Newsletter 28th December 2025

Mass Readings for Sunday, 28th December 2025

First Reading: Sirach 3: 2-6, 12-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5
Second Reading: Colossians 3: 12-21 or Colossians 3: 12-17
Alleluia: Colossians 3: 15a, 16a
Gospel: Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23

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.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION APPLICATIONS 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.

CARITAS EVENT: You are invited to join Caritas Brentwood at our upcoming 'Responding to Homelessness' event on Saturday, January 24th 2026 (10am-12:30pm). The event will be hosted by St Francis of Assisi Catholic Parish in Stratford. It will offer practical support, shared insights and meaningful discussions with local organisations, including Your Place Anchor House, Rainham Foodbank and the Basildon Night Shelter, who are all working on the frontline of homelessness. For more information and to register for free, go to: www.caritasbrentwood.org/events

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

MASS TIME CHANGES AND NEW YEAR: On the 31st January at 11pm there is one hour of adoration before the Mass at 12:00am on the 1st of January 2026 to see in the New Year in Our Lady Immaculate Church. All very welcome.

The Divine Mercy Apostolate: London is holding a Divine Mercy Advent Reflection on Saturday 20 December from 1 pm - 4:30 pm at St Mary Mother of God, 213 Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch, Essex RM12 4TF The Retreat will include teachings on the Message of Mercy, Stations of the Cross, Holy Mass, Hour of Mercy with Adoration and Benediction and Veneration of the Image of Merciful Jesus. All Welcome. Please call Millie on 07957594646 for more information

A Prayer for the New Year:

Lord God,
As we begin a new year, we place our time, our hopes, and our uncertainties in your hands. We thank you for the graces of the year now past, and for your faithfulness through all that it held.
Give us hearts open to your Spirit, courage to live the Gospel day by day, and trust in your presence as we walk into the year ahead.
Keep our parish rooted in prayer, generous in love, and steady in hope,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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.

Sheelagh HILL (RIP) Requiem Mass on Friday 16th January at 11am in Our Lady Immaculate Church. 
John MURPHY (RIP) Requiem Mass on Friday 23rd January at 11am in Our Lady Immaculate Church.
Ben WILLIAMS (RIP) Requiem Mass to be arranged in St Augustine 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, 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.