EASTER SUNDAY
31st March/1st April 2018
Dear Parishioner
Today we celebrate the feast of the resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ. Easter is the greatest and the most
important feast in the Church for three reasons:
- The Resurrection of Christ is the basis of our Christian Faith. It is the greatest of the miracles, for it proves
that Jesus is God. That is why St. Paul writes: "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain;
and your Faith is in vain" (I Cor 15:14). "Jesus is Lord, he is risen" (Rom 10:9), was the
central theme of the kerygma (or "preaching"), of the Apostles because Jesus prophesied his Resurrection as a
sign of his Divinity: "Tear down this temple and in three days I will build it again" (Jn2:19). The
founder of no other religion has an empty tomb as Jesus has. In addition, neither Jews nor the Romans could disprove
Jesus' Resurrection by presenting the dead body of Jesus. The Apostles and the early Christians were absolutely
sure that Jesus had risen from the dead.
- Easter is the guarantee of our own resurrection. Jesus assured Martha at the tomb of Lazarus: "I am the
resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me will live even though he dies…" (Jn 11:25-26).
- Easter is a feast which gives us hope and encouragement in this world of pain, sorrows and tears. It reminds us
that life is worth living. It is our belief in the Real Presence of the Risen Jesus in our souls, in His Church, in the
Blessed Sacrament and in Heaven that gives meaning to our personal as well as our communal prayer and gives us strength
to fight against temptations and freedom from unnecessary worries and fears.
So let us live the lives of the resurrection people with a new and disciplined life in the risen Christ. Let us show
the power of god's love to the world by becoming transparent Christians.
May you all have a happy and blessed Easter celebration. May the risen Lord bless you and your home.
Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ
SEND, O LORD: HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH
Notices:
-
200 CLUB We did the last 200 Club Draw in March and, as I did not win anything last year, I am
starting to collect money for next year's. The cost remains at £10 per year for 10 months' Draws. I
will be collecting next weekend and the weekend after, and you can take as many shares as you like. This is a very
useful fund raiser, and we want to try to get it to 200 shares this year (more if possible, there is no limit). Some
numbers have already gone so hurry if you want particular numbers. I am happy to take cash, but if you want to pay
directly, click here to
Email for instructions because we need to know who is paying and how to contact you.
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SEMINAR FOR OLDER PEOPLE, CARERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS on Saturday 21st April 7pm to 8.30 pm at St
Augustine Church Hall, Springfield. If you are an older person above the age of 65 or if you are a carer for an older
person you are invited to attend this Seminar. This will be an opportunity for you to know more about your
eligibility to receive help and support from the Local Authority under the Care Act 2014. The first part of the
Seminar will be a presentation and then you can ask any questions or clarifications on various aspects of Care Act
including Assessment & Eligibility Criteria, Care & Support Planning, Financial Contributions, Carer's
assessment etc. The Seminar will be led by Tomy Sebastian, Social Worker.
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2018/19 GIFT AID BOXES Please look out for your new Gift Aid Boxes after mass. If you or your
partner are a tax payer please do join the scheme as we can recover the tax at no extra cost to you. And if you are a
higher rate tax payer you can personally recover the higher rate tax element. We don't need any information about
your income other than confirmation that you pay tax.
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UNWANTED CHRISTMAS GIFTS We plan to hold a Raffle after Easter to raise funds to go towards
repayment of the Church debt. Any bit of fundraising, big or small, helps to bring down the debt - every penny
counts! Your unwanted gifts would be very gratefully received. Thank you all for your support. Cath.
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ESSEX RECUSANT SOCIETY (Brentwood Diocesan Historical Society): the next meeting will be at 2.30pm
on Saturday 14 April at The Grange, 93 Queens Road, Brentwood CM14 4EY. Father Fergus Kelly C.M. (Chaplain to the
Marillac Hospital, Warley) will speak on 'The Gordon Riots, London, 1780.' All are most welcome to attend,
including non-members of the Society.
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THE VITALITY LONDON 10K RUN, MONDAY 28 MAY Brentwood Catholic Children's Society has several
charity places for this May bank holiday event which takes in many of London's iconic landmarks, finishing in
front of Buckingham Palace with all the event facilities, food and entertainment close by in Green Park. Registration
fee £30 and minimum sponsorship pledge of £200. If you have your own place in the race, we would love to
have you on our team; we won't set a sponsorship target, but any funds you can raise for us would be hugely
appreciated. For further information, please contact Julie at 07912 277413 or click here to Email.
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WALSINGHAM HOUSE AT ABBOTSWICK - COME AND SEE! The refurbished House is now open, and we love
receiving visitors to enjoy the grounds and chapel. You will find pictures and information at www.bcys.net/WHabbotswick. The date of the "official
opening" is Saturday September 1st, when you are very welcome to Midday Mass with Bishop Alan, and then to stay
for the afternoon, enjoying the beautiful grounds. Do save the date!
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WALSINGHAM HOUSE AT ABBOTSWICK - SUPPORT OUR FUNDRAISING Over £320,000 has been raised,
including £90,000 from parish collections and parishioners' donations. Thank you. There is
£200,000 left to raise - if 500 people each donated £400, our refurbishment debt would be cleared. Could
you do that? Every penny is being invested in our young people, and in Abbotswick as a house open to
all. Click here
to Email, call 01277 373959, post cheques to Walsingham House at Abbotswick, Navestock Side, near Brentwood,
Essex CM14 5SH, or look at www.bcys.net/WHabbotswick/donations to make an online donation.
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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (EDUCATION) sought by the Catholic Education Service. Full details at www.catholiceducation.org.uk
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NEW HALL VACANCIES Teacher of Economics, Class Teacher. Please see www.newhallschool.co.uk/job-opportunities for
full details and how to apply.
Please remember to pray for:
Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died
Years Mind:
Wednesday: Fr Ronald Roberts, Fr Charles Loughran
Saturday: Deacon Geoffrey Piper
Next Sunday - 2nd Sunday of Easter (B)
First Reading: Acts 4:32-35
United, heart and soul.
Second Reading: 1 John 5:1-6
Anyone who has been begotten by God has already overcome the world.
Gospel: John 20:19-31
Eight days later, Jesus came.
