SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR C):
5/6th December 2009
Fr Frank writes:
As Christmas approaches it is good to focus on the fact that Jesus was born into a human family. With this in mind, I shall include a few meditations on 'Home is a Holy Place' over the next few weeks.
From Church Teaching:
The communion of love present in family life serves as a model of the relationships which must exist in Christ's
family, the Church. (Pope John Paul II)
Christian spouses and parents are included in the universal call to sanctity. For them this call is specified by the
sacrament they have celebrated and is carried out concretely in the realities proper to their conjugal and family life.
This gives rise to the grace and requirement of an authentic and profound conjugal and family spirituality. (Familiaris
Consortio § 56)
Read more at www.homeisaholyplace.org.uk
May God fill you with his love.
Father Frank
ADVENT RECONCILIATION SERVICES
- 14th December: Blessed Sacrament, Melbourne: 7.30pm
- 16th December St Augustine, Springfield: 8.00pm
- 17th Holy Name, Mousham Lodge: 7.30pm
- 21st Holy Family and All Saints, Witham: 7.30pm
- 21st Our Lady Immaculate, Chelmsford: 8.00pm
- 22nd Holy Trinity, South Woodham Ferrers: 8.00pm
Parish News:
- New Hall Choir: is seeking extra singers to swell their ranks over the Christmas period! All ages very welcome from 8 upwards. If you would like to participate please contact Jackie Chester on 01245 464465.
- University Carol Service: takes place at Chelmsford Cathedral on 9th December at 5pm. Bishops' School choir and strings orchestra will be participating, so do come along and support them.
- Vandalism and Damage at St Augustine's: There have been a number of small fires at St Augustine's over the past couple of months, and after the rain on Sunday 1st November, we noticed some leaks. On investigation it was discovered that lead had been stripped from the roof. If you are out and about in the evening, perhaps you could have a quick look at the church to see if anything is amiss. Please do not confront anyone, but if there are signs of 'criminal damage' taking place (fires, people on the roof etc) please ring 999 and let me know. Many thanks, Fr Frank.
From the Deanery:
- St. John Payne Catholic School Chelmsford: is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, a commemorative book has been published containing the school's history and stories from various personalities who attended St. John Payne. To order the book visit www.sjp.essex.sch.uk, or ring 01245 256030 to obtain an order form.
From the Diocese:
- Vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood: Today prayers are asked for all those discerning a vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood with the relaunch of www.brentwoodvocations.org offering new resources and a 'Priests' Blog' - share with 14 Priests of the Diocese as they present a snapshot of living Priesthood, day by day. It is also the day when we take the annual collection to pay for the training of students for the Priesthood: please do be as generous as you can. If you are interested in a vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood please speak to your Parish priest, or contact Fr Dominic Howarth or Mgr John Armitage via the vocations website.
- Ecumenical Study Day on the Gospel of St Luke: at Brentwood Cathedral Hall on Saturday 12th December from 10.30am to 3pm, led by Mr Ian Boxall, Senior Tutor in New Testament at St Stephen's House at the University of Oxford. Buffet lunch provided. Please book your place on 01277 265289 or by Email
- Special Youth Mass and Gathering at The Most Holy Redeemer, Billericay: at 8pm on Friday 8th January in the Parish Pastoral Centre, Laindon Road, Billericay. The Mass is being said to mark the start of the Parish's Centenary celebrations for 2010. All the Youth of the Brentwood Diocese in Year 8 and above are invited. If you are planning to attend please click here to Email for calculation of catering numbers. Thank you.
Other:
- Day of inspiration for Catholics working with Young People: Come and hear some of the finest speakers in the world share their wisdom and knowledge about working with young people. Bob and Maggie McCarty are at the forefront of Youth Ministry in America, and they will be joined by well known Dominican author and speaker Fr Tim Radcliffe, Abbot Christopher Jamison (from the BBC series, The Monastery), and Archbishop Vincent Nichols. February 27th 2010, London - full details at www.cymfed.org/congress. Tickets £12.50 if booked by December 18th; £14 after that date, while tickets remain.
Sunday Smile:
Angels as explaineded by children (continued):
Angels talk all the way while they're flying you up to heaven. The main subject is where you went wrong before you got
dead. Daniel, age 9
Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his son, who's a very good carpenter. Jared, age 8