FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (C)
'Laetare Sunday'
27th March 2022
Dear Parishioner
The fourth Sunday of Lent marks the midpoint in the Lenten preparation for Easter. Traditionally, it is called Laetare
Sunday (Rejoice Sunday). The liturgical authors call it the "anticipatory joy" - reminding us that we are moving
swiftly toward the end of our Lenten fast, and looking up to the joy of Easter.
This Sunday is set aside for us to recollect God's kindness and to rejoice over it. In manifold ways death has
visited us (Pandemic), but God's grace has sustained us and we have come to life again; we have been lost but have now
been found. We have every reason to rejoice and each of the three readings brings out the different aspects of this
anticipatory joy of Easter.
In the first reading, the Chosen People of God are portrayed as celebrating, for the first time in their own land, the
feast of their freedom. Their joy is one of ending, the wandering and the fulfilment of the promises of Yahweh to them. In
today's responsorial Psalm, the joyful Psalmist invites us to "glorify the Lord with him and extol Lords
Name!" because he says, "I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears!"
The second reading joyfully proclaims the effect of Jesus' saving act as the reconciliation of all peoples to the
Father.
In the Gospel, God's loving mercy is presented by Jesus in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Three characters in the
parable, the younger son, elder son, and their father, intertwine a beautiful story of sin, envy, and mercy. It is really
the Parable of the Forgiving Father, the story of Divine love and mercy for us sinners, a love that is almost beyond
belief. The common theme of joy resulting from reconciliation with God and other human beings is announced to all of us
present in this Church - an assembly of sinful people, now ready to receive God's forgiveness and His Personal Presence
as a forgiving God in the Holy Eucharist.
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/Marriage 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.
Please do come to the Thursday 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.
- Lenten Prayer intentions: Candidates for the Sacraments; Women; The Needy and Hungry of the world;
Penitents & Wanderers
- Prayer for Ukraine: Daily recite three Hail Mary's at 6.30pm, thus interceding with mother Mary
for the people of Ukraine.
- RECEIVING COMMUNION Please consume the Body of Christ in front of the Priest or Minister of
Communion NOT in your seat.
- DISASTERS EMERGENCY COMMITTEE (DEC) HUMANITARIAN APPEAL The DEC, of which CAFOD is a member,
provides food, water, shelter & healthcare to people remaining in Ukraine and to refugees. £30 could provide
hygiene supplies for 3 people for one month, £50 could provide blankets for 4 families, £100 could provide
blankets for 4 families, £100 could provide emergency food for 2 families for one month. Can you help by putting
money aside during Lent? This appeal will run until Sunday 24 April when donations can be brought to Sunday Mass or
dropped in at the Presbytery for forwarding to DEC. Gift Aid members please do include your Gift Aid no. or name and
first line of address to allow us to increase the donation.
- GIFT AID MEMBERS This year's envelopes are now available for collection from Dee Davey after
Mass. Please do relieve her of these!
- EASTER SUNDAY MASS & EASTER EGG HUNT There will be coffee after Mass on Easter Sunday at which
we will welcome some of our Anglican/Free church friends who will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt for all our young
children. Come and enjoy!
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ST AUGUSTINE'S PRAYS FOR UKRAINE Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6086960112?pwd=eDFsVGI4SURQL2RYeUgxWUtHRXo1UT09
Meeting ID: 608 696 0112 Passcode: 289272
The 12 noon prayers every day are open to anyone in the parish wishing to join in prayer for Ukraine. No previous
knowledge or attendance is necessary, nor are people required to join every day! Everyone is welcome. Prayers start at
12 promptly and last 15 minutes.
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UKRAINE, WAYS TO HELP WITH CARITAS, DIOCESE OF BRENTWOOD Like so many charities and organisations,
Caritas Diocese of Brentwood is here in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. We have a webpage dedicated to ways that
people can help - through prayer, financial donations, and donations of food, medical supplies and clothing and all the
information is at: www.caritasbrentwood.org/ukraine
- 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) in
memory of a deceased loved one, please place your offering in an envelope marked Easter Lilies and pass
it to Cath Lyons. Many thanks for your generosity.
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THE AUGUSTINIAN We are hoping to produce an edition of "The Augustinian" for Easter and
still have room for some articles. They can be about parish matters, other church groups or general interest locally.
Anything with pictures will be particularly welcome. To send articles, or ask for more information, click here to
email or pass copy to Chris Thompson.
- The pantry was set up in December and we are delighted to be officially opening it now. This is a
joint initiative between the Roman Catholic and Ecumenical churches both based at St Augustine's. We invite you to
join us for the opening ceremony for the Little Free Pantry by The Mayor of Chelmsford Cllr Jude Deakin on Sunday 27th
March at 10.45am followed by a short service for Mothering Sunday at St Augustine's church and then
refreshments.
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TCS LONDON MARATHON BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC CHILDREN'S SOCIETY has several charity Gold Bond places for
the TCS London Marathon taking place on the iconic London course on Sunday 2rd October 2022. If you would like to be
considered and think you could raise a fundraising total of £1800 before Gift Aid, please click here to Email Julie. Full info and
application form at https://www.bccs.org.uk/fundraising-and-events/all-events/tcs-london-marathon. Closing date for
applications is Friday 8th April.
- SAINT JOHN PAYNE LENTEN SERVICE We warmly invite you to attend our Lenten service on Thursday 31
March at 6pm. We are really excited to be doing our first big in-person service for a long time and we really hope to see
as many people there as possible, whether you are a long-time friend of the school or have not visited before. Please
come and pray with us as we prepare for Holy Week and Easter. Hannah Kelly, Chaplain.
- LENTEN STATIONS OF THE CROSS AT ST AUGUSTINE'S: During Lent, there will be Stations of the Cross
on every Friday at 7.30pm from 4th March.
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BCYS EVENTS including Youth Mass at Brentwood Cathedral on 7 April, Lenten
Revision Retreat at Walsingham House 2-3 April, Sponsored Sleepout 8-9 April. Full details
and booking at www.bcys.net/events or http://staugustine-springfield.com/outside.html.
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PRAYING THE HOURS Three short videos are now available on www.whatgoodnews.org introducing The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office. Fr Adrian Graffy is in
conversation with Sr Anne Spilberg and Fr Gerard Bradley. The different hours are explored and at the end of part 3
links are provided for text and livestream of the Office in various languages. Simply go to the website, scroll down on
the home page and click on 'Praying the Hours'. Thank you for your interest.
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VOCATIONS "ENQUIRERS' EVENING" for those considering or interested in a vocation to the
priesthood, Tuesday 5 April at St Edmund of Canterbury Church in Loughton. The speaker will be Mgr Kevin Hale. Click here
to Email for further info from Mark Swires.
- LENT TALKS AT OLI - AT 7.30PM EACH WEDNESDAY AT OLI PARISH HALL
Wed 30th March - Fr Lee Bennett - "Prayer"
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in OLI church from 6.30pm - 7.20pm
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LENT READINGS: www.whatgoodnews.org
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LAY CHAPLAINCY OPPORTUNITIES AT ST BENEDICT'S, COLCHESTER St Benedict's Catholic College is
advertising for a Lay Chaplain and a Chaplaincy Apprentice/'Gap Year' Lay Chaplain. Full details at www.stbenedicts.essex.sch.uk.
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HEADTEACHER REQUIRED FOR ST JOSEPH'S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, UPMINSTER from 1st September 2022,
closing date 29.04.22. Please see this and all school vacancies in the Diocese at: https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/departments/education/vacancies/school-vacancies/.
- 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 contact Antoinette
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: Leia Iago
Tuesday: Fr Joseph Tuohey
Thursday: Canon William Toft
