Newsletter 21st December 2025

Mass Readings for Sunday, 21st December 2025

First Reading: Isaiah 7: 10-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 24: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Second Reading: Romans 1: 1-7
Alleluia: Matthew 1: 23
Gospel: Matthew 1: 18-24

CHRISTMAS PERIOD MASS TIMES:

On Christmas Eve (24th Dec) there will be Carols beginning half an hour before the Vigil Masses in our churches.

5:00pm Carols in Holy Name, 5:30pm Mass
6:30pm Carols in Our Lady Immaculate, 7pm Mass
8:00pm Carols in St Augustine, 8:30pm Mass
11:30pm Carols in Our Lady Immaculate, Midnight Mass.

Please note additional Mass time changes on the 25th and  26th of December, altering from the usual schedule.

CONFESSIONS: There will be additional availability for
confessions in Our Lady Immaculate Church on:
Tuesday 23rd December between 11:30AM - 12:15PM
Wednesday 24th December between 8:30AM -9:15AM

Children at Holy Name on Christmas Eve Vigil Mass: Carols from 5pm. Mass at 5:30pm. All children are welcome to dress up in a Nativity costume and take part in our Christmas Eve Mass. All costumes are provided. Please arrive before 5pm and come through the church to the Canon Wilson Hall to collect a costume. If you would like any further information or if you know in advance that your child would like to take part, please email Claire at c.irven@talk21.com with your child's first name and age to help us to get the costumes ready. Thank you.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN: There are forms available in the back of the Church and online at https://www.chelmsfordcatholic.co.uk/sacraments/fhc2026 for this years First Holy Communion Programme with Fr Michael. The course is for children in Yr 3 and above. Applications close on Friday 9th January.

LATEST OLI 200 CLUB WINNERS: If you would like to join the 200 club please contact Ursula via the Parish Office.
5th Oct  -   M Sheppard  No. 51     12th Oct -  J Holland    No. 14
19th Oct -  M Waters  No. 30        26th Oct -  M Quinn  No. 43
2nd Nov -  H Adler  No. 33        9th Nov - L Bowen-Davies 141
16th Nov - C Cronin  No. 10        23rd Nov - P Waters  No. 2

MESSAGE FROM FR MARTIN - CHRISTMAS 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 “Christmas” (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.

ST AUGUSTINE CHURCH CLEANING: As part of our preparations for Christmas, St Augustine’s Church will have an extra clean on Tuesday 23rd from 9.00am to 11.00am. Any help would be very much appreciated, whether for all or part of the time. Please see Cath for more details.

GOODBYE FR MARTIN : Fr Martin will celebrate his final Sunday Mass in the parish at 7pm on Sunday 4th January. All are warmly invited to come along afterwards to the Parish Hall at Our Lady Immaculate for a farewell gathering and light refreshments to thank him for his ministry and wish him well in his new role as Dean of Norwich Cathedral. Envelopes for his leaving collection are available in the back of the churches.

VACANCIES ACROSS DIOCESE: For more information about the following posts please see https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/departments/education/vacancies/school-vacancies/ 
Headteacher – St Peter’s Primary School, Romford
Deadline for applications: 12:00 (noon), Tuesday 6th January 2026
Headteacher – St Mary’s Primary School, Hornchurch
Deadline for applications: 17:00, Friday 9th January 2026
Headteacher – The Bishops’ CofE and Catholic School, Chelmsford 
Deadline for applications: 12:00 (noon), Friday 16th January 2026
Headteacher – Holy Family Primary School, Benfleet
Deadline for applications: 09:00, Wednesday 28th January 2026
For information about the post below please see more details at: https://www.dioceseofbrentwood.net/diocese/working-for-us/
Parish Administrator - Wickford Our Lady of Sorrows, 16 Hours a week, Deadline for applications:  12Noon on 9th January 2026

THANK YOU: A big thank you to all who came to the mulled wine and mince pies event at HN last week. We raised £131 and we have bought two gifts from the Cafod catalogue:: Winter warmth which will help vulnerable families to keep warm during harsh winter weather and a terrific toilet which is the best way to stop the spread of diseases keeping whole communities healthy and safe. Thank you also for the money raised for our Harvest Appeal in October. We raised £1000.67.

"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people."
                - Luke 2:10

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.

Patricia SMITH (RIP) Requiem Mass on Monday 22nd December at 10am in Our Lady Immaculate Church.
Anthony KELLY (RIP) Requiem Mass on Tuesday 23rd December at 2:30pm in Our Lady Immaculate Church.
Sheelagh HILL (RIP) Requiem Mass on Friday 16th January at 11am in Our Lady Immaculate Church. 
John MURPHY (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, Gary Iliffe,  Maureen Leatherdale, Stuart Lucas, Margaret Lowrey, 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.