Prayer for a new Bishop
As we await the appointment of a new Bishop, following the resignation of Bishop Alan Williams last March, we might offer the following prayer at this time:
O God, eternal shepherd,
who govern your flock with unfailing care,
grant in your boundless fatherly love
a pastor for your Church of Brentwood
who will please you by his holiness
and to us show watchful care,
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen
(Roman Missal)
Votive Lights
There is something deeply moving about the little votive lights that burn quietly in our church. We light them for many reasons: perhaps to give thanks, to ask for help, to pray for someone we love, or simply because we do not quite know what else to say. The candle is, in a beautiful way, a continuation of our prayer. Long after we have left the church, a little flame continues to burn before the Lord. It reminds us that prayer does not end when we walk out through the church doors. We have entrusted our intentions to God, and we leave them there in faith.
Please ensure that all the candles that are lit are placed only in the places provided; this will prevent accidents. The offering for an eight day lamp is five pounds and for the smaller lights a minimum offering of fifty pence. The monies can be placed in boxes provided or donated online. Thank you!
Sea of Voices Choir
The choir returns to rehearsals at the Parish Centre from Thursday 10th September from 8pm. New and returning members welcome to join us to rehearse for our Christmas programme, for concerts and the annual carol service.
Contact Darrell on 07825686249 or email seaofvoiceschoir@outlook.com
Certificates of Catholic Practice
Please note Fr Kevin will be issuing Certificates of Catholic Practise in September/October. These should be collected from the Parish Office Tuesday—Friday 9.00—13.00.
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.
Elliot Dobie’s Fundraiser
Thank you so much for your support and donations. All tickets have now been sold. Thank you. Elliot
OLOL Ladies Group
Our first Meeting for the new Term is on Thursday 10th September at 10am in the Parish Centre. New members are welcome to attend any of our meetings. Subs remain at £1 per session plus a fun Raffle.
For this Meeting we are having a light hearted Beatle Drive so do come and join in the fun or just enjoy a relaxing time meeting friends old and new.
NB it would be very much appreciated if any ladies could donate Raffle prizes.
A Bible Study with Dr Brant Pitre
"Why We Believe – A Bible Study with Dr Brant Pitre
Join us this autumn for Why We Believe, a fascinating Bible study exploring the big questions people ask about the Catholic faith — from "Does God exist?" to the Eucharist, Confession, Mary, and Purgatory. Reasonable, biblical and beautiful, this series is for everyone: cradle Catholics, those returning to the Church, or simply the curious. No theology background needed — come as you are, questions welcome!
Two ways to join:
Mondays, 10.30am, starting 7 September
Wednesdays, 7.30pm, starting 16 September
Both sessions run at the Parish Centre. All are welcome!"
Further info from Heather Ward 07885737393, heatherward55@gmail.com
Repository News
We are happy to say we are back this weekend with some new stock, including a larger collection of greetings cards for almost every occasion.
Please feel free to browse or ask one of the volunteers for help if you can't find what you are looking for.
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.
Food Donations
Please add any donations to the SVP box in the Repository. DRY GOODS only please, hygiene items also welcomed.
Sallie Pollock SVP @ OLOL
The Priests return to the Brentwood Diocese!
Fr. Eugene O'Hagan and Fr. Martin O'Hagan - formerly of the celebrated singing trio 'The Priests' - invite you to join them at a one-off charity weekend, hosted by and in support of the Brentwood Catholic Children's Society.
Choose from an elegant Gala Dinner or sophisticated Charity Luncheon, both being held at a stunning Grade II listed manor house. Enjoy fine dining and seize a rare opportunity to see Fr. Eugene and Fr. Martin perform in an intimate and exclusive setting - this is an occasion not to be missed!
9th-10th October at The Lawn, Rochford - for full details and to purchase tickets, please visit www.bccs.org.uk/get-involved/events-campaigns/ or contact Julie Abbott 07912 277413
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear friends in Christ
There is a phrase in the Gospel this Sunday which we have heard so many times that it may have lost it’s impact: If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.
Dear friends in Christ
There is a phrase in the Gospel this Sunday which we have heard so many times that it may have lost it’s impact: If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. The words “every day” are important. Our Lord does not ask us merely to carry the cross on the great occasions of life, when suffering is obvious and our faith is tested in dramatic ways. He asks us to take up the cross daily.
For most of us, the daily cross is not something spectacular. It may be the patience required by a difficult person, the burden of illness, the disappointment we did not expect, the work which seems thankless, the sacrifice we make for our family, or simply the struggle to remain faithful when prayer feels dry and God seems distant. The temptation is to think that these things are interruptions to the Christian life. In reality, they can become the very place where we meet Christ.
Jesus does not say: Take up your cross and carry it alone. He says, Follow me. The Christian does not carry the cross by himself. Christ walks with us. Indeed, He has already gone before us along the road of Calvary. He knows the weight, the exhaustion of the journey, the loneliness and the pain. And because He has passed this way before us, no cross carried with Him is ever meaningless.
St Augustine expressed this beautifully: He who loves Christ does not fear suffering. Love changes the way we see the cross. What appears to be merely a burden can become an offering; what seems like a defeat can become an act of faith. There is also something deeply Eucharistic about this. At every Mass, we are brought back to Calvary. We place upon the Altar not only bread and wine, but our own lives—the joys and sorrows, sacrifices and disappointments of the week. In the Mass, Christ takes what we offer and unites it to His perfect sacrifice. Perhaps, then, one of the simplest prayers we can learn is: Jesus, I give this to You. When the day is difficult: Jesus, I give this to You. When someone has hurt us: Jesus, I give this to You. When we are tired or discouraged: Jesus, I give this to You. When we cannot understand why something has happened: Jesus, I give this to You.
The cross is not the final word. The cross leads to the Resurrection. Every Christian who walks faithfully with Christ discovers that suffering, when united to Him, can become the pathway to deeper holiness and ultimately to glory. So let us not ask only that God remove our crosses. Let us ask for the grace to carry them with Jesus, faithfully and lovingly, one day at a time. For the cross we carry today may be the very thing through which Christ is preparing us for the joy of heaven. May God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings of Year A
The Nicene Creed
Preface of Sunday 2
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 29th August
The Passion of St John the Baptist
5.30pm Vigil Mass Private Intention (SD)
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 30th August
Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass The People of the Parish
9.30am Mass Ellen Theresa Corcoran, RIP & Margaret McDonagh, RIP (LMcC)
11.30am Mass Jennifer McDonough, RIP (MR)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
Monday 31st
St Aidan, Bp, Missionary
10am Mass Intentions of Kathleen McDonagh (LMcC)
Tuesday 1st September
St Sebbi, K
9am Mass John & Pat Moon RIP (SM)
Wednesday 2nd
Feria of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time
9am Mass Intentions of Katrina McDonagh (LMcC)
Thursday 3rd
Pope St Gregory the Great
9am Mass Intentions of James & Natasha McDonagh (LMcC)
Friday 4th First Friday
St Cuthbert, Bp
12Noon Mass Roberto Ciullo, RIP (CC)
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until Holy Hour 7—8pm
Saturday 5th September
St Teresa of Calcutta, Virgin
10am Mass Intentions of the McCarthy Family (LMcC)
10.30am—11.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
5.30pm Vigil Mass Intentions of the McDonagh Family (LMcC)
6.30pm—7.30 Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
Sunday 6th September
Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
8am Mass Gilberte Cook, RIP (Anniv) (MC)
9.30am Mass The People of the Parish
11.30am Mass Frank & Barbara Blaker, RIP (DB)
4pm Mass Helen Hiscock, RIP (MH)
5.30pm Vespers & Benediction
We Pray for the Dead on their Anniversaries
Canon John Sloane, Canon John Walsh, Canon Cyril Shepherd, Fr Patrick Cavanagh, Gladys Robson, Doris Bree, Catherine Marriott, John Femming, Pat Moon, Celia Peace, Frederick John Lea, John Jarvis, Mary Graham, Harry Hammond, Kathleen Law, Victor Parrish, Anne Hall, Amy Louise Fox & John Mulhern.
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.”
Please pray for the repose of the souls of
ROGER TISI, RIP who died on Saturday, 15th August. His Requiem Mass will take place on Thursday, 10th September at St Joseph’s Church, Upminster.
SUSAN GRIFFIN, RIP who died on Thursday, 27th August.
Requiescant in pace
Opposing Assisted Suicide
STATEMENT FROM OUR BISHOP ALAN WILLIAMS, SM
You will know that the proposal to legalise assisted suicide, which was rejected by the House of Lords in the last parliamentary session through a lack of time to debate the amendments, is returning to the House of Commons in the same form on Friday 11th September.
This draft legislation undermines respect for the innate value of human life, could lead vulnerable people feeling pressured into ending their lives, and risks putting many hospices and care homes into the position of no longer being able to operate.
I encourage all Parishioners of the Diocese to contact their MP’s expressing opposition to this Bill. Please take a postcard from the back of church and send it to your local MP. You will find more information on the websites of the Bishops’ Conference and Right to Life websites-
www.cbcew.org.uk/opposing-assisted-suicide/
Archbishop John Sherrington, Archbishop of Liverpool and Lead Bishop for Life Issues, has written an excellent Letter [available on the Brentwood Diocesan website] emphasizing the need for ‘meaningful investment in palliative and end of life care as an appropriate focus to uphold the dignity of all at the end of life [rather than] a Bill seeking to legalise assisted suicide’.
As many of our Parishioners return from holidays, we continue to pray with all people of goodwill that this flawed Bill will fail.
+Alan Williams, sm
Bishop of Brentwood