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 from 24th May, 2021.
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.
Please meet your MP to lobby against DIY abortion and assisted suicide
SPUC is holding a Mass lobby of MPs on Friday 16 July or Saturday 17 July 2021. We are asking pro-life supporters up and down the country to organise a meeting with their MP, at the MP’s constituency office, on one of these dates. The DIY abortion policy is still in place, and there is a renewed threat of assisted suicide being legalised.
Please ask your MP to lobby the Health Secretary to end DIY abortion. Please ask your MP to vote against assisted suicide.
SPUC has produced dedicated briefings to help you lobby your MP. Please go to www.spuc.org.uk/MassLobby2021
MEMORIAL MASS FOR SISTER ELIZABETH CAMPBELL OSU (Sister Joseph Mary)
This Mass will take place in St Angela’s School chapel 3pm on Saturday 3rd July Covid regulations permitting.
Sister Elizabeth died on the 1st January 2021 aged 91. She was on the staff of St Angela’s as a History teacher from 1955 to 1962 and Head Teacher until 1966.
If you wish to attend and/or send memories to be shared, please email unamabel@aol.com. by Wednesday 30th June.
The event will be followed by tea in the V1th Form Common Room.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS 2019/2020:
This is a message for those parents and children who had begun the Preparation for First Holy Communion back in 2019. There will be a meeting here on Sunday 27th June 2021 at 2pm, either in the Church or the Hall, depending on restrictions. Please note this meeting is only for the children and parents who had attended the classes, but for whom the Sacrament was cancelled. For parents and children who wish to make their First Holy Communion next year, there will be a further announcement.
“Lourdes at your Local” Talent Show!
Do you think you could be worthy of Simon Cowell’s golden buzzer?! We are looking for acts to share as part of our “Lourdes at your Local” Talent Show this Summer, which will be streamed online on Friday 30th July.
Whether it’s singing, dancing, magic, comedy or anything in-between, if you have a talent to share with the diocese please email gabriellafusi@dioceseofbrentwood.org and be prepared to send a video recording no later than Friday 2nd July.
For more information on “Lourdes at Your Local” this Summer, please visit www.bcys.net/events
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
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. This is especially important at this time due to lockdown restrictions and parish offices being closed.
Please contact the Parish Secretary, if possible, to discuss your requirements, and for further advice.
CATHOLIC BIBLICAL ASSOCIATION: On Saturday 12th June at 11 am Fr Jeremy Corley, lecturer in Sacred Scripture at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, will speak on ‘Afterlife Hope before the New Testament’. This event is free of charge and can be accessed by going to www.whatgoodnews.org and following the instructions. No prior booking necessary. The event will be available subsequently on the same website. Dr Sean Ryan, chair of the CBA, will introduce the day and take questions.
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
Ms Letizia Gaspari and Mr Emanuele Saccone
In this difficult time that their weddings may go ahead and by a time of joy and celebration for them and their families and friends.
May the Lord bless them and keep them.
STEP IN: My name is Siobhan Hesketh – a parishioner at St. Francis. I am a drama and movement therapist and I am currently collaborating with Stratford Circus offering free therapeutic movement to older adults (over 55) in Newham and surrounding boroughs.
Step in…therapeutic movement with Siobhan Hesketh – Stratford Circus (stratford-circus.com)
“Lourdes at Your Local”
From Monday 26th – Friday 30th July, the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service will be hosting “Lourdes at your Local“ for Summer 2021. There will be a Mass celebrated each morning at 11am, with Anointing of the Sick and joyful music, followed by a cup of coffee and refreshments in the parish hall afterwards. These will then be streamed online each evening, and there will also be a Daily Rosary, Torchlight Procession and Talent Show available to take part in virtually during the week. The Masses will take place in Leigh-on-Sea, Clacton-on-Sea, Canning Town, Wanstead and Brentwood to which you are warmly invited to join us. Further details and a full itinerary are available on our website www.bcys.net/events.
If any young adults in your Parish, currently in school Year 13 or above (approx. age 18-28) wish to attend, we will also be hosting “Lourdes on the Lawn” from 12pm – 4pm on Saturday 31st July where we will celebrate Mass together with Bishop Alan, and invite those attending to bring a picnic to enjoy in the grounds of Walsingham House at Abbotswick.
Although we are not entirely certain what the COVID restrictions (if any!) will look like by July, we remain optimistic that these Masses will be able to take place and we are very much looking forward to welcoming you all back to celebrate with us.
If there are any changes, we will aim to keep you updated on our website www.bcys.net/events
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
Calais – ‘Will we survive or drown?” Calais Light is a small refugee charity group that is still caring for refugees here & in N France. Watch & listen to the desperate thoughts of a refugee mother adrift in the dark in their Guided Meditation: “A minute on the Aegean Sea”. Imagine the terrible decisions she has to make. Watch on their website: www.calaislight.com & please donate if you can. Thank you.
Spring Newsletter from Fr Dominic Howarth, BCCS (Brentwood Catholic Children’s Society)
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 tohttps://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/school-vac
Practical Help and Advice
Includes:
Links to Brentwood Diocese, BCCS and BCYS
Links to livestreamed services
Some warnings from our local police re fraud