SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (B)
9th/10th December 2017
Dear Parishioners
In today's liturgy we hear again the lonely voice of John the Baptist exhorting us to prepare a way for the Lord.
Let us create a space in our minds and hearts so that the Lord can come to us in the Eucharist. The Gospel reading from
Mark (1: 1-8) reflects on the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As a lion, Mark pounces on his subject
matter. With John the Baptist's unkempt appearance and fiery, apocalyptic preaching, he gathers crowds of those
acknowledging their sins and seeking forgiveness.
We have a Reconciliation Service on Wednesday, 13th December, at the Church of the Holy Name, Lucas
Avenue, Chelmsford. Priests will be available for the sacrament of Confession. I strongly recommend we all take this
opportunity to prepare ourselves for Christmas.
We welcome back this weekend Fr. Sabu and assure him of our prayers and support as our priest in charge. Please pray
for the children of our parish who are preparing for their First Holy Communion. Today at the 9.00am Mass the theme is
on Listening. Every time we are gathered around the table of the Lord we hear the spoken word. May it enhance our daily
lives.
God bless
Deacon Kevin
MASSES OVER CHRISTMAS
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SATURDAY 23/SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER
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Sunday Masses as normal:
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Saturday Vigil Mass:
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Christ Our Saviour
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5.00pm
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Vigil Mass
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Sunday Masses:
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St Augustine
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9.00am
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Solemn Mass
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New Hall
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10.45am
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Solemn Mass
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Christmas Masses
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SUNDAY 24 DECEMBER Christmas Eve - 1ST MASS OF CHRISTMAS
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St Augustine
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8.00pm
8.30pm
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Carols followed by
Vigil Mass
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MONDAY 25 DECEMBER Christmas Day
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St Augustine
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9.00am
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Solemn Mass
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TUESDAY 26 DECEMBER Boxing Day Feast of St Stephen
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St Augustine
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11.00am
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Solemn Mass
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The Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Masses fulfil the normal Sunday obligation. The Christmas Eve Vigil Mass and
Monday morning Christmas Day Mass fulfil the Christmas Day obligation but not the 4th Sunday of Advent
obligation.
Notices:
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GRAND CHRISTMAS DRAW On behalf of Fr. Sabu, Deacon Kevin and myself, I would like to thank you all
for buying and selling Raffle tickets and for your generous donations of prizes. Special thanks to Chris Thompson and
Anna Doube who both sold over £100.00 worth of tickets. A profit of £1500 was made. This is the best we
have done in a long time. God bless you all. Cath Lyons.
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CHRISTMAS OFFERING Please remember that all church collections over Christmas are your personal gift
to Fr Sabu. This forms an important part of his income for the year. If you give by standing order or use the weekly
envelopes please use the envelope marked 'Christmas' for your Christmas Day offering. Many thanks. Rowena,
secretary to the Finance Committee.
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ADVANCE NOTICE Please put these dates in your diaries now!!
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Saturday 27th January Parish Bring and Share evening
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Saturday 17th March Saint Patrick's Day social evening planned
More info to follow in the New Year. From the Social Committee.
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GIFT AID If you require a statement on 2016/17 Gift Aid donations for your tax return - please see
Dee Davey after mass or click here to
Email. If you don't require the statement immediately, it will be inserted into the 2018/19 boxes so that you
can collect it when you pick up the new year boxes in March.
If you used envelopes no 20 or no 45 in 2016/17 please can you contact Dee on the e-mail address above or on
01245 353657.
And finally - if you are not yet a member of the Gift Aid scheme and you or your partner are a taxpayer, please do
join. We are able to recover another 25% on the value of your donations from the Inland Revenue at no additional cost
to you - this is an important source of parish income. We don't need information on your income - other than
confirmation that you have paid tax to the value of the tax we re-claim. Please contact Dee for more details or if
you would like a Standing Order Form for your offertory donations. Thank you if you are already a scheme member.
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RESTRUCTURING OF THE DIOCESE Parishioners are encouraged to be familiar with the First Formal
Proposal for Renewal & Restructuring of our Diocese. The document can be accessed via a link on the parish
website. Alternatively, a number of copies are available at the back of the church. Its rose colour anticipates the
joy of Gaudete Sunday - the third Sunday of Advent. As an accompaniment to document and also available on the web
site, Bishop Alan has recorded a short address which we hope to share with parishioners prior to a parish meeting mid
January, where we will be invited to share observations and present queries arising from our reading and prayer. If
time permits, a subsequent meeting of parishioners from St Augustine's, Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady Immaculate
& Holy Name will offer the opportunity of shared feedback prior to the meeting at the Diocese on 24th Febrnary. I
encourage us all to talk and to pray so that together we can shape the future of our parish and Diocese at this
exciting time.
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FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS will take place at Brentwood Cathedral on Sunday 17th December,
4.00 pm.
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CRIB COLLECTIONS will be donated in aid of the Brentwood Catholic Children's Society.
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CHRISTMAS CAKE RAFFLE Maura McNamara will be continuing her annual Christmas cake raffle this
weekend. All proceeds are for church funds.
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ADVENT SERVICE OF REFLECTION SUN 17 DECEMBER 7PM led by the Community at Blessed Sacrament Parish,
Melbourne in the Parish church, followed by light festive refreshments. All welcome. Thank you. Sisters Moira &
Margaret
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CARETAKER REQUIRED - ST. HELEN'S CATHOLIC INFANT SCHOOL Brentwood, Applications invited for the
post full-time caretaker (37 hours per week/ split shift) 6.45am to 10.45am and 2.30pm to 6.00pm Further info on
01277 215626 or the web site www.st-helens-inf.essex.sch.uk
Please remember to pray for:
Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died: Mary Braun, Sabina d'Souza, Pam De Keyser
Years Mind:
Tuesday: Fr Geoffrey Pye, Fr Eamonn McGrath
Wednesday: Fr George Carolan, Fr William Evers, Fr Francis Kerrigan
Thursday: Fr Gerard Kerr
Saturday: Lydia Kalil
Next Sunday - THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT (B)
First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-2A,10-11
I exult for joy in the Lord.
Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 5:16-24
May you all be kept safe, spirit, soul and body, for the coming of the Lord.
Gospel: John 1:6-8,19-28
There stands among you, unknown to you, the one who is coming after me.
