TWENTIETH SUNDAY OF YEAR A
19th/20th August 2017
Dear Parishioners,
Hope everyone is enjoying every bit of the summer vacation. It is a time to relax taking off from the normal routine
life. So also our newsletter has decided to take a week-off from its duty. But still it doesn't want to
disappoint anybody, so it has decided to come in a two-in-one format to fit its absence. So this newsletter
covers the 20th and 21st week. Sit back and enjoy!!!!
The gospel readings for coming Sundays puts forward two narratives of great faith and personal conviction. On the 20th
Sunday, we see the Canaanite woman, out of her personal conviction and great faith in Christ, insist from Jesus what
she was pleading for. And her great faith and persevering request is finally rewarded with the miraculous cure of her
daughter.
The Canaanite woman is an example set before us. We are not to lose heart in our prayers to Jesus Christ. He decides
the right time for our requests and at times he may want to test the depth of our faith, as it was the great faith of
the Canaanite woman was rewarded.
On the 21st Sunday we see St. Peter affirming his personal conviction about Jesus Christ. Being with Christ, moved him
to make his confession of his firm faith in Christ as the son of the living God. Let this be a reminder for us to
affirm in our daily living our faith in Christ in our words and deeds. As a reward, he is entrusted with the keys of
the kingdom of Heaven and being the foundation on which the present Church is built. So let us be worthy stones of that
Church built by Christ on the foundation of Peter.
Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ
Notices:
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ESCALATION OF ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AT ST AUGUSTINE'S Rev Jane has received very disturbing news
from the local police who are investigating an incident on the grassed area outside of church, when a lady had an
unidentifiable liquid thrown at her. The police were enquiring if we had CCTV footage - unfortunately we do not.
We have ongoing vandalism - the small fence which was installed to stop the school children running straight into
the car park, was destroyed last weekend and every morning now Cathy and Kevin are having to clear away litter,
broken glass bottles, used drug paraphernalia etc from the car park and outside the chapel door. In the past 3 months
vandalism has cost our Joint Management Committee over £1000. Next Monday a firm will visit to quote for new
Fire/Security doors and we are seeking quotes for metal fencing and security gates for the perimeter of the car park
as well as for CCTV. If you do see any untoward behaviour please ring the police and report it (or go online - it
is much quicker) - the more incidents we report the higher priority it will be - but please do not approach
the culprits. We do not know if they have weapons etc. I do not wish to be alarmist but better safe than sorry.
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RENEWAL AND RESTRUCTURING OF THE DIOCESE I hope you have all been able to read and pray about the
recent proposal for the future of our diocese. If not, it can be accessed at this link http://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/news/diocese-asks-parishes-comment-restructuring-renewal-proposals/.
If you require a hard copy, there are some available to be shared, so please ask Father Sabu or Deacon Kevin to see a
copy. It is important that everyone involves themselves in this process of change and development and, with this in
mind, you are warmly invited to a Parish meeting on Tuesday 12th September at St Augustine's at 8:00pm to share
your ideas and discuss responses to the proposal as requested by the questions found at the end of the document.
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STEWARD OF THE GOSPEL REQUIRED Thank you to Steven Webb our current Steward of the Gospel for
representing our parish and guiding us through the process of renewal and restructuring. The time has come for us to
appoint a new Steward of the Gospel to continue this work. I am seeking a volunteer who would be prepared to serve
our parish community as Steward of the Gospel moving forward. This role involves meeting with our Bishop, members of
the clergy and other Stewards of the Gospel and providing a two way channel of communication between the Diocese and
our parish. There will be a meeting of the stewards at the Brentwood Ursuline on Saturday 30th September. At this
meeting you will be able to represent the views of our parish regarding the recent proposal and aired at our parish
meeting on 12th September.
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FLOWERS AT NEW HALL Friends at New Hall, if at anytime you would like to bring some flowers or one
flower along to put on the altar, because it is an anniversary of a loved one, a birthday, a special day, or no
reason at all, please feel free to do so. We want the Mass to be special for all of us. If flower arranging isn't
your thing the girls will put them in a vase for you, as long as you are early enough, and then if you wish take them
home afterwards. You will not step on anybody's toes, we all wear hard shoes!
Please remember to pray for:
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died:
Years Mind:
Tuesday: Fr George Gresley, Fr Sean Sheils
Wednesday: Fr Vincent Cameron, Frank Hyland
Friday: Tony Cornish, Mr Anthony Saloman Saad
Next Sunday - TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF YEAR A
First Reading Isaiah 22: 19-23
I place the key of the House of David upon his shoulder.
Second Reading Romans 11: 33-36
All that exists comes from him; all is by him and for him.
Gospel Matthew 16: 13-20
You are Peter, and I will give you they keys of the kingdom of heaven.
