30th Sunday of the Year (C):
World Mission Day
22nd/23rd October 2016


Fr Nick writes:

As announced last Sunday I shall be leaving St Augustine's at the end of November. Bishop Alan has been aware of Pam's ill health and has allowed me to retire early so that we can spend more time together. My last weekend in the parish will be 19/20 November and we shall be moving to Witham, where we have bought a house, early in December.

There is no one available to succeed me at present, and other priests will cover the weekend Masses until a successor can be found. I will still be involved in the Diocese and available for Mass supply as needed.

We have appreciated your support and prayers over the last 4 years and realise that you would have expected me to be here for a longer time, but in consultation with Bp Alan it is clear that this is the best way forward. Please continue to pray for us as we will pray for you in the transition period before a new priest is appointed.

As I wrote last weekend, here are some observations on the recent Stewards of the Gospel meeting by Steve Webb:

"Our parish meeting on 12 October explored the existing lay leadership in our parish and the possibilities for increasing that lay leadership in the years to come. We also looked at our finances, the place and role of young parishioners and ways of developing our prayer lives.

It was a really good discussion and I would like to thank everyone who came.

The next meeting is on 9 November and we will move on to discuss possibilities for greater interaction between our parish and our schools and also between our parish and other parishes. These topics are important in their own right but in the light of Fr Nick's news last week they become even more important as we strive together to hold to our Vision of our parish as a welcoming missionary parish in the absence of a parish priest.

The Stewards of the Gospel process has always been about discipleship and missionary focus and evangelisation. That was always dependent upon lay people stepping up and taking responsibility and perhaps now is a good moment to put theory into practice!

See you on 9 November."

With my best wishes and prayers

Fr Nick


Notices:

Please remember to pray for:

The sick and housebound

Those who have recently died: Damian de Souza

Years Mind:
Tuesday: Martine Coulombeau, Fr Daniel Shanahan
Thursday: Derek McElligott
Friday: James Coyne
Saturday: Fr George Steadman, Fr Stephen Wyatt, Fr William Loveland
Sunday: Fr Thomas Bishop


For Reflection …

Do not wish to be anything but what you are and try to be that perfectly.

St. Francis De Sales


Next Sunday - 31st Sunday of the Year (C)

First Reading Wisdom 11:22-12:2
The Lord delights in all his creation. Because of this joyous love his compassion towards us is infinite.

Second Reading 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2
As the Christians of Thessalonica live in hope and expectation of the Lord's coming, Paul urges them to be at peace, and allow the Lord to bring to completion his goodness in them.

Gospel Luke 19:1-10
Crowded in by so many people, Zacchaeus finds a space so that he can see Jesus; and Jesus sees him, and Zacchaeus' whole life is turned around.