Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Springfield

32nd Sunday of the Year (C):
5th/6th November 2016

Fr Nick writes:

This week I am handing over to Steven Webb ….

Dear Friends,

Next week we were due to hold the third open parish meeting to discuss the Questionnaire from the Diocese. After consultation with Fr Nick I have decided to postpone that meeting.

Two important things (and several minor things) have changed since we began this process and together they make it advisable to pause and adjust the process that we had originally planned.

Firstly the Diocese has decided to extend the consultation period before questionnaires need to be submitted. This was originally going to be December but it is now the end of March 2017. Secondly Fr Nick is shortly leaving us.

In those circumstances it is better to take a little time to consider afresh the questions facing us and in particular the possible suggestions as to our future. We are only a few weeks away from Fr Nick's departure and it will then be Advent. For this reason we will hold the final Open Parish Meeting in the New Year.

Between now and the start of Advent I will do something a little different. Next week I am going to publish an updated version of our responses to the questionnaire. It is still only a draft and you can still have a say about the contents. So I would ask everyone to look again at the questionnaire. It is on the website and I can give you a hard copy if you need one.

There is much to pray about in the document and much to discuss before decisions are taken.

Then on Sunday 13th November at St Augustine's and Saturday 19th November at Church of Our Saviour I will make myself available after Mass at the back of church to talk with people individually or in small groups about any aspect of the document or the process.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Thank you.

Steven Webb

Notices:

FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS Fr Nick's last Sunday will be 20 November. Pam and he will be moving out of the Presbytery 8/9 December. Sunday Masses will continue as normal (inc Vigil Mass) but there will not be a daily Mass due to shortage of clergy. There will be some kind of daily worship in the form of Morning or Evening Prayer, Exposition, Rosary - further details on that soon.
Mass times at local churches are: Blessed Sacrament Tues-Fri 9.15am. Holy Name Mon 7.30pm, OLI Tues,Wed, Thurs 12.30pm, Fri 9.30am, Sat 9.00am
PARISH MEETING ON 9 NOVEMBER has been cancelled (see front page)
BRENTWOOD CATHEDRAL YEAR OF MERCY MASS Sunday 13 November at 6.30 pm. Have you lost a baby during pregnancy or after birth, an infant or a child? Are you or others living with the wound of this grief? You and all people are warmly invited to join the community at Brentwood Cathedral and come into the presence of the living, merciful God. Preacher: Fr Jeff Woolnough
LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 2017 In the centenary year of our diocese, whose Patroness is Our Lady of Lourdes, why not join our diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes? The dates are Sunday 23 - Friday 28 July. Further information will follow soon.
BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S SOCIETY PRESENTS, 'Come-and-Sing-Messiah': In the beautiful setting of Brentwood Cathedral and under the baton and leadership of Andrew Wright, you are invited to attend a unique performance of Handel's masterpiece, where a specially formed choir will perform alongside professional soloists and orchestra. Date: Saturday 3rd December 2016 7pm performance Venue: Brentwood Cathedral Tickets: £15 per person. For further information or to book tickets please contact: Julie Abbott 01268 784544 / click here to Email
THE NEWLY FORMED PARISH BEREAVEMENT GROUP would like to invite all parishioners, especially recently bereaved families, to a Requiem Mass at St Augustine's on Friday 18 November at 7.30pm, when there will be an opportunity to light a candle in memory of a loved one. We look forward to seeing you all at the Mass and for light refreshments afterwards.
"THE CHRISTMAS STORY" - SATURDAY 17 DECEMBER 2-3.30PM at St Augustine's will be hosted by the Social Group. This event is intended for the children of the Parish but, of course, all parishioners are invited. All children must be accompanied by an adult. The afternoon will commence with "The Christmas Story" and Christmas Carols in the Church followed by a light tea and party games in the small hall. Donations of party food will be gratefully received; watch this space for further information. Please do not hesitate to contact me for further info - thank you, Bernadette Curtis - 01245 450938 or click here to Email
THE ST BARNABAS SOCIETY On the weekend of 12/13 November a representative from the St Barnabas Society will speak about the work of the Society at the end of Mass, and there will be a 2nd collection. The St Barnabas Society welcomes and assists clergy and religious from other Christian traditions who are led by faith and conscience to come into the full communion of the Catholic Church. The St Barnabas Society supported Pam and me financially and in other ways after I left the Church of England, for which we are extremely grateful. Without that support we would not have been able to leave the Church of England for the Catholic Church to which God was calling us. Please give generously to the 2nd collection.

Please remember to pray for:

The sick and housebound

Those who have recently died

Years Mind:
Monday: Fr John Carmel Heenan
Tuesday: Fr William Philpot, Deacon Norman Wiseman
Friday: Fr Denis Petry

For Reflection …

You will never be happy if your happiness depends on getting solely what you want. Change the focus. Get a new centre. Will what God wills, and your joy no man shall take from you.

Archbishop Fulton J Sheen

Next Sunday - 33rd Sunday of the Year (C)

First Reading Malachi 3:19-20
The Lord comes in judgement but also with healing.

Second Reading 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
Waiting for Christ's return is no reason to sit in idleness but rather to earn one's own bread.