THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A:
18th/19th March 2017
Dear Parishioners,
THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT (Year A) John 4 - 42.
Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well Give me a drink. These words in today's holy Gospel
reading are very powerful. The woman of Samaria whom Jesus encounters at the well is a powerful symbol. She represents
the journey of conversion and possesses deep within her being a thirst for the truth. This desire is strong within her
and it matters little that faith is still imperfect and growing. Her desire leads her closer to her goal. The dialogue
between the Samaritan woman and Jesus operates at many levels. The living water comes not from the famous well of Jacob
but from Christ himself and slowly the Samaritan woman begins to understand this truth. The Gospel passage is also
somewhat ironic as Jesus offers the woman a drink though he has no means of collecting the water. As the story
progresses, the conversation moves from the water in the well of Jacob to the water of life which only God can give,
and thirst for this water is something every believer has deep within them. Every time we come to Mass we hear the
spoken word of God through the Sacred Scriptures and are nourished with the Eucharist - food for the journey.
Today we are asked to pray for those who are preparing to be received into the Church at Easter. I am hoping to start
in the autumn a course for those interested in becoming Catholics R.C.I.A (rite of Christian Initiation). Please let me
know if you are interested.
We are asked to pray for Vocations in the Church daily. By the Blessed Sacrament we always light a candle before Mass
for this intention. We remember our diocesan seminarians. At present we have six including Michael Barwick and three
for the permanent diaconate. Fr. Graham Smith, Diocesan Vocation Director says "in our centenary year, we pray for
vocations to fulfil the Lord's instruction to "Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into his
harvest." We pray for vocations to the ordained ministries, to the Religious life, and to the missionary life. All
of us have a duty to pray for this intention.
God bless,
Deacon Kevin
The Holy Father's Prayer intentions for 2017 in March.
(Support for Persecuted Christians)
That persecuted Christians may be supported by the prayers and material help of the whole Church.
Notices:
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WELCOME PARTY FOR FATHER SABU A party will be held on Saturday 8 April 7pm-10pm to welcome
Father Sabu to our parish. There will be a food list to fill in after all Masses so please ensure that your name is
on it if you are coming. It is envisaged that we will set up after the Saturday morning Mass and the church will need
to be made ready for Sunday Mass after the event. All welcome! Thank you.
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MINISTRY OF WELCOMING We are looking for parishioners to help out on Sunday mornings at the 9.00 am
Mass. This is to welcome and hand out hymn books before Mass and to organise the collection and give out newsletter
at the end on Mass. This is a very important ministry. If you can help please contact Cath Lyons on 460783 or see her
after Mass.
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SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE ROTA We are looking for volunteers to help set up before Mass and to serve
after Mass coffee and tea. Anyone able please contact Cladis Manson 468784.
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HELP EVOLVE OUR PARISH VISION that we are:
- a dynamic worshipping community - where people come for the first time and immediately sense the presence
of God
- a community where everyone is growing in their understanding of the Catholic Faith
- a community where everyone is growing in the life of prayer and their relationship with God
- a community where pastoral, spiritual and practical care is given to those in need
- a community where more people are actively involved in the Mission of the Church
With this in mind it was agreed at our last Parish Meeting that we would reach out to those who have recently moved
to the area and are living in the Beaulieu Park devel-opment, by distributing information about our parish and
detailing the Easter ser-vices in particular. In order to distribute as many leaflets as possible we are propos-ing
that on the evening of Wednesday 29th March as many parishioners as possible gather together to distribute flyers.
Please put the date in your diaries and come along to help.
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EASTER LILIES Each year we ask for special donations for Easter Lilies to decorate the Church for
our Easter celebrations. If you would like to make a donation (a suggested donation of £4) in memory of a
deceased loved one, please place your offering in an envelope and write for Easter Lilies and pass
it to Cath Lyons. Many thanks for your generosity.
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2017/18 GIFT AID BOXES READY FOR COLLECTION Please collect your 2017/18 Gift Aid box - there
should a full annual set if you use the weekly envelopes and a small set for special collections etc if you usually
pay by standing order. If you are not a member of the scheme and you or your partner are a taxpayer - please do
join. The parish can recover the tax on donations from tax payers (25% extra on all your donations). We don't
need any information on your income other than confirmation that you are a tax payer and have paid at least as much
tax as the tax we will reclaim. The donor pays by standing order or numbered envelope so that we can link the
donations to the taxpayer. If you pay tax at the higher rate then you can personally recover the difference between
the basic rate and higher rate of tax on all your donations through your own tax return
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ADMINISTRATOR WANTED AT SION COMMUNITY 3 days a week for this small Catholic charity working in
faith formation and evangelisation based in Brentwood. Click
here to Email for full details of the role. Closing dates for application - made by the submission of an up
to date CV - Mon 3rd April. Interviews will take place a week later. Our hope is that the person appointed would
commence work as soon as possible in April.
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DEPUTY HEADTEACHER VACANCY St Joseph the Worker Primary School, Hutton, Brentwood. The Governors
seek highly motivated, enthusiastic and skilled teacher as Deputy Headteacher from September 2017. Please contact the
school on 01277 227282 for an application pack and further details. Closing date 30 March.
Please remember to pray for:
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died
Years Mind:
Monday: Fr Sidney Williams
Wednesday: Dory Pearson
Thursday: Fr Arthur Holmes
Saturday: Fr John Sherlock
Sunday: Fr Alfred Gilbey
Next Sunday - Fourth Sunday of Lent Year A
First Reading 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13
David is anointed king of Israel.
Second Reading Ephesians 5:8-14
Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
Gospel John 9:1-41
He went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.
