Newsletter 24th August 2025

First Reading: Isaiah 66: 18-21
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 117: 1, 2
Second Reading: Hebrews 12: 5-7, 11-13
Alleluia: John 14: 6
Gospel: Luke 13: 22-30

GOODBYE FR DAMIEN : Fr Damien will celebrate his final Mass in the parish at 7pm on Sunday 31st August. 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 Parish. Envelopes for his leaving collection are available in the back of the churches.

Please note that there will be no parking available at Our Lady Immaculate Church from 4pm next Sunday. People attending the 7pm Mass are advised to park in the Moulsham Street Car Park.

FUNDRAISING INDIAN DINNER 6th SEPTEMBER IN ST AUGUSTINE: Come and enjoy a delicious Indian meal on Saturday 6th September at 5pm here at St Augustine. All are welcome. Donations for the event are gratefully received as it is to help raise funds for St Augustine Church.
To help plan for numbers if you are intending to come, please speak to Ramona after Mass or contact the parish office.

YOUTH GATHER WITH BRENTWOOD CATHOLIC YOUTH SERVICE MERSEA ISLAND: 25th – 26th October. Youth Gather is a weekend of faith, fun and friendship – with speakers, workshops, prayer and outdoor activities, meeting friends old and new, and all while sharing in and celebrating our Catholic faith. There will be coaches offering transport from around the Diocese included in the cost, as well as all meals, cabin accommodation and activities. This event is for year 9 and above. Apply now at www.bcys.net/events

LATEST WINNERS FOR OLI 200 CLUB: Here are the latest winners for July/August. If you would like more details about the 200 club please contact the Parish Office.
July 6th 132 A O'Shea July 27th 33 H Adler
July 13th 59 S Frostick August 3rd 62 I Dawson
July 20th 22 M McAllen August 10th 17 P Pickett

SAVE THE DATE - HALL OF GAMES: Saturday 20th September - St Augustine's Church at 7 p.m. in aid of South Sudan. Bring a team or join a team and demonstrate skills that you never knew that you had!

LEGION OF MARY: The Legion of Mary who do vital work across our Linked Parishes to support parishioners are expanding to include an evening meeting for people who are unable to meet on Tuesday mornings during the working week. If you would like to join this active lay ministry please contact the parish office, or speak to one of the Legionaries who will be available after Masses next weekend at Our Lady Immaculate and Holy Name Churches or come along to a welcome meeting with light refreshments available in Our Lady Immaculate Hall on Friday the 12th of September at 7pm.

PARISH LIBRARY OLI UPDATE: Many thanks to all those who have generously donated books to the parish library recently. We have now reached capacity for storage space and the time needed to process the books before they are added to the library, so unfortunately we cannot accept any more donations for the time being. In the meantime, please continue to enjoy the library.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROGRAMME AT BLESSED SACRAMENT: We have a qualified health coordinator who will be running a Health Support Programme in the Blessed Sacrament Church hall. There will be a range of topics that will be covered including: Type 2 diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, Inflammation, Depression, Diet, Stress and anxiety. These sessions are FREE and you are welcome to bring along family and friends. All sessions are 10am onwards, lasting roughly an hour/hour and a half.Confirmed dates are: Saturday 6th September, Wednesday 1st October, Saturday 1st November, Wednesday 3rd December and Saturday 3rd January 2026.

BAPTISMS THIS WEEK: We welcome Cooper and Enzo as the newest members of our community this weekend. Please keep them and their families in your prayers.

MARCH FOR LIFE: on Saturday 6th September in London. The theme for this year is "Human rights for all humans." Find out more at marchforlife.co.uk or email info@marchforlife.co.uk

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 confidentially at 0207 7033030, 07936 579230, or contact the Parish Office. For furniture project donations or assistance, call the furniture bank on 0330 0436474.

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

Vicky GALLAGHER (RIP) Requiem Mass on Thursday 28th August at 10am in Our Lady Immaculate Church
Sarah MCKEON (RIP) Requiem Mass on Friday 29th August at 11:00am in Holy Name Church
Elsie SCOTT (RIP) Funeral service on Thursday 4th September at 12:30pm in Chelmsford Crematorium
Roy DIAS (RIP) Requiem Mass on Friday 5th September at 11:30am in Holy Name Church
Lorraine Miller (RIP) The family would like to remember their mother at this time. Lorraine died and was brought back to Gibraltar to rest with their Grandmother Isabel Artesani. May they both now rest in peace.

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, Simon Docherty, Peter Dodson, Madeleine East, Troy Erickson, Marta Fevola, Mary Fletcher, Teresa Foster, Michael Hoare, Mike Healy, Shelia Hughes, John Grainger, Robert Godfrey, Connor Hickey, Cathy Ingram, Maureen Leatherdale, Stuart Lucas, Margaret Lowrey, Anne Lowden, Jim Machin, Maura Magee, Barry & Shelia Mayo, Henry McKeon, Monica McShane, Donny McColl, Patricia Nutton, Margaret O'Sullivan, Grazia Paola, Christine Staines, Maureen Sullivan, Patrick Waters, Anja Welsh-Smyth, Gayle Williams, Shirley Willis.