SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (C)
16th January 2022
Dear Parishioner
The Gospel reading today is very familiar to us: the wedding feast of Cana. At the wedding Jesus changed water into
wine. There are many things in our spiritual lives that should be changed. Jesus' power is available to us too. Let us
reflect on our need of his power in order to change the things in our lives that need to be changed.
A wedding and no wine: the image of an empty dried up life. 'In the streets they cry out for lack of wine; all joy
has grown dim, cheer is exiled from the land' (Is. 24: 11), the empty wine jugs at Cana mean an end and a turning
point. A divine spark glimmers in what Jesus does; whoever has eyes to see, will find a sign in the miracle: God takes
action; he has visited his people and set them free.
Jesus brought the wine of God's love into the world. Everywhere he went the old was made new. For the couple at Cana
he changed water into wine. For the widow of Nain he changed tears into joy. For Zacchaeus he changed selfishness into
love. For the thief on Calvary he changed despair into hope. And on Easter morning he changed death into life. Lord, be
present with us today and throughout our lives. And when through human weakness the wine of love is found wanting, touch
our hearts and strengthen our wills, so that we may taste the wine of unselfish love.
Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free and won for us the gift of eternal life, the joy of heaven and
the promise of sharing in God's nature.
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.
- KSC CAKE MAKING COMPETITION The Chelmsford Knights of St Colomba that come from all the Parishes in
Chelmsford invite Parishioners to enter a cake making competition. There will be an adults' and children's
competition. The KSC does lots of things behind the scenes in all the Parishes and would be very grateful for your
participation. This is being held to raise funds for charity as the cakes will be sold. It is being held on Saturday the
29th January with cakes plus the name of the 'baker' in a sealed envelope being brought to The Blessed Sacrament
Church, Melbourne, Chelmsford, CM1 2DU between 9.30am and 10.00 am. Please contact Mike Hiom on 01245 265159 should you
require further details.
-
THRESHOLDS OF HOPE QUESTIONS: What is the point of canon law? will be given by Fr Gary Dench,
assistant priest at Brentwood Cathedral on Sundays 9th and 16th January 4.00 - 5.00 p.m.. To join this Zoom meeting
simply
click here to forward a contact email. For more information go to www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk. Thank you for any support that you can give this initiative. For those of you
who are reflecting on mission and how a missionary character may be deepened in your parish, the following may be of
interest: 2022-timeformission
(cathedralbrentwood.org)
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BE PART OF THE WALSINGHAM HOUSE TEAM 2022/23: If you are 18+ and looking for an exciting gap year
opportunity, then a year on the Walsingham House Team could be for you. Spend a year as a volunteer in a thriving young
Catholic Community, working with thousands of young people from Essex and East London. We are looking for inspiring
individuals who want to share their faith with other young people and are also looking to learn new skills, grow deeper
in their own faith and enjoy a challenge. For more information please contact Joseph Beattie, manager of Walsingham
House, by clicking
here to Email or calling 01277 373959. There is more information about our work on our website (www.bcys.net) and social media @Brentwoodcys.
- REDISCOVER YOUR MARRIAGE - Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi with a long i) simply means
'rediscovery'. The programme offers the chance to rediscover yourself, your spouse, and a loving relationship in
your marriage. 10s of 1000s headed for divorce have successfully saved their marriages by attending and using the tools
provided. There is no group therapy or group work. For confidential information about 'Retrouvaille' or to
register for the programme commencing with a 'Virtual' weekend on 3rd-6th March 2022 call or text +44 788 7296983 or click here to Email -
or visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk.
-
'BE A CATHEDRAL CHORISTER FOR A DAY' Brentwood Cathedral will be hosting this opportunity for
boys aged 7-12 on Saturday 29th January 2022. The day will begin at 10.30am with a welcome for families and will end
with Choral Vespers at 4pm, an opportunity for everyone to hear the boys sing. We hope the day will be of interest to
all boys who enjoy singing, whatever their prior musical experience. We will be holding a similar day for girls later
in the year. For more details and to register a place, please visit www.cathedralbrentwood.org or telephone 01277 265288.
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LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT sought for St Peter's Catholic Primary School Billericay, part of The
Christus Catholic Trust. The post involves supporting learning within the classroom; working with individuals and small
groups to engage pupils, develop their self-confidence and fostering independence. More info at: http://www.essexschoolsjobs.co.uk/Vacancies/Details.aspx?VacancyId=71210.
- 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.
-
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
click here to Email Antoinette.
- WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 18-25th January Karin Seeman will have details of times and
venues after Mass on Sunday. We will conduct prayer service for Christian unity at our Church on 22nd January at 3pm. All
are welcome.
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: Fr Gilbert Basil Pearson, Fr Neville Banks
Monday: Josephine Everett, Fr Kenneth Green
Tuesday: Canon Charles Kuypers
Wednesday: Jacqueline Post, Mgr Canon David Donnelly
Thursday: Fr John Meehan
Friday: Bp Bernard Ward, Fr Christopher Quirke
Saturday: Fiona Cowling, Pope Benedict XV
Sunday: Bp Arthur Doubleday