Newsletter 23rd November 2025

First Reading: Second Samuel 5: 1-3
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 122: 1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
Second Reading: Colossians 1: 12-20
Alleluia: Mark 11: 9, 10
Gospel: Luke 23: 35-43

SECOND COLLECTION THIS WEEK - WORLD YOUTH SUNDAY:  Celebrating the young people of our Church. There will be a second collection to support the work of the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service, helping young people grow in faith through retreats, pilgrimages, and leadership opportunities. You can donate in the parish this weekend, or online at www.bcys.net/donate , and please keep all young people in your prayers.

PARISH CHRISTMAS FAYRE TODAY! Our Parish Christmas Fayre takes place today from 10am until 2.30pm.  Please DO pop in to have a breakfast bacon roll and other delicious refreshments, homemade soup & roll, tea/coffee and homemade cakes, and meet your fellow parishioners at this very happy parish event.  Lots of wonderful stalls - Christmas presents, toiletries, bric a brac, jewellery, bottle stall, toys, books, cake stall and much more.  Hope to see you there!!!

CHRISTMAS DRAW TICKETS FOR THE PATRONAL FEAST: We only have a very little time now to return our Christmas Draw tickets before the Draw itself on Monday 8th December in OLI hall, after the 7.30pm Patronal Mass. Please place the counterfoils and money in an envelope marked ‘Christmas Draw’ and leave at the Parish office at St Augustine’s, put in the Sunday collection or leave with the priests after any of the week day Masses.

LECTURE SERIES ON MATTHEW'S GOSPEL CHANGE OF DATE: Fr Andrew Robinson has been 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 is served from 7.00pm. All are warmly invited. Please note the final lecture on Matthew's interpretation of Easter Day will now be on Thursday the 4th December.

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.

FORMER OUR LADY IMMACULATE SCHOOL PUPILS: We’d love to See You: To celebrate 180 years of Our Lady Immaculate Primary School, we are inviting adult former pupils to return on Monday 8th December and share a few memories with a class. If you can join us during the school day, please email admin@ourladyimmaculate.essex.sch.uk  by Monday 24th November.  Once an OLI pupil, always part of the family.

OUR LADY IMMACULATE SCHOOL FESTIVE FUN DAY: All welcome on Sunday 30th November from 10am-1pm.

ADVENT CAROL SERVICE AT ST JOHN PAYNE: The students and staff of Saint John Payne invite you to their Advent Carol Service, Prepare A Way for the Lord. All are welcome, with light refreshments afterwards. Thursday 18th December 2024 at 6pm Aquinas Hall, Saint John Payne Catholic School.

ADVENT TALK ON THE PROPHETS: Fr Adrian Graffy, parish priest and member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, will be giving a short talk at 7 pm on Wednesday 3dr December at the Catholic parish of Christ the Eternal High Priest, in Gidea Park. The topic is the Prophets. You may attend in person free of charge, or watch livestream at www.whatgoodnews.org The talk will be available subsequently on the same website.

SVP CHRISTMAS PRESENT GIVING TREE: Please return your chosen gifts UNWRAPPED with Tag in side bag with present. Max £15 per gift per child. Deadline 30th November in order for us to collate and check before wrapping on Sunday 14th December. Thank you again for your generous support for our 50 children to provide gifts for them this Christmas.

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PRAYERS: The devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual Help will be held immediately following the 10:30am Mass on Saturday, 29 November 2025, at Our Lady Immaculate Church. All are welcome!

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.

HEADTEACHERS 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  
Holy Family Primary School, Benfleet. Deadline for applications 9am on Wednesday the 28th January 2026. For more information see https://tinyurl.com/benfleetht

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 noticeboards, and there are some places still available,please contact Paul via email paulcrittell@icloud.com for more information. 

LOURDES WITH OUR DIOCESE: Join Bishop Alan and pilgrims from across our diocese in Lourdes next summer: Friday 17th - Friday 24th July 2026. Booking details will be available in the new year.

OUR LADY IMMACULATE CHURCH 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.

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. 
Patrick LANGAN (RIP) Requiem Mass on Wednesday 3rd of December at 10am in Our Lady Immaculate Church.
Shelia BEARFIELD (RIP) Memorial Mass on Monday 8th December at 11:30am in St Augustine of Canterbury 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, 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.