SECOND SUNDAY OF YEAR A:
Peace Sunday
14th/15th January 2017
Dear Parishioners,
THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (Year A) - Peace Sunday.
Now we have celebrated the holy feasts of the Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord we enter in to a period called
"ordinary time" which is from now until the beginning of Lent, the 2nd to the 8th Sundays.
The Gospel (John 1: 29 - 34) presents to us the scene of the meeting between Jesus and John the Baptist at the
Jordan River. The narrator is the eye witness, John the evangelist, who before he was a disciple of Jesus was a
disciple of John the Baptist, together with his brother James with Simon and Peter. All were from Galilee and were
fisherman. May their example as 'fishers of men' encourage us to give witness of our faith daily.
This coming week is the octave prayer for Christian Unity. As we share our two churches with our Anglican friends at
Our Saviour and St. Augustine's, we are very aware of the importance for working closely together as we seek to be
'one with Christ'.
In our diocese we have six students studying for the priesthood including Michael Barwick. We are asked to pray for
them that they have the grace of perseverance and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood.
A Prayer for Vocations: Eternal Father, your Holy Catholic Church is in need of priests to offer themselves in the
sacrificial service of the Gospel through lives of dedicated love. Open the hearts of your sons. Give them the gift of
understanding to discern your invitation. Give them the gift of courage to follow your divine call. May they have the
spirit of young Samuel who responded with the words, "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening." We ask this
humble petition through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. Amen!
2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Diocese of Essex on 22nd March and the subsequent erection of
the Diocese of Brentwood on 20th July 2017. Events to celebrate the centenary are as follows:
- Sunday 5th February: Annual Lourdes Mass, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church Wanstead, 3.00 pm.
- Saturday 11th February: (Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes) exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in every parish church.
- Wednesday 22nd March: (Formation of Diocese of Essex) Mass in the Cathedral with the Cardinal, Nuncio and Bishops
at 7.00 pm.
- Wednesdays 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th June: Centenary Lectures, Brentwood at 7.30pm. The speakers are Father Stewart
Foster, Canon Brian O'Shea, Fr. Martin Boland and Dr. Paul Docherty.
- Saturday 22nd July (erection of the Brentwood Diocese: Centenary celebration at Walsingham and beginning at 12.00
noon and ending with Mass at 3.00 pm.
ALTAR SERVERS We are very privileged to have very dedicated servers at St. Augustine's and New
Hall. If anyone wishes to become an altar server at either please notify Simon Cook (MC - St. Augustine's),
John Furze (MC - New Hall) or me.
Please remember me in your prayers as I pray for you all daily.
God bless,
Deacon Kevin
Notices:
-
KSC COLLECTION OF GOODS for Providence Row/Farleigh Hospice - Week-end 28/29 January -
your local Knights of St Columba's annual collection of goods for these two charities at the Saturday vigil and
Sunday Masses on the last weekend of January. We are looking please for your kind donations of toiletries and warm
socks for distribution, via Providence Row, to the homeless and needy in East London and also clothing to pass to
Farleigh Hospice for sale in their local charity shops. An ideal opportunity for a post Christmas declutter of your
home! Please bring your donations along to Mass in clearly labelled bags, separate ones for each charity. Any queries
to Peter Whitington (441736) or Chris Thompson (469161). Thank you.
-
THE BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S SOCIETY Quiz Night, Saturday 25 February at Brentwood Ursuline
Convent High School. Teams of 8 people, £7.50 per person, with all funds raised going to bccs. Starts promptly
at 7pm, with a short break halfway through and finish around 10pm. Please bring drinks and nibbles. Please book with
Julie Abbot - click here to Email
01268 784544 / 07912277413 (all teams must be pre-booked) or to request a Fundraising Quiz Pack for running your
own quiz for Brentwood Catholic Children's Society.
-
APPRENTICESHIP IN DISCIPLESHIP: From Programme to Proclamation will focus on setting up or
kick-starting parish Evangelisation teams. We would be delighted if you and any of your parishioners wished to
join us. You may register for either Friday, 20 January, 2017 at St. Patrick's Church, Soho Square or Saturday,
21 January, at Ealing Abbey by clicking
here to email. The cost is £20 per person or £75 for a team of 5 from your parish and includes lunch
and a 40 page "how to" manual for each attendee.
-
BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S SOCIETY SEEKS NEW DIRECTOR This charity achieves so much for
children and young people and their families across the Brentwood Diocese and the right person will find the role of
leading bccs to be most rewarding. This Catholic Charity is based on strong foundations of Catholic Social Teaching
that enable us to help children of all faiths and none. If you would like to be considered as the next Director of
bccs please ask the current Director for an Application Pack: click here to Email Steven. If you know someone else
who might be interested please pass on this message to them. The closing date for applications is Friday 3rd February
(noon).
-
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES SUN 23 - FRI 28 JULY led by Bishop Alan. Experienced medical team
and plenty of help for those with mobility needs. The pilgrimage is suitable for couples, individuals, and groups of
friends; all are welcome. There is a full programme to opt in and out of. More info from Cathy O'Connor: 01206
735623
-
MEETING THE 'LIVING GOD' SEMINARS all at Cathedral House, Brentwood, 10.30am-12noon.
Contact Tel.01277265285 or click here to Email
-
Seminar 1: Sat 21 Jan The unspoken genocide: Christian persecution in the twenty first century.
Speaker: Fr Martin Boland, Dean of Brentwood Cathedral.
-
Seminar 2: Sat 4 March The three marks of Easter Faith. Speaker: Bishop Emeritus Thomas McMahon
-
Seminar 3: Sat 18 March With Christ during Lent. Speaker: Bishop Alan Williams, sm
Please remember to pray for:
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died: Tony Brooks
Years Mind:
Monday: Fr Gilbert Basil Pearson, Fr Neville Banks
Tuesday: Fr Kenneth Green
Wednesday: Fr Charles Kuypers
Thursday: Jacqueline Post, Fr David Donnelly
Friday: Fr John Meehan
Saturday: Bishop Bernard Ward, Fr Christopher Quirke
Next Sunday - Third Sunday of Year A
First Reading Isaiah 8:23-9:3
In Galilee of the nations the people have seen a great light.
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17
Make up the differences between you instead of disagreeing among yourselves.
Gospel Matthew 4:12-17
He went and settled in Capernaum: in this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled.