Newsletter
Transcription
Newsletter
PARISH NEWSLETTER St Teresa's Catholic Church The Presbytery, Brook Rd, Newbury Park, Ilford IG2 7JA Tel No & Fax 020 8590 2414 Reg Charity No 234092 Email: [email protected] Website: www.stteresasnewbpark.com Parish Priest: Fr Eamonn J Power MA The Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year B) - 22 March 2015 Dear friends in Christ A Pure Heart Create For Me, O God: As we enter the 5th Sunday of Lent we hear these words in the Responsorial Psalm and we take special care in Lent to allow the Lord more and more into our lives so that we can serve him with hearts and minds made new and pure. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the traditional ways in which we allow the Lord to work in us. The season now becomes a little more intense and this is reflected in the fact that the statues and crosses are draped in purple until we reach the Easter weekend. The intensity is relaxed for one day at least, which is Wednesday’s feast of the Annunciation, but apart from that our minds become more focused on the events of Holy Week, especially Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Let us strive to make the best use of the time now remaining. Wednesday (25 March), the Annunciation: This coming Wednesday, the Church celebrates the great feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, when we recall the great day when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Blessed Virgin Mary and announced God’s plan of salvation to her and the vital part that she was to play if it was to be achieved. The Lord God never forces himself on us, he wants us to decide willingly that we want him in our lives and that we want his will for us to be achieved. So it was that the angel awaited the free consent of the Blessed Virgin, who gave herself completely, surrendering herself totally to the loving plans of God. We can recall this event every sixth hour of the day by praying the Church’s ancient prayer of devotion in the “Angelus”. Those who come to Mass that day and are physically capable of doing so, are required to genuflect on one knee when we get to the part: “and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate…” as a sign of our reverence and awe at what god has done for us. Next Sunday, “Passion” or “Palm” Sunday: Time moves on at a rapid pace my friends and so we are now looking towards Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. Palm branches will be blessed at all Masses and the 10.30 am Mass next week starts in the Hall and we process into the church after the first Gospel. I’m sure you’ll be delighted that it is very unlikely in future that Fr Matthew will throw holy water over you with as much enthusiasm and vigour as myself! The people of Canvey don’t know what’s coming! Questions on the Catholic Faith: On the Mount of Olives on the night before his death, did Jesus really experience fear of death? Since Jesus was true man, he truly experienced fear of death on the Mount of Olives. With the same human strength that we all possess, Jesus had to fight in order to consent interiorly to the Father's will that he give his life for the life of the world. Abandoned in his darkest hour by everyone, even his friends, Jesus managed after a struggle to say Yes. "My Father, if this [cup] cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." (YOUCAT question 100). What happened at the Last Supper? Jesus washed the feet of his apostles on the evening before his death; he instituted the Eucharist and founded the priesthood of the New Covenant. Jesus showed his consummate love in three ways: He washed his disciples' feet and showed that he is among us as one who serves (cf. Lk 22:27). He symbolically anticipated his redeeming Passion by speaking these words over the gifts of bread and wine: "This is my body which is given for you" (Lk 22:19f). In this way he instituted the Holy Eucharist. When Jesus commanded the apostles, "Do this in remembrance of me" (1 Cor 11:24b), he made them priests of the New Covenant. (YOUCAT question 99). Lenten Programme: We continue with the extra evening Mass on Wednesday at 7.30 pm and also Stations of the Cross on Friday at 7.30 pm, followed by Mass at about 8.00 pm. All welcome. Friday Devotions: After Mass on Friday morning we will continue to have a brief period of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, lasting about half an hour, which will include the Divine Mercy Chaplet and a time of silence. Unhappy Hammers! Another defeat for the Hammers last week, a thrashing in fact, 3-0 away at Arsenal! What does the future hold for “Big Sam?” God Bless you all. Fr Eamonn Services During the Week Sat 21 Mar 6.00 pm Sun 22 Mar 08.00 am 10.30 am 5.00 pm Parish - Regular Notices Vigil Mass for the Fifth Sunday of Lent Mass Gwilym Michael. RIP Anniversary The Fifth Sunday of Lent Mass Alex Fernandes. RIP Mass Our Parish Community Holy Hour BAPTISM PREPARATION: If you are expecting a baby or have a baby for baptism in the next couple of months, please contact Helen Mac Mahon on 020 8590 9981 who will help you make the appropriate arrangements. SICK AT HOME OR IN HOSPITAL: If you know of any sick people in the Parish needing a priestly visit or to be kept in our prayers, please contact our Care of the Sick Coordinator, Wilma Lewandowski, on 020 8220 9135. (Each weekday Mass will be preceded by Morning Prayer at 09.10 am.) Mon 23 Mar 09.30 am Tue 24 Mar 09.30 am 7.30 pm Wed 25 Mar 09.30 am 7.30 pm Thur 26 Mar 09.30 am Frid 27 Mar 09.30 am 7.30 pm 8.00 pm Sat 28 Mar 6.00 pm Sun 29 Mar 8.00 am 10.30 am 5.00 pm St Turibius de Mogrovejo, Bishop Mass Avelyn Kearney. RIP Anniversary. Weekday of Lent Mass Jim O’Mahoney. RIP Prayer Group. The Annunciation of the Lord Mass Mary & Paddy Joe. Intentions Mass Bill McDonald. RIP Weekday of Lent Mass Matthew Mass for the Holy Souls. Weekday of Lent Mass Patrick Reynolds. RIP Stations of the Cross Mass Jim Armstrong. RIP PRAYERS FOR THE SICK: Please pray for Dyllis Barrie-Dangerfield, Billy Brennan, Ciara David, Diane Foster, Tyrone Foster, Greg Gallagher, Freda Godfrey, Sheila Guise, Dan Keely, Monica Keely, Luis Lai, Mary O’Driscoll, Ann Matthews, Chris McNamara, Giuseppe Palumbo, Lawrence Pereira, Jai Ramcharan, Kathleen & Pat Reynolds, Tony Sheridan, Soosaipillai Thruchelvam and Evalina Underwood. Also the sick Priests of the Diocese Mgr Michael Corley, Frs Paul Dynan and Stewart Foster. ANNIVERSARIES FOR MARCH: Charlotte Allen, Sofia Delfina Almeida, Francis Amoordon, John Cahill, Val Carter, Myles Gibbons, Bill Guise, John McGrory, Kathleen Miley, Peter Murphy, Dorothy Newton, Mick Newton, James Nolan, Richard O’Driscoll, Michael O’Neill, Henry Phillips, Charles Roberts, Alice Santos, Maura Swatts and Ann Zammitt. MASS REQUESTS: If you are asking for a number of Masses then you must use a separate envelope for each request and place your offering in each envelope. Also, if you want a Mass offered on a particular day, then you should aim to give the Parish Secretary about 8 weeks’ notice. Although every effort will be made to meet your preferred date please note that it will not always be possible. Vigil Mass for Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Mass Irene Celejewski. RIP Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Mass Our Parish Community. Mass Thanksgiving to Our Lady Holy Hour CHURCH HALL: The Church Hall is available for bookings by Parishioners and non Parishioners alike. Please contact 07887983310 for bookings and conditions. REFRESHMENTS AFTER 10.30 AM MASS ON SUNDAY: Refreshments will once again be served in the Hall after the 10.30 am Mass. Do come along for a chat and a “Cuppa”. Sacrament of Reconciliation The Priest is available in the Reconciliation Room on Saturday from 11.30 am to 12 noon and from 5.30 pm to 5.45 pm. Parish - Meetings this Week Monday: Legion of Mary in the Presbytery Room at 7.30 pm. Tuesday: Coffee Morning Group in the Pastoral Centre after Mass. Wednesday: Mothers Prayers Group in the Pastoral Centre at 7.30 pm. Thursday: Friday: Parish - In & Around CHURCH CLEANING: Team A. OFFERTORY COLLECTION: Last weekend’s collection (inc Standing Orders) raised £905.15 of which 61% was “Gift Aided”. In addition, we received the sum of £260 from one of the group of parishioners who make their donations on an annual basis. Thank you everyone for your continued generosity. OFFERTORY DONATION ENVELOPES: If you currently use the envelope scheme for your weekly Offertory donation and haven’t yet collected your new box of envelopes for the new financial year), then please do so now from the table at the back of the church. and bring it back to the Church on Maundy Thursday for the Mass of the Last Supper. If you cannot attend that Mass, then bring the CAFOD box back at any Mass over Easter. SMALL LINEN LAUNDRY GROUP: Because of ill health, two team members have had to withdraw from the rota. So we urgently need a couple of people to join the group so that we can maintain the current frequency that members are called upon to take their turn in laundering the small altar linen. If you feel you can join the team and take on this important, but not onerous, task (about once every 6 weeks), then please do get in touch as soon as possible with Gladys Dorr on 020 8590 0456. LENTEN ALMS GIVING: A reminder that at the back of the church there CWL NATIONAL COFFEE MORNING: are still some spare CAFOD boxes for Together with Catholic Women’s any of your loose change that might League Groups across the country, St accumulate during what remains of Teresa’s CWL will be having a coffee Lent. If you haven’t already done so morning this weekend to raise funds, in then please take one away with you its case, for Nazareth House. Coffee & Biscuits - £1. There will also be a raffle with the 1st Prize being a £25 M&S Gift Voucher. There will be a number of other prizes including the usual Easter egg. Please do buy some raffle tickets and also try to come along to the Hall after the 10.30 am Mass to support the CWL in their charity work. Easter Chicks & Novelties with Chocolate at £1 each will also be on sale after all Masses this weekend with all proceeds going to charity. CWL AGM: The AGM this year will be held next Saturday, (28 March) at 10.30 am in the Pastoral Centre. Would all members please make a special effort to attend. If there are any women interested in joining the group then please do come along. You would be most welcome. EASTER FLOWER COLLECTION: There will be a collection after all Masses next weekend for flowers to decorate our Church over the Easter season. With the help of your generous contributions we feel sure our church will look lovely for this special feast. Remember if you use the gift aid envelope system then please place your donation in one of your “Special Collection” envelopes so we can reclaim the tax and thereby increase your donation by 25%. EASTER OFFERTORY COLLECTION: Please remember that your “Offertory Donation” on Easter Sunday is your personal gift to Fr Eamonn. Together with your gift at Christmas, your donation at Easter forms the major source of his income over the year. Also, Fr Eamonn’s last weekend with us will be the following weekend (11/12 April). As there will be no separate farewell collection for him at his request, you can also use this opportunity to show your personal gratitude to him for his many years’ service to the parish. If you use the envelope system then please place your offering in the envelope marked ”Easter Offering”. PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM: The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham is on Saturday 23 May. It is hoped that we can go as a group from the church.. Further details in the next couple of weeks. HELP REQUIRED: Would you like to get involved in the running of our Parish, as either a Welcomer, Cleaner, Flower Arranger, Reader, Offertory Collector, Gardener, or a member of the Social and Fundraising group? If you would like to know more or would like to volunteer your services for any of the Parish groups please speak to Gerry Gillan after the 10.30 Mass or email him at [email protected] and he will pass your name to the person in charge of the particular group that is of interest to you. VISITORS: If you are a visitor to St Teresa’s then you are most welcome and we very much hope you enjoy the service you are attending. If you are a tax payer and would like to “Gift Aid “ your Offertory donation, then please use one of the special “Gift Aid” envelopes which you will find at the back of the Church. works will be on display in Brentwood Cathedral until Good Friday. All are welcome to visit them. For more details go to www.cathedralbrentwood.orgor phone 01277 265235. THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL: On Saturday, 28 March at Brentwood Cathedral Hall, from 10.30 am to 3 pm, Clare Ward, an experienced and insightful speaker, will lead a discussion on what Catholic NEW PARISHIONERS: Please make evangelisation is, explore possible yourselves known to Fr Eamonn and practical responses in our personal and complete a Parish Registration Form (copies in the rack in the Porch) so that parish life, and look at what resources we may welcome and inform you about are available. Admission is free and a light buffet lunch will be provided. To our parish life. book your place, contact CEF on 01277 DIOCESAN DIRECTORY 2015: The 265289 or Directory for 2015 year is available [email protected] from the Repository at the back of the IN CONVERSATION WITH FR Church priced at £2.75. CHRISTOPHER JAMISON: Fr Christopher, a Benedictine Monk, is a +++++++++++++++++ regular contributor on Chris Evans’ Radio 2 Breakfast show, a profound author about prayer and silence, and MARRIAGE CARE ILFORD CENTRE: The the Director of the National Office for centre is looking for suitable volunteers Vocations. On Tuesday evening, 31 [male or female] to be trained as March you are invited (especially Marriage Preparation Providers and young adults aged 17-35) to hear him Counsellors. Training will be provided. share his personal vocational journey: For further details please contact what inspired him to become a monk Glenda Spencer on 020 8590 7775. and a priest? The event takes place at St Margaret’s Church, 79 Barking Road, BRENTWOOD STATIONS OF THE Canning Town E16 4HB (close to DLR & CROSS: Fifteen contemporary artists Jubilee Line) and includes chicken & have each painted a Station of the Cross. These beautiful and challenging chip supper. Full details at www.brentwoodvocations.org or on the Brentwood Vocations Facebook Page. The event is free, but registration is required – call Fr Dominic, Vocations Director, on 01268 281732 or email [email protected] THE BILLERICAY PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP: You are invited to a Day of Devotion to the Divine Mercy at Abbotswick, Diocesan House of Prayer on Sunday, 12 April. Arrival at 10.30 am for 11.00 am start. Confession available. Mass at 3.30 pm. Tea and coffee available but please bring a packed lunch. Ring Claire Wallis for details 01277 658783. All are welcome. BCCS LONDON MARATHON RUNNER: Mark Butcher is running for BCCS this year on Sunday, 26 April so if you wish to support his efforts for this worthy cause please go to Mark's site https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/ markbutchermarathon2015. By the end of this attempt - Mark hopes to have raised over £10,000! ABSEIL FOR CAFOD: Why not challenge yourself on Sunday, 3 May to abseiling 110ft down the Harlow Water Tower? This annual sponsored event is organised by the Rotary Club of Harlow Tye. You have to be over 16 and there is a £30 participation fee. Places limited. For more details contact the CAFOD Brentwood Office on 0208 502 9722 or email [email protected] PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES SUMMER 2015: The Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes led by Bishop Alan is filling up fast so you need to book soon. The cost with full board for six days, five nights (from Sunday, 26 to Friday, 31 July), will be from £649 by air or from £429 by coach. This pilgrimage includes an experienced medical team and plenty of help for those with mobility needs. It is also ideal for couples, individuals, and groups of friends. There is a full programme to opt in and out of, and everyone is welcome. For a brochure please call Cathy O’Connor on 01206 501146, or visit www.brentwoodlourdes.org where you will also find photos and testimonies from 2014. PRUDENTIAL RIDE LONDON-SURREY 100: The Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society has a limited number of charity places in the ‘Ride London 100’ taking place on Sunday, 2 August. The deadline is fast approaching for applications, so please don’t delay if you are interested in taking up a place. We ask that cyclists pay a registration fee of £50 to secure their place and pledge to raise a minimum of £600 (excluding Gift Aid). Please contact Libby on 01268 784544 if you would like any further information, or [email protected]. PILGRIMAGE ALONG THE “CAMINO”: An invitaion to join the Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre in April 2016 on a nine day pilgrimage along the ‘Camino’ to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The pilgrimage is designed for both walkers or coach travellers (or a mixture of the two). If you would like to join this pilgrimage, please phone 01206 867296 or email [email protected] to request a brochure or it can be downloaded from their website www.canonesses.co.uk THE PENSIONERS ADVICE SERVICE: The Service continues to provide an East London Pensioners Advice Service every Thursday from 10.00 am until 1 pm at Durning Hall Community Centre, Earlham Grove, Forest Gate, E7 9AB. Durning Hall is 2 minutes from Forest Gate Rail station and is disabled accessible. For more information please contact Sally Mulready on 0207 428 0471. CATHOLIC SINGLES is an organisation which helps single adult Catholics of all ages meet, either one to one or through social events. Please tel. 0161 941 3498, visit the website www.catholicsingles.org.uk or email [email protected] NEWSLETTER ITEMS: If you have any items that you would like to appear in the weekly Newsletter then please email them to [email protected] and copy to [email protected] The copy deadline for including items in the Newsletter is Thursday 12 noon. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee to include all requests we receive in the paper edition but we will make every effort to accommodate articles and insertion requests in the on-line edition including job vacancies. Job Opportunities THE URSULINE ACADEMY ILFORD: The Governors are now seeking to appoint from September (or earlier) a practising Catholic to be an outstanding Subject Leader for the RE Department. For further information and to download an application form please access the Academy website www.uai.org.uk or email [email protected] Please note we are unable to accept CVs. Closing date for applications is 12 noon on Thursday, 23 April with interviews the following week. SCHOOL CHAPLAIN & PARISH YOUTH COORDINATOR: This full time role with Basildon Catholic Collegiate Trust, with a September 2015 start, will be ideal for someone committed to deepening the faith of young people through providing a variety of opportunities in a school and parish context. Working with 8-16 year olds and a team of young adult leaders, you will be in a parish and schools committed to youth ministry. Closing date is Tuesday, 14 April. To discuss the role call Fr Dominic on 01268 281732. All details at www.basildoncatholics.org THE PALMER CATHOLIC ACADEMY is currently looking to recruit exam invigilators who would be available on a casual basis for the summer examination session. Full details and application form are available from the academy website www.thepalmercatholicacademy.org or contact Julie Royer on 020 8590 3808.