THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD (YEAR A):
4th May 2008
Fr Frank writes:
May is the month of Our Lady - and a wonderful month it is too. To mark the month we recite together a decade of the rosary after each weekday Mass.
We would normally expect to conclude our Sunday Masses with a hymn to Our Lady; but this year, because of the early date of Easter, we have a plethora of special feasts falling on Sunday. Today we celebrate the feast of the Ascension (now moved, as is the case with all holy days of The Lord, to the nearest Sunday), next Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, the 18th is Trinity Sunday, and the 25th Corpus Christi.
May Our Lady, Queen of the May, pray for you, and may God richly bless you.
Fr Frank
Churches Together in Chelmsford cycle of prayer:
- Week beginning:
- 4th May: St Paul, Great Baddow (Tudor and Tricia Roberts)
- 11th May: Christian Aid Committee (Chair - Robin Stevens)
Parish News:
- Tuesday's Mass: will be at 10.30am, followed by tea/coffee and social time. Everyone welcome.
- Congratulations to Michael: On 25th April the School Chaplain at St John Payne, Christine Webb, attended the Diocesan Citizenship Awards at Brentwood Cathedral. Michael Barwick, Head Boy at the school and one of our valued servers, received this award for his commitment to his school and parish communities. Congratulations, Michael.
- Readers at Mass: We will be drawing up a new rota in the next two weeks. If you would like to be included on the list of readers, please contact Doreen Cornish (264821)
- Pilgrimage to Aylesford 4th June: Witham CWL Section coach will pick up at St Augustine's at 9.45am. The fee is £10 - pay on the day. Please give names to Louise de Souza (260354) or Grace Smith (265018).
- Sponsored walk for the Marfan Research Foundation: Sister Philomena hopes you will sponsor her for this walk on 18th May to help sufferers of Marfan syndrome - a variable disorder of the connective tissue that affects many organs including the skeleton, eyes, heart, lungs and blood vessels.
- Parish Party Saturday July 5th from 6pm: Date for the diary - more details to follow!
- Christian Aid Week 11-17 May 2008: Christian Aid helps people to find their own lasting solutions to poverty, so we work through more than 600 local organisations in almost 50 countries. We challenge those with power to change things, like climate change and international trade rules, that have an adverse effect on poor communities. Please contact Maureen Henes on 01245 469933 to offer your help.
From the Diocese:
- Youth Service Family BBQ, Sunday 15th June: in the beautiful grounds of Chigwell Police Club IG7 6BD, starting with Mass at 12.30pm followed by BBQ (Bring your own drink). Cost £6 per adult and £4 per child (16 and under). This event is to help raise funds for the bursary scheme of Brentwood Catholic Youth Service helping young people in financial need to be more involved in Youth Service events and pilgrimages. Entry by ticket only (for catering numbers) from the Youth Office, Cathedral House 01277 265286 (cheques to BRCDT Youth Account please).
From the Deanery:
- Prayer and Praise Evening Wednesday 7th May 8pm: at Our Lady Immaculate, London Road. This is a call to all Christians to worship and praise God - the meetings will continue to be held once a month. All welcome.
Other News:
- Catholic Singles: is an organisation which helps single Catholics meet up, either one to one or through social events. For more information please call 0161 941 3498, visit the website at www.catholicsingles.org.uk or email here.
- Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill: The House of Lords All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group is organising a mass lobby at the Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, Westminster, London SW1 from 12.30pm until the time Parliament rises in the evening on 14th May. We are hoping that churches will have at least one representative willing to attend. Lobbyists should contact their MPs for appointments requesting a time. Public support has made a tremendous impact and your continued support is vital. Yours very sincerely Lord Alton of Liverpool, Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe MP, Jim Dobbin MP.
Advertisements:
- St John Payne School Teaching Staff required: Teacher of English, Temporary Teacher of Spanish and French to cover maternity leave, and Part-Time Teacher of KS3 English (0.2) FTE and Part-Time Teacher of KS3 Science (0.2) FTE. (Closing date Tuesday 6th May). Please contact school on 01245 256030
- SS Peter & Paul's Catholic Primary School, Ilford: (closing date 16.05.08) seeks:
- 2 Main Scale teachers: Key stages 1 & 2 & Infant SENCo 0.4 TLR2a
- 2 Special Support Assistants to work with 3 junior aged pupils with Statements of Educational Needs. Monday - Friday 1st post: 8.30am - 1.30pm, 2nd post: 12.15 - 3.15pm. Term time only. £8.46 per hour dependent on experience.
- Temporary Teaching Assistant to cover maternity leave: Monday - Friday 8.45am - 12.15pm. Term time only. £7.59 per hour.
Sunday Smile:
Ten Commandments of Marriage for Men (continued):
- Married life is very frustrating. In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens. In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens. In the third year, they both speak and the neighbours listen.
- When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: Either the car is new or the wife is.
(more to follow)
Items for the Newsletter:
Your views are always welcome. Please deliver your contributions to the Presbytery before noon on the preceding Wednesday.
Parish Weekly Income:
Grateful thanks for your continued generosity.