayer / Confessions

GOOD FRIDAY 15^thApril     Day of Fasting and Abstinence

  9.00 a.m. St. Edmund’s, Morning Prayer. Tenebrae

11.00 a.m. Children’s Stations of the Cross  

  3.00 p.m. THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

  7.00 p.m. St. Edmund’s.   Stations of the Cross. Confessions

HOLY SATURDAY: 16^th April 2022 

  9.00 a.m. St. Edmund’s  Morning Prayer, Tenebrae, Confessions.

12.30 p.m. Swieconka:  Polish Blessing for Easter Food Baskets

  8.00 p.m. St. Edmund’s. THE EASTER VIGIL 

EASTER SUNDAY 17^th  April THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

  9.00 a.m. St. Edmund’s, Parish Mass

11.00 a.m. St. Edmund’s, Parish Family Mass

HOLY WEEK 2022

PARISH PENITENTIAL SERVICE

It was difficult over the past two years to have a proper Penitential Service due to Covid. This Year our Penance Service is on Tuesday 12^th April at 8.00pm with visiting Confessors. There will also be a Polish Priest hearing Confessions. I will also schedule Confessions after all the Masses & Services during this coming week & Holy Week. Please try to avail yourselves of the Sacrament in preparation for Easter. Thank you

PALM SUNDAY 10^th April:

Our Two Sunday Morning Masses will commence outside of the Church with the Blessing of Palm, and Procession into the Church. Please bring your Hymn Book with to sing opening Hymn: All glory Lord & Honour

ELECTRONIC EASTER OFFERING: 

This year, as always, envelopes will be available for us to make our Easter Offering, which, as you know, is an opportunity in every Catholic Church for parishioners to make an Easter gift to their Parish Priest, which goes to make up their salary for the Year. This year our Easter Offering can also be made electronically. We just need to transfer the money to the parish account with the reference ‘Easter Offering’; please also quote you Gift Aid Number. Any questions please ask Iain McLay (bloggeriain@gmail.com). The details of the bank account are:

Sort Code: 40-13-22

Account Number: 11019651     ‘EASTER OFFERING’ + Gift Aid Number

Account Name: Catholic Church Loughton St Edmund

EASTER SUNDAY MASSES 2022: 

Please note that the Easter Vigil Mass will take place on Saturday 16^th April at 8.00pm

Easter Sunday Masses will be at 9.00am, & 11.00am. 

THANK YOU: My sincere thanks this year to all of our Stewards who have been so faithful and helpful in looking after our Parish Community during the Pandemic. 

St. Edmund of Canterbury

and

St. Thomas More

This is Holy Week

& Easter 2022 

St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More

Laetare Sunday

British Summertime begins, Clocks go Forward one hour

  Jesus attracted those outside of conventional society; tax collectors and prostitutes clearly enjoyed his company, and were drawn by his acceptance of them. This made them open to hearing what he had to say. The Pharisees, in contrast, were scandalised by the company he kept, and they harshly judged those whey saw as morally bankrupt or spiritually inferior. 

Typically, Jesus seized the moment to teach about his Father, which is the essence of his mission. Our image of God is often tainted or distorted, and we can fall into two extremes; on one hand we imagine God as a tyrannical judge who’s constantly angry; on the other, we feel he’s over indulgent and avuncular, and it’s easy to pull the wool over his eyes. We may feel that God’s teachings and commandments have little bearing on our lives.

Jesus’ parable brings us right into the heart of his Father. God has given each of us free will and we’re at liberty to follow or reject him. However, this carries with it a profound responsibility, as we’re accountable to our actions and decisions. The son in the parable exercised his freedom and chose to leave the safety of his father’s house. At the dawn of creation, humankind also freely chose the path leading away from God. Removed from the love, security and protection of the Father’s house, we lost our way. Sin, death and corruption robbed us of the dignity we once possessed. Like the prodigal son we became slaves of our passions and drives.  

The image of the chastened son returning home is deeply moving. We’d do well to ponder and meditate upon this picture of profound human abjection encountering divine mercy. Jesus’ teaching about our father exposes us to a love so divine and compelling that it has the power to melt the hardest hearts. As we journey through this Lent, we too can experience the warm embrace of our heavenly Father. Pope Francis writes in Evangelii gaudium: ‘“Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace.” How good it feels to come back to him whenever we are lost! Let me say this once more; God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.’ 

My Dear Friends in Christ,     4th Sunday of Lent 2022

Today is ‘Laetare Sunday’- meaning ‘Rejoice’. It marks the midway point in the Lenten Season. We look forward in anticipation to the great Joy of Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the day when traditionally, the austerity of the Lenten Season is lessened. We change the colour of our Vestments to Rose. The rigours of Lent can be relaxed today. Laetare Sunday always coincides with Mothering Sunday. We pray for our dear Mothers; and also remembering all of our deceased mothers who are now with God. Let us all savour this relaxation today and truly ‘Rejoice’!

MOTHERING SUNDAY: Today is Mothering Sunday. It gives us a wonderful opportunity to thank Almighty God for our Mothers. Expressing our gratitude for the incredible influence they have on our lives; how they are the heart of our homes, always there when we need them; nurturing us, our strengths and talents, teaching us about the beauty of love and family; loving our fathers, all that’s good in helping us to be the best version of ourselves. Let us also remember those whose mothers are now with God in Heaven. Even though not physically present, they will always be in our hearts.    

AID FOR UKRAINE: We have begun Lent this year conscious of the unspeakable acts of terror in the Ukraine. Our brothers and sisters there are experiencing terrible suffering as they struggle to defend their country and preserve their human rights and life itself. We are doing what we can from afar: assisting by the charity of our prayers and also with what practical means we can muster. Aid to the Church in Need is on the frontline of charitable assistance to Ukrainians. If you can help, you will find this link takes you to the ACN website where you can donate: https://acnuk.org/news/ukraine-charity-rolls-out-emergency-aid/

HELPING THOSE IN UKRAINE & UKRAINIAN REFUGEES: Caritas Brentwood are regularly updating information on their website, covering donations, prayer and welcoming those who are fleeing the Ukraine. You will find everything at: http//www.caritasbrentwood.org/Ukraine/

May God Bless You All This Coming Week, 

CLOCKS GO FORWARD ONE HOUR ON SUNDAY MORNING

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASS: Today will be at 10am. On this Mothering Sunday the children will be assisting with the Liturgy at the 11.00am Mass. Please continue to pray for them as they prepare for their First Holy Communion in May. Last Week’s Penitential Services were truly wonderful, not only for the children but also for the parents. 

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: The traditional devotion during the Lenten Season. I would encourage all our parishioners to attend the Stations of the Cross either on Fridays at 10.30am or Sundays at 5.00pm. This beautiful devotion follows the last journey made by Jesus on Good Friday to Calvary.   

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS I commend to your prayers Neil MacKinnon & Mark Shelton who are at the final stages of preparation to be received into full communion in the Roman Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. If you want to know more about the RCIA (Journey of Faith) programme, please contact Fr John, 

END OF TERM: As Easter is so late this year, the school term ends next Friday the 1^st April.  I would like to thank our Executive Head Teacher Mr Iain Kendal and all the Staff at St John Fisher Primary School for everything you have done for our children over the past term.  It’s truly wonderful to be able to get back into school again and celebrate various liturgies with the Staff & children.  I wish you all a very Happy Easter Holiday. School returns on the 19^th April.    

EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to generously donate items for the Foodbank. They are truly grateful for the generosity our parish has shown and our donations are still needed desperately as more and more people in our community are finding it hard to make ends meet. They will be running their initiative to support families with food over the Easter holidays and these are the items we can help them with: UHT milk, long-life juice, tinned tomatoes, tinned meat, rice pudding, custard, packet noodles, instant mash, tinned spaghetti, tinned fruit, breakfast bars/ snack bars, jam, chocolate spread, sponge puddings, chocolate bars, bottled sauces (Ketchup/brown sauce), small jars of coffee, toilet roll, laundry powder/tablets, razors, shampoo/conditioner and washing up liquid. You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: Fr John’s Fortieth Anniversary of Ordination. Friday 8^th July 2022.  As this was unable to take place last year, due to the Pandemic. It has been rescheduled to this year, with concelebrated Mass with Bishop Alan, Priests of the Diocese, Family & Visitors from all over the world, and of course, My Parish Family here at St. Edmund’s. My thanks to those who have volunteered and agreed to help. Planning Meeting Wednesday 6^th April at 7.30pm in the Retreat. If anyone else wishes to join the meeting please just turn up. 

DIARY FEBRUARY – MARCH 2022

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

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

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

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: 

Or you can use Parish Bank Account: Using Online Banking
HSBC Sort Code 40-13-22 PLEASE BE GENEROUS IN YOUR
Account Number: 11019651 GIFT TO GOD & HIS CHURCH

SPECIAL APPEAL To all our parishioners who contribute to your parish weekly. Would you please consider to transferring your Weekly Offertory over to a Direct Debit. With the closing of the local HSBC Bank it has been quite difficult paying in the Offertory, and with many banks now only offering a machine deposit service. Please think about this request. Thank you!

PARISH FINANCES: THIS WEEKEND ALL OF THE NEW GIFTAID BOXES ARE READY FOR COLLECTION. PPLEASE PICK UP YOUR BOX AS YOU LEAVE THE CHURCH TODAY.  My sincere and grateful thanks to those who have signed up for online giving and Gift Aid, this is helping. Many parishioners have not returned to the regular practice of faith, and many Gift Aid boxes were not collected last year. Please consider your weekly offertory to God. 

MARRIAGES FOR 2022: If anyone is planning on getting married in 2022, please could you make contact with Fr. John at the beginning of January. For those getting married in the parish we normally ask for six months’ notice; for those getting married outside of the parish at least nine months’ notice. The documentation and preparation takes quite a long time and organising Marriage Preparation Courses through Marriage Care in the responsibility of the Couple. To avoid any disappointments, please make contact as soon as possible.  

BCYS YOUTH MASS: Thursday 7^th April, Brentwood Cathedral. Come along from 6pm for pizza; FOLLOWED BY Stations of the Cross in the Cathedral for Lent, before Youth Mass starts at 7.30pm. Open to all those in years 9 and above, no booking necessary. (YOUTH MASS takes place on the First Thursday of every month and groups are always welcome! Please let us know in advance if you wish to bring a group, if you are able, so that we can have an idea how much pizza to order! Any groups are always welcome!)

BCYS LENTEN REVISION RETREAT: 2nd – 3rd April, Walsingham House

In years 11 -13 and preparing for exams this year? Get a change of scenery and a fresh perspective at Walsingham House at Abbotswick this lent for times of prayer, socialising and activities, but mostly to revise, alongside friends and the Walsingham House team members. As always the chapel is here for times of quiet reflection throughout the day. Book online NOW at www.bcys.net/events.

SPONSORED SLEEPOUT: 8th – 9th April, 8pm – 8am. Wherever you are in the Diocese, take part in your gardens, schools or parishes, on your own or as part of a group and spend 12 hours sleeping rough outdoors to raise money for a local charity supporting the homeless. Email sleepout@dioceseofbrentwood.org for more information and to take part. 

BCYS SUMMER LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: 23rd – 30th July 2022. Assist pilgrims going to Masses and services, shops and cafes of the beautiful French town, join in social time together, take part in retreats, reconciliation service, visit the baths, the stunning mountain town of Gavarnie, enjoy social nights, party and experience the amazing Lourdes processions. The cost is £625 for the week, and is open to all those in school year 11 and above (funding and grant opportunities are available). For more information and to book you can visit www.bcys.net/events/sl22 – applications close Sunday 20^th February

BCYS YOUTH GATHER: 22nd – 23rd October, Mersea Island. Stay in cabins and try a brilliant range of outward bound activities from climbing high ropes, archery, zip wires and much more to keep you challenged and entertained, with guest speakers and workshops which will give you fresh insights into yourself, and your faith, by telling their stories. Open to all those in years 9 and above, book NOW at www.bcys.net/events

BOOKING FOR ALL THESE EVENTS – and all information, can be done online at www.bcys.net/events or you can email me with any questions.

THE DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: led by Bishop Alan, will take place from Sunday 24 – Friday 29 July in Lourdes. Brochures for the pilgrimage, which will include costs, will be available soon. For further information contact Cathy O’Connor: cathy@dioceseofbrentwood.org or 07813 710070.

IRREGULAR MARRIAGES: An Irregualr Marriage is one that 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

A SUNDAY EVENING PARISH YOUTH MASS: We’ve had a couple of these popular and enjoyable Masses over the past few years and hopefully we’ll be able to organise one, possibly in the New Year. The idea would be that you could get involved with the music and the readings and make it your own celebration. Hopefully, we will also have a social gathering in the hall afterwards

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY LITURGY: Thank you for starting children’s Sunday Liturgy again. But we need more help. Parents, can you spare one Sunday every two months to help the children during the 11.00am Mass? We need more parents to join our lovely group. Please contact Mrs Elena Manara at e_vismara@yahoo.com Thank you and we hope to hear from you soon.

ARE YOU INTERSTED IN A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 5^th April at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton, at 7.00pm. The speaker will be Msgr Kevin Hale. For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC GROUP: We will be playing and singing at the 11am Mass on Sunday 3^rd April, which will be the fifth Sunday of Lent. It would be good if many of our singers could be there – a great way to start Lent!   Any parishioners who may consider joining us would be made very welcome. Simply come along.   Also, we’d like to spend some more time in practicing, so we’d really appreciate you coming along early at about 10.10am before Mass. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you.  

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham – 28th May 2022: Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham as we celebrate the Year of the Family ‘Hearing and Doing the Word of God’. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House. If you would like to come we would need to organise a Parish pilgrimage from the Church.

MASS INTENTIONS – MARCH – APRIL 2022

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. 

Parish Phone No: 0208 508 3492  Email: loughton@dioceseofbrentwood.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust     Registered Charity No. 234092

MASS INTENTIONS: Every day in the parish Holy Mass is offered for various intentions; these are usually at the request of you the parishioners. Most intentions are for deceased loved ones, anniversaries, etc. The origin of the Mass Stipend is very ancient, and goes back to making provision for the priest for one day, as they do not earn a salary as such. At present I only have about two weeks of Mass Intentions booked up. If any parishioner would like a mass intention for any occasion whatsoever, e.g. deceased, birthdays, anniversaries, sick, etc. please complete Mass Intention envelope in the Porch.

4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)

First Reading: Joshua 5:9-12

The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I have taken the shame of Egypt away from you.’

  The Israelites pitched their camp at Gilgal and kept the Passover there on the fourteenth day of the month, at evening in the plain of Jericho. On the morrow of the Passover they tasted the produce of that country, unleavened bread and roasted ears of corn, that same day. From that time, from their first eating of the produce of that country, the manna stopped falling. And having manna no longer, the Israelites fed from that year onwards on what the land of Canaan yielded.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 33(34):2-7

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

I will bless the Lord at all times,

  his praise always on my lips;

in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.

  The humble shall hear and be glad.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Glorify the Lord with me.

  Together let us praise his name.

I sought the Lord and he answered me;

  from all my terrors he set me free.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Look towards him and be radiant;

  let your faces not be abashed.

This poor man called, the Lord heard him

  and rescued him from all his distress.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Second Reading : 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

For anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here. It is all God’s work. It was God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the work of handing on this reconciliation. In other words, God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself, not holding men’s faults against them, and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled. So we are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God. For our sake God made the sinless one into sin, so that in him we might become the goodness of God.

Gospel : Luke 15:1-3,11-32

The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:

  ‘A man had two sons. The younger said to his father, “Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me.” So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.

  ‘When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. Then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.” So he left the place and went back to his father.

  ‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate.

  ‘Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. “Your brother has come” replied the servant “and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound.” He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father, “Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his women – you kill the calf we had been fattening.”

  ‘The father said, “My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”’

The Consecration of the Ukraine to Our Lady

Beloved Queen and Our Mother, Queen of the Holy Rosary, Help of

Christians, Salvation of the human race, Victorious Virgin, here we

humbly fall before you, that you may bring our sincere prayers to

Almighty God in the Trinity.

We come in full confidence that we beg for mercy and protection for

our Motherland in this dramatic time of war. Mother of Mercy, we ask

this not for our merits, which we do not count on, but in view of the

infinite goodness of your Heart and the saving Blood of Christ, your

Son.

May the suffering and cries for help of so many people touch you.

Have mercy on the wounded and victims of the shelling, orphans and

widows, all those who were forced to leave their homes and seek

refuge in safer places. Ask for mercy for those who gave their lives

defending their neighbours and our Motherland.

O Immaculate Mother, ask God for the grace of conversion, and we

especially ask for the conversion of Russia and all those who are

blinded by hatred or thirst for power. Pray for us first of all for those

graces which can change human hearts in an instant, and which will

prepare and bring such a coveted peace. Above all, bring us the gift of

spiritual peace so that the Kingdom of God may grow in peace and

harmony.

Queen of Peace, ask us for the grace of true reconciliation with God

and with each other, so that we can give each other a hand of help

and support.

Throne of Wisdom, inspire all rulers to make wise decisions and

strengthen the efforts of those who contribute to the end of war and

the return of peace.

Queen of the Apostles, ask for our pastors the gift of strong faith and

zeal in the celebration of the Sacraments, so that at this time we may

all be united at the Eucharistic table and in zealous prayer.

Heal the sick, strengthen all medical staff and volunteers who care for

the sick and wounded, ask for their spiritual and physical strength.

Be healing for the sick, strength for the dying and joy for their loved

ones. Just as the Church and all mankind were consecrated to the Heart of

Your Divine Son, and in Him we hope to become an inexhaustible

source of victory and salvation for all, so we dedicate ourselves forever

to You and to Your Immaculate Heart, our Mother and Queen, that

Your love and care may ensure the victory of the Kingdom of God, and

that our Ukraine and all nations reconciled among themselves and

with God may bless and glorify You. Amen!

THE LEONINE PRAYER FOR THE CONVERSION OF RUSSIA

To be said after Mass are: 

Three ‘Hail Marys,’ one ‘Hail Holy Queen’ and The Leonine Prayers

 “O God, our refuge and our strength, look down in mercy upon the people who cry to Thee; and by the intercession of the Glorious and Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Saint Joseph Her Spouse, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the Saints, in Thy mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the conversion of sinners, and for the liberty and exaltation of the Holy Mother the Church, we ask this through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.” “Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: And do thou, Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God thrust down to hell satan and all wicked spirits, who wander throughout the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.”  

“Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.”

 “Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.” 

“Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.” 

“Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.”

Lilies at Easter 2022

Every year at Easter we remember 

our deceased loved one by decorating 

the Church with White Lilies. 

If you would like to have a stem of lilies placed in 

the arrangements throughout the Easter Season, 

in memory of a deceased loved one, relatives or friends.

Please complete this form below and return to the 

Presbytery in an envelope by Maundy Thursday 14^th  

April 2022

…………………………………………………………………

St. Edmund of Canterbury: _________

Names: of those remembered: (Please print clearly)

………………………………        ………………………………

………………………………        ………………………………

………………………………        ………………………………

……………………………….        .……………………………..

Amount enclosed     £……………… Gift Aid No:……………..

From:……………………………………………………

ALL DONATIONS CAN BE GIFT AIDED

Please Use Your Spare Gift Aid Envelopes

St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More

On Mount Tabor Ss. Peter, James & John witnessed the transfigured Lord with this own eyes. For a brief moment, they touched the beauty and light of heaven and knew something of the joy of paradise. We too can have a similar life-changing experience of God. But no one lives ‘on Tabor’ for long.

Human existence is a journey of faith and is lived more in darkness than in the fullness of light. Some experience moments of obscurity, whereas others experience profound darkness, such as Mother Teresa. While we’re on earth our relationship with God develops more with listening than with seeing, and contemplation even takes place, thanks to the interior inner light within God’s Word illuminates. 

Although she was the human creature closest to God, the Virgin Mary herself walked day after day as through she was on a pilgrimage of faith (Lumen gentium 58), keeping God’s Word in her heart, whether through Scripture of through the events of Jesus’ life, in which she recognised and accepted God’s mysterious voice.

On this topic, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI declared, ‘To listen to him in the word, preserved in the Sacred Scripture. To listen to him in the very events of our lives; trying to read in them the message of providence. To listen to him… in our brothers, especially in the little ones and the poor, for whom Jesus himself asked for our concrete love. To listen to Christ and to obey his voice. This is the only way that leads to joy and love.

To be a disciple is to be transformed, transfigured even, by the light of God’s wisdom which we touch when we pray, read sacred Scriptures, receive the gift of the Eucharist and serve our neighbour, especially the poor and marginalised. 

My Dear Friends in Christ,       1^st Sunday of Lent 2022

As we commence this second week of our holy Lenten Season; ask yourself have you remained faithful to the resolutions that you made on Ash Wednesday? It’s so easy to fall by the wayside very quickly. But that doesn’t mean that we have to give up. Lent can be a truly positive experience; a time of growth and understanding of the Lord Jesus. We have to remember where this journey is leading us; ultimately to the greatest event this world has ever known. Jesus Christ, who died on Good Friday, rose triumphantly on Easter Day. Sin and death was conquered; and the Lord invites each one of us personally to share in that New Life, which we call our Catholic Faith. How we prepare for that is up to us. No one can do this for us. Prayer, Fasting, Works of Charity are all well and good, but if there is no real intention behind them it becomes only lipservice. Conversion-Change of Heart is what the Lord calls each one of us to.

SET YOURSELF LITTLE TARGETS: Morning and Evening Prayers; Reading a passesge from the Bible; Attending an additional Mass during the week; Attending Holy Hour; Praying the Stations of the Cross; Praying the Rosary, or even a decade of the Rosary each day; reading a chapter of a spiritual book (see our parish Library). My dear friends, you can choose any of these throughout the week. But please don’t let this Lent pass you by.

FIRST RECONCILIATION: The children who are preparing for their First Holy Communion will celebrate the Sacrament of reconiliation for the first time next Saturday 19^th March. This is an extrmely important day for the children, and I ask that their parents also be present.  Parents, you have already been notified about which group your child is in. There are two sessions at 10.00am & 11.00am. I ask the whole praihs to pray for the children at this important time along their faith journey.   

AID FOR UKRAINE: We have begun Lent this year conscious of the unspeakable acts of terror in the Ukraine. Our brothers and sisters there are experiencing terrible suffering as they struggle to defend their country and preserve their human rights and life itself. We are doing what we can from afar: assisting by the charity of our prayers and also with what practical means we can muster. Aid to the Church in Need is on the frontline of charitable assistance to Ukrainians. If you can help, you will find this link takes you to the ACN website where you can donate: https://acnuk.org/news/ukraine-charity-rolls-out-emergency-aid/

May God Bless You During Lent,, 

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: The traditional devotion during the Lenten Season. I would encourage all our parishioners to attend the Stations of the Cross either on Fridays at 10.30am or Sundays at 5.00pm. This beautiful devotion follows the last journey made by Jesus on Good Friday to Calvary.   

CAFOD LENTEN FAMILY FAST DAY: Was last Friday 11^th March. This is our opportunity to assist and help those in third world countries far less fortunate than ourselves, especially children, to help them grow big and strong. Envelopes will be collected in this Sunday from the money we save by fasting; (spare envelopes in the porch). Thank you for your generosity.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS Our next meeting will take place at the Presbytery on Thursday 17^th March at 7.30pm. Theme: Tour of the Church. If you want to know more about the programme, and the whole RCIA process, please contact Fr John, Tel No: 0208 508 3492 

THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTION: What is new about the new Evangelisation? Input will be given by Fr David Clemens, Parish Priest at Our Lady of Compassion, Saffron Walden, today, Sunday 13^th March, 4.00 – 5.00 p.m. via Zoom. To join these Zoom meetings simply forward a contact email to adultformationvicariate@dioceseofbrentwood.org. For more information go to www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk

EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to generously donate items for the Foodbank. They are truly grateful for the generosity our parish has shown and our donations are still needed desperately as more and more people in our community are finding it hard to make ends meet. They will be running their initiative to support families with food over the Easter holidays and these are the items we can help them with: UHT milk, long-life juice, tinned tomatoes, tinned meat, rice pudding, custard, packet noodles, instant mash, tinned spaghetti, tinned fruit, breakfast bars/ snack bars, jam, chocolate spread, sponge puddings, chocolate bars, bottled sauces (Ketchup/brown sauce), small jars of coffee, toilet roll, laundry powder/tablets, razors, shampoo/conditioner and washing up liquid. You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY LITURGY: Thank you for starting children’s Sunday Liturgy again. But we need more help. Parents, can you spare one Sunday every two months to help the children during the 11.00am Mass? We need more parents to join our lovely group. Please contact Mrs Elena Manara at e_manara@yahoo.com Thank you and we hope to hear from you soon.

DIARY FEBRUARY – MARCH 2022

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

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

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

WEEKLY OFFERTORY: My sincere thanks to those who are making their weekly contribution of Gift Aid envelopes and through the banking system that has been set up through the Diocese whereby your Offertory can be paid directly into the Parish Account, details below: 

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

Or you can use Parish Bank Account: Using Online Banking
HSBC Sort Code 40-13-22 PLEASE BE GENEROUS IN YOUR
Account Number: 11019651 GIFT TO GOD & HIS CHURCH

SPECIAL APPEAL To all our parishioners who contribute to your parish weekly. Would you please consider to transferring your weekly offertory over to a Direct Debit. With the closing of the local HSBC Bank it has been quite difficult paying in the Offertory, and with many banks now only offering a machine deposit service. Please think about this request. Thank you! 

MARRIAGES FOR 2022: If anyone is planning on getting married in 2022, please could you make contact with Fr. John at the beginning of January. For those getting married in the parish we normally ask for six months’ notice; for those getting married outside of the parish at least nine months’ notice. The documentation and preparation takes quite a long time and organising Marriage Preparation Courses through Marriage Care in the responsibility of the Couple. To avoid any disappointments, please make contact as soon as possible. 

BCYS YOUTH MASS: Thursday 7^th April, Brentwood Cathedral. Come along from 6pm for pizza. Mass will begin in the cathedral from 7:30pm, Open to all those in years 9 and above, no booking necessary. (YOUTH MASS takes place on the First Thursday of every month and groups are always welcome! Please let us know in advance if you wish to bring a group, if you are able, so that we can have an idea how much pizza to order! Any groups are always welcome!)

BCYS LENTEN REVISION RETREAT: 2nd – 3rd April, Walsingham House

In years 11 -13 and preparing for exams this year? Get a change of scenery and a fresh perspective at Walsingham House at Abbotswick this lent for times of prayer, socialising and activities, but mostly to revise, alongside friends and the Walsingham House team members. As always the chapel is here for times of quiet reflection throughout the day. Book online NOW at www.bcys.net/events.

SPONSORED SLEEPOUT: 8th – 9th April, 8pm – 8am. Wherever you are in the Diocese, take part in your gardens, schools or parishes, on your own or as part of a group and spend 12 hours sleeping rough outdoors to raise money for a local charity supporting the homeless. Email sleepout@dioceseofbrentwood.org for more information and to take part. 

BCYS SUMMER LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: 23rd – 30th July 2022. Assist pilgrims going to Masses and services, shops and cafes of the beautiful French town, join in social time together, take part in retreats, reconciliation service, visit the baths, the stunning mountain town of Gavarnie, enjoy social nights, party and experience the amazing Lourdes processions. The cost is £625 for the week, and is open to all those in school year 11 and above (funding and grant opportunities are available). For more information and to book you can visit www.bcys.net/events/sl22 – applications close Sunday 20^th February

BCYS YOUTH GATHER: 22nd – 23rd October, Mersea Island. Stay in cabins and try a brilliant range of outward bound activities from climbing high ropes, archery, zip wires and much more to keep you challenged and entertained, with guest speakers and workshops which will give you fresh insights into yourself, and your faith, by telling their stories. Open to all those in years 9 and above, book NOW at www.bcys.net/events

BOOKING FOR ALL THESE EVENTS – and all information, can be done online at www.bcys.net/events or you can email me with any questions.

THE DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: led by Bishop Alan, will take place from Sunday 24 – Friday 29 July in Lourdes. Brochures for the pilgrimage, which will include costs, will be available soon. For further information contact Cathy O’Connor: cathy@dioceseofbrentwood.org or 07813 710070.

IRREGULAR MARRIAGES: An Irregualr Marriage is one that 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

A SUNDAY EVENING PARISH YOUTH MASS: We’ve had a couple of these popular and enjoyable Masses over the past few years and hopefully we’ll be able to organise one, possibly in the New Year. The idea would be that you could get involved with the music and the readings and make it your own celebration. Hopefully, we will also have a social gathering in the hall afterwards

PARISH FINANCES: As you can appreciate, during this pandemic the parish income took a severe hit, and we are still not back at the same levels as we were prior to 2020. My sincere and grateful thanks to those who have signed up for online giving and Gift Aid, this is helping. Many parishioners have not returned to the regular practice of faith, and many Gift Aid boxes were not collected this year. Please consider your weekly offertory to God. 

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: Fr John’s Fortieth Anniversary of Ordination. As this was unable to take place last year, due to the Pandemic. It has been rescheduled to Friday 8^th July 2022, with concelebrated Mass with Bishop Alan, Priests of the Diocese, Family & Visitors from all over the world, and of course, My Parish Family here at St. Edmund’s. It would be helpful to form a working party to arrange the event. I have already spoken to our Parish Music Director with regards to Music & the Liturgy. 

ARE YOU INTERSTED IN A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 5^th April at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton, at 7.00pm. The speaker will be Msgr Kevin Hale. For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC GROUP: We will be playing and singing at the 11am Mass on Sunday 3rd April, which will be the fifth Sunday of Lent. It would be good if many of our singers could be there – a great way to start Lent!   Any parishioners who may consider joining us would be made very welcome. Simply come along.   Also, we’d like to spend some more time in practicing, so we’d really appreciate you coming along early at about 10.10am before Mass. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you.  

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham – 28th May 2022: Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham as we celebrate the Year of the Family ‘Hearing and Doing the Word of God’. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House. If you would like to come we would need to organise a Parish pilgrimage form the Church.

PARISH REPOSITORY: There is a lot of new stock in the repository. There are cards and gifts for Mother’s Day. A large sel;cetion of St Patrick’s Day Cards. A variety of Candles – large and small. Greetings Cards for all occasions. Mass Cards for deceased. Children’s books about Lent. There are also a number of CTS little books in a special stand on all sorts of different issues, the saints etc. There are Statues, rosaries, medals, bracelets. A Variety of Easter Cards. Teresa Wallace is happy to order anything your request; it usually takes about a week to arrive. 

LENTEN MASS INTENTIONS – MARCH 2022

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. 

Parish Phone No: 0208 508 3492  Email: loughton@dioceseofbrentwood.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust     Registered Charity No. 234092

2nd Sunday of Lent

First Reading : Genesis 15:5-12,17-18

Taking Abram outside, the Lord said, ‘Look up to heaven and count the stars if you can.’ ‘Such will be your descendants,’ he told him. Abram put his faith in the Lord, who counted this as making him justified.

  ‘I am the Lord’ he said to him ‘who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldaeans to make you heir to this land.’ ‘My Lord,’ Abram replied ‘how am I to know that I shall inherit it?’ He said to him, ‘Get me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove and a young pigeon.’ He brought him all these, cut them in half and put half on one side and half facing it on the other; but the birds he did not cut in half. Birds of prey came down on the carcases but Abram drove them off.

  Now as the sun was setting Abram fell into a deep sleep, and terror seized him. When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, there appeared a smoking furnace and a firebrand that went between the halves. That day the Lord made a Covenant with Abram in these terms:

‘To your descendants I give this land,

from the wadi of Egypt to the Great River.’

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 26(27):1,7-9,13-14

The Lord is my light and my help.

The Lord is my light and my help;

  whom shall I fear? 

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

  before whom shall I shrink?

The Lord is my light and my help.

O Lord, hear my voice when I call;

  have mercy and answer.

Of you my heart has spoken:

  ‘Seek his face.’

The Lord is my light and my help.

It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;

  hide not your face.

Dismiss not your servant in anger;

  you have been my help.

The Lord is my light and my help.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness

  in the land of the living.

Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.

  Hope in the Lord!

The Lord is my light and my help.

Second Reading : Philippians 3:17-4:1

My brothers, be united in following my rule of life. Take as your models everybody who is already doing this and study them as you used to study us. I have told you often, and I repeat it today with tears, there are many who are behaving as the enemies of the cross of Christ. They are destined to be lost. They make foods into their god and they are proudest of something they ought to think shameful; the things they think important are earthly things. For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe.

  So then, my brothers and dear friends, do not give way but remain faithful in the Lord. I miss you very much, dear friends; you are my joy and my crown.

Gospel : Luke 9:28-36

Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up the mountain to pray. As he prayed, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became brilliant as lightning. Suddenly there were two men there talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they kept awake and saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As these were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ – He did not know what he was saying. As he spoke, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into the cloud the disciples were afraid. And a voice came from the cloud saying, ‘This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.’ And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. The disciples kept silence and, at that time, told no one what they had seen.

The Gospel of the Lord

St. Edmund of Canterbury &

St. Thomas More, Loughton

Parish Lenten Programme for 2022

Dear Friends in Jesus Christ,

We are about to embark upon our Holy Season of Lent once again. As the Covid restrictions were lifted last week, it is hoped that many people will be able to get back to some semblance of normality once again.  Lent is a Penitential Season, and some may feel that over the past two years we have been doing our penance during the various lock-downs. But this Lent will give us the opportunity to focus our attention on the spiritual aspect of our lives. Lent is that season of preparation to celebrate the greatest event in the whole history of the creation; that at a moment in time, Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man, triumphed over sin and death for the salvation of the whole of humanity. He continues to invite us to share in the Paschal Mystery. Every time we attend Holy Mass that ‘Saving action’ is made real! We are invited to share His life, and Lent will be a wonderful opportunity to really make a deep commitment in faith to the Lord.

The three disciplines of Prayer, Fasting & Almsgiving are at the heart of the Lenten Season. How we respond to these is very personal. Whatever we decide to do is between ourselves and Almighty God. But I do encourage all of our parishioners to enter into the full spirit of the season. You may like to take on something extra during Lent, e.g. Reading a Chapter of the Bible each day; spending additional time in private prayer; doing some spiritual reading – there are plenty of spiritual books in our library. Attending an additional Mass during the week; or praying the Rosary each day; or attending the Stations of the Cross devotions; or making a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament. The decision is yours, but please don’t Lent pass you by without doing something!  

Practical Prayer guide & actions to take during Lent

1. Make a serious Act of Contrition and Repentance of your sins before or during these 40 days of Lenten Journey, in order to be at peace with God. The Word of God says in 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness’.

Also, – make peace with whomever that has offended you or you have offended. Matthew 6:14 says ‘For if you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.’

2. Endeavour to live a holy life during and after this Lenten period. Make holiness your watch word

3. Be charitable; visit the less privileged, sick & housebound, provide weekly to the Foodbank.

4. Render selfless services to God and support your parish & community; help with parish projects. Join the Altar Society, Volunteer to become a Catechist, Volunteer to become a Uniform Group Leader.

5. Spread the Gospel of Jesus anywhere you find yourself through your word, actions and lifestyle. Become a Living Gospel of Christ.

6. After this 40 days of prayer, believe that God has answered your prayers. God assured us in Numbers 14:28 that He will do to us whatever he hears us say.

7. Equip yourself with the Word of God by reading your Bible daily. This will keep you in tune spiritually. Pray Lectio Divina or Spiritual Reading (there are many spiritual books in our Library). 

8. Never go back to your past life. Continue to live as a son or daughter of God 

TIMES OF MASSES & SERVICES DURING LENT

ASH WEDNESDAY: With Distribution of the Ashes at all Masses

St. Edmund’s       9.00am  Please make a very special

St. Edmund’s   12.15pm to attend one of the Masses.  

St. Edmund’s     7.30pm Day of Fasting & Abstinence 

SUNDAY MASSES

St. Edmund’s     6.00pm. (Saturday Vigil Mass)

St. Edmund’s   9.00am.  Parish Mass 

St. Edmund’s 11.00am.  Parish Family Mass 

St. Edmund’s   5.00pm. Stations / Exposition / Benediction

MONDAY

St. Edmund’s        Mass 10.00am Try to attend an extra mass during Lent

  Followed by Holy Hour / Exposition

TUESDAY

St. Edmund’s        Mass 10.00am  

WEDNESDAY

St. Edmund’s        Mass 10.00am   Followed by Holy Hour / Exposition  

THURSDAY

St. Edmund’s        Mass 10.00am  

FRIDAY   Fridays are now Fast Days! No meat today

St. Edmund’s       Mass 10.00am    

             10.30am   Followed by Holy Hour / 

     Stations of the Cross/ Exposition

SATURDAY   

St. Edmund’s       Mass 10.00am. Preceded by Morning Prayer at 9.45

St. Edmund’s 11.00am Confessions in the Church.

St. Edmund’s     6.00pm Vigil Mass for Sunday

SUNDAY MASSES

St. Edmund’s   9.00am   Parish Mass

St. Edmund’s           11.00am   Parish Family Mass

St. Edmund’s 5.00pm. Stations / Exposition / Benediction

LENTEN DIARY 2022 

  2^nd March Ash Wednesday.  3 Masses.  See Newsletter. 

Day of Fasting and Abstinence

  4^th March Women’s World Day of Prayer

  5^th March Diocesan Meeting on the Synod. Brentwood

  6^th March Rite of Election.  2 RCIA Candidates – Cathedral

11^th March CAFOD Lenten Family Fast Day / Cafod Envelopes

19^th March Conclusion of the Year of St Joseph

19^th March Children’s First Reconciliations 10am & 11am 

27^th March BRITISH SUMMERTIME BEGINS. Clocks forward

27^th March Laetare Sunday / Mothering Sunday /

27^th March First Holy Communion Children leading 11am Mass

HOLY WEEK 2022 BEGINS

10^th April Passion Sunday / Palm Sunday. 

12^th April Parish Penitential Service 7.30pm

13^th April   Chrism Mass, Brentwood Cathedral, 11.00am

SACRED TRIDUUM

14^th  April Triduum Begins. Mass of the Lord’s Supper 8.00pm

15^th  April Good Friday. Passion of Our Lord 3.00pm

16^th  April Holy Saturday/ Easter Vigil, 7.30pm

17^th  April Easter Sunday / The Resurrection of the Lord

2 Masses:  9.00am & 11.00am at St. Edmund’s

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS

This year on our Journey of Faith, two members from the community have decided to go forward to the Reception of the Easter Sacraments. Mark Shelton & Neil MacKinnon will be Baptised, Confirmed, and receive the Holy Eucharist. Please keep them in your prayers over this Lenten Season. These final weeks of instruction will help to prepare them for the Joy of the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday Evening 16^th April 2022 at 7.30pm,

St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More

Jesus was a carpenter and was no doubt familiar with the occupational hazard of wood chippings inadvertently landing in the eye. He draws on this experience to tach us about the all-too-human tendency to judge others harshly. It’s part of the human condition to see more readily what’s wrong with others (the splinter) before addressing issues in our own lives (the plank). Why is this? Is it insecurity, low self-esteem, boredom or even just plain old envy or malice? God knows we all do it frequently, clergy and laity alike.

St Teresa of Calcutta said: If you judge people, you have no time to love them.’ Furthermore, Thomas à Kempis stated ‘Be not angry that you cannot make others as you would wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be.’

Jesus encourages us to first examine our own lives before we judge anyone else. The Christian way is to put God’s spotlight on yourself before you judge someone else. A great mantra to help us with this is: ‘There but for the grace of God go I.’ If we lived like this, we would usher in a spiritual revolution, both in our own lives and in our parishes and wider society. We would gossip less, criticize less and condemn less, and have a better understanding that we are all fallen, wounded and prone to darkness, sin and confusion. 

Some will protest that we need to judge and discern people and situations – how else can we help? Apart from the self-righteousness of this view, it’s wrong because it presumes we know how and what God thinks. God’s thinking is as far away for our thinking as the east is from the west. We should practice not judging. The next time you come across a story about someone’s fall (through any human weakness), instead of judging them, pray for them; offer them up to God’s mercy and love. When we think and act like this, we think and act like the Father. 

My Dear Friends in Christ,                 8^th Sunday of the Year, 2022

ASH WEDNESDAY is on the 2^nd March 2022 and marks the beginning of the Holy Season of Lent. This Penitential Season is given to us by the Church to help us prepare ourselves spiritually for the ‘Great Holy Week’, which retraces the Lord Jesus’ last days here on earth. We journey with Him through His Passion, Death & Resurrection. This is a familiar journey, and as Catholic Christians, let us make a very special effort to enter this Holy Season with renewed faith and vigour!

PRAYER: The Three main disciplines of Lent are Prayer, Fasting & Almsgiving (Charity). These next Forty days will give us the opportunity to really make a special effort in our spiritual lives with our personal prayer. Why not put aside a few moments every day as your very special prayer time! We have little Prayer Reflection Books available at £1 each called ‘WALK WITH ME’, these can be kept in your inside pocket or a lady’s handbag and can be used to help with prayer. As you know we have a library at the back of St. Edmund’s. There are many spiritual books that can be borrowed. (Please kindly return the books when you’ve read them). 

FRIDAY FASTING: Was restored in England & Wales. Personal Penance identifies us with the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ. Friday has always been the traditional Fast Day, as it reminds us of Good Friday, the day on which the Lord gave himself completely for the Salvation of Humanity. The re-establishment of this Friday Fast means that we abstain from the eating of meat every Friday! (Not just during Lent). A little sacrifice in our diet once a week will certainly not harm our health. As families, it would be good to pray grace before & after meals together. These are practical and visible ways of our personal self-sacrifice!

ALMSGIVING: or works of Charity have always been associated with the Catholic Faith. We have a special Fast Day for CAFOD during Lent, Friday 11^th March 2020. This is a very practical way to associate ourselves with those who are far less fortunate than ourselves. You may like to adopt a Third World Project, or, you may know of someone who is housebound and might like to visit them or shop for them. Also, FOOD BANK boxes will be in Fr John’s Garage to receive your food items. Anything that reaches out to someone else in charity can only be a good thing! Please make a very special effort to enter this Holy Season of Lent in faith and Love!

May God Bless You All,  

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME 2022: The next class after half-term will be on Sunday 27^th February 2022. It is imperative that all the First Communion Children and their families are present each week at Sunday Mass.  The children will make their Frist reconciliation on Saturday 19^th March – there will be two sessions at 10am & 11am. Please keep all of the children in your prayers as they continue their sacramental preparation.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS Our next meeting will take place at the Presbytery on Thursday 3rd March at 7.30pm. Theme: Sacramentals – Rosary, Benediction, Stations of the Cross, Devotions, Processions.  If you want to know more about the programme, and the whole RCIA process, please contact Fr John, Tel No: 0208 508 3492 

THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTION: What is new about the new Evangelisation? Input will be given by Fr Paschal Uche, assistant priest at St James the Less, Colchester, today, Sunday 27th February, 4.00 – 5.00 p.m. via Zoom. To join these Zoom meetings simply forward a contact email to adultformationvicariate@dioceseofbrentwood.org. For more information go to www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: Fr John’s Fortieth Anniversary of Ordination. As this was unable to take place last year, due to the Pandemic. It has been rescheduled to Friday 8^th July 2022, with concelebrated Mass with Bishop Alan, Priests of the Diocese, Family & Visitors from all over the world, and of course, My Parish Family here at St. Edmund’s. It would be helpful to form a working party to arrange the event. I have already spoken to our Parish Music Director with regards to Music & the Liturgy. 

SYNOD DAY: On Saturday 5^th March 2020. 10am – 1pm.  Brentwood Ursuline School Hall. If you live, work or pray in East London or Essex, We would like to invite you to join us on our Synod Day for interactive sessions that will encourage conversations that help us to delve deeper into the responses received on the themes of Our Journey Together and give you the opportunity to have further input into our Synodal Pathway.  You are welcome to book a small group or come on your own. Please do book as soon as possible so we can prepare to welcome you well. Register: Email:  mail@flocknote.com

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 1 March at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton. The speaker will be Fr Maurice Gordon. For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC GROUP: We will be playing and singing at the 11am Mass on Sunday 6^th March, which will be the first Sunday of Lent. It would be good if many of our singers could be there – a great way to start Lent!   Any parishioners who may consider joining us would be made very welcome. Simply come along.   Also, we’d like to spend some more time in practicing, so we’d really appreciate you coming along early at about 10.10am before Mass. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you.  

EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to generously donate items for the Foodbank. They are truly grateful for the generosity our parish has shown and our donations are still needed desperately as more and more people in our community are finding it hard to make ends meet. They will be running their initiative to support families with food over the Easter holidays and these are the items we can help them with: UHT milk, long-life juice, tinned tomatoes, tinned meat, rice pudding, custard, packet noodles, instant mash, tinned spaghetti, tinned fruit, breakfast bars/ snack bars, jam, chocolate spread, sponge puddings, chocolate bars, bottled sauces (Ketchup/brown sauce), small jars of coffee, toilet roll, laundry powder/tablets, razors, shampoo/conditioner and washing up liquid.  Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

CHILDREN’S SUNDAY LITURGY: Hopefully will be back very soon. But we need your help. Parents, can you spare one Sunday every two months to helpt the children during the 11.00am Mass? We need more parents to join our lovely group. Please contact Mrs Elena Manara at e_vismara@yahoo.com

Thank you and we hope to hear from you soon. 

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: 

Or you can use Parish Bank Account: Using Online Banking
HSBC Sort Code 40-13-22 PLEASE BE GENEROUS IN YOUR
Account Number: 11019651 GIFT TO GOD & HIS CHURCH

SPECIAL APPEAL To all our parishioners who contribute to your parish weekly. Would you please consider to transferring your weekly offertory over to a Direct Debit. With the closing of the local HSBC Bank it has been quite difficult paying in the Offertory, and with many banks now only offering a machine deposit service. Please think about this request. Thank you! 

MARRIAGES FOR 2022: If anyone is planning on getting married in 2022, please could you make contact with Fr. John at the beginning of January. For those getting married in the parish we normally ask for six months’ notice; for those getting married outside of the parish at least nine months’ notice. The documentation and preparation takes quite a long time and organising Marriage Preparation Courses through Marriage Care in the responsibility of the Couple. To avoid any disappointments, please make contact as soon as possible.  

BCYS YOUTH MASS: Thursday 3^rd March, Brentwood Cathedral. Come along from 6pm for pizza, followed by Sophie from the Walsingham House team and CAFOD, who will talk about her experiences, inspiring us to get involved and how we can take action! Mass will begin in the cathedral from 7:30pm, joined by Fr Gary Dench who will preach the Gospel. Open to all those in years 9 and above, no booking necessary. (YOUTH MASS takes place on the First Thursday of every month and groups are always welcome! Please let us know in advance if you wish to bring a group, if you are able, so that we can have an idea how much pizza to order! Any groups are always welcome!)

BCYS LENTEN REVISION RETREAT: 2nd – 3rd April, Walsingham House. In years 11 -13 and preparing for exams this year? Get a change of scenery and a fresh perspective at Walsingham House at Abbotswick this lent for times of prayer, socialising and activities, but mostly to revise, alongside friends and the Walsingham House team members. As always the chapel is here for times of quiet reflection throughout the day. Book online NOW at www.bcys.net/events.

SPONSORED SLEEPOUT: 8th – 9th April, 8pm – 8am. Wherever you are in the Diocese, take part in your gardens, schools or parishes, on your own or as part of a group and spend 12 hours sleeping rough outdoors to raise money for a local charity supporting the homeless. Email sleepout@dioceseofbrentwood.org for more information and to take part. 

BCYS SUMMER LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: 23rd – 30th July 2022. Assist pilgrims going to Masses and services, shops and cafes of the beautiful French town, join in social time together, take part in retreats, reconciliation service, visit the baths, the stunning mountain town of Gavarnie, enjoy social nights, party and experience the amazing Lourdes processions. The cost is £625 for the week, and is open to all those in school year 11 and above (funding and grant opportunities are available). For more information and to book you can visit www.bcys.net/events/sl22 – applications close Sunday 20^th February

BCYS YOUTH GATHER: 22nd – 23rd October, Mersea Island. Stay in cabins and try a brilliant range of outward bound activities from climbing high ropes, archery, zip wires and much more to keep you challenged and entertained, with guest speakers and workshops which will give you fresh insights into yourself, and your faith, by telling their stories. Open to all those in years 9 and above, book NOW at www.bcys.net/events

BOOKING FOR ALL THESE EVENTS – and all information, can be done online at www.bcys.net/events or you can email me with any questions.

THE DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: led by Bishop Alan, will take place from Sunday 24 – Friday 29 July in Lourdes. Brochures for the pilgrimage, which will include costs, will be available soon. For further information contact Cathy O’Connor: cathy@dioceseofbrentwood.org or 07813 710070.

IRREGULAR MARRIAGES: An Irregualr Marriage is one that 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

A SUNDAY EVENING PARISH YOUTH MASS: We’ve had a couple of these popular and enjoyable Masses over the past few years and hopefully we’ll be able to organise one, possibly in the New Year. The idea would be that you could get involved with the music and the readings and make it your own celebration. Hopefully, we will also have a social gathering in the hall afterwards

PARISH FINANCES: As you can appreciate, during this pandemic the parish income took a severe hit, and we are still not back at the same levels as we were prior to 2020. My sincere and grateful thanks to those who have signed up for online giving and Gift Aid, this is helping. Many parishioners have not returned to the regular practice of faith, and many Gift Aid boxes were not collected this year. Please consider your weekly offertory to God. 

ADVERT: The Governing Body of St. Antony’s Catholic Primary School wishes to appoint a talented SEN Learning Support Assistant preferably with experience of working with children with ASD to come and join our inclusive Primary school. For more information, please visit our website  http://www.stantonyscatholicps.co.uk/vacancies CLOSING DATE: Wednesday 9^th March 2022(Noon)   INTERVIEWS: Friday 11th March 2022

DIARY FEBRUARY – MARCH 2022

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

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

ANNIVERSARIES: Thomas Mitchley RIP.  Please pray for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham – 28th May 2022: Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham as we celebrate the Year of the Family ‘Hearing and Doing the Word of God’. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House. If you would like to come we would need to organise a Parish pilgrimage form the Church. 

MASS INTENTIONS – FEBRUARY / MARCH 2022

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. 

Parish Phone No: 0208 508 3492  Email: loughton@dioceseofbrentwood.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust     Registered Charity No. 234092

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading : Ecclesiasticus 27:5-8

In a shaken sieve the rubbish is left behind,

  so too the defects of a man appear in his talk.

The kiln tests the work of the potter,

  the test of a man is in his conversation.

The orchard where a tree grows is judged on the quality of its fruit,

  similarly a man’s words betray what he feels.

Do not praise a man before he has spoken,

  since this is the test of men.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 91(92):2-3,13-16

It is good to give you thanks, O Lord.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

  to make music to your name, O Most High,

to proclaim your love in the morning

  and your truth in the watches of the night.

It is good to give you thanks, O Lord.

The just will flourish like the palm tree

  and grow like a Lebanon cedar.

It is good to give you thanks, O Lord.

Planted in the house of the Lord

  they will flourish in the courts of our God,

still bearing fruit when they are old,

  still full of sap, still green,

to proclaim that the Lord is just.

  In him, my rock, there is no wrong.

It is good to give you thanks, O Lord.

Second Reading : 1 Corinthians 15:54-58

When this perishable nature has put on imperishability, and when this mortal nature has put on immortality, then the words of scripture will come true: Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and sin gets its power from the Law. So let us thank God for giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

  Never give in then, my dear brothers, never admit defeat; keep on working at the Lord’s work always, knowing that, in the Lord, you cannot be labouring in vain.

Gospel : Luke 6:39-45

Jesus told a parable to his disciples: ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.

  ‘There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit: people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.’

THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More

G.K. Chesterton famously said, ‘The Christian ideal has not been tired and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.’ It’s relatively easy to talk about or give lip-service to ideals such as loving our enemy, not judging, turning the other cheek and praying for those who mistrust us, but try doing these things when you actually have someone to forgive or indeed have an enemy who wants to harm you. It’s not as easy, is it?

So, what’s the solution? So we have to try harder, pull our socks up, regroup and buckle down to live the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes? For many this is the answer and their best response. The only problem – apart from being heretical (Pelagianism) – is that is misses the mark, because our faith isn’t about trying harder and putting in the effort. Of course, many will claim it is, and without a doubt we have to co-operate, to want to live Jesus’ teaching, but simply trying harder isn’t the answer. Grace is the answer, grace building on nature, so that we can live a new life in and by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

How does this happen? As offensive and scandalous as this may sound, we need to be overwhelmed by our complete inability to live the Christian ethic; we need to touch our bankruptcy and feel deep down in our being a wretchedness born of an insight that we desperately need God’s grace. Nevertheless, we don’t need to be dismayed or overwhelmed, for the Holy Spirit’s power enables us to live holy lives, because holiness is the fruit of the Spirit. 

We often believe that God helps those who help themselves, but actually God helps precisely those who cannot help themselves. When we acknowledge this, when we recognise our need for God’s grace, his grace, mercy and Holy Spirit are poured out into our hearts, so that we can love our enemy, forgive from our hearts, and pray for those who persecute and mistreat us. 

My Dear Friends in Christ,               7^th Sunday of the Year, 2022

As the saying goes; ‘Time and tide wait for no man’. As the Holy Season of Lent rapidly approaches, I appeal to all of our parishioners to make a very special effort during this Lenten Season commencing on Ash Wednesday 2^nd March. The past two years have been very strange due to the Pandemic. An element of fear certainly has prevailed and people’s regular routines have been disrupted. Many have suffered through sickness and ill health, some contacted the Corona Virus, sadly some have passed away. Children and Young People’s lives and schooling were affected considerably. But it is only now that we are trying to regain some semblance of normality once again.

Throughout the whole world, speaking to many priest friends from United States, Australia, & Europe, many people have not returned to the practice of the faith in the parish communities, and there may be the distinct possibility that some will never return. But this Lenten Season will give us all an additional impetus to reconnect permanently with our parishes. In our RCIA talk this week we discussed the importance of Prayer in our lives, and how this daily connection with God & Jesus is the life-line of our faith. All the different methods of prayer were explored, and being present at Holy Mass is also one of those prayers. For less than one hour a week we are invited to share in the Great Paschal Mystery; being part of the community united in this great prayer of Thanksgiving to God. And yet, for some, this is even too much! Reflect on the amount of time you spend watching the TV each week; or how many hours a day you spend on your mobile phone. This short time each week with the Lord certainly transforms our lives, but no one can do this for us, it has be of our own efforts to get close to the Lord that increases our faith. Lent is the Season for this.       

There are all sort of different ways that we can make our Lenten journey special. The daily reading of our Bible; attending an additional Mass each week; attending the Stations of the Cross or a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament. There are a variety of spiritual books that you can read, e.g. Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Pitre. No Greater Love by Edward Sri. The Decline and Fall of Sacred Scripture – By Scott Hahn & Benjamin Wiker. 40 Days of Lent Journey to Easter – By Catholic Common Prayers. There are also the spiritual classics, and many more. All of these can be obtained through Amazon.

May God Bless You All

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME 2022: The next class after half-term will be on Sunday 27^th February 2022. It is imperative that all the First Communion Children and their families are present each week at Sunday Mass. Please keep all of the children in your prayers as they continue their sacramental preparation.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS Our next meeting will take place at the Presbytery on Thursday 3rd March at 7.30pm. Theme: Sacramentals – Rosary, Benediction, Stations of the Cross, Devotions, Processions.  If you want to know more about the programme, and the whole RCIA process, please contact Fr John, Tel No: 0208 508 3492 

THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTION: What is new about the new Evangelisation? Input will be given by Fr Paschal Uche, assistant priest at St James the Less, Colchester, today, Sunday 20th February, 4.00 – 5.00 p.m. via Zoom. To join these Zoom meetings simply forward a contact email to adultformationvicariate@dioceseofbrentwood.org. For more information go to www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk

EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to generously donate items for the Foodbank. They are truly grateful for the generosity our parish has shown and our donations are still needed desperately as more and more people in our community are finding it hard to make ends meet. They will be running their initiative to support families with food over the Easter holidays and these are the items we can help them with: UHT milk, long-life juice, tinned tomatoes, tinned meat, rice pudding, custard, packet noodles, instant mash, tinned spaghetti, tinned fruit, breakfast bars/ snack bars, jam, chocolate spread, sponge puddings, chocolate bars, bottled sauces (Ketchup/brown sauce), small jars of coffee, toilet roll, laundry powder/tablets, razors, shampoo/conditioner and washing up liquid.  Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

VISITATION OF THE SICK & HOUSEBOUND: In the latest guidelines from the Bishops’ Conference we have now been given permission once again to resume our visitation of sick & housebound parishioners. If anyone would like a visit or receive Holy Communion at home, please contact Fr John at the Presbytery. Tel No: 020 8508 3492 or Email: loughton@ dioceseofbrentwood.org

BCYS YOUTH MASS: Thursday 3^rd March, Brentwood Cathedral. Come along from 6pm for pizza, followed by Sophie from the Walsingham House team and CAFOD, who will talk about her experiences, inspiring us to get involved and how we can take action! Mass will begin in the cathedral from 7:30pm, joined by Fr Gary Dench who will preach the Gospel. Open to all those in years 9 and above, no booking necessary. (YOUTH MASS takes place on the First Thursday of every month and groups are always welcome! Please let us know in advance if you wish to bring a group, if you are able, so that we can have an idea how much pizza to order! Any groups are always welcome!) 

BCYS LENTEN REVISION RETREAT: 2nd – 3rd April, Walsingham House

In years 11 -13 and preparing for exams this year? Get a change of scenery and a fresh perspective at Walsingham House at Abbotswick this lent for times of prayer, socialising and activities, but mostly to revise, alongside friends and the Walsingham House team members. As always the chapel is here for times of quiet reflection throughout the day. Book online NOW at www.bcys.net/events.

SPONSORED SLEEPOUT: 8th – 9th April, 8pm – 8am. Wherever you are in the Diocese, take part in your gardens, schools or parishes, on your own or as part of a group and spend 12 hours sleeping rough outdoors to raise money for a local charity supporting the homeless. Email sleepout@dioceseofbrentwood.org for more information and to take part. 

BCYS SUMMER LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: 23rd – 30th July 2022. Assist pilgrims going to Masses and services, shops and cafes of the beautiful French town, join in social time together, take part in retreats, reconciliation service, visit the baths, the stunning mountain town of Gavarnie, enjoy social nights, party and experience the amazing Lourdes processions. The cost is £625 for the week, and is open to all those in school year 11 and above (funding and grant opportunities are available). For more information and to book you can visit www.bcys.net/events/sl22 – applications close Sunday 20^th February

BCYS YOUTH GATHER: 22nd – 23rd October, Mersea Island. Stay in cabins and try a brilliant range of outward bound activities from climbing high ropes, archery, zip wires and much more to keep you challenged and entertained, with guest speakers and workshops which will give you fresh insights into yourself, and your faith, by telling their stories. Open to all those in years 9 and above, book NOW at www.bcys.net/events

BOOKING FOR ALL THESE EVENTS – and all information, can be done online at www.bcys.net/events or you can email me with any questions.

THE DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: led by Bishop Alan, will take place from Sunday 24 – Friday 29 July in Lourdes. Brochures for the pilgrimage, which will include costs, will be available soon. For further information contact Cathy O’Connor: cathy@dioceseofbrentwood.org or 07813 710070.

IRREGULAR MARRIAGES: An Irregualr Marriage is one that 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

A SUNDAY EVENING PARISH YOUTH MASS: We’ve had a couple of these popular and enjoyable Masses over the past few years and hopefully we’ll be able to organise one, possibly in the New Year. The idea would be that you could get involved with the music and the readings and make it your own celebration. Hopefully, we will also have a social gathering in the hall afterwards

PARISH FINANCES: As you can appreciate, during this pandemic the parish income took a severe hit, and we are still not back at the same levels as we were prior to 2020. My sincere and grateful thanks to those who have signed up for online giving and Gift Aid, this is helping. Many parishioners have not returned to the regular practice of faith, and many Gift Aid boxes were not collected this year. Please consider your weekly offertory to God. 

ADVERT: The Governing Body of St. Antony’s Catholic Primary School wishes to appoint a talented SEN Learning Support Assistant preferably with experience of working with children with ASD to come and join our inclusive Primary school. For more information, please visit our website  http://www.stantonyscatholicps.co.uk/vacancies CLOSING DATE: Wednesday 9^th March 2022(Noon)   INTERVIEWS: Friday 11th March 2022

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: Fr John’s Fortieth Anniversary of Ordination. As this was unable to take place last year, due to the Pandemic. It has been rescheduled to Friday 8^th July 2022, with concelebrated Mass with Bishop Alan, Priests of the Diocese, Family & Visitors from all over the world, and of course, My Parish Family here at St. Edmund’s. It would be helpful to form a working party to arrange the event. I have already spoken to our Parish Music Director with regards to Music & the Liturgy. Please contact Fr John: Tel No: 020 8508 3492

SYNOD DAY: On Saturday 5^th March 2020. 10am – 1pm.  Brentwood Ursuline School Hall. If you live, work or pray in East London or Essex, We would like to invite you to join us on our Synod Day for interactive sessions that will encourage conversations that help us to delve deeper into the responses received on the themes of Our Journey Together and give you the opportunity to have further input into our Synodal Pathway.  You are welcome to book a small group or come on your own. Please do book as soon as possible so we can prepare to welcome you well. Register: Email:  mail@flocknote.com

ARE YOU INTERSTED IN A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD? The next “Enquirers’ Evening” for those considering or interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 1 March at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton. The speaker will be Fr Maurice Gordon. For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires vocprom@dioceseofbrentwood.org

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC GROUP: We will be playing and singing at the 11am Mass on Sunday 6^th March, which will be the first Sunday of Lent. It would be good if many of our singers could be there – a great way to start Lent!   Any parishioners who may consider joining us would be made very welcome. Simply come along.   Also, we’d like to spend some more time in practicing, so we’d really appreciate you coming along early at about 10.10am before Mass. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you.  

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham – 28th May 2022: Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham as we celebrate the Year of the Family ‘Hearing and Doing the Word of God’. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy House. If you would like to come we would need to organise a Parish pilgrimage form the Church.

DIARY JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2022

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

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

ANNIVERSARIES: Celia Rowe RIP, Patricia Gardner RIP, Eileen Bevan RIP.  Please pray for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.

SPECIAL APPEAL To all our parishioners who contribute to your parish weekly. Would you please consider to transferring your weekly offertory over to a Direct Debit. With the closing of the local HSBC Bank it has been quite difficult paying in the Offertory, and with many banks now only offering a machine deposit service. Please think about this request. Thank you! 

WEEKLY OFFERTORY: My sincere thanks to those who are making their weekly contribution of Gift Aid envelopes and through the banking system that has been set up through the Diocese whereby your Offertory can be paid directly into the Parish Account, details below: 

Or you can use Parish Bank Account: Using Online Banking
HSBC Sort Code 40-13-22 PLEASE BE GENEROUS IN YOUR
Account Number: 11019651 GIFT TO GOD & HIS CHURCH

MARRIAGES FOR 2022: If anyone is planning on getting married in 2022, please could you make contact with Fr. John at the beginning of January. For those getting married in the parish we normally ask for six months’ notice; for those getting married outside of the parish at least nine months’ notice. The documentation and preparation takes quite a long time and organising Marriage Preparation Courses through Marriage Care in the responsibility of the Couple. To avoid any disappointments, please make contact as soon as possible.  

MASS INTENTIONS – FEBRUARY 2022

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. 

Parish Phone No: 0208 508 3492  Email: loughton@dioceseofbrentwood.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust     Registered Charity No. 234092

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading : 1 Samuel 26:2,7-9,11-13,22-23

Saul set off and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand men chosen from Israel to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph.

  In the dark David and Abishai made their way towards the force, where they found Saul lying asleep inside the camp, his spear stuck in the ground beside his head, with Abner and the troops lying round him.

  Then Abishai said to David, ‘Today God has put your enemy in your power; so now let me pin him to the ground with his own spear. Just one stroke! I will not need to strike him twice.’ David answered Abishai, ‘Do not kill him, for who can lift his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be without guilt? The Lord forbid that I should raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed! But now take the spear beside his head and the pitcher of water and let us go away.’ David took the spear and the pitcher of water from beside Saul’s head, and they made off. No one saw, no one knew, no one woke up; they were all asleep, for a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.

  David crossed to the other side and halted on the top of the mountain a long way off; there was a wide space between them. He called out, ‘Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the soldiers come across and take it. The Lord repays everyone for his uprightness and loyalty. Today the Lord put you in my power, but I would not raise my hand against the Lord’s anointed.’

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 102(103):1-4,8,10,12-13

The Lord is compassion and love.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord

  all my being, bless his holy name.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord

  and never forget all his blessings.

The Lord is compassion and love.

It is he who forgives all your guilt,

  who heals every one of your ills,

who redeems your life from the grave,

  who crowns you with love and compassion.

The Lord is compassion and love.

The Lord is compassion and love,

  slow to anger and rich in mercy.

He does not treat us according to our sins

  nor repay us according to our faults.

The Lord is compassion and love.

As far as the east is from the west

  so far does he remove our sins.

As a father has compassion on his sons,

  the Lord has pity on those who fear him.

The Lord is compassion and love.

Second Reading : 1 Corinthians 15:45-49

The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul; but the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit. That is, first the one with the soul, not the spirit, and after that, the one with the spirit. The first man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is from heaven. As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the heavenly man is, so are we in heaven. And we, who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man.

Gospel : Luke 6:27-38

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

  ‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

The Beatitudes occur in only Mathew’s and Luke’s Gospel. Matthew’s version is delivered on a mountain (just as Moses delivered the Ten Commandments) and Luke’s version on a plain or lever ground. There are many comparisons to be made. Luke’s version doesn’t have the ‘poor in spirit’ – simply ‘the poor’ – and omits the Beatitude about the meet inheriting the earth. His version also has a set of ‘woes’, which highlight the downside of being rich, well fed, socially affirmed, etc.

Mining the Scriptures for hidden depths yields fruit and many blessings. The Beatitudes, be they Matthean of Lucan, do a variety of things. They shed light on the actions and attitudes characteristic of the Christian life. They’re the paradoxical promises that sustain hope amid tribulations. They’re also the very heart and essence of Jesus’s teachings and reveal his face, character and personality. 

Jesus lived the Beatitudes; he incarnated them, if you like. Perhaps he is the only one whoever has, for to live them is to be perfect as the Father in heaven is perfect. Mind you, given that in his lifetime St Francis was called the ‘Second Christ’, it’s likely that he came close, alongside other great saints, especially Mary, the Mother of God. 

However, the Beatitudes aren’t just for the saints, but for all of us. They contain both promises of what we shall become, and the revelation of what we have begun to be, albeit in perhaps a somewhat hidden way.

One way of living the Beatitudes and putting them into practice is to memorise them, to become familiar with them as with the Our Father or the Hail Mary. This straightforward step will help us to take them to heart and cherish them during our daily lives. St Augustine said, ‘We all want to live happily; in the whole human race there is no one who does not assent to this proposition, even before it is fully articulated. 

My Dear Friends in Christ,                 6^th Sunday of the Year, 2022

This weekend we welcome Fr Kirby Rust from the Diocese of Louisville, Kentucky, who is doing post-graduate studies in Rome. It’s seven years since Fr Kirby was last here; please extend him your usual warm welcome. He returns to Rome this afternoon. 

As we all attempt to get back to some semblance of normality during this Covid Pandemic, and with restrictions being lifted dramatically, we realise that the world will never be the same again. For nearly two years the whole world has been contending with all sorts of restrictions, and many people have suffered both physically and psychologically. Many are still very frightened to go out of their homes. Tragically, there have been many deaths to this terrible disease. But we cannot put our lives on hold; we cannot stop living. We’ve lost two years; we don’t want to lose anymore. 

It is truly wonderful to see so many parishioners who have returned to regular practice of faith. All I can ask of those who have not returned, and there are many in all parishes, please think about the whole of your spiritual and Catholic lives, and parents, please think about your children. Our life of faith is not just something that we tag on to the rest of our life; it’s the mainstay of who we are as sons and daughters of God. Would you really want to give that up??

I would like to hope that we have all had time to evaluate over the past two years the most important aspects of our lives, and to realise that we cannot live without God and faith. The Pandemic was certainly a big wake-up call! 

THE HOLY SEASON OF LENT is fast approaching; Ash Wednesday is on the 2^nd March. It would be truly wonderful if everyone in our parish would make a really special act of commitment to the Lord during this holy season: to make an extra special effort to be present at the Sunday Liturgy of Holy Mass, to practice the Lenten Disciplines of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. There are all sort of different ways that we can make our Lenten journey special. The daily reading of our Bible; there are a variety of spiritual books that you can read, e.g. Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist by Brant Pitre. No Greater Love by Edward Sri. The Decline and Fall of Sacred Scripture – By Scott Hahn & Benjamin Wiker. 40 Days of Lent Journey to Easter – By Catholic Common Prayers. There are also the spiritual classics, and many more. All of these can be obtained through Amazon.

May God Bless You All

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME 2022: The next class after half-term will be on Sunday 27^th February 2022. It is imperative that all the First Communion Children and their families are present each week at Sunday Mass. Mt thanks to all the parents who turned up for the Parents Meeting given by Dr Paul Doherty OBE. There was truly a wonderful turnout and Dr Doherty was excellent on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Please keep all of the children in your prayers as they continue their sacramental preparation.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS Our next m eeting will take place at the presbytery on Thursday 17^th February at 7.30pm. Theme: Mary – Mother of God, Mother of the Church. Prayer – The Lifeline between ourselves and God – Methods of Prayer.  If you want to know more about the programme, and the whole RCIA process, please contact Fr John, Tel No: 0208 508 3492 

THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTION: What do devotions to Mary tell us about her Son, Jesus? Input will be given by Fr Michael Barwick, assistant parish priest of Our Lady and St George, Walthamstow today, Sunday 13th February, 4.00 – 5.00p.m. via Zoom. To join this Zoom meeting simply forward a contact email to adultformationvicariate@dioceseofbrentwood.org. For more information go to www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk 

EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to generously donate items for the Foodbank. They are truly grateful for the generosity our parish has shown 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: UHT milk, laundry powder and tablets, tinned tomatoes, sponge puddings, cleaning spray / cloths, instant mash, toilet paper, chocolate bars, rice pudding and jam. Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/

VISITATION OF THE SICK & HOUSEBOUND: In the latest guidelines from the Bishops’ Conference we have now been given permission once again to resume our visitation of sick & housebound parishioners. If anyone would like a visit or receive Holy Communion at home, please contact Fr John.

SPECIAL APPEAL TO ALL PARISHIONERS

DIFFERENT WAYS TO HELP YOUR PARISH: There are all sorts of ministries in the life of faith and the Church; please would you consider joining one of the following:-

Parish Readers: You may have thought it would be good to become a Reader at Holy Mass; please see Fr John if you’re interested.

The Parish Altar Society: has been running for over 70 years. This involves keeping the Church in pristine condition through cleaning and care. It’s always good to have more volunteers to go onto the Rota. E.g. there is the cleaning of the church, cleaning of windows, Cleaning of Sacristies, Cleaning of the Organ Loft, Care of Sanctuary, Washing of Altar Linens, Cleaning of the Brass; if you can help in any way whatsoever, please contact Fr John or Sharon Fitzmaurice.

Additional Catechists: Helping to teach the faith to our Children through Sacramental Preparation. Communicating the truths of faith to our little ones is really a wonderful ministry, and can be very rewarding spiritually to both child and Catechist alike. There is always need for further help with this very important ministry.

Altar Serving: We are always looking for new Altar Servers. Sadly, we lost a lot of our Severs during the Pandemic, who have decided not to return to weekly serving. If your child has made their First Holy Communion, and would like to serve please speak to Fr. John.

Joining the Choir or Contemporary Music Group: If you enjoy singing, or that you’re a musician, you may consider joining our Choir or the Contemporary Music Group. These two groups meet regularly for practice, and enrich our Sunday Liturgy.

Volunteer Gardeners for St Edmund’s Church grounds: We don’t have a lot of property at St Edmund’s, but if anyone has green fingers, and would like to help keep the front garden and hedges, shrubs and grounds tidy, I would be most grateful. Please call Fr. John.  Tel No: 020 8508 3492 

PLEASE CONSIDER THESE SUGGESTIONS; WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER ALMIGHTY GOD THROUGH OUR TALENTS.

Bishop’s Certificate in Catechesis and Youth Ministry: The Bishop’s Certificate is designed to be an entry level qualification to help in the ongoing formation of adults involved in sacramental preparation or youth ministry in the Diocese of Brentwood. It includes both the development of practical skills & the deepening of theological knowledge. The course is online and taught through engaging, short videos with expert interviews. The course will begin on the evening of 24th February, with an introduction and welcome evening, held at Walsingham House at Abbotswick. For more information please see our website: https://bcys.net/bishops-cert/ or email your expression of interest to bishopscertificate@dioceseofbrentwood.org by Monday 22^nd February.

BE PART OF THE WALSINGHAM HOUSE TEAM 2022/23 

If you are 18+ and looking for an exciting gap year opportunity, then a year on the Walsingham House Team could be for you. Spend a year as a volunteer in a thriving young Catholic Community, working with thousands of young people from Essex and East London. We are looking for inspiring individuals who want to share their faith with other young people and are also looking to learn new skills, grow deeper in their own faith and enjoy a challenge. For more information please contact Joseph Beattie, manager of Walsingham House, by emailing josephbeattie@dioceseofbrentwood.org or calling 01277 373959. There is more information about our work on our website (www.bcys.net) and social media @Brentwoodcys

BCYS SUMMER LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 2022: 23rd – 30th July 2022. Join the Youth pilgrimage to Lourdes this Summer, assisting pilgrims to Masses, services, shops and cafes of the beautiful French town, take part in retreats and a youth led reconciliation service, visit the baths and the stunning mountain town of Gavarnie, experience the amazing Lourdes processions, as well as social nights, party and so much more! The cost is £625 for the week, and is open to all those in school year 11 and above (funding and grant opportunities are available). 

You can email gabriellafusi@dioceseofbrentwood.org or visit www.bcys.net/events/sl22 to find out more and apply now! The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th February. 

THE DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: led by Bishop Alan, will take place from Sunday 24 – Friday 29 July in Lourdes. Brochures for the pilgrimage, which will include costs, will be available soon. For further information contact Cathy O’Connor: cathy@dioceseofbrentwood.org or 07813 710070.

IRREGULAR MARRIAGES: An Irregualr Marriage is one that 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

A SUNDAY EVENING PARISH YOUTH MASS: We’ve had a couple of these popular and enjoyable Masses over the past few years and hopefully we’ll be able to organise one, possibly in the New Year. The idea would be that you could get involved with the music and the readings and make it your own celebration. Hopefully, we will also have a social gathering in the hall afterwards

PARISH FINANCES: As you can appreciate, during this pandemic the parish income took a severe hit, and we are still not back at the same levels as we were prior to 2020. My sincere and grateful thanks to those who have signed up for online giving and Gift Aid, this is helping. Many parishioners have not returned to the regular practice of faith, and many Gift Aid boxes were not collected this year. Please consider your weekly offertory to God.

ADVERT: The Governing Body of St. Antony’s Catholic Primary School wishes to appoint a talented SEN Learning Support Assistant preferably with experience of working with children with ASD to come and join our inclusive Primary school. For more information, please visit our website  http://www.stantonyscatholicps.co.uk/vacancies

CLOSING DATE: Wednesday 9^th March 2022(Noon)   INTERVIEWS: Friday 11th March 2022

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: Fr John’s Fortieth Anniversary of Ordination. As this was unable to take place last year, due to the Pandemic. It has been rescheduled to Friday 8^th July 2022, with concelebrated Mass with Bishop Alan, Priests of the Diocese, Family & Visitors from all over the world, and of course, My Parish Family here at St. Edmund’s. It would be helpful to form a working party to arrange the event. I have already spoken to our Parish Music Director with regards to Music & the Liturgy. 

DIARY JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2022

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

Carmen Antaki, Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Karl Britz, Carlos Camacho, Jane Downs, Steve Dalgliesh, Pat Fenn,  Veronica Godsave, Bernadette Hall, Ann Hawkes, Claire Howes, Jackie Ilines, Noel Johnson, Shaun Keel, Bridget Kinsella, 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: Celia Rowe RIP, Patricia Gardner RIP, Eileen Bevan RIP.  Please pray for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.

SPECIAL APPEAL To all our parishioners who contribute to your parish weekly. Would you please consider to transferring your weekly offertory over to a Direct Debit. With the closing of the local HSBC Bank it has been quite difficult paying in the Offertory, and with many banks now only offering a machine deposit service. Please think about this request. Thank you! 

WEEKLY OFFERTORY: My sincere thanks to those who are making their weekly contribution of Gift Aid envelopes and through the banking system that has been set up through the Diocese whereby your Offertory can be paid directly into the Parish Account, details below: 

Or you can use Parish Bank Account: Using Online Banking
HSBC Sort Code 40-13-22 PLEASE BE GENEROUS IN YOUR
Account Number: 11019651 GIFT TO GOD & HIS CHURCH

MARRIAGES FOR 2022: If anyone is planning on getting married in 2022, please could you make contact with Fr. John at the beginning of January. For those getting married in the parish we normally ask for six months’ notice; for those getting married outside of the parish at least nine months’ notice. The documentation and preparation takes quite a long time and organising Marriage Preparation Courses through Marriage Care in the responsibility of the Couple. To avoid any disappointments, please make contact as soon as possible. 

MASS INTENTIONS – FEBRUARY 2022

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. 

Parish Phone No: 0208 508 3492  Email: loughton@dioceseofbrentwood.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust     Registered Charity No. 234092

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading : Jeremiah 17:5-8

The Lord says this:

‘A curse on the man who puts his trust in man,

who relies on things of flesh,

whose heart turns from the Lord.

He is like dry scrub in the wastelands:

if good comes, he has no eyes for it,

he settles in the parched places of the wilderness,

a salt land, uninhabited.

‘A blessing on the man who puts his trust in the Lord,

with the Lord for his hope.

He is like a tree by the waterside

that thrusts its roots to the stream:

when the heat comes it feels no alarm,

its foliage stays green;

it has no worries in a year of drought,

and never ceases to bear fruit.’

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 1:1-4,6

Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.

Happy indeed is the man

  who follows not the counsel of the wicked;

nor lingers in the way of sinners

  nor sits in the company of scorners,

but whose delight is the law of the Lord

  and who ponders his law day and night.

Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.

He is like a tree that is planted

  beside the flowing waters,

that yields its fruit in due season

  and whose leaves shall never fade;

  and all that he does shall prosper.

Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.

Not so are the wicked, not so!

For they like winnowed chaff

  shall be driven away by the wind:

for the Lord guards the way of the just

  but the way of the wicked leads to doom.

Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.

Second Reading :1 Corinthians 15:12,16-20

If Christ, raised from the dead is what has been preached, how can some of you be saying that there is no resurrection of the dead? For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, you are still in your sins. And what is more serious, all who have died in Christ have perished. If our hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are the most unfortunate of all people.

But Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep.

Gospel : Luke 6:17,20-26

Jesus came down with the Twelve and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon. Then fixing his eyes on his disciples he said:

‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.

Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.

Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.

Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.

‘But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.

Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry.

Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.

‘Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.’

The Gospel of the Lord. 

St. Edmund of Canterbury & St. Thomas More

We crossed into a new millennium over twenty years ago and a new stage of the Church’s journey began. At the heart of this new adventure was the new evangelisation, a fresh, new and dynamic momentum to ‘put out into the deep’, or ‘Duc in Altum’. Peter and his fellow disciples trusted Jesus’ words and cast their nets, and, ‘When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.’

These words, ‘put out into the deep’, still ring out today, inviting us to remember the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm, and look forward to the future with confidence, because, ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.’

To ‘put out into the deep is related primarily to evangelisation, of winning souls for Christ. Jesus is the goal of history and the One Saviour of the world. The Church and the Spirit cry out in unity, ‘Marantha’ or, ‘Come, Lord Jesus’. He is also the goal and purpose of our lives, and the limits test of faith is always: do you know Jesus Christ our Lord? For in knowing and loving him we can become strengthened in grace and desire to share this blessing with others.

We are called not to be afraid but to be fishers of men and women. We are called to understand the deep desires and longings of every human heart, but to do this we must first understand our own. We thirst to know the Living God. We cry out to show his mercy and forgiveness in such a way that the deep joy and happiness well up within. 

The Spirit is the One who quenches thirst and brings new life. This is God’s merciful love which was made known in Christ. When we come to touch his goodness, kindness and compassion our hearts sing out: ‘O give thanks to the Lord for his is good; his steadfast love endures forever.’ We are ambassadors of God’s mercy, channels of his love, and witnesses of his goodness and kindness.       

My Dear Friends in Christ,               5^th Sunday of the Year, 2022

This weekend we welcome back Seminarians from the Pontifical North American College. It’s been two years since the seminarians visited us regularly due to the Covid Pandemic. The four guys have been here for a few days visiting London and return on Sunday afternoon to Rome. Please extend them you usual warm hospitality. Also on Monday a Student Priest, Fr Kirby Rust will be visiting from Rome for a few days; once again please extend him your welcome!

Last weekend we sang at all of the Masses. It was so good to receive so much positive comment. The new hymn books are an updated version of Celebration for Everyone, and have over a thousand pieces of music, hymns, psalms, mass settings etc. It is good to get back to some semblance of normality once again and to be able to celebrate Mass in a normal manner, without excluding various parts of the Mass. The Holy Eucharist (The Mass), is the once occasions when we all gather together united in faith to celebrate the beauty of Jesus Christ’s love for us. And as he gives himself to us in Holy Communion our lives are transformed. 

I would like to make an impassioned appeal to all those who have not yet returned to Holy Mass (if you are reading this newsletter) since the Pandemic; to think about your lives of faith, and to seriously ask yourselves do you still want to be a part of the Catholic Church? You are all probably well aware that many have not returned. Sadly, a lot of families have not been here for nearly two years. I was listening to a programme on Radio 4 the other day about how quickly a habit can become adopted in a person’s life. It stated that it takes approximately three months to get out of a regular habit; others have said 21 days. As stated, it’s nearly two years for some who have got out of the Catholic (habit) practice of faith at Sunday Mass. My genuine worry and concern is for children, and young adults, who may believe that it is no longer necessary to be part of a worshipping community. The decisions we make now in our lives have a long-term effect on the future, and more importantly, on our future eternal salvation. Please think about these issues!  

VISITATION OF THE SICK & HOUSEBOUND: In the latest guidelines from the Bishops’ Conference we have now been given permission once again to resume our visitation of sick & housebound parishioners. If anyone would like a visit or receive Holy Communion at home, please contact Fr John.

Have a Blessed Week & Keep safe & well          

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PROGRAMME 2022: The class will be on Sunday 6^th January 2022. It is imperative that all the First Communion Children and their families are present each week at Sunday Mass. Please note that the next Parents’ Meeting will take place on Wednesday 9^th February at 7.30pm. Dr Paul Doherty will give the talk.  The subject will be the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Please keep all of the children in your prayers as they continue their sacramental preparation

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS We will next meet on Thursday 10^th February at the Presbytery. Theme: Eschatology – Study of the four last things; Death, Judement, Heaven & Hell.  If you want to know more about the programme, and the whole RCIA process, please contact Fr John, Tel No: 0208 508 3492 or Email:  loughton@dioceseofbrentwood.org

THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTIONS: Will be given by Fr Martin Hardy, Parish Priest of St Thomas of Canterbury, Grays, on Sunday 6^th February,  4.00 – 5.00 p.m. Theme Question: What does it mean to talk about a woman as Mother of God and Mother of the Church? If you would like to join this  Zoom meeting simply forward a contact email to adultformationvicariate@dioceseofbrentwood.org. For more information go to www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk

PARISH UNIFORM GROUPS: On Sunday 6^th February we will have a Parish Uniform Group Church Parade at the 11.00am Mass. I would like to thank all the Leaders who have helped to organise this. It will be wonderful to welcome back out Uniform Groups after a two year pause because to the Pandemic. Please encourage all the children in the groups to wear their uniforms. To bear witness to God and to Jesus Christ as young children and teenagers is truly a wonderful testament in the life of faith. The Uniform Groups has been going for over 70 years in our parish, which is incredible!  

EPPING FOREST FOODBANK DONATIONS: Thank you to all parishioners who continue to generously donate items for the Foodbank. They are truly grateful for the generosity our parish has shown 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: UHT milk, laundry powder and tablets, tinned tomatoes, sponge puddings, cleaning spray / cloths, instant mash, toilet paper, chocolate bars, rice pudding and jam. Thank you! You can also keep up to date with the Foodbank news via their Facebook page:

www.facebook.com/EppingForestFoodbank/ 

MARRIAGES FOR 2022: If anyone is planning on getting married in 2022, please could you make contact with Fr. John at the beginning of January. For those getting married in the parish we normally ask for six months’ notice; for those getting married outside of the parish at least nine months’ notice. The documentation and preparation takes quite a long time and organising Marriage Preparation Courses through Marriage Care in the responsibility of the Couple. To avoid any disappointments, please make contact as soon as possible. 

SPECIAL APPEAL TO ALL PARISHIONERS

DIFFERENT WAYS TO HELP YOUR PARISH: There are all sorts of ministries in the life of faith and the Church; please would you consider joining one of the following:-

Parish Readers: You may have thought it would be good to become a Reader at Holy Mass; please see Fr John if you’re interested.

The Parish Altar Society: has been running for over 70 years. This involves keeping the Church in pristine condition through cleaning and care. It’s always good to have more volunteers to go onto the Rota. E.g. there is the cleaning of the church, cleaning of windows, Cleaning of Sacristies, Cleaning of the Organ Loft, Care of Sanctuary, Washing of Altar Linens, Cleaning of the Brass; if you can help in any way whatsoever, please contact Fr John or Sharon Fitzmaurice.

Additional Catechists: Helping to teach the faith to our Children through Sacramental Preparation. Communicating the truths of faith to our little ones is really a wonderful ministry, and can be very rewarding spiritually to both child and Catechist alike. There is always need for further help with this very important ministry.

Altar Serving: We are always looking for new Altar Servers. Sadly, we lost a lot of our Severs during the Pandemic, who have decided not to return to weekly serving. If your child has made their First Holy Communion, and would like to serve please speak to Fr. John.

Joining the Choir or Contemporary Music Group: If you enjoy singing, or that you’re a musician, you may consider joining our Choir or the Contemporary Music Group. These two groups meet regularly for practice, and enrich our Sunday Liturgy.

Volunteer Gardeners for St Edmund’s Church grounds: We don’t have a lot of property at St Edmund’s, but if anyone has green fingers, and would like to help keep the front garden and hedges, shrubs and grounds tidy, I would be most grateful. Please call Fr. John.  Tel No: 020 8508 3492 

PLEASE CONSIDER THESE SUGGESTIONS; WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER ALMIGHTY GOD THROUGH OUR TALENTS.

DIARY JANUARY – FEBRUARY 2022

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE SICK IN OUR PARISH

Carmen Antaki, Margaret Baldwin, Evelyn Bearne, Karl Britz, Carlos Camacho, Jane Downs, Steve Dalgliesh, Pat Fenn,  Veronica Godsave, Bernadette Hall, Ann Hawkes, Claire Howes, Jackie Ilines, Noel Johnson, Shaun Keel, Bridget Kinsella, 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: Celia Rowe RIP, Patricia Gardner RIP, Eileen Bevan RIP.  Please pray for all whose anniversaries occur at this time and for all of our deceased loved ones, Requiescant in Pace.

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: 

Or you can use Parish Bank Account: Using Online Banking
HSBC Sort Code 40-13-22 PLEASE BE GENEROUS IN YOUR
Account Number: 11019651 GIFT TO GOD & HIS CHURCH

SPECIAL APPEAL To all our parishioners who contribute to your parish weekly. Would you please consider to transferring your weekly offertory over to a Direct Debit. With the closing of the local HSBC Bank it has been quite difficult paying in the Offertory, and with many banks now only offering a machine deposit service. Please think about this request. Thank you! 

Bishop’s Certificate in Catechesis and Youth Ministry: The Bishop’s Certificate is designed to be an entry level qualification to help in the ongoing formation of adults involved in sacramental preparation or youth ministry in the Diocese of Brentwood. It includes both the development of practical skills & the deepening of theological knowledge. The course is online and taught through engaging, short videos with expert interviews. The course will begin on the evening of 24th February, with an introduction and welcome evening, held at Walsingham House at Abbotswick. For more information please see our website: https://bcys.net/bishops-cert/ or email your expression of interest to bishopscertificate@dioceseofbrentwood.org by Monday 22^nd February.

BE PART OF THE WALSINGHAM HOUSE TEAM 2022/23 

If you are 18+ and looking for an exciting gap year opportunity, then a year on the Walsingham House Team could be for you. Spend a year as a volunteer in a thriving young Catholic Community, working with thousands of young people from Essex and East London. We are looking for inspiring individuals who want to share their faith with other young people and are also looking to learn new skills, grow deeper in their own faith and enjoy a challenge. For more information please contact Joseph Beattie, manager of Walsingham House, by emailing josephbeattie@dioceseofbrentwood.org or calling 01277 373959. There is more information about our work on our website (www.bcys.net) and social media @Brentwoodcys

A SUNDAY EVENING PARISH YOUTH MASS: We’ve had a couple of these popular and enjoyable Masses over the past few years and hopefully we’ll be able to organise one, possibly in the New Year. The idea would be that you could get involved with the music and the readings and make it your own celebration. Hopefully, we will also have a social gathering in the hall afterwards

BCYS SUMMER LOURDES PILGRIMAGE: 2022: 23^rd – 30^th July 2022.

Applications are now open for our summer pilgrimage to Lourdes for those in Years 11-13, with those of school leaver age (18+) invited to join us as young leaders. This is one of our most popular events and after a 2 year gap we are excited to be returning next year.  The week is spent travelling alongside the main Diocesan pilgrimage as we assist the elderly and infirm with going to Masses and services, as well as visiting shops and cafes within the town.  For those travelling with the BCYS the week will also include a retreat, reconciliation service, as well as social events and a party.  Please see www.bcys.net/events/sl22/ for more information including visas, vaccinations and how to apply

WHAT IS A MASS INTENTION?: Anyone can request a Mass intention. They can be offered for all occasions: – For someone who has recently passed away; Anniversary of a death, Birthdays, for someone who is sick, A person’s feast day, Private & special intentions, for success in exams or an interview, the beginning of a new school year. Etc.  Their origin goes back to medieval times, when people would make a request for a Mass and as an offering would provide the priest with his daily allowance. So the Mass Stipend (the offering given) was to keep the priest for a day. If anyone would like to Book a Mass Intention, there are Mass envelopes in the porch of the church, complete the Intention and place your offering inside, and leave at the Presbytery. The priest will try to accommodate your request as soon as possible. For anniversary Masses, please ensure that you drop your Mass Intention Envelope off several weeks in advance, as many people book their anniversary masses at the beginning of the year. This saves any disappointment if a particular date has already been requested.

IRREGULAR MARRIAGES: An Irregualr Marriage is one that 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 FINANCES: As you can appreciate, during this pandemic the parish income took a severe hit, and we are still not back at the same levels as we were prior to 2020. My sincere and grateful thanks to those who have signed up for online giving and Gift Aid, this is helping. Many parishioners have not returned to the regular practice of faith, and many Gift Aid boxes were not collected this year. Please consider your weekly offertory to God.

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

MASS INTENTIONS – FEBRUARY 2022

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. 

Parish Phone No: 0208 508 3492  Email: loughton@dioceseofbrentwood.org

The Brentwood Diocesan Trust     Registered Charity No. 234092

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading : Isaiah 6:1-2,3-8

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord of Hosts seated on a high throne; his train filled the sanctuary; above him stood seraphs, each one with six wings.

  And they cried out to one another in this way,

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts.

His glory fills the whole earth.’

The foundations of the threshold shook with the voice of the one who cried out, and the Temple was filled with smoke. I said:

‘What a wretched state I am in! I am lost,

for I am a man of unclean lips

and I live among a people of unclean lips,

and my eyes have looked at the King, the Lord of Hosts.’

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding in his hand a live coal which he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. With this he touched my mouth and said:

‘See now, this has touched your lips,

your sin is taken away,

your iniquity is purged.’

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:

‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’

I answered, ‘Here I am, send me.’

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 137(138):1-5,7-8

Before the angels I will bless you, O Lord.

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart:

  you have heard the words of my mouth.

In the presence of the angels I will bless you.

  I will adore before your holy temple.

Before the angels I will bless you, O Lord.

I thank you for your faithfulness and love,

  which excel all we ever knew of you.

On the day I called, you answered;

  you increased the strength of my soul.

Before the angels I will bless you, O Lord.

All earth’s kings shall thank you

  when they hear the words of your mouth.

They shall sing of the Lord’s ways:

  ‘How great is the glory of the Lord!’

Before the angels I will bless you, O Lord.

You stretch out your hand and save me,

  your hand will do all things for me.

Your love, O Lord, is eternal,

  discard not the work of your hands.

Before the angels I will bless you, O Lord.

Second Reading : 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you received and in which you are firmly established; because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you – believing anything else will not lead to anything.

  Well then, in the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared first to Cephas and secondly to the Twelve. Next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died; then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to me too; it was as though I was born when no one expected it.

  I am the least of the apostles; in fact, since I persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle; but by God’s grace that is what I am, and the grace that he gave me has not been fruitless. On the contrary, I, or rather the grace of God that is with me, have worked harder than any of the others; but what matters is that I preach what they preach, and this is what you all believed.

Gospel : Luke 5:1-11

Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

  When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point.

  When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.’ Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.