Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
When Jesus calms the storm on the sea of Galilee, it makes an unforgettable impression on the Apostles.
Dear friends in Christ
When Jesus calms the storm on the sea of Galilee, it makes an unforgettable impression on the Apostles. It confirmed their faith and prepared them for the harder, more testing battles that lay ahead. The sight of a perfectly calm sea, subject to the voice of Christ, was engraved on their hearts. Years afterwards, these men would pray, and the memory of this scene would bring peace to them as they underwent all the trials Our Lord had foretold. Our closeness to Christ will give us calmness and strength, especially in those times when storms are going on around us. At the very beginning of the Church the Apostles experienced abundant fruits. But at the time they would suffer threats, insults, persecution. They were not concerned whether opinion was favourable or hostile towards them. They were only concerned to make Christ known to all, to take the fruits of our redemption to the uttermost corners of the earth. They preached the doctrine of Christ, which in purely human terms constituted a scandal for some and seemed sheer madness to others. This doctrine entered all environments, transforming souls and customs. We too find ourselves in a world that is sunk in materialism, the excessive love of comfort and well-being, sensuality and ignorance of the things of God and eternity. On many occasions this may seem like a severe storm enveloping us, but with Christ at the helm, we have complete trust in His promises. Then we must ask the Lord for an increase of trust and the certainty that He is holding the Church and the world in the palm of his hand, always ready to quell any turbulence that could take away our peace of mind.
I wish you every blessing for the week ahead!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass Janet Elizabeth Bull, RIP (AB)
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Confessions in the Lady Chapel
Sunday 20 June
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Andrea Luigi Uglietti and Maria Diana, RIP (LM)
11.30am Mass Doreen Pennifold, RIP (SG)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 21
St Aloysius Gonzaga, Rel
9am Mass Fr Anthony Colebrook, RIP
Tuesday 22
SS John Fisher, Bp & Thomas More, Mm
9am Mass Tom & Benita Skellen, RIP (RM)
Wednesday 23
St Etheldreda (Audrey), Abbess, V
9am Mass William Armstrong (J&PA)
Thursday 24
NATIVITY OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST
9am Mass Betty Gray, RIP (JH)
Friday 25
Feria
12Noon Mass Flora Ignatius, RIP (RP)
Saturday 26
Saturday Memorial of BVM
10.00am Paula Chandler, RIP (SR)
10.30am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Confessions in the Lady Chapel
Sunday 27 June
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass Guy Bragard, RIP (RB)
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Confessions in the Lady Chapel
8am Mass Intentions of the Diggines Family (JL)
9.30am Mass Intentions of Jill Yates (LCG)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Edmund Dobson, Fr Patrick Taylor, Deacon David Balmer, Fr Vincent Dutton, Fr Edward Thomas, Canon James Dacy, Alfred Mansell, Kathleen Michael, Michael Woolcott, Bridget Parsons, Eileen Ketterer, Angela Balcombe, David Gurney, Mary Wright, Doreen Faux, Patricia Jarman, Francis Woodward, Sidney Baldwin, Anthony Gwatkin, Francesco Antonio Ciccone, Peter Liddell, Rosemary Conway, Frank Cope, Marie Patricia Kidd, Stella Migdalski, Mildred Turner, Henry Adamson, Rory MacNaughton & Julie Emerson.
We Pray for our Sick
Jill Yates, Leonora Maguire, Brian Mountier, Renata Butler, Margaret Bartle, Tony Downey, Kristy Monferrari, Fred Ring, Ian Irwin, Russell Short, Marie Karaf, Gilberte Cook, Garry Pearman, Anne Owen, Patricia Ann Darroch, Peggy Larman, Patricia Vanner, Amy Louise Fox, Sarah Savage, Bill O’Connell, Janet Weale, Charlotte O’Neil, Ella Williams, David Kislingbury, Mark Shepherd, Eileen Bines, Breege McCaffrey, Mark Hartley, Austin Butler, John Lavery, Paul Keane, Rosemary Bragard, Pat Lynch, Maureen Gooding, Ben Wilson, Christian Ryan, Mike Rubbert, Tina Doveaston, Addi Brady, Patricia Fleming, Nicky Wigmore, Rose Craft, Nan Carrit, Eileen Wilson, Patricia Spikin, Sandra Fagan, Edna Wallace, Beryl Dixon, Nick Evans, Vicky Jack, Mary Boyce, Kristin Hallenga, Anne O’Neill, Cheryl Shallis, Anthony McEvoy, Justin Stark, Sheila Netherton, David Blyth, Janet Woods, Lynne Hilkene, June Moncaster, Laura & Anne Breen, Breda Lynch, Maria Clark, Roy Widdecombe, Johanna Lynch, Anthony King, Chas Taylor, Norma McCleverty, Belinda Balazsi, Johnnie Pool, Edward Martin, Joanna Luciani, Pauline Wilsher, Simon Marshall, Kriston Barnes, Hugh Isaacs, Josephine Griggs, Dawn Deleigh, Lorraine Hart, Linda Dean, Georgina Cornwell, Antonella McConalogue, Eddie McConalogue, Sharon Levill, Annie Holland, Ivor & Joanne Knight, Brian Beresford, Rebecca Peake, Connor Bourke, Mattia Mollica, Bernadette Lane, Irena Solecki, Ianto Bellis, Doreen Troughton, Marguerite Harris, Andrew Exley, Elizabeth McConalogue, Kean Smith, Keith Maliff, Bradley & children: Thomas Ball, Liam Davis, Connie Price, Albert Chambers, Fergus Grant, Mary Isherwood, Lucy Price & Frazer Gregory.
We Pray for the Repose of the Souls of
Mrs PAT POULTON, RIP who died on Wednesday, 9th June.
NORBERT WIDERA, RIP who died on Tuesday 15th June.
Day for Life
We celebrate Day for Life on Sunday 20 June 2021. This day, inaugurated by Saint John Paul II, presents an opportunity to pray for the gift of life from conception to natural death, to raise awareness of the precious gift of life, and to support the work of protecting life in its most vulnerable stages through the annual collection. This assists pro-life organisations who raise awareness, engage in parliamentary work and pastoral outreach.
This year’s theme for Day for Life focuses on assisted suicide and the respect owed to life. The online resources are produced to inform Catholics about this threat to life and to share with people our response to such a threat: a true compassion as the just response to the immense value of the human person.
In 2020, we were unable to hold our annual Day for Life collection due to the pandemic, our funds are very much depleted and the threats to life have never been greater.
For more information and to donate please click on the link.
First Holy Communion
Our prayers and good wishes to the children who made their First Holy Communion this weekend. Please continue to pray for them as they grow in their faith, knowledge and love of God.
Gabriel Santiago, Tyler Smith, Oliver Steel, Wren Tanner-Darling, Cody Taylor, Charlotte Tyler, Blossom Walton, Albert Ward, Orla Warren, Wilf Whittaker, George Whittington, Eliza Woolcott, Eamon Mohan, Kieran Grant & Lucas Stocks.
Music at 11.30am Mass on Sunday
Toccata cromaticha (from Fiori Musicali) - Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643)
Prelude and Fugue in E minor BWV 533 - J S Bach (1685-1750)
Parish Fundraising
Thank you to everyone who supports the 200 Club. The results of the May draw are as follows:
1st prize £150 114 Mr N Warwick-Brown
2nd Prize £100 158 Mr A Bullock
3rd Prize £75 22 Miss V deSouza
4th Prize £25 66 Miss L Young
During the last 18 months, the number of parishioners supporting the 200 Club has fallen to 161, a shortfall of 39.
We are currently looking for new members. The subscription is £5 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.
Lourdes Ladies Group
Just keeping in touch with you all and hoping everyone is in good health and spirits. We were fairly optimistic regarding re-opening the Group later in June, but sadly, due to Government guidelines, this will not now be possible, so we just have to be patient a bit longer.
We have a full programme lined up for your interest and entertainment so let’s keep hoping and praying it won’t be too long before we are up and running again. Cynthia Bush.
St Thomas More Alumni Memorial Mass
Due to Covid restrictions this year's St Thomas More Alumni Memorial Mass will not take place as usual at the school. Instead it will be celebrated at Sacred Heart church (Southchurch Road, Southend) on Thursday 24th June at 8pm under the current social distancing guidelines.
There are an additional 12 names on the list of deceased former pupils and staff since the last Memorial Mass and this 30-year-old tradition provides an opportunity for all past pupils, members of staff and governors of the school to honour those no longer with us.
There is no need to pre-book a place and it will also be possible to participate online by watching the livestream via www.southendcatholic.co.uk.
Vicariate for Adult Formation
The Thresholds of Hope Website has now been launched. This new online resource is the work of the Brentwood Diocese Vicariate for Adult Formation and aims to help adults to deepen their relationship with Christ and His Church.
Please have a look at the website and watch it develop over time. Do let us know what you think of it. The website address is www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk
St Thomas More High School Open Evening
St. Thomas More High school - open evening, Thursday, 8th July 4pm to 7pm - for families who have a son due to transfer to secondary school in September 2022 - come and see the school, meet the staff and pupils.
The Headteachers talk will begin at 6pm.
Parents of boys who wish to apply to St. Thomas More School for a place in September 2022 should complete the local education authority single application form (saf) and fill in the supplementary information form (sif) that can be collected at the open evening.
If you are unable to come to the open evening, please contact the school in order to get the supplementary information form. The form can also be downloaded from the school web site:-
Brentwood Catholic Children's Society
The BCCS Summer Newsletter is now available online.
Please follow the link below to access an electronic version of their Summer Newsletter.
Marriage and Family Life Update
Retrouvaille successfully ran their 'lifeline for marriages' programme online earlier this month and there are more virtual programmes coming up in July and September.
A Lifeline for Marriages - Has Covid put you under more stress as a couple? Is your marriage stressed, unloving, cold? Do you argue more? Do you want to improve your communication? Have you separated, divorced, are you thinking about it? Do you want to try again?
The Retrouvaille programme may be just what you need! The next programme commences with a weekend 1st-4th July 2021. For more information clink on the link.
BCYS
We have been working hard at the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service to be able to welcome Clergy, Catechists and young people back to events this year as restrictions begin to ease, and with much hope about what is possible in the Autumn.
We have some key dates to save in your diaries, including our Autumn Youth Gather, Catechist Training Day and our upcoming Virtual Youth Masses.
Most excitingly (at least we think so!) is the "Lourdes at your Local" event, which we will be hosting in place of our usual pilgrimage to Lourdes in July. We will be travelling to different parishes around the diocese to celebrate Mass and be able to gather in person in a way that has not been possible for much too long. At the end of this week, we are also welcoming those aged 18+ (School Year 13 and above) to gather together at Walsingham House at Abbotswick, with Mass celebrated by Bishop Alan and followed by a picnic in the beautiful grounds of our retreat centre.
If you would like any more information about any of these events, please click the links to visit the website events page, or please do email gabriellafusi@dioceseofbrentwood.org.
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
The Gospel of this Sunday tells us of God—the Divine Sower—usually brings great outcomes out of small beginnings.
Dear friends in Christ
The Gospel of this Sunday tells us of how God—the Divine Sower—usually brings great outcomes out of small beginnings. For instance, He chose a few men to begin the work of evangelisation. For the most part they were simple fishermen, unlettered, and with evident defects. They had few material resources, yet they represent how God chooses what is weak in the world to shame the strong. Looking at it from a human standpoint, it is impossible to explain how these first disciples could have spread the teaching of Christ to the whole known world in such a short time; there were so many obstacles and so much opposition to overcome. In the parable of the mustard seed, Jesus urges His followers to have faith and to be confident that the preaching of the Gospel will be carried out in spite of everything, and often from tiny beginnings.
We need faith combined with courage to proclaim Jesus crucified and risen. If someone approaches you and asks: 'Do you adore someone who has been crucified?' Do not hang your head in shame or blush. Use that reproach as a chance for glory and let your eyes and the look on your face show that you are not ashamed. If they whisper again in your ear: ‘What! You do adore someone who has been crucified?’ reply: ‘Yes, I adore Him’…I adore and glory in a crucified God who with His cross reduced the devils to silence and took away all superstition. For me the Cross is the trophy of God’s love and kindness. (St John Chrysostom).
I wish you all every blessing for the week ahead!
Msgr kevin Hale
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass Intentions of Rosemary Bragard
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Confessions in the Lady Chapel
Sunday 13 June
8am Mass Intentions of Jill Yates (LLG)
9.30am Mass Kathleen Hudson, RIP (RH)
11.30am Mass The People of the Parish
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 14
Feria
9am Mass Vincent & Mary Hurley, RIP (SB)
Tuesday 15
Feria
9am Mass Pat Fernyhough, RIP (SB)
Wednesday 16
Feria
9am Mass Charles Doherty, RIP (CO’B)
Thursday 17
Feria
9am Mass Charles & Alice Whitefield, RIP
Friday 18
Feria
12Noon Mass Liz Palma & Amparo Rehea, RIP
Saturday 19
St Romuald, Ab
10.30am First Holy Communion Mass
Sunday 20 June
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
5.30pm Vigil Mass Janet Elizabeth Bull, RIP (AB)
6.30pm Holy Hour: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Confessions in the Lady Chapel
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Andrea Luigi Uglietti and Maria Diana, RIP (LM)
11.30am Mass Doreen Pennifold, RIP (SG)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Fr Thomas Carlin, Fr Gerard Hughes, Fr Ambrose O’Gorman, Bp Bernard Wall, James George Fairchild, Janice Mary Turner, Jill Kinsley, Norita Fanning, Christina Pegler, Sheila Ann Power, Ethel Dillon, Teresa O’Brien, Agnes Sawyer, Kenneth Miller, Mary Famie, Dorothy Butcher, Frederick Carter, Teresa McTavish, Florence Ellis, Anne Ryan, Saverio Pucino, Gertrude Drew, John William Gillman, Angeline Sweet, John Oliver, Audrey Conlon, Angelo Camilleri, John Callaghan & Brenda Dorey.