FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A
1st March 2020
Dear Parishioner,
In each of the three Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke), after Jesus' baptism by John, Jesus is reported to
have gone to the desert to fast and pray for 40 days. In each case, while in the desert, Jesus is tempted by the devil.
Matthew and Luke give more detail than Mark does, but each one tells how the devil tempts Jesus in the desert. In
Matthew, as in Luke, the devil presents three temptations to Jesus. The devil tempts Jesus to use his power to appease
his hunger; he tempts Jesus to put God's promise of protection to the test; and he offers Jesus all of the kingdoms
of the world if Jesus will worship the devil. In each case, Jesus resists the temptation, rebuking the devil with words
from Scripture.
The account of Jesus' temptation in the desert is filled with allusions and parallels to the Old Testament,
including the story of the people of Israel. The Israelites spent 40 years wandering in the desert in Exodus, for
example, and Jesus spends 40 days in the desert. As the Israelites were tempted during the Exodus, so too is Jesus
tempted.
Each temptation offers insight into both God and the human condition. Jesus' rejection of the temptations shows
that he will not put God to the test. Grounding himself on the word and authority of Scripture, Jesus rebukes the
devil, confident in God's protection and faithfulness.
As we start our journey through Lent, our Sunday readings call us to adopt the same confidence that Jesus had in the
face of temptation: God's word alone will suffice; God's promise of protection can be trusted; God alone is
God.
May you all have a blessed season of Lent.
SEND, O LORD: HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH
Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ
Notices:
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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 make a donation (a suggested donation of £4.00)
in memory of a deceased loved one, please place you're offering in an envelope and write for Easter
Lilies and pass it to Cath Lyons. Many thanks for your generosity.
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SYCAMORE FOR LENT - six sessions beginning on Tuesday, 25th February, then successive Tuesday
evenings from 7.30 to 9pm (doors open 7pm). Each session involves a short film, time for discussion and some food.
Everyone is welcome and each session stands alone; so if you think you may not be able to attend all
six sessions, please do come along when you can. Please pray for the Sycamore team and for the programme at St
Augustine's.
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205 CLUB Congratulations to M Kirwan winner of the recent draw.
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Raffle for HCPT Pilgrimage to Lourdes from Ben Hitchen "Every Easter I travel with HCPT Group
26 who take children with special needs to Lourdes for a fun-filled week away. This year will be my 9th pilgrimage to
Lourdes with this incredible group. The children are treated like VIPs and come with my group cost-free so it is up
to the helpers, like myself, to raise funds to take them. There will a raffle after mass to pay for the disabled
children to come to Lourdes with me and my group. I thank you in advance for your support. Ben"
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Lent Talk this week at 7.30pm OLI, London Road, Chelmsford preceded by Exposition and Confessions
from 6.30pm. Everyone welcome. "The Gospel and the Good Life" - Fr Thomas Skeats OP - Wed 4 March
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Brentwood Cathedral "God Who Speaks" Lenten Lectures Wednesday 4 March at 7.30 pm in
Cathedral parish hall. The Bible: alive and active or dead and irrelevant? to be given by Professor Anthony
Towey, Director of Aquinas Centre, St Mary's University, Twickenham, London. Free Entry. All welcome. For more
information go to www.cathedral-brentwood.org.
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Lent Talk 1 Colchester, Cardinal Bourne Hall, Priory St CO1 2QB Friday 6th March, by Sr. Camilla
Oberding, on the theme of 'The Joyful Message of Walsingham'. Please do come and support her at 7.30pm. All
welcome.
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Lenten resources for young people, teachers and catechists. The Brentwood Catholic Youth Service
have gathered together a collection of links to Catholic resources from across the Internet, to help you on your
Lenten journey. You will find everything at https://bcys.net/lent-2020/ . The next Youth Mass is this Wednesday (4th March) - another way to go
deeper into prayer and reflection for Lent, in the company of other young people aged approx. 14-23. The Mass is at
8pm at Brentwood Cathedral, followed by simple refreshments.
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Planting trees for the future - come and lend a hand! The Woodland Trust have granted 105 trees to
Walsingham House at Abbotswick (Navestock Side, CM14 5SH), and we need a helping hand to plant them, please, on
Saturday 28th March, 9.30am-5pm. Come with a spade, and some sandwiches - we'll provide drinks and snacks. For an
idea of numbers, please
click here to Email or call 01277373959. As the area where we are planting includes bee hives and a ditch, we
suggest no very young children, please.
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The Augustinian We are hoping to put together the next "Augustinian" in the next week or
two. We have a number of articles already, but if you have anything to contribute, we still have space. Please
click
here to Email. If you have sent something already, can you send it again as the previous e-mail address was
wrong.
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Colchester Lent Talks (with guest speakers) will be held at St James the Less and St Helens church
every Friday starting on 6th March - 3rd April 2020 at 7.30pm in Cardinal Bourne Hall, Priory Street. Admission Free.
All are welcome.
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Lenten Talks - The Year of the God Who Speaks Church of Christ the Eternal High Priest, Gidea Park
(RM2 6DH), from 7pm on 11, 18 and 25 March Fr Adrian Graffy will speak about 'The Great Johannine Gospels'.
Full information and video of past events at www.whatgoodnews.org.
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Director of Youth Ministry, Diocese of Brentwood. Start in September 2020. Salary £40,000.
Closing date for applications 16th March 2020. Full details at www.bcys.net/jobs or call Fr Dominic Howarth on 01277373959.
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Assistant Manager, Walsingham House at Abbotswick. Start in mid-August 2020. Salary £16,926.
Closing date for applications 2nd March 2020. Full details at www.bcys.net/jobs or call Joe Beattie on 01277 373959.
Please remember to pray for:
Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died: Fr John Garrett, Bernard Storkey, Fiona McIntosh
Years Mind:
Tuesday: Sandy Logan
Wednesday: Mgr Canon Patrick O'Donnell, Fr Brian Galvin, Fr Francis Hastings
Thursday: Joseph Byrne, Fr Malachy Kelly
Sunday: Canon Joseph Whitfield
Next Sunday: Second Sunday of Lent (A)
First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4
The call of Abraham, father of the People of God.
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8-10
God calls and enlightens us.
Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9
His face shone like the sun.
