TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF YEAR B
(Education Day)
8th/9th September 2018
Dear Parishioner
Today's Scripture readings offer us an invitation to become humble instruments of healing in Jesus' hands by
giving voice to the voiceless, the needy and the marginalized in our society. Today's Scripture also invites us to
open our ears to hear the word of God and to allow the Holy Spirit to loosen our tongues to praise and worship Him and
to convey the Good News of God's love and salvation to others.
The first reading (Is 35:4-7), reminds us that God's eyes are constantly focused on the helpless. God especially
cares for "the frightened, the blind, the deaf, the lame, the mute," and He encourages the powerless
to "be strong and fearless."
In today's second reading (James 2:1-5), the apostle gives us some basic and challenging principles of social
justice. He exhorts Christians to show no partiality based on external appearance and to practise God's
"preferential option for the poor." He warns the faithful against scorning or shaming the poor while showing
special consideration to the rich.
Today's Gospel describes how Jesus, by healing a deaf man with a speech impediment, fulfils Isaiah's Messianic
prophecy, "The eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped." The ailments
listed by Isaiah are symbolic of our interior illnesses: blindness to the needs of our neighbour, unwillingness to hear
God's voice and the inability to speak words of praise and gratitude. Through this miracle story, Mark also reminds
us that no one can be a follower of the Lord without reaching out to the helpless ("preferential option for the
poor").
So let us help Jesus to heal the deaf and the mute today. Jesus desires to give us his healing touch in order to loosen
our tongues so that he may speak to the spiritually hungry through us. He invites us to give him our hearts so that he
may touch the lives of people in our day through us, just as he touched the lives of millions through saintly souls
like Francis of Assisi, Damien of Molokai, Vincent de Paul and Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa). We also need to
allow Jesus to heal our spiritual deafness and muteness. In times of grief, despair and failure, we can be
"deaf" to the presence of God in the love and compassion of others; or we can become so preoccupied with the
noise and clamour of the marketplace that we are unable to hear the voices of those we love and who love us.
Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ
SEND, O LORD: HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH
Notices:
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KERALA THANK YOU! Many many thanks for your generous donations to the recent appeal for the
flood-stricken people of Kerala. £1300 has been raised so far with some more promised. We also have a good
collection of goods for the children which will be gratefully received. Thank you. Fr Sabu.
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GRAND DRAW TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM SUNDAY 30 SEPT Please try to sell as many as possible for our
biggest fundraiser of the year. Thank you.
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ST JOHN PAYNE CATHOLIC SCHOOL INVITATION from the new Headteacher: I am blessed and honoured to
serve and lead as Headteacher of St John Payne Catholic School. The school enjoys a fantastic reputation as a centre
of learning and faith both in the local community and beyond. Our academic success and excellent record of pastoral
care is attributed to the three-way partnership between home, school and parish, underpinned by the Gospel values
upon which the school is founded. I invite parishioners with children approaching secondary school age to visit our
new website www.sjp.essex.sch.uk and to attend our Open
Evening on Thursday 4th October from 5.30-8.00 p.m. The evening always provides a wonderful showcase of all that the
school has to offer. We look forward to welcoming you. Mr T. Coen (full letter on noticeboard)
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CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOUR Work has started on restoring the church but there will be no Vigil mass here
until further notice.
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200 CLUB Congratulations to Louise Geddes, winner of the recent draw.
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COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP You will have read the article in "The Augustinian" about a project
to settle a refugee family in Chelmsford. There will be an open meeting in the Parish Hall at Our Lady Immaculate on
Wed October 10 at 8pm to gather a group of supporters, volunteers and contacts who can help us to make progress with
the project. Everyone welcome but numbers attending would be useful. Prompt start for one hour long meeting. Contact
Chris Thompson click here to
Email.
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PILGRIMAGE TO ST JUDE'S FAVERSHAM 27 OCTOBER Date for the diary! Come and share in the official
Feast day celebrations with Mass at 12noon. There would be time to visit the gift shop before going on to Canterbury
for lunch and a visit to the Cathedral. Please let Karin Seeman know (01245 466167) if you would like to come.
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WALKING QUIZ ROUND WRITTLE The Knights' annual walking quiz will be in Writtle this year,
centred on the Green, on 30 September. Starting at 14.15, and finishing with dinner/supper (optional) in a local
venue at about 17.30. No prior knowledge of Writtle is needed, but come ready to walk. All welcome but numbers would
help to know how many sets of questions to prepare. Please contact Chris Thompson click here to
Email.
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SVP TEA PARTY, SATURDAY 22 SEPT 2:30-4PM AT ST AUGUSTINE'S. Everyone is very welcome. We are in
need of volunteers to help on the day, pick up and drop off Elderly guests and make sandwiches and cakes. For further
information please contact Jenny on 07796 393131 or click here to Email
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SVP QUIZ SAT 6 OCTOBER ST AUGUSTINE'S, Saturday 6th October, 7:15 for 7:30pm. Tickets now
available from an SVP member or from Jenny on 07796 393131, click here to Email. Bring your
own drinks and nibbles, tea & cake provided.
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WORK DAY AT ST AUGUSTINE'S SAT 22 SEPT 10AM - 12NOON Any time parishioners can spare to help
with a good tidy up, including gardening and cleaning windows, would be much appreciated - many hands make light
work! Thank you.
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ARE YOU 18-35? DO YOU HAVE AN ENQUIRING MIND? Do you want to think more deeply about who God is and
what the death and resurrection of Christ means? If so then An Intelligent Person's Guide to Catholicism at
Brentwood Cathedral is for you. Beginning on 19th September. More information at www.cathedral-brentwood.org
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A DAY OF REFLECTION FOR READERS Sat 20 October at The Becket Centre, Woodford Green led by Dr Marian
Tolley from Shrewsbury Diocese. 10 am - 4pm Please bring a packed lunch, tea and coffee will be available. Book your
place at https://doodle.com/poll/h49mzkv7hxxqu8tw, click
here to Email or Bernadette click here to
Email or phone 01206 385 881.
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SILENT WEEKEND RETREAT 'Speak Lord, Your Servant Is Listening', Fri 12-Sun 14 Oct. Led by
Allegra Mutanda at Sion Community, Brentwood. For more info click here to Email, 0790
3648639 or click here
to Email, 01277 215011.
Please remember to pray for:
Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died
Years Mind:
Tuesday: Fr Charles Johnson, Fr Conrad Smith
Thursday: Fr Theophilus Borer, Abp George Andrew Beck, Fr James Hemming, Deacon Arthur Woods
Friday: Fr Louis Heston
Sunday: Fr John Bergin
Next Sunday - TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY OF YEAR B
First Reading: Isaiah 50:5-9
I offered my back to those who struck me.
Second Reading: James 2:14-18
If good works do not go with faith, it is quite dead.
Gospel: Mark 8:27-35
You are the Christ. The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously.
