SIXTEENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR B
21st/22nd July 2018
Dear Parishioner
On this Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) in the first reading from the prophet Jeremiah, we see, in his
compassion for the crowd, Jesus becomes the wise and just 'shepherd'. Jeremiah sternly rebukes Israel's
shepherds whose self-serving and ineffective leadership have deeply divided the nation. Jeremiah prophesies a new ruler
for Israel, 'a virtuous Branch for David', who will 'reign as true king and be wise and just'. That
vision is realised in Jesus' compassion for the crowd in today's gospel.
The Responsorial Psalm 22 evokes images of the compassionate shepherd leading the people entrusted to him, and of the
generous host of a great banquet welcoming all. The psalmist sings of his unfailing trust in the constant providence of
God.
In the second reading from Paul's letter to the Ephesians, the apostle praises Christ as 'the peace between
us' who reconciles us to God and to one another. Thus we able to break down the walls that divide Jew and Gentile,
a reconciliation to which Paul was especially dedicated.
The Gospel reading from Mark focuses on the return of the twelve apostles from their first mission of preaching and
healing and their report to Jesus. He gathers them in a 'lonely' place to rest and regroup, but the people find
them and keep coming. Even their attempt to escape by boat to the other side of the lake is foiled once word gets out.
May those going on holiday have a restful time and return home safely. Please pray for me as I pray for you. God bless,
Deacon Kevin
Notices:
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PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL - CAN YOU HELP? At the recent AGM Fr Sabu requested that a parishioner
should volunteer to take up a place on the Parish Pastoral Council made available by the recent resignation of one of
the members. If you feel able to take up this role and to work with a committed team of parishioners to work towards
the realisation of the parish vision, please make yourself known to Father asap.
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THE PARISH COMMUNICATIONS GROUP is looking for a new member for its Working Group. We aim to develop
all avenues for communication, and though we are comfortable with the old style of communications, we need someone
help us move into all kinds of social media. If you can help us, contact Roger Sclater (click here to Email) or Chris
Thompson (click here to
Email) or have a chat with us.
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REV. JANE ANDERSON Jane will be leaving St. Augustine's at the end of the month after nineteen
years of dedicated service both to her community and ours. She will be very much missed. We thank her most sincerely
for all her help and support. May God bless her and John as they return to home and family in the north of England.
There will be a FAREWELL SERVICE FOR JANE at 4pm on Sunday 29 July at St Augustine's with tea
and cakes to follow. All are warmly invited.
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WORLD CUP FOOTBALL Thanks to all those who put in bids for the football - it went to the highest
bidder for a very welcome £35!
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PHIL PERRIER'S TOMBOLA Thank you for supporting Phil's Tombola once again. The response was
very positive and the amount raised for the Denis Hurley Centre in Durban SA after 8 Masses was £576. Well done
to all parishioners! Phil Perrier.
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KNIGHTS OF ST COLUMBA RACE NIGHT, 22 SEPTEMBER KSC will be having a Race Night on 22 September to
raise money for their work in Chelmsford and the Diocese. Put the date in your diary: tickets will be on sale at the
end of the holidays but we are looking for people to sponsor horses for £5 and companies to sponsor races for
£25. Info for race sponsors from Chris Thompson click here to
Email.
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YOUR GIFT AID SCHEME NEEDS YOU! If you or your partner are a taxpayer and you are not yet a member
of the gift aid scheme then please do join. You can use the weekly offertory envelopes or a standing order. The
parish can reclaim 25% tax on your contributions at no extra cost to you. This is an important source of income to
the parish. Please contact Dee Davey on 01245 353657 or click here to Email or give your contact
details to Deacon Kevin for us to contact you to find out more.
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THE ESSEX RECUSANT SOCIETY (Brentwood Diocesan Historical Society) will be hold its Annual General
Meeting on Saturday 4 August at The Grange, 93 Queens Road, Brentwood, at 2.30pm. The meeting will be followed by a
talk: 'Family connections between Recusants in Essex (the Petre Family) and Lancashire' given by Mrs Patricia
Paxon. All are welcome.
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BCYS YOUTH GATHER 20-21 October, Essex Outdoors, East Mersea. This event is open to those in school
year 9 and above. We are delighted to be back at Essex Outdoors on Mersea Island for our annual Youth Gather, where
there is new cabin accommodation and a brilliant range of outward bound activities - climbing high ropes, abseiling,
zip wires and much, with workshops and guest speakers including Fr Paul Keane, Vice Rector of St Mary's College,
Oscott. The cost of £50 includes lunch and dinner on Saturday 20th, breakfast and lunch on Sunday 21st, two
Mersea activities, 2 BCYS workshops, and a night in a Mersea log cabin. Applications from 29th July by creating an
account at www.bcys.net and applying on the Events page.
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BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S SOCIETY is inviting supporters from all over the diocese to come
and take part in the Barleylands Fun Walk on Sunday 2nd September. This is a great fun, family event with a choice of
walks on the Barleylands site, the longest being no more than 3 miles and a shorter walk which is suitable for
children & toddlers. This community event starts with a BBQ at 12.00 and with walks due to start at 1pm &
finish around 2pm, it is an ideal opportunity for families or parish groups to get together & have a fun
afternoon while raising much needed funds for 'bccs'. For a sponsorship form and more information, please go
to www.bccs.org.uk or contact Alison click here to
Email.
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YOUNG VINCENTIANS (ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY) is seeking to recruit an 1833 Research and Project
Development Officer to review, re-model, project plan and potentially produce resources for our programme for 18-30
year olds in preparation for a service re-launch in Sept 2019. £27k pa pro rata; 3 days a week; one year
contract. Home-based with national travel. Closing date: 10am Wednesday 25 July. Interviews: Thursday 26 July. Start
date: Wednesday 29 August 2018. More info & application pack, from: https://www.svp.org.uk/ and see poster in church.
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THE CATHOLIC MOTHERS APOSTOLATE is offering a retreat for teen girls and their mums. Join them at
Aylesford Priory in October for a day dedicated to learning more about women's issues, including what it means to
be a Catholic woman; how to improve mother-daughter communication; how fertility affects our lives at every stage;
and how to grow in the faith. Mums and daughters will have plenty of time to talk through the issues together and
build their relationship, as well as meet other Catholic mothers and daughters. Tickets are £120 per
mother-daughter pair, with an Early Bird rate of £100. More info at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/catholicmothers/177368
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 John Boardman, Fr Michael Hannon, Fr Dermot Moore, Fr James Cooney
Thursday: Ann Thompson
Saturday: Fr John Harding
Sunday: Yves Kerforne
Next Sunday - SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR B
First Reading: 2 Kings 4:42-44
They will eat and have some left over.
Second Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6
One Body, one Lord, one faith, one baptism.
Gospel: John 6:1-15
Jesus gave out as much as was wanted to all who were sitting ready.
