Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
First reading Kings 19:4-8
Second reading Ephesians 4:30-5:2
Gospel John 6: 41-51
Preface Sunday 7
Eucharistic Prayer 3
Saturday 8th August
5.30pm Mass The People of the Parish
Sunday 9th August
8am Mass Lily de Lobel, RIP (Anniversary)
9.30am Mass Francés Copeland, RIP
11.30am Mass John & Kathleen Reilly
4.00pm Polish Mass
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Eighteenth Sunday of the Year
Dear friends in Christ
During the month of August we continue the reading of the sixth chapter of St John’s Gospel. The feeding of the five thousand was such a significant manifestation of the power of Christ, that it is related in all four Gospels. This week therefore, gives me the opportunity to continue a reflection on the Holy Eucharist. The four synoptic Gospels - Matthew, Mark & Luke - give us a detailed account of the institution of the Blessed Sacrament during the Last Supper. In the Gospel of St John there is only the Mandatum, the washing of the Apostles feet. In the sixth chapter of his Gospel however, there is layed-out for us the beautiful teaching of Jesus about Himself as the Bread of Life. Following the miracle of the loaves and fishes, the crowds followed Jesus to the synagogue in Capharnaum; here He challenges them that, what He has given them as bodily food should lead them to seek the Bread that lasts forever. By eating the Bread that Jesus will give in the Eucharist, they will not die, but live forever. They respond enthusiastically at this prospect of life eternal but question how this man, Jesus, can do it. Then begins the challenge: can they accept that He, Jesus, is God-made-man and can therefore give Himself to them as the Bread of Life. The words of Our Lord at the Last Supper are fulfilled with every Communion: If a man loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come and make our home with him. The soul becomes the temple and tabernacle of the Holy Trinity. The life of the Three Divine Persons transform us, nurturing the divine seed that was first planted at Baptism. For this reason, we need that food of eternal life week-in-and-week-out so that the harshness of this life and passage on earth won’t be too much for us.
I wish you all at this time - especially those travelling - a very happy and holy time of rest and holiday! God bless you.
Msgr Kevin Hale
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday 3rd Feria
9am Mass Clare Chadwick, RIP (Anniv)
Tuesday 4th St John Vianney (cure of Ars), Pr
9am Mass Maureen Mann, RIP (Anniv)
Wednesday 5th Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major
9am Mass Violet Coveney, RIP
Thursday 6th TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
9am Mass Jerzy Strzetelski, RIP (Anniv)
Friday 7th St Sixtus II P and Comps, Mm
12noon Mass CWL
12.30pm Exposition after Mass until
8.00pm Holy Hour & Benediction
Saturday 8th August St Dominic, Pr
10am Mass Siani Barbarossa RIP (Anniv)
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday 3rd Feria
9am Mass Clare Chadwick, RIP (Anniv)
Tuesday 4th St John Vianney (cure of Ars), Pr
9am Mass Maureen Mann, RIP (Anniv)
Wednesday 5th Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major
9am Mass Violet Coveney, RIP
Thursday 6th TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD
9am Mass Jerzy Strzetelski, RIP (Anniv)
Friday 7th St Sixtus II P and Comps, Mm
12noon Mass CWL
12.30pm Exposition after Mass until
8.00pm Holy Hour & Benediction
Saturday 8th August St Dominic, Pr
10am Mass Siani Barbarossa RIP (Anniv)
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes: July 26-31
Nine of our young people participated in the Lourdes Pilgrimage last week. There were over five hundred pilgrims in all from our Diocese and it was deeply uplifting to see a large portion of the Diocese united in prayer around our Blessed Mother led by our Bishop.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes: July 26-31
Nine of our young people participated in the Lourdes Pilgrimage last week. There were over five hundred pilgrims in all from our Diocese and it was deeply uplifting to see a large portion of the Diocese united in prayer around our Blessed Mother led by our Bishop.
Scripture Group
Please note the Scripture Group is now finished for the holidays. It will resume again in September.
Money Matters
Offertory: Thank you for your generous offerings received last weekend, which amounted to £1,350.82.
Counters: John Harley, Sheila Murphy & John Murphy.
Newsletter Folders: Linda Wall & Bob Hall.
The Assisted Suicide Bill
Very many people of all faiths and none will be concerned about a Bill to legalise Assisted Suicide in England and Wales which will be debated in the House of Commons on 11th September 2015. This private members Bill will have a free vote and it is important that people make their views known to their own MP ahead of this important debate. There are excellent resources available on the Bishops Conference website www.catholicnews.org.uk/assisted-suicide and the website of the Anscombe Bioethics centre www.bioethics.org.uk. Please contact our MP as soon as possible to express your concern about the dangerous impact which such a Bill would have on the most vulnerable people.
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of:
Marie Brand, RIP who died on Friday, 24th July. Her funeral service will be
held on Thursday, 13th August at 2.30pm followed by committal at Southend Crematorium.
Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Pope Paul VI, Deacon Frederick Wall, Fr Henry Tilley, Fr David Coghlan, Fr Hugh Verity, Max Button, Margaret King, Cecelia Newton, Phyllis Fairman, John Higgins, Maureen Mann, Walter Owen, Stella Blackburn, Sister Vincent (St Ediths), Catherine Hayes, Timothy O’Shea, Anthony Poulton, Jim Collins, John Sandford, Phyllis Burke, Arthur Holdstock, Phyllis Glazebrook, Peter Matthews, Clarice Gannon, Margaret Taylor, Sheila Mazzag, Teresa Baxter, Lilian Sutton & Andrea Uglietti.
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
First reading Exodus 16:2-4
Second reading Ephesians 4:17, 20-24
Gospel John 6: 24-35
Preface Sunday 6
Eucharistic Prayer 3
Saturday 1st August
5.30pm Mass Fr Jim McCormack, RIP
Sunday 2nd August
8am Mass Kevin Joseph (Thanksgiving)
9.30am Mass Edward Hippard, RIP
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
1.30pm Polish Mass
4.00pm Mass in Extraordinary Form Private Intention
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Seventeenth Sunday of the Year
Dear friends in Christ
This Sunday we begin to read from the sixth Chapter of St John’s Gospel at Sunday Mass. It is often referred to as the Eucharistic Discourse because beginning with the miracle of the loaves and the fishes, Jesus goes on to explain that what He is really about is preparing them to receive the gift of Himself in the Blessed Eucharist. The food that they receive for their bodies is a figure of the food He will give for the nourishment of our souls. So over these next weeks at Mass we shall try to say something important about this central Mystery of Faith whereby Our Lord communicates Himself to us under the forms of bread and wine. In the Eucharist, Jesus takes something small - bread and wine - and transforms them into something infinite: His Body and Blood. We can also see this, a symbol of the life of us Christians: if we give the seemingly small and insignificant things we do to God, these can be transformed into something truly great: our holiness.
This weekend begins our Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. On Sunday I shall be travelling with our Bishop and over four hundred other pilgrims to the shrine in France during which time we shall be holding all of the intentions of the Diocese in our hearts and prayers. There is also a group of young people from the Parish going to be present, helping the sick, and they wish to assure you all also of their prayers, Please pray that we have a safe and fruitful pilgrimage. I shall be returning mid-week as the Bishop remains there until the weekend. God bless you all!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday 27th Feria
9am Mass Dorothy Dixon, RIP
Tuesday 28th Feria
9am Mass Canon Francis Gilbert, RIP
Wednesday 29th St Martha
9am Mass Intentions of the Lambert Family
Thursday 30th St Peter Chrysologus, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
9am Mass Intentions of the Siani Family, RIP
Friday 31st St Ignatius Loyola, Priest
12noon Intentions of Andy & Catherine Harris
Saturday 1st August St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
10am Mass Henryk Konieczka, RIP (Anniv)
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday 27th Feria
9am Mass Dorothy Dixon, RIP
Tuesday 28th Feria
9am Mass Canon Francis Gilbert, RIP
Wednesday 29th St Martha
9am Mass Intentions of the Lambert Family
Thursday 30th St Peter Chrysologus, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
9am Mass Intentions of the Siani Family, RIP
Friday 31st St Ignatius Loyola, Priest
12noon Intentions of Andy & Catherine Harris
Saturday 1st August St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
10am Mass Henryk Konieczka, RIP (Anniv)
Scripture Group
Fr Con Joyce’s Scripture Group will meet in the Parish Centre 8pm-9pm this Thursday, 30th July and will re-commence in September. These meetings are held to give us a better understanding of the Bible, to encourage us to read it and so help us to come closer to Jesus in our daily lives as Christians. All welcome.
PARISH FUNDRAISING
We are currently six members short of our 200 target. Could you help us reach our target? Subscription is £5.00 per month, either by cash, cheque or direct debit. If you would like to join, please fill in a form which can be found at the back of the church or ring Linda Wall on 01702 558217. This month’s winners are:
1st prize £150 199 Mr J McEvoy
2nd Prize £100 108 Mr & Mrs M Mapson
3rd Prize £75 68 Mrs K Franklin
4th Prize £50 70 Mrs I Cranidge
5th Prize £25 79 Mr G Dillon
Money Matters
Offertory: Thank you for your generous offerings received last weekend, which amounted to £1,347.95.
Counters: Toni Cousins, Mary cook & Jacky Hoggett.
Newsletter Folders: Amanda Phipps & Clare English.
Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, Counting & Folding Rotas
These can all be collected from the back of the Church.