FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (C)
28th November 2021
Dear Parishioner
Today is the First Sunday of ADVENT and with this we WELCOME a new Liturgical year with a new cycle of prayers and
Scripture readings - Cycle C. Plainly put, the term 'advent' comes from a Latin word 'Advenio' meaning
'coming' or 'arrival' of someone, but in our Christian understanding it unambiguously refers to 'the
coming of Christ'. So, "Advent" is a Holy Season when we spiritually prepare ourselves for "the Coming
of Christ". Now, when we speak of 'the coming of Christ', we realize that it is a mystery, for there are three
comings of Christ: (1) The Incarnation of God the Son through Blessed Mother around 2000 years ago, (2) The eschatological
coming of the day of God and of Christ and (3) Christ's daily presence and arrival through the sacraments - very
specifically through the Eucharist. Thus in a general sense, the period of Advent encompasses all time viz. Past, Future
& Present.
The First Coming, God comes in weakness, God comes in the quiet of the night, like a helpless child, in need of men and
women to take care of him, to watch over him, to feed him. The Second Coming is more dramatic. "I will come in a cloud
with the angels. And I will come and begin the new world." The world where love triumphs over hate, the love where
people really begin to understand each other and care for each other and love each other, for this is the world that God
has intended and this is the world that will be initiated when Jesus comes the second time. And the Third Coming is that
Jesus is with us. The Risen Lord will be with us on the journey, down through the years, no matter how long it takes, will
be at our side, never abandon us. And, of course, this is the real joy of Advent: the knowing of, and the loving of, this
Messiah who comes to lead us safely home. But we have Advent and Advent is the season of hope, because the promise is no
matter what happens one truth will last: "I will be with you all days, even to the consummation of the world."
And we know that it is Jesus with us, guiding us. That no matter how dark it gets, we know that his light will shine
through. It is his light that we follow. Yes, of course, the darkness, but the light shines only brighter in times of
darkness.
Fr Jijo George
Notices:
-
Cashless giving: In response to requests from parishioners and to keep up with the times QR codes have
been provided by the Diocese to enable cashless giving. These have been placed at the doors of our church. Please scan
the amount you want to donate and the money will automatically go into the parish bank account. The Donate link has
also been set up by the diocese to pay in directly to the parish account http://stream.seccomgroup.com/donations/saoc. Thank
you for your continued generosity.
- Priest Surgery: There will be Parish Priest surgery on Thursdays 5.30pm - 6.30pm. Please in order to
book a baptism date for your child, please attend the weekly Parish Surgery.
-
Baptism Enquiries: Kindly use the parish email (click
here) for any request. Please ensure that you give us your contact number/email address for further communication.
Kindly do not leave your contact number via the phone answering machine. Please do come to the Thursday parish priest
Surgery.
- Baptism Preparation: If you have booked in for a Baptism, you are asked to take part in a Baptism
Preparation Course. The course will be conducted by the Parish priest on first Tuesday of every month at 7.30pm or by
appointment. The Parents and God-parents are expected to attend the course. The baptism dates will be available on first
and third Saturdays of every month and the time for Baptism would be at 12 noon.
- RECEIVING COMMUNION Please consume the Body of Christ in front of the Priest or Minister of
Communion NOT in your seat.
- THE SVP GIVING TREE is back and available in the Church after Mass. Could you buy an extra gift for
a child this Christmas? This year, with the rising cost of fuel, the families we support are struggling more than ever.
If you are able to buy an extra gift costing approx. £10, we would like you to choose a gift specified on a tag
from our tree and return the gift, unwrapped, with its tag to St. Augustine's. Deadline for collecting gifts, (so
Santa can deliver them in time for Christmas), is 19th December. We will bring the Tree to Church on Saturday and Tuesday
morning Masses too. Thank you for your continued support.
- FLOWERS FOR THE CHURCH AT CHRISTMAS We are always grateful for any donations to help make the Church
suitably beautiful for the feast of Christmas - please do consider putting a donation in an envelope marked Flowers and
leaving with Cath Lyons after Mass or popping through the Presbytery door.
- POINSETTIAS FOR CHRISTMAS If you would like to donate one in memory of a loved one please bring it
to the Church on Sunday 20th December. Thank you for your support. Cath Lyons.
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PLEASE CONSIDER GIFT AIDING your donations. You can contact Dee Davey (Parish Gift Aid Organiser)
click here to Email or 07951661072 or
ask Fr Jijo or Kevin to pass on your details to Dee.
- HOSPITAL VISITS: If you go into hospital or a member of your family, inform the Parish Office so
that the priest can visit you in hospital.
-
LITTLE PANTRY: Following Rev Caroline's recent appeal about the setting up of a Little Pantry in
the Church grounds, we are now seeking volunteers prepared to join a rota of people who check the goods in the pantry
and refill as required from a storage area close by. If you are able to commit to helping once a week, please contact
Christine Webb click
here to Email 07585331615 or speak to her after Sunday Mass.
- ST JOHN PAYNE ADVENT CAROL SERVICE You are warmly invited to attend our Advent Carol Service on
Thursday 16 December at 6pm in Aquinas Hall. Always festive and creative, this service will be followed by refreshments
and a time to socialise. If you have any queries, please contact Hannah Kelly, School Chaplain on 01245 256030, otherwise
please just turn up and join in.
- INAUGURATION OF ADVENT SERVICE this Sunday 28th November, 4pm in Brentwood Cathedral. Presider:
Bishop Alan Williams with the Brentwood Cathedral Choir. This is a beautiful and uplifting way to prepare ourselves for
the celebration of Christ's birth and for that time when He will come again.
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DBS CHECKS: It is a legal requirement for those working with children and vulnerable adults within the
Church to be DBS checked, these checks are now carried out every three years, this must be adhered to. Our Parish
Safeguarding representative is Christina Coen or for info from the Diocese please
click here to Email Antoinette.
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Toddler Group in Melbourne run by S.Moira & Margaret & volunteers on Thursdays 9.30-12 in
term-time: we are looking for a couple more volunteers - please contact: 01245604108 or click here to
Email for more details.
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BCYS EVENTS: December Youth Mass, Thurs 2 December, Brentwood Cathedral Advent Youth Mass for Year 9+,
beginning with Pizza in the Parish Hall from 6pm and a Youth led Reconciliation Service in the Cathedral from 6:30pm
before Mass with Fr Stephen Morrison preaching at 7:30pm. Absolutely everyone is welcome, to celebrate the start of the
Advent season with other young Catholics. More info from www.bcys.net/events or click here to Email.
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BCYS Advent Retreat, 10-11 December at Walsingham House at Abbotswick BCYS invites years 10-13 to join
us and other young Catholics for our Advent Retreat, with interactive workshops, reflection and prayer as we look at
different themes of the Advent story. Cost £35, inc accommodation, activities and meals. Book at www.bcys.net/events or click here to Email.
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BCYS Carol Concerts, Sunday 12 Dec at Walsingham House at Abbots wick Join talented BCYS musicians for
classic and contemporary carols with scripture readings, Christmas poems and stories followed by light refreshments -
all for just £10! A beautiful Advent event for the whole family, raising funds to help young people travel on
service pilgrimage to Lourdes. Concerts at 3pm or 7pm with limited capacity. To book your tickets, please contact Joe
Beattie, Walsingham House manager click
here to Email or 01277 373 959.
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FIVE BIBLE STUDIES ON THE ADVENT SUNDAY GOSPELS Mauro Iannicelli will break-open the forthcoming
Advent Sunday Gospels with in-depth teaching and stimulating questions. Helping to experience Sunday Mass in a new way!
5 Wednesdays: 24 Nov, 1 Dec, 8 Dec, 15 Dec, 22 Dec (7-8pm). Free of Charge. LIVE on YouTube. Info & registration
https://comeandsee.org/advent.
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THE THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTION: What are the unique insights of Catholic Social Teaching? On Zoom on
Sundays 28 Nov and 5 Dec 4- 5pm. Led by Fr Dominic Howarth, Episcopal Vicar for Youth Ministry and Pastoral Care.
Please join at Events at www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk.
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THE PASSAGE, a Catholic charity working with homeless people is raising funds through the Big Give a
matched giving scheme from 12.00 noon. Every £1 donated online between 12.00 noon on Tuesday 30 November and
12.00 noon on Tuesday 7 December makes £2 and £2.25 if you are a taxpayer through Gift Aid. At a time when
The Passage's finances are stretched and they are helping more homeless people please consider supporting this
charity through the link https://bit.ly/PassageBG2021.
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BCCS TREE OF ANGELS This November, Brentwood Catholic Children's Society launches their virtual
Tree of Angels allowing you to light up an angel on a virtual Christmas tree in memory of a loved one
who has died while making a donation to the work of 'bccs'. See https://www.bccs.org.uk/christmas/tree-angels or go
straight to https://visufund.com/treeofangels to make
your dedication and secure donation. Queries to Julie click here to Email.
- Parish Income - If you do not pay by standing order and are not able to get to Church, you can pay
directly to "Catholic Church of St. Augustine of Canterbury Springfield" on account 91082884 at sort code
40-13-22. Envelopes can be dropped through the Presbytery letterbox.
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THE AUGUSTINIAN: We are aiming to produce an edition of "The Augustinian" for Christmas.
Contributions to Chris 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
Years Mind:
Sunday: Fr Patrick Bennett, Deacon Anthony Collings
Monday: Fr Francis Branney
Wednesday: Fr Bartholomew (Bart) Lynch
Thursday: Fr James Hannon
Saturday: Christopher McIntosh
Sunday: Kate Redfern
