SIXTH SUNDAY OF YEAR C
(Racial Justice Day)
17th February 2019
Dear Parishioner,
Today is Racial Justice Sunday. This is observed by British Churches.
On this sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (year C) and the following two Sundays the Gospel reading is
from Luke's 'Sermon on the Plain' which parallels Matthew's 'Sermon on the Mount'. The first
reading from the prophet Jeremiah is a little bit of wisdom poetry. It contrasts the wicked that trust in human beings
and the righteous that trust in God. The former are compared to a barren desert shrub; the latter to a fruitful tree
planted beside a flowing river. This prepares us for the Gospel, where Jesus declares the poor blessed. The poor are
the 'little ones' who have no one to trust in but God. The beatitudes echo the programme Jesus announced in the
synagogue at Nazareth. Whereas Matthew has nine Beatitudes, Luke has only four, with, however, four corresponding
'woes'.
On this coming Friday, 22nd February, we celebrate the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter. It's also known as the
Throne of Saint Peter, a relic conserved in Saint Peter's Basilica, the sovereign enclave of the
Pope inside Rome. Tradition claims it to be the wooden throne of the Apostle Saint Peter, the leader of the Early
Christians in Rome. The relic is enclosed in a sculpted gilt bronze casing designed and executed between 1647 and 1653.
In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI described the chair as "a symbol of the special mission of Peter and his successors to
tend Christ's flock, keeping it united in faith and in charity". Please pray for the successor of St. Peter
our Holy Father Pope Francis.
God bless,
Deacon Kevin.
Notices:
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LENT - DIARY DATES OF OCCASIONS FOR FAITH DEVELOPMENT
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Palms - if you have palms from previous years at home and you wish to burn them and bring the
Ashes to church, please do bring them as soon as possible.
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Eucharistic Adoration - every Sunday during Lent at 4pm in St Augustine's.
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Stations of the Cross - every Friday during Lent at 7.30pm in St Augustine's.
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Children's Stations of the Cross - 19th April 11am in St Augustine's.
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Lent Reconciliation Service - Wednesday April 10th 7.30pm at OLI
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FLOWER AND COFFEE ROTA VOLUNTEERS PLEASE!! Please let Cath, Kevin or Fr Sabu know if you can spare
some time to contribute to these important roles.
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REV JANE ANDERSON Parishioners are cordially invited to a Bring and Share Lunch on Sunday 3rd March
to say farewell to Rev Jane and John Anderson. They leave on Tuesday 5th March after serving at St. Augustine's
for 19 years. Please do come along and wish them well in their New Parish.
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FROM REV JANE ANDERSON You are cordially invited to the Service of Licensing of the Reverend Jane
Anderson as Priest-in-Charge of the Benefice of Woldsburn, Wedy 20 March 7.30pm in the Parish Church of St Andrew,
Bainton
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SVP FUNDRAISING APPEAL FOR SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN Next weekend (23 February) the SVP will be making a
fundraising appeal to assist with the ongoing crisis in Sudan and South Sudan. We are always very grateful for your
generous response. If you are a member of the Gift Aid scheme please do use one of your special collections envelopes
or pick up a spare envelope from the SVP representatives, so that we can recover the tax on your donations. You can
read more about this project at: https://online.flowpaper.com/7962073c/SVPSudanAppealBrochureA58ppPRINTEDEd1118withoutprintmarks/#page=1
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VISION DOCUMENT E BULLETIN the latest edition is now available on the parish website at http://www.staugustine-springfield.com for news and
updates.
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HEALING SERVICE, ENGLISH MARTYRS, HORNCHURCH 6-8pm Saturday 23rd February for emotional,
psychological and spiritual healing. To register your attendance please click
here to Email or contact Mandy on 0780 1470 516. English Martyrs RC Church, 240 Alma Ave, Hornchurch RM12 6BJ.
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YOUNG CATHOLICS GRADUATE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY This is a great opportunity from which one of our
own former altar servers, now working in the Government legal service, benefited. The deadline for applications to be
an intern with Faith in Politics, the Catholic Parliamentary and Public Affairs Internship Scheme, is Thurs 28
February. This scheme provides up to eight recently graduated Catholics with intensive experience of political and
social action in a spiritual context. Interns are placed with Christian MPs at Westminster and in public policy and
social action roles at the Catholic Education Service (CES), CAFOD, and CSAN. www.faithinpolitics.org.uk or https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/news/faith-politics-internship-opportunities/
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CATHOLIC TEACHING Two fantastic opportunities from the Agnus Dei Teaching School Alliance
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21/3/19 - "Get Into Teaching - Catholic Education" is a drop-in event in Billericay
for anyone considering a career in teaching (primary or secondary) who wants to find out more about training and
employment opportunities.
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6/4/19 - "Moving Into Catholic Education" is a Saturday networking event with a free
lunch provided in Brentwood for teachers working in any non-Catholic school.
For more details please contact: http://tiny.cc/catholicteaching or click here to Email
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BCCS ANNIVERSARY CONCERT 7.30PM SAT 15 JUNE at Brentwood Cathedral with Northern Irish classical
singing trio 'The Priests'. Advance tickets £15 plus booking fee until 1st March after
which all tickets will be £20 plus fee. Purchase directly through www.eventbrite.co.uk - look for The Priests under Event, or www.bccs.org.uk under Our 35th Anniversary/ Anniversary
Events. Book early in order to avoid disappointment.
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HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE 7-14 MAY Please see poster on noticeboard for details.
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DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM Saturday May 25th. We are booking a coach. It is a wonderful
prayerful and spiritual place to visit. If you've 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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FULLY ESCORTED PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK SHRINE, IRELAND, 27th May 2019. £649.00 per person sharing
includes flight + 10kg hand luggage, all taxes, luxury transfers, 4 nights in Knock House Hotel with full Irish
Breakfast each morning and 4 Course Dinner each evening. Groups and Individual bookings welcome. Contact Patricia on
01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or click here to Email.
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ST JOHN PAYNE CATHOLIC SCHOOL DEPUTY HEADTEACHER Required for September 2019. Leadership Spine L20
to L24 £63,806 to £69,673 Closing Date: Noon, Monday 25th February, Interviews: Tues 12th & Wed 13th
March 2019. Full info at 'Vacancies' section of www.sjp.essex.sch.uk
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HEADTEACHER VACANCY - OLI CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL Closing date Monday 4th March. Further info at TES
online or Essex Jobscene.
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NEW HALL VACANCIES please see 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: Debbie Bragg
Years Mind:
Sunday: Fr John Joyce
Tuesday: Jean Pearson, Fr Thomas O'Connor, Fr Archibald O'Brien
Thursday: Deacon Sidney Lewis
Sunday: Fr Gerard Murphy, Canon Aloysius Roche
Next Sunday - SEVENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR C
First Reading: 1 Samuel 26:2,7-9,12-13,22-23
The Lord put you in my power, but I would not raise my hand.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:45-49
We who have been modelled on the earthly man will be modelled on the heavenly man.
Gospel: Luke 6:27-38
Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.