SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (C)
20th February 2022
Dear Parishioner
The pairing of the story of David and Saul with the passage from Luke's sermon on the plain is interesting. One can
see the Old Testament story as being about not exacting revenge on one who seeks to harm you, yet there is much more to it
than that.
Abishai sees the situation in a very straightforward way. Saul is out to kill David - that is a problem; Saul is
surprisingly found unprotected and asleep: the solution to the 'problem' is to kill the sleeping king - problem
solved.
David has a different perspective; his concern is that Saul is the Lord's anointed (literally Christ in Greek). That
means to strike Saul is to strike out at God. David restrains Abishai and takes the water vessel to show Saul that he is
not an enemy of the king.
What is a fairly particular incident in the book of Samuel is broadened almost out of recognition in Luke's gospel.
'I say to you do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you'. And the examples and injunctions continue
to an extraordinary extent. Jesus' words go so far beyond the teaching of the Law, and so far beyond what seem in any
way reasonable, and yet one cannot avoid their thrust. The enemies Jesus' hearers would have had - like ours today -
would not be the anointed king of Israel, and yet they are to be treated as such. Jesus' words in Luke's Gospel are
arresting because they imply the extraordinary dignity and value of even the most benighted opponent we might encounter -
and simply because God is kind to the ungrateful as well as the grateful. Jesus' command seems extremely extravagant -
that is why the reward for those who carry it out is equally extravagant: 'a full measure, pressed down shaken together
and running over will be poured into your lap!'
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.
- SATURDAY VIGIL MASS FROM 12TH FEBRUARY 5pm at St Augustine's. I hope this is welcome and look
forward to seeing a good turnout! Fr Jijo.
-
VOCATIONS ENQUIRERS' MEETING The next "Enquirers' Evening" for those considering or
interested in a vocation to the priesthood is on Tuesday 1 March at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton. The
speaker will be Fr Maurice Gordon. For further information please contact Fr Mark Swires click here to
Email.
-
THE PASSAGE a Catholic Charity, working with people who are homeless, is holding a St David's Day
concert on Thursday 3 March at 7.30 pm in Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Square with The London Welsh Male Voice Choir and
soloist tenor Ryan Vaughan Davies. All tickets are £20. Please support the work of this excellent charity.
Tickets at passage.org.uk/st-davids-day-concert or telephone 020 75921856.
- DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM - 28th May 2022: Join Bishop Alan and other parishes around the
Diocese of Brentwood in Walsingham as we celebrate the Year of the Family 'Hearing and Doing the Word of God'. 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. Please let Fr Jijo know if you are interested in going.
-
THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTION: What is new about the new evangelisation? Input will be given by Fr
Pachal Uche, assistant priest at St James the Less, Colchester, today, Sunday 20th February, 4.00 - 5.00 p.m. via Zoom.
To join this Zoom meeting simply
click here to forward a contact email. For more information go to www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk.
- BCYS YOUTH MASS Thursday 3rd March, Brentwood cathedral Come along from 6pm for pizza, followed by
Sophie from the Walsingham House team and CAFOD, who will talk about her experiences, inspiring us to get involved and
how we can take action! Mass will begin in the cathedral from 7:30pm, joined by Fr Gary Dench who will preach the Gospel.
Open to all those in years 9 and above, no booking necessary.
-
BCYS LENTEN REVISION RETREAT 2nd - 3rd April, Walsingham House In years 11 -13 and preparing for exams
this year? Get a change of scenery and a fresh perspective at Walsingham House at Abbotswick this lent for times of
prayer, socialising and activities, but mostly to revise, alongside friends and the Walsingham House team members. As
always the chapel is here for times of quiet reflection throughout the day. Book online NOW at www.bcys.net/events.
-
BCYS SPONSORED SLEEPOUT 8th - 9th April, 8pm - 8am Wherever you are in the Diocese, take part in your
gardens, schools or parishes, on your own or as part of a group and spend 12 hours sleeping rough outdoors to raise
money for a local charity supporting the homeless. Click here to
Email for more information and to take part.
-
BCYS YOUTH GATHER 22nd - 23rd October, Mersea Island Stay in cabins and try a brilliant range of
outward bound activities from climbing high ropes, archery, zip wires and much more to keep you challenged and
entertained, with guest speakers and workshops which will give you fresh insights into yourself, and your faith, by
telling their stories. Open to all those in years 9 and above, book NOW at www.bcys.net/events.
-
DIOCESAN SCHOOL VACANCIES for Sept 2022 can be viewed at https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/departments/education/vacancies/school-vacancies/.
- Deputy Headteacher - Holy Family Catholic School, Walthamstow Deadline for applications:
3.30pm Friday 11th March
- Headteacher, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Upminster, Deadline for applications:
5pm on Thursday 3rd March
- Headteacher, St Alban's Catholic Primary School, Hornchurch, Deadline for applications:
12noon on Friday 11th March
- Deputy Headteacher, St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Tilbury, Deadline for applications:
3:30 pm on Wednesday 9th March
See: 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.
-
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: Deacon Sidney Lewis
Wednesday: Deacon Dwight Hayter
Thursday: Canon Aloysius Roche, Fr Gerard Murphy
Saturday: Mgr Canon Jules van Meenen, Fr Clifford Beercroft
Sunday: Fr David Chapman
