Newsletter 16th November 2025

First Reading: Malachi 4: 1-2a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 98: 5-6, 7-8, 9
Second Reading: Second Thessalonians 3: 7-12
Alleluia: Luke 21: 28
Gospel: Luke 21: 5-19

Parish Christmas Fayre NEXT SUNDAY 23rd NOVEMBER
From 10am in Our Lady Immaculate School Hall.  Christmas foods, bottles for the bottle stall, toiletries, new items and jewellery can still be donated & left at the presbytery or in the boxes at the back of our churches.  Please do come along to support your Parish, meet your fellow parishioners, have delicious refreshments of soup, bacon rolls, homemade cakes & teas and coffee.  Lots of wonderful stalls - Christmas presents, toiletries, bric a brac, bottle stall, toys, books, cake stall, & much more. Fun for all the family.  Hope to see you there!

CAKE STALL FOR CHRISTMAS FAYRE: If you’d like to bake for the Christmas Fayre cake stall, please bring donations to OLI parish hall (Friday morning), OLI school hall (Friday afternoon), or on Sunday morning at the Fayre directly or left at St Augustine Church before the 9am Mass. To meet Natasha’s Law, please include a list of ingredients with your cakes. Thank you!

NOVEMBER LISTS OF THE DEAD: During the month of November, Masses are offered for the repose of the souls whose names are placed on the sanctuary during the month of November. Envelopes and lists are available at the back of the churches, please return to a Priest, Sacristan or Parish Office.

MASSES FOR DECEASED LOVED ONES:  Will be held at 7:30PM on the following dates:
The Church of the Holy Name - Friday 21st November.
Our Lady Immaculate - Friday 28th November.

GRAVE BLESSINGS : at the Lawns Cemetery in Great Baddow at 2pm today, Priests will be available for blessing of the graves with families.

SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEK - WORLD YOUTH SUNDAY: The money raised goes directly to Brentwood Catholic Youth Service.

CHRISTMAS DRAW TICKETS FOR THE PATRONAL FEAST: Our Christmas Draw will be held on Monday 8th December after the 7.30pm Patronal Mass in OLI hall. Ticket books are at the back of our churches – please take some to sell to friends and family. Prizes include £300 cash, a large Christmas hamper, and more! This, together with our Christmas Fayre, is our main fundraiser of the year. Ticket money and counterfoils can be left in the presbytery or the Sunday collection (in an envelope marked Christmas Draw). Thank you for your generous support.

DIVINE MERCY DEVOTIONS: Take place in Holy Name Parish Church after the 7:30pm Mass on Monday 17th November. All are very welcome.
Lecture Series on Matthew’s Gospel: Fr Andrew Robinson will be leading a series of Thursday evening talks on the Gospel of Matthew. Each session runs from 7.30–8.30pm at The Barn, New Hall School, The Avenue, Boreham, Chelmsford CM3 3HS. Tea and coffee will be served from 7.00pm. All are warmly invited. Dates below:
20th Nov: The Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard – Surprises!
4th Dec: Matthew’s interpretation of Easter Day.

THE PARISHIONER MAGAZINE: Our next edition of The Parishioner Parish magazine will come out on Christmas Day. We would be very grateful for any contributions you might like to make, especially items of parish news from yourself or parish organisations or any suitable articles, obituaries etc. All articles should be with the editor at theparishioner@hotmail.co.uk by the 23rd November. With thanks.

FORTY HOURS DEVOTION 6th - 9th DECEMBER IN OUR LADY IMMACULATE CHURCH: Sign up sheets for a period of adoration are available in the Our Lady Immaculate Church to ensure that the Blessed Sacrament is not alone in the church during these 40 hours. All are welcome to attend at any time. There will be a celebration and refreshments in the hall after the Patronal Feast Mass at 7:30pm in Our Lady Immaculate Church on the 8th December which also includes the Christmas Draw. All welcome.

Friday 5th December – Adoration from 8am to 7pm, followed by Mass at 7.30pm and a final hour of adoration from 8–9pm.
Saturday 6th December – Adoration from 7.30am to 10.30am, Mass at 10.30am, then 11am to 5pm in church, and 5–7pm online, allowing our sick and housebound parishioners to watch and pray with Our Lord.
Sunday 7th December – Adoration from 10am to 12 noon, and again from 1pm to 7pm.
Monday 8th December – Adoration from 9am to 2pm, and 3pm to 7pm, concluding with our Patronal Feast Mass at 7.30pm celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. After this Mass there will be an event in the Parish Hall and the Parish Christmas Draw.

VACANCY: St Peter’s Catholic Primary School, Billericay are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and motivated Higher Level Teaching Assistant to join our team. For more information about the position and to apply, please visit:- https://www.essexschoolsjobs.co.uk/Vacancies/Details.aspx? VacancyId=114585 Closing date is Midday on 24th November 2025.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE WALSINGHAM HOUSE TEAM 26/27: Being on the team is a wonderful opportunity to work with young people from across the diocese, live in community and to share and deepen our faith. Applications are open to those aged 18-23 (current Yr13 and above). For more information including the application form please see the website https://bcys.net/whabbotswick/be-on-team/  or email michaelkearns@brcdt.org. Applications close on Friday 16th January 2026.

HEADTEACHER REQUIRED: St Peter's Primary School, Romford.  Deadline for applications: 12:00 (noon), Tuesday 6th January 2026, For more information see https://tinyurl.com/romfordnt

THE CANONESSES OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE: invite you to join them on Friday 21st November at 2.30pm at Howe Close, Colchester CO4 3XD to begin our new theme of ‘Finding Hope in Uncertain Times’. We are delighted to be welcoming Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ to launch the new theme. Gemma’s talk entitled ‘Hope: living differently‘ is a reference to Spe Salvi and will reflect on the transformative power of hope. The talk will be in-person but will also be livestreamed. If you would like to attend IN PERSON and for more details please book your place via our website EVENTS page: https://canonesses.co.uk/event/hope-living-differently-dr-gemma-simmonds-friday-21-november-at-2-30pm

A WEEK OF ACCOMPANIED PRAYER: An online retreat at home. Opens Sunday 23rd November 6-7pm– Ends Friday 28th November 6-7pm.  Would you like to deepen your prayer life? Can you find 30mins to be with God and meet with your own prayer guide at a time chosen by you each day this week? For more information and to book your place click https://wkf.ms/4pKf1Gg?text0=

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 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. The meet in OLI on Tuesdays at 10am and Holy Name on Thursdays at 7pm. New members welcome.

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

Gerald WESTRIP (RIP) Requiem Mass on  Thursday 27th November at 11am in Holy Name Church
Patrick FRANKLIN (RIP) Funeral Service on Friday 28th November at 11am in Our Lady Immaculate Church. 
Shelia BEARFIELD (RIP) Memorial Mass on Monday 8th December at 11:30am in St Augustine of Canterbury Church. 
Patrick LANGAN (RIP) Requiem Mass 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, Valerie Cummins, Doreen Cornish, Antonia Dias, Victoria Docherty, Peter Dodson, Madeleine East, Troy Erickson, Marta Fevola, Mary Fletcher, Teresa Foster, Michael Hoare,  Shelia Hughes, John Grainger, Robert Godfrey, Connor Hickey, Cathy Ingram, Maureen Leatherdale, Stuart Lucas, Margaret Lowrey, Anne Lowden, Jim Machin,  Maura Magee,  Shelia Mayo, Henry McKeon, Monica McShane, Donny McColl, Anne Newland Margaret O'Sullivan, Christine Staines, Maureen Sullivan, Patrick Waters, Anja Welsh-Smyth, Paddy Westrip, Gayle Williams, Shirley Willis.