Newsletter 29th March 2026

Mass Readings for Sunday, 29th March 2026 - Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Procession: Matthew 21: 1-11
First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11
Verse Before the Gospel: Philippians 2: 8-9
Gospel: Matthew 26: 14 – 27: 66 or Matthew 27: 11-54

MORNING OF MERCY IN OUR LADY IMMACULATE: On Tuesday the 31st March there is a Morning of Mercy in the Church. There will be an opening Mass at 7:30am and following this Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available until 11am.

RECONCILIATION SERVICE IN OUR LADY IMMACULATE CHURCH : this is On Tuesday 31st March. There will be a service at 7:30pm followed by an opportunity for individual confession with priests from across the deanery.

WEDNESDAY 1st APRIL: Is the Chrism Mass in Brentwood Cathedral at 11am. Please pray for all our Priests across the Diocese. Please note, the Mass in Our Lady Immaculate Church is moved to 9am to allow our Priests time to travel to the cathedral.

MAUNDY THURSDAY: Please note the following times for Watching and the Sacrament of Reconciliation:
In Holy Name Church 6:30pm to 7:30pm - Sacrament of Reconciliation, 9:30pm to 10:30pm - Watching and Sacrament of Reconciliation. 
In Our Lady Immaculate Church from 9:30pm until Midnight for watching and the sacrament of reconciliation. 
In St Augustine Church from 9:30pm until 11pm.

GOOD FRIDAY: Please note there are no Masses on Good Friday, the solemn liturgies are listed overleaf. Additionally at 10:30am there is family Stations of the Cross in Holy Name. after the stations will be some opportunity to do some crafts and enjoy hot cross buns. All families are welcome to join. 
At 11am there are family Stations of the Cross in Our Lady Immaculate
at 11am there are Stations of the Cross in St Augustine of Canterbury 
There is an additional opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation in all three of our Linked Parish Churches at 1:30pm to 2:30pm. 
At 2:45pm the chaplet of Divine Mercy will be prayed in Our Lady Immaculate Church

HOLY SATURDAY: On Holy Saturday in Our Lady Immaculate Church there is an opportunity to participate in The office of the Church and Morning Prayer at 10am.

THE POLISH BLESSING OF FOOD: takes place at 12Noon in Our Lady Immaculate Church.

LOURDES WITH OUR DIOCESE: Join Bishop Alan and pilgrims from across our diocese in Lourdes this summer: Friday 17th - Friday 24th July 2026.  Bookings open at https://www.tangney-tours.com/brentwood

LIBRARY BIBLES AND CTS BOOKLETS: We are happy to see that parish is making use of the books in the library!  Please do remember to return library books and CTS booklets when you are finished with them so that others can read them.  Many thanks!

ROSARY AND ADORATION: takes place at 9:50am before the 10:30am Mass on Saturdays. The First Saturday Devotions - Adoration, Rosary and Fatima prayers are prayed at 9:50am before the 10:30am Mass on the First Saturdays of the month.

MARRIAGE CARE RELATIONSHIP COUNSELLOR: Interested in training and volunteering as a Relationship Counsellor? Marriage Care is a Catholic organisation specialising in relationship support and we are currently looking for those who are empathetic, understanding and have an enthusiasm for supporting adult relationships, to train on our Certificate in Relationship Counselling (CRC) and volunteer with us. This is a great opportunity to make a real difference to couples and families.
To find out more please visit: www.marriagecare.org.uk or email: volunteer@marriagecare.org.uk

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN CHELMSFORD WALK OF WITNESS: If you would like to join the Walk of Witness this Friday please see the churches together in Chelmsford websietw www.ctic.org.uk . You can join from St Augustine at 9:20am leaving at 9:30am. The Walk leaves from Our Lady Immaculate at 10:00am. At 11am the Good Friday service commences on Chelmsford High Street. For more information see https://ctic.org.uk/

ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL: On Tuesday 17th March, MSPs voted by 69 to 57 to defeat Liam McArthur’s Scottish assisted suicide Bill. If this Bill had passed and gone on to become law, it would have ushered in an irrevocable change that would have put the vulnerable at risk and seen the ending of thousands of lives through assisted suicide in Scotland.
To mark this historic moment, Right To Life UK has released a beautiful short film titled “A Better Path”, which can be viewed at www.righttolife.org.uk/betterpath

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: Meet every Tuesday iat 10am in OLI Parish Hall. If you would like to pray and put your faith in action, then why not come along and give us a try and help us spread the faith through local ministry and community outreach. All warmly welcome.

MESSAGE FROM FR BARTO - EASTER COLLECTION: The Christmas and Easter collections form a significant part of the personal income of the priests in our parish, and Frs Michael, Paul and I are very grateful for your generosity.  As many parishioners now give by standing order, it would be helpful for audit purposes if you could let the parish office know whether you wish two weeks of your annual standing order to be counted as your Christmas and Easter offerings. A brief email or note to the office (office@chelmsfordcatholic.co.uk) would be sufficient. If you prefer, you may also make a separate one-off contribution by BACS marked “Easter” (including your Gift Aid number if applicable), use a marked envelope, or give in the collection at the Christmas Masses. Thank you for your continued generosity and support.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED RECENTLY AND ALL FAMILIES WHO MOURN.
Jane MCEVOY (RIP) Requiem Mass on Friday 24th April at 11.00am in Church of St Augustine of Canterbury.

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, S.Casimir OSM, 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, Peter Hamilton, Connor Hickey, Cathy Ingram, Gary Iliffe,  Maureen Leatherdale, Stuart Lucas,  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.