TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF YEAR A
9th/10th September 2017
Dear Parishioners,
The readings for the coming two Sundays give us many deep thoughts for our reflection. We are asked to reflect on our
very basic human relations. With focus on correcting our fellow human beings, loving them and culminating in the
greatest act of forgiving, based on the greatest mercy we all have received from our lord Jesus Christ.
God reminds us that it is our duty to correct our brothers and sisters. We cannot just disregard the wickedness
happening around us and be silent. Through prophet Ezekiel, God says, "If you do not speak to the wicked man, I
will hold you responsible for his death". In the gospel of Matthew Jesus tells us that we have to take all the
efforts to correct the wrong done by the other. We should be patient in correcting and winning back our fellow human
being.
St. Paul in his letter to the Romans reminds us, "If you love your fellow men you have carried out your
obligations". The greatest obligation of every human being is that of LOVE. If we love the other, we cannot do any
wrong to them. All the other commandments God has given us will be very easy to follow if we can really love without
reservations. Thus REAL LOVE will make the world a better place of peaceful co-existence.
Finally, the greatest command to forgive the one who wrongs you, reminds us of the need to practice forgiveness in our
daily living. Jesus reminds us that we are not to count how many times we have forgiven. The call of Jesus is to
forgive innumerable times. He reminds us that we cannot put a limit to our forgiveness, as we have received forgiveness
and mercy of our Lord without any conditions. We are to give to the other as we have received. If we cannot give to the
other as we receive, we will be held accountable before the lord.
So let us make our community and society a better heaven with our FRATERNAL CORRECTION, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE AND
FORGIVENESS. May God bless us all.
"SEND 0 LORD: HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH"
Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ
Notices:
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CONGRATULATlONS AND MANY YEARS OF HAPPINESS to Emma Cook and Danny Rolph who are getting married on
Wednesday 13th Sept. at 2.00 p.m, at St. Augustine's and to Jessica Davey and Mathew Tribe who are getting
married on the 16th Sept. at 1.00 p.m. at St. Augustine's.
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ABBOTSWICK FUNDRAISING APPEAL 23/24 SEPTEMBER Please give generously in support of this appeal as
the Walsingham House Youth team move to Abbotswick to continue their inspiring work with our young people, alongside
the long standing retreats for individuals and parish groups hosted by Abbotswick. Look out for the leaflet in your
Newsletter which gives more information about this.
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CALLING MARRIED COUPLES! Could you give 2 hours once to change the lives of 20 students? The Explore
project brings together married couples with young people to have an open conversation about the realities of both
marriage and family life in Catholic schools in your area. For more info please
click here to Email or call 07972438179.
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VACANCY - 3 MONTHS' CONTRACT WORKING FOR MISSIO, the Catholic Church's official charity
for overseas mission. The role is as a Fundraising Administrator, based at Missio's offices in Victoria in
London. Closing date is Friday 15th September. For a job description and further information please click here to Email, or
visit www.missio.org.uk
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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.
Please remember to pray for:
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died: Flora Noronha
Years Mind:
Monday: Fr Charles Johnson, Fr Conrad Smith
Wednesday: Naik Kerfone, Fr Theophilus Borer, Abp George Andrew Beck, Fr James Hemming, Deacon Arthur Woods
Thursday: Fr Louis Heston
Saturday: Fr John Bergin
Sunday: Fr Anthony Mayston
Next Sunday - TWENTY-FOURTH OF YEAR A
First Reading: Ecclesiasticus 27:30-28:7
Forgive your neighbour the hurt that he does you, and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven.
Second Reading: Romans 14:7-9
Alive or dead we belong to the Lord.
Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35
I do not tell you to forgive seven times, but seventy seven times.
