Newsletter 22th March 2026

Mass Readings for Sunday, 22nd March 2026

First Reading: Ezekiel 37: 12-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 130: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
Second Reading: Romans 8: 8-11
Verse Before the Gospel: John 11: 25a, 26
Gospel: John 11: 1-45

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 2:40pm each week parishioners lead the Divine Mercy devotions. All are warmly invited to join them in prayer.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS DURING LENT: Mondays before the 7:30pm Mass in Holy Name starting at 7pm Thursdays after 9:30am Mass in Holy Name starting at 10am Fridays after the 9:30am Mass in St Augustine starting at 10am Fridays at 3pm in Our Lady Immaculate Church

LIBRARY BIBLES / CTS BOOKLETS: We are happy to see that parish is making use of the books in the library! Please do remember to return library books and CTS booklets when you are finished with them so that others can read them. Many thanks!

FOODBANK COLLECTIONS FROM OLI AND HOLY NAME DURING LENT: Thank you for your continued support. Collections continue.

MENS FOOTBALL CLUB AT NEW HALL: A new football club for men of all abilities is starting in New Hall on Monday evenings in term time on Mondays, promoting men's mental health. It will take place at New Hall School, 3G Astro North Gate Entrance, CM1 6FU between 6:30-7:30pm. For further information please see the posters in church or email r.schreiber@newhallschool.co.uk

EASTER RAFFLE. The Holy Name Ladies group will be holding a raffle to raise funds for the youth of the Parish. Prizes will include an Easter hamper and many treats to enjoy over the Easter holidays. Tickets will be available after the Saturday night and Sunday morning masses on 14th/15th March, and 21st/22nd. Raffle will be drawn after 10.30 Mass on 29th March in the Canon Wilson Hall.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLOTHING: If there are any parish families who would like to borrow clothing for their child’s first Holy Communion this year, it will be available after the 10.45 Sunday Mass at Holy Name on the 22nd of March and 29th of March. Please contact c.irven@talk21.com if you have any questions.

EASTER AT NEW HALL: New Hall School are delighted to invite all to join them to celebrate the Easter Triduum from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday. For full details and programme, visit: https://isu.pub/6kxcZCk For booking, find New Hall School on Ticketsource.co.uk or visit: https:// www.ticketsource.co.uk/newhallschool.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION BUTTON ART ORDER FORMS .We are fast approaching the deadline for the return of these forms. If you wish to place an order, please return your completed form using the contact details given, to ensure that the frame is ready for your child's First Communion Day. Many thanks. For more information please visit the website: https:// www.chelmsfordcatholic.co.uk/groups/svp.

ROSARY AND ADORATION takes place at 9:50am before the 10:30am Mass on Saturdays. The First Saturday Devotions - Adoration, Rosary and Fatima prayers are prayed at 9:50am before the 10:30am Mass on the First Saturdays of the month.

RELATIONSHIP COUNSELLOR: Interested in training and volunteering as a Relationship Counsellor? Marriage Care is a Catholic organisation specialising in relationship support and we are currently looking for those who are empathetic, understanding and have an enthusiasm for supporting adult relationships, to train on our Certificate in Relationship Counselling (CRC) and volunteer with us. This is a great opportunity to make a real difference to couples and families. To find out more please visit: www.marriagecare.org.uk or email: volunteer@marriagecare.org.uk

HCPT GROUP 26 RAFFLE: Thank you very much to everyone who bought tickets and donated prizes for Ben’s raffle at St. Augustine’s over the last two weeks. It raised over £700 which is an incredible amount! All funds raised will go directly towards the cost of taking special needs children to Lourdes on pilgrimage this Easter.

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

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: Support many through their prayer and in person ministry across the Parish. They meet in OLI Hall on Tuesdays at 10am and Holy Name Canon Wilson Hall on Thursdays at 7pm. New members always welcome.

CHILDREN'S STATION OF THE CROSS AT HOLY NAME: Good Friday Station for the Cross for Children starting at 10.30am. After the Stations there will be some opportunity to do some crafts and enjoy hot cross buns. All families are welcome to join.

MESSAGE FROM FR BARTO - EASTER COLLECTION : The Christmas and Easter collections form a significant part of the personal income of the priests in our parish, and Fr Michael, Paul and I are very grateful for your generosity, especially in these difficult times. As many parishioners now give by standing order, it would be helpful for audit purposes if you could let the parish office know whether you wish two weeks of your annual standing order to be counted as your Christmas and Easter offerings. A brief email or note to the office (office@chelmsfordcatholic.co.uk) would be sufficient. If you prefer, you may also make a separate one-off contribution by BACS marked “Easter” (including your Gift Aid number if applicable), use a marked envelope, or give in the collection at the Christmas Masses. Thank you for your continued generosity and support.

RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION: On Thursday evening nearly 50 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion gathered together for prayer and reflection. As a group some new practices were shared when distributing Holy Communion. Fr Barto and Fr Michael would like to remind all that when receiving the Eucharist we respond with "Amen" and to consume the Host immediately. The practice of intinction (dipping the Host into the chalice) is forbidden and must not be done at any time. Please pray for our Ministers as they carry out this wonderful and important service for our parish

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY AND ALL FAMILIES WHO MOURN.
Jane MCEVOY (RIP) Requiem Mass on Friday 24th April at 11.00am in Church of St Augustine of Canterbury.

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, Cathy Ingram, 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.