THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT (C)
24th March 2019
Dear Parishioner,
All three of today's readings speak of God's mercy and compassion in disciplining His children by occasional
punishment while giving them another chance despite their repeated sins. He invites us during Lent to repent of our
sins and to renew our lives by producing fruits of love, compassion, forgiveness, and faithful service.
The first reading tells us how God shows His mercy to His chosen people by giving them: Moses as their leader and
liberator. He declares His intention to use Moses as the leader who will rescue His enslaved people.
The second reading warns us that our merciful God is also a disciplining God. Paul reminds the Christians of Corinth
that they must learn from the sad experience of the Israelites who were punished for their sins by a merciful but just
God.
Today's Gospel explains how God disciplines His people, invites them to repent of their sins, to renew their lives,
and to produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Although God patiently waits for sinners to repent, giving them grace to
do so, He will not wait forever. Time may run out; therefore, timely repentance is necessary. Hence, one can say,
"A Lent missed is a year lost from the spiritual life".
So let us live lives of repentance and be fruitful trees in God's orchard. Lent is an ideal time "to dig
around and manure" the tree of our life so that it may bring forth fruits of repentance, reconciliation,
forgiveness and sensitivity to the feelings of others. Let us make the best use of the "second chances" God
gives us.
SEND, O LORD: HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH
Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ
Notices:
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LENT - DIARY DATES OF OCCASIONS FOR FAITH DEVELOPMENT
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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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FLOWERS FOR EASTER SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEK Every year we try to make the church beautiful for
the Easter Vigil. All donations to this would be very welcome for this very special celebration in the Church's
year.
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BEN HITCHEN RAFFLE FOR LOURDES As you know every Easter I travel to Lourdes on pilgrimage with HCPT
Group 26 where I look after disabled children for a week. This will be my 8th consecutive year of doing so. The
children that we take go cost-free, so group members like myself raise money by carol singing, race nights, sponsored
walks, church collections etc. There will be a raffle after mass at St. Augustine's for the next two weeks to
help fundraise for the costs of taking the children to Lourdes. I thank you in advance for your support. Ben
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200 CLUB The last Draw for the 2018-19 200 Club has taken place so we need to collect your
subscriptions for next year. We are starting to collect this week and will carry on until Easter. Direct payment is
increasingly popular: click here to
Email Chris Thompson for details. Last year we managed to get up to 200 and would love to keep that number, or do
even better. We may have lost some subscribers, so do take new numbers if you can. Thank you for your support of this
important fundraiser.
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2019/20 GIFT AID BOXES Please look out for your 19/20 Gift Aid Boxes after Mass. There will be a
standard size box if you use the weekly envelopes and a small box for special collections if you have a standing
order. If you or your partner are a taxpayer and you are not yet a member of the scheme, please do join so that at no
extra cost to you, the parish can recover income tax on your donations.
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EASTER LILIES Each year we ask for special donations for Easter Lilies to decorate the Church for
our Easter celebrations. If you would like to contribute (a suggested donation of £4.00) in
memory of a deceased loved one, please place your offering in an envelope marked Easter Lilies to
pass to Cath Lyons. Many thanks for your generosity.
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WEEKLY OFFERING For those parishioners who contribute to the weekly offertory using Direct Debit we
have prepared some small cards available at the back of church. You are invited to use these cards if you would like
to feel more involved in the liturgical aspect of offering during Mass. Please take a card at the beginning of Mass
and add it to the collection plate to be brought to the altar in the offertory procession. We hope that some of you
will find this a helpful symbol of your giving.
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ST JOHN PAYNE SCHOOL LENTEN SERVICE The staff and pupils warmly invite you to their Lenten service
on Thursday 4 April at 6pm in the school, More info from school chaplain, Kay Adams click here to Email.
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BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S SOCIETY COUNSELLING SERVICES Children and families are now able to
access direct therapeutic support in one of our clinics. Sessions take place after school or at an evening clinic at
our counselling suites in Rayleigh. Our highly experienced counsellors provide support directly to the whole family
or to children and adolescents on a 1:1 basis. If you are concerned that your child may need someone to talk to,
please contact Catherine click here to
Email. There is a sessional charge, so please enquire.
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LENT TALK THIS WEEK AT OUR LADY IMMACULATE, CHELMSFORD 20th March - "Prayer and Art" - Dr
Caroline Farey. Holy Hour and confessions 6.30pm - 7.30pm with the talk at 7.30pm in the parish hall.
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COLCHESTER LENT TALK 4 FRIDAY 29th March Dr Kate Stogdon, a Cenacle Sister, theme: 'The
sacred art of surrender'. Cardinal Bourne Hall, St James the Less & St Helen, Priory Street,
Colchester.
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DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM - 25th MAY 2019: Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the
Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham as we honour Our Lady of Walsingham. We will celebrate Mass at the Basilica before
walking the Holy Mile to the grounds of Walsingham Abbey to celebrate Vespers and Benediction on the site of the Holy
House. If you would like to come please contact Fr Sabu.
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BILLERICAY PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP DAY OF to the Divine Mercy at Walsingham House at Abbotswick,
Navestock Side, near Brentwood, CM14 5SH on Mercy Sunday, 28th April. Arrival from 10.30am for 11am start. Mass at 12
noon. Confession available. The day will end at 3.30pm. Tea and coffee available but do bring a packed lunch. Ring
Claire Wallis on 01277 658783 for more info. ALL WELCOME.
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PILGRIMAGE TO AVILA 19 - 24 May 2019 - Based in the heart of Avila - the home of St Teresa of Avila,
visiting Segovia, Toledo & Salamanca, staying at the Palacio de los Velada www.hotelpalaciodelosvelada.com/en Led by Fr Francis
Coveney. £870 per person (inc flights twin room - single room supplement £120). More info from Gill at
Tangney Tours 01732 886 666 or www.tangney-tours.com
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CATHOLIC TEACHING from the Agnus Dei Teaching School Alliance
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6/4/19 - "Moving Into Catholic Education" a Saturday networking event in Brentwood for
teachers working in any non-Catholic school.
More info from: http://tiny.cc/catholicteaching or
click here to Email
Please remember to pray for:
Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died: Monica Burgess
Years Mind:
Monday: Fr John Sherlock
Tuesday: Colin Bennett, Mgr Canon Alfred Gilbey, Fr Denis Hall
Wednesday: Leia Iago
Friday: Fr Joseph Tuohey
Sunday: Canon William Toft
Next Sunday - FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (C)
First Reading: Joshua 5:9-12
The People of God keep the Passover on their entry into the promised land.
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
God reconciled us to himself through Christ.
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3,11-32
Your brother here was dead and has come to life.