SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE NATIVITY
2nd January 2022
Dear Parishioner
In Greek 'Word' means logos and in Hebrew dabar. It is not just a spoken word but a creative, a doing, a making
word, when uttered, is the creative expression of God's inner revelation. In our experience, words and actions bring
out the person in us, without which we cannot be known. So, our words and actions reveal our inner self to people around
us. Yet, even at its very best, our words can reveal only partial truths about us. So the biggest huddle for a human person
is the fact that he, himself lacks the fuller knowledge of his own inner person. Therefore, the words used can create
incomprehensibility and misunderstanding.
But, in God, the Word is a total revelation of the inner being of God; in fact, the Word IS God. There is a total
correlation, the Gospel says the Word WAS God. Because Jesus Christ in his humanity was spoken of as God and Man. It means,
when he spoke, it was God and Man speaking; when he acted, it was man and God acting in Him - e.g. healing, forgiving sins,
visiting … We perceive from our own human experience that we lack incomprehensibility and understanding in our own
expression, therefore Jesus too must have experienced limitation in expressing God's inner self in and through Him.
"Then he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." So he stretched it out and it was completely
restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus". But the
very limitation of Jesus expression becomes a great challenge for people around him and for us even today. "They
said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. When they kept on questioning him, he
straightened up and said to them, "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."
When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing
before him." Therefore, Jesus Christ is the Word and he is, as he described himself in John's gospel, the
'Way' the 'Truth' and the 'Life'. So, his limitations becomes our vision for life and this is what
we are called to follow.
Fr Jijo George
Notices:
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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.
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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.
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SECOND SUNDAY MASS SURVEY: At our recent PPC meeting, attended by Fr Jijo, it was proposed that there
should be a second Sunday mass at St Augustine. Two mass times were put forward, one at 5pm on Saturday and one at
6.00pm on Sunday. If you support the idea of a second Sunday mass, would you please indicate which mass time you prefer
by clicking here to Email
Roger Sclater or by phoning him on 01245 469458. If there is sufficient demand, the more popular mass time will be
introduced. Also, if you know of any former parishioners who might be interested in attending one of the extra masses,
would you please forward the above information to them.
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CHRISTMAS SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS from Brentwood Cathedral can now be found on youtube. Search
"Thresholds of Hope" for the video or visit https://youtu.be/4qsxJoZJulc.
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'BE A CATHEDRAL CHORISTER FOR A DAY' Brentwood Cathedral will be hosting this opportunity for
boys aged 7-12 on Saturday 29th January 2022. The day will begin at 10.30am with a welcome for families and will end
with Choral Vespers at 4pm, an opportunity for everyone to hear the boys sing. We hope the day will be of interest to
all boys who enjoy singing, whatever their prior musical experience. We will be holding a similar day for girls later
in the year. For more details and to register a place, please visit www.cathedralbrentwood.org or telephone 01277 265288.
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SYNODAL PATHWAY: Pope Francis has acknowledged the need for change and has initiated a 'synodal
journey' for the universal Church, the Synodal Pathway. This began in October 2021 and culminates in the 16th Synod
of Bishops in Rome in October 2023. Between October 2021 and April 2022, there is a diocesan listening phase and every
diocese is asked to consult as widely as possible, listen, reflect and discuss, "How does this 'journeying
together' allow the Church to proclaim the Gospel in accordance with the mission entrusted to her?" Anyone
interested in participating in the listening phase at parish level should approach Fr Jijo or click
here to send him an email. Further details on the Synodal Pathway can be found by following the diocesan link
https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/synod-2021-2023/
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NEW YEAR YOUTH 2000 RETREAT Why not try something NEW this New Year? Join Youth 2000 at Trinity
Catholic High School in Woodford Green. NEW will be a weekend filled with fun, friendship, inspiring talks and, of
course, lots of praise as we welcome in 2022. The retreat will run from Fri 31 Dec - Sun 2 Jan 2022. Book today at
https://www.youth2000.org/new
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GIDEA PARK STUDY DAY: THE EVOLUTION OF THE MASS Sat 15th Jan Professor John Morrill will lead this
Study Day, tracing the development of the Eucharistic liturgy from the earliest centuries to the present day. He will
explore in particular the teaching of Trent and Vatican II, and the latest papal instructions on the celebration of
Mass. To access this free live stream event simply go to www.whatgoodnews.org. The event begins at 11am and ends by 1.30pm. No prior registration needed. To join
the mailing list simply follow the instructions on the home page of the website.
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FAITH TALK ON THE CHRISTMAS GOSPELS: As Christmas draws closer we shall be reading the sections of the
gospels commonly known as 'infancy narratives' with their stories of the births of John the Baptist and of
Jesus. The three parts of this talk consider Matthew chapters 1-2, Luke chapters 1-2 and John chapter 1. The videos
given by Fr Adrian Graffy, parish priest, Scripture scholar and member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission are
available free of charge on www.whatgoodnews.org.
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DIOCESAN VACANCY We are looking to recruit a suitability experienced Health & Safety
Co-ordinator. This role will have responsibility to promote and develop the Diocesan safety culture, acting as
the focal point guidance and training in relation to Health & Safety throughout the Diocese. Working with the
Health and Safety Consultant to ensure all responsibilities associated with Health and Safety within the Diocese are
adhered to including establishing, managing and monitoring standards, policies, processes, communications, training and
systems. Further information in respect of this and other vacancies within the Diocese can be found in the Vacancies
section of the Diocesan website: https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/diocese/working-for-us/
- 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.
- 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.
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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.
Please remember to pray for:
Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese
The sick and housebound
Those who have recently died
Years Mind:
Monday: Michael McIntosh
Tuesday: Leo Von Buttlar, Canon Patrick McKenna
Wednesday: Florence Westhorp, Fr Francis Heenan
Friday: Canon John Bloomfield