Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
In the Gospel, a father asks his two sons to go and work in his vineyard.
Dear friends in Christ
In the Gospel, a father asks his two sons to go and work in his vineyard. The first says, I will not, but later changes his mind and goes. The second says, Certainly, sir, but does not go. It is a very simple story, but perhaps it is a little too close to home. How often do we say the right thing? We know what God asks of us. We know that we should pray, forgive, make time for Him, come to Mass, be patient, generous and charitable. We can even be very good at saying, Yes, Lord. But saying yes is not the same as going into the vineyard. The vineyard is where the work is done. It is there that our faith becomes real. And perhaps there is also something encouraging in the first son. His initial answer was wrong, but his story did not end there. He changed his mind and went. That is the hope held out to every one of us. Our past failures do not have to determine our future. It is never too late to say yes to God—not merely with our lips, but with our lives. The Christian life is not about appearing to be good; it is about actually doing the will of the Father. Every morning the Lord sends us into His vineyard. He sends us to our families, to our workplaces, to our schools and, indeed, to our parish. There is work to be done: kindness to offer, burdens to carry, forgiveness to give, prayers to make and people to bring closer to Christ. The question is not simply, What do I say to God? The more important question is, What do I do for God? May we have the humility to recognise when we have said no, the courage to change our minds, and the generosity to go where the Lord sends us. For at the end of the day, it is not the words Yes, Father that matter most. It is whether we actually went into the vineyard. And the vineyard is waiting.
May God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings of Year A
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 6
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 26th September
Ss Cosmas and Damian, Mm
5.30pm Vigil Mass Holy Souls
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 27th September
Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Rebecca Clarke, RIP (Anniv) (IR)
11.30am Mass Susan Griffin, RIP (CB)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 28th
St Wenceslaus, M
9am Mass Valerie Griggs, RIP & Dec'd members of the Moon Family (SM)
Tuesday 29th
SS Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels
9am Mass Intentions of the Sanctuary Family (PT)
Wednesday 30th
St Jerome, Pr, D
9am Mass Lakshman Perera, RIP (Anniv) (JP)
Thursday 1st October
St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, V, D (Lisieux)
9am Mass Susan Griffin, RIP (EH)
Friday 2nd—First Friday
The Holy Guardian Angels—Harvest Fast day
12Noon Mass Holy Souls
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until Holy Hour 7—8pm
Saturday 3rd October
Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
10am Mass Holy Souls
10.30am—11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Mass Janet Weale, RIP (TW)
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 4th October
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Stephen Hymas, RIP (Anniv) & Kathleen Hymas (GM)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Intentions of Peter & Erin Underwood (MT)
4pm Mass Paul Hiscock, RIP (MH)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Jordan Godfrey, Pope John Paul I, Fr Bernard Wakeling, Fr Michael Hopkins, Canon William O’Neill, Marion McNamara, Theresa O’Riordan, Elizabeth Barker, Arthur Sanctuary, Mary Fletcher, Charles Bartley, Madeleine Beckett, Edith Riley, Vera Osborne, Mark Hillson, Peter Vella, James Gallacher, Ethel W Bartley, Annie Thompson, Annie Levay, Lily Bartley, Patrick Michael Quinn, John Martin, Percy Sentinel, William Spedding, Ronnie Olliffe, Margaret Price, Rudolph Banocy, Sarah Duffy, Colleen Warley, Sophie Shapiro, Eileen Pearson & Ursula Turner.
We pray for our sick
We pray for the sick of our parish
“Father,
by the power of your Spirit
you have filled the hearts of your faithful people
with gifts of love for one another.
Hear the prayers we offer for our relatives and friends.
Give them health of mind and body
that they may do your will with perfect love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.”
Sanctuary Lamp
The Sanctuary Lamp burns for the living and deceased members of the Hiscock Family.
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
JOHN SCAIFE, RIP who died on Sunday, 6th September. His body will be received into the church on Wednesday, 14th October at 4.15pm and his Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 15th October at 2pm, followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
NICHOLAS HUTCHINS, RIP who died on Saturday, 5th September. His body will be received into the church on Wednesday, 21st October at 4.15pm and his Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 22nd October at 2pm, followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Requiescant in pace
Dates for your Diary
Thursday, 12th November—Annual Parish Requiem—7pm
Friday, 18th December—Annual Carol Service—7pm
Sunday, 16th May—Confirmation Mass—11.30am
Sunday 30th May—Corpus Christi Procession—4pm
CAFOD Harvest Family Fast Day—2nd October
'Help children keep learning' - is the theme of this year’s Harvest Fast Day on 2nd October.
Some children in countries like Zimbabwe arrive at school (if they can get there at all) exhausted after starting their day walking to collect water and then, with limited food to eat many can’t focus in class to learn. CAFOD asks if you can help a child have enough to eat and safe water to drink at school, giving them the chance to learn and pursue their dreams.
Please put your faith into action by praying, fasting and giving to support your neighbours. And if you can donate, you can do so through giving envelopes at the back of church, on the electronic donation device at the back of church (use 2nd collection) or online at https://cafod.org.uk/?form=givetoharvest2026
Elliot Dobie’s Fundraiser
Thank you so much for your support and donations. The total amount raised was £2,594.64.
Thank you very much. Elliot
Journey in Faith—RCIA
This begins on Monday 12th October at 7.30pm and is specifically for those who are not Catholics but who are enquiring with a view to finding out more about the Catholic Faith and Reception into the Church. These evenings are held in the Parish Centre and last for one hour. Names may be given in advance to Father Kevin or to the Parish Office.
Those interested in reading or learning more before the course begins may wish to purchase a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church from the Catholic Truth Society, or listen to The Catechism in a Year podcast with Fr Mike Schmitz.
Certificates of Catholic Practice
Please note Fr Kevin will be issuing Certificates of Catholic Practise in September/October, Tuesday—Friday 9.00—13.00. Please call into the office to complete the form.
Parish Fundraising—200 Club
The winners of the September draw are:
1st Prize £150 18 Miss L Cooper
2nd Prize £100 60 Mrs S West
3rd Prize £75 96 Mr I Britt
4th Prize £25 5 Mrs D Harley
A Bible Study with Dr Brant Pitre
Why We Believe – A Bible Study with Dr Brant Pitre
Don’t miss out! Join us in the Parish Centre On Wednesday 30th September at 7.30pm when we’ll be asking – and answering – Is Jesus God?
Seniors Exercise & Balance Class
10am Tuesdays
Parish Centre
£6
You are invited to join the Exercise & Balance Class for Seniors which is held every Tuesday morning in the Parish Centre. The class starts at 10am and lasts one hour. Exercises are done to music and each session costs £6.
Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Primary School
Vacancy for a Learning Support Assistant
For details, please visit our website: https://sites.google.com/olorcps.net/olor-website/school-info/vacancies
MISSIO Red Boxes
I have received the Autumn Missio magazines. If you have not already received one from me personally please take one from the back of the Church (usual place). If anyone has a box that is ready for paying in to the Bank please give it to me personally or leave in the office for me to collect. Thank you. Joan Caunce 01268 757505.
Young Vincentians
Our next meeting is on Monday 28th September from 5.15pm. Young Vincentians Committee.
St Thomas More High School
Sixth Form Open Evening—Thursday 1st October 6pm—8pm
Headteachers talks at 7.30pm
For families who have students – boys and girls - in year 11 of secondary school who are intending to begin sixth form studies in September 2027. Come and visit the school and meet the staff and current sixth form students. There will be tours of the sixth form building and the rest of the school.