TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY OF YEAR C
15th September 2019
Dear Parishioner,
Today's readings invite us to believe in a loving, patient, merciful, forgiving God. The Good News Jesus preached
was that God is not a cruel, judging and punishing God. He is our loving and forgiving Heavenly Father who wants to
save everyone through His Son Jesus. He is always in search of His lost and straying children, as Jesus explains in the
three parables of today's Gospel.
In today's first reading, taken from Exodus, Moses is imploring a forgiving God to have mercy on the sinful people
who have abandoned Him and turned to idol-worship. He reminds God of His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
In today's second reading, Paul tells Timothy that, although he, Paul, had been the greatest of sinners as the
former persecutor of the Church, God has shown great mercy towards him.
Chapter 15 of Luke's Gospel has been called "the Gospel within the Gospel", because it is the distilled
essence of the Good News about the mercy of our forgiving Heavenly Father. The whole chapter is essentially one
distinct parable, the "Parable of the Lost and Found", with three illustrations: the story of the lost sheep,
the story of the lost coin and the story of the lost son. These parables remind us that we have a God who welcomes
sinners and forgives their sins whenever they return to Him with genuine contrition and resolution.
So let us live every day as our merciful God's forgiven children and ask God for the courage and good will to
extend His forgiveness to others.
Fr. Sabu Paul Pariyadan RCJ
Notices:
-
Parish barbecue: A big thank you to all those who came along to make it a big success. Special
thanks to all those who helped to arrange the garden, those who brought variety of food, those who helped to cook and
those who lent their barbecues. A fine afternoon with fantastic weather, surplus food and drinks.
-
Letter from Tom Coen: I invite parishioners with children approaching secondary school age to visit
our website www.sjp.essex.sch.uk and attend our Open
Evening on Thursday 3rd October from 5.30-8.00 p.m. The evening always provides a wonderful showcase of all that the
school has to offer. The full version of the letter can be found on the notice board.
-
Saint John Payne PTA Photo marathon 2019 (no running involved!) You are warmly invited to attend the
2019 Photo marathon at Saint John Payne on Saturday 28th September. Entry to the competition is £5.
Registration is from 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 for the
taking of the photos. 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.
-
Knights of St. Columba centenary events - All Welcome! Our Annual Lecture on "Faith and Action:
The SVP mission in today's world" will be given by Helen O'Shea, national President of the SVP, at St.
Augustine's on Wednesday 2 October at 20.15 (Mass beforehand at 19.30). Do take the opportunity to hear such a
prestigious speaker.
-
Songs of Praise Friday 4 October at 19.30, at Our Lady Immaculate Church. A range of guests,
representing the connections which the Knights have in the Church and community, will choose hymns of particular
significance to them which will be sung together. Please park in George Street car park.
-
Walking Quiz in Maldon 22 September, 2pm start Our late summer social event is always good fun,
suitable for school age children and needs no knowledge of Maldon. Meet at 14.00 at Dinner afterwards is optional but
needs to be booked (click here to
Email).
-
GRAND CHRISTMAS DRAW Tickets will be distributed on Sunday 22nd September. This is our main Fund
Raising event of the year. We are looking for prizes for the draw. We thank you all for your continued support for
this event. God bless you all. Cath
-
BEGINNING EXPERIENCE WEEKEND A healing weekend for men and women who are separated, divorced or
widowed will be held from 18th to 20th October 2019 at the Domus Mariae Centre, Chigwell, Essex. For more details
please contact Freda 01322-838415 or Maura 01322-551503 or click here to
Email
-
DIVINE MERCY DAY OF PRAYER WESMINSTER CATHEDRAL Saturday 28 September 9.30am - 4.30pm, led by Bishop
John Keenan (Paisley Diocese), Fr Dominic Allain (from Grief to Grace), Fr Derek Hyett and others, invoking the
intercession of Our Lady of Walsingham.
-
SVP Annual Fundraising Quiz: Our annual quiz to raise money for our twinned conferences in The Sudan
will be held on Saturday 12th October 2019, and this year will see the return of the popular fish and chip supper.
Timings are 7.15pm for a prompt 7.30pm start, please bring your own drinks and nibbles. Tickets £10 (to include
fish and chip supper) will be on sale after Masses in the weeks leading up to the quiz.
-
SVP Old Folks Tea: Our next Old Folks Tea will be on Saturday 28th September 2019, 2.30-4.00pm at
St. Augustine's. If you know anybody who would like to come please contact either Hilda (07958 365967) or Jenny
(07796 393131). Transport can be arranged if required.
-
Cover Supervisor Vacancies - St John Payne Catholic School, Chelmsford John Payne Catholic School
have vacancies for Cover Supervisors. Days of work and times to be agreed with successful candidates. Local
Government Band 3, Points 6-11 £19,171 - £21,166 pro rata. Actual salary example for 3 days
£8,584.41 - £9,477.73 per annum for 19.5 hpw. Closing date for applications is midnight on Thursday 26th
September 2019, with interviews taking place the week beginning 30th September 2019. For further information and an
application pack please contact our HR officer Mrs Daly, click here to Email, follow the link from the
'Vacancies' section of our website www.sjp.essex.sch.uk
First Holy Communion 2019-2020*
The parents and children involved in this programme please note the dates in your diary.
October 2, 2019: Beginning of the programme with parent's meeting. (to begin with mass at 7:30 and
followed by the meeting).
October 5, 2019: First children's meeting at 10 am at St. Augustine's church.
May 17, 2020: First holy communion at St. Augustine's.
* 100% attendance is a requirement for the programme.
Please remember to pray for:
Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died: Yvonne Abou-Nader
Years Mind:
Monday: Fr John Bergin
Tuesday: Fr Anthony Mayston
Wednesday: Ann Logan
Thursday: Canon Frederick Gahagan, Norman Anthony
Saturday: Fr John Ryan
Next Sunday: TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY OF YEAR C
First Reading: Amos 8:4-7
Against those who 'buy up the poor for money'
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-8,11:1-2,8-19
There should be prayers offered up by everyone to God, who wants everyone to be saved.
Gospel: Luke 16:1-13
You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.
