SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR B
28th/29th July 2018
Dear Parishioner
Today's readings invite us to become humble instruments in God's hands by sharing our blessings with our needy
brothers and sisters. They are about hunger and food and about how we can satisfy the deeper hunger of our life.
The first reading tells us how the prophet Elisha, by invoking God's power, fed one hundred men with twenty barley
loaves. Elisha relies not on what he has but on what God can do with what Elisha received as a gift. This miracle
foreshadows the Gospel account of Jesus' miraculous feeding of the crowd who followed him to hear his words.
In the second reading, St. Paul reminds the Ephesians that Jesus united the Jews and the Gentiles by bringing them
together as Christians in one Faith and one Baptism, allowing them to become one by eating his body. Hence, they have
to live together, helping each other by sharing their blessings. Paul urges us to become communities of sharing
Christians.
Jesus' miraculous feeding of five thousand people by using five barley loaves and two fish, as described in
today's Gospel, was associated with the Holy Eucharist early in the Church's tradition. The people immediately
interpreted the miracle, giving Jesus two Messianic titles: "The prophet" and "the one who
is to come". This miracle teaches us that God works marvels through ordinary people. Elisha's servant and
Jesus' disciples distributed the bread provided by God through generous people who were willing to share their food
with the hungry. Thus, God meets the needs of people through the good will and services provided by members of His
community.
We are thus challenged to meet the most basic human need, namely hunger, with generosity and compassion. As Christians
we need to commit ourselves to share and to work with God in communicating His compassion to all as the early
Christians did.
Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ
SEND, O LORD: HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH
Notices:
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PARISH BBQ SUNDAY 9 SEPT FROM 2PM - DATE FOR YOUR DIARY! by kind permission of Father Sabu we are
holding our annual BBQ in the presbytery garden once again. Please bring your own food and drink and come and enjoy
yourselves and help make this another great parish event … The Social Group
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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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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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ORGANIST AND DIRECTOR OF MUSIC REQUIRED FOR SEPTEMBER 2018 For Our Lady of Grace 1 Kings Road
Chingford E4 7HP. The successful applicant will train both an adult choir and a children's choir to lead the
music at the 10.30am Mass on alternate weeks & also play the organ at the 8.30am & 10.30am Sunday Masses.
This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check. Remuneration negotiable, based on RSCM rates. For more information,
please contact: Fr Francis Coveney on 020 8529 1804 or
click here to Email
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A DAY OF REFLECTION & ENRICHMENT FOR READERS - Advanced Notice for Saturday, 20th October in
Woodford Green. READERS & PROSPECTIVE READERS PLEASE PUT THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARIES. Details to follow.
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SAINT JOHN PAYNE PTA PHOTOMARATHON (no running involved!) You are warmly invited to attend a
photomarathon competition at Saint John Payne on 29th September. Entry is £5. Registration 9:30am for a 10:00am
start. Competitors will have 4 hours to take 8 photos on topics given to them at registration and must be back to
Photo HQ by 2pm. Digital cameras and mobile phones are permitted. Please invite all friends and family as this is a
whole community event. If you have any queries, please contact Joe Kelly at school on 01245 256030.
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PLEASE PRAY FOR FR PETER HACKETT SJ who has died at the Corpus Christi Jesuit Community in
Bournemouth aged 93. He was Headmaster of The Campion School in Hornchurch from April 1963 until August 1965 - when
the Society of Jesus entrusted the school to the care of the Diocese of Brentwood. After leaving The Campion School,
Fr Hackett was at various times Headmaster of three other Jesuit schools: St Ignatius College Enfield, Preston
Catholic College and Wimbledon College. He was also Master of Campion Hall Oxford from 1985 until 1989. The eldest of
three brothers who became Jesuit priests: his two surviving brothers are Fr Paul Hackett (who lives in Bournemouth)
and Fr Mark Hackett (who works in Zimbabwe). May he rest in peace. Fr Peter's Funeral Mass will take place at
Corpus Christi Church, St James Square, Boscombe BH7 6AN at 12.30pm on Wednesday 1st August 2018
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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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NEW HALL SCHOOL SEEKS HR OFFICER ASAP Closing date for applications Thurs 9 August, Interviews Wed
15 August. Full details can be found at: www.newhallschool.co.uk/job-opportunities
Please remember to pray for:
Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died: Pauline Hepworth
Years Mind:
Sunday: Yves Kerforne
Tuesday: Fr Michael O'Sullivan
Next Sunday - EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR B
First Reading: Exodus 16:2-4,12-15
I will rain down bread for you from heaven.
Second Reading: Ephesians 4:17,20-24
Put on the new self that has been created in God's way.
Gospel: John 6:24-35
He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst.
