Dear friends in Christ

The final Sunday of the liturgical year ends on the high-note of Christ Our Universal King. The Gospel reading, however, does not give us a vain worldly-glorious monarch, but rather the image of the Suffering Servant (as described by the Prophet Isaiah) who gives His life to save the world. It calls to mind the many images in Christian art—Ecce Homo, Behold the Man—of the Jesus who suffers in order to give us an example by his death on the Cross.

During these final days of the liturgical year we can come and gaze on the face of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament exposed in our church for adoration. From Thursday evening until Saturday afternoon there is the annual Forty Hours’ Prayer. We were unable to do this last year and it is my hope that this time will lead us back into the weekly celebration of Sunday Mass. Our Bishops had hoped that from the First Sunday of Advent the Sunday Obligation could be restored. However, this week they have decided that due to continued uncertainties for many Catholics, this will remain suspended. However, the exhortation is given to return to Sunday Mass wherever it is morally possible. You can read what they have said here: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/bishops-statement-honouring-sunday/

This week, try to find time to visit the church—between Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon—and bring all your prayers, hopes and desires to Jesus in the Eucharist. You will find the timetable for these days on the Services section of the Newsletter.

This is also National Youth Day: a moment for us to pause and appreciate the young people who form the Church today and are the hope of the Church tomorrow. They are new parents and families of future generations of Catholics who will live and hand-on the light of our Faith to the world. One of our young adults will say a few words at the end of each Mass about the Brentwood Youth Service. Pray for all our young people—especially those who are struggling with difficulties after the pandemic—that they will be faithful to Jesus Christ and bring hope to our world, today and tomorrow.

May God bless you!

Msgr Kevin Hale