Newsletter 25th January 2026

Mass Readings for Sunday, 25th January 2026

First Reading: Acts 22: 3-16 or Acts 9: 1-22
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 117: 1bc, 2
Alleluia: John 15: 16
Gospel: Mark 16: 15-18

APPLICATION FORMS FOR THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION 2025. This is now open to all in Yr 10 and above. Application forms are available at the back of the Churches and at https://www.chelmsfordcatholic.co.uk/sacraments/confirmation The deadline for applications to the Parish office is Monday 2nd February.

HOLY NAME LADIES QUIZ NIGHT NEXT WEEKEND: Saturday 31st  January start time 7.30 pm. Tickets £5. Bring your own refreshments. Tickets will be on sale this weekend, please see a member of the Holy Name ladies group after Mass.

HELP NEEDED – LENTEN FOOD BANK RUNS: Every Lent, our linked parishes donate generously to the local Food Bank, and we’d love to keep that good tradition rolling this year. We’re looking for a few volunteers to help take the donated food from our churches to the Food Bank warehouse in Galleywood on Monday mornings during Lent (six Mondays in total). The wonderful parishioners who have done this in previous years are now stepping down, so it’s time for some new heroes to take the wheel. Don’t worry, we’ll get you fully up to speed. All you need is a car with a decent-sized boot and a willingness to do something quietly brilliant for the local community. If you can help, even once or twice, please contact Tim via the Parish Office. It would be lovely to have volunteers from across all our churches. Small effort. Big difference. No cape required.

WORLD LEPROSY DAY: Today Sunday 25th January marks World Leprosy Day, which aims to raise awareness of a disease that many people think no longer exists.  Each year, 200,000 people are diagnosed with leprosy and there are millions more who are living with the damaging consequences of delayed leprosy treatment because of the stigma that still surrounds the disease. St Francis Leprosy Guild (SFLG), which is the UK’s only Catholic leprosy charity, has been caring for people with leprosy for 130 years. Our aim is to find and treat people with leprosy before they develop disabilities. Please consider supporting this vital work and keep people affected by leprosy in your prayers. www.stfrancisleprosy.org

VACANCY: Parish Administrator for the linked parishes of Our Lady Immaculate, Holy Name and St Augustine – Chelmsford. 
A vacancy has arisen for a Parish Administrator, with financial experience, to provide administrative and financial support to the Parish Office by implementing and maintaining office systems, processes and procedures and delivering a welcoming, appropriate service to those attending the parish office. The post will be full time working 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday. The salary is £14.50 per hour. The closing date for applications is Monday 2nd February 2026 and we will then invite suitable applicants to interview. 
Further information including the job description is available on our website at https://www.chelmsfordcatholic.co.uk/admin-vacancy  If you have any queries or if you would like to apply, please send your CV and/or completed application form to office@chelmsfordcatholic.co.uk or by post to The Presbytery, Beardsley Drive, Springfield, CM1 6GQ

WELCOMERS NEEDED FOR THE 7PM MASS: To assist the Mass in Our Lady Immaculate Church on Sundays. If you could help welcome all to Mass and support our priests on a rota in Our Lady Immaculate Church please speak to one of the welcomers at Mass or our Priests. Help would be greatly appreciated.

TALK ON CAFOD'S WORK IN UKRAINE to find out about our work in Ukraine. Josie O’Reilly will talk about CAFOD’s Ukraine Emergency Programme Jane Crone from CAFOD in Brentwood will talk about the Lent Appeal
On: Saturday 14 February 2026
Time: Coffee from 10.45am, for 11am, finishing around 1pm.
At: The Beckett Centre St Thomas of Canterbury Church 557-559 High Rd, Woodford, Woodford Green IG8 0SG plenty of parking. All Welcome.

ADVANCE NOTICE OF DISRUPTION TO OLI CHURCH: Please note over the coming weeks the area behind the organ will be cleared and the library and pews temporarily moved. This will not affect Masses, and disruption will be kept to a minimum, but for those using the church during the day for private prayer, apologies in advance but it is essential work.

THE POPES PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR FEBRUARY: For children with incurable diseases. Let us pray that children suffering from incurable diseases and their families receive the necessary medical care and support, never losing strength and hope.

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. They meet in OLI Hall on Tuesdays at 10am and Holy Name Canon Wilson Hall on Thursdays at 7pm. New members always welcome.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY AND ALL FAMILIES WHO MOURN.
Hazel PARRY (RIP) Requiem Mass on Thursday 29th January at 11:15am in Our Lady Immaculate Church.
Thomas CORBY (RIP) Requiem Mass on Thursday 29th January at 1:30pm in Our Lady Immaculate Church 
Ben WILLIAMS (RIP) Requiem Mass on Thursday 5th February at 11am in St Augustine Church.

Ann ARAIN (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, Moreen Healy. 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.