Newsletter 26th October 2025

First Reading: Sirach 35: 12-14, 16-18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34: 2-3, 17-18, 19, 23
Second Reading: Second Timothy 4: 6-8, 16-18
Alleluia: Second Corinthians 5: 19
Gospel: Luke 18: 9-14

NOVEMBER LISTS OF THE DEAD: During the month of November, Masses are offered for the repose of the souls whose names are placed on the sanctuary during the month of November. Envelopes and lists are available at the back of the churches, please return to a Priest, Sacristan or Parish Office.

MASSES FOR DECEASED LOVED ONES: Will be held at 7:30PM on the following dates:
St. Augustine of Canterbury - Friday 14th November.
The Church of the Holy Name - Friday 21st November.
Our Lady Immaculate - Friday 28th November.

GRAVE BLESSINGS DURING NOVEMBER: 
Our Lady Immaculate and St Augustine Church graveyards - After the 9am Masses on the 9th of November. 
Chelmsford Crematorium, Sun 9th Nov. 2pm - meet in main car park. 
Lawns Cemetery in Great Baddow - Sunday 16th November at 2pm. 

CANONESSES OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE: We are celebrating the Annual Mass for our deceased relatives and friends, in particular those buried in our cemetery, on Saturday 1st November at 2pm at New Hall in the School Chapel. The Mass will be followed by visits to the cemetery for those who wish, and tea. All welcome. For purposes of catering and printing, please let us know if you will be with us by emailing crssuk@canonesses.co.uk.

Our Lady Immaculate Catholic Primary School tours SEPTEMBER 2026 INTAKE: are holding their school tours for prospective parents on Thursday 6th November at 10am and Tuesday 18th November at 1.45pm.  Places are limited so please telephone the school office on 01245 353755 to book the tour.

PARISH CHRISTMAS FAYRE - SUNDAY 23rd NOVEMBER: We are collecting items for our forthcoming Parish Christmas Fayre, which will be from 10am in OLI school hall on Sunday 23rd November. Donations of toiletries, new items, bric a brac, jewellery, Christmas food, bottles for the bottle stall, toys, etc will be very much appreciated and can be left in the boxes at the back of Our Lady Immaculate Church, Holy Name Church or handed directly to the Parish Office. For all enquiries please contact Anne on 01245 257463.

PARISH CHRISTMAS DRAW: Our Christmas Draw tickets will be handed out after all Masses this weekend and the following week.  Please do take as many books as you can to sell to friends & family. £300 1st prize, plus lots of lovely Christmas hampers & festive prizes to be won. Please return the sold counterfoils and money by placing them in an envelope marked ‘Christmas Draw’ & putting them in the Sunday collection basket or leaving them with the Parish Office.  This, together with the delightful Christmas Fayre, is our main Parish fundraiser.  Many thanks in advance for your generous support!

ITALIAN SPEAKING  VOLUNTEERS : Are you fluent in Italian and be willing to spare an occasional hour to go to the Broomfield Care Home?  One of their residents is lonely and wishes to converse in her mother tongue.  If interested, please email chelmsfordbs@brcdt.org and leave your details.  Thank you in advance.

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA) – JOURNEY OF FAITH: We now have twelve enquirers on the programme. This is truly a wonderful number. Please keep them all in your prayers on their Faith Journey. Our next session will be at New Hall School -The Barn at 7pm before Fr Andrew Robinson's lecture on the 6th November. Please contact the Parish Office if you would like to join the group. 

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 noticeboard, or e-mail paulcrittell@icloud.com for more information.

ROBINSON FAMILY THANK YOU: The Robinson family, of the late John Robinson, wish to thank all those parishioners for their messages of support and to those who attended the Mass helping to make it so special.  The Holy Name Church looked lovely and we are so proud that John’s Mass took place here.  We thank you all
Lecture Series on Matthew’s Gospel: Fr Andrew Robinson will be 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 will be served from 7.00pm. All are warmly invited. Dates below:
6th Nov:     What is distinctive about Matthew’s Gospel? (Part 1)
13th Nov: What is distinctive about Matthew’s Gospel? (Part 2)
20th Nov: The Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard – Surprises!
27th Nov: Matthew’s interpretation of Easter Day

OLI 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.

PARISH SYNODAL GROUP: Would you know more about the recent synod in Rome and to respond to our call to help shape the future of our Parish and our church? Our Parish Synodal Group meets regularly to pray and listen together on how we can grow as a community of faith and respond to the needs of the Church and the world. We meet again on 3rd November in the Parish Office at 4pm. Please contact Sr Claire via the Parish Office to join us or find out more. 

CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP: A new Charismatic prayer group meet on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm in Holy Name Hall. Join for an evening of prayer, bible readings and inspiration from the Holy Spirit. Contact Maggie on 07958 318239 for more details.

HEADTEACHER REQUIRED -  Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Benfleet: Closing date 10/11/25. For more information see https://assisicatholictrust.com/holy-family-headteacher/

HEADTEACHER REQUIRED -  Our Lady Immaculate School, Chelmsford: Closing date 20/11/25. For more information see https://tinyurl.com/olischool 

WHAT IS MODERN SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING? All welcome at a Caritas event on "What is Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking?" with the Santa Marta Group at St Edward the Confessor Catholic Church Hall, Romford, RM1 4AT on 6 Nov from 6pm to 8pm. Sign up at https://CARITAS-SM-25.eventbrite.co.uk

HEALTH & WELLBEING SESSION AT BLESSED SACRAMENT CHURCH: Our next Health and wellbeing session takes place on Saturday 1st November at 10am in the Blessed Sacrament Hall.  This is a free event run by Zak, a qualified health coordinator.  The topic will be heart disease and inflammation. The session runs for roughly 1½ hours with refreshments (donations gratefully accepted). 

ST AUGUSTINE CHURCH MUSIC QUIZ: Join us in celebrating St Cecilia’s Day, honouring the patron saint of music, with a musical quiz night at 7 pm on Friday 22nd November at St Augustine’s Church. The evening will be led by some of our brilliant young people raising funds for their HCPT pilgrimage to Lourdes with the BCYS next summer. Expect plenty of laughs, music-themed questions, a raffle, and a few surprises along the way. There’ll also be tea, coffee, and homemade cake on sale to keep your minds fuelled. Come along, bring your friends, and join the fun, everyone’s welcome! For any enquiries, please contact the Parish Office.

OUR LADY IMMACULATE PRIMARY SCHOOL IS SEEKING NEW FOUNDATION GOVERNORS: No prior experience in education is needed, just enthusiasm and a willingness to learn and contribute. To find out more, contact  admin@ourladyimmaculate.essex.sch.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 directly on 0330 0436474.

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

Mike HEALY (RIP) Requiem Mass on Friday 7th November at 1:30pm in Holy Name Church. 
Patrick FRANKLIN (RIP) Funeral Service on Friday 28th November at 11am in Our Lady Immaculate 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, Patrick Langan, Maureen Leatherdale, Stuart Lucas, Margaret Lowrey, Anne Lowden, Jim Machin,  Maura Magee, Barry & Shelia Mayo, Henry McKeon, Monica McShane, Donny McColl, Margaret O'Sullivan, Christine Staines, Maureen Sullivan, Patrick Waters, Anja Welsh-Smyth, Paddy Westrip, Gerald Westrip, Gayle Williams, Shirley Willis.