Newsletter 3rd May 2026

Mass Readings for Sunday, 3rd May 2026 - Fifth Sunday of Easter 

First Reading: Acts 6: 1-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 33: 1-2, 4-5, 18-19
Second Reading: First Peter 2: 4-9
Alleluia: John 14: 6
Gospel: John 14: 1-12

LOURDES WITH OUR DIOCESE: Join Bishop Alan and pilgrims from across our diocese in Lourdes this summer: Friday 17th - Friday 24th July 2026. Bookings open at https://www.tangney-tours.com/ brentwood

DEVOTIONS IN OUR LADY IMMACULATE CHURCH: On Fridays at 2:50pm each week parishioners lead the Divine Mercy devotions. All are warmly invited to join them in prayer.

THE SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY: The SVP provides practical help to those in need. If you or someone you know could use support, call us on 07936 579230, or contact the Parish Office.

THE LEGION OF MARY: Meet every Tuesday at 10am in OLI Parish Hall. If you would like to pray and put your faith in action, then why not come along and give us a try and help us spread the faith through local ministry and community outreach. All warmly welcome. FAMILY ROSARY: If would you like to have Family Rosary in your home in May please contact any of the following numbers: Mary on 07709702703 or Maria on 07788837343.

ST JOHN BOSCO CHILDREN'S CAMP, SUMMER 2026: Applications are now open for children currently in school year 5 – 7 (i.e. aged 9-12 in August 2026) to spend a week at camp. 25th July – 1st August or 1st – 8th August. All application details are at https://boscocamp.co.uk. Places are likely to go quickly – early applications are encouraged.

GAMES, CAKES AND CRAFTS. Bank holiday Monday 4th of May, St Augustine's Church, from 11am to 3pm. Fundraising for our summer Pilgrimage with the Brentwood Catholic Youth Services to Lourdes where we'll help pilgrims get around the sanctuary.The money raised will help us fund our trip and bring back medals and holy water bottles for the sick and the prisoners. Come and join us, all welcome.

BAPTISMS THIS WEEKEND: We welcome Meika and Laura as the newest members of our Catholic Community. Please keep them and their families in your prayers.

BRING & SHARE THANK YOU LUNCH FOR GINNY 16 MAY In thanks for Ginny's hard work for the parishes, we will be holding a thank you lunch after the noon Mass at St Augustine on Saturday 16 May. All welcome. There is a sheet at St Augustine for signing up for food donations but if you are attending from another Mass centre, please bring something suitable to share at a buffet lunch. Many thanks

DIOCESAN VACANCIES: Deputy Headteacher - St Helen's Catholic Primary School, Westcliff-on-Sea Deadline for applications: 09:00 am Monday 11th May 2026 HOLY ROSARY takes place at 12Noon every Tuesday and at 11:00am after the 10:30am Mass on Saturdays. The First Saturday Devotions Rosary and Fatima prayers are prayed at 11:00am after the 10:30am Mass. BCYS SUMMER LOURDES PILGRIMAGE A small number of last-minute places are now available for the BCYS Youth Service Pilgrimage to Lourdes, open to young people currently in Year 10 and above. There are a number of funding opportunities available. Find out more and apply at: www.bcys.net/events/sl26

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2027 (Seoul, South Korea) Be part of something extraordinary at World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea. Travel with the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service to join hundreds of thousands of young Catholics from around the world, gathered with Pope Leo for this global celebration of faith. Open to those currently in Year 13 and above. Details and applications: www.bcys.net/events/ wyd27

BCYS YOUTH MASS The next Youth Masses will take place at Brentwood Cathedral on Thursday 7th May, 4th June and 2nd July. For more information, please visit www.bcys.net/events

DIOCESAN WALSINGHAM PILGRIMAGE Saturday 23rd May Representatives from the BCYS will be joining the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham, and we would like to invite other young people to join and assist with the liturgy. Please contact gabriellaskinner@brcdt.org if you are interested.

FLAME 2027 – Saturday 6th March, OVO Wembley Arena A limited number of early bird tickets (£30) remain available. To book for a group, please complete the form: https://forms.office.com/e/ KTevSZwGQH

WALSINGHAM HOUSE TEAM APPLICATIONS: Applications are open for those finishing Year 13 or university who are interested in a year of volunteering at Walsingham House. It is a unique opportunity to grow in faith, serve others and gain key life skills along the way! For further information, please email clairebailey@brcdt.org.

EVERY ONES IS A WINNER: Phill Perrier will be holding a Tambola at St Augustine Church at 10th May. As usual it is for Homless in South Africa.

THE CANONESSES OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE invite you to talk by dr Austen Ivereigh (ON ZOOM): HOPE FOR THE CHURCH IN A CHANGE OF ERA: THE LEGACY OF POPE FRANCIS - 6th May at 7pm. We are delighted to be joined by Austen Ivereigh (British Catholic writer & journalist – known for his two biographies of Pope Francis).For more details visit www.canonesses.co.uk

PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM Saturday 23rd of May cost 25£ per person. Parishioners pick up time from St Augustine at 7am and Our Lady Immaculate at 7.20am. We kindly ask parishioners from Holy Name to travel to one of the above pick-up points (St Augustine or Our Lady Immaculate). Alternatively, you may drive to St Augustine Church car park and leave your car there. Please include a clear note with your payment in an envelope, indicating your chosen pick-up location. The approximate return time from Walsingham is 5:00 pm. You may leave cash in an envelope marked “Pilgrimage” with your full name at the Parish Office. Please do not forget to include your pick-up and drop-off details. Kindly do this as soon as possible. Thank you. If you have any queries, please email:karinseeman2@gmail.com

SPECTACLES FOR AFRICA The Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre are collecting old spectacles to send to Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo). If you have any you would like to donate, please can you drop them to S. Moira, 43 Anderson Ave, Chelmsford CM1 2DA before Saturday 16th May. Many thanks. MARANATHA at Grays Friday 15 May 2026 All are warmly invited to an evening of prayer, praise and worship, including Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the Catholic Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, Grays RM17 6SR on Friday 15 May 2026, led by Fr. Paschal Uche from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, with refreshments afterwards. Come and join us! Everyone is welcome.

MAY DEVOTIONS Throughout the month of May, the May devotions for our linked parishes will take place every Friday at 7:00pm at Our Lady Immaculate Church, with the Rosary and Benediction. All are warmly welcome.

STATUE OF OUR LADY OF FÁTIMA resume home visits from 26th May. Families and individuals are invited to sign up and welcome Our Lady into their homes. The statue may be collected after the 10:30am Mass on Saturdays and will remain with each family or individual for seven days, before being returned the following Saturday. Collection dates will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.For further information or to sign up, please speak with Sophia or Adline.

LATEST WINNERS FOR 200 CLUB: March: 1st No.43 M Quinn, 8th No. 22 M McAllen, 15th No. 18 M Martin 22nd No. 36 H Adler April: 5th No. 67D Murphy, 12th No.21 I Doherty, 19th No. 15 K Pickett, 26th No. 8 P Perrier.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY AND ALL FAMILIES WHO MOURN. 

Marie Helena Martins (RIP) Requiem Mass on Wednesday 6th May at 11:30 at Our Lady Immaculate Church.

Kevin McBrearty (RIP) Requiem Mass on Thursday 4th June at 11:00 at St Augustine Church.

Jack Nolan (RIP) Funeral to be arranged

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND OF OUR PARISHES, (AND ALL WHO ARE SICK.)
Susan Ager, Helen Bastian, Annie Blake, Maureen Byrne, Marie Callahan, S.Casimir OSM, Valerie Cummins, Doreen Cornish, Antonia Dias, Victoria Docherty, Peter Dodson, Madeleine East, Troy Erickson, Marta Fevola, Mary Fletcher, Teresa Foster, Moreen Healy. Michael Hoare,  Shelia Hughes, John Grainger, Robert Godfrey, Peter Hamilton, Connor Hickey, , Gary Iliffe,  Maureen Leatherdale, Stuart Lucas,  Anne Lowden, Kevin Lyons, Jim Machin,  Maura Magee,  Shelia Mayo, Henry McKeon, Monica McShane, Donny McColl, Anne Newland, Ann McDonald, Margaret O'Sullivan, Christine Staines, Maureen Sullivan, Patrick Waters, Anja Welsh-Smyth, Paddy Westrip, Gayle Williams.