Newsletter 2nd November 2025

First Reading: Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 24: 1-2, 3-4b, 5-6, R/6
Second Reading: First John 3: 1-3
Alleluia: Matthew 11: 28
Gospel: Matthew 5: 1-12a

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:
St. Augustine of Canterbury - Friday 14th November.
The Church of the Holy Name - Friday 21st November.
Our Lady Immaculate - Friday 28th November.

GRAVE BLESSINGS DURING NOVEMBER: 
Our Lady Immaculate and St Augustine Church graveyards - After the 9am Masses on the 9th of November. 
Chelmsford Crematorium, Sun 9th Nov. 2pm - meet in main car park. 
Lawns Cemetery in Great Baddow - Sunday 16th November at 2pm. 

Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School tours SEPTEMBER 2026 INTAKE: are holding their school tours for prospective parents on Thursday 6th November at 10am and Tuesday 18th November at 1.45pm.  Places are limited so please telephone the school office on 01245 353755 to book the tour.

PARISH CHRISTMAS FAYRE - SUNDAY 23rd NOVEMBER: We are collecting items for our forthcoming Parish Christmas Fayre, which will be from 10am in OLI school hall on Sunday 23rd November. Donations of toiletries, new items, jewellery, Christmas food, bottles for the bottle stall, toys, etc will be very much appreciated and can be left in the boxes at the back of all the parish churches or handed directly to the Parish Office. For all enquiries please contact Anne on 01245 257463.

PARISH CHRISTMAS DRAW: Our Christmas Draw tickets will be handed out after all Masses this weekend. Please do take as many books as you can to sell to friends & family. £300 1st prize, plus lots of lovely Christmas hampers & festive prizes to be won. Please return the sold counterfoils and money by placing them in an envelope marked ‘Christmas Draw’ & putting them in the Sunday collection basket or leaving them with the Parish Office.  This, together with the delightful Christmas Fayre, is our main Parish fundraiser.  Many thanks in advance for your generous support!

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA) – JOURNEY OF FAITH:  Our next session will be at New Hall School -The Barn at 7pm before Fr Andrew Robinson's lecture on the 6th November. Please contact the Parish Office if you would like to join the group.

PARISH BANQUET: New Hall will be hosting a Parish Banquet for the Chelmsford parishes (and friends) on 25th April 2026. This is an ideal opportunity for all the Chelmsford parishes to come together socially.    Full details are on the poster on the noticeboard, or e-mail paulcrittell@icloud.com for more information.

LECTURE SERIES ON MATTHEWS 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:
6th Nov:     What is distinctive about Matthew’s Gospel? (Part 1)
13th Nov: What is distinctive about Matthew’s Gospel? (Part 2)
20th Nov: The Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard – Surprises!
27th Nov: Matthew’s interpretation of Easter Day

OLI ORGAN FUND: Appeal for Donations: Please give donations in at Mass in a clearly marked envelope, or contact the parish office. Every contribution, large or small, will help bring new life, and music to OLI. We are in great need of more donations to hit our funding goal and donations greatly appreciated.

PARISH SYNODAL GROUP: Would you know more about the recent synod in Rome and to respond to our call to help shape the future of our Parish and our church? Our Parish Synodal Group meets regularly to pray and listen together on how we can grow as a community of faith and respond to the needs of the Church and the world. We meet again on 3rd November in the Parish Office at 4pm. Please contact Sr Clare via the Parish Office to join all or find out more.

HEADTEACHER REQUIRED -  OUR ADY IMMACULATE SCHOOL, Chelmsford: Closing date 20/11/25. For more information see https://tinyurl.com/olischool 

ASSISTED SUICIDE: The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill will enter Committee Stage in the House of Lords on 14 November. Catholics are being encouraged to write to peers to oppose the Bill. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England & Wales has issued guidance on how to write to peers with reasons that can be emphasised in a letter. www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/news/bishops-urge-catholics-to-write-to-peers-on-assisted-dying-bill/

WHAT IS MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING? All welcome at a Caritas event on "What is Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking?" with the Santa Marta Group at St Edward the Confessor Catholic Church Hall, Romford, RM1 4AT on 6 Nov from 6pm to 8pm. Sign up at https://CARITAS-SM-25.eventbrite.co.uk

ST AUGUSTINE'S CHURCH MUSIC QUIZ: Join us in celebrating St Cecilia’s Day, honouring the patron saint of music, with a musical quiz night at 7 pm on Saturday 22nd November at St Augustine’s Church. The evening will be led by some of our brilliant young people raising funds for their HCPT pilgrimage to Lourdes with the BCYS next summer. Expect plenty of smiles, music-themed questions, a raffle, and a few surprises along the way. There’ll also be tea, coffee, and homemade cake on sale to keep your minds fuelled. Come along, bring your friends, and join the fun, everyone’s welcome! For any enquiries, please contact the Parish Office.

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.

SVP CHELMSFORD COFFEE MORNING AND CHRISTMAS CRAFTS FUNDRAISER: Many thanks to those who continue to support us so generously in our work with those in need in our local community.  Next Sunday, 9th of November, in addition to the usual coffee, tea, soft drinks, delicious home- baked cakes served after 9.00 am and 12.00 am masses, there will be a variety of beautiful Christmas Crafts, knitted items and cakes on sale. Please come and support this event to raise much needed funds. Thank you for your continued support, your donations are greatly appreciated.

FUNERAL OF DAVID SILVER (RIP): The funeral of David Silver (RIP) a friend of the Parish who many knew from HCPT trips to Lourdes will take place on Thursday 6th November at 11am at Holy Family and All Saints Church in Witham.

BAPTISMS THIS WEEKEND: We welcome Thomas as the newest member of our Catholic community this weekend. Please keep him and his family 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. 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.

Mike HEALY (RIP) Requiem Mass on Friday 7th November at 1:30pm in Holy Name Church. 
Patrick FRANKLIN (RIP) Funeral Service on Friday 28th November at 11am in Our Lady Immaculate Church 

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, Patrick Langan, Maureen Leatherdale, Stuart Lucas, Margaret Lowrey, Anne Lowden, Jim Machin,  Maura Magee, Barry & Shelia Mayo, Henry McKeon, Monica McShane, Donny McColl, Margaret O'Sullivan, Christine Staines, Maureen Sullivan, Patrick Waters, Anja Welsh-Smyth, Paddy Westrip, Gerald Westrip, Gayle Williams, Shirley Willis.