This page is taking the place of the Parish Newsletter for the time being
Coronovirus – The church is open for public Mass.
THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE PERMITTED IN THE CHURCH IS RESTRICTED AND IN DESIGNATED SEATING ONLY. YOU MUST WEAR A FACE COVERING WHICH COVERS BOTH MOUTH AND NOSE. The Fraternity will continue to keep you all in their thoughts and prayers. Peace and all good.
Mass at St Francis Church
Click above for more information about attending Mass including new Mass times. Note that for the moment there will be no changes to the information above. (24th July 2021)
(The Sunday Obligation will not be resuming until Advent.
This means that until then Catholics are not required to attend
Mass on Sunday if they do not feel safe or comfortable doing so.)
Special Note For All Ministers Of Holy Communion:
There will be a Formation Day for Ministers of Holy Communion on 9th October 2021 from 10am – 4pm.
For full details and an Agenda, please see the posters at the back of the Church.
Rosary Procession Prayer Vigil Led by Fr Juniper Adams CFRR
The next vigil at the BPAS abortion centre, 32-36 Romford Road, Stratford, E15 4BZ, will be held
ON SATURDAY, 25TH SEPTEMBER 2021, 10am.
FROM ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH, GROVE CRESCENT ROAD, STRATFORD, E15 1BJ
Click here for more details
Bible Timeline Course by Mauro Iannicelli We are pleased to bring to your attention a fantastic opportunity for your parish in this Year of the Word – The God Who Speaks. Mauro Iannicelli will deliver the Bible Timeline Course again, completely free of charge, via Live-Streaming, from Wed 29 Sept 2021 to Wed 17 Nov 2021.
For any further information, parishes can contact Mauro Iannicelli | Come & See Catholic Evangelisation Ministries at:
Email: info@comeandsee.org
Mobile: 07868 055593
Web: www.comeandsee.org
This is an excellent course which I can recommend to your parish. Mauro lives in Stratford and I have met with him and he is keen to offer the course free of charge to the Newham Parishes. A large group from Canning Town joined in the last courses-and they were really inspired so I pass this on to you.
CONFIRMATION APPLICATIONS FOR 2022: Application Forms are available from the back of the church, or, for more information and the form click here. Confirmation Applications must be returned to the Parish Office in an envelope marked “CONFIRMATION 2022” by 18th October 2021. Thank you.
APPLICATIONS FOR FIRST COMMUNION 2021 – 2022
The deadline for applications is Monday 20th Sept 2021. Click for more details and for application forms.
APPLICATIONS FOR BAPTISM & MARRIAGE:
The Parish Office are receiving a number of requests with regard to receiving the Sacraments, such as Baptism & Marriage. A period of preparation is necessary, therefore, please contact the Parish Office at least six months in advance for Marriages, and two months in advance for Baptisms. Thank you.
SISTER BERNIE
Sr. Bernie will be leaving the parish later this month. We would like to thank her for all her years of service to the people in Stratford. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
FROM SR BERNIE MOREY
It is with a sad heart I leave you, the friends I have in Stratford, and I thank you for your love and support I have received from so many of you. I will take you with me in my heart.
Let us thank God for all the many gifts we have been given. Let us pray for each other with grateful hearts. Love to all, Sr. Bernie xx
Living Laudato Si’ – Online Retreat – 15th – 18th October 2021.
Open to all, this retreat will help personal prayer and reflection, and parish action, on the critical issue of care for God’s creation. Bishop Alan will open the retreat, which will be led by expert speakers. For more information see the poster at the back of church or email laudatosi@dioceseofbrentwood.org
In Paradisum
Dorothy Hawkins died suddenly on Friday June 4th, please keep her family, friends and all who knew her in your prayers at this time. Dorothy did much to support the life and the people of the parish in so many ways. She will be missed, may she rest in peace.
The funeral service was livestreamed and is available here: 
Requiem Mass Dorothy Fay Hawkins ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eggci502A6k
THE THRESHOLDS OF HOPE WEBSITE has now been launched. This new online resource is the work of the Brentwood Diocese Vicariate for Adult Formation and aims to help adults to deepen their relationship with Christ and His Church. Please have a look at the website and watch it develop over time. Do let us know what you think of it. The website address is www.thresholdsofhope.co.uk
Threshold of Hope page – Brentwood Diocese
YOUCAN – Family retreat, a weekend away for Catholic families, Friday 24th to Sunday 26th September 2021. More details here.
Gift Aid envelopes for April 2021 to April 2022 available from the parish office. For more information re donations including Gift Aid and Gift Aid certificates for 2020/2021 click here
FORTHCOMING WEDDINGS
Please keep in your prayers the following couples who are hoping to get married in the next few weeks.
James O’Connell and Michela Trincia
Mattia Cevolani and Astrid Motta
Darryl Tan and Phyllis Guven
Matthieu Baril and Catherine Simon
In this difficult time, that their weddings may go ahead and be a time of joy and celebration for them and their families and friends.
May the Lord bless them and keep them.
MARRIAGE PREPARATION:
For those couples looking to get married either here, in another parish in England, or abroad, we require A MINIMUM of 6 months notice with regard to Marriage Preparation, and the completion of the necessary formalities.
Please contact the Parish Secretary, if possible, to discuss your requirements, and for further advice.
Vocation Cafe – A Facebook Group for Catholic Young Adults in London
COMPASS Discernment Programme. Young adults 18-40 – How do I make good decisions? Can I notice how God’s spirit acts in my life? Join us to listen, reflect and share. Email us: CompassCVP@gmail.com More info: Discernment Programme or Https://fb.me/e/3MA8KE2ar #vocation #religiouslife #discernment #joy
Compass is a project of CVP (Catholic Vocations Projects). CVP is supported by a group of religious women and men in the UK who are interested in promoting a culture of vocation in our Church.
LIVING JOYFULLY – click for poster- See more details on facebook – https://fb.me/e/EdDGXmw
Vocation Music Award – Song writing Competition
https://www.facebook.com/COMPASSvocationdiscernment
Coronovirus – Click for Latest Update from the Catholic Church
Advice re attending Mass and having the vaccine.
Click here for the full text of the email from Bishop Alan Williams.
A Message from Pope Francis – Click here.
When you are out on your daily exercise, which a lot of us are doing, you to note or record the distance you walked, run or cycled. You then submit the details to our website and help cover the 1,168 miles. You can either get sponsorship or make a donation via Just Giving. Anyone can join. For further details and to sign up for free go to https://sites.google.com/view/brentwood-2-rome-2021
Fraud Alert – Please be aware that there are an increased number of scams around, some involving the coronovirus vaccine. Click here for more information
Is your marriage stressed – A Lifeline for Marriages. Click for information / Click for poster
BCYS– The Brentwood Catholic Youth Service has a number of opportunities coming up for young people and those accompanying them, including “BCYS voices” on YouTube considering the pain and problem of racism, and the potential for us, as young Catholics, to build the world in the image of Jesus Christ – where everyone is welcomed, valued and loved, in all the beautiful diversity of every race. More details at www.bcys.netand on Instagram and YouTube @BrentwoodCYS.
“The Three Flowers of Pope,St John XXIII”
A Prayer for Strength
All Brentwood Diocesan Catholic School Vacancies (for which the Education Services Department are aware) are posted on the Diocesan website. https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/departments/education/vacancies
Practical Help and Advice
Includes:
Links to Brentwood Diocese, BCCS and BCYS
Links to livestreamed services
Some warnings from our local police re fraud