Newsletter 30th November 2025

First Reading: Isaiah 2: 1-5
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 122: 1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading: Romans 13: 11-14
Alleluia: Psalms 85: 8
Gospel: Matthew 24: 37-44

Rt Rev. Thomas McMahon, Bishop Emeritus of Brentwood Diocese RIP : It was with deep sorrow that the death of Bishop Thomas McMahon was announced on Monday 24th November. Please keep him in your prayers and give thanks for his long and faithful service. May he rest in peace.

Funeral arrangements: 

Sunday 14th December at 4 p.m. Reception of the body and Mass at Our Lady and St Joseph, Stock, CM4 9LJ.
Monday 15th December at 5 p.m. Reception of the body and Vespers at the Cathedral Church of St Mary and St Helen, 28 Ingrave Road, Brentwood, CM15 8AT.
Tuesday 16th December at 11.30 a.m. Requiem Mass in the Cathedral followed by burial in the Cathedral cemetery.

FORTY HOURS DEVOTION 6th - 9th DECEMBER IN OUR LADY IMMACULATE CHURCH: Sign up sheets for a period of adoration are available in the Our Lady Immaculate Church to ensure that the Blessed Sacrament is not alone in the church during these 40 hours. There will be a celebration and refreshments in the hall after the Patronal Feast Mass at 7:30pm in Our Lady Immaculate Church on the 8th December which also includes the Christmas Draw. All welcome. 
Friday 5th December – Adoration from 8am to 7pm, followed by Mass at 7.30pm and a final hour of adoration from 8–9pm.
Saturday 6th December – Adoration from 7.30am to 10.30am, Mass at 10.30am, then 11am to 5pm in church, and 5–7pm online, allowing our sick and housebound parishioners to watch and pray with Our Lord.
Sunday 7th December – Adoration from 10am to 12 noon, and again from 1pm to 7pm.
Monday 8th December – Adoration from 9am to 2pm, and 3pm to 7pm, concluding with our Patronal Feast Mass at 7.30pm celebrating the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. After this Mass there will be an event in the Parish Hall and the Parish Christmas Draw.

FINAL LECTURE ON MATTHEWS GOSPEL: Fr Andrew Robinson talk on Matthews interpretation of Easter Day will be at New Hall the Barn at 7:30pm on Thursday 4th December, refreshments from 7pm. 
Mince pies and mulled wine at HOly Name Church: Our annual Mince Pies and Mulled Wine event will take place on Thursday 11th December in the Canon Wilson Hall after the 9.30am mass at Holy Name. All are most welcome. Any donations will go to CAFOD.

ADVENT CAROL SERVICE AT ST JOHN PAYNE: The students and staff of Saint John Payne invite you to their Advent Carol Service, Prepare A Way for the Lord. All are welcome, with light refreshments afterwards. Thursday 18th December 2024 at 6pm Aquinas Hall, Saint John Payne Catholic School.

SVP CHRISTMAS PRESENT GIVING TREE: Please return your chosen gifts UNWRAPPED with Tag in side bag with present. Max £15 per gift per child. Deadline 30th November in order for us to collate and check before wrapping on Sunday 14th December. Thank you for your generous support providing gifts for 50 children this Christmas.

FIRE MARSHALS: If you can support our churches by being trained as a named Fire Marshall at Mass, please contact the parish office.

WREATH MAKING IN ST AUGUSTINES: There is a Christmas wreath making worshop in St Augustine Church on Tuesday 2nd December between 12Noon and 3pm. Please come along with your friends to have a chat, learn a new skill and make a wreath yourself. Tea coffee and biscuits will be provided. £15 person to cover the cost. See Cath or Cily for more details.

CHRISTMAS WEEK MASS TIMES: Are available for the linked parishes on our website link:  https://www.chelmsfordcatholic.co.uk/newsletters-and-events/christmas-2025

PARISH OFFICE CLOSURE: Please note the Parish office is closed from Monday 1st December to Thursday 4th December. Please phone if your enquiry is urgent as messages will still be monitored.

LEGION OF MARY CHRISTMAS STALL IN HIGH CHELMER: On Friday 12th November between 4pm to 5.30 pm, the Legion of Mary will be in High Chelmer with a nativity display, carols and details of our Christmas services across our churches. They would love some extra hands, whether chatting with shoppers or joining the singing. Please let the parish office know if you can help support this lovely evangelisation opportunity and outreach event in the local community.

SVP CHELMSFORD CHRISTMAS APPEAL: We are collecting food staples, sweet and savoury treats, chocolates, biscuits and toiletries for families, older people and others we support. Toiletry gift sets and small boxes of biscuits are especially welcome. Please place items in the SVP collection boxes at the back of OLI and Holy Name by 7 December. Food should be in date until at least the end of January 2026. Thank you for your generosity.

CHRISTMAS APPEAL: The Knights of St Columba are organising a collection to support those in need this winter. We’re seeking warm clothing (coats, jumpers, trousers), stationery (notebooks, pens, pencils), games, and books for teens and adults. Donations can be brought on the weekends of the 6th–7th December and 13th-14th and left in the box at the back of OLI. Thank you for your support.

PARISH BANQUET: New Hall will be hosting a Parish Banquet for the Chelmsford parishes (and friends) on 25th April 2026. There are limited places available. Full details are on the poster on the noticeboards, and there are some places still available, please contact Paul via email paulcrittell@icloud.com for more information.

PARISH CHRISTMAS FAYRE: Thank you to everyone who came to our Parish Christmas Fayre last Sunday. It was a wonderful day and raised over £3,582 for church funds. We are grateful for all the generous donations, to OLI School for the use of their hall, and to Anne and the whole team of helpers who worked so hard to make it happen.

PARISH CHRISTMAS DRAW - MONDAY 8th DECEMBER: Our Parish Christmas Draw takes place in OLI hall on Monday 8th December after the 7.30 pm Patronal Mass.  Counterfoils and money can be put in an envelope marked ‘Christmas Draw’ and placed in the Sunday collection, left at the presbytery at St. Augustine’s, or left with the priests after all midday Masses.  £300 1st prize, very large Christmas hamper 2nd prize, and lots more lovely Christmas hampers and prizes to win!

FREE MONEY FOR THE DENIS HURLEY CENTRE: Support our sister project in Durban: Donations made through the Big Give between 12 noon on 2nd December and 12 noon on 9th December are doubled. With Gift Aid, £20 becomes £45, enough to help 10 homeless or refugee patients in their clinic. Donate at tinyurl.com/HurleyBigGive

NEXT SYNODAL GROUP MEETING: takes place on Monday 1st of December at 4.00 pm in the Parish Office near St Augustine Church. Everyone is welcome,  whether you’ve taken part before or are simply curious about what this means in practice.

BAPTISMS THIS WEEKEND: We welcome Luke and Verity as the newest members of our Catholic community. Please pray for them and their families. 

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.

Patrick LANGAN (RIP) Requiem Mass on Wednesday 3rd of December at 10am in Our Lady Immaculate Church.
Shelia BEARFIELD (RIP) Memorial Mass on Monday 8th December at 11:30am in St Augustine of Canterbury 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, Maureen Leatherdale, Stuart Lucas, Margaret Lowrey, Anne Lowden, Jim Machin,  Maura Magee,  Shelia Mayo, Henry McKeon, Monica McShane, Donny McColl, Anne Newland, Margaret O'Sullivan, Christine Staines, Maureen Sullivan, Patrick Waters, Anja Welsh-Smyth, Paddy Westrip, Gayle Williams, Shirley Willis.