SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (B)
5th/6th May 2018
Dear Parishioner
Today's Scripture passages declare the profound truth that those who believe in Christ are to obey his commandment
of love - "Love others as I have loved you."
In the first reading, Peter teaches us that God shows no partiality in His love and that there are no boundaries to
abiding in love. God loves everyone, both the Jews and the Gentiles, and He wants everyone to be saved through His son,
Jesus. That is why God welcomed the Roman centurion Cornelius as the first non-Jew to become a Christian. The reading
tells us how God also allowed the Gentiles who heard Peter's speech to receive the same Holy Spirit and His gifts
that Peter's Jewish audience had received on the day of Pentecost.
In the second reading, John defines God as love and explains that He expressed His love for mankind by sending His son
to die for us humans "as expiation for our sins." This Divine love gives us the command as well as
duty to love one another as we have been loved by God. Since God has loved us first, we can and should love God in
return, love ourselves and love one another.
After telling the parable of the vine and branches, Jesus, in today's Gospel, teaches His disciples that, they are
to obey his commandment of love just as Jesus has obeyed his Heavenly Father's will by fulfilling His commandments
and remaining inseparably bonded with his Father. Jesus' unconditional, forgiving, selfless, sacrificial love for
us must be the criterion of our love for others. The highest expression of this love is our willingness to lay down our
lives as Jesus did, for people who don't deserve it. The goal and result of our abiding in love, in God, will be
perfect joy.
So let us cultivate an abiding and loving friendship with Jesus and be persons for others sacrificing our time, talents
and lives for others.
Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ
SEND, O LORD: HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH
Notices:
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BIRTHDAY WISHES TO MARION HICKEY one of our sick and housebound parishioners who turned 80 on
Saturday. A very Happy Birthday from the parish.
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FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PARENTS MEETING Wednesday 9 May at 8pm at St Augustine's, following the
7.30pm Mass.
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DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM Saturday May 26th. We are booking a coach. It is a wonderful
prayerful and spiritual place to visit. If you have never been before please think about it. There is a list at the
back of the Church to put your name on. God Bless you. Cath Lyons.
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DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES SUN 23-FRI 28 JULY led by Bishop Alan. Experienced medical team and
plenty of help for those with mobility needs. The pilgrimage is suitable for couples, individuals, and groups of
friends; all are welcome. More info from Eileen Hyland 01245 258341
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200 CLUB We will be drawing the first 200 Club winner at the end of the month, but there is still
time to renew your shares or take additional ones. We are close to having 200 shares sold so if you can take another
one or two, with luck, we will have a prize pot of £100 per month. Chris Thompson will be collecting money next
weekend but if you want to pay directly, click here to
Email him for instructions.
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CANONESSES FUNDRAISING SUMMER GARDEN PARTY SUN 15 JULY 12.30pm for 1pm. The Canonesses of the Holy
Sepulchre invite you, by kind permission of the Clayton family, to this Garden Party at Buftons House, Waltham Rd,
Boreham, to raise funds in support of the work of their sisters in the war-torn area of East Kivu Mirhi D.R. Congo.
Tickets £15 each include meal and welcome drink. Booking forms at back of church or click here to
Email or telephone 01245 604108.
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TANDEM SKYDIVE FOR BCCS Brentwood Catholic Children's Society has secured Tandem Skydiving
places on Saturday 7th July 2018 at Headcorn Airfield in Kent and is inviting applications from
adventurous people throughout the diocese who would like to experience the excitement of a 10,000 feet freefall
parachute jump and can commit to raising £500 for bccs. For more information and an application pack, please
contact Julie Abbott 07912 277413 / click
here to Email
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MUSIC FOR A SPRING BANK HOLIDAY - 7:45PM, SATURDAY 26 MAY at The Most Holy Redeemer, Laindon Rd,
Billericay CM12 9LL The Most Holy Redeemer Singers present a concert featuring Emma Gibbins (Director of Music -
Newport Cathedral) playing the Makin Organ in the Church. The first half will be choral with some familiar classics
and the second half will be an organ recital by Emma. Entry will be free - there will be a retiring collection in aid
of St Luke's Hospice.
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OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY 2020 Date 6th September 2020, 5 days in Austrian Lake District, half board
1 day and 1 night in Oberammergau £1,239. Cost includes Flights, 4 tours in Austria, Passion Play, 3 course
meal in the interval. Bookings made through Lee Robinson 01277 652358. All details of this tour can be found on
www.tailored-travel.co.uk quote mhrp201
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THY KINGDOM COME: This Thursday we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension and with it, we begin the
global wave of prayer via 'THY KINGDOM COME' for the renewal of the Christian faith! In some parishes, there
will be an opportunity to pray together as a parish. To find out if your parish has a THY KINGDOM COME event in place
please look in your parish news board and/or newsletter. If so, please, attend this event and help us pray with the
millions of other people for the renewal of our faith.
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FINANCE/ADMIN ASSISTANT ST HELEN'S CATHOLIC INFANT SCHOOL, Brentwood, 35 hours per week, 41
weeks per year, Mon - Fri 8.30am to 4.30pm Closing date 16th May 2018 at 12 noon. For further information, please
contact the school office on 01277 215626 or click
here to Email.
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TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, WOODFORD GREEN seeks teacher of Religious Education. Full time
position from September 2018. Please see http://fc.tchs.uk.net/vacancies.shtml for more details. Closing date: Friday 11th May.
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ST. HELEN'S CATHOLIC INFANT SCHOOL, BRENTWOOD seek teacher Foundation Stage/KS1 (NQT or
experienced) to fill 2 posts:
- Fulltime, permanent post
- Fulltime, 1 year fixed contract
Further info from 01277 215626, click
here to Email or visit www.st-helens-inf.essex.sch.uk Closing Date:12 noon Monday 14th May. Interviews : Wednesday 16th May.
Please remember to pray for:
Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died
Years Mind:
Sunday: Fr Brian O'Higgins
Tuesday: Margaret Logan
Wednesday: Fr Brian Gandy
Friday: Fr Augustine Davidson, Fr John Howell, Fr John Boyle, Fr Stanley Joynes
Next Sunday - 7th Sunday of Easter (B)
First Reading: Acts 1:15-17,20-26
We must choose one of these to be a witness to his resurrection with us.
Second Reading: 1 John 4:11-16
Anyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in him.
Gospel: John 17:11-19
That they may be one like us!
