Newsletter 4th October 2026

Mass Readings for Sunday, 4th October 2026 - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

First Reading: Isaiah 5: 1-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 80: 9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20
Second Reading: Philippians 4: 6-9
Alleluia: John 15: 16
Gospel: Matthew 21: 33-43

SECOND COLLECION: Second Collection will be for Harvest Fast Day.  Next Sunday the second collection will be for Prisoner's Sunday.

PARISH CHRISTMAS FAYRE - SUNDAY 22nd NOVEMBER: We are now starting to collect items for our forthcoming Parish Christmas Fayre, which will be at 10am in OLI school hall on Sunday 22nd November. Donations of toiletries, new items, lovely 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. Thank you in advance for your generosity supporting this very enjoyable event, which raises much needed funds.

CERTIFICATE OF CATHOLIC PRACTICE – SCHOOL APPLICATIONS
Parents applying for Catholic school places must obtain a Certificate of Catholic Practice. This is issued to parishioners who regularly attend Mass as practising Catholics.  Fr Barto the Parish Priest will be available for two signing sessions in Our Lady Immaculate Parish Hall between 5-7pm. These are drop in sessions and Certificate of Catholic Practice forms will be provided. You will need to bring your child's baptism certificate with you. 
    Secondary applications: 21st October, 5–7pm
    Primary applications: 9th December, 5–7pm

CATECHIST TRAINING & RESOURCES DAY:  Saturday 7th November: from 10am–3pm. Brentwood Ursuline High School - Free event. This is for Catechists for First Holy Communion, Confirmation and RCIA from across the Diocese.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 26/27:Children of First Holy Communion will be renewing their Baptism Promise after the session on 10th October

CONFIRMATION 26/27:  Please note there have been some changes to the dates of these programmes, please see online for the most up to date information. Hard copies will be given to candidates at the introduction session.

RCIA 26/27 PROGRAMME: The new RCIA programme begins on Wednesday 7th October at 7:30pm in the Our Lady Immaculate parish hall. All are welcome to this introductory session to find out more.

THE LEGION OF MARY: Meet every Tuesday at 10am in OLI Parish Hall. If you would like to pray and put your faith in action, then come along and help us spread the faith through local ministry and community outreach. All warmly welcome.

HOLY NAME CLEANING ROTA: Next rota out soon , meanwhile would like to mention how lucky we are to have such a reliable and dedicated group. We have one couple who have been cleaning our church for many yeas in fact since Fr Hastings was our parish priest. If you would like to help with the clean as some of us are getting on a bit , please contact Noreen on 01245 265159 . Many thanks .

Cafod Harvest Appeal Family Fast Day: is on Friday 2nd October. CAFOD envelopes will be available at the Masses on 3rd/4th October. Please feel free to take one from the back of the church and return it next week. Thank you

ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY CATHOLIC STUDENTS:  Fr Barto celebrates Mass every Friday 12:15pm at MAB118 at Anglia Ruskin Chelmsford Campus during Term time. You are most welcome.

CHELMSFORD CATHOLIC YOUNG ADULTS GROUP (CCYA)  Dates for your diary – the CCYA will be taking place every two weeks on a Friday in the Blessed Sacrament Hall from 7pm till 8.30pm.  The next  date is 16th October  Anyone aged between 18 and 35 are warmly welcomed.

DEDICATION OF OUR LADY IMMACULATE CHURCH: On Tuesday 20th October at 12:30pm there will be a celebration of 160 Years after the  Dedication of Our Lady of Our Lady Immaculate Church. More details to follow.

FOUNDATION DAY TALK - Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre
The Community invite you to their Foundation Day Talk on Friday 9th October at 2pm.  Venue: 74, HOWE CLOSE, COLCHESTER CO4 3XD. Speaker: Dr Cormac Begadon. 
For more information and to book your place: https://canonesses.co.uk/event/foundation-day-2026/
                                                                                                                                                                                                                HEALTH AND WELLBEING SESSIONS: The next sessions will take place on Saturday 3rd and Wednesday 7th October in the Blessed Sacrament Church hall at 10am. All sessions are free, however, donations are grateful received for refreshments.

ROSARY DURING OCTOBER: The Rosary will be prayed before all weekend Masses in OLI and Holy Name churches for the month of October. It will start 25 minutes before each Mass.  All most welcome.

SVP Fund-Raising for South Sudan - 10th October - Hall of Games - St Augustine's 7 p.m. for a 7:15 starTickets £7.50 from an  SVP member or e-mail  TwinningSudan@svp.org.uk.  Bring your own drinks and nibbles.  Tea, coffee and cakes available at the interval.  Please do join us.

KNIGHTS OF ST. COLUMBA ANNUAL LECTURE: On Wednesday 7th October at 8pm. Clare Bailey the Director of Youth Ministry for Brentwood Youth service will be leading the lecture entitled "Why Youth Ministry." All are most welcome and the talk will begin after the Mass at 7:30pm in St Augustine of Canterbury Church.

ADOREMUS 2026: - SATURDAY 10TH OCTOBER 10AM - 6PM  This year, after major Eucharistic events in Liverpool and Birmingham, the Adoremus Eucharistic Festival comes to London. It will take place on Saturday 10th October 2026.  For more information see poster at back of the church.

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

Peter HAMILTON Requiem Mass on Friday 9th October at 2:00pm in Holy Name Church.

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND OF OUR PARISHES, (AND ALL WHO ARE SICK.)
John Coggins, James Patient, Susan Ager, Helen Bastian, Annie Blake, Maureen Byrne, Marie Callahan, S.Casimir OSM, Valerie Cummins, Doreen Cornish, Antonia Dias, Victoria Docherty, Madeleine East, Troy Erickson, Marta Fevola, Teresa Foster, Martin Fox. Moreen Healy, Michael Hoare,  Shelia Hughes, John Grainger,  Robert Godfrey, Peter Hamilton, Connor Hickey, Gary Iliffe,  Maureen Leatherdale, Stuart Lucas,  Anne Lowden, Kevin Lyons, Jim Machin,  Maura Magee,  Shelia Mayo, Donny McColl, Henry McKeon, Monica McShane, Anne Newland, Ann McDonald, Margaret O'Sullivan Christine Staines, Patrick Waters, Anja Welsh-Smyth, Thomas Welsh-Smyth,  Paddy Westrip, Gayle Williams, Mary and Rodney Jefferies, Xi and Donald, Charles, Susie and Irene.