Newsletter 20th September 2026

Mass Readings for Sunday, 20th September 2026 - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

First Reading: Isaiah 55: 6-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 2-3, 8-9, 17-18
Second Reading: Philippians 1: 20c-24, 27a
Alleluia: Acts 16: 14b
Gospel: Matthew 20: 1-16a

PARISH OFFICE:  The Parish Office will not be open this week on Tuesday 22nd September or Thursday 24th September.

SECOND COLLECTION:  This Sunday 20th September, we have a second collection for Evangelii Gaudium Day.

MASS CHANGES/ADDITIONS: From the 1st October the following mass changes/additions will me made - At St Augustine's there will be an additional mass every Wednesday at 7:30pm.  At Our Lady Immaculate, every Thursday from 8th October at 7pm - there will be Exposition and Adoration with Evening Prayer.

THE PARISHIONER AUTUMN 2026 - Copies of the Parishioner Autumn 2026 magazine are available at the back of all church.

URGENT - COUNTERS AND BANKERS OLI REQUIRED:  OLI are looking for counters and bankers for the weekly collection.  At the moment we only have two counters that are counting every week.  If they are not available there is nobody.  The volunteers must be available during the week to count and bank as HSBC are not available for counter service at a weekend.  If interested please contact Fr Barto or the Parish Office. office@chelmsfordcatholic.co.uk.

CERTIFICATE OF CATHOLIC PRACTICE (SECONDARY SCHOOL APPLICATIONS): School Deadline 31st October 2026. Certificate for Catholic Practice can only be issued for a family when the priest has evidence that they attend Mass on Sundays & Holy Days of Obligation. 
As parents you must:-
1. Register with the Parish as a Parishioner. 
2. Read the guidance via the Secondary School Guidance link.
3. Download & pre-fill the child's details on the Certificate Form Certificate of Catholic Practice (leave the priest's section blank). Forms also at back of the churches.
4. Book an appointment at Our Lady Immaculate Church by emailing office@chelmsfordcatholic.co.uk. Fr Barto is only available for Secondary appointments on 21st October in OLI Parish Hall (5pm-7pm) 5.  Attend booked appointment with your child's baptism certificate.

CERTIFICATE OF CATHOLIC PRACTICE (PRIMARY SCHOOL APPLICATIONS): School Deadline 17th January 2026. Certificate for Catholic Practice can only be issued for a family when the priest has evidence that they attend Mass on Sundays & Holy Days of Obligation. 
As parents you must:-
1. Register with the Parish as a Parishioner. 
2. Read the guidance via the Primary School Guidance link. 
3. Download & pre-fill the child's details on the Certificate Form Certificate of Catholic Practice (leave the priest's section blank).Forms also at back of the churches
4. Book an appointment at Our Lady Immaculate Church by emailing office@chelmsfordcatholic.co.uk. Fr Barto is only available for Secondary appointments on 9th December in OLI Parish Hall (5pm-7pm) 
5.  Attend booked appointment with your child's baptism certificate.

CATECHISTS WANTED: If you would like to join the catechist teams for First Holy Communion, RCIA or Conformation please contact the Parish office.  We are particularly looking for Catechists from OLI.

CATECHIST TRAINING & RESOURCES DAY:  Saturday 7th November: from 10am–3pm. Brentwood Ursuline High School - Free event. This is for Catechists for First Holy Communion, Confirmation and RCIA.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 26/27, CONFIRMATION 26/27 and RCIA 26/27: Application forms can be found at the back of the church and online.  Please see website for more information.

PARISH READERS: If you are interested in becoming a reader in Church, please contact the parish office. On Wednesday 30th September retreat evening in Our Lady Immaculate Church at 6:30pm.

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 come along and help us spread the faith through local ministry and community outreach. All warmly welcome.

PADRE PIO: 23rd September Mass at 2pm, St Augustines followed by a film of Padre Pio's life; have a short talk/discussion and also spiritual input from Fr Barto, followed by  tea, coffee and biscuits. karinseeman2@gmail.com

ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY:  Fr Barto will be celebrating mass every Friday 12:15pm at MAB118 at Anglia Ruskin.  If you are a Catholic studying at Anglia Ruskin University from this September, please get in touch with Fr Bartolomeu in person or via the Parish Office.

SVP Fund-Raising for South Sudan - 10 October - Hall of Games - St Augustine's 7 p.m. for a 7:15 starTickets £7.50 from an  SVP member or e-mail  TwinningSudan@svp.org.uk.  Bring your own drinks and nibbles.  Tea, coffee and cakes available at the interval.  Please do join us.

KNIGHTS OF ST. COLUMBA: 7 October at 20.00, Chelmsford Knights of St. Columba Annual Lecture “Why Youth Ministry”. Claire Bailey Director of Brentwood Youth Service will be leading this, St. Augustine’s. Annual Walking Quiz on Sunday,  27 September, meeting at the Community Centre Car Park at 15.00.   No charge All welcome; thompsoncjt01@blueyonder.co.uk.

BYCS EVENTS: Youth Mass – First Thursday of Each Month - Cathedral at 7:30pm. 
BCYS Rooted 2026 – Years 7–9 / Years 10-13 Saturday 24th October for years 7-9 / Sunday 25th October for years 10-13. 
FLAME 2027 – Saturday 6th March: Open to young people in Year 9 and above, from £30.

CHELMSFORD CATHOLIC YOUNG ADULTS GROUP (CCYA)                                          
CCYA will take place fortnightly, Friday in the Blessed Sacrament Church hall from 7pm till 8.30pm.  The next date is: 2nd Oct. Aged between 18 & 35

SEASON OF CREATION: 1st September to 4th October
is when the Christian family unites worldwide in prayer and action to care for our common home. This year’s theme is “Living Water”, See website for more details https://www.caritasbrentwood.org/resource/season-of-creation/

ADOREMUS 2026: - SATURDAY 10TH OCTOBER 10AM - 6PM  This year, after major Eucharistic events in Liverpool and Birmingham, the Adoremus Eucharistic Festival comes to London. It will take place on Saturday 10th October 2026.  For more information see poster at back of the church.

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

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Ann Goldsmith, who passed away this week, Requiem Mass 30th September 2:30pm. 3:30pm Chelmsford Crem. (Body received into church 29th September at 4:30pm) 
Patrick Kavanagh, Requiem Mass will be held at Our Lady Immaculate on 29th September at 1:30pm.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND OF OUR PARISHES, (AND ALL WHO ARE SICK.)
John Coggins,Thomas Welsh-Smyth, James Patient, Susan Ager, Helen Bastian, Annie Blake, Maureen Byrne, Marie Callahan, S.Casimir OSM, Valerie Cummins, Doreen Cornish, Antonia Dias, Victoria Docherty, Madeleine East, Troy Erickson, Marta Fevola, 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, Donny McColl, Henry McKeon, Monica McShane, Anne Newland, Ann McDonald, Christine Staines, Patrick Waters, Anja Welsh-Smyth, Paddy Westrip, Gayle Williams, Mary and Rodney Jefferies, Xi and Donald, Charles, Susie and Irene, Martin Fox.