THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF YEAR B
(All Saints Day)
31st October 2021
Dear Parishioner
All Saints day, the church gives us the opportunity to celebrate our unsung heroes. The Feast is a celebration in
recognition of the efforts made by many "Faithful" who are not officially canonized or beatified by the church.
So, All Saints refers to: "The crowd so great that no one could count. They were individuals of all nations and races,
of all peoples and languages."
The readings portray two essential things. Firstly that apart from the officially canonized saints, many more have lived
heroic and virtuous lives. They are unsung by men, but God recognizes their efforts and struggle. They are: "Those who
have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb," and now, sing: "Victory, salvation, honour, and glory belong
to our God because God is Love!" Secondly, it portrays God's love as extending to the entire nations of the world.
Hence, today's second reading reminds us of how much God loves us. All Saints (the triumphant church) now enjoy the
fullness of this love. We ("the militant church"), who are still on earth also enjoy God's infinite love and
are sustained by it in our sojourn daily. However, when we triumph like them, we shall become transformed and share in the
fullness of this love. Hence, John tells us: "Brothers, now we are the children of God, but it has not been manifested
what we shall look like at the end." We shall look like the glorified Christ and the saints. We shall share in the
fullness of God's love.
The gospel gives us a perfect credential of all the Saints that we honour today. They are the real Blessed and Happy.
They were poor in spirit. They suffered and wept for the salvation of others. They hungered and thirsted for justices and
truth. In the process, they were greatly persecuted and bruised. Despite all these, they were pure in their heart, merciful
to all, and worked for peace.
The feast of All Saints leaves us with great hope and promise. They were mortal human beings like each one of us. They
came, saw, struggled, and they conquered. The same grace that helped them is still available to us today. The good news is
that we shall also enjoy with them the rewards, if we run and endure the way they did.
Our life experiences may vary, sometimes people say things like: "Look, I have been working and doing my best, yet
no one recognizes me. Nobody knows that I exist here. No one cares about my efforts. I do not count or mean anything to
anybody". But if we understand how God sees things and looks at each of us, we will cease to think in this terms and
begin to thank God for everything that happens to us.
The truth is even though others neglect and fail to recognize you, God will not fail to recognize you. For Him you are
the apple of His eyes, you count, and you mean a lot to Him. He loves you and is waiting to see you share in the fullness
of His love after your sojourn. So, like All Saints, you are among the class of people that the Lord is searching for. All
Saints, Pray for us!
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.
-
The Augustinian We are aiming to produce an edition of "The Augustinian" for Christmas. We
are looking for items which may interest people, about Parish events, Parish people or general interest. If you have
pictures that would be very welcome. Click here to
Email your contributions, if possible by early November.
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Teams of Our Lady (Equipes Notre-Dame) are an organisation set up to help couples to grow spiritually
together. Our Chelmsford Team is seeking couples to join us. We meet monthly, in each others homes, over a meal to
share (in confidence), pray and discuss a topic. If you are interested, the GB website www.teamsgb.org.uk provides extra information or contact Chris and Dom
Thompson 01245 469161 or click here to
Email.
- Join with the St Augustine's Methodist, URC and Anglican community Parishioners are warmly
invited to the Christmas Fayre: 2-4pm on Sunday 21st November at St Augustine's. Christmas gifts and
games for the children, tea and Christmas snacks
- Intentions for All Souls: Please collect envelopes from the church for intentions you would like
said and return them as early as possible.
- Bereavement Group Requiem Mass: will be celebrated on 12th November at 7.30pm. Kindly contact Anna
Doube for any enquiries.
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Tea and Coffee Rota: At some point in the future we are hoping to resume offering tea and coffee and
social time after mass on Sunday. As and when this happens volunteers will be needed. If you would be interested in
joining a rota for preparing the tea and coffee please contact Margaret Cook - click here to
Email or 07722 512215.
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Annual Parish Dinner - Date for the Diary: County Hotel, Chelmsford on Saturday the 8th January at
7.30 pm. The cost will be £30.00 a head. New members always welcome to this light-hearted and enjoyable evening.
More info in due course or click
here to Email.
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St John Payne School Mass for those who have died in their Community Thurs 4th November at 7pm in
Medici Hall. You are warmly invited to attend. In the Mass we remember and pray for lost loved ones in and of the St
John Payne Community, of which all our feeder parishes are a part. If you have any names of those who have died in the
last 2 years and you'd like them prayed for in this Mass, please click here to Email with their full name.
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Thresholds of Hope Questions The next sessions take place by Zoom on Sundays 31st October and 7th
November 4.00 - 5.00 p.m.: What does it mean to talk about morality? These talks will be given by Fr Martin Boland,
Dean of Brentwood Cathedral. To join this meeting go to Events at www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk
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Guild of St Stephen Brentwood Diocese AGM (Annual General Meeting) Saturday 20th November at 11am,
Brentwood Cathedral, Small Hall. This is open to any MCs or Senior Altar Servers in Brentwood Diocese. To keep everyone
safe, we would ask those attending the AGM to have had the COVID vaccination. If you wish to attend the AGM, please
click here to Email
John McCormack before 13th November.
- Mass Intentions Requests Welcome: Apologies for a gremlin in the system which suggested that the
Mass intentions diary was full until the end of the year. This is not the case and we welcome all requests for your Mass
intentions which we will always try to fit in at the times requested if the dates are free.
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Rest and Reflection a Retreat for adults (3pm Friday 19th - 3pm Sunday 21st November 2021) Walsingham
House: A weekend of reflection and prayer in Walsingham House at Abbotswick. For 2 nights accommodation and
meals the cost £150 for a single room, £200 for a twin, all ensuite, (twin bookings must be made together
with someone known to you). More info and bookings from Joe Beattie on 01277 373959 or click
here to Email.
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Vacancies Diocese of Brentwood - The Diocese currently has a vacancy for a PA to HR and the
Finance team (Closing date 25.10.21) For full details see: https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/diocese/working-for-us/
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Calais Light - volunteers are warmly welcome to join the first weekend convoy to Calais since Jan
2020, to support the three charities who are working there with refugees living in dire conditions. It is the fifteenth
Calais Light trip, and first time volunteers will be well briefed and supported. The dates are Friday 26th - Sunday
28th November, and there will be a maximum of 30 people. To apply, you must be double vaccinated. Download the pdf
version of your digital Covid Pass from the NHS app & click here to Email it before the deadline
of Wed 27 Oct. You will then be contacted about booking. More info at www.calaislight.com.
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Remembrance Service: Those who have loved ones remembered within the ground at Walsingham House at
Abbotswick are warmly invited to a special Mass of Remembrance on Sunday 7th November at 3pm. Due to capacity please
contact Joseph Beattie in advance to reserve a place either on 01277 373959 or click
here to Email.
- 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.
- 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.
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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. 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:
Sunday: Canon Richard Gay
Thursday: Dr Lieutenant Peter William Geddes
Sunday: Cardinal John Carmel Heenan
NEXT SUNDAY'S READINGS - Thirty-Second Sunday Year B
First Reading: Kings I 17:10-16
The widow made a little scone from her meal and brought it to Elijah.
Second Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28
Christ offers himself only once to take the faults of many on himself.
Gospel: Mark 12:38-44
This poor widow has put in more than all.